Chapter 495 - 335: In the Name of Grand Mentor, Gathering the World’s Rarities!

Chapter 495: Chapter 335: In the Name of Grand Mentor, Gathering the World’s Rarities!

Inside the Yuji Hall, golden floor tiles lay scattered with overturned incense burners and tablet boards.

"Everyone get out of my sight!"

Emperor Qianxi’s roar exploded in the hall, and most of the ministers, as if granted amnesty, hurriedly retreated in panic, their official robes billowing.

Only then did the entire court realize that what they thought was an ironclad case was merely a lie that could be shattered with a single poke in the face of true power.

Evidence and laws, in the eyes of this supreme Grandmaster, were nothing more than ants that could be crushed at will!

In the blink of an eye, the vast hall was left with only a few individuals!

Zhao Xian’s body trembled slightly under his purple robe, Sun Lingyuan’s golden armor was covered with dust, while Zhang Zhaoran slumped on the ground, his official hat askew.

"Mr. Sun!"

Zhao Xian suddenly turned around, his voice low and terrifying, "Ningxue... what happened to her?"

Sun Lingyuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his mid-stage cultivation as a Grandmaster appearing so insignificant under Zhao Xian’s oppressive presence.

Only now did he realize that the prime minister before him, the head of civil officials, was surrounded by the terrifying aura of a Grandmaster in full mastery!

"Dead... dead..." Sun Lingyuan struggled to squeeze out two words.

Surprisingly, Zhao Xian did not erupt in rage.

He slowly closed his eyes, the wrinkles on his face seemingly deepening even further.

When he opened his eyes again, those cloudy old eyes were filled with only chilling calmness.

"Good... very good..."

Zhao Xian murmured softly, his fingertips embedding into his palms at some unknown point, blood dripping down his purple robe’s sleeve.

"Lu Xuan, you old fool... you forced me to this..."

Emperor Qianxi watched this scene, suddenly feeling an icy chill to his core—

Only then did he realize that he might have never truly understood this old minister who had accompanied him for decades.

Gradually, Emperor Qianxi slowly closed his eyes, the joints on his hands leaving deep gouges on the golden dragon throne, veins bulging menacingly on the back of his hand.

"Mr. Zhao... my condolences."

This low whisper seemed to come from the Nine Netherworld, carrying an eerie calm that was truly bone-chilling.

Suddenly, the emperor opened his bloodshot eyes again, with frenzied dark currents surging in his pupils.

"Please tell those two... their terms."

"I approve."

Each word from Emperor Qianxi seemed to be squeezed out through gritted teeth, filled with seething hatred.

"If that’s not enough—"

Emperor Qianxi tore off the dragon pendant from his waist and smashed it onto the ground, "The six northern counties, I cede to the Wanchu Dynasty!"

"That price is for their State Preceptor to act and kill Lu Xuan for me!"

The sound of jade shattering resounded in the hall, and the remaining senior ministers within were as if struck by lightning.

Zhang Zhaoran, Chen Jiequan, and others directly slumped to the ground, Sun Lingyuan’s body under his golden armor shaking violently.

The emperor intends to shake the very foundations of the nation!

"I want nothing now, only a result—"

Emperor Qianxi suddenly erupted, his dragon robe billowing like a mad dragon, "Lu Xuan must die!"

The frenzied roar echoed within the Yuji Hall, the imperial desk flipping over in response.

In the sunlight, only the pair of bloodshot eyes on the dragon throne flashed with terrifying red light.

The golden pillars in the hall reflected Emperor Qianxi’s ferocious visage.

Those he mentioned as "those two!"

Were exactly the other two supreme Grandmasters of the Daqian Dynasty—Huanmie, the abbot of Baoxiang Temple, and Xuyuang of the Qingyang Sect.

Though these two were not in the court, they weighed on Emperor Qianxi’s heart like two great mountains.

The Baoxiang Temple stands a hundred miles east of Qian Ning City on Yunyin Mountain, its golden roof shining brightly in the morning sun.

Three thousand martial monks train day and night, shadowing the forest with their staves.

A hundred thousand devotees worship devoutly, the sound of chanting never ceasing throughout the day.

The "Pure Land of Buddhism" stone tablet at the entrance, long polished smooth by countless pilgrims.

And within the Qingming Mountains, a hundred and eighty miles to the west of the city, the Qingyang Sect’s Chengxiao Palace is built against the mountain, with seventy-two Taoist halls scattered like stars among them.

Every morning, at the hour of the dragon, tens of thousands of Green Robed Taoists recite the "Qingyang Scripture," their voices echoing, dispersing the mountain mist.

In the market at the foot of the mountain, followers wearing Yin-Yang fish symbols are everywhere, and even government officials must show them some respect.

The forces of these two sects perch like giant serpents on both sides of the imperial capital, the sound of temple bells and Taoist chimes faintly audible.

"Do they want territory?"

"Do they want followers?"

Emperor Qianxi suddenly let out a vicious laugh.

"I will give them!"

Upon hearing these words, the murkiness in Zhao Xian’s eyes suddenly brightened.

He understood better than anyone what this meant—allowing these two sects to establish autonomous regions was tantamount to planting two daggers in the heart of the dynasty.

"Your Majesty, reconsider!" Sun Lingyuan could not help but speak up, "The late emperor feared..."

"The late emperor?"

Emperor Qianxi interrupted fiercely, the golden dragon patterns on his robe’s sleeves trembling violently, "Did the late emperor ever think there would come a day when my edict could not leave Qian Ning City?"

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone understood that Emperor Qianxi intended to drink poison to quench his thirst.

But right now, the sword hanging over their heads—Lu Xuan and the Lu Family’s Wei Hu Army—posed a more immediate threat than those two menaces miles away.

"Draft the edict."

Emperor Qianxi spoke word by word, "Dongyang County to be granted to Baoxiang Temple, and West Mountain County to Qingyang Sect."

"Additionally... the two sects may collect taxes and recruit soldiers on their own."

This last sentence made even Zhao Xian gasp in shock—this meant handing over the lifeblood of the dynasty!

But looking at the emperor on the dragon throne, resembling a mad gambler willing to pawn the kingdom just to ensure Lu Xuan’s death, who dared to utter a single word in opposition?

At this moment, Emperor Qianxi was like a gambler who had lost everything, willing to bet the kingdom to the ground to eliminate Lu Xuan!

The Lu Family.

The secret chamber that was empty just yesterday was now filled with glittering treasures—

Those rare materials and treasures, only heard of in legends, were now piled carelessly like ordinary items.

The most conspicuous were the oddly-shaped blocks of metal piled in the corner.