Legend of Swordsman

He had been intelligent since childhood, surpassing the former emperor in the art of ruling. How could he not discern who among the court officials were loyal ministers and who were traitorous ones?

”But the things I must do are equally important. The events of three years ago will not repeat themselves. This empire will not perish because of me; it will exist because of me. Do you understand?”

After saying this, the Guangfu Emperor’s dragon robe fluttered behind him, and his entire aura surged.

Born with the appearance of a dragon, once he reached the Divine Image Realm, he could unleash the power of the Dragon Image, becoming a supreme powerhouse within the realm. Yet, Wei Jiuxian found it laughable. He even laughed out loud.

”Is this still the same little brat who was kicked off the dragon throne three years ago?”

Three years had passed, and too many people had changed.

The young emperor who had been kicked off the dragon throne back then now dared to utter such words as ”exist because of me.”

Perhaps that ancient figure from a thousand years ago could have said this.

But a thousand years later, even the one from Baoguang Temple could not.

”Are you mocking me?” The Guangfu Emperor’s expression twisted, both deranged and furious, as he shouted, ”Wei Jiuxian, the bond between us has reached its limit. Don’t push me. Now, you just need to stand quietly atop the southern city gate and watch-watch me complete my grand plan. Afterward, you can do whatever you want with the empire!”

Wei Jiuxian shook his head and said firmly, ”Too late. It’s time for a new emperor in this Tang dynasty!”

”How dare you!”

The Guangfu Emperor’s face changed. Although he had long expected Wei Jiuxian to join forces with the Desire King to force his abdication, he had not anticipated that Wei would still dare to tear off the mask after witnessing his strength.

He had just displayed his power to let Wei know that he was no longer the little emperor who could be easily kicked aside three years ago.

”Why wouldn’t I dare!” Wei Jiuxian knocked off his official hat, and from his sleeve slid out a Nine-Ridge Long Whip.

”The King’s Whip?” The Guangfu Emperor was shocked.

This was the King’s Whip passed down from their ancestors, used to strike corrupt rulers and rebellious ministers.

It had fallen into the hands of the Desire King in this generation.

The two had originally been mortal enemies, but the nobles valued the empire above all.

It didn’t matter who the emperor was, as long as the empire remained and the one on the throne bore the surname Li.

As for the current emperor, naturally, someone had to lead the charge to overthrow him. Just as Wei Jiuxian made his move, outside the imperial palace, the Desire King and a hundred princes and dukes from the Xiangzong Mansion entered the court.

The Empress Dowager issued a decree, and its contents were simple.

It was the truth about Mangshan County.

”The current emperor is foolish, favoring the demonic cult and indulging in slaughter. For his own selfish desires, he has ruined the empire left by the ancestors. Today, we advise him to abdicate!”

Persuade!

But not against.

After all, the Tang Dynasty was still the Tang Dynasty.

The Desire King and his group didn’t care whether the Restoration Emperor had been taken down by Wei Jiuxian. They had already started drafting a second imperial decree to select a new emperor.

As for the confidants of the Restoration Emperor, they had all headed to Mangshan Country. Whether it was the Chiyang Sect or the Zhanxian Guards led by the Guardians of Nanshan, they were all gathering in Mangshan Country.

There wasn’t a single confidant of the Restoration Emperor left within Tai’an City.

Adding to this, Wei Jiuxian acted cleanly and efficiently, quickly allowing the Desire King to gain control of the situation.

Meanwhile, the battle between Wei Jiuxian and Emperor Li Miao also came to an end!

Their struggle lasted only the time it took for an incense stick to burn.

This made Li Miao, who had been so confident, unable to believe that he had actually lost to Wei Jiuxian.

He had just broken through to become a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator!

”You’ve been hiding your strength all along?” Li Miao’s face was full of shock.

Wei Jiuxian remained calm and said indifferently, ”I was never too focused on cultivation, but after what happened three years ago, I could no longer remain indifferent.”

”Hmph!” Li Miao sneered, shaking his head. He casually threw his dragon robe to the ground and bitterly smiled, ”I underestimated you. Reaching Nascent Soul completion... truly remarkable!”

As he spoke, he began to walk towards the door.

This place no longer belonged to him, and he had never intended to be an emperor for life.

Once one embarked on the path of cultivation, all worldly matters would gradually be

forgotten.

So he dared to go against all public opinion, slaughtering common people to gather blood pills for his cultivation.

This was also the reason why he and Wei Jiuxian had parted ways.

”Your Majesty...” Wei Jiuxian said softly, ”Back then, when she entrusted the imperial consort to you, you should have kept your promise.”

Whoosh!

Hearing these words, Li Miao stopped in his tracks, his body trembling uncontrollably.

”Enough, I’ve given you the entire Tang Dynasty. What more do you want?” Li Miao

impatiently shouted, venting the frustration in his heart.

In truth, his heart was filled with more fear than anyone else’s.

That promise from years ago?

An image flashed through his mind.

A delicate woman leaned against him, while he knelt on the ground.

At that time, he had not yet ascended to the throne; he was just the crown prince.

In that image, he knelt before a woman dressed in pure white, as spotless as snow.

That woman was like a beacon in the darkness, pure and flawless.

She was the embodiment of all light.

”You wronged the imperial consort, and you wronged the Celestial Maiden who brought her

back to life!”

At this moment, Wei Jiuxian’s words shattered his light.

Celestial Maiden?

That title caused Li Miao’s entire body to tremble. After a long moment, he suddenly turned around and sneered at Wei Jiuxian, ”She was just an ancient cultivator sealed in the northern glacier. She was never a Celestial Maiden! If she were a Celestial Maiden, how could she have fallen in love with a monk? It’s utterly laughable!”

”Is that so? And who do you think orchestrated your downfall today?” Wei Jiuxian sneered.

Li Miao grew even more terrified, losing all the pride and composure he once had.

This was the deepest fear buried in his heart.

The Princess’s Tomb!

The most mysterious imperial mausoleum of the Tang Dynasty, and also an immensely

terrifying force.

”Impossible! How could she be connected to the Princess’s Tomb? Besides, she said she would ascend soon. How could she still be in the Red Eyes Realm?” Li Miao was already

somewhat hysterical.

Wei Jiuxian continued to provoke him, ”You’re right, she is no longer in this world. But the Princess’s Tomb remains, as does the Baoguang Temple. When your ancestors sealed that power, they foresaw this day. That’s why someone has come to break the seal!”

”Are you talking about those few people from Jiang Kingdom?” Li Miao took a deep breath.

He had many spies throughout the world, and the First Pavilion of the World was one of them. When Jian Wushuang and his companions had just entered Tai’an City, they were immediately watched. Those cultivators from the Jiang Kingdom-combined with the destruction of the Jiang royal family and the absence of bodies-had raised Li Miao’s suspicions. He had then sent the experts from the Chiyang Sect to assassinate Jian Wushuang and the others.

It was initially a probe, but the group suddenly disappeared from Tai’an City. Now, in hindsight, they were probably hidden by Wei Jiuxian.

”Wei Jiuxian, you truly had your own agenda. When I sent people to the Jiang Kingdom to

search for the Celestial Maiden, you obstructed me at every turn, secretly opposing me. Now it seems that the Celestial Maiden indeed left something behind. If I’m not mistaken, she must be that woman in plain clothing who visited the Baoguang Temple earlier!” At this moment, Li Miao’s expression became calm, as if everything had returned to his control.