Firmament Sword

Huangfu Chongxiao nodded. ”No problem.”

”I want the five-hundred-li radius around Ying City to become my personal, permanent fiefdom,” Huangfu Haoyue added. ”It will be my domain, and from that point on, it will have nothing to do with the Empire!”

Huangfu Chongxiao was stunned at first. He hesitated for a long moment, his mind racing with calculations, before gritting his teeth. ”Done!”

”Afterward, I want ten million taels of Gold and one hundred thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones. Furthermore, for the first three years of your reign, I will be the Regent King, and I will take a tenth of all tax revenue during that time!” Huangfu Haoyue’s demands were outrageous. He watched Huangfu Chongxiao’s expression darken, then added slowly,

”I can guarantee that if you agree, you will succeed. I can also promise that I will never compete with you for the throne. I will never move against you.”

”Truly?”

”Truly.”

”Alright!”

The moment Huangfu Chongxiao finally agreed, he collapsed into his chair. A chill ran down his spine.

’The die is cast.’ He knew there was no turning back.

Across from him, Huangfu Haoyue’s face was impassive, perfectly serene.

After a long pause, Huangfu Chongxiao said softly, ”You must guarantee the lives of my father, the Emperor, and my mother, the Empress. As for my brother, the Crown Prince... could we perhaps...”

Before he could finish, Huangfu Haoyue cut him off with a cold sneer. ”Are you really so indecisive? If you leave the Crown Prince alive, do you think he won’t use his legitimate claim to the throne to rally support and destroy you later?”

”Does... he really have to die?” Huangfu Chongxiao’s voice was tinged with bitterness, his heart wracked with conflict.

In that moment, he recalled their childhood, remembering scenes of brotherly love and mutual respect.

”He must die! Unless you don’t want to sit on that throne! Unless you have no interest in power whatsoever!” Huangfu Haoyue sneered. ”Don’t think for a second I don’t know that your brother hates you to his very core! If he ever gets the chance, he won’t spare you!”

’Yes... that’s right. If our positions were reversed, he wouldn’t spare me!’ The Sixth Prince’s eyes suddenly turned red. His mind flooded with images of the various conflicts between them over the past few years, and he instantly believed Huangfu Haoyue.

”Fine... he can die. But my father and mother must live!” Huangfu Chongxiao stared at Huangfu Haoyue. ”If you don’t agree to this, I’d rather call the whole thing off. I’ll ask my father for a fiefdom and live out my days as a carefree Prince!”

Huangfu Haoyue smiled faintly. ”That’s a small matter. I agree.”

”Next are the Military General Clans. They all support my father. The National Guardian General, Xu Ji, must be eliminated!” As he spoke of the Xu Family, a cold light flashed in the Sixth Prince’s eyes. He didn’t want to kill his own kin, but he wasn’t nearly as merciful when it came to others.

”Mm,” Huangfu Haoyue nodded.

”All families with close ties to the Xu Family must also be purged!” the Sixth Prince said coldly, then muttered, ”Most Civil Servants lack integrity, but the head of them all, Wei Feng... he has always been my father’s trusted confidant! He’s greedy and cunning! He cannot be spared!”

”I have a different suggestion. Perhaps we can keep him,” Huangfu Haoyue said. ”Wei Feng and the Xu Family are like fire and water. His reputation was already nearly ruined by Xu Luo, especially after that calligraphy incident. Many influential ministers at court have become estranged from Wei Feng because of it. The only reason he’s still standing is that your father protects him. Otherwise, even ten Wei Fengs would have long been brought down by their collective attacks.”

The Sixth Prince looked at the eloquent Huangfu Haoyue, utterly shocked. He never imagined that his Imperial Uncle, despite his Royal Family bloodline, would have such a clear understanding of what should have been court secrets.

His knowledge was on par with his own!

’What is he really after?’ The Sixth Prince was horrified, but his face remained a placid mask. After years of elite royal education, concealing his emotions was not difficult for him.

”What Imperial Uncle says makes sense, but Wei Feng... will he really be so obedient?” the Sixth Prince asked.

”By then, it won’t be up to him,” a disdainful smile crossed Huangfu Haoyue’s handsome face. ”We’ll just bring him along to watch the main event. After seeing that, how could he possibly back out?”

”In that case... it’s settled!” Although he was wary of Huangfu Haoyue, his desire for the throne suppressed all other concerns. The Sixth Prince decided to go all in and risk it all on this one gamble.

If he didn’t take this chance, he knew he would never get another one, not with the Crown Prince growing ever more composed and capable.

’I’ll risk it all!’

’Man proposes, Heaven disposes!’

’Give me, Huangfu Chongxiao, one chance, and I will absolutely make the Cangqiong Empire stronger than ever!’

’Under my rule, Cangqiong will become the sole hegemon on this continent!’

After seeing the experts Huangfu Haoyue had brought in, Huangfu Chongxiao’s blood boiled with excitement. His heart was completely consumed by fantasies of power.

...

「On this day」 The palace held a banquet for the Military Generals. The idea had allegedly come from the Sixth Prince himself, who argued that ever since the National Guardian General’s surprise attack had destroyed the Wu Kingdom and captured the King of Wu, there had not yet been a grand banquet held specifically for the Empire’s military leaders.

”These Military Generals are all heroes of the state who have rendered distinguished service to the Empire. This is especially true for the National Guardian General King, Xu Ji, whose valor is unmatched. Father, you should hold a grand feast for them and drink until we can drink no more!”

As the Sixth Prince spoke, it was as if he envisioned himself ascending the throne and expanding the Empire’s borders. He spoke with such impassioned fervor that the Emperor, Huangfu Haoran, cried out his approval several times and readily agreed.

But Huangfu Haoran, a man renowned for his lifelong wisdom, would never have dreamed that this royal palace banquet for his generals would be his last meal.

Huangfu Haoran collapsed suddenly, mid-laugh, as he raised his cup. The boisterous hall fell instantly silent. It wasn’t until the Sixth Prince shakily rose to his feet, pointed at the Crown Prince, and accused him of colluding with the generals to poison the Emperor that everyone suddenly realized: the heavens over the Empire had changed.

Four Transformation Realm powerhouses struck instantly, descending upon the defenseless Military Generals.

Generals were required to disarm before entering the palace. Of all the generals present, only the National Guardian General King, Xu Ji, had the privilege of bearing arms within the palace walls.

But he was here to drink! He had come to attend a banquet hosted by His Majesty the Emperor. Why would he spoil the festive mood by bringing a weapon?

That would have been far too arrogant.

The Champion Marquis, Xu Zhongtian, roared in fury as he faced a Transformation Realm powerhouse, only to have his throat slit by a single sword strike.

Duke Jingyang, the Mighty Grand General Sui Wanli, had his skull crushed by the palm of another Transformation Realm powerhouse.

In an instant, two of the Empire’s most decorated generals, renowned on the battlefield for their countless contributions, met a violent end.

They died at the hands of their own countrymen.

Then, the Empress, who was seated with the Emperor, also began to bleed from all seven orifices, dying from the same potent poison...

The entire hall descended into utter chaos.

The Crown Prince, Huangfu Chongxi, went berserk, lunging wildly at the Sixth Prince. Seeing that his father and mother were truly dead, the Sixth Prince couldn’t face his crazed older brother and turned to flee deeper into the hall.

Huangfu Chongxi gave chase, and the two brothers... began to brawl.

Huangfu Haoyue, however, seemed to see none of this. He simply led his men and charged outside. Xu Ji had escaped.

The great National Guardian General King, Xu Ji, had not hesitated for even a second amidst the shocking turn of events. He had simply turned and fled.

A Transformation Realm powerhouse who had attacked Xu Ji was horrified to discover after a single exchange that, at some unknown point, the National Guardian General King—who was supposed to be a mere Sword Venerable—had already broken through to the Sword King Realm!

”He’s a Transformation Realm powerhouse!” the expert attacking Xu Ji roared.

His eyes bloodshot with rage, Xu Su wanted to turn back and fight, but Xu Ji barked an order for him to stop. He grabbed his eldest son, and together they carved a bloody path through the inescapable trap laid by the Sixth Prince, fighting their way straight back to the National Guardian General’s Mansion.

Huangfu Haoyue had intended to give chase, but for some reason, he stopped. Perhaps he believed that even if Xu Ji and his son escaped for now, they couldn’t flee an Imperial Capital that he had already sealed tight.

He had more important things to attend to.

...

With red-rimmed eyes, Huangfu Chongxiao stared at Huangfu Haoyue. In a voice only the two of them could hear, he asked through gritted teeth, ”Why... why did you have to kill my father and mother?”

”An error,” Huangfu Haoyue replied casually, a playful smile even gracing his lips.

”Then why did you let Xu Ji and his son escape?” the Sixth Prince demanded.

”That... was also an error. I didn’t expect they had already broken through to the Transformation Realm. It was an unforeseen accident. But believe me, they won’t be able to stir up any real trouble,” Huangfu Haoyue said, looking at Huangfu Chongxiao. ”The most important thing right now is that a nation cannot be without its monarch for even a day. Your Highness, wouldn’t you agree?”

Huangfu Chongxiao took a deep breath, then nodded firmly. ”You’re right. A nation cannot be without its monarch. I... will ascend the throne now!”

THUNK!

The Sixth Prince, Huangfu Chongxiao, stared in disbelief at the gleaming long sword protruding from his chest. His mouth fell slightly agape as he looked at Huangfu Haoyue, his eyes filled with shock. ”You... you dare kill me? The... sect... behind the Royal Family... they won’t... spare you!”

”The Kaiyang Sect? Heh. Apologies, but I’m not the one who killed you. It was the Transformation Realm powerhouses, Xu Ji and his son. After discovering that you launched a palace coup, committed patricide and matricide, and murdered your own brother, they were filled with bone-deep hatred for you. They stabbed you to death with a single sword strike, and then... they fled.” Huangfu Haoyue smiled at the Sixth Prince. A flicker of disdain flashed in his eyes, quickly replaced by pity. ”You’re such a fool. Truly.”

”I... I...” PFFT! Huangfu Chongxiao couldn’t manage a single word as a mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips. He desperately took one more step forward, and the long sword—the tip of which had only been poking out his back—ran him completely through.

”I CURSE YOU!”

Huangfu Chongxiao’s roar echoed through the Imperial Palace.

But Huangfu Haoyue remained unmoved. He pulled out his sword, not even bothering to spare Huangfu Chongxiao a glance. Instead, he turned his head, gave a small smile to the dumbstruck Wei Feng and his son, and asked in a terribly gentle voice, ”Prime Minister Wei, tell me, what did you see?”