Republic of China Era: Entering the Dao through Divine Strike.

To be honest, Li Xin harbored some resentment towards the imperial court.

Even if they don't hold grudges, they will still have no goodwill towards this court or the emperor.

In this situation, one would have every reason to kill oneself.

The young emperor felt a chill run through him whenever he thought of this.

He grew up in the deep palace, ascended the throne in a daze, and sat on the dragon throne that everyone admired, yet he was restrained at every turn and had no control over his own affairs.

The imperial power was fragmented by various forces, and every move was restricted. He never experienced true freedom and stability.

The frustrations and constraints of the past can eventually be overcome by weighing the pros and cons and enduring them for the time being.

Today, for the first time in his life, he felt the terror of life and death hanging in the hands of others so clearly and so intensely.

An invisible blade was pressed firmly against his neck, chilling him to the bone, leaving him completely immobile.

The dragon throne, once a symbol of supreme power, is no longer the highest authority it once held.

The ground beneath my seat felt like it was covered with fine thorns, every inch of which was sharp and piercing to the touch.

His elevated position was too conspicuous, completely exposing him to the other party's line of sight, leaving him with no way to avoid it.

Utter emptiness and panic swept through his mind, and a thought that completely disregarded dignity instantly arose in the young emperor's mind.

He relaxed his waist, his buttocks slid lightly, completely disregarding imperial dignity, and slid down the dragon throne to the ground.

His golden, luxurious dragon robe trailed on the cold gold bricks as he curled up and quickly hid under the long table in front of the emperor.

He tightly tucked his limbs together, curling himself into a ball.

Shedding its superior stance, it hides behind cover, no longer conspicuous.

As the guards around him were knocked away one after another and landed heavily, a murderous aura wafted through the hall.

This small, dark corner under the table became the only place he could find to hide, bringing him a faint sense of security.

"emperor!"

The civil officials in the hall all cried out in unison, their voices filled with grief and indignation.

The military officials on both sides clenched their fists, rolled up their sleeves, raised their legs, and roared angrily.

He declared that the emperor's authority had been humiliated and the court had been disgraced, putting on an act of vowing to protect his lord to the death and stepping forward.

Despite the great commotion and imposing manner of the crowd, not a single person actually stepped forward.

Everyone's face turned bright red; they wanted to rebuke but dared not utter a sound, wanted to step forward but dared not take a step.

Decades of forbearance and self-interest in the imperial court have long since worn down everyone's edges.

The truly loyal and upright officials have almost all died out long ago.

The grief and indignation displayed by everyone at this moment seemed particularly deliberate in the deathly silent hall.

Everyone knew that the bloodshed and danger of this turmoil would ultimately not befall them.

Li Xin acted with great restraint, targeting only the imperial guards and Gong Yutian throughout the entire operation, minimizing the impact on the surrounding area.

Not a single civil or military official was harmed.

The vast Qianqing Hall had just witnessed a brief exchange of blows, accompanied by the sounds of wind and thunder, but ultimately it was confined to the small area in front of the Emperor.

The only exception was the prince who had previously stepped forward to rebuke Li Xin.

Despite his shattered kneecaps, he remained kneeling in the center of the hall, his body swaying precariously.

The excruciating pain permeated my entire body, almost causing me to collapse to the ground.

None of the officials or soldiers in the hall dared to step forward to help him up.

Under Li Xin's overwhelming power, no one dared to have any connection with him, for fear of getting burned.

Li Xin walked slowly, his gaze sweeping sideways before landing on the underside of the long table.

Then they saw that the young emperor looked like a frightened quail.

He chuckled softly:

"Was it a lie when I said before that I spared your life?"

The little emperor under the table quickly looked up, forcing a fawning smile on his face, and nodded repeatedly.

"It's not a lie, every word is true, more real than real gold."

Li Xin looked at him quietly, a subtle emotion flashing in his eyes.

He originally had a different understanding of this young emperor.

Unwilling to be controlled, and seeing through the deep-seated problems in the court, he insisted on promoting reforms in an attempt to reverse the decline.

Such a mindset and ambition are actually quite good among a bunch of good-for-nothings.

But seeing it with my own eyes now, I realized that I might have been wrong. Perhaps he was just trying to survive.

Being cautious and seeking advantage while avoiding harm is human nature; some people dare to face reality, while others simply don't.

Human nature is multifaceted, and the world is complex. Historical records are ultimately cold and one-sided words, which cannot depict living, breathing people.

Li Xin regained his composure and stopped investigating, finding it all rather uninteresting.

He had never had any goodwill towards this corrupt, weak, and problematic court.

What I did in front of the palace today was only to perfect my own divine will and martial arts, nothing more.

With a single step, he stood before the dragon throne.

Without waiting for anyone to stop him, he gracefully and firmly sat down on the supreme dragon throne.

As my buttocks pressed against the seat, a slightly stiff, uncomfortable sensation slowly spread through me, accompanied by the cold, woody feel of the wood.

"This dragon throne is a bit uncomfortable to sit on."

The Hall of Heavenly Purity was deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop.

All the civil and military officials bowed their heads, their heads lowered extremely.

One hundred and forty-two newly appointed military scholars knelt on the ground, their bodies stiff, none daring to look up.

Even the prince who had been wailing and in unbearable pain suddenly stopped crying.

He stared blankly up, his gaze shifting between Li Xin, who sat upright on the dragon throne, and the young emperor, who was hiding under the table with a forced smile. His eyes were filled with nothing but endless confusion and fear.

After a moment of silence, Li Xin's voice slowly rang out again:

"Besides the grace of not killing you, there is another favor you owe. Do you acknowledge it?"

"Some time ago, if I hadn't intervened several times to restrain the old party officials, stormed the Northern Court and entered the Ministry of War, stirring up the political situation..."

Your reform movement would never have progressed so smoothly. Minister Yang, Censor Tan, Lord Weng, and all those key reform officials are most likely still on the run..."

The reason I'm saying all this is to see if the young emperor knows what to do.

Li Xin had his own agenda.

The moment he sat on the dragon throne, the long-dormant [First Layer of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's Divine Intent] in his mind suddenly trembled, and its progress surged dramatically.

It climbed to 88%.

Everything I do today is to act out the true meaning of the Great Sage.

He pondered to himself, and had already made up his mind.

What happened after the havoc in Heaven?

Now that we have already intimidated the imperial power, let's go all the way and make this show complete.

Taking this opportunity, we will seize the dragon vein's energy...

Although the title obtained through this corrupt court is not entirely legitimate or perfect, it is better than nothing.

The only pity was that no one was there to chat or offer support today; it was too quiet.

If Zhuang Hongxiu were by his side, or if Senior Sister Feiyan were accompanying him, he could still offer some support.

His gaze swept over the group of martial arts scholars kneeling below the steps. Zhang Dingjia, who was once known for his fierce courage, was nowhere to be seen at this moment.

He simply knelt obediently, his body tense and not daring to raise his head.

Clearly, they had long been tamed by imperial power and etiquette, and had no independent opinions whatsoever.

Everyone in the hall was the same, their minds and spirits thoroughly cleansed by worldly rules and the etiquette between ruler and subject.

He was always obsequious and dared not overstep his bounds...

In the end, one has to speak up and lay the groundwork for every situation, so it can't be considered a perfect ending.

The little emperor under the table was racing, his forehead beaded with cold sweat, his heart pounding with tension.

He knew perfectly well that if he were not careful with his words and actions, he could be killed.

After a brief moment of thought, he quickly forced a sincere smile and responded repeatedly.

"Yes, Scholar Li's words are absolutely true!"

"Previously, the old party controlled the government, the imperial guards sealed off the capital, and they wantonly suppressed the new policies and stifled free speech..."

"If it weren't for Scholar Li's repeated interventions to counterbalance the old faction's power and resist the constraints imposed by the harem, the new government would never have achieved its current state."

"Master Li has rendered a great service to both me and the imperial court. His kindness is as heavy as a mountain, and I will never forget it for a moment."

He quickly seized the opportunity and offered his suggestion, speaking with utmost respect.

"In this martial arts examination, I humbly request an extraordinary conferment of the title of 'Grand General Protector of the Nation,' a rank above the first grade, and a specially established super-rank honorary title for Master Li."

He enjoys unparalleled honor, unmatched by anyone!

Li Xin turned his head slightly and looked down at the young emperor under the table.

I was slightly surprised. This person was so young, yet in such a desperate situation, his mind was so clear and his reactions were so quick.

This dynasty has never had a formal official position of "General Protector of the Nation".

The peak of ordinary military generals is nothing more than regular general ranks such as Jianwei and Zhenguo.

Responsibilities and powers are fixed, and ranks are clearly defined.

In the general public, however, it's different. People don't know this, and even if it's just an honorary title, they still recognize it.

Although it is an honorary title, it surpasses all the actual military titles in the world, and is enough to demonstrate supreme honor.

Li Xin shook his head slightly.

Such an honor, though seemingly profound, is still far from sufficient.

His mind raced, seeing far beyond the immediate situation.

The purpose of this group of foreigners coming to Beijing is by no means simply to compete in martial arts or exchange skills.

What they seek is complete domination in every aspect—physical, land, spirit, and fortune.

Completely conquer and control.

There are also two major secret sects within the palace, which have been entrenched in the inner palace for many years, secretly protecting the court, remaining hidden for decades.

These forces lie dormant and patient, seeking neither real power nor fame, but instead frantically plundering the fortune of the imperial dynasty to nourish themselves.

The young emperor knew how to assess the situation and go with the flow.

Yet their vision remains limited, unable to see through the deeper power struggles.

"The title of 'Superior Protector General' is indeed impressive."

Li Xin spoke calmly and in a gentle tone.

"But what if we also completely eliminate the potential for you to be manipulated and imprisoned in the future?"

The moment he finished speaking, Li Xin suddenly rose from the dragon throne.

With fingers spread wide, a surge of energy flowed from his palm, and a powerful suction force instantly locked onto the corner to the side of the dragon throne.

An old eunuch was kneeling quietly there.

This person was hunched over, dressed simply, like a silent shadow, as insignificant as dust.

He is usually quiet and reserved, never competing or vying for anything, and never showing any sharpness.

No one will be afraid of him.