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

The summer heat carried the fragrance of rice ears. Shi Feiyang removed his bright yellow dragon robe and stepped across the field in a long blue cloth gown. The jade pendant with a coiled dragon at his waist was faintly visible under the coarse cloth.

Shen Qingru followed closely, sword in hand. She saw him squat down, gently stroking the newly sprouted rice ears. His fingertips brushed the plump grains with a gentler touch than when handling an imperial seal. "Is this gentleman from out of town?" the hunched old farmer straightened, revealing a deeply lined face beneath his straw hat. "This year's rains have been plentiful; our rice harvest will be six shi!" He pointed to the rolling golden waves in the distance, a proud gleam in his cloudy eyes. "I heard that the neighboring county is growing sweet potatoes from a foreign land. Those things can be buried in the soil and will grow; their yield is equivalent to three mu of rice!"

Shi Feiyang condensed a wisp of Mingyu Gong true energy at his fingertips and quietly probed it into the soil. After a moment, he stood up and chuckled, a few grains of gold dust falling from his sleeve: "Old man, do you know that there is an iron ore vein three feet underground?"

As the old farmer was astonished, Chen Feng strolled over, waving a large black gold fan. The Big Dipper pattern on the fan reflected the busy figures in the fields: "Young master has a good eye. No wonder the cotton fields in Zhili can weave brocade. It turns out that the earth's energy holds a secret."

Wei Nianhua lightly tapped his farewell hook against his waist, his gaze sweeping over the young girl carrying cotton in the distance: "Wujiang County in Suzhou Prefecture is now a 'golden harvest' for farmers. I've heard that some weavers are using newly made flying shuttles, capable of weaving three zhang of cloth a day." Before he finished speaking, Huo Cheng suddenly leaped onto the treetop, his palm flashing with a blue light from his Thousand-Slice Technique: "Merchant ships have docked on the southeast coast, carrying Western cotton gins!"

Shi Feiyang stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the sky. As his Mingyu Gong flowed, he dyed the entire cloud layer amber.

Ruiyun gripped the hilt of the Avici Road Three Knives and suddenly pointed to the village with wisps of smoke rising from its chimneys: "The blacksmith's shop there is always clanging and banging. Yesterday, I saw the hoes they made, and the blades were 30% thinner than ordinary ironware."

Excitement gleamed in the boy's eyes. "He said he learned the tempering technique from the Western Regions." Shen Qingru took off her water pouch and handed it to Shi Feiyang. As his Adam's apple bobbed, the dragon pattern on his jade pendant shone brightly in the setting sun.

"Young master, do you know?" she pointed to the children playing on the ridge of the field, "Nowadays, even the children in the village can recite the Thousand Character Classic. I've heard that the salt merchants of Yangzhou have even established academies." Before she finished speaking, the sound of storytelling came from afar, "It is said that after Emperor Qianlong ascended the throne, he reduced taxes and built water conservancy projects..."

Shi Feiyang suddenly stopped, quietly drawing a firefly into his palm. The firefly transformed into a miniature dragon between his fingers, illuminating the satisfaction in his eyes: "I once sought advice in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and now I understand—"

He raised his hand and waved it lightly, sending fireflies flying into the fields. "True national prosperity and strength do not lie in the golden bricks of the imperial palace, but in these fields. However, the commercial activity is not strong enough. Minister Wei, immediately send a message by carrier pigeon to Heshen, instructing him to introduce measures to encourage the development of industry and commerce. All industries, businesses, and handicraft workshops shall be exempt from taxes for three years." The Grand Secretaries Wei Nianhua and Chen Feng were immediately dumbfounded, but after a moment of stunned silence, they obeyed the order and went to carry it out.

As night fell, everyone rested in the teahouse.

The shopkeeper wiped the table and smiled, "Ladies and gentlemen, you may not know this, but our tea merchants use newly made tea cakes from southern Yunnan. They are tightly compressed and can be stored for ten years!" He lowered his voice, "I've heard that even the nobles in the palace love them."

Chen Feng lightly tapped the table with his folding fan, the blue light from the fan making the numbers on the ledger flicker: "Jingdezhen porcelain is now exported overseas, and foreigners hold blue and white porcelain and treat it like a treasure."

Looking out at the shimmering lights, Shi Feiyang suddenly recalled the flames of war on the grasslands and the bloody waves of naval battles. The Mingyu Gong slowly circulated within his body; the sharp sword energy that gathered in his palm was no longer a fierce blade of energy, but a warm, gentle blue light.

"Issue the decree," his voice low yet carrying an undeniable authority, "In the flood-stricken areas of Jiangnan, allocate 300,000 taels of silver to repair the dikes; in the cotton-growing regions of Zhili, send craftsmen from the Ministry of Works to teach and improve the cotton ginning machine. Instruct Heshen to lift the maritime ban, allowing merchant ships from all countries to anchor and trade on the coast of our Great Qing. Effective immediately, Grand Secretary Yue Shan will concurrently serve as the Admiral of the Navy. Instruct Heshen to allocate 30 million taels of silver and 30 million shi of grain to Yue Shan to build a navy and safeguard our maritime security. Minister Chen, you will act as Zheng He for a time, immediately return to the capital, organize merchant ships to set sail, and sell our Great Qing's finest goods to neighboring countries. Remember, bring back profits. Otherwise, don't come back. Huo Cheng, you will also temporarily return to the capital to select skilled Imperial Guards to escort Zheng He on his voyages to the Western Ocean."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The ministers were stunned for a moment, then reacted and happily obeyed the order and left.

Shen Qingru gazed at Shi Feiyang's profile and saw the moonlight gilding his silhouette with silver edges, as if she had returned to the summit of Mount Tai.

Back then, the "Chen Jialuo" he disguised himself as might have only been a chivalrous figure in her heart, but now Shi Feiyang was the true emperor who brought peace and prosperity to millions of people. Outside the teahouse, the night watchman walked by, striking his clapper, startling a chorus of cicadas, but unable to shatter the tranquility of this prosperous age.

In the height of summer in Huainan, the scorching sun is like a furnace for melting gold, baking the earth and sky to a scorching heat.

The cicadas chirped like a tidal wave, shouting themselves hoarse on the branches, while waves of heat rippled through the air, carrying the scent of earth and rice.

The old willow trees beside the official road drooped listlessly, and even the occasional breeze was warm, stirring up the dust from the roadside and making it swirl in the air.

Shi Feiyang, dressed in a plain-colored hemp cloth long gown and wearing a bamboo hat, sat under the tea stall, the cool tea in the rough pottery bowl in his hand was steaming.

Shen Qingru stood beside him, the silver bell on her soft sword already soaked with sweat, making a dull sound when she shook it gently. She gazed at the sun-kissed bluestone path in the distance, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, a hint of unease in her eyes.

At this moment, Ruiyun rushed over. The fourteen-year-old boy was already covered in sweat, and the scabbards of the Avici Dao swords under his python robe clinked softly with his hurried footsteps. "The Emperor summons me. What are your orders?" Ruiyun knelt on one knee, his voice tinged with doubt.

Shi Feiyang put down his teacup, his gaze deep and unfathomable as he looked at the rolling fiery clouds in the sky, and slowly said, "Ruiyun, I order you to return to the capital immediately."

Shen Qingru's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't help but step forward, saying urgently, "Your Majesty! If Commander Rui leaves, Your Majesty will be without any skilled protectors. The journey is fraught with danger, and the Jianghu forces in Jiangnan are deeply entrenched. If there are any remnants of the Dragon Guard Manor..."

Her voice trembled slightly, her eyes were full of worry, and she unconsciously gripped the soft sword in her hand.

Shi Feiyang raised his hand to signal Shen Qingru to be quiet. His palm gleamed with a warm, jade-like luster in the sunlight, a trace of the Mingyu Gong flowing through it.

"Qingru, do you know that what is sharper than swords and spears is the human heart; what is more powerful than martial arts is civil administration?" His voice was deep and powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority. "I have decided to organize all the documents in the land and collect books extensively. This is a war without gunpowder, but it concerns the eternal foundation of my Great Qing Dynasty. The capital needs Ruiyun to assist Yongyan in preparing for this matter."

Ruiyun raised her head, her eyes shining with determination: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will do my utmost! It's just that I'm worried about Your Majesty's safety..."

"No need for further words." Shi Feiyang stood up, his long robe fluttering in the wind, faintly revealing the dragon-patterned jade pendant at his waist. "Just remember, the Hundred Victories Sword Technique in my hand can wipe out bandits in the martial world; and the books in this world can win over the hearts of millions of people."

He turned to look south, where a lush rice paddy stretched out, the rice stalks swaying gently in the heat. "Issue my decree that officials at all levels must treat the request for books as a top priority. Books from bookstores shall be priced accordingly; books in private collections shall be copied and returned, and the people shall not be disturbed."

As Shen Qingru gazed at Shi Feiyang's tall and straight back, a complex emotion welled up within her. She suddenly realized that the person before her was not only the awe-inspiring emperor who could fight against a hundred men on the battlefield, but also a wise ruler with the world in his heart and ambitions for a thousand years to come.

In the days that followed, the notices requesting books in front of the Huainan City government office curled slightly under the scorching sun.

Literati, scholars, and book collectors from all over the country responded enthusiastically.

An elderly scholar with white hair tremblingly came forward carrying his family's ancient book, his eyes filled with reluctance and expectation: "I have heard that His Majesty loves books as much as his own life. This old minister is willing to present this copy of the Huainan Honglie, hoping that it can contribute to the prosperity of this era."

As imperial edicts continued to be issued requesting books, countless precious classics from the water towns of Jiangnan to the grasslands of the north converged in the capital.

The compilation of the Siku Quanshu Huiyao was also in full swing. The scholars worked day and night at their desks, proofreading and annotating. The rustling sound of their pens across the paper echoed in the quiet bookstore, like silkworms eating mulberry leaves.

Summer downpours always come suddenly.

One afternoon, the sky suddenly became overcast and a strong wind blew.

Shi Feiyang stood under the eaves of the Jiangnan Bookstore, watching the large raindrops hit the bluestone slabs and splash up water droplets.

Wei Nianhua, holding the farewell hook, stood behind him. "Your Majesty, the treasury has maintained a level above 60 million taels for a long time, and the 'Complete Collection of the Four Treasuries' is nearing completion." Shi Feiyang looked at the streets and alleys in the rain, a gratified smile on his lips: "The so-called Kangxi and Qianlong era of prosperity is not only about military prowess and vast territory, but also about enabling scholars, writers, peddlers, and laborers throughout the land to live and work in peace and contentment under this bright and clear sky, and to be knowledgeable and reasonable."

He turned and walked into the bookstore, the light of his Mingyu Gong illuminating the mountain of books piled on his desk. "Continue editing and proofreading. I want all the wisdom of the world to gather here." The rain poured down harder, washing over every corner of Jiangnan, as if playing a stirring symphony for this prosperous era. Shen Qingru gripped her soft sword tightly, standing in the rain, watching Shi Feiyang's busy figure, her heart filled with admiration and respect.

The green tiles and white walls were bathed in a misty haze, and the stone path under the oil-paper umbrellas gleamed with a faint light.

Shi Feiyang stood on the banks of the Qinhuai River, watching the "Peace Under Heaven" lantern hanging high on the painted boat sway in the rain. He quietly activated the Mingyu Gong in his sleeve, condensing the raindrops falling on his shoulders into ice crystals.

Shen Qingru followed closely behind, holding an umbrella. She saw him gazing at the lotus lanterns floating on the river, his brows seemingly shrouded in an unyielding cloud.

"Your Majesty, Wenlan Pavilion is just ahead." Wei Nianhua's farewell hook was hidden under the oil-paper umbrella, water droplets clinging to its tip. "Recently, there has been a secret report that the remnants of the Iron Knife Society and the remnants of the Heaven and Earth Society seem to be colluding." Before he finished speaking, the sound of porcelain shattering suddenly came from the street corner, and seven or eight masked figures burst out of the window, their steel knives reflecting the water and exuding a chilling aura.

"Perfect timing." Shi Feiyang sneered, white mist rising around him, freezing the fine rain. The assassin at the front, his blade already covered in frost halfway through its attack, used the "Shifting Flowers and Jade" technique! With a flick of his wrist, the assassin's steel blade instantly changed direction, piercing straight into his companion's chest.

Ruiyun unleashed his "Three Blades of Avici Hell," shredding several assassins into a bloody mist with his blade.

Huo Cheng's figure moved through the enemy ranks like a ghost, and wherever his Wan Gua Gong (a martial arts technique) passed, blood and flesh flew everywhere. "I didn't kill you all back then, but you've grown bolder!" He slapped his palms together, tearing a burly man wielding a chain hammer to shreds along with his weapon.

Shen Qingru's soft sword jingled, its light carrying the fierce intent of a young girl, aimed straight for the assassin leader's throat. Shi Feiyang unleashed "Slaying the Mortal World" with his palm as if it were a blade! Nine golden blade beams pierced through the rain, tearing the assassin leader's protective aura as thin as paper.

When the blade touched the opponent's chest, half a jade pendant fell from the man's arms—its pattern was exactly the same as the fragment that Su Dai had clutched tightly before her death.

As the rain subsided, Shi Feiyang picked up the jade pendant, his fingertips gleaming with coldness: "Minister Wei, thoroughly investigate this matter. My empire must never have any Jianghu bandits!"

He gazed towards the Wenlan Pavilion, where scholars and literati were arriving with books. "I intend to compile books to bring peace to the realm, and I also want these petty clowns to know that those who covet the imperial artifacts, though far away, will be punished." As dusk fell, Shen Qingru helped Shi Feiyang change his blood-soaked undergarment. "Why must Your Majesty venture into such perilous places?" Her voice was as soft as smoke drifting on a candle flame. "We are here to protect you..."

"Qingru, look at these myriad lights." Shi Feiyang suddenly grasped her hand, the warmth of the Mingyu Gong flowing through his palm. "If I don't traverse this land, how will I know where hidden currents lie?"

As he turned around, the dragon pattern was faintly visible in the candlelight. "I'm going to Yangzhou tomorrow. I heard the salt merchants have recently acquired Western telescopes. I'll have to see if these things can see through people's hearts." Shen Qingru watched his back, her heart pounding like a drum.

The rain started falling again outside the window, pattering on the banana leaves, but it couldn't drown out the words echoing in her ears—that the emperor's empire was never won by sitting in the golden palace, but by stepping out step by step with blood and fire, wisdom and strategy.

The plum rains in Yangzhou were sticky and viscous, making the bluestone pavement shine.

Shi Feiyang wore a bamboo hat and a dark outfit with a faint dragon embroidery. The jade pendant with a coiled dragon at his waist emitted a faint light in the rain.

Shen Qingru followed closely behind, holding a bamboo umbrella. Her soft sword and silver bell, wrapped in oiled paper, still trembled slightly with each step. "Young master, the Salt Merchants' Guild Hall is just ahead."

Wei Nianhua's farewell hook was hidden in his wide sleeve, with water droplets clinging to its tip. "According to a secret report from the Sticky Rod Office, the third leader of the 'Blood Flame Hall' of the Heaven and Earth Society has been lying in wait in Yangzhou for half a month!" Before he finished speaking, the sound of porcelain shattering suddenly came from the teahouse on the street corner.

Seven dark figures burst out of the window, the blood-red patterns on their black iron masks glowing eerily red in the rain.

Shi Feiyang's pupils contracted sharply, and his Mingyu Gong instantly condensed into ice crystals in his palm: "Perfect timing." White mist rose around him, and the fine raindrops turned into sharp ice shards upon contact. The assassin at the forefront swung his blade, but the blade froze into dust three inches away from him. He lightly spun around and used "Shifting Flowers and Jade!", his palms flicking and guiding, redirecting the assassin's force towards his companion. A flash of cold light, and blood blossomed in the rain.

"You bandits, seeking death, I'll do you a favor!" Ruiyun's roar tore through the rain as he gripped his knife and unleashed the "Three Slashes of Avici Hell!"

The fourteen-year-old boy's swordplay was powerful and sweeping, with countless vengeful spirits and ghosts appearing in the flashes of his blade. He unleashed the move "Severing Illusion," the blade slicing across the assassin's neck, blood gushing out like a fountain and staining the bluestone slabs red. His python robe billowed in the rain, and the scabbard of the Three Swords of Avici Hell at his waist was soaked with blood.

Shen Qingru's Canglang Sword Technique was like a white snake emerging from its hole, the silver bells suddenly ringing. In the instant the sword tip pierced the assassin's face, she caught a glimpse of the flame tattoo on the opponent's collarbone—the very mark of the Blood Flame Hall.

She spun around to avoid the hidden weapon and unleashed a move called "Canglang Dielang"! Her soft sword danced out seven layers of sword shadows, forcing the three attackers to retreat repeatedly.

Huo Cheng's figure moved through the enemy ranks like a ghost, a bluish-gray light emanating from his palms.

He unleashed his "Ten Thousand Slices Technique"! He clapped his hands repeatedly, the air crackling with a teeth-grinding sound.

A burly man wielding a spiked club swung it at him, but the weapon shattered the moment it touched his body. Then, his flesh was torn apart by an invisible force, turning into a bloody mess of pieces in the blink of an eye.

"We came out to lure out the bandits and kill them, so that the world can be at peace!" He grinned maliciously, his fingernails growing three inches long and piercing into the chest of another assassin like steel hooks.

Wei Nianhua's parting hook flashed with a cold, crescent-moon-like light, seizing the throat of a master wielding a chain hammer. Using the momentum, he leaped into the air, performing three somersaults in succession. The parting hook, like a nimble snake emerging from its hole, instantly sent three enemies flying.

"Remnants of the Bloodflame Hall, how dare you be so insolent before His Majesty?" As Wei Nianhua landed, the sole of his boot crushed the assassin's eyeball, making a nauseating sound. The Bloodflame Hall's Third Master's "Bloodflame Blade" slashed towards Shi Feiyang. Shi Feiyang snorted coldly and unleashed "Breaking Heaven and Earth!" with both palms! The Hundred Victories Blade Technique, imbued with the chilling aura of the Bright Jade Skill, cleaved through everything in its path, turning vegetation to dust and creating half-foot-deep ravines in the ground.

The third hall master hastily channeled his energy to defend himself, but felt a chill rushing down his meridians, instantly forming ice flowers on his chest.

"Trying to run?" Shen Qingru shouted, her soft sword flying out of her hand. With a jingling sound, the blade wrapped around the Third Hall Master's ankle. She lightly touched the ground with her toes and leaped away, only to see him suddenly tear open his clothes, revealing a chest covered in explosives.

"Let's perish together!" The Third Hall Master laughed maniacally, his tinderbox about to light the fuse. At the critical moment, Shi Feiyang's body shone brightly, his entire being resembling white ice shrouded in icy mist, as he unleashed the "Severing Reincarnation!" with both palms.

His ultimate move transformed into nine golden blade beams, as bright as the sun in the sky.

The Third Master struggled amidst the sword energy, only to see his body gradually freeze. In despair, he transformed into an ice sculpture, crashing to the ground and shattering into countless ice crystals. The unlit explosives were also completely frozen by the chilling aura of Mingyu Gong.

The remaining assassins tried to flee, but Huo Cheng wasn't about to let them go. Wherever his claws struck, blood and flesh flew. "None of you will live!" He caught up with the last assassin, tearing off both of his arms, watching the man writhe and howl on the ground, his eyes filled with cold cruelty. The rain gradually stopped, and the stench of blood mixed with the smell of earth permeated the streets of Yangzhou.

Shi Feiyang picked up the half of the token left behind by the Third Hall Master, the words "Blood Flame" on it stinging his palm. "Minister Wei, thoroughly investigate this matter. I want to know how many demons and monsters are behind this." He turned to look at the Salt Merchants' Guild Hall, where a shopkeeper was peeking around. "Go and see what's so magical about that magic mirror."

Shen Qingru wiped the blood off the soft sword, while Ruiyun gripped the blood-stained blade, his eyes sparkling with admiration and excitement—he knew he was one step closer to his father.

Wei Nianhua carefully put away the farewell hook, blood still dripping from the groove on its body. He gazed at the corpses strewn across the ground, secretly pondering: the Heaven and Earth Society's operation this time was so meticulous; there must be a traitor within. Huo Cheng kicked aside a corpse, his Thousand Slices Technique slowly retracting.

As the group stepped into the Salt Merchants' Guild Hall, the setting sun pierced through the clouds, casting long shadows upon them.

The people of Yangzhou had already hidden behind their doors, whispering about the sudden battle and speculating about the identities of these mysterious people.

The nanmu wood corridor of the Yangzhou Salt Merchants' Guild Hall meanders like a snake, and the Western-style clock under the corridor emits the clicking sound of mechanical gears meshing, which intertwines with the crisp sound of raindrops falling from the eaves to create a strange rhythm.

Shi Feiyang stood with his hands behind his back in front of the glass display case. The faint light from the Mingyu Gong reflected off the bronze telescope inside. The iris pattern engraved on the telescope tube twisted and distorted in the light and shadow, like some kind of lurking giant beast.

"Young master, please look!" The shopkeeper bowed and turned the mirror, the light reflected from the lens moving across Shi Feiyang's dark, tight-fitting clothes. "This object is called the Thousand-Mile Mirror. It can clearly see the patterns on the sails of ships ten miles away!"

Shen Qingru suddenly pressed down on the sword hilt. She caught a glimpse of a red knot faintly visible in the shopkeeper's sleeve—that was the secret mark of the Heaven and Earth Society's "Blood Flame Hall".

Before he finished speaking, all the candles in the hall suddenly went out. Ice crystals rose from Shi Feiyang's palm, and countless cold lights poured down from the domed ceiling—poisoned bone-piercing nails! He spun around and flicked his sleeve, using the "Shifting Flowers and Receiving Jade" technique! His palm force condensed into an invisible vortex, changing the trajectory of the bone-piercing nails, which then drove them back into the beams where the attackers were hiding. Amidst the flying wood chips, the corpses of seventy-three men in black fell to the ground.

"Wei Qing, clear the area." Shi Feiyang's voice was as cold as ice, and the white mist emanating from his body had frozen the air within a radius of ten feet.

Wei Nianhua's farewell hook shot out, the dragon pattern on the hook body emitting a blue light: "Chirp!" The cold light was like lightning, instantly knocking away five assassins wielding hook sickles. Where the hook tip swept, blood droplets condensed into ice particles in mid-air.

Shen Qingru's Canglang Sword Technique transformed into a sky full of silver streaks, the soft sword and silver bells resonating with soul-stirring sound waves. She touched the glass of the display case with her toes and unleashed the move "Nine Layers of Canglang," the sword light like a raging wave crashing against the shore, shredding the weapons of the seven attackers into scrap metal.

Suddenly feeling a chill on the back of her neck, she quickly dodged to the side. A willow-leaf knife grazed her ear and slashed into a wooden pillar, revealing the words "Blood Flame" on the blade.

Ruiyun's three blades of Avici Path cleaved through the darkness, and the fourteen-year-old boy roared as he charged into the enemy ranks, unleashing the move "Avici Path: Crossing Calamity"! The phantoms of vengeful spirits that appeared in the light of the blade tore at the assassin's soul, and before the three masters wielding the Judge's Pen could even make a move, their throats were pierced by the blade's energy.

He dashed across the shattered glass, the hem of his python robe sweeping across the display case, smashing a Western music box to pieces, sending gears and parts flying like projectiles.

Huo Cheng's Ten Thousand Slices Technique displayed its power in the shadows; wherever his palms and claws passed, the air ripped with a teeth-grinding sound. "You coward, do you even deserve to use Western tricks?" He sneered, slapping his palms at the burly man wielding the spiked club. The man's protective aura was torn apart like thin paper, and his flesh instantly turned into a rain of blood.

Before the spiked club even hit the ground, he had already crushed it into a disc with his bare hands.

As Shi Feiyang watched the men in black surging in from all directions, he activated his Mingyu Gong at high speed, his entire body resembling white ice shrouded in cold mist.

A leader of the Bloodflame Hall slashed at Shi Feiyang with his Bloodflame Blade. Shi Feiyang countered with a double palm strike of "Breaking Heaven and Earth!" The Hundred Victories Blade Technique, imbued with the power of the Ice Soul Cold Prison, slashed down. Nine golden blade beams collided with the crimson blade energy, and the resulting shockwave overturned the roof, causing glazed tiles to fall like raindrops.

"Is this all you're relying on?" Shi Feiyang shattered the shards of the mirror case scattered on the ground, and a suction force suddenly arose in his palm, drawing dozens of Western firearms into his hand. He flicked his finger, and the lead bullets from the flintlock pistols shot back in reverse, piercing the foreheads of three assassins.

One of the hall masters' pupils constricted sharply as he realized that those exquisite instruments, in the hands of the emperor, had become deadly weapons.

Shen Qingru was cornered by five assassins, and her soft sword suddenly slipped from her hand. At the critical moment, Shi Feiyang appeared like a ghost, and his "Shifting Flowers and Jade" divine skill caused the assassins' weapons to fight each other.

Shi Feiyang wrapped his arms around Shen Qingru's slender waist and spun around to avoid the attack. Shen Qingru smelled the ambergris mixed with the smell of blood on his body, and her heart pounded like a drum.

"Take it." Shi Feiyang shoved a Western triangular dagger into her palm, the cold metallic touch instantly sobering her up.

Wei Nianhua's parting hook and the Blood Flame Hall protector's nine-section whip became entangled, and the hook tip suddenly pierced the opponent's wrist acupoint.

"Do you recognize this?" He ripped off the other man's sleeve, revealing a tattoo on his arm. "The one who escaped the robbery of the Grand Canal ten years ago, it's time to pay the price!" With that, he flicked his wrist, and the farewell hook slashed open the other man's throat. Blood splattered onto the displayed Western astrolabe, the crimson and gilded patterns intertwining into a bizarre design.

Huo Cheng's attacks became increasingly ruthless. His fingernails were stained bluish-black, and with each claw mark he made, the enemy's flesh was peeled away piece by piece as if cut by an invisible blade.

"The remnants of the Heaven and Earth Society, it's time to end this!" He laughed wildly as he pounced on the last few assassins, his palm strikes pulverizing even bones.

Ruiyun's three sword strikes on the Avici Hell suddenly froze—he saw a secret letter fall from an assassin's arms, and the dragon pattern on the envelope was exactly the same as the jade pendant at Shi Feiyang's waist. Meanwhile, Shi Feiyang's "Slaying Reincarnation" sword strike was already fully charged.

When a hall master unleashed his ultimate technique, "Blood Flame Burning the Sky," the ice crystals in Shi Feiyang's palm suddenly transformed into nine giant dragons. "Remnants of the Heaven and Earth Society, dare to speak of fire?" The nine dragon-shaped blade beams devoured the crimson blade energy, freezing the hall master into an ice sculpture in despair. In the final moment of his shattering, the secret letter in his hand was swept away by the shockwave to Shi Feiyang's feet. As the smoke cleared, the hall was left in a state of utter devastation.

The Western-style clock stopped turning, and the broken mirror reflected the corpses, like countless distorted scenes of carnage.

Shi Feiyang picked up the secret letter, and the moment he unfolded it, Shen Qingru saw a flash of icy killing intent in his eyes. "Return to the capital." He burned the letter, the flames reflecting the dragon embroidery and the bloodstains on the ground. "I want to see how many people in this court still want to play with fire."

In late autumn, a light snow was falling over the Forbidden City. The dragon in the Qianqing Palace was burning brightly, but Shi Feiyang felt a bone-chilling cold.

He threw the secret letter into the charcoal brazier, watching the dragon pattern on it twist and deform in the flames. He suddenly remembered the broken Western mirrors scattered all over the Yangzhou Guild Hall—the human heart is even harder to see through than these mirrors.

"Your Majesty, Consort Tang requests an audience." The eunuch's shrill voice broke the silence.

Tang Qiaoqiao wore a red-gold pheasant-patterned shawl, and the pearls on her earlobes swayed gently with her steps.

The once elusive "Thousand-Faced Fox" now had a touch of languor in her eyes, but when she caught sight of the unburnt remnants of a letter in the charcoal brazier, her pupils still narrowed imperceptibly: "The Emperor summoned me late at night, is it for..."

"Bang!" Shi Feiyang suddenly slammed his hand on the table, and the white jade paperweight on the table cracked in response.

As Mingyu Gong circulated, a chilling blue aura emanated from his body: "Do you think I don't know? There are message pigeons of the Heaven and Earth Society hidden on the beams of Jingren Palace! I am going to wipe out all the gangs in the world, yet you, as a Noble Consort, are protecting the remnants of the Heaven and Earth Society? Have you grown tired of the riches of the palace?" Tang Qiaoqiao's delicate body trembled, and then she knelt down with a thud, her hair falling loose: "Your Majesty, please investigate! I have long wanted to report this, but I have no solid evidence..."

When she raised her head, her eyes were already red. "How about I set up a scheme? I'll say that I'm going to hold a 'winter-dispelling party' and invite all the ladies of the palace to a banquet. Those with ulterior motives will surely give themselves away."

Shi Feiyang stared at her trembling fingertips and suddenly remembered how she danced the Dance of the Startled Swan in the Imperial Garden a year ago—at that time, she was wearing a bamboo whistle from the Heaven and Earth Society at her waist.

“Remember,” he leaned down and pinched Tang Qiaoqiao’s chin, the chill seeping into his fingertips, “your life and my empire are tied together.”

Inside the large iron house in Donkey Market Alley—the headquarters of the Money Gang—gang leader Shi Taishan slammed a token engraved with "Blood Flame" onto the table.

Shi Feiyang's sixth-generation descendant was a burly man with a nine-section soft whip wrapped around his arm, looking like a giant python that could strike at any moment: "Grandpa, don't worry! There are three hundred catties of gunpowder hidden in the cellar of the Yuelai Inn in the south of the city."

He suddenly lowered his voice, "It's just..."

"Speak plainly." Shi Feiyang toyed with the coiled dragon jade pendant, its icy blue light swirling within. "My cousin Huiyu from Jishetang has been frequently visiting the Imperial Hospital lately," Shi Taishan frowned. "He says he's researching an antidote, but I always feel..."

Before he could finish speaking, Shi Huiyu pushed open the door and entered, carrying a medicine box on his back.

The gentle, scholarly-looking sixth-generation descendant pulled a glass bottle from his sleeve, containing dark purple pills: "This is the antidote for the 'Seven-Day Soul-Severing Powder'." He paused, "But more importantly, I discovered something suspicious in the Imperial Medical Academy's records about the late emperor's sudden death..."

Shi Feiyang suddenly stood up, his bright yellow dragon robe sweeping off the memorials on the table.

Ming Yugong suddenly erupted, shaking the snow in the entire room so much that it fell in a flurry: "Speak!"

"Before the late emperor passed away, he took a 'life-extending pill' that was a tribute from the Western Regions." Shi Huiyu unfolded the yellowed medical record. "I have examined it and found that this pill was mixed with a slow-acting poison, and the person who presented it..." He raised his hand and pointed to the portrait of officials on the wall, "...is none other than the current Grand Secretary Wang."

That night, Tang Qiaoqiao's "Winter Solstice Party" was held in Kunning Palace. Twelve gilded braziers burned red-hot, yet they could not dispel the eerie silence within the gathering. When the palace maids served wine, a tribute from the Western Regions, Consort Shu's hands suddenly began to tremble.

"What's wrong with you, sister?" Tang Qiaoqiao chuckled, using a jade hairpin to lift Shufei's hair. "I heard that your family is getting close to the salt merchants in Yangzhou?" Before she finished speaking, Shufei suddenly overturned the wine table, and a soft sword from her sleeve went straight for Tang Qiaoqiao's throat.

Shen Qingru flew over, her soft sword jingling with silver bells. The moment the two swords clashed, Consort Shu suddenly coughed up black blood and collapsed dead.

Tang Qiaoqiao squatted down and took a silver hairpin from her hair—the head of the hairpin was engraved with the flame totem of the Heaven and Earth Society.

Outside the palace, the members of the Money Gang sneaked into the Yue Lai Inn like ghosts. Shi Taishan's nine-section soft whip stirred up a cloud of dust: "Search!" His whip suddenly got caught in a crack in the floor, and with a forceful tug, it revealed a secret door leading to the cellar.

But when everyone rushed in, they only saw medicine packets scattered all over the ground, and half a note: "Plan exposed, retreat immediately."

"This is bad!" Shi Taishan's expression changed drastically. "They're going to break us out of prison!"

At this moment, in the Ministry of Justice prison, Zhang Yuanzheng, the leader of the Heaven and Earth Society's Beijing branch, was cutting iron chains with a blade hidden in his sleeve.

Suddenly, the prison door burst open with a "bang," and Shi Huiyu slowly entered, carrying a medicine box on his back. The silver needles in the box glowed with a ghostly blue light: "Chief Zhang, this is an enhanced version of 'Seven-Day Soul-Severing Powder,' would you like to try it?" He raised his hand and flung out a few silver needles. Zhang Yuan screamed and fell to the ground, his whole body beginning to fester.

When Shi Feiyang arrived, he saw Shi Huiyu wiping the silver needles.

The young scholar's white robes were splattered with blood, yet he smiled gently: "Grandpa, he confessed. Chief Minister Wang is the true leader of the Heaven and Earth Society in the capital."

Three days later, at the morning court, Chief Minister Wang still maintained his upright and honest demeanor. This continued until Shi Taishan threw out a blood-stained token, until Shi Huiyu presented poisoned dregs of medicine, and until Tang Qiaoqiao carried Consort Shu's body into the hall.

“Minister Wang,” Shi Feiyang slowly rose, his Mingyu Gong dyeing the dragon throne an ice-blue color, “Tell me, what crime should you, the Grand Master of the Heaven and Earth Society in the capital, be charged with?” The Grand Minister Wang suddenly sprang up, throwing out thirteen bone-piercing nails from his sleeve.

Shi Feiyang waved his hand lightly, unleashing his "Transferring Flowers and Jade" divine skill, sending all the hidden weapons flying back and embedding themselves in the body of Chief Minister Wang.

As the Grand Secretary's blood splattered on the dragon steps, Shi Feiyang gazed at the swirling snow outside the palace. He knew this cleanup was far from over. But at least for now, his sixth-generation descendants, and even the former "Thousand-Faced Fox," had become the sharpest blades in his hands.

Shen Qingru silently draped a mink coat over him, her fingers touching his cold fingertips. Shi Feiyang turned to look at her, the murderous intent in his eyes gradually turning into tenderness: "Go and prepare some wine and dishes. I want to have a good chat with Taishan, Huiyu, and Qiaoqiao."

The snow fell heavier and heavier, slowly covering the bloodstains of the Forbidden City.

The north wind whipped up ice shards that cut like knives, and on the open ground in front of Qingfeng Village near Tantuo Temple on the outskirts of Beijing, Shi Taishan's python-patterned cloak fluttered in the wind.

The leader of the Money Gang twirled his hands lightly, and the "Mother and Daughter Dragon and Phoenix Rings" shone with two golden lights between his fingers. The dragon and phoenix patterns engraved on the rings emitted a cold light, which echoed the coiled dragon jade pendant on Shi Feiyang's waist.

"Who are you? State your names!" The third chief of Qingfeng Village slammed his iron mace into the ground, and the snowflakes that splashed up condensed into ice crystals in the air.

Before he could finish speaking, Shi Taishan suddenly roared and released the two rings. The golden rings streaked across the night like two shooting stars, emitting the sounds of dragons roaring and phoenixes crying in the air. They split into a mother and child ring in mid-air—the child ring coiled around the mace like a serpent, while the mother ring aimed straight for his face.

"Clang!" The Third Chieftain hastily raised his club to block, but a crisp "crack" was heard, and the spiked club, made of refined steel, was snapped in two by the golden ring.

The mother ring, still possessing considerable momentum, flew past his ear and crashed into an ancient pine tree ten feet away, creating a hole the size of a bowl.

Before anyone could react, the golden ring suddenly swung back. Shi Taishan flicked his finger, and the ring transformed into a streak of light, piercing through the throats of three henchmen before landing precisely in his palm. "Remnants of the Heaven and Earth Society, they've actually changed their names and set up Qingfeng Village on the outskirts of the capital? Do they really think the Emperor is asleep? Humph!" Shi Taishan laughed loudly, his true energy surging, leaving eight deep footprints in the snow.

He pushed forward with both palms, and the bowstrings of three archers in the distance suddenly snapped. The arrows flew back uncontrollably, pinning them to the stockade wall. Even more astonishingly, the snow beneath his feet transformed into countless ice blades, shooting out in all directions like blooming lotus flowers.

Immediately afterwards, Shi Taishan's figure flashed, and after the two rings left his hands, they split into sixteen golden rays.

Golden rings formed the Big Dipper constellation in the air, leaving a trail of blood and flesh in their wake. A master wielding a nine-section whip parried, but the tip of his whip was caught in the golden rings, pulling him into the air and shredding him into a bloody mist.

Even more terrifying is that after the golden ring kills an enemy, it automatically returns to its original position, drawing a perfect arc in the air before merging back into one.

The chieftain of Qingfeng Village finally couldn't hold back any longer and charged forward, brandishing his ghostly claws. Shi Taishan neither dodged nor evaded, letting the dark claws strike his face.

At the critical moment, the twin rings suddenly transformed into streams of light, forming a phantom Tai Chi diagram in the air. (End of Chapter)