Firmament Sword

Sun Yunpeng sneered, ”That’s no concern of yours, Prime Minister Wei. You should be more concerned with your own future.”

”You...” Wei Feng was furious. The man’s words had struck a nerve. Others might not see it, but how could Sun Yunpeng, another of the Nine Ministers, fail to see the fate that awaited Wei Feng?

A new emperor brings new courtiers. Once Huangfu Haoyue took full control and stabilized the situation, that would be the day Wei Feng was cast out from power.

Perhaps, by then, just being able to get away in one piece would be the greatest stroke of luck.

But for Sun Yunpeng to expose this raw wound to his face was like being slapped hard. Wei Feng felt a ringing deep in his ears.

”Enough!” Huangfu Haoyue shot to his feet. He gave Sun Yunpeng and Zhao Wenzhao a cold glance, then ignored them and barked, ”Carry out the execution!”

As he spoke, Huangfu Haoyue sneered, ”Since you wish to die on your feet, then I shall grant you your wish!”

The executioner was the most renowned in the entire Imperial Capital. He hadn’t worked in years, but this time, he had been ”invited” out of retirement.

The executioner was about sixty, tall and robust, and exuded a murderous aura. If he hadn’t killed a thousand men, he had killed at least eight hundred.

This should have been just another routine execution, but right now, his legs were trembling. Facing the man known as the Empire’s Military God, the executioner felt as insignificant as an ant.

CH-CH-CH-CH... The executioner’s teeth chattered ceaselessly. He could barely speak, and he didn’t dare look at Xu Ji, who stood there proudly.

A Transformation Realm Powerhouse in a corner of the stage couldn’t bear to watch any longer. With a flick of his finger, he sent a stream of energy into the executioner’s body, making him feel much better at once.

”E-Every injustice has a source... and every debt its master... Grand General King... I... I’m sorry. This lowly one... must send... send you on your way today.” The executioner stammered out the words, took a bowl of strong liquor from a person beside him, and downed several large gulps. His complexion finally returned to a more normal shade.

Then he took another mouthful of liquor, held it in his mouth, and sprayed it onto the great executioner’s blade in his hand.

In the past, he would have offered the rest of the liquor in the bowl to the condemned, a gesture to show it was just his job, that he had no personal grudge, and that the deceased shouldn’t come back to haunt him. It was a final drink for the road.

But the man before him was the Grand General King!

The Military God in the hearts of everyone in the Cangqiong Empire!

He had neither the courage nor the audacity.

He could only hand the bowl to the person beside him, then heft the great blade and take his position behind Xu Ji. He was a very tall man; even with Xu Ji standing, the executioner was tall enough to reach his neck.

”The hour has come! Execute him now!” Wei Feng roared, seeing the executioner’s trembling state. It only made him more frustrated.

SWISH!

A piercing whistle suddenly tore through the air!

Suddenly, a sharp arrow, like a streak of light, shot from the sky outside the Imperial City, aimed straight for Huangfu Haoyue seated upon the Star Hall!

”Ambush!”

”Assassin!”

”Protect the Prince!”

”Protect the Regent King!”

In an instant, the Star Hall erupted in panicked shouts.

Huangfu Haoyue, however, seemed completely unsurprised. He sat there, motionless, a mocking smile on his face as he watched the streaking arrow. It was as if it weren’t a deadly projectile at all, but merely a leaf caught in the wind.

A figure leaped out from behind, directly shielding Huangfu Haoyue, and sneered dismissively, ”An arrow like this... can kill someone?”

With that, the man actually tried to catch the arrow with his bare hands!

In the next instant, the Transformation Realm powerhouse’s expression changed completely. The sneer froze on his lips, and the disdain in his eyes turned into immense terror and disbelief.

PFFT!

The arrow pierced straight through the Transformation Realm powerhouse’s chest, grazed past Huangfu Haoyue’s handsome cheek, and left a bloody gash!

Then, just as abruptly, it dissipated into thin air, leaving not even a trace behind.

”That’s... Sword Qi!”

The Transformation Realm powerhouse who had been pierced by the arrow managed to utter only those two words before he collapsed, dead.

For a moment, everyone on the Star Hall was completely stunned.

It had all happened too suddenly, too quickly. In the blink of an eye, it was over.

Just like the palace coup in the Imperial Palace a month ago, it was just as abrupt!

Huangfu Haoyue was almost stupefied. His mouth hung slightly open, his eyes wide. Suddenly, his body shuddered violently, and he roared, ”Who dares to try and kill Us?! Show yourself!”

At once, everyone—including the people in the square below—stared at Huangfu Haoyue on the Star Hall in utter astonishment.

’We...’

’He actually... he called himself ’We’!’

’He dared to call himself ’We’?’

Countless people were stunned by the single word Huangfu Haoyue had unconsciously shouted in his terror.

Although everyone was aware of Huangfu Haoyue’s ambition, and although everyone knew it wouldn’t be long before he took that seat for himself, that day... had not yet come.

Therefore, he was still expected to observe the proper decorum. Even though Huangfu Haoyue had intimidated everyone with military force, this was still the case!

If you want to play the game, you have to follow the rules!

Otherwise, are you going to kill everyone?

Huangfu Haoyue suddenly felt all eyes on him and snapped back to his senses. With his life under threat and his true colors exposed, he gritted his teeth and said coldly, ”The legitimate Royal Family is incompetent! The blood of the Royal Family flows in Our veins, and We have received the Mandate of Heaven! From this day forward, We are the Cangqiong Emperor! Who dares to kill Us?”

And it had to be said, when Huangfu Haoyue roared like that, he did seem to possess an ineffably noble air.

Wei Feng, Wang Moxuan, and the others exchanged a look. After a moment’s hesitation, they immediately knelt. ”Long live the Emperor! Long may he reign!”

Over on the side, Leng Mengde’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn’t move. Although he had compromised under Huangfu Haoyue’s tyranny, he didn’t want to hang his entire future on this one man. Years of experience told him not to pick a side so easily.

’What if... the tree falls?’

Sun Yunpeng had already all but dropped pretenses with Huangfu Haoyue. Seeing him now completely tear off his disguise and declare himself Emperor, he sneered mockingly, ”Finally couldn’t help but show your true colors, eh? Fine. In front of all these nobles, let everyone see what kind of a person you, the Regent King, truly are!”

Zhao Wenzhao added, ”It’s true the Sixth Prince staged a palace coup. He killed the former Emperor and the Empress, and he killed the Crown Prince. But his accomplice was you, Huangfu Haoyue! You killed the Sixth Prince and framed him for everything. Do you really think the world is full of fools?”

”Guards! Seize these two traitors!” Huangfu Haoyue roared, pointing at Sun Yunpeng and Zhao Wenzhao.

SWISH!

As he spoke, another arrow, like a streak of light, shot straight for Huangfu Haoyue!

This arrow was even faster than the last!

This time, no one dared to block it. Just as it was about to hit Huangfu Haoyue, he suddenly erupted, grabbing Wang Moxuan from beside him and pulling him in front as a shield.

PFFT!

The arrow pierced through the center of Wang Moxuan’s brow, then grazed Huangfu Haoyue’s scalp.

Wang Moxuan’s eyes went wide. He died without being able to utter a single word.

Huangfu Haoyue no longer dared to stand on the Star Hall. Like a beaten dog, he scrambled down under the cover of two Transformation Realm powerhouses, not forgetting to shout, ”Elders, help me kill Xu Ji!”

The four Elders on the execution platform exchanged a glance. One of them nodded, and another raised his hand to strike the crown of Xu Ji’s head.

CRACK!

The Transformation Realm powerhouse who had struck at Xu Ji’s head looked on in disbelief. He tried to raise a hand to touch his own head, but was horrified to discover he could no longer lift his arm.

A blurry figure had descended from the sky, shattering the Transformation Realm powerhouse’s skull with a single punch before grabbing and snapping the ropes binding Xu Ji.

Then, the figure struck Xu Ji’s body with a rapid succession of over thirty palm strikes!

PFFT!

After spitting out a mouthful of blood, Xu Ji’s qi and blood instantly surged to their peak, and he couldn’t help but let out a long, powerful roar.

The three remaining Transformation Realm powerhouses watched, stunned and furious, as their companion’s head was crushed and Xu Ji was freed. They all attacked the figure in unison.

Three men, six blood-red palms.

The figure let out a soft sound of surprise. ’Blood Vajra Palm? So you bastards are from Dubhe...’ ”You dogs, go to hell!”

BAM! BAM! BAM!

In the shortest possible time, the figure and the three Transformation Realm powerhouses exchanged a single blow each.

Two of the Transformation Realm powerhouses were immediately sent flying backward, spitting blood, and crashed hard onto the square. Immediately after, a shadow shot out from the figure, rushing toward the two who had fallen.

Two earth-shattering screams suddenly rang out, and when everyone looked again, the two Transformation Realm powerhouses had completely vanished!

On the execution platform, the sole remaining Transformation Realm powerhouse faced the sudden intruder with a grim expression and asked coldly, ”Just who are you?”

”I am your Master Luo!” The figure was none other than Xu Luo. He had barely stopped to rest on his journey here, even consuming two Chaos Peaches to do so.

”Good son, you came at the perfect time!” Xu Ji said, looking at his son Xu Luo beside him and laughing heartily.

Xu Luo said softly, ”Father, you once had me stand upon the Star Hall, seeking only to change my constitution. How could I, your son, not appear today? Otherwise, wouldn’t I be an unfilial son?”

”Hahahaha! Good! A son of Xu Ji has guts! Today, father and son will fight side-by-side for once and kill these animals!”

Xu Luo nodded firmly, then charged straight at the Transformation Realm powerhouse. ”My father said to kill the animals, and we’ll start with you!”

”You little bastard, you dare...” The Transformation Realm powerhouse was enraged, but at the same time, his heart was filled with shock. Xu Luo had actually appeared, and he had even recognized the Blood Vajra Palm. No matter what, he had to be stopped here today!