Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1076: Chapter 1072: Venting Anger

He had reached this point and was no longer afraid of any opinions from the Imperial Grandfather.

He no longer needed to rely on the Emperor’s Sword for ascension; as long as he helped Li Hongzhao ascend, he could follow.

The existence of the Earth Origin Technique and the White Cloud Map allowed him to traverse between the Outer Heaven and the Little Outer Heaven, so naturally, he could enter Biyuan Heaven as well.

What was missing was merely a coordinate.

Li Hongzhao was that coordinate.

He looked up at the sky.

Would he be able to withstand the Emperor’s Sword now with such cultivation, reaching the limits?

Yet the heavens are indifferent, without any peculiar reaction, no force to elevate him.

He originally thought that when cultivation reached a certain limit, the heavens would repel him.

Now it seemed he was overthinking.

The heavens would not reject him, would not send him to Biyuan Heaven.

Li Hongzhao arrived, smiling as she asked, ”Did you really fend off Cheng Zhongming?”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”He’s worried you’d settle accounts after autumn.”

Li Hongzhao’s eyes twinkled.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Truly settling accounts after autumn would delay ascension, wouldn’t it?”

Li Hongzhao tilted her head, looking at him.

Chu Zhiyuan, puzzled by her gaze, laughed, ”What?”

”Are you eager for me to ascend?” Li Hongzhao snorted.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”I also want to find out if the Emperor’s Sword can truly aid in ascension.”

”Using me as a trailblazer, huh?” Li Hongzhao snorted.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Rest assured, this time the ascension holds no danger, my instincts haven’t issued a warning.”

Li Hongzhao said, ”There’s naturally no problem with ascension; there’s the Emperor’s Sword. But... not venting this anger, it’s stifling.”

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”How to vent this anger?”

”Make him abdicate!” Li Hongzhao snorted.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”That’s impossible. Now that he knows you are about to ascend, he feels reassured and isn’t worried you’ll fight with all your might.”

Li Hongzhao frowned slightly.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”If he comes, I can help, but if you seek trouble with him, I won’t be able to assist.”

Li Hongzhao rolled her eyes at him.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”He also intends to ascend; why not wait for him to ascend and then settle the score? You can vent your anger thoroughly without rushing and even without worrying about affecting your ascension.”

”...That makes some sense.” Li Hongzhao pondered, slowly nodding.

But Chu Zhiyuan vaguely heard an unusual tone and hurriedly said, ”You’ve been Emperor for some time now; you should be accustomed to patience, right?”

”But I don’t want to hold back this time,” Li Hongzhao said, ”I’ve endured enough being Emperor for so long!”

Chu Zhiyuan, helpless, asked, ”Then how will you exact revenge? Go to Da Zhen to deal with him?”

Li Hongzhao said coldly, ”I want to depose him!”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”He might hide; you won’t be able to find him.”

If he were Cheng Zhongming, knowing Li Hongzhao would ascend within a month, he would definitely avoid the limelight.

If unaware of her impending ascension, he wouldn’t hide.

Li Hongzhao frowned.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Don’t waste your efforts; focus on preparing for ascension.”

”If I can’t vent this anger, my thoughts will be obstructed, which could hinder the ascension... I need to strike the Imperial Palace with a sword to vent this fury!”

”...Then take a trip to Shenjing, but be cautious,” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Consider if he might retaliate after your ascension.”

Li Hongzhao snorted, ”I don’t care. Let’s go.”

Chu Zhiyuan took her by the arm, and they disappeared in a flash.

Outside Shenjing City, Chu Zhiyuan and Li Hongzhao stood side by side atop the treetops of a woodland, gazing at the majestic city walls.

This woodland was on the east side of the official road, more than ten zhang from the city gate.

Standing on the treetops, they swayed with the branches, moving with ease as if walking on flat ground.

Li Hongzhao’s bright eyes roamed over the dark green city walls.

The walls, built of large slabs of bluestone, were filled with moss between the stones.

Weathered and aged, imposing and resilient, seemingly unshakable.

Li Hongzhao suddenly raised her jade arm.

With a sweep of her jade hand, the Emperor’s Sword transformed into a stream of light, landing in her palm.

It transformed into an ancient longsword.

She swung the sword in a slash.

Instantly, a sword qi cleaved through the air, shooting towards the wall dozens of zhang high.

”Boom!”

In a deafening roar, a massive breach appeared in the wall.

Where the sword qi passed, the bluestone turned to rubble.

From a high vantage, a clear sword mark stretching about ten zhang could be seen on the wall.

This earth-shattering sound had already alarmed the surrounding people.

The City Guards surged forward, leaping like eagles, swiftly forming a defensive net.

Passersby at the city gate stared wide-eyed in amazement.

Chu Zhiyuan praised, ”Great swordsmanship!”

Li Hongzhao rolled her eyes at him, hearing the sarcasm in his tone.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”Feeling better now?”

Li Hongzhao snorted, ”For now. When I reach Biyuan Heaven, I’ll deal with him properly!”

She then added, ”Your grandfather is so cunning, he hasn’t shown up at all!”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”Imperial Grandfather probably received the news.”

Li Hongzhao said, ”For your sake, I won’t seek trouble with him.”

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his fists, ”In deep gratitude.”

”Speak properly!... I didn’t directly aim at Cheng Zhongming with the sword at Shenjing’s wall, that’s generous enough!” Li Hongzhao said unhappily.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded repeatedly, ”Your magnanimity is like the sea, admirable indeed.”

This earned a rebuke from Li Hongzhao, ”Be quiet. Let’s go back.”

Chu Zhiyuan took her by the arm, vanishing once more.

Meanwhile, the experts in Shenjing City focused on the sword mark, speculating on the source of such a formidable strike.

What kind of expert possessed such an astonishing sword strike!

...

The Da Meng Palace was bathed in the golden rays of the rising sun.

A high altar stood at the very center of the palace.

The altar, ten meters high with nineteen steps, was entirely built from white clouds.

Bathed in golden light, it was almost blinding to behold.

Nearly a hundred Golden Armor Imperial Guards surrounded the Heaven-Reaching Altar in three circles.

In the innermost circle of the Heaven-Reaching Altar, Chu Zhiyuan stood shoulder to shoulder with a dozen or so nobles of the Da Meng Imperial Family.

At the very center of the altar, Li Hongzhao, dressed in a yellow robe and crowned with the Heaven-Reaching Crown, stood with a solemn expression.

Under the golden radiance, her entire body shimmered as though a Divine was descending upon the world.

Her gaze was calm as she solemnly looked at the surrounding men and women, saying lightly, ”I am about to ascend, and before leaving, I bestow the imperial throne upon Li Biyang, the Seventh Prince of Prince Ming.”

Li Biyang, standing among the crowd, was startled by the news and hurriedly said, ”Your Majesty...”

”No need for courtesy,” Li Hongzhao said calmly, ”The burden of the Li Family now rests on you. Do not disappoint our ancestors’ efforts and expectations. Treat the people of Da Meng well and understand their hardships.”

”... Understood.” Li Biyang replied solemnly, cupping his fists.

Li Hongzhao looked at several elders in the crowd and said flatly, ”You should enjoy your twilight years leisurely and stay out of unnecessary matters.”

The elders showed helplessness, ”Your Majesty...”

Li Hongzhao waved her hand, ”I won’t listen to you, nor will Biyang. If you meddle unnecessarily, don’t blame me for being ruthless with the precautions I’ve left.”

”... Understood.” The elders replied helplessly, cupping their fists in acknowledgment.

Despite her youth and being a woman, Li Hongzhao’s means were both ruthless and fair, her charisma and authority were rare even among past emperors.

They also feared Li Hongzhao’s mentioned precautions, believing she would indeed leave measures to help Li Biyang secure the throne.

Li Hongzhao said calmly, ”That’s all I have to say. The hour is approaching.”

At that moment, above the Void, the Emperor’s Sword began to shine, revealing its form.

Once unveiled, it became visible to all the people of Tianjing City.

The people stopped, turning to look at the Emperor’s Sword.

”The Emperor’s Sword has appeared!”

”Why has it appeared?”

”... Ascension? I seem to have heard of this legend.”

”Who’s ascending? It can’t be the Emperor, can it? Impossible!”

They all thought it unlikely, given Li Hongzhao’s youth; she couldn’t possibly have sufficient cultivation, and even if she did, they doubted she would abandon this world.