I don't want to be trained by my senior sister!

As night fell, the palace was brightly lit.

Inside the main hall, everything was resplendent in gold and jade.

A red carpet was laid out in the center, and a group of dancers were dancing gracefully to the music, their flowing sleeves fluttering.

Several sandalwood tables were set up on both sides, and the princes and their retainers and confidants took their seats.

The table was laden with fine wines and delicacies, and the atmosphere seemed lively, but in reality, everyone harbored their own secrets, and their glances held hidden motives.

The emperor sat high on the dragon throne, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, but it could not hide his sallow and haggard face.

His eyes were sunken and his breath was weak; he truly looked like he was on the verge of death.

His cloudy gaze swept over the princes below, each with a different expression, his eyes filled with numbness.

This dynasty...

They relied on the support of cultivators to seize power, and their corruption was already rotten to the core.

Even those high and mighty sects insisted on holding their "Dao Discussion Conference" in Tianlan Kingdom, requiring the royal family to contribute money, effort, and resources.

Do they even openly demand kickbacks?

Fine, let them argue it out until they reach a conclusion.

This crumbling empire, let whoever wants it, it doesn't matter.

"Keep the music playing, keep the dancing going," the emperor waved his hand.

.......

Fang Xuan did not sit in the guest seat next to Chen Fan, but casually leaned against a golden pillar with a coiled dragon at the edge of the hall, holding his black sword wrapped in white cloth in his arms.

His eyes were half-closed, seemingly uninterested in the seemingly peaceful yet turbulent undercurrents of the performance before him.

His unconventional attitude naturally caught the attention of some people.

The fourth prince, Chen Luo, had a shrewd and cunning appearance and had long disliked his third brother, Chen Fan.

Seeing that Chen Fan seemed to have gained a lot of confidence lately, and even brought along this strange sword-wielding retainer, she felt even more indignant.

He glanced sideways at Fang Xuan, deliberately raised his voice, and said to Chen Fan in a sarcastic tone, "Third brother, this retainer you brought has quite the airs, serving the emperor in the palace while carrying a sword. I'm afraid... it's not in accordance with etiquette, is it?"

He deliberately emphasized the word "retainer".

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuan, who was leaning against the pillar, glanced over casually.

Chen Fan retorted defiantly, "So what if it's inappropriate?"

"Hmph!" A middle-aged cultivator wearing a Taoist robe and sporting a goatee snorted coldly beside Chen Luo, releasing the spiritual pressure of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Although it wasn't directly targeted at everyone, the intentional or unintentional intimidation still made the ordinary dancers and musicians in the room tremble with fear.

The dance steps suddenly became chaotic, and the music went out of tune.

The emperor frowned, but said nothing.

A hint of smugness gradually appeared on the Foundation Establishment cultivator's face.

At this moment, Fang Xuan's fingers holding the sword also twitched.

A powerful pressure descended upon the Foundation Establishment cultivator.

The smugness on the cultivator's face froze instantly, turning into horror.

He felt an indescribable, terrifying spiritual pressure locking onto him.

It felt like being targeted by some ancient ferocious beast, and the blood in my body was about to freeze.

His legs trembled uncontrollably, and cold sweat poured down his forehead.

He couldn't utter a single word after that, his face was ashen, and he dared not make the slightest move.

The fourth prince was also startled, looking at his suddenly silent retainer with suspicion, and then at Fang Xuan, who was still leaning against the pillar but doing nothing.

Chen Fan felt much more at ease and even had the leisure to pick up his wine glass and take a sip.

With Brother Xuan around, things are just that stable!

The emperor took in all of this. His cloudy eyes flickered, lingering on Fang Xuan for a moment before slowly moving away.

The atmosphere inside the hall grew even more oppressive. Although the singing and dancing resumed, they had lost their original flavor...

Ning Qian wasn't inside the palace; she was outside, dealing with the palace servants who might be in the way, as planned.

This ensured that the open coup in the imperial palace could be successfully carried out.

All he needs to do is stay here, keep order, and ensure that none of the key figures in the hall escape.

......

Time passed little by little.

Finally, a eunuch scrambled into the hall, his face deathly pale, his voice shrill and trembling:

"Your Majesty... I report to you! No, something terrible has happened! The palace is surrounded by a large army! It's... it's an army fighting under the banner of 'purging the court of corrupt officials'!"

Upon hearing this, apart from Chen Fan, who was prepared, and Fang Xuan, who was uninvolved, the other princes and their cronies were all greatly shocked!

"What?!"

"How dare you! Who would dare to rebel?!"

"Father! Your Majesty, I request permission to immediately mobilize the Imperial Guards to quell the rebellion!"

Several princes stood up in a panic, some angrily rebuking, some pleading for orders, but their eyes involuntarily drifted towards the outside of the hall.

Then, with a mixture of surprise and doubt, he looked at the emperor, who was still sitting upright, and... Chen Fan, whose expression was unusually calm.

Chen Luo suddenly pointed at Chen Fan and shouted angrily, "Third Brother! Did you do this?! How dare you!"

Chen Fan put down his wine cup, slowly wiped the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief, and then looked up at his fourth brother.

"Now you know to call me Third Brother? What are you afraid of? I'm just a good-for-nothing, but you seem even worse than a good-for-nothing."

His tone was calm, yet every word he spoke was piercing.

Meeting a benefactor and clinging to their coattails was indeed the best decision he ever made.

Years of painstaking planning and trepidation are no match for a chance encounter and a decisive act of seeking refuge.

Hahahahahahaha.

Hahaha.

Ugh~

Brother Xuan, I love you so much...

.......

Chen Luo choked, his face turning red with shock and anger: "You...you, with the Emperor here, how dare you besiege the palace! This is utterly lawless! Your crime deserves death!"

The Foundation Establishment cultivator next to him, who had just been frightened by Fang Xuan, saw the situation take a sharp turn for the worse and began to have second thoughts. He quietly took half a step back, trying to slip away in the chaos.

But he had barely moved his foot—

"puff!"

The Foundation Establishment cultivator's body stiffened abruptly as the immense spiritual energy surged and instantly killed him.

Fang Xuan remained leaning against the pillar, still holding his sword, without changing his posture. He simply said, "We can't get out of here."

It was a casual remark, yet it sent chills down everyone's spine!

Casually... annihilating a Foundation Establishment cultivator?! What kind of cultivation level is that?!

Chen Luo was terrified, his finger trembling as he pointed at Chen Fan: "You...you..."

Fang Xuan grew impatient and glanced at the princes who were making a ruckus, trying to call for the guards or rush out.

His brows furrowed slightly.

Too noisy.

......

After a few more sounds, the princes who had been shouting the loudest were all struck as if by an invisible giant hammer.

He spat out blood and crashed heavily against the palace wall.

It fell silent after landing, and its fate remains unknown.

The hall fell silent instantly.

You could hear a pin drop.

All those still alive, including the officials and royal relatives who had been observing, stared in horror at the young man leaning against the pillar.

It was as if I were watching a demon god descend to earth.

The emperor's aged face finally showed shock. He struggled to support himself on the armrests of the dragon throne and slowly stood up.

He didn't look at his dead and wounded sons, but instead turned his gaze to Chen Fan, and then with difficulty to Fang Xuan.

Finally, this dying emperor actually bowed tremblingly in Fang Xuan's direction.

"Immortal Master..." His voice was hoarse and dry.

"This empire... anyone can sit on it, I only beg the immortal master to have some mercy on the innocent people of Tianlan, and not to... let the innocent suffer as a result."

His words were tantamount to acknowledging Chen Fan's actions and completely shattered the last illusions and arrogance of some people in the hall.

Even the emperor has bowed his head, what else can they struggle for?

The prime minister, an old minister with white hair and beard, looked ashen-faced.

The woman accompanying him was the legitimate daughter who had been engaged to Chen Fan but later forcefully broke off the engagement.

The once arrogant daughter of the prime minister was now deathly pale.

She looked at Chen Fan, whose aura was now completely different, and who even held the power of life and death.

She gritted her teeth and said in a humiliating tone, "Kill me or torture me, it's up to you!"

Chen Fan merely glanced at her indifferently, his eyes calm and unwavering, devoid of hatred or pleasure, as if he were looking at an insignificant stranger.

He doesn't have the time for that now; he'd rather warm up some wine for Brother Xuan.

Brother Xuan has been standing here holding his sword for so long, he might be thirsty.

.......