Proactive Attack, Five Great Families Annihilated Overnight

After finalizing their earth-shattering conspiracy, the heads of the five great clans returned to their respective estates.

They began secretly mobilizing troops and contacting their retainers, preparing to deliver a "surprise" to the young new emperor.

Regardless of which of the three strategies they chose, each was an inescapable scheme; they only needed to wait.

To them, victory was already ordained by heaven.

Imperial Palace, Heart Nourishing Hall.

Lin Hanzhou sat quietly at his desk, perusing a secret report just submitted by the Shadow Guard commander, Xuan Ya.

The report contained a detailed record of the secret meeting held by the heads of the five great clans.

Among the details were their three strategies, as well as the names and numbers of the innate experts each clan possessed, all laid bare.

"Cui Clan, two innate second-stage retainers, one innate first-stage."

"Li Clan, one innate second-stage retainer, three innate first-stage."

"..."

"In total, seven innate second-stage and twelve innate first-stage experts."

"Heh, what a grand display."

Lin Hanzhou set down the report, a cold smile appearing on his face.

The thousand-year heritage of these clans was truly not to be underestimated.

These five families alone possessed nineteen hidden innate experts, more than the number of innate experts in his Shadow Guard.

It was no wonder they were so emboldened, daring to plot a coup.

"Your Majesty, shall I mobilize the Imperial Guard to surround these five estates and carry out arrests?"

Xuan Ya stood respectfully to the side, seeking instructions.

"No need."

Lin Hanzhou shook his head and slowly stood up.

"Mobilizing the Imperial Guard into the city would cause too much of a stir and would certainly be detected. The Imperial Guard only needs to secretly surround the Capital City."

He walked outside the hall and gazed at the waning moon on the horizon, his voice calm yet filled with boundless killing intent.

"I intend to pay them a personal visit. I want to see exactly how they plan to harm me."

"Pass on my decree."

Lin Hanzhou turned around, his eyes deep and profound.

"I command you to gather all the Shadow Guards and accompany me out of the palace."

"Also, order the commander of the Imperial Guard to surround the Capital City immediately; allow entry, but no exit."

"After tonight, the five great clans will cease to exist. You understand my meaning, don't you?"

"This subordinate obeys!"

Xuan Ya felt a chill in his heart. He knew that this young emperor intended to take action personally, resolving the dynasty's greatest threat in the most direct manner possible.

Midnight, the darkest hour of the night.

Lin Hanzhou changed into a sharp black martial outfit with a long sword hanging at his waist, while Xuan Ya gathered the Shadow Guards at the palace.

"Tonight, follow me to kill. Leave no one from the five great clans alive!"

Lin Hanzhou offered no superfluous words, stating only that simple command.

The Shadow Guards did not respond verbally, but instead knelt on one knee in unison, their eyes burning with battle intent.

Their attitude was the best response they could give to Lin Hanzhou.

Immediately, the group vanished into the palace without a sound, like a pack of reapers merging with the night.

They sped toward their first target: the estate of the Wang Clan of Taiyuan.

Outside the Capital City, the commander of the Imperial Guard led two hundred thousand troops under the guise of patrol, firmly securing the four city gates.

Forty thousand Imperial Guards stood ready at each gate; with such a formation, even an innate expert would not dare to force their way through.

The Capital City was now a place where one could enter, but never leave.

The Wang estate was heavily guarded, second only to the Imperial Palace.

It housed hundreds of private soldiers, each a skilled fighter in the post-natal realm, patrolling day and night without rest.

But before the Shadow Guards led by Xuan Ya, these defenses were as good as non-existent.

The Shadow Guards moved like ghosts, silently eliminating every hidden sentry and clearing a path for Lin Hanzhou.

When Lin Hanzhou and his party stepped into the inner courtyard of the Wang estate, they were finally discovered.

"Who goes there?!"

A shrill alarm instantly shattered the tranquility of the Wang estate.

"Kill!"

Lin Hanzhou spat out only this single, icy word.

The Shadow Guard behind him surged forward like tigers into a flock of sheep, instantly pouncing upon the Wang Clan's private soldiers who had come running at the sound.

Lin Hanzhou's targets, however, were the auras of the several Xiantian experts deep within the Wang estate.

His figure flickered like a bolt of lightning, streaking directly toward the depths of the inner courtyard.

"What petty thief dares to trespass in my Wang Clan!"

Three powerful auras erupted into the sky as three elders dressed in the robes of Wang Clan retainers blocked Lin Hanzhou's path.

These three were, shockingly, all Xiantian First Realm powerhouses.

"I advise you to retreat at once, or do not blame us for being merciless!"

The lead elder shouted sternly.

Lin Hanzhou looked at them, a trace of pity appearing on his face.

"Three old dogs, daring to bark wildly in front of this Emperor?"

"You... you are... the current Emperor?!"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the three changed drastically.

They were well aware of the current Emperor's prowess; he was a ruthless man who had carved his way to the throne by slaughtering several Xiantian experts.

"Correct, but unfortunately, there is no prize."

Before Lin Hanzhou's voice had even faded, the long sword at his waist had already left its scabbard.

It was that same Thunder Slash.

But this time, he used a bit more strength—about thirty percent, perhaps.

After all, they were three Xiantian experts; he had to show them a modicum of respect.

"Hum!"

A blue-purple Sword Qi, thick as an arm and crackling with thunder, erupted outward with a terrifying momentum that seemed to tear the heavens asunder!

The three Wang Clan retainers were struck with horror and hurriedly joined forces to defend, attempting to block the strike.

However, in the face of absolute power, all efforts were in vain.

"Boom—!"

The thunderous Sword Qi tore through all their defenses like dry wood, passing straight through their bodies.

"Ah!"

The three Xiantian experts, who could have been revered as masters and ancestors in the outside world, let out only a single scream before the violent power of the thunder blasted them into a sky full of gore on the spot.

He killed Xiantian experts as easily as killing dogs!

Lin Hanzhou did not even glance at the bloody scene; his figure did not pause as he charged directly into the study of the Wang Clan head, Wang Lie.

When Wang Lie saw Lin Hanzhou descend like a demon god, he was paralyzed with terror.

"You..."

He only had time to utter a single word before Lin Hanzhou decapitated him with a single stroke.

Having dealt with the Wang Clan, Lin Hanzhou and his party did not linger for a moment, immediately rushing to their next target—the Li Clan.

The method was the same, and the result was identical.

The Li Clan's one Xiantian Second Realm expert and three Xiantian First Realm experts could not survive a single move under Lin Hanzhou's blade.

The Li Clan head, Li Changfeng, had his neck snapped by Lin Hanzhou amidst his terror and despair.

The Lu Clan...

The Zheng Clan...

The Cui Clan...

For the Capital City, this night was a sleepless one.

Ordinary citizens might have known nothing, but for the upper echelons of power, it was nothing short of a nightmare.

They could clearly hear the sounds of slaughter and shrill screams echoing one after another from five different directions in the city.

This massacre lasted the entire night, only subsiding when the sky began to brighten.

The five great clans, which had been passed down for a thousand years and held power over the court, were uprooted in a single night.

All nineteen of their Xiantian experts were executed.

Core family members were either killed on the spot or thrown into the Heavenly Prison.

Their estates were sealed by the Imperial Guard, and all their wealth was confiscated for the state.

This news, like a magnitude-twelve super earthquake, spread instantly throughout the entire Capital City once dawn broke.

Furthermore, the news spread even faster, rippling out toward the entire Great Sui dynasty.

Everyone was completely terrified and shaken to their core by the iron-blooded ruthlessness and dominance of this new Emperor.

With the five top-tier "sacrificial heads," Lin Hanzhou told the entire world:

Those who submit shall prosper; those who resist shall perish!