Hong Ni Drenched in Blood, the Empress Subdues the Heavenly Dipper with Black Stockings

"Lord Gu truly is an extraordinary warrior!"

"At such a young age, not only does he possess terrifying talent, but he can also drive back a Third Grade cultivator with a single palm strike. Under all heaven, Lord Gu alone can do that."

"I heard that when the Heir of Prince Duan tried to assault Miss Meixiang, Lord Gu stepped forward without regard for his own safety and slew the heir in a fury. To fly into a rage for a beauty-Lord Gu is a true man of passion."

"Is that all? Lord Gu once left these words at the Bureau of Music: 'Heaven and earth make no ranks; high and low exist only in human hearts.' What breadth of mind and spirit!"

"In Lord Gu's eyes, everyone is equal, with no distinction between high and low. That's why he fears none of the princes' heirs. When he says he'll kill them, he kills them; when he says he'll beat them, he beats them. He is truly a pillar of our Great Qi...!"

The crowd chimed in one after another, their words full of praise and admiration for Gu Yuan.

Xiao Chen, who had just awakened, felt stifled.

He should have been the one they were talking about!

It was all Gu Yuan's fault. He had stolen the renown that should have been Xiao Chen's!

"Your Highness, these pills will heal your injuries. Please take them quickly." Worry appeared in Hong Ni's eyes.

Xiao Chen raised his eyes coldly.

"Kneel."

Hong Ni's hand froze as she held out the pills.

"Hong Ni misjudged the situation and caused Your Highness to be injured. Hong Ni acknowledges her guilt."

Clad in red, she slowly bent her knees and knelt on the ground before everyone.

"Lü Luo."

Lü Luo's breath caught. Reluctance showed in her eyes, but she could not disobey Xiao Chen's command.

Bang!

A palm strike infused with true essence slammed into Hong Ni's back.

Hong Ni let out a muffled groan. Blood spilled uncontrollably from the corner of her mouth and dripped to the ground, staining the soil blood-red...

Without sparing her a glance, Xiao Chen entered the city with Lü Luo supporting him.

The sudden scene brought much of the crowd to silence.

Hong Ni was Xiao Chen's servant. Under Great Qi law, no one had the right to interfere.

Hong Ni remained kneeling outside the city, her breathing weak, her face pale, and her eyes dim.

Lu Yunshu watched it all and murmured:

"Taking his anger out on someone else. This heir of Qingzhou is far more immature than the rumors suggest."

As her voice faded, she looked at the injured Hong Ni.

"Everyone is equal... Gu Yuan would probably help her, wouldn't he?"

"Ling'er, go help her."

Lu Ling was somewhat surprised. "Eldest sister, she's from Qingzhou, and she's a Third Grade martial artist. Are you sure you want to help her?"

Lu Yunshu nodded.

"All right, since you say to help her, I will." Lu Ling shook her bell, and a jade silkworm slipped silently into Hong Ni's sleeve.

A few breaths later, Hong Ni's unfocused eyes regained their clarity. The chaotic true essence within her gradually calmed, and more than half her injuries healed at once.

She looked around in astonishment, finally fixing her gaze on Lu Ling.

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me. Eldest sister took pity on you. I didn't want to save you."

Seeing this, Ning Yan stepped forward. "Your Highnesses, please follow me into the city to rest."

The heirs from the various provinces exchanged glances and nodded.

At first, they had felt ashamed and angry because they were no match for Gu Yuan.

But after seeing Gu Yuan's true strength, they had all come to terms with it.

The sense of defeat had vanished from Lu Zhaoming's eyes as well.

Wasn't it perfectly normal to lose to a monstrous talent who could go head-to-head with a Third Grade cultivator while only at the Sixth Grade?

A woman's delicate fragrance lingered around him.

Gu Yuan had enjoyed a good sleep and felt refreshed in body and mind.

He slowly opened his eyes.

A lively, lovely face came into view... He could also see the curves of a barely womanly bust.

"You're awake?"

"Princess?"

Wait! This position!

A lap pillow!

Gu Yuan shot upright. "Princess, we...?"

Huai'an's cheeks were crimson. "Don't misunderstand. I was only afraid the carriage was too hard for you to sleep comfortably, so I let you sleep... sleep on my lap..."

The second half was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, impossible to make out.

Gu Yuan was momentarily dazed.

That expression, that posture.

Could she have taken a fancy to me...?

Then how was the plot supposed to move forward?

"Gu Yuan, what's wrong?"

"N-nothing..." Gu Yuan felt he needed to calm down.

"Gu Yuan, the jade pendant I gave you is a pass specially approved by my imperial sister. You can enter the princess's residence without being summoned. When you have time, remember to come find me there..."

"..."

This was no longer a hint. She was making it plain.

Come to think of it, he was handsome and strong. For an inexperienced princess like Huai'an, that was a devastating combination.

Alas... being too handsome brought troubles of its own...

"Gu Yuan, are you listening to me?"

"I'm listening, Princess. When I have time, I'll come visit you."

Huai'an pursed her lips and smiled. "It's a promise, then."

"If you dare not come, I'll make you pay!"

Gu Yuan assured her, "Rest assured, Princess. I'll definitely come when I have time."

Still unconvinced, Huai'an said, "Add that if you don't, may five bolts of heavenly lightning strike you!"

"..."

"Princess, is that really necessary?"

"Hmph! That's an order. You must add it."

Gu Yuan sighed inwardly. She was so hard to appease.

"If I have time but fail to visit the princess, then may five bolts of heavenly lightning..."

Boom!

Damn, was it that effective?

He hadn't even finished speaking!

Heavenly thunder rumbled, shaking the Qi Capital.

Wait, it doesn't seem to be striking me... Gu Yuan's eyes narrowed, and he quickly leaped down from the carriage.

To the north of the Qi Capital, bolts of lightning flashed one after another, a sight that made the heart tremble.

"What's in that direction?"

"That should be the Orthodox Yang Taoist Order." Huai'an climbed out of the carriage, took a look, and ventured, "The Taoists may be refining a magical artifact."

Gu Yuan studied the scene.

With such a commotion, it was probably not as simple as refining a magical artifact...

At the same time.

Inside the Orthodox Yang Taoist Order.

Seven old Taoists sat cross-legged in seven positions, each holding a Taoist sword, forming the Heavenly Dipper Grand Formation.

The Heavenly Dipper Grand Formation summoned lightning that struck straight at the figure in its center.

Yet.

At the center of the formation, Qi Yueli stood with her hands behind her back, paying no attention to the fiercely surging lightning.

"Your Majesty, the Taoist Order has its own rules and never interferes in worldly affairs. Why, then, are you doing this?"

Qi Yueli said calmly:

"Was the Orthodox Yang Taoist Order's Heaven-Deceiving Cover borrowed by someone?"

The expressions of all seven old Taoists changed at once.

"Your Majesty, to tell you the truth, the Heaven-Deceiving Cover was stolen several years ago. The matter concerned the Taoist Order's reputation, so we did not make it public."

"Three First Grade cultivators, four Second Grade cultivators, and this Heavenly Dipper Grand Formation, which even I must treat with caution, stand guard here, yet the Heaven-Deceiving Cover was stolen? Do you take me for a fool?"

"Your Majesty, that is the truth. We have no intention of deceiving you."

Hearing this, Qi Yueli sighed softly.

"I gave you a chance."

As her words fell.

Qi Yueli gathered true essence into the black-stockings artifact Gu Yuan had forged with his own hands.

The next moment, true essence scattered in all directions.

The seven old Taoists felt the qi and blood in their bodies rumble.

They were at a critical point in operating the Heavenly Dipper Grand Formation, and any mishap could prove fatal.

With a burst, all seven suddenly spat out mouthfuls of blood.

Qi Yueli raised her hand and drove a punch toward the formation's core.

Rumble!

The Heavenly Dipper formation's core exploded, and the entire formation was razed to the ground in an instant.

The seven old Taoists who had been inside the formation were all blasted away by Qi Yueli's true essence. Covered in blood, they crashed heavily into the courtyard.

Qi Yueli swept her phoenix eyes over them and said coldly:

"If you dare utter one more lie,"

"I will destroy the Orthodox Yang Taoist Order today!"