Chapter 99: Turmoil in the Imperial City
As winter approached, the Sword Sect Hall was finally completed.
Though called a courtyard, it actually contained only a single palace, encircled by long walls.
Within the walls lay a martial training field nearly a hundred zhang wide and long—by far the largest training ground on Clear Sky Mountain.
Shen Yue stood atop the steps before the Sword Sect Hall Hall, gazing upon the vast training field, stroking his beard with a satisfied smile.
Ever since he began cultivating the Primordial Unity Scripture, it was as if he had opened the door to an entirely new world.
He had begun to believe that Li Qingqiu truly could let him live another fifty years.
The Primordial Unity Scripture was unlike any cultivation method he had seen before.
It absorbed the world’s spiritual energy to nourish vitality within the body.
The vital energy it generated could not only be used for battle but also to strengthen flesh, muscles, and bones.
For one of his age, the miraculous effects of that energy were even more tangible.
From that point on, he had completely let go of his obsession with the Emperor Mystic Sword and began to pursue the Primordial Unity Scripture instead.
Unfortunately, Li Qingqiu had only passed on the first layer of its mental formula to him, which left him restless with curiosity.
He assumed that Li Qingqiu was testing him, perhaps hinting that he should contribute more to the Clear Sky Sect.
Today marked the Sword Sect Hall’s opening day.
As an elder of the sect, he had arrived early, determined to take the duties of the Sword Sect Hall seriously.
Although the Sword Sect Hall was rather simple, the training field was grand enough to satisfy him.
His eyes turned toward the courtyard gate, where he saw someone approaching.
Since the Sword Sect Hall stood at the edge of a cliff, there was only one gate.
Heading upward from there, one would soon reach the Profound Heart Hall—the main council hall of the Clear Sky Sect and its most solemn place.
When Shen Yue recognized the newcomer, his brows furrowed.
He did not like this person.
It was Li Sifeng!
Li Sifeng strode in with his head held high, clutching the scabbard of the Emperor Mystic Sword in both hands, walking directly toward Shen Yue.
Just seeing his manner made Shen Yue’s temper flare.
That day, after he had received the Emperor Mystic Sword from Li Sifeng, the brat had followed him everywhere.
Whenever he practiced with the sword, Li Sifeng would shout at him to be gentler, utterly ruining his mood.
As Li Sifeng drew closer, Shen Yue could no longer hold back and asked, “Even someone like you wants to join the Sword Sect Hall?”
Li Sifeng snorted, clearly displeased.
“What do you mean, someone like me? Show some respect! I am the sword master of the greatest divine sword in history. From now on, call me the Master of the Emperor Mystic Sword.”
“In your hands, the Emperor Mystic Sword will sooner or later become a demonic blade,” Shen Yue mocked.
“Old man, are you jealous of me?”
“Since you obtained the sword, have you practiced with it? Have you reflected upon your own sword intent in connection with it? I suppose not. You spend your days parading around with it, showing off your possession. Do you really think that just because you have the Emperor Mystic Sword, you can dominate the martial world? Boy, you’re still far off—you’re not even close to Jiang Zhaoxia, let alone Xu Ning or the Sect Master.”
Li Sifeng’s face darkened instantly.
Though he also disliked Shen Yue, he could not refute a single word.
Looking down upon him, Shen Yue continued, “Li Sifeng, your senior brothers are so capable—what about you? You wield such a divine sword, yet do you have no grand ambition?”
Li Sifeng fell silent.
Just then, a group of disciples poured into the Sword Sect Hall.
Among them was Han Lang, Jiang Zhaoxia’s disciple.
The disciples varied in age—some were over twenty, others not yet ten—and they all looked around curiously, chattering among themselves in small groups.
Shen Yue swept his gaze across them.
Though they appeared ordinary, they brimmed with youthful energy.
The thought of living and training with these young men and women filled him with a hint of anticipation.
He couldn’t help recalling the days when he and his senior brother had practiced martial arts together.
Li Sifeng turned to look back at the disciples.
After hesitating a moment, he adjusted his grip, letting the Emperor Mystic Sword hang at his waist instead of holding it tightly in his arms.
Among the crowd, Ji Ya’s five companions were also excitedly discussing the Sword Sect Hall.
One small, thin girl kept glancing around as though searching for someone.
That girl was Yang Lin—the one who had asked Ji Ya to introduce her to the Medicine Garden.
Although she had not yet seen the Sect Master, she still carried hope.
After all, the Sword Sect Hall was personally overseen by the Sect Master; she would surely meet him eventually.
Every one of the several dozen Sword Sect Hall disciples had been handpicked by Li Qingqiu, each with loyalty above ninety percent.
When Li Qingqiu sent someone to ask whether they wished to join the Sword Sect Hall, they all agreed eagerly and without hesitation.
On the other side.
Li Qingqiu sat in Lingxiao Courtyard, holding a brush as he continued selecting disciples for the Sword Sect Hall.
He wrote down the names of those he chose and then sent Yuan Qi to summon them.
Although Yuan Qi’s role seemed like mere errand work, his close relationship with Li Qingqiu had gathered many followers around him who could assist in such tasks.
This, too, was a test for Yuan Qi.
Tomorrow, Li Qingqiu would personally visit the Sword Sect Hall to verify whether the roster was correct.
If it wasn’t, he would properly reprimand Yuan Qi—and perhaps teach him how to select subordinates.
Li Qingqiu valued Yuan Qi highly—not only because of his younger brother Yuan Li’s Undying Overlord Body, but also because of the bond they had built over the years.
The boy had keen insight and was unafraid of hardship.
Even if his cultivation aptitude was mediocre, he could still excel in internal affairs.
At that moment, Yuan Qi entered, leading someone inside.
Li Qingqiu glanced over and recognized the man as the wandering hero Ma Yu, the same man who had once delivered Feng Dai’s letters.
Ma Yu, travel-worn and dust-covered, suddenly quickened his steps and charged toward Li Qingqiu.
Yuan Qi’s expression changed drastically.
He leaped over Ma Yu’s head and landed in front of him, blocking his path.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he demanded sternly.
Yuan Qi instantly regretted his carelessness.
He remembered Ma Yu—Li Qingqiu had always granted him audience before—so this time he had brought him straight in.
But to his shock, Ma Yu was rushing at the Sect Master as if to attack!
He knew Ma Yu couldn’t possibly harm Li Qingqiu, but the reckless behavior infuriated him.
He felt deceived and, worse, ashamed of his negligence.
Ma Yu halted, looked straight at Li Qingqiu, and said, “Sect Master Li, the Imperial City has fallen into chaos—storms are brewing! If you truly are friends with my lord, please, persuade him to leave at once!”
Li Qingqiu put down his brush, turned to face him, and asked calmly, “What sort of chaos?”
Yuan Qi glanced back at Li Qingqiu, then stepped aside.
Ma Yu did not advance further.
He spoke quickly: “The Crown Prince seeks rebellion! Officials and noble clans in the Imperial City are all choosing sides. The Imperial Guardian Army has defected to the Crown Prince—they could force the palace gates at any time! Regardless of who wins, blood will flow like rivers! My lord… he supports the Crown Prince! It’s madness!”
Li Qingqiu immediately thought of Yan Lan—that frail and sickly Crown Prince daring to raise arms against his own father?
“How could there be such a thing as a Crown Prince rebelling? And you want me to persuade Feng Dai to leave—is it because you think the Crown Prince will lose?” Li Qingqiu asked.
Ma Yu gritted his teeth.
“I have a friend from the martial world who got into trouble in the Imperial City. He saw a personal guard unit called the Forbidden Martial Guards. Every one of them is an expert—one even hailed as the number one martial artist of Beiliang Province! There were many of them, investigating someone in secret. But normally, the common folk of the Imperial City know nothing of their existence. What does that tell you?”
“It tells you that the Emperor has long ceased to trust the Imperial Guardian Army. He has already cultivated new strength in secret. His Majesty rose to power through bloodshed. The Crown Prince is frail and far too young—how could he possibly win?”
Li Qingqiu asked, “Did you tell this to Feng Dai?”
“I did, but he said this was the only chance. Even if the Crown Prince loses, he wants to take the gamble! He even intends to assist the Crown Prince—it’s insane! What can a mere minor official like him possibly do?” Ma Yu exclaimed angrily, his face full of frustration.
Li Qingqiu shook his head.
“You rode from the Imperial City, even at full gallop—it must have taken half a month. It’s already too late to dissuade him. He must have sent you with a letter. Let me see it.”
Ma Yu calmed himself, quickly pulled a letter from his robe, and handed it to Li Qingqiu.
Li Qingqiu opened the envelope, unfolded the letter, and read it carefully.
Before long, his brows knitted tightly.
After finishing, he slipped the letter back into its envelope and looked at Ma Yu with a firm, commanding tone.
“Stay here tonight. Leave at first light.”
Ma Yu instinctively wanted to refuse, but under Li Qingqiu’s gaze, his heart trembled, and he nodded.
Li Qingqiu turned to Yuan Qi.
“Take Ma Yu to rest. Then summon all Hall Masters to meet me tonight—including Xu Ning.”
“Understood!”
Yuan Qi responded promptly and led Ma Yu away.
Li Qingqiu set the letter aside and continued selecting disciples for the Sword Sect Hall.
……
As night fell, all the Hall Masters gathered within Lingxiao Courtyard, seated around the long table.
Li Qingqiu first turned to Zhu Yan and asked, “Hall Master Zhu, have you received any recent news?”
Zhu Yan looked puzzled.
“May I ask what kind of news the Sect Master refers to?”
“From the Imperial City.”
“None,” Zhu Yan shook her head.
“Other than investigating that army last time, I rarely discuss the Imperial City with my family.”
Li Qingqiu nodded slightly, then swept his gaze across the others.
“The Emperor has forced the Crown Prince into rebellion. I have also received word that the Emperor has taken the Inner Core of the Martial Legend—his martial strength is now unfathomable. I ask you all—should we save the Crown Prince?”
Everyone’s expressions changed dramatically, including Jiang Zhaoxia.
Li Sifeng widened his eyes.
“The Emperor wants to fight for the title of Number One Under Heaven?”
Zhu Yan frowned.
“Sect Master, where did you get this information? This isn’t a trivial matter. The Crown Prince’s rebellion concerns the entire realm. No matter who wins, the world will undergo great upheaval.”
Zhang Yuchun immediately said, “Senior Brother, we can’t act recklessly! Though the Crown Prince is Zhao Zhen’s father, the Clear Sky Sect cannot risk everything over personal ties. The sect’s founding has nothing to do with the Crown Prince. We have treated Zhao Zhen with only kindness—never with betrayal. If the Crown Prince falls, then at most we protect Zhao Zhen.”
Yang Jueding suddenly rose to his feet.
“Save him—we must! If the Crown Prince dies, the Emperor will rule for decades more. He will become an aged dragon, acting without restraint. For the sake of longevity, he’ll disregard the lives of the commoners! When that day comes, if the Son of Heaven turns his wrath upon the martial world, where will we hide?”
Jiang Zhaoxia spoke next: “Senior Brother, if you decide to save the Crown Prince, let me go. You must stay and guard the Clear Sky Sect.”
Zhang Yuchun countered immediately, “Hall Master Yang, you’re being too alarmist! The Clear Sky Sect has no obligation to risk itself for the sake of the common people. The struggle for the throne—who wins or loses—is Heaven’s will. It is not a matter for martial sects to meddle in. We are no longer a small, obscure sect. We now have over a thousand disciples. We cannot, out of reckless passion, bring ruin upon them and their families!”