Lin Changqing rode on Golden Radiance's back, feeling the night breeze blow against him.
He reached out and patted Golden Radiance's neck. The Qilin gave a low rumble, clearly enjoying its master's touch.
Sixth Ancestor was still standing where he was, the shock on his face not yet fully faded.
"Boundless Saint Emperor."
Lin Changqing looked down at Sixth Ancestor, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"I'm no chosen one of Heaven."
He stroked the golden mane along Golden Radiance's neck and said casually, "Maybe rare and exotic beasts just naturally take a liking to me."
Sixth Ancestor's mouth twitched.
Rare and exotic beasts just naturally took a liking to him?
That was a Pureblood Qilin, a sacred beast that existed only in legend.
Across the entire Heavenly Martial Continent, even in ancient times, anyone who could make a Pureblood Qilin willingly submit had been an unrivaled hero who founded a sect or established a powerful dynasty.
He made it sound so effortless.
But Sixth Ancestor naturally kept those words to himself.
He merely bowed and clasped his hands again, his tone utterly respectful.
"Prince Wu'an is too modest."
Lin Changqing didn't continue the subject. He looked up at the sky.
Night had fallen deep, and the moon hung halfway up the sky.
"I'll leave things here to you."
As soon as he finished speaking, Golden Radiance raised its head and let out a clear cry. Its four hooves trod upon Golden Thunder as it soared into the sky.
Its golden silhouette traced an arc across the night sky, flying toward Prince Wu'an Mansion.
Sixth Ancestor watched the receding golden light and slowly straightened up.
He stood where he was, motionless for a long while.
The night breeze stirred his white robe, while the moonlight fell across the wrinkles on his face.
He had lived for over two thousand three hundred years and weathered countless storms.
But what had happened tonight... still left even this old man unable to calm his mind.
A Martial Saint sect leader who had betrayed the Human Race had been slain with a single sword strike, and a Cyan Sword Lotus had lit up the entire Capital City.
Then a Pureblood Qilin had descended from the sky, willingly becoming a mount.
Any one of these three events, taken alone, would have been enough to cause an uproar!
Yet tonight... all three had happened at once.
And every one of them was connected to the same person!
Meanwhile,
Xiao Qianjun moved closer to Sixth Ancestor, his expression complicated.
He first glanced in the direction Lin Changqing had gone, making sure he was truly far away.
Only then did he lower his voice, speaking with a hint of worry.
"Sixth Ancestor... there's something I'm not sure I should say."
Sixth Ancestor turned his gaze from the night sky and looked at him.
"Go ahead."
Xiao Qianjun carefully chose his words, lowering his voice further.
"Almost everyone in the Capital City saw what just happened."
"A Pureblood Qilin acknowledging its master, auspicious signs descending from the heavens—such phenomena have been recorded only a handful of times in the ancient texts. And every time, they foretold the rise of an unrivaled hero."
"Now the people of the Capital City are all shouting, 'Long live Prince Wu'an!' And on top of that, there are the four words you just said yourself, Sixth Ancestor: 'chosen one of Heaven'..."
He paused, his voice dropping even lower.
"If Prince Wu'an wanted to go further, given the strength and prestige he's displayed, I fear no one in the Great Yu Dynasty could keep him in check."
He had put it very tactfully.
But everyone present understood.
What did "go further" mean?
He was already Prince Wu'an. The next step would be the Dragon Throne!
With Lin Changqing's strength, able to kill an Early Martial Saint with a single sword strike, and a mount that was itself an Early Martial Saint, all the Martial Saints openly serving the Great Yu Dynasty together wouldn't be enough to take him on.
If he truly had such an intention, who could stop him?
Chen Zhan, commander of the Imperial Guard, also stepped forward and clasped his fists. "Sixth Ancestor, Chief Xiao makes a fair point."
His expression was grave, his voice heavy.
"Prince Wu'an's strength is unfathomable."
"Before tonight, we all thought he was merely an ordinary Martial Saint Peak. But from the sword strike with which he just killed that sect leader, even with my mere eighth-rank cultivation, I could tell it was no technique an ordinary Martial Saint Peak could wield."
"Not to mention that Pureblood Qilin."
Han Yue, commander of the Royal Forest Guard, nodded in agreement as well.
"Sixth Ancestor, after tonight, Prince Wu'an's prestige among the people will reach unprecedented heights."
"The common folk don't care about the balance of power at court. They only know that a Qilin acknowledging its master means Heaven's will has been fulfilled. If someone stirs the pot behind the scenes... the consequences will be unthinkable!"
"We're not questioning Prince Wu'an's character. We're only thinking of the dynasty's well-being. Some things must be guarded against."
The three men's positions were clear.
They were all loyal ministers of the Great Yu Dynasty, concerned for its safety.
Sixth Ancestor fell silent for a moment after hearing them out.
Then he slowly shook his head.
"This matter... must not be brought up again."
His tone was calm, yet carried unquestionable authority.
"You've only seen his strength and prestige. You haven't seen his attitude."
Xiao Qianjun gave a slight start.
"His attitude?"
Sixth Ancestor stroked his beard, his gaze turning toward the direction Lin Changqing had disappeared.
"When I personally went to Green Province to recruit him, you all knew what terms I offered."
"One and a half million Top-grade Spirit Crystals every year, all of Yu Province as his fief, and autonomy over military, political, and tax affairs. If it had been anyone with ambition, what would they have done?"
He looked at Xiao Qianjun and answered his own question.
"They would have demanded a few more provinces. They would have expanded their fief. They would have made exorbitant demands, squeezing out every last bit they could."
"But Evergreen Saint Venerable didn't. He accepted exactly what I gave him and didn't even try to bargain."
Sixth Ancestor turned his gaze to Chen Zhan and Han Yue.
"And what about court affairs? Since he came to the Capital City, have you seen him place his own people in the court? Seen him grow especially close to any minister? Seen him try to win anyone over?"
Chen Zhan and Han Yue exchanged a glance, then both shook their heads.
He hadn't.
Since Prince Wu'an entered the Capital City, aside from the banquet and investiture ceremony arranged by His Majesty, he had hardly had any private dealings with the court ministers.
He hadn't even sent anyone to manage his fief.
The only exception was Princess Yunshu.
But that, too, had been arranged by His Majesty. It hadn't been something Prince Wu'an asked for himself.
"And then there's tonight."
Sixth Ancestor continued.
"I was the one who brought up the idea of a 'chosen one of Heaven.' You heard me. How did he react?"
Xiao Qianjun thought back.
Prince Wu'an had only smiled and said, "Maybe rare and exotic beasts just naturally take a liking to me."
He hadn't tried to seize the opportunity and climb higher at all.
He hadn't even shown the slightest pride.
It was as though the words "chosen one of Heaven" were just some meaningless title to him.
"This man truly seems to have little interest in power or status."
Sixth Ancestor reached his final judgment.
"His heart isn't set on court politics, but on the martial path."
"A man like that, even if you gave him even greater prestige, would be too lazy to fight for anything. I've lived for over two thousand years. I still know how to read people."
He paused, his tone growing even more certain.
"So I choose to trust him. You needn't worry any further."
Xiao Qianjun was silent for a moment, then clasped his fists.
"If Sixth Ancestor says so, this subordinate will obey."
Chen Zhan and Han Yue clasped their fists as well.
"This subordinate obeys. Still, we hope His Majesty and Sixth Ancestor will remain vigilant about this. After all, it never hurts to guard against others..."
Sixth Ancestor nodded and said no more on the subject.
He turned around, his gaze falling upon the figure bound hand and foot in the corner of the alley.
Qian Youde, Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
By now, all the color had drained from Qian Youde's face.
His legs were as weak as noodles, and he lay sprawled on the ground, the ropes digging into his fat.
He had watched Red Python Sect Leader get split in two by Lin Changqing's sword.
It had all happened so quickly that before he could even take it in, everything was over.
His greatest support, the Capital Branch Sect of the Holy Demon God Sect, had been completely wiped out in the space of a few incense sticks.
Now, only one fate awaited him.
And his family would probably not escape it either.
Sixth Ancestor walked up to Qian Youde and looked down at him, his gaze cold.
"The external threat has been dealt with for now. Next, we'll handle this traitor who betrayed his own people."
He turned to Xiao Qianjun and gave an order.
"Xiao Qianjun, send people at once to arrest every member of Qian Youde's household in the Capital City and lock them up in the Ministry of Justice Prison. Don't let a single one escape."
"For his clansmen outside the Capital City, immediately send messages by Flying Eagle to the Inspectors of every province. Have them arrested and brought to justice as quickly as possible."
Xiao Qianjun clasped his fists, his voice ringing out firmly.
"This subordinate obeys!"
At those words, Qian Youde shuddered violently.
He struggled to lift his head, his face a mess of snot and tears.
"S-Sixth Ancestor, spare me! I was forced! Red Python coerced me!"
His voice was hoarse and shrill, breaking with sobs.
"I didn't want to join them either! But they had me over a barrel. I had no choice! Please show mercy, Sixth Ancestor! Please show mercy!"
He wailed and kowtowed, pounding his forehead against the ground with thuds until blood soon marked his brow.
The Demon Suppression Guard soldier holding him frowned.
"Shut your filthy mouth!"
A third-rank elite martial artist swung his hand and slapped Qian Youde hard across the face, once on each cheek.
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