Legend of Swordsman

”It’s impossible! Just a few days ago, I received a memorial from the Southeastern Nine Counties. That’s from my disciple!” The Minister of Revenue was filled with surprise.

The Minister of Personnel also objected, saying, ”Every year, hundreds of officials are dispatched to the Southeastern Nine Counties, and they return at the end of the year to submit memorials. If such a major incident had occurred, how could they have kept it a secret?”

For a moment, the entire court was full of doubts and objections.

Wei Jiuxian, however, smiled calmly. With a flick of his fingers, he produced a spark, which instantly transformed into a human figure.

”Desire King!”

Everyone was shocked!

A spark turned into the Desire King, looking exactly like him.

Then, with a few more transformations, it evolved into several high-ranking officials in the

court.

Everyone watching was amazed.

”They’re all fake!”

After saying this, Wei Jiuxian put away this small trick.

Such illusions could deceive the civil and military officials, but not the Immortal Slayer Guard.

Since the Chiyang Sect had started working for the Restoration Emperor, he had discovered this issue.

It all began when a member of the Immortal Slayer Pavilion was killed, only to reappear later. Upon investigation, they learned that the later one was a puppet.

Because of this, he questioned the Tang Emperor, who subtly told him, ”To keep the land but lose the people is not losing the land, but to lose the land means losing the people.”

The meaning was clear: for the sake of the eternal prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, the people would have to endure some hardship.

As a eunuch, as a court official living off the Emperor’s provisions, it was his duty to relieve His Majesty’s worries.

This was the most natural thing in the world.

But Wei Jiuxian couldn’t accept it!

”Your Majesty, please see clearly!” Wei Jiuxian bowed deeply!

Even if he lost his position today, he had to expose the truth about the Southeastern Nine Counties.

Because both the witnesses and evidence were there.

No one could overturn this case.

For a moment, the court fell into a terrifying silence.

Even the Desire King, who hated Wei Jiuxian to the bone, remained silent. His personal grievances paled in comparison to the foundation of the Tang Dynasty. If the Tang Dynasty no longer bore the surname Li, he would not have his current wealth and power.

The Restoration Emperor furrowed his brows, taking several deep breaths, and in his heart, he cursed, ”Wei Jiuxian, I’ve given you opportunities, many opportunities. Why must you oppose me? You, a mere eunuch, dare to teach me how to govern the world!”

His eyes were filled with endless fury.

The roar within his heart was like a prehistoric beast howling, and black mist began to emanate from the center of his brows.

”If I am not strong, how can the Tang Dynasty prosper?” he consoled himself. The Restoration Emperor’s expression gradually calmed down.

After all, this was the morning court session, and he needed to summarize the day’s issues and make decisions.

On the surface, everything had to look proper and beautiful, while in private, nothing could go wrong.

”I am deeply grieved!” The Restoration Emperor, ”Li Miao,” clutched his chest, his gaze complex, his tone heavy as he said, ”The events of three years ago are still vivid in my memory. Where were all of you back then? If not for the Chiyang Sect’s assistance, how could I have restored the Tang Dynasty?”

These words indeed struck a nerve.

Especially for the civil and military officials; they truly felt useless.

In the past, there were two great contributors: one was the Immortal Slayer Guard, and the other was the Chiyang Sect.

Now, being scolded was something they couldn’t avoid.

”Of course, I must also thank Minister Wei and all the immortals within the Immortal Slayer Guard. Without them, I would never have made it out of Tai’an City. However, gratitude is one thing, but mistakes are still mistakes!”

The Emperor of Restoration’s tone shifted as he continued, ”The Immortal Slayer Guard failed in overseeing the Shanhai Prefecture. As a result, the destruction of the Jiang Kingdom went unnoticed, with no intelligence reaching the cabinet. I have decided to remove Wei Jiuxian from his position as the Grand Commander, and let the Nanshan Protector take over. Minister Wei, you will temporarily oversee the southern city defenses!”

Wei Jiuxian, who was present in the court, wasn’t surprised. This was the price he paid for tearing through the heavens today. He had long said that this Emperor never made a losing deal.

”As for the matter of the nine southeastern prefectures, let the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple investigate together. As for the personnel selection for the inspection, let Chen Yuan lead the Immortal Slayer Guard to the nine prefectures and uncover everything!”

What seemed like a major matter was actually handled with a light touch.

Who didn’t know that Chen Yuan was the Emperor Tang’s brother-in-law, one of his own

people?

What could possibly be discovered in the nine prefectures?

The light in Wei Jiuxian’s eyes completely dimmed.

Even Yan Zhong of the cabinet couldn’t help but frown. He was deeply dissatisfied with this, not because of the significant events in the nine prefectures, but because the Emperor was overly partial to the Chiyang Sect.

A demonic sect from the cultivation world, if not for its merit in following the dragon, would never have been allowed into the court. Yet now, it was being protected by the Emperor so openly, how could this not dishearten people?

”Dismissed!”

But with the court dismissed, what more could they say?

Wei Jiuxian closed his eyes slightly, took a deep breath, and walked out of the grand hall

alone, his figure full of desolation.

The hatred that had once burned so fiercely in his heart could no longer be summoned at this

moment.

This was the sentiment buried deep in the hearts of the court officials.

Chen Yuan, however, clenched his teeth in hatred. He hated Wei Jiuxian. If it weren’t for the

massive issue Wei had exposed, today’s appointment would have made him the governor of Shanhai Prefecture!

Now, he had to inspect the Mangshan Prefecture of the nine southeastern prefectures.

His heart seethed with resentment!

The court session dispersed.

The Emperor of Restoration returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, but his heart was far

from calm.

”Damn it, damn it, Wei Jiuxian!!!!”

The Emperor of Restoration could no longer maintain his composure, and his eyes were filled

with dark mist.

Ever since he became a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, no one in the Tang Dynasty had dared to defy him. Yet last night, Wei Jiuxian had the audacity to withhold the Immortal Fate that he had ordered the Chiyang Sect to collect. How could he not be filled with hatred?

That Immortal Fate had taken the Chiyang Sect an entire year to gather.

Once he refined it, he would be able to rapidly advance to the late Nascent Soul stage.

Immortal Fate was a precious thing.

The reason he had broken through from an ordinary Golden Core cultivator to Nascent Soul was precisely because of the Immortal Fate refined by the Chiyang Sect. In just a few months, he had advanced to Nascent Soul and swept through the different kings.

Three years had passed, and no outsider could have imagined that he was already in the mid- Nascent Soul stage. At such a speed, there were few in the entire cultivation world who could

match him.

If it weren’t for Wei Jiuxian ruining his plans, he would now be ready to break through to the peak of the Nascent Soul stage.

The Emperor of Restoration, Li Miao, grew angrier the more he thought about it, gnashing his teeth. His hands gripped the desk, causing it to crack and creak.

At this moment, a mist drifted into the hall, transforming into a figure in white robes.

”Already losing your composure?” The person who came spoke calmly, not at all concerned that the mighty Emperor was in a rage.

Li Miao’s response surprised people even more. He actually replied with respect, ”I lost my focus and disappointed the Immortal Master!”

”It’s just a year’s worth of Immortal Fate. If you let it go, you can have the Chiyang Sect

collect Immortal Fate from the thirty-six northern provinces. I’ve already shielded that area from heavenly sight. As long as you have enough manpower, within half a year, you can gather enough Immortal Fate to reach the peak of Nascent Soul!” The white-robed Immortal Master spoke with a calm tone.

However, the Emperor of Restoration hesitated, his expression revealing his inner conflict.

He said, ”The matter of the nine southeastern prefectures has already been exposed, and

those thirty-six provinces...”

”What? Have you grown soft?” The Immortal Master showed no concern, floating closer and patting Li Miao’s shoulder, reassuring him, ”To accomplish great things, one must be ruthless. What you hold in your hands is the greatest opportunity in the entire cultivation world. Once you succeed, the entire cultivation world will remember your name, not just this small Tang Dynasty!”