Wuxia: Become the 100-Victory Sword King at the Beginning

The candlelight flickered inside the cave, casting a long shadow of Xiang Ruiyun on the rock wall. Though he was only thirteen, he possessed a maturity beyond his years. He gently stroked the worn scabbard; the dark purple satin wrapped around the hilt had long since faded, but the jade pendant adorning the tassel gleamed warmly in the firelight. "This Longevity Sword has drunk more blood than anyone you've ever seen."

The boy suddenly chuckled, his clear voice, still intact, concealing a chilling intent like a viper's hiss.

He Ruyan's soft sword coiled around his wrist like a serpent, but the blade emitted a buzzing sound the moment it touched him.

Suddenly, silver threads bloomed from Xiang Ruiyun's palm; these were the silk threads condensed from the Heavenly Silkworm Technique.

"Nine Netherworld Illusion Sword?" The boy tilted his head to dodge the nine phantoms, the soft sword bringing up a half-circle of cold light. "Immortal touches my head—" The sword tip pointed at He Ruyan's brow, which was the starting stance of the Longevity Sword Technique. The sword move seemed gentle, but in fact it contained thirteen killing moves.

Chen Nan suddenly pressed his wound and leaped up, his steel blade slicing a crescent moon of blood: "Watch out! His Heavenly Silkworm Silk..."

Before she could finish speaking, He Ruyan's sleeves were torn to shreds by the silver threads, and three bloody marks appeared on her wrists.

Xiang Ruiyun stepped into the Bagua position, and his soft sword suddenly transformed into seven sword flowers, actually integrating the Lin family's unique skills with the Bagua footwork. Wang Fei roared and swung his spiked club, but the boy suddenly lowered his body, and silkworm silk shot out like a spider web, wrapping layers of white cocoons around the spiked club.

"May you be granted eternal life by tying your hair together!" Xiang Ruiyun's longsword picked up the rubble, and the jade pendant on the sword tassel suddenly exploded, sending countless jade fragments mixed with silkworm silk flying towards everyone.

Lin Jinghong played her bamboo flute rapidly, the sound waves shattering jade fragments, but the young man took the opportunity to approach Chen Nan.

The moment the soft sword aimed straight for his back, Chen Nan's steel blade transformed into a phantom of Asura, and the aura of the three blades from the Avici Hell stirred up a bloody wind within the cave.

Xiang Ruiyun's pupils contracted sharply, and she hastily used the Heavenly Silkworm Technique to protect herself.

The silver silk threads he spat out from his left palm wove into a cocoon-like armor around his body, but emitted a piercing burning sound the moment they touched the blade.

"Impossible!" The young man was shocked and furious. His Heavenly Silkworm Skill had reached the seventh level, and ordinary swords and blades could not get close to him.

Chen Nan's steel blade, however, carried a destructive force. With its first strike, it cleaved through the cocoon armor, the blade sweeping across his shoulder, instantly tearing flesh apart.

"This is a blade from hell!" Xiang Ruiyun staggered back, screaming repeatedly, wildly swinging her soft sword. Her Longevity Sword Technique lost its rhythm in the chaos, yet she still managed to barely defend herself with her exquisite swordplay. Chen Nan's second strike, accompanied by a mournful howl, slashed down, countless vengeful spirits and ghosts appearing within its light.

The boy suddenly used the mysterious lightness skill of "hiding one's identity and name", and Chen Nan's Avici Dao sword technique actually lost its level and missed.

Suddenly, a series of rapid footsteps sounded outside the cave. Xiang Ruixiang was covered in red jellyfish stings, but he was still clutching the sheepskin map tightly.

Heshen used his crescent-shaped scimitar to part the reeds, and as the tip of the blade lifted the bamboo tube, he let out a cold laugh: "In a moment, the Big Dipper Formation at the sticky pole will grind this island to dust." He unfolded the map, his fingertip tracing the cave markings, his triangular eyes reflecting the moonlight like the vertical pupils of a venomous snake.

Inside the cave, Xiang Ruiyun's silkworm silk gradually thinned, while the blood seeping from her wounds stained the Longevity Sword dark red.

Chen Nan's third strike finally came down, and the phantom of Chen Jinnan appeared in the flash of the blade.

"Father! Your daughter will avenge you!" she roared, her steel blade slashing down with earth-shattering force.

In despair, Xiang Ruiyun unleashed his final sword strike, only to have the blade flash like a waterfall, instantly shattering his sword's momentum. Blood splattered onto the map fragments on the rock wall, and the boy staggered, crashing into the stone wall. His Longevity Sword broke in two, and the Heavenly Silkworm Silk dissipated into starlight.

At the brink of death, a sudden rain of arrows descended from outside the cave. Lin Jinghong used her bamboo flute to create a sonic shield, only to see countless figures in black leap down from the treetops—Lu Fangtian's Heavenly Gang Finger technique shattered the boulder at the cave entrance, Yue Shan's Overlord Spear deflected the tree trunks blocking their path, and Heshen's crescent-shaped scimitar reflected the unwilling gaze of the young prince inside the cave. The night sky, after the storm had just ceased, was tinged with an eerie bluish-purple hue. The instant lightning ripped across the sky, illuminating the nameless island as bright as day.

Lin Jinghong, holding Chen Nan, leaped out of the cave, only to see hundreds of black-clad figures falling from the treetops in the dense forest. The moonlight reflected the cold glint of their weapons, like the scythes of death.

"Well done!" Zhao Zhentian brandished his axe, the blade cleaving through the damp air with a mournful "whoosh."

Before he finished speaking, Lu Fangtian's Heavenly Gang Finger technique, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, shattered a boulder three zhang away, sending fragments flying like bullets towards the members of the Heaven and Earth Society. Chen Feng lightly waved his black gold fan, and the Big Dipper diagram on its surface suddenly emitted a ghostly light, actually shaking off all the incoming fragments: "Remnants of the Heaven and Earth Society, today is your death anniversary!"

Heshen's triangular eyes gleamed like a wolf in the firelight, and his crescent-shaped scimitar spun with an eerie blade. "Divine Blade Slash - Blood Moon in the Sky!" he unleashed, and the dark red blade energy tore through the rain, turning everything in its path to dust.

Chen Nan swung his steel blade horizontally, and the blade light of the Avici Path Three Blades collided with the Divine Blade Slash, the resulting shockwave overturning nearby ancient trees.

The beautiful Imperial Concubine You Ning personally oversaw the battle. Holding an iron sword, she leaped into the arena and unleashed the Golden Crow Sword Technique. The sword light transformed into nine blazing suns, completely sealing off the retreat routes of the Heaven and Earth Society disciples.

"Your Majesty! Watch as I take their lives!" Xiang Ruixiang drew his longsword, the dark patterns on the old scabbard glowing blood-red in the lightning.

The Longevity Sword Technique, combined with the Heavenly Silkworm Skill, caused the silver threads on the sword tassel to spread across the entire arena like a spider web. Xiang Ruiyun followed closely behind, her soft sword drawing continuous arcs, her swordplay blending feints and real attacks with her brother's, achieving a masterful fusion of the Lin family's unique skills and superior martial arts.

Suddenly, Huo Cheng, a young and skilled guard from the Sticky Rod Office, appeared like a ghost. His face was as pale as paper, and a bluish-gray light emanated from his hands. "Taste the Ten Thousand Slices Technique!" His voice was hoarse and deep as he clapped his hands together, creating a tearing sound that made one's teeth ache.

The disciples of the Heaven and Earth Society swung their swords to block, only to see the blades shatter inch by inch when they touched the opponent's palm. Immediately afterward, their own flesh was torn apart by an invisible force, turning them into bloody, mangled pieces in the blink of an eye.

Yue Shan's Overlord Spear swept across the battlefield, the tip of which knocked a branch leader of the Heaven and Earth Society flying, the red tassel on the spear already soaked in blood. "You rats of the Heaven and Earth Society, do you even dare to oppose the imperial court?" he roared, and the Overlord Spear suddenly grew three feet longer, aiming straight for Lin Jinghong's throat.

Lin Jinghong blocked with his bamboo flute, the flute's sound transforming into a tangible wall of air, but it emitted a mournful cry of unbearable strain the moment the spear tip touched it.

Wei Nianhua concealed his farewell hook within his wide sleeve, only unleashing it when a Heaven and Earth Society expert approached.

The moment the hook sliced ​​across the other's throat, it sent up a trail of blood: "This parting hook of mine is only for hooking the dead!"

His voice was eerily calm, as if he were recounting something utterly ordinary.

Chen Nan's steel knife had become dull, and the power of the three strikes from the Avici Pass gradually weakened as his strength waned.

She watched her brothers fall one after another around her, her eyes filled with despair and bloodshot veins.

Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of Heshen's smug smile, and her killing intent erupted like a volcano: "You dog! Prepare to die!" Ignoring her wounds, she forcefully channeled her inner energy, and the bloodstains on her steel blade ignited with a ghostly blue flame.

"You're courting death!" Heshen sneered, unleashing the most powerful killing move of the Divine Blade Slash with his crescent-shaped scimitar.

The two distinctly different blades collided, creating an explosion that sent everyone around them flying.

Chen Nan was jolted awake by the powerful impact, coughing up blood. Lin Jinghong played her bamboo flute, forcing back the approaching Huo Cheng, and then pulled Chen Nan back. But they were surrounded by enemies on all sides, and their escape route was already blocked.

Zhao Zhen brandished his axe, trying to carve a bloody path for the others, but was struck in the chest by Lu Fangtian's Heavenly Gang Finger Force. He spat out a mouthful of blood, staggered to one knee, and then collapsed to the ground, dying a miserable death.

The rain poured down harder, and blood mingled with the rainwater, flowing across the ground in dark red streams. The members of the Heaven and Earth Society stood back to back in a circle, looking at their ferocious enemies around them, knowing in their hearts that they would likely not escape unscathed from this battle.

Meanwhile, Heshen and his men wore smug grins, anticipating the final moment of their victory.

A thunderclap boomed, illuminating the carnage on the island.

Lin Jinghong danced with her bamboo flute, creating a sound barrier, but was struck by the "earth-shattering" strike of Yue Shan Overlord Spear, causing her tiger's mouth to bleed.

Chen Nan's steel blade chipped, and the afterglow of the three swords from the Avici Hell clashed with You Ning's Golden Crow Sword Technique. The phantom of nine blazing suns collided with the hellish sword light, and the sparks that flew up ignited the surrounding withered trees, making the small island look like a living hell.

"Kill! Leave no one alive!" Heshen's triangular eyes gleamed with a bloodthirsty light in the firelight. His crescent-shaped blade unleashed the "Divine Blade Slash - Gate of Hell," and wherever the blade's energy passed, the severed limbs and broken arms of the Heaven and Earth Society disciples flew like falling leaves.

Wei Nianhua's farewell hook caught a branch leader's throat, and with a slight flick of his wrist, the blood trail drew a strange arc in the air: "This is what happens when you oppose the imperial court!"

Xiang Ruixiang's Longevity Sword suddenly grew three feet longer, and the silver threads on the sword tassel covered He Ruyan like a spider web.

The old woman wielded her soft sword swiftly, but with a "ripping" sound, her sleeve was torn to shreds.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Xiang Ruiyun moved closer, his sword tip aimed straight for her back. At the critical moment, Tang Qiaoqiao swung out her nine-section steel whip and wrapped it around the boy's wrist.

"Let go!" Xiang Ruiyun was furious and embarrassed. The silver threads generated by her Heavenly Silkworm Technique instantly twisted the steel whip into scrap metal.

Huo Cheng, a young and skilled guard from the Sticky Rod Office, moved across the battlefield like a ghost, his claws tearing flesh and blood wherever they touched.

A disciple of the Heaven and Earth Society swung his sword, but the blade shattered into pieces the instant it touched his body.

"The Ten Thousand Cuts Technique? How could you possibly break it?" The young guard sneered, slapping his palms repeatedly. The disciple's flesh was torn apart layer by layer by an invisible force, revealing his stark white bones. Lu Fangtian's Heavenly Gang Finger Force condensed into twelve arrows of energy, piercing the throats of three Heaven and Earth Society disciples.

He gazed at the corpses strewn across the ground and chuckled sinisterly, "How powerful Chen Jinnan was back then! Now he's nothing but a skeleton in a tomb!"

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Nan suddenly sprang up, his steel blade slashing down with the last of his internal energy.

Heshen reacted swiftly, using his curved sword to block the attack. The shockwave from the clash of the two blades snapped nearby trees in half.

"Leave them alive!" You Ning suddenly held her iron blade to Chen Nan's neck, the residual heat of the Golden Crow Blade Technique causing the girl's hair to curl slightly. "Such a beauty, the Emperor will surely be pleased to see her." Her gaze swept over Tang Qiaoqiao, who was struggling to resist, and a cold smile curled at the corner of her lips. "And that one who wields the whip, take him down too!"

Heshen frowned: "Your Majesty, letting these two go may cause future trouble..."

"Is Lord He questioning me?" You Ning's eyes flickered, and the iron knife drew a faint bloodstain on Chen Nan's neck. "What the Emperor lacks by his side is precisely a skillful swordsman?" The island gradually fell silent, and the corpses of the Heaven and Earth Society disciples lay strewn across the ground.

Chen Nan and Tang Qiaoqiao were immobilized by pressure points and collapsed to the ground like puppets with broken strings.

Xiang Ruixiang lifted Chen Nan's chin with his longsword, a complex light flashing in the young prince's eyes: "If I had known this would happen, I should have..."

Before he could finish speaking, Heshen came over and said, "Young Prince, it's time to escort him back to the capital to claim your reward!"

Seven days later, the Forbidden City's imperial bedchamber was filled with the scent of ambergris and the stench of blood.

When Shi Feiyang circulated his Mingyu Gong, his skin was as smooth as jade. His fingertips brushed across Chen Nan's pale cheek: "The successor of the Three Blades of Avici Hell has finally become my possession." The girl's eyes burned with hatred, but she was unable to move because her Ren and Du meridians were sealed.

Tang Qiaoqiao gritted her teeth, tears mixed with humiliation sliding down her pillow. Outside the window, the moonlight shone like water, illuminating the dark palace and the nameless island thousands of miles away, soaked in blood.

The night in the Forbidden City was so quiet it was suffocating. Inside the Jiaofang Palace, red candles flickered, casting the twin lotus embroidery on the wedding curtains in a dim and intermittent light.

Chen Nan leaned against the gilded and carved screen, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the gold thread on her wedding dress. The icy touch was nothing compared to the chill in her heart. In the bronze mirror, she saw the flower ornament between her brows, vibrant as blood, and in a daze, she was transported back to that nameless island soaked in blood—the roars of her brothers, the clang of swords, and the bright yellow dragon pattern fluttering on Shi Feiyang's hem when he appeared.

"Sister, look at the moonlight..." Tang Qiaoqiao's voice trembled as she timidly lifted the beaded curtain.

The pearls adorning the young woman's temples swayed gently with her movements, reflecting the tears welling in her eyes. Her hands, cradling the gold-embroidered, pearl-encrusted hairpin, trembled slightly. The wide sleeves of her wedding gown slipped down, revealing unhealed whip marks on her wrists. "His Majesty… he just…"

"Shut up!" Chen Nan turned around abruptly, the phoenix pattern on her wedding dress flailing wildly with her movement.

Looking at the panic and trembling that Tang Qiaoqiao couldn't hide in her eyes, she suddenly remembered when she first entered this Jiaofang Palace three days ago. Shi Feiyang was surrounded by a pale golden halo, his skin was as clear as jade, and when his fingertips touched her cheek, he said with a tenderness that made people tremble: "From now on, you will be my Consort Chen."

At that moment, the sound of light footsteps came from outside the hall, and the two of them held their breath.

Shi Feiyang was dressed in a moon-white nightgown, with only a bright yellow silk sash loosely tied around his waist. His jade-like face glowed softly in the candlelight. He reached out to pull Chen Nan into his arms, but saw the girl subconsciously take a half step back, bumping into the screen with a soft sound.

"Still resenting me?" Shi Feiyang's voice was deep and seductive. The faint chill from the Mingyu Gong brushed past Chen Nan's ear. "If I hadn't spared your life that day..." His fingertips traced the side of her neck, where the shallow mark of Youning Iron Knife still remained. "You would have been buried on that deserted island with the Heaven and Earth Society long ago."

Tang Qiaoqiao suddenly knelt down, her voice choked with sobs: "Your Majesty's grace is boundless, your humble servant... your humble servant is willing to go through fire and water for Your Majesty..."

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Nan interrupted him: "Go through fire and water? Like your father and brothers dying for the Heaven and Earth Society?" Her gaze pierced Shi Feiyang like a sharp sword, "Or like my father, being framed and killed by you at Hanshan Temple?"

Instead of being angry, Shi Feiyang laughed, his laughter causing the bronze crane incense burner to tremble slightly: "Chen Jinnan intended to overthrow the court, he deserves to die." He suddenly grabbed Chen Nan's wrist, the vortex suction of the Mingyu Gong pulling her into his arms, "But you are different... Your hands, which can wield the Three Blades of the Avici Hell, should have been used to tie my hair." Chen Nan stiffened, feeling the warmth from his chest.

His eyes reflected Chen Nan's image, so tender they could drown a person.

"Why?" she murmured, "Why let me live?"

“Because I want you to see with your own eyes,” Shi Feiyang’s lips landed on the top of her head, “to see this world in my hands, peaceful and prosperous. The thirty million taels of silver and one hundred million shi of grain seized from the Heaven and Earth Society’s headquarters have been deposited into the national treasury, and I have also issued an edict to exempt the people of the world from taxes for five years!”

He suddenly turned to Tang Qiaoqiao, "And you, tomorrow you'll accompany me to the Imperial Garden to admire the plum blossoms. I've heard you're skilled at playing the flute?" After Shi Feiyang left, the Jiaofang Palace returned to silence. Tang Qiaoqiao gazed at the candle tears scattered on the floor and whispered, "Sister, perhaps His Majesty... has his own difficulties? Besides, we've already shared a pillow with him for many days. What if I were pregnant with his child? Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"Pah! Difficulties?" Chen Nan sneered, his fingertips brushing against the dagger hidden at his waist.

It was forged from the cold iron of Tianshan Mountain, originally intended to take Shi Feiyang's life, but now it burned her palms in her sleeve. "Our fathers and brothers died at his hands, and the blood of the Heaven and Earth Society brothers is not yet dry. Is this his predicament?"

Outside the window, the moon had been obscured by dark clouds. Chen Nan gazed at the Forbidden City in the darkness and suddenly thought of the snow in Jiangnan—where the moonlight was clear and bright, unlike here, where even the moonlight was tinged with intrigue and lust. She gripped the dagger tightly, yet heard her heart pounding like a drum.

The morning bells of the Forbidden City were shrouded in sorrow, and the coffin of Empress Xiaoxian lay in state at Changchun Palace, with white banners billowing like frost and snow over the palace walls.

Shi Feiyang, dressed in a plain white robe, gazed at the ever-burning lamp swaying before the coffin, his eyes seemingly misty with emotion. He gently stroked the lotus pattern on the coffin, suddenly recalling the knee pads that the former empress had sewn by hand, the stitches as fine as spring rain in Jiangnan.

"Your Majesty, please accept my condolences." Heshen knelt on the ground, the dark patterns on his python robe casting venomous shadows on the blue bricks. "Empress Xiaoxian is virtuous and wise, and will surely protect our Great Qing Dynasty for ten thousand generations."

He glanced at Shi Feiyang and noticed a slight frown on his brow, then added, "This humble servant dares to offer this advice: a nation cannot be without an heir for a single day, nor can a court..."

Before she finished speaking, You Ning's crimson skirt had already swept across the threshold.

The pearl bracelet on her wrist jingled softly, its sound particularly jarring in the deathly silent hall: "What Lord He said is suspicious."

She bowed gracefully, the kingfisher feather phoenix in her hair trembling slightly with the movement. "Could it be that Empress Xiaoxian's body is not yet cold, yet we are already discussing establishing a new empress?" As Shi Feiyang turned around, the cold wind blew up his clothes, causing the candlelight in front of the coffin to flicker.

Looking at the eagerness that You Ning couldn't hide in her eyes, he sneered inwardly: "You Ning, you have served the Empress for many years, you should know the rules."

His voice was as cold as ice. "Go to Changchun Palace to keep vigil for three days and pray for the Empress's well-being." After everyone had left, Heshen quietly followed You Ning's palanquin. "Your Majesty, do not be hasty." He lightly waved his folding fan, his triangular eyes flashing with cunning. "The matter of establishing an Empress is not something the Emperor can decide alone." Seeing You Ning's almond-shaped eyes widen, he lowered his voice further: "All the princes and Han officials in the court value the legitimate heir, while Your Majesty has no heir yet..."

"Enough!" You Ning abruptly flung open the sedan curtain, and the pearl bracelet snapped in two, its smooth beads scattering across the floor. "I thought you could secure a future for me, but you're just a useless thing!" She gazed at the majestic Hall of Supreme Harmony in the distance, her nails digging deep into her palms. "Back on that isolated island in the Qiantang River, if I hadn't spared those two wretches..."

Three days later, the Hall of Supreme Harmony was filled with the smell of sandalwood mixed with the stench of blood.

Shi Feiyang's bright yellow dragon robe swept across the dragon throne, his gaze sweeping over the officials below like a hawk: "Suppressing the Heaven and Earth Society is a great achievement for the country." He raised his hand, pointing his finger at Heshen, "Heshen is hereby appointed as Minister of Revenue, Minister of the Imperial Household, and Minister of the Imperial Guard of the Plain White Banner, to attend the Council of Princes and Ministers."

Chen Feng's large black fan trembled slightly as he stepped forward and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great favor!" He looked at his former colleague, who was now in a higher position than him, and felt a pang of bitterness in his heart. But then he heard Shi Feiyang say, "Chen Feng is promoted to Minister of the Imperial Study and will assist in military affairs."

Lu Fangtian's Heavenly Gang Finger was slightly warm inside his sleeve. When he heard the appointment as "Chief Imperial Guard," he slammed his forehead heavily against the gold brick: "This servant is willing to go through fire and water for His Majesty!"

He stole a glance and saw Yue Shan's clenched fist. The Overlord Spear, which had once swept across thousands of troops, was now quietly leaning against the corridor pillar.

"Yongyan, Ruiyun, step forward." Shi Feiyang suddenly spoke, startling the two young princes below the steps.

Fourteen-year-old Xiang Ruixiang had changed his name to "Yongyan". He wore a robe with four claws and a dragon pattern, and a jade pendant at his waist was engraved with the words "loyalty and filial piety", which was a gift from his mentor Zhu Gui. "From this day forward, Yongyan will concurrently serve as the commander of the Sticky Rod Office and study the classics and history with Zhu Gui."

Shi Feiyang's gaze softened. "Ruiyun will serve as the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, assisting the newly appointed Commander of the Imperial Guard, Huo Cheng."

Huo Cheng knelt on one knee, the hidden power of the Ten Thousand Slices Technique flowing between his palms: "Your subject will certainly not fail Your Majesty's grace!" Looking at the two princes' tender faces, he recalled their ruthlessness when they killed people on the isolated island, and a chill ran down his spine.

"There is one more thing." Shi Feiyang raised his hand to signal, and the palace maid led You Ning slowly up into the hall.

Today, she has shed her glamorous attire, and her plain cheongsam makes her skin appear even whiter than snow. "Yongyan and Ruiyun, from this day forward, you shall recognize Consort Youning as your godmother."

The palace was deathly silent, like a graveyard. You Ning watched as the two princes knelt on the ground, and suddenly remembered the child she had miscarried.

Moonlight streamed through the carved window lattice, illuminating her face and making her tear stains appear crystal clear.

She finally understood that in this game of chess within the Forbidden City, she was merely a pawn, able to advance or retreat at will, while the one who wielded the pieces was always the one seated high on the dragon throne. As night deepened, the candlelight in the Qianqing Palace remained burning.

Shi Feiyang stroked the jade bracelet left by Empress Xiaoxian, listening to the sound of the night watchman's drum coming from outside the window.

In the distance, the lanterns of Chuxiu Palace swayed in the wind, just like the unfinished words You Ning had spoken, dissipating within the unfathomable palace walls.

The night in the Forbidden City is like a splashed-ink landscape painting, with hidden dangers lurking beneath the rich colors.

Frost clung to the glazed tiles of Chuxiu Palace, and the palace lanterns swayed in the cold wind, casting flickering light on the paper-cut beauties on the window lattices.

You Ning leaned against the golden nanmu wood couch, the mutton-fat jade bracelet in her hand rubbing against the silk handkerchief, making a soft sound, just like her restless and uneasy mood at this moment. "Clang—" The carved wooden door was gently pushed open, and He Shen, with his back hunched, had the gold thread python pattern on his python robe gleaming in the candlelight.

Holding a vermilion lacquered and gold-painted box in his arms, he kowtowed every three steps, crawling on his knees with a fawning smile to the bedside: "This servant greets Your Majesty! Congratulations on the birth of your son, Your Majesty! May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings!"

You Ning sat up abruptly, kicking over the gilded incense burner beside her feet with her embroidered shoes.

Spices were scattered all over the ground, and amidst the lingering fragrance, she raised her eyebrows and glared with wide phoenix eyes: "Heshen! How dare you come to see me? You swore you would help me ascend to the position of Empress, but now you've made me a laughingstock in front of everyone!"

She grabbed the peacock feather fan from beside her pillow and slammed it hard against Heshen's face. "Useless dog slave!" Heshen took the blow but did not dodge or flinch. Instead, he lowered his head even further, his triangular eyes gleaming cunningly in the shadows. "Your Majesty, please calm down! Please take a look at the treasures in this box first."

He carefully opened the box, and the dazzling pearl light immediately illuminated the entire bedroom.

Inside the box lay a phoenix hairpin with pearls in its beak, nine South China Sea pearls strung together to form the phoenix's tail, and a ruby ​​inlaid in the center, like a drop of congealed blood.

You Ning's pupils contracted sharply, and her breathing became rapid. She reached out to touch the hairpin, but stopped mid-air: "What do you mean by this?"

Heshen licked his chapped lips and lowered his voice, saying, "Does Your Majesty know why the Emperor asked you to adopt those two princes as your godsons?"

He paused, and seeing You Ning prick up her ears, he continued, "Since ancient times, the selection of an heir has emphasized 'establishing the eldest son of the legitimate wife.' Empress Xiaoxian has passed away, and among the harem, only Your Highness has the deepest affection for the Emperor. One of these two princes will surely ascend the throne in the future. At that time, Your Highness can directly bypass the position of Empress and become the mother of the nation!" You Ning trembled, and her fingertips trembled involuntarily.

She gazed at the ruby ​​on the hairpin, as if she saw herself wearing a phoenix crown, regal and dignified. But in an instant, she regained her composure and sneered, "Lord He is certainly good at making empty promises. What if those two brats are incompetent and fail to ascend the throne?"

Heshen suddenly straightened his back, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "Your Majesty, rest assured! This servant has already placed trusted confidants around the two princes. As long as Your Majesty gives the order, this servant will surely change the very fabric of the Forbidden City!"

You Ning nodded in satisfaction, picked up the peacock feather fan from the ground, and gently tapped Heshen's shoulder: "Lord Heshen is indeed a pillar of our Great Qing Dynasty, a man of great talent! In the future, we will have to rely on you more for the affairs of the Forbidden City."

She suddenly leaned close to Heshen's ear, her breath sweet as orchids, and said, "If this can really be accomplished, I will certainly not treat you unfairly."

The two whispered amongst themselves for a long time, as the moonlight outside the window gradually began to slant westward.

When Heshen left, the vermilion lacquer box in his arms was empty, while Youning's dressing case contained a phoenix-shaped hairpin with pearls, symbolizing ambition and desire.

Just after the Awakening of Insects, the willow branches in the capital city timidly sprout tender buds, but they cannot conceal the sorrow that permeates the streets and alleys.

Before Empress Xiaoxian's white banners had been completely removed, another layer of sorrow shrouded the walls of the Forbidden City.

Inside the Kunning Palace, Kalis leaned against a mink-fur cushion, the blood she coughed up dripping into a jade cup, like red plum blossoms falling on the first snow, a shocking sight. Shi Feiyang held her withered hand, continuously pouring in the warm true energy of the Mingyu Gong, yet it could not warm the desolation in her eyes.

"Kalis, I will accompany you back to Tianshan." His voice was deep and firm, with an undeniable determination. "Let the wind of that grassland blow away the sickness from your body." Kalis forced a smile, tears still clinging to her eyelashes. "Why must Your Majesty... do this for me..." Before she could finish speaking, she coughed violently again, blood staining the handkerchief embroidered with snow lotus flowers.

Chen Nan and Tang Qiaoqiao, who were standing to the side, exchanged a glance. Although they were dressed in fine clothes, they had hidden weapons at their waists. They dared not relax their vigilance at any moment because the revenge for the Heaven and Earth Society had not yet been taken.

Three days later, as the sun rose, Chen Feng, holding a gold-inlaid command arrow, led the Imperial Guards in a grand procession. Caravans carrying 100,000 taels of silver and 1 million shi of grain snaked along the official road like dragons.

"Commander Huo, you must find Huo Qingtong on this trip to Tianshan." Chen Feng gently stroked his black gold fan, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes. "The situation in the Hui region is complicated, so we must not let anything go wrong. If we can get the continued support of the Hui region, they will become an important force for the court to restrain the Dzungars."

Huo Cheng clasped his hands in a salute, his palms swirling with the hidden power of the Thousand Slices Technique: "Rest assured, my lord! With these hands of mine, even the snow lotus of Tianshan Mountain will be plucked for you!"

His gaze swept over several particularly robust warhorses in the convoy, the hidden mechanisms beneath their saddles gleaming with a cold metallic sheen.

Before the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City, Shi Feiyang's carriage slowly pulled out. The cavalry of the Bordered Yellow Banner were clad in gleaming armor, their swords and spears like a forest. Wei Nianhua's parting hook was hidden in his sleeve, constantly alert to his surroundings; Yue Shan's Overlord Spear was slung diagonally across his horse's side, its tassel fluttering in the wind.

Inside the carriage, Kalis had fallen into a coma. Chen Nan and Tang Qiaoqiao guarded her on either side, outwardly showing great concern, but secretly keeping a close eye on Shi Feiyang's every move. "When will His Majesty return?" You Ning, dressed in magnificent robes, watched the departing convoy, a barely perceptible hint of pleasure flashing in her eyes. Beside her, Yongyan, dressed in a python robe with a jade pendant at his waist engraved with the words "Loyalty and Filial Piety," clutched a secret letter tightly in his sleeve—the latest intelligence from the Imperial Guard regarding Su Dai.

As night deepened, in a secluded corner of the southeastern part of the palace.

Su Dai clutched the carrier pigeon, her heart pounding like a drum. Just as she was about to release it, a cold laugh suddenly came from behind her: "What a treacherous, ungrateful wretch!"

You Ning pressed her iron blade against her back. "You think you can escape by playing tricks under my nose? Heh heh, before, the Emperor doted on you, and I couldn't do anything to you. Now that the Emperor has left the capital, I have the right to handle all matters of state, including your life!"

Su Dai froze, the carrier pigeon fluttering anxiously in her hand. "Your Majesty, you've misunderstood! Back then, when I was a concubine, I took good care of you..." Before she could finish speaking, she was restrained by Yongyan's guards.

"Throw him into the death row and wait for Father Emperor to return for further trial!" Yongyan's expression was stern, but as he turned around, he gave the leader of the Sticky Rod Office a wink.

In the dead of night, the stench of decay permeated the death row.

Su Dai huddled in the corner, watching the wine jug brought over by the guards from the Imperial Guard post. Suddenly, she laughed: "I should have known... in this cannibalistic palace..." She tilted her head back and drank the poisoned wine, black blood spilling from the corner of her mouth, "Tell Miss Chen... the Heaven and Earth Society and the Red Flower Society..."

Her words abruptly stopped, and her hand fell limply to her side.

On the official road a thousand miles away, Shi Feiyang's convoy was heading towards the grassland.

Dark clouds churned on the horizon, and the faint sound of thunder could be heard.

Chen Nan lifted the carriage curtain, looked at the gloomy sky, and placed his hand on the dagger at his waist.

A storm seems to be brewing.

As dusk fell like blood, the Hulunbuir Grassland was transformed into a battlefield.

As soon as Shi Feiyang's convoy stepped into the border of the Hui region, a hail of arrows, carrying the smell of sulfur, came hurtling through the air.

Wei Nianhua's farewell hook drew a crescent moon, its tip precisely deflecting three sharp arrows. The clanging of metal made the horses rear up: "Ambush! Protect the king!" Yue Shan's Overlord Spear swept across the army. Before the masked man's corpse, which the spear tip had just lifted, had even hit the ground, more than ten dark figures had already darted out from behind the cairn.

The leader had a ghostly face, and wherever his palm struck, the grass and leaves turned to dust—it was none other than the "Thousand Soul Palm," a technique long lost by the Heaven and Earth Society.

"You treacherous Hongli! Give me back my brother's life!" the masked man roared, and the carriage shaft ten feet away was shattered inch by inch by the force of his palm strike.

The Longevity Sword of Ruiyun, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard, hummed as it was drawn from its sheath, the blood patterns on the old scabbard glowing with an eerie red light in the twilight.

"A mere trick!" The young prince stepped on the Bagua position, and the silver threads of his sword tassel covered the masked man like a spider web. "Immortal touches my head!" The tip of his sword pointed at the man's brow, but the man countered with a backhand strike, and the unique bluish-gray patterns of the Ten Thousand Slices Technique appeared on his palm.

Shi Feiyang's bright yellow dragon robe fluttered in the wind as he stepped into the air and stood on the roof of the car. When he circulated his Mingyu Gong, his skin glowed with a jade-like luster.

He used his palm as a blade, unleashing a "Breaking Heaven and Earth" strike. The powerful blade energy of the Hundred Victories Blade Technique tore through the night, turning arrows to dust in its wake. The masked man hastily channeled his energy to defend himself, but felt a chill rush through his meridians, instantly freezing into ice flowers on his chest.

Inside the carriage, Kalis leaned against her fur coat, coughing incessantly, her blood staining the brocade handkerchief embroidered with snow lotus flowers.

Chen Nan and Tang Qiaoqiao exchanged a glance, and a short blade had already silently slid into their hands from their sleeves. "Sister, is this medicine still warm?" Chen Nan picked up the medicine bowl, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes. Zhou Qiaoqiao understood, and suddenly pulled back the carriage curtain. In the instant the wind and sand rushed in, the short blade went straight for Kalis's throat.

"How dare you!" Ruiyun's sword tip suddenly pierced into the carriage, and silver threads wrapped around Chen Nan's wrist.

The young prince leaped in, unleashing the Longevity Sword Technique, the sword shadows swirling like a reversed Milky Way. Chen Nan gritted his teeth, suddenly activating the incomplete move of the Three Blades of Avici Hell, countless vengeful spirits and ghosts appearing within the blade's light.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Tang Qiaoqiao lashed out with her nine-section steel whip, the tip of which aimed straight for Ruiyun's face.

Outside the carriage, Wei Nianhua's parting hook and the judge's pen of the Heaven and Earth Society master were tangled together.

The moment the hook tip grazed the other person's throat, he suddenly felt a chill on the back of his neck—it was another person who had used a blood-dripping dart to launch a sneak attack.

He rolled on the spot, swung the farewell hook backhand, hooked it onto the opponent's ankle and yanked hard, the sound of flesh tearing and screams echoing across the grassland.

Yue Shan's Overlord Spear suddenly grew three feet longer, the red tassel on its tassel already soaked in blood. "You rats of the Heaven and Earth Society, how dare you be so insolent before the Emperor!" he roared, the spear tip aimed straight for the masked man's heart.

The masked man unleashed both palms simultaneously, the insidious power of his Thousand Slices Technique clashing with the Overlord Spear. The resulting shockwave overturned three caravans, spilling grain and instantly staining the grass red. Seeing this, Shi Feiyang's eyes gleamed with cold light. He unleashed the "Slaying the Mortal World" move, his palms blazing with white light as the ultimate strike of the Hundred Victories Blade Technique, infused with the chilling aura of the Bright Jade Technique, slashed down. The masked man screamed as he was blasted away by the blade's energy, landing as an ice sculpture before shattering into ice fragments.

Just then, a deafening horn sounded from the depths of the grassland, and tens of thousands of Heaven and Earth Society disciples, carrying torches, surged forth like a tidal wave.

Chen Nan's steel knife clashed with Rui Yun's longsword, and sparks flew as they landed on Kalis's thin robe.

Kalis coughed and struggled to get up, but Tang Qiaoqiao grabbed her pulse point.

"I'm sorry, Consort Xiang." Tang Qiaoqiao sneered, raising her short blade once more.

At the critical moment, Shi Feiyang's figure darted into the carriage like a ghost, and the force of Ming Yu Gong's palm strike sent the two flying. (End of this chapter)