The Kalpa Tree Bodhisattva stood with palms pressed together, half his body embedded in the ground, as immovable as a thrown sculpture. His robes appeared waxed, emanating an aura of heavy rigidity.
“Xu Qi An!”
Ji Xuan’s expression changed drastically, his eyes flickering with anger, hatred, fear, bewilderment, and a trace of despair. The Imperial Tutor had mentioned that the battle at the Northern Border had gone extremely unfavorably, with both Xu Qi An and Luo Yu Heng advancing to First-Rank.
It was like a bolt from the blue!
When Ji Xuan first heard the news, he nearly went mad, unable to accept such a reality. But with the great battle at hand, he suppressed all emotions, including jealousy and fear, and threw himself into the war. After all, they still had Kalpa Tree and White Emperor – two powerful First-Rank experts. Even with Xu Qi An and Luo Yu Heng’s advancement, it would at most turn their disadvantage into an advantage. Determining victory would still take time.
During this time, as long as they could behead the Empress and defeat the Great Feng army to take the capital, and if the Imperial Tutor could successfully break through to become a Destiny Master… Once successful, with the Yunzhou army gaining another First-Rank expert, while Xu Qi An’s Power of All Living Things would inevitably be weakened by the capital’s fall, the power shift would mean Yunzhou still had hope.
This was what Ji Xuan had thought before witnessing the Kalpa Tree Bodhisattva being smashed into the palace grounds before his eyes. This was what Xu Ping Feng had thought as well.
The only problem was that neither he nor Xu Ping Feng had correctly estimated Xu Qi An’s battle prowess.
First, since Emperor Wu Zong, there had been no public record of First-Rank martial artists’ battles in the Nine Provinces for five hundred years. The only fleeting appearance was Shen Shu, but being a half-step Martial God, he provided little reference value.
Second, in hundreds of years, there had been only one Heavenly Venerable among First-Rank Immortals, who lived in seclusion. Nobody knew how powerful the combination of an Immortal and a First-Rank martial artist could be.
Finally, Xu Qi An’s composition was too complex – the Nation-Settling Sword, the Pagoda of All Treasures, the Power of All Living Things, the Seven Fatal Gu, and various other abilities made him distinctly different from normal First-Rank martial artists.
The combination of these elements made it impossible for Xu Ping Feng to accurately gauge his eldest son’s true fighting capability.
Not only Xu Ping Feng but both Kalpa Tree and White Emperor had also underestimated Xu Qi An and Luo Yu Heng’s battle prowess. The latter had confidently declared before the battle that he wanted to taste the essence of a First-Rank martial artist’s blood.
In the end, his innate divine abilities were countered by the Immortal, and his physical strength couldn’t compare to a First-Rank martial artist’s.
A pitiful death.
“You are like a stinking stone from a latrine,” Xu Qi An looked down at Kalpa Tree from above, making his assessment.
He then turned to the ashen-faced Ji Xuan, saying with a cold smile: “Long time no see, Seventh Cousin.”
Without hesitation, Ji Xuan’s sleeve released a jade talisman, his palm suddenly exerting force. The Imperial Tutor always had a habit of keeping backups, and Ji Xuan was the same. He didn’t lack life-saving talismans, and the transmission formation could reach across an entire province. Breaking the jade talisman would allow him to return directly to Yong Province.
Not just him, but several key figures in the Yunzhou army also carried transmission talismans.
The clear light didn’t rise, and he remained in the palace. The next moment, Ji Xuan felt intense pain in his right arm – without knowing when his entire right arm had separated from his body.
The Xu Qi An in the sky had been scattered by fierce winds – it was merely an afterimage.
“Greetings, cousin. I especially enjoy killing cousins,” Xu Qi An’s cold laugh came from behind, followed by: “Brothers too.”
Using the Star-Moving technique of the Heaven Gu, he blinded Ji Xuan’s martial artist’s sense of danger.
Ji Xuan’s body stumbled forward, instantly covering dozens of meters as he roared: “Imperial Tutor…”
Now only Xu Ping Feng could save him.
In the lingering echo of his roar, Xu Qi An again appeared before Ji Xuan with exaggerated speed, as if teleporting. With his left leg as an axis, he twisted his waist.
“Bang!”
His right leg became like a whip, sweeping through Ji Xuan’s waist. While his lower body continued running wildly, his upper body flew for a distance before crashing heavily to the ground.
“Kalpa Tree, take Ji Xuan away!” came Xu Ping Feng’s angry shout from high above.
This Second-Rank artificer rationally kept his distance from his eldest son instead of showing off his abilities.
The moment he saw Xu Qi An return to the capital, he knew the situation was lost.
Xu Qi An stepped on Ji Xuan’s upper body and turned to look at Kalpa Tree, sneering: “Do you dare to move?”
Kalpa Tree frowned in silence.
Fighting from the Northern Border to the capital, violence against violence, Kalpa Tree knew that with just the Vajra Avatar, he was no match for Xu Qi An – the dark golden blood on his body was proof.
A First-Rank martial artist plus the Power of All Living Things, Xu Qi An’s battle prowess had already surpassed the Guardian’s level in Qing Province.
While he could stand firm before the Guardian, he was thrown around like a stone by this newly advanced First-Rank martial artist.
However, the current Xu Qi An was still inferior to Shen Shu, as he hadn’t been able to destroy his Immovable Wisdom King with three punches like the latter.
But Kalpa Tree barely had enough power for self-preservation.
Without the Immovable Wisdom King, relying solely on the physical enhancement from the Vajra Divine Skill, he couldn’t withstand this First-Rank martial artist’s fists and the Nation-Settling Sword.
“Hand Ji Xuan over to me. You dare not fight me in the capital,” Kalpa Tree said gravely.
At this moment, Kalpa Tree’s attitude would determine not only Ji Xuan’s fate but also the fate of most ordinary people in the capital.
Xu Qi An raised an eyebrow: “You can threaten me with the capital – it is indeed my weakness. But do you think if you destroy the capital, I’ll let you leave the Central Plains alive?”
Xu Qi An wasn’t swayed by this threat and reminded him: “If you destroy the capital, Zhao Shou won’t let you leave, Luo Yu Heng won’t let you leave, Asura doesn’t care about the capital but if possible, he will risk everything to keep you in the Central Plains. Daoist Jin Lian would not miss this opportunity to gain immense merit.
“I wonder if the Immovable Wisdom King can withstand the attacks of so many powerful experts.
“You now have two choices: either stand up and fight me to the death, destroying the capital, but when Great Feng’s transcendent experts return, you will certainly die. Or leave now, and I’ll give you the chance to leave the capital. Choose for yourself.”
If Kalpa Tree wanted to threaten him with the capital, he could equally threaten back with life and death – it was just a matter of who was more ruthless!
“Bodhisattva Kalpa Tree, don’t be deceived by him. He doesn’t dare to gamble with you, he doesn’t dare!” Ji Xuan struggled to raise his head, shouting at Kalpa Tree.
Xu Qi An’s expression remained calm, everything within his grasp, as he said: “But even if you, Kalpa Tree, are willing to risk your life for Xu Ping Feng’s great cause, do you think he still has hope of ruling the Central Plains? With just him, a Second-Rank artificer, and the waste under my foot? White Emperor has already fled back overseas, and Yunzhou’s situation is lost.
“Whatever benefits he promised to the Buddhist sect, they are destined to be impossible to realize.”
Kalpa Tree might be ruthless enough, but he definitely wouldn’t risk his life for Xu Ping Feng, because even Xu Ping Feng might not be willing to risk his life for his cause.
After a brief silence, Kalpa Tree slowly stood up, his physical injuries instantly healing. Covered in dark golden blood from head to toe, he pressed his palms together and said slowly: “Amitabha, Xu Ping Feng, the Buddhist sect’s alliance with you ends here. Take care of yourself.”
He looked at Xu Qi An, slowly retreated three steps, and seeing no obstruction, suddenly soared skyward, transforming into golden light flying towards the west.
Xu Ping Feng seemed to have anticipated Kalpa Tree’s choice, coldly glanced down at the palace once, and directly transmitted away.
Ji Xuan’s face was filled with despair.
Huff… Xu Qi An exhaled deeply.
He had the ruthlessness to destroy everything together – the existence of the jade tablet proved everything.
But if he could save the capital, he was willing to make compromises and concessions, allowing Kalpa Tree to leave.
Eventually, he would have to make a trip to the Western Regions. This debt would be settled later.
“It’s time to end this. I’ll send you to meet your brother.”
Xu Qi An looked down at Ji Xuan, his palm gently pressing down.
Ji Xuan’s temple veins bulged, filled with anger, fear, and unwillingness. Born as a concubine’s son, to avoid stealing the spotlight from the legitimate son Ji Qian, he had kept a low profile for over twenty years.
After Ji Qian’s death, he truly began his meteoric rise, and after experiencing countless life-and-death situations, finally advanced to the transcendent realm, becoming the second transcendent realm martial artist among the younger generation.
Just one step away, just one step and he could have killed the Empress and achieved his ambition of becoming king.
In the final moments of his life, he reviewed his life like a revolving lantern.
“XU—QI—AN—”
Ji Xuan let out a piercing howl, which suddenly stopped the next moment, the fierce expression frozen on his face.
His primordial spirit was scattered by Xu Qi An’s palm, and his soul was scattered to the winds.
“I’ll borrow your head for a moment.”
Xu Qi An summoned the Nation-Settling Sword, cut off Ji Xuan’s head, then turned to the Empress and said: “Collect his body, I want to refine blood pills later.”
Ji Xuan’s body was still alive, full of vigorous vitality, but it was now just an empty shell.
…
“This is bad!”
Chu Yuan Zhen’s face turned ashen. He resisted turning to look at Heng Yuan, only to find the same anger and sorrow in the latter’s eyes as in his own.
From the perspective of the experts fighting outside the city, the collapse of the bronze magical artifact didn’t show so many details.
From the outer city to the palace, due to the distance, the bronze artifact appeared huge, but to those on the city walls, it looked as small as a plate, let alone Xu Qi An at normal human size.
The eyesight of Fourth-Rank experts couldn’t perceive too many details through such a distant distance.
Therefore, the collapse of the bronze disc appeared more like it was being recalled after completing its mission.
Zhang Shen and other Great Feng experts variously felt grief, anger, or bewilderment, all speculating that the Empress had met a terrible fate at Xu Ping Feng’s hands.
Success? Yang Chuan Nan’s heart leaped with joy, his eyes flickering with excitement, his emotions slightly agitated.
After beheading the Empress, the Great Feng garrison would surely fall into panic. Once people’s hearts wavered, what battle could they fight? The subsequent resistance would also weaken.
Taking the capital would mean half the victory.
Ge Wen Xuan stood on a wind-riding magical artifact, gazing far towards the palace. In an instant, he thought of many things – with Yunzhou ruling the Central Plains, he could be enfeoffed as a king or appointed as a minister. Not only would he have enough fortune to aid his cultivation, advancing to become a Prophet, Formation Master, and even challenging the realm of Fate Master.
For him, the true path of cultivation was just beginning to open.
The other Fourth-Rank martial artists from Yunzhou were all extremely excited.
“The Empress is dead, we shall take the capital today!”
“Put down your weapons, those who surrender will be spared!”
Several arrogant martial artists shouted.
Qi Guang Bo didn’t need to use wind-riding to check the situation. From the feedback of their experts on the city walls, he could guess things had gone smoothly – the Imperial Tutor and Ji Xuan had succeeded in their beheading mission.
Wei Yuan, now it’s time for us to determine the victor… Qi Guang Bo squinted, a smile playing on his lips.
Killing the Empress was a war necessity to him, but the essence of the matter gave him no sense of achievement.
His real target was Wei Yuan.
This was also why he had been willing to follow Xu Ping Feng and join Hidden Dragon City back then.
He and Wei Yuan had never met, but like many renowned martial arts experts, even without a meeting, they would cross thousands of mountains and rivers to challenge each other.
Because in this world,知己 (kindred spirits) and worthy opponents were the hardest to find.
In the barracks not far from the city wall, Wei Yuan put down the Universe-Reflecting Mirror and stretched:
“Prepare the carriage, I shall rest at the Tower of Noble Spirit.”
In the scene reflected by the Universe-Reflecting Mirror, the city walls were deadly silent. A young man in cyan robes, holding a head in his hand, looked down at the smoke-filled battlefield below.
Xu Qi An stood in mid-air and slowly said:
“Ji Xuan is dead, Yunzhou’s defeat is certain. Those who surrender will be spared!”
“Xu, Xu Qi An…”
Ge Wen Xuan’s lips moved, struggling to utter these three words.
His gaze then fell on Ji Xuan’s head, and his face instantly turned pale. Only then did he realize that the collapse of the Fate Mechanism wasn’t Ji Xuan and the Imperial Tutor killing the Empress – on the contrary, it was Xu Qi An’s return.
The Imperial Tutor and Ji Xuan had encountered him in the palace.
Ji Xuan was dead, then… what about a teacher?
“Ji Xuan is dead?!”
Yang Chuan Nan’s mood reversed completely – as pleased as he had been moments ago, he was now equally desperate.
“Impossible, even White Emperor and Kalpa Tree couldn’t kill him? Why is it like this, why…”
Ji Xuan was dead, and the Imperial Tutor’s whereabouts were unknown. Yunzhou’s army had lost its advantage. This great gamble, on which he had staked his entire family’s fate, ended in crushing defeat.
Not just Yang Chuan Nan, but all the experts in the Yunzhou army had ashen faces, feeling both bewildered and desperate, not knowing why the situation had suddenly turned this way.
A defeat that made no sense.
In the distance, Qi Guang Bo’s smile hadn’t yet faded when his expression gradually froze along with his complexion.
His heart slowly sank to the bottom.
He instantly understood the situation – the Northern Border’s tribulation battle had ended early, Xu Qi An returned to the capital and thwarted Ji Xuan and the Imperial Tutor’s actions.
Ji Xuan dead, the Imperial Tutor had likely fled.
Yunzhou was finished.
Miao You Fang collapsed sitting on the ground, leaning against the battlement, wiping his blood-stained face, and said as if exhausted:
“He finally returned.”
Beside him, Zhang Shen, Li Mu Bai, Xu Xin Nian, and the Imperial Guards truly felt relieved, as if they had found their backbone as if a huge stone had been lifted from their hearts.
Chu Yuan Zhen and Master Heng Yuan exchanged glances, smiling while breathing sighs of relief.
The earlier disturbance wasn’t Huai Qing dying at Xu Ping Feng’s hands – it was Xu Ning Yan’s return.
This also meant that in the Northern Border’s tribulation battle, Great Feng had won.
“Silver Constable Xu has returned!”
“Silver Constable Xu killed Yunzhou’s transcendent expert!”
On the city walls, Great Feng’s garrison troops erupted in thunderous cheers, the soldiers revering the figure in the sky like a deity.
“Now we’re stable, damn it, we don’t have to die.”
A one-armed guard leaned against the city wall, grinning to reveal bloody gums.
“Don’t have to die, don’t have to die…”
The wounded soldiers covered their faces and wept, breaking into loud sobs.
Amidst the Great Feng army’s cheers, Ge Wen Xuan, Qi Guang Bo, Yang Chuan Nan, and over ten other core figures of the Yunzhou army simultaneously reached for transmission talismans in their bosoms.
These were life-saving magical artifacts given by the Imperial Tutor, with corresponding transmission platforms set at the border between Yong Province and the capital. Once in Yong Province, they could use several other transmission talismans to return to Yunzhou through a series of transmission formations along the way.
The whole process would take at most a quarter-hour.
The crafting of transmission talismans was extremely troublesome. While the materials weren’t priceless, they weren’t cheap either, so they were only distributed to core members of the army.
“No transmission allowed here!”
Another figure appeared in the sky above the city walls – it was Zhao Shou wearing his Confucian cap.
He was the first to return to the capital, showing that Confucian techniques truly ranked among the top of all systems, standing out from the crowd.
The talismans in Qi Guang Bo and others’ hands had been crushed, but no clear light rose to take them away.
Their last hope was gone.
Zhao Shou slightly nodded to Xu Qi An.
“Boom!”
In an ear-splitting sonic boom, Xu Qi An instantly vanished from everyone’s sight. His speed had now reached the limit of martial artists.
Or rather, he had reached the limit of wind-riding flight.
Except for transmission techniques that involved space, no wind-riding technique in the world could be faster than him.
The reason he hadn’t immediately pursued Xu Ping Feng was that he feared Kalpa Tree might return halfway to pull the rug out from under them.
With Zhao Shou back, Asura and Jin Lian wouldn’t be far behind. The three of them plus Kou Yang Zhou and Sun Xuan Ji could counter Kalpa Tree, who had consumed enormous energy.
Even if Kalpa Tree harbored thoughts of such a reversal, seeing such a lineup would make him abandon the idea.
Moreover, Xu Qi An knew where Xu Ping Feng would go – he wasn’t worried about finding him.
Between father and son, there needed to be an end.
It was natural law for a son to arrange his father’s funeral.
…
Western Garden, underground chamber.
A line of Imperial Guards opened the heavy iron door, and fresh, crisp air rushed into the chamber, reviving the spirits of the women inside.
The leader of the Imperial Guards bowed and said:
“By Her Majesty’s command, requesting the Empress Dowager, Imperial Consorts, and all ladies to return.”
We can leave?
A noblewoman with ruined makeup tentatively asked:
“Have the rebels been repelled?”
Seeing the Empress Dowager and other women’s gazes, the Guard leader responded:
“One rebel leader is dead, one fled. The rebellion outside the city has been quelled, all rebel commanders captured.”
Wang Si Mu, accompanying her mother, frowned and asked:
“So quickly?”
The Guard leader smiled:
“Silver Constable Xu has returned – how could it not be quick?”
Cheers erupted as the women finally felt completely at ease, breaking into smiles through their tears, speaking of heaven’s blessing on the dynasty while thanking Silver Constable Xu.
By Consort Chen’s side, Lin An, who had been maintaining a stern face, finally didn’t have to pretend to be calm. While feeling relieved, she placed her hands on her waist.
Aunt had wanted to collapse in exhaustion, but with all the women’s gazes suddenly turning toward the Xu family women, she was forced to keep her chest high and head raised, maintaining dignity.
She accepted the noble ladies’ and young misses’ praises and acclaim.
Mu Nan Zhi glanced at Lin An, then also placed her hands on her waist.
Xu Ling Yue maintained an innocent and delicate appearance.