Inheriting a security escort agency, the game begins with escorting the eldest princess.

Chapter 53 The Master's Scheme, The Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms

[Successfully opened the gift pack and received the rewards: Invincible Vajra Divine Skill and Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms (both at max level)]

Chu Sheng: "?"

This gift package is a bit over the top.

Two more max-level, peerless martial arts techniques.

The max-level Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms and the max-level Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill are both unparalleled. The former is pure destructive power, overwhelming with the strongest attack, while the latter is unbeatable in terms of defense.

With the maxed-out Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill, the entire body has no weaknesses and is completely indestructible.

Chu Sheng knew that with these two unparalleled martial arts techniques, he would be far ahead of everyone else on the path to invincibility.

We have so many cards to play now.

Internal martial arts include the Nine Yang Divine Skill and the Northern Darkness Divine Skill.

The palm techniques include the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms.

The sword techniques include the Nine Swords of Dugu, the Return of Ten Thousand Swords to the Source, and the Six Meridians Divine Sword.

There is a sword technique called the Chaotic Heaven Sword Technique.

His physical body possesses the ultimate level of Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill.

He was already a fully-leveled warrior with a perfect hexagonal physique. Once he had refined all the true energy he had absorbed, he would easily enter the Free Realm. Looking across the Eastern Continent, who else could rival him?

Who can be his match?

Li Anlan followed beside Chu Sheng, her delicate brows furrowed slightly, looking quite puzzled. "Master Chu, why didn't you agree to the Master's alliance to jointly attack the Nine Thousand Years Old?"

"If you were to fight Zhao Jingzhong alone, your strength would be too weak."

Chu Sheng remained silent, but the smile on his face did not fade.

"What are you laughing at?" Li Anlan pressed.

"Your Highness, don't you find it strange?" Chu Sheng voiced his doubts. "The Master has extremely high requirements for accepting disciples. Countless people in the Great Xia want to become his disciples."

Why did he specifically choose Liu Qingci as his apprentice?

Li Anlan said, "It is indeed a bit strange."

Chu Sheng continued, "Of course, this is not the main reason why I refused Master. I killed Zhao Jingzhong simply to avenge my master, but his purpose was to eliminate dissidents."

"I don't want to get involved in their power struggles."

Li Anlan asked, "Besides delivering goods, are you also planning to take action against Zhao Jingzhong this time you come to the capital?"

"That was my original plan, but now I've changed my mind."

"What do you mean?!"

Chu Sheng looked at Li Anlan, "Master, aren't you planning to take action against Zhao Jingzhong? I'll give him the opportunity."

The waters in the capital are far too deep; Chu Sheng decides to watch the show.

As the two left the academy, Li Anlan stopped Chu Sheng, "Are you going back to Ten Thousand Swords Mountain?"

"There are still many things waiting for me to go back to the escort agency. If I don't go back to Wanjian Mountain, there's nothing else I need to do in the capital."

"Come with me back to the Princess's residence. Tomorrow we'll set off together back to Ten Thousand Swords Mountain, how about it?"

"Your Highness, you have safely returned to the capital, so you no longer need to stay by my side." Chu Sheng left these words behind and got up to depart.

Li Anlan: "?"

Just as she was about to give chase, several figures appeared, bowed, and said, "Princess, His Majesty requests your presence in the palace."

Several guards stood in front of her. Helpless, Li Anlan could only watch as Chu Sheng's figure gradually walked away and finally disappeared at the end of the long street.

She flicked her sleeve and walked toward the carriage not far away, her face showing displeasure.

This moment.

Inside the academy.

Li Xiandao stood beneath the ancient pavilion, his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the lake before him with a furrowed brow and a look of deep concern.

"Master, why are you so worried? It's a good thing for us that Chu Sheng is going to deal with Zhao Jingzhong all by himself."

Li Xiandao glanced at Li Haoran and said, "You're oversimplifying things."

"Chu Sheng refused to become my disciple because he didn't trust me. This boy is meticulous and has a maturity beyond his years. I was blind and underestimated him."

Li Haoran scratched his head, not understanding the meaning behind his master's words. "Master, Chu Sheng is ultimately a martial artist. He doesn't want to get involved in the struggles of the imperial court, which means we have one less enemy."

"If Chu Sheng joins the imperial court, he will not be able to be on our side in the future. This person is a far more troublesome threat than Zhao Jingzhong."

"You've hit the nail on the head, but the Princess and he have a close relationship that seems to go beyond friendship. That's not a good sign."

"I thought that he would have a hard time completing the mission of escorting Taiping Celun to the Human Academy, which was fraught with danger. I never expected that he would come back alive and that his cultivation had reached the level of Grandmaster. No one in the martial arts prodigy born in Dongzhou in the past hundred years can compare with him."

"Go and tell your senior brother to come see me."

Li Haoran bowed and left to receive the order.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Li Haoran returned, accompanied by Chen Guan, the senior disciple of the academy. "Disciple greets Master."

Li Xiandao waved his hand, "Haoran, you may leave now!"

Chen Guan watched his junior brother leave, then asked in confusion, "What did Master want to see me about?"

"Guan'er, you've been so devoted to the way of the sword these past years that you've neglected your personal life. I'm going to arrange a marriage for you."

Chen Guan's expression changed slightly. Everyone in the academy knew that he was a swordsman and had no interest in matters of men and women. "Master, I..."

9

"Guan'er, this is a decision I have made after careful consideration, and you are not allowed to refuse."

"The person you are about to marry is Princess Li Anlan."

Li Xiandao spoke in a deep voice, his tone leaving no room for doubt, "Guan'er, if you don't think about yourself, think about your Chen family. Over the years, under Zhao Jingzhong's suppression, the Chen family's situation has become increasingly difficult."

"If you can marry the Princess, the Chen family's status in the Great Xia will rise significantly, and Zhao Jingzhong will not dare to easily take action against the Chen family."

Knowing he couldn't change his master's decision, Chen Guan looked helpless and said, "This disciple will follow Master's arrangements."

"Alright, you continue your cultivation at the academy. I will personally go to the palace to discuss the marriage with His Majesty." Li Xiandao said thoughtfully, "Guan'er, you must know that not just anyone can marry the Princess."

"Only if you are powerful enough will you be qualified to be the prince consort."

"You can begin practicing the second volume of the Heavenly Origin Technique. Find some time to retrieve it from the library!"

The gloom on Chen Guan's face dissipated, and he quickly said, "Thank you for your guidance, Master."

He knew very well that it was his compromise that allowed him to obtain the second volume of the Heavenly Origin Technique. Watching Li Xiandao's figure disappear on the lake, he let out a soft sigh.

Sometimes, many things are like that; we have no choice in the matter.

Inside the palace.

When Emperor Xia learned that Li Anlan had entered the palace, he was about to go and meet her when a eunuch entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation and whispered something in his ear.

"Have the eldest princess wait for me in the imperial study."

Emperor Xia chose to have Li Anlan wait, and then turned to meet with Master Li Xiandao. The two talked in the Hall of Mental Cultivation for half an hour before Li Xiandao left.

Judging from his appearance when he left the palace, he had clearly achieved his goal.

Inside the Imperial Study.

Li Anlan finally saw Emperor Xia arrive. The latter slightly raised his hand to signal Li Anlan, who was about to get up, to sit down. "Sister, how did your trip to the Human Academy go with Chief Escort Chu?"

"not bad!"

Emperor Xia said, "Elder sister, the tutor has entered the palace and wishes to arrange a marriage for you."

Li Anlan's expression suddenly changed drastically. "Your Majesty, I will make my own decisions about my marriage. I told you about this a long time ago."

"Sister, don't refuse yet. Listen to the tutor's choice of a consort for you."

"The senior disciple of the academy, Chen Guan."

"The eldest son of the Chen family is a good match for my sister in terms of both status and background. I agree on behalf of my sister."

Li Anlan's face was gloomy. "Your Majesty, you said you wouldn't interfere in my marriage. Why did you agree? I have my own choices."

"You want to choose Chu Sheng, but he's not interested in you."

"And you are the eldest princess of the Great Xia Dynasty, how could you marry a martial arts practitioner?"

Emperor Xia spoke in a deep voice, paused, and continued, "It's not that I didn't give you a chance. You secretly left the capital, went to the Eastern Border with the army, and then went to the Human Academy."

"You've spent so much time with Chu Sheng these past few days, yet he still can't accept you. Why are you so fixated on him, sister?"

"This is clearly a case of the fallen flower longing to follow the flowing water, but the flowing water having no affection for the fallen flower."

"What's wrong with Chen Guan? He's a young master with the Chen clan behind him. If you marry him, we'll get the Chen clan's support, and overthrowing Zhao Jingzhong will be just around the corner."

"Sister, I beg you."

"Master, you have devoted yourself to the dynasty all these years. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join forces with the Chen clan to eliminate Zhao Jingzhong."

Li Anlan knew very well that Emperor Xia was using her as a sacrificial tool to gain the support of the Chen clan and the Master. If she did not agree to this marriage, she might not even be able to leave the palace.

At the same time, she also sensed a conspiracy.

I just saw the teacher at the academy. He failed to win over Chu Sheng, so he went to the palace to ask His Majesty for a marriage alliance.

The Master didn't want her to have anything to do with Chu Sheng, fearing that Chu Sheng would enter the temple because of her.

"Your Majesty, I agree to the marriage alliance."

"Your Majesty is right. Compared to Chu Sheng, the Chen Clan may be a better choice."

Li Anlan said calmly, looking at Emperor Xia, "Your Majesty has made arrangements for the marriage alliance. I will return to my residence to await news."

Emperor Xia nodded, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Inside the imperial study, Emperor Xia watched Li Anlan's departing figure. "Long Ying, go and stay with my elder sister. She cannot leave the capital during this time. Do you understand?"

"This old servant understands!"

After leaving the palace, Li Anlan returned to the princess's residence by carriage. On the way, she noticed that someone was following her from the shadows and guessed that it was someone sent by His Majesty.

On the way back to the princess's residence, Li Anlan asked the carriage to stop, saying she wanted to buy some osmanthus cakes. After entering Changfeng Garden, she left through the back gate with ease.

Changfeng Garden has always been the residence of the Princess's secret guards, so they will cooperate fully after Li Anlan appears.

Li Anlan disguised himself simply, left through the back door, and galloped towards the city gate on horseback.

By the time Long Ying realized what was happening, it was too late. He chased after Li Anlan out of the city, intending to intercept her. In the wilderness, a figure stood atop an ancient tree, looking down, his voice deep and resonant: "Princess, please don't make things difficult for this old man. Let's return to the capital!"

Li Anlan looked at Long Ying and said, "Go back and tell His Majesty that it is impossible for me to form a marriage alliance with the Chen family."

She spurred her horse and galloped towards Wanjian Mountain. A dragon shadow chased after her. She immediately took out a wooden box from her bosom, which was a simplified version of the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle that Ling Shuo had given her that day.

The mechanism was activated, and silver needles, like locusts, shot densely towards the dragon shadow.

Long Ying, having already reached the Grandmaster level, was naturally unafraid of the attack of the Rain of Pear Blossom Needles, easily blocking it with his true energy barrier.

Despite this, it still took some time, and they watched as Li Anlan rode away on horseback.

The dragon shadow soared through the air, weaving through the ancient trees with incredible speed and agile movements. It quickly blocked Li Anlan's horse, saying, "Princess, don't force me to take action against you."

Without the slightest hesitation, Li Anlan soared into the air, drew her longsword, and charged towards Long Ying. Her opponent was a Grandmaster, while she was a peak ninth-rank martial artist; she was not without the power to fight back.

They want her to return to the capital and marry Chen Guan, but only if she dies.

At this moment, Li Anlan became even more certain that the person she was going to choose was Chu Sheng.

She was willing to give up her status as the eldest princess in order to be with Chu Sheng.

For her, the status of princess was never a symbol of wealth, honor, or supreme power; it brought her endless danger and the constant threat of being...

A fate of sacrifice.

Li Anlan boasted that she had done a lot for Emperor Xia over the years. She had done what she should and shouldn't have done. She, as the older sister, owed Emperor Xia nothing. She thought it was a deep sibling bond, but in the end, she was just a pawn that Emperor Xia could sacrifice at any time.

People are not killed for their own sake.

She used to live for the Great Xia Dynasty, but from now on she will live for herself.

On the wilderness.

Long Ying looked at Li Anlan in astonishment, never expecting her to attack him first. As the sword light flashed through the air, his expression suddenly changed. When did the princess become so strong?

Peak Ninth-Rank Martial Artist?

That's not right.

A few months ago, the eldest princess was escorted back to the capital by Chu Sheng. She was only a seventh-rank martial artist at that time. The speed at which her cultivation level has improved is a bit too terrifying.

Boom!

Boom!

The sounds of their clashes filled the air as the two figures moved swiftly across the wilderness, sending sand and stones flying and dust billowing in their wake.

Li Anlan is no longer the same as before. She can even fight against a Grandmaster. After several rounds, Long Ying was unable to do anything to her for a while. Her strength was above Li Anlan's. The reason why she could not defeat her for a long time was mainly because she was afraid of hurting Li Anlan if she made a move. She would not be able to explain to Emperor Xia when she returned.

In contrast, Li Anlan only wanted to leave, unleashing his deadly moves without holding back a single thing.

However, there was a difference in their cultivation levels, and in less than a hundred rounds, Li Anlan gradually fell into a disadvantageous position.

With a bang, Long Ying struck the longsword that Li Anlan was protecting in front of his chest with his palm. The figure was sent flying, staggering back several meters, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, clearly suffering a considerable injury.

"Princess, please come back with this old servant!"

As Long Ying spoke, he walked towards Li Anlan, who held a sword to his neck. "If you dare to take another step closer, I will kill myself right here."

Dragon Shadow: "?"

Just as he was in a dilemma, the sound of hooves came from the wilderness behind him. Long Ying lowered his eyes and looked over. A cloud of dust rose as a figure gradually approached. When he saw clearly who was coming on horseback, his expression changed drastically.

"King of the Mountain!"

Seeing the Prince of Kao Shan galloping towards them, Li Anlan shouted, "Uncle, save me!"

Li Wuji looked in the direction of the voice, his face darkening. "How dare you lay a hand on the Princess outside Chang'an? Are you courting death?"

Long Ying quickly bowed, "Your Highness, this old servant is Long Ying, a secret guard by His Majesty's side." He raised his hand and handed a token to Li Wuji.

The Prince of Kao Shan glanced at the token, recognizing Long Ying's identity, and looked puzzled. "Little An Lan, what's going on? Weren't you with the young master?"

"Why would His Majesty's secret guards attack you?"