Starting as the young master of a medicine shop, he practiced swordsmanship for twenty years.

Chapter 334 Imperial Treasury! Lu Xuan Desires to Loot the World's Treasures!

The court was immediately thrown into an uproar; everyone was dumbfounded.

No one expected that Grand Tutor Lu would so openly admit it.

Can't you at least offer some explanation?

What is His Majesty to do?
How can we, the people who hold the moral high ground, still point fingers and criticize?

Snapped!
An elderly Hanlin scholar slapped himself hard across the face, wincing in pain.

"Is this... this isn't a dream?"

The Vice Minister of Revenue, Lord Qian, was stunned into silence. The jade tablet in his hand fell to the ground with a clatter, but he didn't even notice.

He mechanically turned to his colleague: "Lord Li... pinch me..."

"Ouch!" Lord Qian jumped up in pain.

"You actually pinched me!"

Chaos erupted in the imperial court, with several senior officials pushing and shoving each other like idle spectators in a marketplace.

"Lord Wu!"

"What... what exactly is going on?" The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review grabbed the sleeve of his colleague beside him, his voice trembling.

The old minister, addressed as Lord Wu, pinched his thigh hard, wincing in pain: "Hallucination!"

"This must be an illusion!"

He pointed to his bruised thigh and said, "Lord Feng, look, even the pain is fake!"

The Minister of Works suddenly pulled out a sachet of invigorating incense and took two deep breaths: "Cough cough... Looks like I drank too much of the potent tonic wine last night..."

As a result, he was choked by the sachet for a moment, coughed incessantly, and sprayed his saliva all over the back of Prime Minister Zhao Xian in the front row.

Several younger officials went even further, huddling together and whispering: "Could it be that Grand Tutor Lu has been possessed by some kind of demon?"

"Shh!"

"I've heard that some sorcerers in the Western Regions possess a kind of disguise technique..."

"fart!"

"My lies are deceiving the public!"

The most absurd thing was that one of the censors of the Censorate actually took out his bronze mirror, looked at himself, and muttered to himself, "Could it be that I've fallen under some kind of illusion?"

The ministers looked at each other, each seeing disbelief and shock in the other's eyes.

This was Grand Tutor Lu, who for decades was upright and incorruptible, even severely punishing his own son for breaking the law.

He actually admitted to breaking into prison in public today?
This is even more unbelievable than the sun rising in the west!

On the dragon throne, Emperor Qianxi's face was ashen, and his knuckles were clenched so tightly they turned white.

He watched helplessly as the court descended into chaos, those ministers who were usually so dignified and respectable.

At this moment, she was behaving utterly disgracefully, like a shrew from the marketplace.

"Shut up, everyone!"

With a loud shout, the imperial dragon-patterned inkstone was hurled down. It shattered on the gold bricks, the splashing ink staining the hems of several ministers' robes black.

The court fell silent instantly; even breathing could be clearly heard.

“Lu…Lu Shi…”

Emperor Qianxi's voice suddenly became hoarse. He stared intently at Lu Xuan in the palace, his fingers digging deeply into his palms beneath his dragon robe, drawing out traces of blood.

Those once majestic dragon eyes now held a hint of fear.

"What do you mean by this?"

At the forefront of the civil officials' line, Prime Minister Zhao Xian's inner emotions were constantly shifting.

His well-preserved old face first turned bright red, then lost all color, and finally turned a deathly ashen blue.

His hands, hidden within the wide sleeves of his purple robe, trembled uncontrollably—

How could his meticulously planned trap crumble in an instant?
According to his original plan, he should have used Lu Jinyun's prison break as a pretext to launch an attack and gradually press forward.

In the deathly silence of the hall, Prime Minister Zhao Xian's Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty.

He suddenly realized a terrifying truth!

The Grand Tutor Lu before us, who has always upheld the principles of loyalty to his country, is about to tear off that facade of impartiality and selflessness!
How can we possibly negotiate like this?

How to play the game?

How can we use the rules of the imperial court as leverage?

Faced with overwhelming strength, all schemes and plots, all verbal attacks, become a joke!
It's like an ant baring its fangs at a giant elephant—how ridiculous!
The ministers who had just been speaking so eloquently now wished they could shrink into a crack in the ground.

Zhao Xian's lips trembled violently, but he could not utter another word.

His thoughts were suddenly drawn back to that blood-red dusk thirty years ago—

At that time, he was just a minor fourth-rank official, supervising the transport of grain and fodder with the army.

Right outside the city gate, he witnessed firsthand what a living hell was like.

One hundred thousand iron cavalry from the north surged in like a tidal wave, and the earth trembled under their iron hooves.

Just as the defending army was about to collapse, a figure in black stood alone on the city wall.

That was the first time he had seen Grand Tutor Lu take action.

The Grand Tutor held a knife in one hand, and the world around him suddenly changed color.

Thousands of tiger-roaring blade energies burst forth from all directions, each one precisely piercing the throat of an enemy soldier.

The army of 100,000 was routed at an extremely rapid pace.

The streams formed by the enemy's blood dyed the entire Gobi Desert red.

The most terrifying thing is that after doing all this, Grand Tutor Lu's robes were not stained with a single drop of blood.

When he turned around, his calm, still eyes were exactly the same as the eyes in the hall at that moment!
Unstoppable, invincible!
Emperor Qianxi, seated on the dragon throne, had his fingernails dug into his palms, and blood dripped down the dragon patterns.

He finally understood what he had been calling imperial tactics all these years.

Before true power, it is nothing more than a toddler learning to walk.

Court rules?

The etiquette between ruler and subject?

That's only when this supreme grandmaster is willing to play along; that's when the game really counts!

Lu Xuan sat upright on the white tiger-skin chair.

His expression was eerily calm, and his deep eyes were like bottomless icy pools, inspiring awe in those who looked upon him.

It was this composure, remaining unmoved even when Mount Tai collapsed before him, that made the entire court feel uneasy, breaking out in a cold sweat.

At this moment, everyone finally realized—this person in front of them was not a loyal and patriotic subject at all.

He was the pillar of the Great Qian Dynasty, a killing god who could make the three armies flee in terror, and the supreme grandmaster who could reduce enemy ships to ashes with a mere laugh!

The various privileges bestowed upon Grand Tutor Lu by the late emperor were not, in fact, an act of excessive favoritism…

It was something they had no choice but to do!

Emperor Qianxi, sitting on the dragon throne, was ashen-faced. He finally understood the profound meaning of his father's dying words, "Treat Lu Shi with care."

This is hardly an instruction to him to make good use of virtuous officials.
It was clearly a warning to him—never offend this supreme being who could change the world!

The hall gradually fell into a deathly silence, where even breathing could be clearly heard.

"Master Lu, it is I..."

Emperor Qianxi was about to speak when his voice abruptly stopped.

Lu Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, his purple robes fluttering even without wind, directly interrupting the emperor's words: "Your Majesty."

His voice was calm and unhurried, yet it sent a shiver down the spines of all the officials.

“The old minister’s grandson was framed by a villain and unjustly imprisoned.”

"My grandson is now severely weakened."

Lu Xuan continued, each word carrying immense weight.

"I urgently need rare and precious herbs such as thousand-year-old blood ginseng and nine-leaf lingzhi to regulate my body."

Having said that, Lu Xuan's gaze sharpened as he stared directly at Emperor Qianxi above.

"This old minister has just heard that these two items are in the imperial treasury."

"I hope Your Majesty will grant this humble request."

Lu Xuan's voice was soft, yet it struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.

The seemingly respectful words clearly carried an undeniable air of authority.

wronged?

These words caused an uproar in the imperial court.

The ministers looked at each other, their eyes filled with surprise and doubt—wasn't the evidence in Lu Haowu's case already irrefutable?
Ms. Zhao's testimony, her torn clothes, and the numerous eyewitnesses on the street...

This case is so solid that even the joint trial by the three judicial departments could not find a single flaw!
Moreover, it was you who personally approved and endorsed this outcome.

Now, things have gotten even worse, only a few days have passed. Not only do you disagree, but you're also planning a major conflict in Qianning City.

Lu Jinyun and others were ordered to lead the Tiger Roar Guards to storm the Heavenly Prison and take away the death row inmate Lu Haowu.

So, it all depends on your mood, sir?

Who the hell is the emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty?

Even the Emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty couldn't break his promise in front of the people.

At this moment, Zhang Zhaoran, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, mustered his courage and spoke up: "Your Excellency, the Grand Tutor, is wise and discerning. The evidence in this case is overwhelming, including... even your own initial..."

Zhang Zhaoran's voice suddenly choked, as if an invisible hand had gripped his throat.

Lu Xuan's gaze swept over it as if he were looking at a corpse!
"irrefutable evidence?"

Lu Xuan's lips curled into a meaningful smile.

Emperor Qianxi forced himself to remain calm, but his voice trembled uncontrollably: "Master Lu, the evidence in this case is irrefutable."

"is it?"

The next moment, Lu Xuan suddenly revealed a chilling smile.

"Zhao Xian, I, the Grand Tutor, will give you one last chance."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian was overjoyed, his eyes gleaming, and he replied repeatedly, "Very well, since that's what the Grand Tutor says."

"I will immediately order my men to fetch the evidence!"

He turned and winked at Sun Lingyuan: "Commander Sun, you and Vice Minister Zhang, quickly bring my daughter, the witnesses, and all the testimonies!"

Emperor Qianxi, seated on the dragon throne, finally relaxed his tense shoulders slightly.

It seems that this Grand Tutor still cares about the decorum of the court.

Sun Lingyuan and Zhang Zhaoran accepted the order and left, the clanging of their golden armor fading into the distance.

The courtiers in the hall secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and some even began to whisper among themselves.

"The Grand Tutor is ultimately fair and impartial."

"After all, this is the imperial court."

"It seems there's still room for maneuver in this matter."

Inside the archives of the Ministry of Justice, the room was dimly lit, with flickering candlelight.

The heavy files were neatly arranged on the shelf, exuding the scent of old ink.

Five officials on duty were engrossed in organizing documents when they suddenly heard a creaking sound—

The door was slowly pushed open.

A hunched figure stood against the light, a wide cloak obscuring his face, revealing only a withered, skeletal wrist.

"presumptuous!"

The leading official slammed his fist on the table and stood up, "This is the Ministry of Justice, a place of serious importance. Unauthorized personnel are not permitted here..."

Before he could finish speaking, a gust of cold wind swept by.

As the candlelight flickered violently, the hunched figure had already floated to the table like a ghost.

"Hand over all evidence in the Lu Haowu case."

"You will be spared death."

"Come here..." A young official was about to call out when his eyes suddenly widened.

A thin red line, as fine as a hair, had appeared on his throat at some point.

He collapsed to the ground with a thud, like a piece of rotten wood.

boom--

The sound of the corpse hitting the ground was particularly jarring in the silent warehouse.

The remaining four men turned ashen-faced, and one of the quick-witted leaders trembled as he knelt on the ground, pleading, "Senior, spare our lives!"

"This humble official will go and fetch it immediately!"

He scrambled and stumbled toward the innermost metal cabinet, frantically turning the key in the lock.

The other three remained frozen in place, their official robes soaked with cold sweat.

....
On a main street in Qianning City.

Suddenly, more than a dozen figures, like ghosts, swiftly descended from the rooftops facing the street.

The sword light was like a silver ribbon piercing the sky, and wherever the cold light flashed, the silk shops, teahouses, and rice shops on the street were affected.

The doors and windows were cleaved open one after another by the sword light.

Screams rose and fell, as sword flashes drew sharp arcs in the sunlight.

Before more than ten men could react, their throats had been precisely pierced.

Blood gushed out, staining the counter and table red.

These people lying dead on the spot were none other than the bribed eyewitnesses in the Lu Haowu case.

The dozen or so assailants sheathed their swords and quickly disappeared into the noisy crowd, leaving behind only terrified people in the streets.

Zhao Mansion!

Inside the Prime Minister's residence of the Great Qian Dynasty.

Zhao Ningxue wore a plain white dress, and the three-foot-long sword in her hand gleamed coldly in the setting sun.

Her swordplay was fluid and graceful, each move carrying a sharp killing intent, yet it always lacked that final touch.

Zheng——

Zhao Ningxue's sword suddenly shot out, shattering the Taihu stone in the courtyard into pieces.

"Why!"

She suddenly shouted.

"That bastard Lu Haowu, what right does he have!"

Amidst the flying stone chips, her beautiful face was twisted into a grotesque expression, like that of a demon from hell.

The sword tip made a piercing sound as it scraped the ground, and Zhao Ningxue's chest heaved violently.

Lu Haowu, who was several years younger than him, had already broken through to the Great Perfection of Internal Energy.

Despite his more than twenty years of arduous cultivation, he still struggled to break through to the mid-stage of internal energy.

This is also why she wanted to frame Lu Haowu.

"Master will be here soon..."

Zhao Ningxue suppressed her anger and wiped the sweat from her brow: "This time, I must obtain the last three levels of the Heart-Shocking Sword Technique..."

The words stopped abruptly as Zhao Ningxue suddenly heard faint footsteps.

She froze, then slowly turned around.

In the sunlight, a hunched figure had appeared three steps behind her without her noticing.

"you--"

His withered, bony fingers moved like lightning, instantly gripping her snow-white neck.

With a crisp "crack," one of the most talented women in the Great Qian Dynasty passed away.

Blood meandered down the bluestone ground, gradually overflowing the jade-inlaid sword that had fallen to the ground.

Inside the Imperial Palace, the air seemed to freeze.

Where is Ningxueren?

Zhao Xian's voice echoed in the hall, but no one answered.

All eyes were focused on the two disheveled figures standing before the palace gate—

Sun Lingyuan and Zhang Zhaoran returned empty-handed.

Lu Xuan slowly rose to his feet, not even sparing a glance at Emperor Qianxi on the dragon throne.

"Your Majesty, this old minister... has already given them a chance."

This seemingly casual remark sent the entire court of officials plummeting into an icy abyss.

Before he finished speaking, Lu Xuan had already walked out of the hall with his hands behind his back, followed closely by Lu Jinhua and the other two.

The sound of boots stomping on the gilded floor tiles was particularly jarring in the deathly silent hall.

Emperor Qianxi opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

He watched as the figure passed through the palace gate, the sunlight casting a long shadow of Lu Xuan that enveloped the entire dragon throne.

"The Imperial Treasury..."

Lu Xuan murmured to himself, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes—

If we can find those legendary rare and precious herbs, this mortal trial might soon... come to a perfect end!
If that's not enough, Lu Xuan wouldn't mind learning from Boss Cao's approach.

They seize the emperor to command the world and plunder its treasures!

(End of this chapter)