The Immortal Empress, Unrivaled Through Eternity

"hiss……"

These words stirred an indescribable emotion within all the ministers.

A marquis with a fief of a thousand households.

The Great Yu Dynasty stipulated that each household in such a fiefdom must cultivate at least 100 mu of land.

If calculated this way, each household can earn at least one hundred taels of silver per year.

Even if the tax rate is one-fifteenth, a thousand households would earn at least ten thousand taels a year. If the inheritance is passed down for three generations, and even if each generation only lives for sixty years, that would still be one hundred and eighty years.

Of course, the accounts cannot be calculated so simply.

Being granted the title of Marquis of a Thousand Households meant that one was a meritorious nobleman, and the money from the fief of a thousand households could be used to buy more land and have more people work for him.

The purchased land can be rented out at 50%, 60%, or even as high as 70% or 80%, depending on how much it is exploited.

With interest compounding and money multiplying year after year, it wouldn't take a hundred years to become a powerful and prestigious family.

If they could cultivate relationships with enough nobles and officials, and have reliable descendants to inherit their legacy, becoming a prominent family for three hundred years would no longer be just a dream.

"A generous reward will surely bring forth brave men!"

At that moment, the same thought arose in the minds of all the ministers.

This is the power of money and power; a single word can make the world work for you, or even give up everything.

"Tap tap tap..."

Upon hearing the Emperor's words, a eunuch immediately bowed and left.

In a short while, they arrived at the palace gate, atop the thirty-meter-high city wall.

The shrill voice, carried by true energy, resounded throughout most of the capital city in an instant.

"By imperial decree, all people, whether from the martial arts world or from various sects, shall be permitted to participate."

"Whoever succeeds in suppressing Li Yunqing will be rewarded with 100,000 taels of silver, granted the title of Marquis of a Thousand Households, and his title will be hereditary for three generations."

A ruler's word is his bond!

The immense sound pierced through people's eardrums, like a shrill wave, spreading wave after wave towards all directions of the capital.

Upon hearing this, the group of martial arts practitioners and sect members all widened their eyes, their faces filled with disbelief.

Although it was far inferior to the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households, it was only to suppress a woman.

Compared to fighting demons and evil gods to accumulate merit, this is no less than ascending to heaven in one step, something many small families can only dream of.

With such a generous reward, there will surely be brave warriors who will fight to the death.

At this moment, many people looked up and gazed at the sky.

Seeing that the Sword Saint and Sword God showed no intention of stopping them, they both beamed with joy.

This is tacit approval.

Or rather, this is the privilege of those in power, and even more so, the supreme right of the royal family.

Unless it's someone at the Profound Realm who makes the move, the Sword Saint and Sword God will probably tacitly approve.

This is an inevitable hurdle for Li Yunqing in her fight against the royal family; she cannot allow the royal family to be restrained.

It was also the beginning of her struggle against the world, against all living beings, and against the unchanging rules in people's hearts.

It cannot be avoided.

We'll have to face it sooner or later.

He wanted to stop everyone in the world from doing anything, and he wanted to prevent everyone from imposing those age-old rules on Li Yunqing.

Then one must demonstrate a power that will make the world take notice, be moved, and dare not cross the line.

Strength is the only truth!

"This is royalty!"

"This is power and profit!"

"A generous reward will surely bring forth brave men!"

"If I want to move forward, I must face it!"

Li Yunqing remained composed, standing with her sword in hand, showing no fear or timidity whatsoever.

Given her status, if she wanted to break free from worldly constraints, she would inevitably have to climb to the top step by step.

Step by step, they broke everything down, forcing that so-called imperial power to bow down.

Only in this way can one establish authority, intimidate all living beings, and deter those who have such thoughts from taking action.

"Hahaha... In that case, I'll give it a try!"

A burst of laughter suddenly erupted.

The next moment, a man carrying a large sword leaped up and landed on the ten-meter-high arena.

"A broad-backed sword... This must be someone from the Jinzhou Overlord Blade Sect!"

The Great Yu Dynasty has twenty-two states, with countless powerful figures, and Jinzhou is just one of them.

"The Overlord Blade technique uses overwhelming force to suppress others; it's incredibly fierce. This person is at least at the peak of the Qi Realm. That little girl is in danger!"

Many people felt a chill when they saw the strong man stepping onto the stage.

The girl was frail and delicate; compared to the men of the Overlord Blade Sect, she was like a wild beast and a beauty.

Especially that domineering blade, which is over four feet long, nearly one and a half meters.

If it were two feet longer, it would probably be taller than the average woman.

"She's such a beauty!"

Looking closely at Li Yunqing, the burly man couldn't help but whisper, his eyes fixed on Li Yunqing's chest.

He even stared unabashedly at her slender waist, rounded hips, and straight, long legs.

"This young woman not only possesses such unparalleled beauty, but she is also extremely fertile!"

For a moment, the burly man felt a stirring of desire within him.

"Clang!"

A heavy broadsword, nearly 1.5 meters long, was drawn from its sheath and gripped tightly in the burly man's hand. He pointed it at Li Yunqing and said, "Such a beautiful woman wouldn't be beautiful if she were injured!"

"Alright then, if you can withstand one of my blows, I'll turn around and leave!"

"If you can't accept this, then come with me. Once I receive the title of Marquis of a Thousand Households bestowed by the Emperor, I guarantee you a life of comfort and happiness, so you'll never want to leave. How about that?"

The burly man had a loud voice, broad shoulders and a thick waist, and was as tall as an iron tower.

Hearing the burly man's words, many women from the martial arts world, and even some young girls and women who were hiding in the attic and watching from afar, couldn't help but blush.

With such strong men serving you, you'd be so happy you wouldn't want to leave, you'd probably be bedridden every day.

That feeling, I'm sure those who know, know.

"I never gamble with myself!"

Li Yunqing responded calmly, but her eyes turned slightly cold, and the long sword in her hand hummed, as if she could unleash a world-shaking strike at any moment.

"What? You're scared?"

"Hahaha... So the rumors are true?"

"You only dare to challenge me like this because you're relying on the Sword Saint of Cangshan?"

The burly man laughed wildly, his voice growing louder and louder, shaking the surrounding trees and causing the rubble to rattle.

Even the local residents who were nearby felt dizzy and disoriented.

"It's not that I'm afraid!"

"If I must gamble, I'll gamble with my life; the winner lives, the loser dies!"

Li Yunqing's words were gentle, like the sound of wind chimes echoing through the corridor.

But at this moment, there was a hint of murderous intent in that gentle voice.

The burly man was taken aback by what he heard, and a slight unease crept into his heart.

What kind of person gambles with their life?

They are either extremely powerful or desperate criminals.

The young woman before him possessed the dignified and gentle demeanor of a well-bred lady, clearly not a desperado.

"You dare not?"

Li Yunqing spoke softly, her longsword suddenly raised: "If you dare not, then shut up!"

"Buzz!"

The longsword hummed, and in an instant, frost and snow fell, and a chill suddenly arose.

"To bring peace to the world!"

It's a killing move from the very first strike!

The next moment, the sword light was as cold as ice, radiating seven colors in the sunlight, and it slashed straight through the void, heading towards the burly man.

The power of the Yin spirit silently influences people's perceptions.

"Here it comes..."

The burly man roared and raised his knife to strike, but before he could finish speaking, his expression suddenly changed.

That glint of sword light was too fast.

He had just raised his broadsword, and before he could strike, the sword light was already upon him.

There was no time to dodge; they could only watch helplessly as the sword light descended.

"Bang!"

The sword flashed, swift and decisive, piercing the strong man's chest, instantly causing blood to splatter.

The burly man's broadsword flew backward, like a human-shaped cannonball, and smashed straight into the city wall.

"boom!"

The city wall trembled violently, and cracks appeared.

All anyone saw was the burly man's figure, which crashed straight down the city wall onto the ground, kicking up dust, and then fell silent.

Li Yunqing would certainly not be lenient with those who speak rudely.

Especially in today's battle, which concerns the future, she naturally cannot show any mercy.

People die for wealth, birds die for food; if you dare to step onto the stage, you must be prepared to die.

It has nothing to do with good or evil.

Everyone who witnessed this scene froze, and their breathing unconsciously became softer.

He looked at the arena with disbelief, staring at the still gentle and serene figure.

It was as if that sword strike just now wasn't delivered by the girl on the arena at all.

"One sword?"

"How is that possible?"

"A disciple of the prestigious Jinzhou Overlord Blade Sect, at the peak of the Qi Realm, was defeated with a single sword strike?"

"Could the rumors be true?"

"Did she really kill a Grandmaster of the Profound Realm?"

However, at this moment, no one responded to them; most of them were in a daze.

On the arena.

"Then let's kill until... no one dares to speak out!"

Li Yunqing stood with her sword in hand, her white trench coat spotless, her skirt fluttering in the wind, like a fairy descending to earth.

Her calm gaze swept across the arena below, her tone as gentle and graceful as ever.

"Next!"