The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 630 - 438. Qingshan Comes (6k)_3

Zhuang Xiaocheng would rather sacrifice himself than kill Zhao Douan... This already indicates that the rebels are being pushed to the brink.

And the Eight Princes... how far are they from being pushed to the brink?

The Empress vaguely sensed the looming clouds behind the clear skies and urgently sought to elevate her realm, stepping into the true Heavenly Human Realm.

Accompanying Zhao Douan with Dragon Essence and engaging in dual cultivation was one method, but first, Zhao Douan was yet uncertain when he could step into the Worldly Realm.

Moreover, she was unsure if this method could help her ascend another level, as no historical records showed anyone entering the Heavenly Human Realm through dual cultivation...

In comparison, what she cared more about was this year’s "Sealing".

Xu Zhenguan suddenly said, "By the summer at the latest, I will head south to Luoshan for the Sealing."

Zhao Douan was startled, keenly sensing her urgency: "That quickly? Is it because you’re worried about the Eight Princes rebelling?"

"That’s just one aspect," Xu Zhenguan sighed, "According to the agreement between the Grand Ancestor Emperor and the Qingshan lineage, by early next year at the latest, it will be another century mark for the Great Yu Royal Family and Qingshan to compete. This time, Wu Xiankui will certainly not hold back, and I can only accept the challenge."

Indeed, the competition occurs the year after the Buddhist Tao contest... because Xu was envious of the contest and copied it...

Zhao Douan frowned and said, "Can’t we not compete?"

Xu Zhenguan shook her head bitterly, "Not competing means conceding defeat, and conceding has its costs."

Zhao Douan questioned, "The Qingshan lineage seems very obsessed with winning or losing, do they want the reputation of the Martial Arts Leader? The Royal Family isn’t that concerned with it, right?"

Xu Zhenguan shook her head, speaking softly, "What Wu Xiankui desires isn’t the so-called fame, he’s a martial arts obsessive, envisioning only breaking the void and ascending to the ’Human Immortal’ realm. What he has always wanted is the martial god inheritance of the royal family lineage."

Zhao Douan was stunned, this was the first time he had heard such a secret.

So, the stakes of their gamble were this high? It involved the royal family’s fundamental secrets, no wonder she valued it so greatly... Losing the ancestral inheritance could result in dire consequences, not to mention the disgrace before the ancestors, which in itself is fatal.

Zhao Douan suddenly felt urgency too; if he couldn’t advance before the Empress’s Sealing, he feared that once Zhenbao advances to "Heavenly Human," he would find it even harder to break through the defenses...

But how easy is it to step into the "Worldly" realm? Many spend a lifetime stuck before this threshold.

As for delaying Zhenbao’s Sealing to wait for him, the circumstances simply don’t allow it.

"I’ll strive to reach the High Grade as soon as possible," Zhao Douan said earnestly, taking a deep breath.

Xu Zhenguan watching his solemn demeanor couldn’t help but chuckle:

"Alright, just let it go naturally. By the way, according to the rules, within a year before the competition, both parties must exchange declarations of war. This century, it’s Qingshan’s turn to send someone, and then the disciples of Qingshan will spar with... well, now it’s only the Royal Family’s Tributor."

To spar? Zhao Douan squinted his eyes, "Will Duan Shuiliu come?"

Xu Zhenguan said calmly, "If he comes, I will personally apprehend and kill him for assassinating court officials. Even Wu Xiankui will have no words to say."

... It seems that guy definitely won’t be coming... Zhao Douan thought for a moment and said, "But extracting some benefits from Qingshan disciples should be alright, right?"

Xu Zhenguan glanced at him, "Don’t overdo it."

This was tacit approval.

Zhao Douan’s mouth curved into a grin, with a fierce light in his eyes, Duan Shuiliu’s break with Qingshan couldn’t be pursued, but since there’s a tradition of sparring, then don’t blame him for being ruthless.

Especially... Last time Zhao Douan acted, it was at Hu Ting Yansuo Lake, and at that time, he only used a flying knife.

In other words.

Up to now, people across the world, except for a few like Tang Zhao who have experienced his Martial Skills, others still hold the impression of Zhao Douan’s cultivation at the stage of using cheats with the Taia Sword.

No one would have thought, in just half a year, he has grown rapidly under Pei Niannu’s hellish training that repeatedly opened his head.

...

...

At the East Sea Coast, Qing City stood on the ground.

Behind this town-expanded city lies Daqing Mountain, mostly shrouded in clouds and mist throughout the year.

At the peak of the mountain, facing the East Sea on that cliff.

Wearing a simple linen robe, treading in straw sandals, with an axe hanging at his waist, Chai Keqiao smiled amiably as he walked on the weather-beaten steps.

Arriving at the top of the cliff.

The sound of the sea breeze blowing from the East Sea and the "crash" of the waves hitting the cliffs reached the ears.

Chai Keqiao respectfully looked at the broad figure sitting cross-legged, back facing him, facing the sea:

"Master, this disciple has entered the Worldly Realm."

The Wu Xiankui sitting alone on the cliff had a tall and imposing build. His coarse linen clothes fluttered gently, and his tangled black and white hair was casually tied at the back with a silk ribbon.

On his face, about the age of mid-fifties, an imprint roughly the size and color of a fiery red jujube swirled faintly with purple aura between his eyebrows.

This present-day world’s only true grandmaster among the four "Heavenly Human" martial arts grandmasters slightly opened his eyes and nodded calmly: "Not bad."

Chai Keqiao grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, waiting for more praise.

But Wu Xiankui only sparingly commented "Not bad," and said nothing more, just tossing something from his sleeve: "Since you’ve entered the Worldly Realm, you shall lead the mission to the Capital to deliver the challenge."

Chai Keqiao caught the hastily written challenge letter that flew over, scratching his head: "You want me to go? I heard that delivering the challenge also involves a sparring session with court experts."

Wu Xiankui said indifferently: "Are you afraid?"

"No," Chai Keqiao scratched his head, his expression odd: "I heard that Senior Brother failed to assassinate Zhao Douan outside... Although Senior Brother left the mountain a long time ago, we are ultimately of the same lineage... Zhao Douan is not a good person, last time I went to the Capital, just for a challenge, he had troops mobilized to surround and kill us..."

Wu Xiankui seemed taken aback for a moment, then responded irritably: "In a conflict between two countries, emissaries are not killed. The Yu Country Empress has a magnanimity that rivals a man’s, just go assured, no one’s going to die."

Chai Keqiao made a bitter face, saying: "Am I going alone?"

"Find your own people," Wu Xiankui seemed not to want to talk to this disciple, waving his sleeve: "Scram."

Chai Keqiao felt a strong gust brush his face, and like a fallen leaf, he was thrown high in the air by the sea breeze, landing in the dense forest.

When he got up, he looked towards the direction of the cliff from afar, muttering complaints: "It’s not like I said I wouldn’t go... Sigh, once someone on the mountain enters the Worldly Realm, they must descend, just like the ancestor’s words, like fledglings being pushed off a cliff by big birds, life and death is up to fate, with no ties... Only a very few remain to guard the mountain, uninvolved with worldly matters, how could I ask them? Hmm... Guess I’ll find someone I can defeat..."

Chai Keqiao tucked the challenge into his bosom, adjusted the ax at his waist, and started walking down the mountain wearing straw sandals.

On Qingshan, the long mountain path had platforms artificially carved out every few hundred steps.

On the platforms, disciples cultivated, ignoring others.

Chai Keqiao reached the first tier of steps shrouded in mist, hesitating under the unfriendly gazes of several mountain-guarding Senior Brothers within the fog, before finally moving sheepishly down.

At the second tier of steps, he walked straight to a thatched hut, shaking the bell outside the hut.

A moment later, the hut door opened, and out walked a woman in her twenties, dressed in martial artist attire, her hair cut short above her ears, with a pleasing complexion and cold gaze. A thin sword hung by her waist.

Xiao Ran glared coldly at the grinning young master of the Chai family, once famous in the Martial World, and said, "What do you want?"

Chai Keqiao smiled and said, "I’m going to the Capital to deliver a challenge letter, would you like to come?"

"Not interested," Xiao Ran’s face darkened, ready to slam the door and leave.

But heard Chai Keqiao say wistfully, "Although the Xiao family is no more, I recall there’s still a Noble Princess Consort Xiao in the palace? Don’t you want to see her, Senior Sister? She’s your aunt, right? Those delivering challenges are allowed to stay in the palace for a while."

Born Xiao, later changed to "Xiao," the last surviving member of the Xiao family after the Xuanmen Coup, stopped her steps.

Chai Keqiao continued to add: "Don’t you want to see how your aunt is doing, Senior Sister?"

Xiao Ran turned back.

The two continued walking down to the third platform.

Chai Keqiao walked directly to a blindfolded young man practicing sword techniques, slicing the air repeatedly.

"Woo!"

The young man swung his sword, forming a vortex in the air, his ear moved slightly before he stopped: "What can I do for you, Senior Brother?"

Chai Keqiao chuckled and said, "You’ve always been unsatisfied with Zhao Douan, taking issue for Tian Hai, right? This is your chance..."

"I’ll go," the blindfolded swordsman said coolly, as he swung his sword again, severing a distant tree which then slowly fell: "A hypocrite who harms the loyal and good, deserves to be killed."

Chai Keqiao’s smile froze, and after a moment’s silence, he said: "Did you know, the tree you cut down was one I planted?"

The blindfolded young man: "..."

Xiao Ran turned and headed down the mountain, her gaze cold. She wanted to see her aunt and vent any grievances on her behalf.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺