Great Li Martial God

Hearing these words, Li Zhu’s expression changed several times as he asked, ”Does Li Zhi truly have such important value that Father Emperor would treat him so specially?”

Li Que shook his head and said, ”In my view, he is absolutely a formidable opponent. He lacks nothing in both literary and martial strategy, and is an impeccable talent for governing in peaceful times.”

”When Father Emperor had us seven brothers enter the court to work, aside from Sixth Brother who was unwilling to do anything, the other six all took charge of the Six Ministries. The astonishing political achievements Li Zhi left behind in the Ministry of Revenue, you should remember them vividly.”

”It can be said that even Elder Brother and I fall somewhat short compared to him.”

Hearing this, Li Zhu showed a shameful expression, while a trace of dimness flashed through his eyes as he said, ”I must admit this point. When I was in charge of the Ministry of War, even if the Yun Province military rebellion incident had not occurred, the political achievements I made would still have fallen far short of you three.”

Three years ago, Emperor Yuanwu had issued an order to fairly give each prince an opportunity to participate in court governance, which was also an assessment of all the princes.

Though it went unspoken, everyone in the court knew that His Majesty’s action aimed to select princes of outstanding ability, closely related to the still undecided position of Great Li’s Crown Prince.

In the end, Emperor Yuanwu eliminated three princes, including Li Zhu, whose political achievements failed to meet requirements. He kept only the First Prince, Second Prince, and the fake prince Li Zhi to continue managing the Ministry of Rites, Ministry of Personnel, and Ministry of Revenue among the Six Ministries.

However, just as Emperor Yuanwu was preparing to conduct the next round of evaluation of the three princes, at this critical juncture, the matter of the Seventh Prince being switched twenty years ago suddenly erupted.

This led to Li Zhi being thrown into the Great Li heavenly prison. Several months had passed since then, yet the matter still had not been settled.At this moment, Li Que smiled as he looked at Li Zhu and said gently, ”Third Brother, don’t be discouraged. Your timing was just a bit off. In the future, if we two brothers work together with one heart, we will surely create magnificent achievements for Great Li.”

Li Zhu nodded heavily and cupped his hands, saying, ”This younger brother looks only to Second Brother for guidance.”

”Third Brother speaks too seriously. The brotherly bond between us is certainly not any kind of subject-master relationship.”

Li Que waved his hand, then narrowed his eyes slightly and thought for a moment before saying, ”Third Brother, you just mentioned the matter of Li Zhi. Actually, I also have some doubts. I understand that Father Emperor values talent and won’t kill him, but keeping the position of Seventh Prince vacant for him is quite unexpected to me.”

”Even if Father Emperor wishes to bestow favor upon him, conferring a marquis title or appointing him as prime minister would already be sufficient. But preserving his position as a prince is truly excessive.”

Hearing this, Li Zhu merely frowned and shook his head, sighing, ”I truly cannot fathom Father Emperor’s thoughts at all.”

Li Que glanced at him and also shook his head, saying, ”If you can’t figure it out, then don’t think about it. Fortunately, Li Zhi is not of our imperial bloodline. No matter how much favor Father Emperor bestows upon him, Father Emperor cannot possibly pass the throne to him. He poses no threat to us.”

Li Zhu nodded. At this moment, as a thunderous gong sounded from the martial training ground.

The expert who had previously faced the siege of three Martial Dao Grand Masters alone with unbroken defense returned.

This person had feminine features and wore a long blue robe with embroidered borders and a jade-blue satin belt. With his hands clasped behind his back, he came stepping across the lake’s green lotus leaves, landing lightly on the martial training ground.

Then, several more sounds of breaking through the air came as several martial world experts of varying strength followed closely, successively landing not far from the feminine man.

However, the several people paid no attention to the feminine man. Like him, they all turned their heads together, nervously looking toward the other end of the path leading to the martial training ground.

At this time, there was a hunched figure there, supporting himself with a rotten wooden cane, shuffling slowly from the end of the path.

Seeing this, everyone including the feminine man became as if facing a great enemy.

Before long, the hunched figure walked to the edge of the martial training ground and stopped, slowly raising his head.

It was an extremely ordinary old man’s face, but for some unknown reason, when everyone looked at it, they always felt they couldn’t see it clearly.

After a while, it completely changed into a different appearance. When they blinked again, it was yet another different face, appearing inexplicably strange.

”Cough, cough, young friends, will you all come at once? Or will you spar with this old man one by one?”

After coughing a few times, the hunched old man slowly asked.

The several people on the martial training ground exchanged glances, their eyes all showing wariness as they said in unison, ”We respectfully request Elder’s generous instruction.”

However, before their words had even finished falling, several martial arts experts suddenly erupted into action.

Without any awareness of whether they were being dishonorable or bullying an old elder.

In an instant, blade light flashed and sword energy crisscrossed. Each one brought out their signature techniques and thunderous killing moves, as if wanting to dismember the old man before them.

”Cough, cough, young friends are truly enthusiastic.”

The hunched old man coughed once and slowly raised his palm that was as withered as dead wood.

In an instant, all the blade light and sword energy disappeared without a trace.

Immediately after, all those who had attacked suddenly raised both hands high and with a ”thump” prostrated themselves with all five points touching the ground before the hunched elder, continuously kowtowing. In no time, their heads were broken and bleeding, looking exactly like fanatical devotees in worship.

On the entire martial training ground, only the feminine man who possessed the Golden Light Giant Cauldron technique had not moved.

At this moment, golden light shone brilliantly all over his body, as if he were enveloped by the phantom of a golden light giant cauldron, airtight and solid as gold all around him.

The feminine man stared at the hunched old man and said coldly, ”I’ll just stand here without moving. Let’s see if you can break through my defense...”

However, before he finished speaking, the golden light around him suddenly scattered.

He himself followed in the footsteps of the others, kowtowing toward the hunched elder. His skin split open and blood flowed endlessly. He couldn’t even cry out in pain.

”So it’s the Formless Puppet Technique.”

Elder Zhe on the viewing platform narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke, ”Presumably you are the Formless Elder. Please forgive these juniors’ ignorant offense and come forward to speak.”

Elder Zhe seemed to speak lightly, but his voice spread throughout the entire martial training ground, shaking people’s hearts like a great bell.

The Formless Elder raised his head and looked in the direction of the voice, then gently raised his hand and said, ”So it’s the ’Banished Immortal.’ This old man pays his respects.”

His words had just fallen when the Formless Elder’s form disappeared from its original position and appeared before Li Que and the other two.

At the same time, the several martial world figures who had been continuously kowtowing finally stopped, their heads not completely shattered.

However, seemingly due to exhaustion, everyone collapsed limply on the ground and fainted.

On the viewing platform, seeing this scene, Li Zhu suddenly faced the Formless Elder at a distance of just a few feet and couldn’t help but have his breathing quicken for a moment.

However, when he saw Elder Zhe sitting calmly to the side, he finally relaxed slightly.

At this moment, Li Que exchanged a glance with Elder Zhe. Staring at the Formless Elder before him, he narrowed his eyes and asked, ”Elder, with such astonishing martial cultivation, are you truly willing to enter my manor and serve?”