A surprise attack by the white-robed arcanist

He's dead. He's finally dead.

Xu Qi'an slowly exhaled a breath of stale air. The intense tension had left him feeling extremely exhausted, a fatigue that stemmed from both his body and mind.

The series of battles had left him in very poor condition, especially during the dragon-riding combat. At first glance, he appeared incredibly fierce, decisively and swiftly killing Joan of Arc.

In reality, it's a trade-off of injuries, killing a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of your own.

Joan of Arc's counterattack, and the backlash from her shattered body, inflicted immense trauma on Xu Qi'an.

But it was all worth it, all worth it.

Xu Qi'an stood on the back of the spirit dragon, gazing at the vast land, and slowly exhaled.

I finally let out all the pent-up frustration that had been building up inside me all this time.

After a moment of silence, he tore off a strip of cloth, tied up his long, disheveled hair, straightened his tattered clothes, and bowed deeply to the northeast.

Duke Wei, may you rest in peace.

Duke Wei, you shall be a hero in your next life too!

He's dead. His father is dead. The crown prince stood on the city wall, gazing blankly at the distant horizon.

Scenes from the past flashed through his mind: his majestic father sitting high on the dragon throne, his majestic father shouting orders, his majestic father wearing a Daoist robe, his serious father controlling the court. This father, who had held power for nearly forty years, had actually died at the hands of a commoner. The crown prince shed tears of emotion.

Wang Shoufu was also looking at him. The old man's face and eyes were extremely complicated, with pleasure, sadness, emotion, and sadness.

He stared blankly into the distance, motionless for a long time, probably reminiscing about his official career, which ended with the emperor's death.

The courtiers wore complex expressions, speechless for a moment, immersed in the scene of the emperor's demise.

Xu Qi'an murdered the emperor!

In the six hundred years since the Great Feng Dynasty, apart from Emperor Wuzong's purge of corrupt officials, no emperor who Great Feng rulers has ever been executed.

Yuan Jing, or Zhen De, was the first emperor in the history of the Great Feng to be killed in the capital by a commoner.

Today's events will surely leave a significant mark on history, and even centuries from now, future generations will likely find them fascinating when discussing this period of history.

Starting from the sixteenth year of the Yuanjing era and continuing until the thirty-seventh year, the story inevitably includes the sacrifice of Wei Yuan and the annihilation of 80,000 soldiers. This emperor in the history of the Great Feng Dynasty, who was obsessed with Daoist cultivation, was ultimately beheaded in the capital by the commoner Xu Qi'an.

As everyone was filled with emotion, they suddenly heard a mournful cry.

Following the sound, they saw Imperial Censor Zhang Xingying leaning against the wall, tears streaming down his face.

The former Wei Party members, one by one, had tears in their eyes, some bowing their heads to wipe them away, others raising their heads to keep the tears from falling.

A moment later, including Zhang Xingying, who broke down in tears, these powerful members of the Wei faction made a daring move in front of all the other factions.

They straightened their clothes, bowed to the northeast, then turned and bowed to the person on the horizon, remaining there for a long time.

At this very moment, on the other side of the imperial city, Huaiqing stood against the wind, her plain dress fluttering in the breeze.

The wind tousled her hair, gently caressing her exquisite and beautiful face. The eldest princess loosened her tightly clenched fists, letting out a sigh of relief.

He never disappointed her; he was brave, domineering, wise, and omnipotent. This battle, though fraught with twists and turns and worries, such as when the national sword soared into the sky.

But Huaiqing still didn't believe Xu Qi'an would lose, because he had never lost before.

He was an extraordinary man, one whom even she had to admire and respect.

Huaiqing brushed her flowing hair behind her ear. Unlike the Crown Prince, who shed tears of emotion, she felt a mix of exhilaration and melancholy.

The death of Joan of Arc was just the beginning; the real issue was how to handle the aftermath.

This mainly consists of two aspects: first, an explanation of the situation in the Central Plains.

These include the common people of various states, the governments of various places, the armies of various places, and people from all walks of life.

From the perspective of ordinary people, the core issue to consider is "public sentiment." Whether one is open and honest or conceals information, it will lead to a complete loss of public support.

The same principle applies to the military. In a sense, maintaining morale among the troops is more important than maintaining morale among the people, especially for the soldiers in the North and the three northeastern states.

This group is the most likely to mutiny.

If Xu Qi'an loses this battle, the more than 10,000 soldiers in Yuyang Pass will surely rebel.

Local governments need to appease the people and prevent them from becoming fearful or uneasy about this matter. Only in this way can they help stabilize the people's hearts and prevent the underworld organizations from taking advantage of the situation to cause trouble.

Secondly, the new emperor.

For the capital city now, the most crucial event is the ascension of the new emperor.

The ascension of a new emperor is the prerequisite for everything; only with a new emperor can the various factions be stabilized. If the Great Feng Dynasty is leaderless, coupled with the actions of Empress Joan of Arc, the Central Plains will inevitably descend into chaos.

"Your Highness, you've finally made it through."

Huaiqing gazed at the city wall of the Meridian Gate, looking at the small, dark mass of people. Her smile was strange, a mixture of mockery and disdain.

"The dog emperor is finally dead!!"

Li Miaozhen clenched her fists, both excited and thrilled, wishing she could let out a long roar to express her joy.

But at the same time, she felt a sense of loss; the dog emperor was dead, and her youth had come to an end.

When the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Sect descended the mountain in her youthful beauty and began her adventures in the martial world, her catchphrase for the past two years was:

Sooner or later, I'll assassinate that dog emperor.

Two years have passed in a flash, the dog emperor is dead, and she suddenly feels a sense of melancholy, as if a certain journey in her life has come to a complete end.

Chu Yuanzhen didn't speak; his face was already wet with tears.

Ten years of scholarly ambition have finally been quelled today.

Hengyuan clasped his hands together, bowed his head slightly, and remained silent, as if reminiscing about the junior brother he had raised.

"My father would be overjoyed to know that the Emperor of Great Feng has been killed, and he'll be thinking about war."

Lina said, "He loves war. He says the women of Great Feng are the best, their clothes are the best, their houses are the best, everything is the best. He wants to take everything."

Lina's father is a devout follower, but his methods of being a devout follower are somewhat wrong.

I admire the Great Feng culture and everything about Great Feng, so I want to take it all.

"Useless, useless, useless!"

The leader of the Earth Sect, standing atop a black lotus flower, roared hoarsely:

"Joan of Arc was a complete waste. She spent forty years cultivating, only to have it all go to cats. She was killed by a kid who had been practicing martial arts for less than a year."

He was somewhat exasperated.

Empress Joan of Arc entrusted him with restraining Luo Yuheng, in exchange for helping him deal with Jinlian after the deed was done.

Hei Lian had been yearning for a complete Primordial Spirit for many years, but his defeat against Luo Yuheng today was not due to a lack of strength. They were both at roughly the peak of the Tribulation Transcending stage, and neither was weaker than the other.

However, his Primordial Spirit was incomplete, and the most powerful technique of the Daoist School is the Primordial Spirit domain.

He is currently severely injured by Luo Yuheng, so if Joan of Arc were to win, it would all be worth it.

As a result, their attempt to steal a chicken backfired and they lost more than they gained.

The earth's primary energy exploded on the spot.

With her ample bosom, slender waist, and stunning beauty, Luo Yuheng brandished her sword and said, "I've only been cultivating for thirty-four years, Uncle-Master~"

Hei Lian's expression froze. Luo Yuheng was a generation younger than him, but the current situation was that he was being suppressed and beaten by Luo Yuheng.

He had just finished cursing the Joan of Arc for cultivating the cat, when Luo Yuheng turned around and slapped him across the face.

The next moment, he roared like an enraged lion:

"Don't be so smug, don't be so smug. Your aura is boiling right now, like a surging tide. The karmic fire beneath will erupt at any moment. Let's see how you escape this calamity."

Luo Yuheng has lived in seclusion in the capital for many years, never fighting with anyone, at most manipulating a clone to appear in place of his main body.

This is because she needs to suppress her karmic fire through cultivation.

Now that she's unleashing her full power, the karmic fire she used to suppress will surely backfire.

After Curse, Hei Lian suddenly paused, then saw Luo Yuheng's bright smile.

She tilted her head slightly and glanced in the direction of the capital.

That guy is now a third-rank cultivator and has killed Joan of Arc. In terms of both cultivation and charisma, he is a match for her.

Star-Gazing Tower.

Salun Agu stood at the edge of the Eight Trigrams Platform, squinting as he gazed at the proud figure standing on the horizon. He took a breath and said:

"So half of the Great Feng's fortune lies with him, and this is your scheme?"

The supervisor stood with his hands behind his back, side by side with him, and said calmly:

I guess so.

Joan of Arc believed she was blessed with good fortune, and that I would not and could not touch him. Indeed, for Warlock, regicide is self-destruction, and the higher the rank, the greater the backlash.

"Whether he is a foolish or tyrannical ruler, as long as he sits on the dragon throne, he is the ruler of a country. For other high-level cultivators, the emperor's fortune is bestowed upon them, and the karma of regicide is entangled in them. Unless forced to, no one is willing to challenge him."

Joan of Arc was full of confidence, thinking that everything was under control. However, she forgot that cultivators of the third rank or above were unwilling to compete with her, but I could cultivate someone who was willing to compete with her.

"A soldier who has crossed the river has nowhere to retreat but can kill his lord. He finally understood this meaning, and all my gifts were worthwhile."

Salen Agu squinted and said, "So, Wei Yuan's death was also part of your plan?"

The supervisor reached out and grabbed at the air, pulling out a wine cup. He took a sip of the fine wine and said leisurely:

"Wei Yuan sought his own death; what does it have to do with me? I merely foresaw this and then made arrangements in advance based on what was to come."

Salun Agu let out a breath. "Does Wei Yuan know?"

The supervisor nodded and chuckled.

"He figured it out. Otherwise, why would he leave behind the Blood Pill? He was able to seal the Witch God without any worries because he was certain that Joan of Arc would die."

As he spoke, the supervisor gazed into the distance and sighed, "He even foresaw that step; I certainly didn't expect that."

Salun Agu frowned; he hadn't understood what the supervisor meant by those words.

The supervisor laughed and said, "Don't bother thinking about it. The secrets of heaven have been blocked, and it has nothing to do with you. You, a great wizard, can't divine anything."

With the fall of Joan of Arc, the contest between the two top-ranking experts slowed down. The supervisor did not take the opportunity to strike while the enemy was down. Although this was his home turf, he had to kill a great wizard who had lived for thousands of years.

The price will be the capital city reduced to wasteland.

There's no need for that.

Salun Agu frowned and pondered, "Did you shield him from the secrets of heaven?"

He refers to Xu Qi'an.

The supervisor countered, "Why do you ask that?"

Salun Agu said frankly, "Before coming to the capital, I cast a divination. Joan of Arc's divination was both auspicious and inauspicious, which meant that she would face a life-or-death ordeal. But I also cast a divination for Xu Qi'an. Guess what the divination was?"

The supervisor remained silent.

Salun Agu gave a strange smile, "A terrible omen!"

Cloud Deer Academy.

With the help of the students at the academy, Second Uncle Xu carried the heavy luggage piece by piece onto the carriage.

There are antiques and paintings, bedding and clothing, and daily necessities—a wide variety of items.

The Xu Household plans to move to Jianzhou to settle down, far away from the capital, a place of trouble and conflict.

This morning, the family lost their smiles and felt heavy-hearted. For the second uncle and aunt, the only consolation was that Xu Erlang would also be going to Jianzhou.

That's good; the family doesn't have to be separated.

As for the Dalang, the couple deliberately avoided mentioning him.

Xu Erlang's mentor, Zhang Shen, was responsible for escorting the Xu Household to Jianzhou.

The journey to Jianzhou is long and arduous, and the women of the Xu Household are exceptionally beautiful. Although Xu Pingzhi is a seventh-rank martial artist, his Spirit Refining Realm is still quite formidable in the martial world.

However, if they encounter organized and large-scale thugs, Xu Pingzhi, with only his hands and feet, may not be able to protect his wife and daughters in time.

Warriors are, after all, crude and unsophisticated; they may be skilled at killing, but they are not good at protecting others.

One carriage, two flatbed carts, and two horses were ready.

Second Uncle Xu, seated on horseback, cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for seeing me off, sir."

Zhang Shen nodded with a smile.

He was about to say something when he suddenly saw Second Uncle Xu clutch his head, his face contorted in pain, and he slumped off his horse.

Zhang Shen was taken aback and quickly jumped off the carriage to check.

"Master!!"

The aunt screamed, grabbed her skirt, and jumped off the carriage. Just as she was about to rush to her husband's side, she suddenly stopped.

The aunt raised her hands and held her head, feeling a throbbing pain in her brain.

"Father, Mother?"

Xu Lingyue was stunned, at a loss for what to do, her beautiful face filled with fear.

"Mother!"

Xu Lingyin tied in two topknots, saw her mother's pained expression and immediately jumped up from the car and rushed towards her aunt.

Her aunt let out a muffled groan and was knocked unconscious.

"Mother is dead, mother is dead!"

Xu Lingyin burst into tears.

At this moment, Second Uncle Xu recovered from his splitting headache. He was panting heavily, his face ashen, and he murmured:

No, no, no

Zhang Shen frowned, glanced at his unconscious aunt, then at Second Uncle Xu, and tentatively asked, "Lord Xu, what's wrong?"

Second Uncle Xu ignored him completely, not even glancing at his unconscious wife. He leaped onto his horse, cracked the whip, and galloped away.

Zhang Shen stared blankly at his departing figure, his mind filled with the image of Xu Pingzhi's expression as he left—a mixture of fierceness and sorrow, sorrow and despair.

The capital city.

High in the sky, Xu Qi'an was about to ride the spirit dragon back into the city when, in the next moment, the world before his eyes suddenly lost its color.

Like the image on a black and white television.

The five senses are clouded, and the martial artist's intuition about danger is obscured. This state lasts for less than a second before returning to normal.

Xu Qi'an slowly lowered his head and saw a golden nail embedded in his chest.

The nail, engraved with Buddhist script, easily pierced through the Vajra Divine Skill's body and his dark skin.

"Ughhhh."

He heard a painful roar, unable to distinguish whether it was his own voice or the voice of the gods.

"Don't shout, this is only the first one."

A gentle voice came, and Warlock dressed in white appeared before Xu Qi'an, eight golden nails held between his fingertips.

The white-robed Warlock picked up a nail and slapped it on Xu Qi'an's head.

Puff!

The nail was driven into the Baihui acupoint.

Shen Shu's screams abruptly ceased, his dark skin returned to its normal color, and the light of the Vajra Divine Skill dissipated.

Xu Qi'an's aura suddenly dropped, making him look like an ordinary person.