When Qingxu Zi stepped into Zhenghe Hall, a large contingent of Imperial Guards and Embroidery Guards was pouring out through the collapsed Duan Gate, driving away the crowds outside the Imperial City.
Court officials and martial cultivators of the martial world alike were all driven off.
None of the spectators dared linger. In moments, they scattered like birds and beasts.
The Imperial Guards were utterly overbearing. If a martial cultivator lingered even briefly, a rain of arrows came flying.
If a court official cast one extra glance through the palace gates, someone swung a court staff or iron whip without mercy to drive them away.
The Imperial Court and the Son of Heaven could do nothing about the Formless Divine Sect and Li Changsheng, but they showed these people no courtesy.
"What are you staring at? All unauthorized persons, get out!"
"Li Yuesan, just try staying on that rooftop! Don't you call yourself the Eight-Legged Spider? Believe me, I'll tear off every last one of your spider legs!"
"All officials, return to your respective offices! Until noon, no unauthorized movements or private discussions! Offenders will be charged with breaches of decorum, disrespect, and spreading pernicious rumors!"
"Those from the Ministry of Rites and the Court of State Ceremonies, follow me. The Formless Divine Sect's sect master is having an audience with His Majesty today. Under Taizu's Great Ning Collection of Ceremonies, the head of a first-rank divine sect ranks equal to a prince! As ceremonial officials, we must not neglect our duties."
"His Majesty decrees! Since His Majesty's accession, the Imperial City's defenses have long grown lax. Today, His Majesty deliberately enlisted the Formless Sect Master to test them, as a warning to the Inner Palace Direct Hall Directorate and all divisions of the Imperial Guards. The city's people need