A Pawn's Passage

In terms of cultivation, Hun Ahau had no reason to fear fellow Pseudo-Immortals. He would even dare to test his strength against Huangfu Ji. Though he might lose, he certainly would not die. Thus, even when Utu appeared in person, he had no intention of retreating.

“Utu, you still dare to show yourself?” Hun Ahau shouted.

Leaning on his long-handled scythe, Utu replied in a low, hoarse voice, “Why would I not dare show myself?”

Hun Ahau said, “Everyone in Princess Masi’s residence died from the divine power of death. Are you saying it has nothing to do with you?”

Utu answered confidently, “Of course it has nothing to do with me. Among the chosen servants, I am not the only one who possesses the divine power of death.”

Hun Ahau was an experienced veteran. He did not bother to determine whether Utu was telling the truth. Instead, he shifted the subject. “What about the human-faced fruit trees? Does that have nothing to do with you as well?”

Utu fell silent.

Although the human-faced fruit tree had been planted at the Hun Manor, the fact that Hun Ahau dared bring it up meant he was no longer covering for his brother, Hun Chowen. If the matter were fully laid bare, Utu would not be able to explain himself clearly. Thus, silence was his only option.

Hun Ahau continued, “For the sake of the Full Moon Goddess, I will not pursue these matters with you today. Step aside.”

Utu held his scythe horizontally before him. “What if I refuse?”

Hun Ahau replied coldly, “This is the order of Sage Qi and the directive of the Western Daoist Order. Are you intending to oppose the Western Daoist Order and oppose the Daoist Order itself?”

Utu said, “I am not opposing the Western Daoist Order or the Daoist Order. Back then, the Western Daoist Order established an agreement that confirmed the status of the royal family and guaranteed its safety. What you are doing today violates that agreement.”

Hun Ahau said, “The Western Daoist Order did indeed make that promise, but the premise was that the royal family would fulfill its duties and refrain from confrontation. Has the royal family done that? We have come today to restore order from chaos and to uphold justice!”

Restoring order meant purging corrupt influences around the ruler. In this case, it naturally referred to eliminating Unulatu, who was Manu Tancha’s wife.

As for Manu Tancha, he had likely already perished during the upheaval in the Temple District. Naturally, this had nothing to do with Sage Qi. Rather, it was the Commander of the Northern Palace Guards and the Chief Chamberlain, acting under Unulatu’s instructions, who had secretly murdered the emperor in an attempt to frame Sage Qi. These matters had already been thoroughly investigated and established. There was nothing left to discuss.

Once it was said that a case had been thoroughly investigated and established, then anyone who continued asking questions would be treated as an accomplice and imprisoned pending prosecution.

The final outcome would naturally be the restoration of order, with Sage Qi’s reputation celebrated throughout the Tawantin Empire. Although the Crown Prince was a student of Great Sage Huangfu, his mother was Unulatu, and thus, he could not inherit the throne.

Left with no better option, Princess Masi would reluctantly shoulder the immense burden of becoming the Emperor. At the same time, Princess Masi was also the goddaughter of Great Sage Huangfu. In the future, there would be nothing wrong with her simply using the name Huangfu Xi. Then, should she marry a member of the Huangfu family, the royal family might even end up changing their last name to Huangfu.

At this moment, Huangfu Xi was still somewhat shaken. Qi Xuansu had thrown her out of Laduo’s divine domain and out of the Princess Residence, since the entire residence had been enveloped within the divine domain.

Logically speaking, Huangfu Xi should have fled immediately and contacted others to support Qi Xuansu. However, she quickly realized a problem. According to Sage Qi’s orders, everyone else was already carrying out their assigned tasks. They were likely unreachable and, even if contacted, would not arrive in time to help. Furthermore, Sage Qi had remained remarkably calm, as though he had anticipated everything and prepared contingencies in advance. If she left now, and Qi Xuansu emerged later only to find her gone, would that leave a poor impression on him?

If the person who emerged was not Sage Qi but the assassin instead, then there was no point in running at all. If Qi Xuansu died, the situation would be lost for her as well. Her political career would effectively be over.

For those who valued power, the end of one’s political career was not that different from death itself. It was like a deeply devoted person losing their beloved. Life afterward held little meaning.

Thus, Huangfu Xi gathered several Spirit Guards and stubbornly remained outside the Princess Residence. She was making a gamble, betting that the person who would eventually emerge from the residence would be Qi Xuansu.

When Qi Xuansu truly walked out of the Princess Residence, Huangfu Xi finally let out a long breath of relief.

Qi Xuansu was somewhat surprised to see Huangfu Xi still waiting there. Though her actions had not been rational, it showed her loyalty.

“Why are you still here?” Qi Xuansu asked casually.

Huangfu Xi answered with something entirely different. “General Hun and the others have already entered the royal palace.”

Qi Xuansu nodded. “Then let’s head over as well.”

“Sure, Huangfu Xi replied.

Qi Xuansu employed the Banished Immortal’s Joyous Cloud, lifting both of them into the air as they flew toward the royal palace.

Meanwhile, within the royal palace, Hun Ahau did not rashly engage Utu. Instead, he looked upward.

The Horned Dragon flying ship had already entered the palace’s airspace, and its cannon, the Starcrusher, was adjusting its firing angle.

Utu’s expression grew grave.

The Grade-A Series Two Dragon Eye Bomb was a weapon capable of harming Immortals. When the Daoist Order slew the Yamata-no-Orochi in Fenglinzhou, it had employed this same bomb. While such a weapon was not fatal to a true Immortal, it could still do serious damage. The outcome for a Pseudo-Immortal facing such a bomb was far less certain.

At that moment, Unulatu finally appeared.

Utu actually stepped aside of his own accord, making way for Unulatu.

Hun Ahau stared down at Unulatu and said in a low voice, “Junior Sister, it’s been a long time.”

“Senior Brother, I never expected you would lead troops in rebellion.” Unulatu maintained her usual lofty attitude, her sharp eyes and brows filled with authority, her tone condescending as ever.

Hun Ahau sneered. “Rebellion? Junior Sister, look carefully. The ones surrounding you are not the Southern Palace Guards but the Spirit Guards of Danxiu Mountain. How could I lead the Western Daoist Order’s Spirit Guards in rebellion? Do you think that Great Sage Tantai is a traitor as well?”

Unulatu replied, “It is entirely possible that the Western Daoist Order and Great Sage Tantai have been deceived by you. Didn’t your brother Chowen deceive the Western Daoist Order? He was disloyal to the Western Daoist Order and leaked intelligence to the Steam Evangelical Sect. With such a brother, one can easily imagine the sort of things his elder brother is capable of.”

Hun Ahau laughed from sheer fury and said coldly, “The Sages of the Western Daoist Order see things clearly. Chowen has already been executed. He could not escape justice, and neither can you. Unulatu, cease your sophistry and surrender immediately. It is your only way out.”

Utu immediately stepped in front of Unulatu.

At this moment, Hun Ahau was consumed by hatred. This woman could truly be so heartless and unfeeling, even using Chowen as a weapon in her arguments. Had Utu not blocked his path, he would have torn Unulatu apart with his own hands just to see whether her heart was black.

Just as tensions reached the breaking point, Qi Xuansu and Huangfu Xi finally arrived.

Qi Xuansu guided the Joyous Cloud downward and landed slowly on the ground.

The Spirit Guards immediately opened a path. Qi Xuansu walked forward, and Hun Ahau naturally stepped aside to yield the leading position to him.

Qi Xuansu first glanced at Utu, then shifted his gaze to Unulatu. However, his words were directed toward the Northern Palace Guards. “When a superior commits an offense in the course of public duties, subordinates involved in the matter shall not be implicated so long as they acted under orders. No punishment shall be imposed for such public-duty offenses.”

As soon as these words were spoken, unrest immediately spread among the Northern Palace Guards.

The Northern Palace Guards were human too. They had desires, fears, and their own thoughts. Looking at the current situation, with two Sages, a flying ship hovering overhead, and countless Spirit Guards, how could this possibly be Hun Ahau deceiving the Western Daoist Order? It was obvious that the Western Daoist Order itself had authorized these actions. Moreover, the attackers had already entered the royal palace. The tide had clearly turned. Continuing to resist stubbornly would only lead to death.

Now that Qi Xuansu had offered a guarantee, hearts naturally wavered. Few were willing to die alongside the Empress.

No one knew who was the first to lower their weapon, but the sound of metal striking the ground rang out with remarkable clarity. Then, as if triggering a chain reaction, the sounds echoed one after another.

The Northern Palace Guards, who had been standing in confrontation moments before, began dropping their weapons in succession. Their formation collapsed like a landslide.

Qi Xuansu said, “All those who have laid down their weapons are to leave this place immediately.”

Then Qi Xuansu instructed Hun Ahau, “Inform Huangfu Zhu not to make things difficult for them. Gather them and place them all under Huangfu Zhu’s command. Tell him it is my order.”

Qi Xuansu did not lower his voice. He intentionally made sure the Northern Palace Guards could hear him.

Hun Ahau naturally acknowledged the order loudly.

With Qi Xuansu’s guarantee, the Northern Palace Guards exchanged glances for a moment before departing one after another. No matter how loudly Maranga shouted at them, it was all in vain.

This was the advantage of having a good reputation. Good deeds rarely spread far, while bad deeds spread like wildfire. If Qi Xuansu had previously committed acts of betrayal or discarded allies once they were no longer useful, then these words would not have carried nearly the same weight.

A person aspiring to become the Grand Master should walk the righteous path and employ open stratagems, not underhanded schemes.

Once the Northern Palace Guards withdrew, Unulatu’s side appeared isolated. Setting aside the female official, only Maranga and Utu remained at her side.

Meanwhile, on Qi Xuansu’s side, Hun Ahau, Tantai Ying, Huangfu Xi, and numerous Spirit Guards stood behind him, while the Horned Dragon hovered above, poised and ready to strike.

Even with Utu’s Pseudo-Immortal cultivation, he had no chance of victory.

Unless an ancient god descended in person, they stood no chance of winning. Yet Qi Xuansu had already instructed Tantai Ying to prepare the Grade-A Series Two Dragon Eye Bomb specifically to counter such divine-descent incarnations.

Utu remained silent, while Maranga’s face had turned pale.

Unulatu stared fixedly at Qi Xuansu.

Qi Xuansu was not even a Pseudo-Immortal, so how could he overturn the old governance of New Paititi by himself? He likely could not even have entered the palace gates. After all, New Paititi’s defenses consisted of temple priests, the Northern Palace Guards, the chosen servant of the ancient gods, and experts from the Western Daoist Order. If necessary, the ancient gods could even send down divine-descent incarnations. Even a Pseudo-Immortal would be unable to storm the palace through personal strength alone.

But Qi Xuansu represented the Daoist Order. That changed everything.

All the defensive forces seemed to have vanished. They allowed Qi Xuansu to advance unhindered all the way into the depths of the royal palace.

Qi Xuansu slowly spoke, “Unulatu, I gave you a 15-day deadline. Yet you seem to have treated my words as nothing more than passing wind. Who exactly did you think you were speaking to? If it were merely Qi Xuansu issuing a warning, you could certainly ignore it. After all, in terms of cultivation, Qi Xuansu is inferior even to Utu, who is standing beside you. But at this moment, Qi Xuansu speaks to you on behalf of the Daoist Order. How do you still dare remain so indifferent? Are you showing contempt for the Daoist Order?”