The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 652 - 447. Dust Settled (5k)

"Second match, Junior Guardian Zhao wins!"

The spring breeze swept through the entire peach blossom forest, and only then did the twirling petals in midair begin to fall.

After a moment of silence, the Jinwu Guard Commander standing at the edge of the field, who was acting as the "referee," finally came to his senses. Stepping forward, he loudly announced the result while casting a gaze filled with astonishment and complex emotions at Zhao Douan.

Astonishment!

Since last year’s Buddhist Tao competition, Zhao Douan stomped on the little monk Tian Hai and became widely known. In the past half year, his martial arts fame has spread far and wide.

However, due to the existence of the "Taia Sword," almost everyone in the martial world believed he was overreaching, seeing him as a pawn dispatched by the Empress, advocating for Tian Hai.

Of course, this perspective wasn’t entirely wrong. Zhao Douan’s martial power was indeed not high enough at the time, and the use of the Taia Sword was a significant advantage.

——Even gaining recognition from the Divine Weapon reflects his own abilities.

In fact, it wasn’t just the Jianghu people; even the martial artists in the Capital privately held the same views.

Including many martial artists within the imperial guard, like the current Jinwu Guard Commander, had previously only admired Zhao Douan’s political maneuvers and methods in court.

But when it came to martial arts... cultivation...

How could he really be convinced in his heart? He just didn’t dare to publicly express it.

However...

Today, a mere half-year after the Buddhist Tao duel.

Zhao Douan defeated the Qingshan disciple Xiao Ran with just a peach wood branch... Once the news of today’s battle spreads, it’s inevitable that it will cause a huge sensation.

"Zhao Douan..." Chai Keqiao squinted, feeling extremely conflicted, while beside him, Qi Ye’s face was flushed as red as pig liver.

The joy of the previous victory had utterly vanished.

He watched the entire battle as a "bystander," knowing that even if he were in the match, it would be hard for him to perform better than Xiao Ran. Thinking back to his provocation half a month ago and the unfairness he felt for his friend "little monk Tian Hai" before arriving in the Capital... his face suddenly ached a bit.

"Thank you for the concession!"

Zhao Douan smiled, cupping his fists respectfully, then bent down to extend his right hand to the prostrate Xiao Ran on the ground.

Xiao Ran remained silent, rejecting his "kind assistance," and propped up her still aching body to stand up slowly.

She wasn’t severely injured; it was just a momentary interruption of Qi Mechanism. Yet, that instant was enough for Zhao Douan, who was already close, to seriously injure or even kill her.

"No need to pretend; a loss is a loss, I don’t deserve such ’concession.’" Xiao Ran said coldly.

She picked up the soft sword from the ground, her disheveled black hair draping, silently returning to the ranks.

Tsk... this little girl has quite a temper, as if I was keen on helping you, doesn’t unwanted gentlemanly conduct have its risks? Zhenbao is watching... Zhao Douan pursed his lips and walked toward the Empress.

Cupping his fists in salute: "Your Majesty, I have not disgraced my duty and emerged victorious."

Xu Zhenguan had a smile at the corner of his mouth, but in front of outsiders, he needed to maintain a dignified image, so he merely gave a slight "Hm," and said:

"Mr. Zhao, well done."

For alleviating the leader’s worries, it’s not hard... Zhao Douan almost blurted out a flattering response but managed to hold it back.

As he stepped back to the ranks, Eunuch Hai smiled at him:

"The Peach Blossom Divine Sword was well executed."

"It’s all thanks to Your Majesty’s cultivation and Eunuch’s continuous support, along with the collective efforts of colleagues in the Martial Arts Hall and assistance from the palace attendants." Zhao Douan said humbly.

Eunuch Hai was somewhat taken aback, feeling that although the rhetoric wasn’t very sincere, it somehow felt oddly comforting.

"Congratulations, Junior Guardian." Nearby, a Tributor named Tang Jinzhong seriously remarked.

Zhao Douan patted his shoulder, smiling:

"Do your best; there’s no need to pressure yourself."

Tang Jinzhong, embodying the cold and silent stereotype of an "Imperial Guard," nodded and gripped his sword sheath as he stepped out of the line.

The referee announced loudly:

"Third match, Qingshan Chai Keqiao versus Martial Arts Hall Tang Jinzhong!"

Only then did the surrounding crowd regain their senses, remembering there was still the final match, the decisive one.

Wearing linen clothes and straw sandals, Chai Keqiao stepped forward and exchanged greetings with the meticulously dressed Tang Jinzhong across from him:

"Last time I came to the Capital, I wanted to study the Imperial Family martial arts, but unfortunately didn’t succeed. I ask for your guidance today."

Tang Jinzhong responded silently, bearing the burden of the decisive match. The weight on his shoulders was imaginable, and he simply said quietly:

"Please."

...

In the crowd, Zhao Douan stood beside Eunuch Hai. The Python Robed Old Eunuch folded his sleeves and, without moving his gaze, projected his voice in Zhao Douan’s mind:

"Watch closely, Worldly Realm combat may aid your future breakthrough."

Zhao Douan held his breath and focused, saying:

"Eunuch, what are the chances of victory?"

Eunuch Hai was silent for a moment, then said:

"If Qingshan Sect had sent Duan Shuiliu, we would surely lose."

Hmm, do you mean... there’s a chance of winning? Could it be that old Tang was holding back all along? Zhao Douan was surprised and wanted to ask more, but saw that both sides were already in motion!

Chai Keqiao was the first to move. He didn’t draw the axe from his waist but surged forward with a pale green cloud-like aura swirling around him.

With the first step, his body was covered with the green aura.

With the second step, the green aura almost solidified into plate armor.

With the third step, his complexion turned to a bluish hue, like a ghostly Asura.

Tang Jinzhong let out a cold snort and also hung his sword at his back. Then with a "boom," a flame flickered at his brow.

Soon after, a two-meter-tall, semi-transparent figure clad in armor, a Floating Buddha General, suddenly materialized around him.

"Do you remember the Six Chapters Scripture where one can learn from ancient figures within scrolls? This Floating Buddha General is Tang Jinzhong’s ’master’ and opponent in the Six Chapters Scripture. When he stepped into the Worldly Realm, he refined this ancient figure into his ’Lifebound God’... You may roughly understand it as a much weaker version of a Divine being or a Martial God’s precursor..." Eunuch Hai explained in a low voice.

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