First Immortal of the Sword - Chapter 2737 - Was It Worth It?
Chapter 2737 – Was It Worth It?
Every word resounded throughout the hall.
The crowd instantly fell silent.
These were the rules the first emperor had established when founding the nation, the foundations of the Great Qin Empire!
Qin Rongjing clasped his fist and said, “Your Majesty, the entire imperial family shall face this crisis alongside you. We’ll do our utmost to alleviate the nation’s worries, even if it costs us our lives!”
Many of the imperial family’s old-timers rose and said in unison, “We’ll do our utmost even if it costs us our lives!”
But many others remained seated, watching coldly. All they felt was indescribable disappointment.
Were they really going to fight to the death and plunge the entire empire into grave peril just to save three people? The very idea seemed ludicrous!
Many of them promptly rose and left with a swish of their sleeves.
Qin Cangtu made no attempt to stop them.
In this world, cultivators reigned supreme. Dissent was inevitable; not everyone was prepared to face death in battle with calm equanimity.
“Your Majesty, have you considered the consequences of this?” someone asked.
Qin Cangtu said calmly, “If the Great Qin Empire lowered its head in the face of threats, its fall would be inevitable. Even if we avert another crisis, we’d surely fall on another day!”
…
That very day, word spread throughout the imperial city, causing widespread commotion. Everyone’s hearts shook. Everyone was uneasy and afraid.
It was also that very day that countless factions and experts evacuated the imperial city. Many of its ordinary inhabitants left, too.
The following day, as enormous as the capital was, its streets were all but deserted. More than half of the population had left!
Word soon spread to the rest of the empire. It seemed that similar scenes would play out in its other cities, one after another.
But the Great Qin Empire made no attempt to stop this.
There was no stopping it.
In the face of catastrophe, even the cultivation factions based in the Great Qin Empire were primarily concerned with their own safety, let alone the ordinary people. Who’d remain behind just to die?
Emperor Qin Cangtu accepted this news calmly. He just said, “In the cultivation world of the Eternal Heavens Domain, the masses are as lowly as ants. They cling to life, their fate not their own. I’d actually feel more ashamed and uneasy had they chosen to remain within our borders!”
He added, “By the same token, the survival of the Great Qin Empire does not depend on the masses, but rather, on the strength of our fists. This is the law of the world of cultivation!”
When Qin Suqing repeated the emperor’s words to Su Yi, he couldn’t help but take a sip of wine and sigh. “Well said!”
Throughout the ages, it had never been the masses who determined the trend of the world of cultivation. Rather, it was the mightiest of cultivators who determined the course of the future!
The God Domain was a perfect example of this. Su Yi had fought throughout the God Domain, suppressing all others beneath the heavens. Thus, he naturally could determine its balance of power.
As for the masses… They could only go with the flow and struggle to survive!
Pu Xuan sighed. “The Buddha awakens the masses, not the other way around. But then, that’s far easier said than done.”
He paused, then continued, “Miss Qin, your father expressed heartfelt concern for the people of the Great Qin even after learning of their departure. That’s already a rare and precious thing.”
“Senior Pu Xuan, Fellow Daoist Su, when my father learned that you two decided to stay behind, he was surprised, too. More than that, he’s grateful, and he admires your character,” said Qin Suqing. “He said that if you aren’t opposed, you’re welcome to take up residence in the palace.”
Su Yi shook his head. He knew that this was an expression of the emperor’s good intentions; he wanted to protect him and Pu Xuan.
But neither he nor Pu Xuan needed the emperor’s protection.
Another day passed.
High Elder Bai Shi of Sky Profound Court paid a personal visit to the capital, then issued a decree before the emperor and the experts of the imperial clan.
If the Great Qin Empire gave up Qin Suqing, Su Xuanjun, and Pu Xuan, they’d continue to enjoy Sky Profound Court’s protection.
But if they refused, Sky Profound Court would henceforth draw a line between themselves and the Great Qin Empire!
A single stone could create a thousand ripples. Even the imperial family felt chills course down their spines now.
Sky Profound Court was the Great Qin Empire’s greatest pillar of support.
Yet now, out of fear of the combined threat of Fire Dragon Temple, Bluebird Palace, and the Yu Family, Sky Profound Court had chosen to look out for its own well-being.
Qin Cangtu seemed to have anticipated this; he showed no sign of surprise. He just recounted what he’d said earlier about the foundations of the Great Qin Empire.
Bai Shi sighed in response. “Why is this necessary? On the path of cultivation, the brittle are easily broken. If you don’t know when to retreat, you’ll inevitably meet with disaster! That’s true for individuals, and for nations, too!”
With that, he turned to leave.
That very day, the numerous retainers of the Great Qin Empire who hailed from Sky Profound Court left and returned to the sect.
Now, only the imperial family remained by the emperor’s side, but they were alone, without reinforcements, and beset by a raging storm.
The imperial city was increasingly empty. The once lively, bustling streets were abandoned, with no sign of the smoke and fire of human life.
Within the palace, the atmosphere was stifling and oppressive. Everyone was anxious.
The Great Qin Empire was in chaos. Everywhere one looked, people were fleeing their homes.
Even their backer, Sky Profound Court, had chosen to distance itself. The Great Qin had effectively tumbled into the abyss.
Even the imperial family felt endless pressure and despair.
Many of the younger disciples found it impossible to understand. Why risk the annihilation of the entire Great Qin Empire all to save two outsiders and the crown princess? Was it worth it?
The other three top factions of the Great Qin had joined forces to threaten them. That was more than enough to influence the fate of a nation!
The Blue Peak Continent was incomparably enormous.
Before this, the Great Qin Empire was one of its largest countries, and it was backed by Sky Profound Court, one of its four peak orthodoxies.
But in just two short days, the Great Qin Empire had changed completely. The whole country was on the brink of collapse.
This had caused a huge commotion throughout the Blue Peak Continent. Most people couldn’t understand. Why can’t the Great Qin Empire compromise? Why not sacrifice three people for peace?
Their refusal seemed absurd—and stupid, too.
Look at Sky Profound Court. They were one of the greatest orthodoxies in the Blue Peak Continent, and they were the Great Qin Empire’s pillar of support, yet not even they could risk a falling out with the other three top factions. They’d had no choice but to compromise and draw a line between themselves and the Great Qin.
Where did the Great Qin Emperor get the confidence to do this? It seemed obvious to everyone that they were just seeking out their own demise.
Those who’d fled the Great Qin Empire’s borders were full of resentment. They cursed the emperor for his selfishness and muddleheadedness. He was endangering everyone in the empire, all for the sake of his own selfish whims!
Only a tiny minority approved of how the Great Qin Empire was handling things and recognized their strength of character.
This strength of character was the foundation of the Great Qin Empire. Had they chosen to compromise, they wouldn’t be the Great Qin Empire anymore.
Everyone in the Blue Peak Continent was waiting to see how the Great Qin Empire would be destroyed. No one thought that the imperial family could face three of the continent’s top factions alone.
It was also on that day that Su Yi and Pu Xuan left the courtyard and visited the palace.
When he saw the emperor, Su Yi just said, “Pu Xuan and I will stand guard over the eastern gate. If you want to fight to the death, wait until after we’ve fallen. If we manage to hold the gate, just take this for a spectacle.”
With that, he and Pu Xuan left. That night, they plopped down on the eastern gate, drinking and chatting.
Another day passed.
The sky was full of dark, dense clouds, blotting out the sun.
A massive army of cultivators appeared in the distance, marching upon the Great Qin Empire’s imperial capital.
These were the forces of Fire Dragon Temple, Bluebird Palace, and the Yu Family. There were over one hundred of them.
The three peak orthodoxies had each sent multiple Immeasurable Realm grand elders, as well as numerous Silent Realm experts.
The Blue Peak Continent was enormous. Each of its top factions had numerous subordinate factions, great and small.
Most of the cultivators in this army were from their subordinate factions. All were Eternals, but most were in the Unfettered and Divine Wandering Realms.
Even so, here in the Blue Peak Continent, they were a force to be reckoned with!
After all, the Eternal Dao represented the height of the Dao in the Eternal Heavens Domain. Even Unfettered Realm Eternals were lofty, unattainable experts in the eyes of the populace. All of them could shake the world with a stamp of their feet.
Yet now, over one hundred Eternals were marching upon the Great Qin Empire at once. This was a supreme force, a shocking, unheard-of sight.
Battles of such a massive scale were seldom seen even in the annals of the Blue Peak Continent’s history.
“How long do you think the imperial family will last?” said a white-bearded old man leading the group. “Fifteen minutes? Half an hour? Or… Less?”
“I don’t think we’ll need fifteen minutes. Ten should be more than enough!” said a woman in a purple dress. She had a longsword strapped to her back.
Now that Sky Profound Court had chosen to distance itself, only two Immeasurable Realm experts remained in the Great Qin Empire.
Once they were dead, the imperial family would be like a fish on the chopping block, helpless to do anything but await slaughter.
An old man in a tall hat and old-fashioned robes shook his head. “That isn’t necessarily the case. I heard that the Great Qin Empire has three formations protecting its capital, and that all of them are extraordinarily powerful. If they refuse to leave the palace, we’ll need to expend a bit of time to defeat them.”
He paused, then said, “Don’t forget that Pu Xuan is an Immeasurable Realm expert, too. If he joins the battle, we’ll have to take him seriously.”
Many of the others nodded.
“Even if you hit me over the head, I would never have guessed that the Great Qin Empire’s imperial family would be so stupid. They’re sacrificing an entire empire just to save three people. Is it worth it?” remarked High Elder Lu Yun of Fire Dragon Temple. “Or are they just sick of living?”
Uproarious laughter followed the question.
“Is it funny?” asked the man at the very front of the group. A long, thin sword hung from his waist, and he was dressed in dark green.
He was handsome, and he walked with the powerful stride of a tiger or dragon, his figure tall and upright. His long hair billowed around him. His whole body emanated an air of contemptuous pride.
The crowd was instantly solemn, and they reined in their laughter.
“We’re bullying a weaker, outnumbered opponent. All I feel is shame,” said the man in dark green robes. He casually pressed a hand on the hilt of his sword. “If we didn’t have to get to the bottom of what happened in the Golden Spirit Hidden Realm, I’d disdain to participate in this. We’ll lose face even if we win!”
