Revival of a Martial World Legend, the Empress's Invitation

Just one sword.

Draw Sword to Sever Heaven.

Everyone present stared wide-eyed at the sight, their faces filled with disbelief.

Even the Director, this legendary figure who had weathered countless storms and waves, only felt a chill run down his back at this moment, as though he were dreaming.

He knew perfectly well just how terrifying Dugu Jian was!

Yet even after using his strongest ultimate art, Dugu Jian had still been cut down by Li Chunfeng in a single stroke?

The Director looked at this disciple of his and only felt that Li Chunfeng was incomparably unfamiliar at this moment, so unfamiliar that he seemed like someone the Director did not know at all.

If even the Director was like this, there was no need to mention Song Duanyang, Lin Ping, Dongfang Ye, and the others. They felt as if lightning had struck them, unable to recover for a long while.

They had originally thought that the battle between Li Chunfeng and Dugu Jian would be an incomparably exhilarating fight, but who could have expected this great battle to end so quickly!

"Draw Sword to Sever Heaven!"

In truth, Li Chunfeng's heart was also violently shaken. He was merely a tool; the one truly acting behind the scenes was Ren Xiaoyao. Yet Ren Xiaoyao's methods had truly surpassed Li Chunfeng's imagination.

Was the Heavenly Human Realm really this powerful?

Li Chunfeng even began to harbor such doubts. He inadvertently glanced at Ren Xiaoyao and discovered that there was no disorderly fluctuation of aura around him.

This meant that although Ren Xiaoyao had just slain Dugu Jian with a sword strike from afar, he had not used his full strength at all!

Upon realizing this, Li Chunfeng only felt his scalp tingle, unable to let it go for a long time.

At the foot of Fulong Mountain.

Quite a few martial artists were also waiting for the battle between Li Chunfeng and Dugu Jian. They were immensely curious, for this battle was destined to be recorded in the annals of the martial world. Yet after hearing only a thunderous roaring sound from Fulong Mountain's summit, there was no further movement whatsoever.

This did not make sense.

Logically speaking, a battle between True Man Realm martial artists should have been fiercely thunderous. Even if they completely blasted apart the entire Imperial Observatory compound, it would not have been the least bit strange.

Yet after that roar, the direction of the Imperial Observatory fell deathly silent, leaving these martial artists uneasy.

Just then, a figure hurried down from Fulong Mountain. Everyone focused their eyes and saw that this person was Song Duanyang, a Grandmaster Realm martial artist and the Division Master of the Sun Gazing Division within the Imperial Observatory.

Song Duanyang did not pay any attention to these martial artists who had come to watch the spectacle. Instead, he held the broken Remnant Rainbow Sword and hurried toward the Capital City. After all, Dugu Jian's death at Li Chunfeng's hands was too significant a matter and had to be reported to the Imperial Court.

"Th-this thing Song Duanyang is holding... isn't that the Remnant Rainbow Sword? No, how was the Remnant Rainbow Sword split open down the middle? The Remnant Rainbow Sword has been destroyed!"

Someone cried out in astonishment.

"The Sword Exists, So Does the Person; when the sword is destroyed, the person dies!"

The martial artists immediately sucked in a breath of cold air and said.

"Dugu Jian is dead! Li Chunfeng killed Dugu Jian and destroyed his Remnant Rainbow Sword! Li Chunfeng isn't merely suspected of being in the Heavenly Human Realm—he is a genuine Heavenly Human!"

"There truly is a living Heavenly Human in this world!"

For the martial world, it had been far, far too long since a Heavenly Human had appeared. Thus, when rumors previously claimed that Li Chunfeng had reached the Heavenly Human Realm, not many people in the martial world believed them.

But after this battle, no one had any doubts left. Everyone was certain that this former martial world legend had completely revived within the martial world and become a Heavenly Human!

True Martial Sect.

Sect Master Ren Xuanji sat in a chair.

He lifted his teacup and looked smilingly at his eldest son, Ren Ruohai, beside him. "Ruohai, I have already received Qianqiu Pavilion's reply. They are willing to accept you as a Core Disciple. In a few days, you will head to Qianqiu Pavilion to cultivate!"

"A Qianqiu Pavilion Core Disciple!"

Upon hearing this, Ren Ruohai's expression turned immensely excited. "It is all thanks to Father's excellent arrangements for me. In the future, your son will surely carve out a reputation and bring glory to our ancestors!"

"Of course!"

Ren Xuanji was also in an excellent mood. "Once you enter Qianqiu Pavilion as a Core Disciple, you will at least reach the True Man Realm in the future. It is even highly possible that you will attain the Heavenly Human Realm. Your accomplishments will surely surpass mine!"

At that moment, an official of the True Martial Sect hurried over and urgently reported the battle between Li Chunfeng and Dugu Jian to Ren Xuanji.

When Ren Xuanji heard that Li Chunfeng had slain Dugu Jian with one sword strike, his expression changed drastically. The teacup in his hand fell to the ground with a crash, and his face was filled with disbelief.

"A Heavenly Human! Li Chunfeng truly became a Heavenly Human!"

Ren Xuanji's relationship with Li Chunfeng had always been terrible. Li Chunfeng attaining the Heavenly Human Realm was naturally terrible news for Ren Xuanji.

"Father!"

Ren Ruohai snorted coldly at this moment. "So what if Li Chunfeng has become a Heavenly Human? He is already old. At most, this is as far as he will go. So long as I enter Qianqiu Pavilion and learn superior martial arts, I will surely crush him to death in the future!"

"Not bad!"

Only then did Ren Xuanji's expression ease slightly, but the gloom in his eyes still refused to disperse for a long time.

Princess Taiping's Residence.

Princess Taiping had naturally also received the latest intelligence. She glanced at the middle-aged palace maid beside her and said, "Phoenix Hall Master, things are clear now. Li Chunfeng is absolutely a genuine Heavenly Human Martial Artist!"

"Beyond expectations."

Phoenix Hall Master nodded as well. "It seems Li Chunfeng is indeed worth our spending great effort to win over. After all, being able to attain the Heavenly Human Realm outside of the great sects shows that he possesses exceptional qualities."

Within the Imperial Palace.

The Empress had originally been reviewing memorials when Phoenix hurried to her side, knelt, and presented a memorial.

"Your Majesty, it has basically been confirmed. Li Chunfeng is a genuine Heavenly Human Realm martial artist, the first martial artist recorded by us to attain the Heavenly Human Realm in nearly ten years!"

"Li Chunfeng!"

The Empress was also stunned. Her gaze turned toward the palace gates, as though she had recalled events of the past. Then she said, "It seems I must personally make a trip to the Imperial Observatory."

While the outside world churned with wind and clouds, Li Chunfeng sat in his room within the Imperial Observatory for a long time.

He finally understood what Ren Xiaoyao had meant by using killing to stop war. Now, the outside world believed that Li Chunfeng could kill a martial artist of Dugu Jian's level with a single sword strike.

Then those martial artists weaker than Dugu Jian would naturally no longer dare entertain thoughts of challenging Li Chunfeng—unless they were tired of living.

"Who exactly did Ren Xiaoyao learn his martial art from?"

Li Chunfeng still had this confusion. Logically speaking, Ren Xiaoyao had been under Ren Xuanji's watch since childhood, so he should not have had any opportunity to practice martial arts.

Yet Ren Xiaoyao was now this powerful.

How exactly had he done it?

Naturally, Li Chunfeng could not figure this out no matter how he thought about it. In the end, he could only use the word monstrous genius to describe Ren Xiaoyao.

Although Ren Xiaoyao had killed Dugu Jian in one sword strike, he was not the slightest bit inflated.

He was still at the Third Heaven of the Dao Realm. On the path of immortal cultivation, he had only just begun. He still needed to continue cultivating and become even stronger; immortal cultivation was something that absolutely could not be delayed.

Ren Xiaoyao cultivated peacefully for more than half a month.

During this time, he felt that the spiritual power within his body, which had been calm for a long time, was once again showing signs of rising. He had a premonition that he would soon break through into the Dao Realm Fourth Heaven.

Ren Xiaoyao was naturally delighted. He eagerly anticipated just how strong he would become after entering the Dao Realm Fourth Heaven.

That night, Ren Xiaoyao was still cultivating in his room.

Li Chunfeng came to find Ren Xiaoyao. "Xiao Ren, a great figure will be coming to the Imperial Observatory tomorrow. Guess who it is?"

"Other than the Empress, there should be no one else whom you would call a great figure, right?"

Ren Xiaoyao answered.

"It's no fun asking you questions!"

Li Chunfeng immediately deflated. "It is indeed the Empress. She will come to the Imperial Observatory tomorrow. Her purpose is likely to recruit me. Do you want to meet the Empress too?"

"Why would I want to meet the Empress?"

Ren Xiaoyao shook his head. "I am merely a little ant, not worthy of the Empress's notice. The one the Empress truly cares about is you, a martial artist of the Heavenly Human Realm."

"How sarcastic!"

Li Chunfeng snorted. "In any case, you have thoroughly screwed me over. Countless people have wanted to visit me these past few days. I have blocked wave after wave of them, so busy that I do not even have time to observe the stars."

"That is good too. Change your mindset, and perhaps you will truly walk out of the shadow of going astray all those years ago, take another step forward, and truly enter the Heavenly Human Realm."

Ren Xiaoyao chuckled.

"I'll take that as an auspicious blessing."

Li Chunfeng sighed. "But I do not think that day will ever come."

The next day, the Empress formally visited the Imperial Observatory.

As the Son of Heaven, the Empress naturally traveled with imperial majesty. First, she dispatched tens of thousands of soldiers to seal off all of Fulong Mountain. Then, a group of guards dressed in golden armor climbed the mountain ahead of her. Ren Xiaoyao's Spiritual Sense could detect that these guards were all Grandmaster Realm experts.

Not long afterward, the Empress appeared atop the Imperial Observatory.

The Empress wore a dragon robe and an Emperor Crown, with a long sword hanging at her waist. Though she was already over fifty, she looked only a little over thirty.

As the first female Son of Heaven in all dynasties.

The Empress naturally possessed supreme majesty.

Although Li Chunfeng usually said that compared to the endless void and the vast universe, even the Empress was no more than a speck of dust.

But under these circumstances, Li Chunfeng did not even have the courage to look directly at the Empress, because the oppressive force was simply too great.

Only Li Chunfeng came to receive the Empress. By rights, the Director should have been there as well, but the Director's dementia had flared up again, making it inconvenient for him to pay respects to the Empress.

Inside his room, Ren Xiaoyao's Spiritual Sense also heard the conversation between the Empress and Li Chunfeng. The Empress expressed her hope that Li Chunfeng would enter the Capital City and serve her, and that she would grant Li Chunfeng the official rank of First-Rank Imperial Preceptor.

Li Chunfeng naturally refused without hesitation.

The Empress's expression instantly turned cold, but she did not say much. Instead, she spoke, "Chunfeng, I recall that Ren Xiaoyao is a disciple registered under your name, is he not? Have him come out. I wish to see him."

When Li Chunfeng heard the Empress's words, the corner of his eye twitched. He did not know what medicine the Empress was selling from her gourd.

Why did she suddenly want to see Ren Xiaoyao?

But since the Empress had spoken, Li Chunfeng could only have Ren Xiaoyao come out.

Ren Xiaoyao's Spiritual Sense had naturally detected this conversation as well. Though he was puzzled, his skill was high and his courage great, so he did not fear the Empress. Upon hearing Li Chunfeng call for him, he came out to meet the Empress.

Yet Ren Xiaoyao was, after all, a transmigrator and had no habit of kneeling to anyone. When the Empress saw this, she did not become angry. Instead, her gaze softened.

"Ren Xiaoyao, I have already investigated the matter. The one who released the Saintess of the Mystic Moon Demonic Cult back then was not you. You were wrongfully accused. This time, I have come to the Imperial Observatory to take you back to the palace. From now on, you will remain by my side. Are you willing?"

Before Ren Xiaoyao could answer, words appeared before his eyes once more.

[You have received the Empress's invitation. You have the following choices]

[One, agree to the Empress and follow her into the Imperial Palace. You may obtain the Empress's favor]

[Two, refuse the Empress and remain in the Imperial Observatory to continue cultivating immortality in a low-key manner. You may obtain a magic item]