Chapter 106: Chapter 100: Accompanying a Ruler is Like Accompanying a Tiger, a Prodigy Who Won’t Serve Me Must Die

Above the Great Yan Imperial Palace.

An Old Eunuch tapped his toes, instantly flitting over the ridge of a palace. He skipped across the air like a dragonfly on water, riding the wind like an Immortal on a Carefree Travel.

When a Martial Artist reached the Eleventh Realm, Feathered Transformation, they could hover in the void and ride the wind on long journeys. Their transcendent bearing was in no way inferior to that of a Qi Cultivator from the Taoist Sect. The physical toughness of a Middle Fifth-Grade Martial Artist was incomparable to those in the Lower Seven Realms. Any Cultivator below the Tenth Realm who entered within ten zhang of a Feathered Martial Artist without the protection of an exceptionally high-grade Magical Treasure would almost certainly face death.

This principle applied equally to Qi Cultivators and Buddhist Cultivators.

What’s more, the Old Eunuch’s Cultivation was far beyond the Eleventh Realm. A golden light flowed across his face, and in his eyes, everything moved as slowly as a tortoise. All of creation seemed to crawl at an impossibly sluggish pace.

Clad in a Big Red Python Robe, the Old Eunuch drifted down, landing gracefully in the square outside Holy Bright Palace. He came face-to-face with two people standing before the nine Dragon Tripods in the center of the square, a distance of twenty zhang separating them.

Before the Old Eunuch had even appeared, a layer of golden light had materialized on the ground, rooftops, and walls of the entire Imperial Palace. It flowed like a golden river, and within the thin layer of shimmering gold covering the earth, the illusory image of a True Dragon could be faintly seen, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws with astonishing power.

This Array, which protected the Great Yan Imperial Palace, was called the Dragon Wall.

However, due to a long era of peace and prosperity, the Dragon Wall had not been activated in over a hundred years.

Once the Array was active, the entire Imperial Palace glowed with a golden brilliance, making it difficult for even those in the Upper Three Grades to breach.

The Old Eunuch looked at the two people before him and smiled faintly. “My fellow Tributors, we meet again.”

One of them was a short, elderly man with a wrinkled face and graying hair. He carried a basket on his back and looked no different from a common fisherman.

The other had salt-and-pepper hair, androgynous features, and apathetic eyes. They were tall and slender, their gender indiscernible. Only their ten fingers, pale and long with nails an inch in length, were particularly striking.

These two were none other than the Fisherman and the Piano Demon, two of the Four Great Tributors of Great Yan.

“Immortal Zuo Ren and the Sword Venerable have departed. Your help is needed now more than ever.”

The Piano Demon’s expression was unruffled as they said coolly,

“Eunuch, for what purpose has His Majesty summoned us back?”

“To watch a show.”

The Old Eunuch offered a polite smile.

’Still playing mysterious games, I see.’

Heedless, the Piano Demon took a step forward and appeared deep within the Imperial Palace, before Qianyuan Hall. The hall was guarded by countless Imperial Guards, as well as Palace Maids and Eunuchs protecting it from the shadows.

Their appearance startled many of those around, who immediately felt a surge of killing intent.

’How dare this person trespass in His Majesty’s residence?’

However, the Piano Demon caught this wisp of killing intent.

They merely shot a cold glance and brought their five fingers together.

Before the great hall, however, the innumerable Imperial Guards, Palace Maids, and Eunuchs were struck by a tremendous impact. An invisible sound surged into their bodies, making their eardrums vibrate violently and their qi and blood roil. Many of the Imperial Guards were sent flying, and after they collapsed, shocking trickles of crimson blood seeped from their ears.

The Piano Demon paid them no mind, instead kneeling at the entrance of the hall and kowtowing.

“First-Class Tributor of Great Yan, the Piano Demon, requests an audience with Your Majesty.”

The many hidden observers finally breathed a sigh of relief. ’So it’s one of our own.’

In just a few breaths, seven or eight figures appeared at the edge of the Imperial Palace, some hovering in the air, others standing atop the walls. They were poised to strike, waiting only for a command from His Majesty the Emperor to attack in unison. They were all Imperial Experts from the Inner Court, each considering themselves a Grandmaster of their own Mountain. If not for the prosperity of the Great Yan Country, why would they have remained subordinate for so long?

The Old Eunuch and the Fisherman flickered into view, arriving a moment later.

The Old Eunuch, however, seemed not the least bit nervous, his expression relaxed and smiling.

At the same time, a majestic phantom of a Golden Dragon rose from the Dragon Wall. It looked down coldly at the Piano Demon below as a wave of vast power washed over them.

Even with their eyes squeezed shut, the pressure forced them into a narrow squint.

Meanwhile, in the vast expanse between the Imperial City and the Outer City of the Great Yan Capital City, a great mystery was hidden. There stood twelve hundred-meter-tall Golden Armored Giant Warriors, their bodies and eyes radiating a golden brilliance.

Bells chimed within the temple of the Vajra Department Institute, their Buddhist chants lingering in the air. Purple mist rose from the Incense Burner in the Thunder Pool Daoist Academy, the fragrant smoke coalescing into a massive Golden Talisman. Before the ten-zhang-wide drum at the entrance of the Drumming Institute, a giant, serpentine creature swam through the pond beneath a stone arch bridge, creating ripples on the water’s surface.

In just a few breaths, the Piano Demon’s Primordial Spirit sensed several threats converging, striking directly at their heart.

Despite their century of Dao Practice from guarding the Border Pass, they felt stretched thin in the face of this threat.

Civil Servants and Military Generals who assist a King are known as Fulong. Inner Eunuchs and Tributors are a step below, considered lesser Fulong. Both groups have a certain sensitivity to the Emperor’s Dragon Qi. An Old Eunuch who has long served by the Holy Emperor’s side in the Deep Palace, for instance, can absorb some of that good fortune. With Dragon Qi empowering them, their Realm can advance at a speed incomparable to ordinary Martial Artists.

Before its founding, Great Yan had destroyed the Great Zhou Dynasty. Over the past century, it had also destroyed the Beiwei Dynasty, the Great Song Dynasty, and several other ancient dynasties. By establishing its dominance in the Central Plains, the amount of Dragon Fortune it had carved up for itself was truly immense.

This was also why these powerful Tributors were willing to humble themselves and serve Great Yan.

But what terrified the Piano Demon the most was this: back at the Border Pass, they had heard that the Holy Emperor’s life was nearing its end and his Dragon Fortune was waning. This had bred a sense of contempt in their heart. Now, however, they discovered that even so, with the Holy Emperor’s Dragon Fortune empowering him, they were no match for him at all.

Cold sweat instantly beaded on their forehead.

“This subject was presumptuous!”

They kowtowed deeply again, shouting the words aloud.

Only then did everything around them cease.

The Old Eunuch witnessed this and chuckled inwardly.

Receiving the summons, he stepped forward and said plainly,

“Tributor Piano Demon, you have returned from a long journey and must be weary. Why not withdraw and rest for now? His Majesty’s dragon-body is unwell. He is not participating in court assemblies or seeing anyone, focusing only on Nourishing the Body.”

“Yes.”

the Piano Demon replied respectfully.

…

「Meanwhile, at Prince Jin’s Mansion.」

Lu Guangjing was examining a roster, his expression grim and his brows furrowed. He slammed a large hand on the table and questioned the goatee-bearded Confucian Scholar before him.

“The number of people joining the Infinite Faction has dropped significantly. Why is that?”

Gongyang Hu bowed slightly. “Ever since the Eighth Prince returned, he has gained the status of a Disciple of the Saint of Reason. After returning from his studies, his Realm has broken through to the Eighth Realm of the Confucian Dao, the Literary Palace. He has also begun to aggressively recruit Staff Officers and servants. Many Martial Artist Guest Scholars who came to the Capital City have joined him. Because he was lacking Martial Artists and Qi Cultivators, he has opened his doors wide, so most of them have flocked to his side.”

“Damn it!”

Lu Guangjing flew into a rage.

“Lu Yunqing! He’s been a bookworm with no mind of his own since childhood! On what grounds does he get to do this?!”

Hearing this, Gongyang Hu fell silent for a moment.

’The Second Prince is highly talented and extraordinarily powerful. He’s calm, steady, and his strategic mind, leadership, and intimidating presence are far beyond those of ordinary people.’

’He is unscrupulous in achieving his goals, unconventional, and decisive in killing—like a clap of thunder. This is why we chose to back him.’

’But he has one flaw in his character: he cannot tolerate anyone whose talent is higher than or equal to his own.’

’As soon as he sees someone who is stronger than him, or shows signs of surpassing him…’

’…he will spare no effort to eliminate them or bring them under his command.’

Lu Guangjing’s expression turned icy as he ground his teeth. “It’s all that Lu Mingyuan’s fault. If it weren’t for him, I would have already broken through to the Eighth Realm.”

He had been just one step away from the Eighth Realm.

Victory in the Heart Inquiry Bureau would have been the final, natural step.

But now, he had ended up dropping two Realms instead.

He was only at the paltry Fifth Realm!

Fortunately, he cultivated two Daos simultaneously, and his Dao Practice in the Qi Cultivator lineage was still able to support him.

He gradually suppressed his anger, forcing himself to calm down and think of a countermeasure.

’Every time I lose my temper, I cool down quickly and focus on finding a solution. I can’t be like my stupid older brother, who’s only capable of impotent rage.’

’Venting is one thing, but finding a solution is what’s most important.’

“What about Chen Ke? Can we recruit him?” Lu Guangjing asked, his gaze calm.

“We only received a polite refusal.”

Gongyang Hu replied slowly.

Ever since Chen Ke reached the Seventh Realm overnight, the Prince had ordered him to win the man over and ensure he joined the Infinite Faction.

After all, they did have a minor connection before.

But Chen Ke seemed to have already pledged his allegiance elsewhere and rejected him outright.

“He really doesn’t know what’s good for him.”

Lu Guangjing snorted coldly. “Does he really think he’s the successor to the Literary Saint? The disciples of the Literary Saint Lineage are as numerous as ox hairs. What makes him so special?”

Gongyang Hu chuckled softly. “Fortunately, Chen Ke not only refused our request but the Eighth Prince’s as well.”

He was well aware that the Literary Saint had not taken a disciple in many years. Now that he had made an exception, it was highly likely he would treat Chen Ke as a Closed-door Disciple. Although Chen Ke was currently just a Registered Disciple, he had already shown extraordinary promise. A rise in his status was only a matter of time.

“If this man cannot be used by me, he will become a great threat in the future. He must be eliminated.”

Lu Guangjing ordered, his eyes cold and sinister.

“As you command.”

Gongyang Hu bowed and offered some comfort, “Your Highness achieved the Seventh Realm at such a young age, what is there to worry about? Just leave it to your subordinate. There’s no need to trouble Your Highness with scheming.”

’He knew where the Prince’s Cultivation had come from—it was plundered. To avoid unnecessary risks, it was better for them to handle certain matters.’

“I fear Chen Ke has a significant connection to the Sixth Prince, Lu Mingyuan. Our scouts saw him at the Wang Family Mansion before.”

Hearing that name, Lu Guangjing’s fingers clenched into a fist and his eyes narrowed. “Lu Mingyuan again!”

Ever since the last Heart Inquiry Bureau.

Lu Mingyuan had become a fixation for him.

He couldn’t eat or sleep in peace as long as Lu Mingyuan was not eliminated.

But for now, it wouldn’t hurt to make a move against Chen Ke first and see if they could sever one of his rival’s arms.

Gongyang Hu bowed again. “In any case, Chen Ke is a Disciple of the Literary Saint and has his protection. If we are truly to make a move, we will need the Teacher to act.”

Lu Guangjing nodded in agreement.

“Agreed. The Literary Saint’s Cultivation should be about the same as the Teacher’s.”

“The two of them happen to have a generational feud. The Teacher advocates that human nature is inherently evil, while the Literary Saint advocates that it is inherently good. This is a perfect opportunity to supplement the Teacher’s literary fortune.”

…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep