Jiang Changsheng vanished from the rooftop and appeared beside Crown Prince Jiang Qian the next second. With a sweep of his sleeve, spiritual power blasted back all the surrounding soldiers, shattering their internal organs. The moment they hit the ground, they died.
He raised a finger toward Jiang Qian, who was clutching his throat and struggling in agony. Spiritual power passed through Jiang Qian's hands, and the Spring Return Spell swiftly sealed his wound, successfully stopping the bleeding.
The reason he had saved Jiang Qian was also because of his conduct. Facing certain death, Jiang Qian had not cowered, but had still tried to protect his Empress Dowager with the bearing of royalty.
This was Jiang Changsheng's first time seeing the Crown Prince who had replaced him. He was better than Jiang Changsheng had expected. No wonder Chen Li had once held the Crown Prince in such high regard.
At the end of the day, this fellow was pitiful too. As Crown Prince, he had never done anything immoral. On the contrary, he had an excellent reputation. Countless commoners had hoped the Emperor would die sooner so that the Crown Prince could ascend the throne.
However, though Jiang Changsheng had saved him, he could not possibly allow him to remain Crown Prince.
"Who are you, sir?"
Hong Lie stared at Jiang Changsheng and asked in a deep voice. Rather than being enraged by Jiang Changsheng's words, he became even more cautious. Anyone who dared come alone had to be an expert, and Jiang Changsheng's movement technique was too bizarre. He had never seen such martial arts before.
The surrounding soldiers trembled like leaves in the wind, none daring to rush forward. The corpses of the soldiers on the ground had deeply shaken them.
The Empress was still reeling from the fright as she watched Jiang Changsheng, equally confused.
Who was this man?
Jiang Changsheng had disguised not only his appearance, but also his voice. Even the disciples of Dragon Arising Temple would have found it difficult to recognize him.
His gaze crossed layers upon layers of black-armored soldiers and settled on Hong Lie atop his horse. He said coldly, "You do not even know how deep the waters of Great Jing run, yet you dare rebel. What a joke. Be smarter in your next life."
He raised his right hand and shouted softly, "Rise!"
In an instant, every blade, sword, and long spear in the soldiers' hands broke free from their grasp and flew into the air, hanging upside down in unison. Everyone's eyes widened at the sight, including the Empress and Jiang Qian, whose bleeding had been stopped.
What kind of martial art was this?
Hong Lie gripped his great saber tightly, only to feel an incomparably terrifying force dragging at it. After holding out for several seconds, his saber also flew into the air, its tip pointed at him.
Sword Control Art!
What it controlled was not limited to swords. Any weapon would do. So long as the opponent's strength was far below one's own, one could seize their weapon from afar.
Jiang Changsheng lowered his right hand, and the weapons filling the sky fell like rain. Many soldiers were pierced through before they could flee, blood splashing across the Empress's courtyard. Hong Lie leaped from his horse and dodged rapidly.
This great general's martial arts were formidable in their own right. Otherwise, he could not have become a founding general in a world of martial arts.
Jiang Changsheng sensed his True Qi. It was very close to the Heaven-reaching Realm, but only close.
In less than ten breaths, the several hundred soldiers inside and outside the courtyard had all died miserably, their own weapons embedded all over their bodies. Hong Lie's iron armor had been pierced through. Covered in blood, he leaned against the palace wall, staring fixedly at Jiang Changsheng as he gasped for air.
He could not escape. Blades and swords hung above his head, before him, and on both sides.
His eyes were filled with terror.
How could this man's martial arts be so powerful?
He had never seen such a martial art before. It was too terrifying!
Jiang Changsheng's voice drifted over. "I told you that you would die a miserable death."
As soon as the words fell, Hong Lie's screams rang out, accompanied by the sound of blades piercing flesh, enough to make one's scalp tingle.
Jiang Changsheng turned around and lifted Jiang Qian. Just as he was about to walk toward the Empress, a voice sounded. "Your martial arts are truly wicked, sir, but you cannot take His Highness the Crown Prince away."
The Calamity Twin Buddhas raced over from the rooftops of the palaces, swiftly landing in the courtyard. The two assumed fighting stances.
Jiang Changsheng ignored them and looked at the Empress. "Come. I will take you out, lest you die in the palace."
The Empress took a deep breath and said, "Hong Lie is dead. Seventh Prince's subordinates will not harm me; they know where the line lies. Take the Crown Prince and go. I beg you, Senior, please keep him safe."
Upon hearing this, Calamity Buddha immediately charged at Jiang Changsheng. He moved like a ghost, too fast for the naked eye to follow.
Jiang Changsheng turned and kicked, striking Calamity Buddha at an even faster speed and stomping him into the ground. Stone slabs shattered, earth caved in, and Calamity Buddha opened his mouth wide, spraying blood. His eyes bulged with shock.
Both the Empress and Disaster Buddha were stunned.
Jiang Changsheng planted his right foot on Calamity Buddha, held the weakened Jiang Qian in his left hand, and looked at Disaster Buddha in the distance. "Does Great Vehicle Dragon Tower not have any experts stronger than the Heaven-reaching Realm?"
Overbearing!
What terrifying strength!
Disaster Buddha frowned deeply. He knew Calamity Buddha's strength well, yet Calamity Buddha had been subdued with a single kick. He was no match for this man.
His thoughts raced like lightning. After thinking it through, he said in a deep voice, "So you are a God Heart Realm expert, sir. But even a God Heart Realm expert will meet no good end after offending Great Vehicle Dragon Tower!"
God Heart Realm?
What realm was that?
Jiang Changsheng was surprised inwardly. Could there be a God Heart Realm between the Heaven-reaching Realm and the Divine Being Realm?
From what the other man said, Great Vehicle Dragon Tower was capable of dealing with even a God Heart Realm expert.
Jiang Changsheng smiled disdainfully. "Then I shall wait in Gu Han for Great Vehicle Dragon Tower to come. As for where I am in Gu Han, that will depend on whether your Great Vehicle Dragon Tower has the ability to find me."
His right foot pressed down harder, shattering Calamity Buddha's bones and sinews. Calamity Buddha let out a shrill cry before fainting.
Disaster Buddha's eyes nearly split apart at the sight. He hated Jiang Changsheng to the bone, yet did not dare attack rashly.
Jiang Changsheng used his right hand to lift the crippled Calamity Buddha. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly sensed something.
Figures leaped up from behind the palace walls in every direction. There were thirteen in all, surrounding Jiang Changsheng. Each wore a bamboo hat and dressed like an assassin. Their clothes were even somewhat tattered, but they gripped blades and swords, their killing intent surging.
Thirteen Heaven-reaching Realm experts. Together with the Disaster Twin Buddhas, that made fifteen Heaven-reaching Realm experts!
Jiang Changsheng had deliberately waited for them to reveal themselves. He marveled inwardly. Good grief. In the past, even a single Heaven-reaching Realm expert was difficult to find, yet after the Seventh Prince rose to power, Great Vehicle Dragon Tower had dispatched fifteen Heaven-reaching Realm experts. Great Vehicle Dragon Tower's foundation was indeed frightening. No wonder Jiang Yuan had no choice but to lower his head, abandon him, and support the Seventh Prince.
The leading female assassin said in a deep voice, "Sir, put down the Crown Prince. Let today's events be treated as though they never happened."
Jiang Changsheng asked teasingly, "Do you want him dead, or do you want to save him?"
The thirteen fell silent.
Jiang Changsheng suddenly kicked up a sword from the ground, then leaped into the air and rode the sword away. Before the thirteen assassins and Disaster Buddha could react, he had already vanished into the distance. His hoarse laughter echoed beneath the vault of heaven:
"His life and death will still be decided by me!"
The thirteen Heaven-reaching assassins immediately gave chase, but how could they possibly catch Jiang Changsheng flying on a sword?
Disaster Buddha looked at the Empress and said in a deep voice, "Please return to your palace, Your Majesty. There will be no shortage of slaughter in the palace today. Do not let it frighten Your Majesty."
The Empress nodded expressionlessly and turned to return to her palace.
Jiang Changsheng lingered above the sea of clouds for several circuits, only leaving after confirming that Disaster Buddha would not harm the Empress.
Fifteen Heaven-reaching Realm experts were no match for him at all. He simply did not want to alert the snake in the grass. If he killed them now, Great Vehicle Dragon Tower would surely send an even stronger force, which would be disadvantageous. Moreover, keeping Disaster Buddha alive would provide a witness. He had witnessed Little Prince Wei's birth and could guarantee that Little Prince Wei had absolutely not been switched.
Before learning Great Vehicle Dragon Tower's true strength, Jiang Changsheng still had to proceed carefully.
Once he was one hundred percent certain that he was stronger than all the experts of Great Vehicle Dragon Tower combined, Great Vehicle Dragon Tower would be finished.
At that time, he could even openly support Little Prince Wei!
Holding one person in each hand, Jiang Changsheng flew above Dragon Arising Temple. When no one was looking, he dove down and landed in his own courtyard.
White Dragon and Ping'an were startled. Ping'an was still young and would not remember this incident in the future. He merely giggled at Jiang Changsheng.
Jiang Changsheng brought the two inside and set down the unconscious Calamity Buddha and Jiang Qian.
Calamity Buddha was certain to die. Before his death, Jiang Changsheng could interrogate him about Great Vehicle Dragon Tower's true strength. As for Jiang Qian, that would depend on his choice.
Jiang Qian lay on the ground with a pained expression. The wound on his throat had only been stabilized temporarily, and he had other injuries as well. His internal organs had been damaged, making even breathing difficult.
Jiang Changsheng began treating his injuries. There were no disciples near the courtyard; they had already rushed to the mountain gate, fearing the rebel army might come up the mountain.
Half an hour later, Jiang Qian's injuries finally improved, and his throat barely managed to produce a sound.
If Jiang Changsheng had not cultivated immortality, even the most skilled physician could not have saved him.
Jiang Qian looked at Jiang Changsheng with difficulty and said in a trembling voice, "Thank you... Senior..."
Jiang Changsheng sat cross-legged on the bed, looking down at him. "From this day onward, you can no longer be the Crown Prince. What plans do you have for the future?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Qian immediately became agitated, then began coughing. He said with difficulty, "Why... I am the Crown Prince... When Father returns..."
"You are a false Crown Prince."
Jiang Changsheng interrupted impatiently. Jiang Qian was struck as though by lightning, his entire body freezing.
His eyes instantly reddened, and his body trembled as tears began to fall.
"So that is how it is... So that is how it is... Empress Dowager was not mad... I was merely a chess piece... No wonder Father treated me that way and would not grant me military authority. No wonder the Yang family suddenly distanced themselves from me..."
Jiang Qian cried as though he had gone mad, then let out wild, crazed laughter.
He began to turn over and struggled to crawl upright. Jiang Changsheng watched him calmly, wanting to see what he intended to do.
Jiang Qian shakily picked up the Taihang Sword from the table and drew it from its sheath. Gripping the blade with both hands, he actually drove the sword tip into his own face. Blood flowed down his hands and splashed onto the floor.
Jiang Changsheng did not stop him. He simply watched.
Jiang Qian disfigured himself, his face a bloody blur while only his eyes remained clear. He put down the Taihang Sword and fell heavily to the ground. Then he rose again and painfully crawled to Jiang Changsheng's feet, saying weakly, "Please accept me, Senior... I will not be the Crown Prince anymore... But I want to live..."
He understood that so long as his face remained intact, he would suffer endless pursuit and assassination.
Jiang Changsheng said calmly, "If you wish to follow me, you must let go of your hatred. From now on, remain on this mountain and cultivate the Tao with me."
Jiang Qian said painfully, "This junior... is willing..."
Jiang Changsheng removed his mask, revealing an incomparably young face. Jiang Qian stared blankly.
"This is Dragon Arising Temple. My Taoist name is Changsheng. Give yourself a name. Forget the past and begin anew."
Jiang Qian had naturally heard of Changsheng Taoist Priest. His heart was already dead, and he did not care who the other man was. Gritting his teeth, he said, "From now on, I am Wang Chen..."
After saying that, Jiang Qian completely fainted.
Jiang Changsheng sighed and treated his injuries once more.
This fellow truly knew how to torment himself.
At the same time, a line of text appeared before his eyes:
In the thirtieth year of Kaiyuan, you clashed with Hong Lie and his soldiers while saving your mother, then encountered attacks from the Disaster Twin Buddhas and the Thirteen Heavenly Lodestar Assassins. Fortunately, you escaped alive. You received a survival reward—the ultimate art, 'Mystic Sect Dharma Form'.
He had finally obtained a survival reward!
Jiang Changsheng smiled, looking forward to seeing the power of the Mystic Sect Dharma Form.
An extra chapter, since everyone has demanded it so strongly. Then let there be an extra chapter. Each chapter is over three thousand words, and today's update has reached ten thousand words!
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