Chapter 620: Killing Is Just a Matter of Breath

Li Yi knew that intimidating others relied not on words, but on pure force—without force that inspired fear, one could never establish authority. Why did the Emperor command such reverence? Because he held the power of life and death over all civil and military officials, and supreme power demanded supreme strength.

Without strength, even the Emperor would be sidelined and ignored.

Thus Li Yi acted with decisive brutality; his fist intent terrified the officials, disregarding their protective power of incense and belief, forcing them to feel the terror of pure martial men.

Beneath his fist intent.

Earlier, the officials had displayed grotesque behavior—some collapsed to the ground, others fainted on the spot, or bled from nose and eyes from the shock of his Dragon-Tiger power, their condition horrific. Even after Li Yi withdrew his fist intent, whenever they saw him again, fear would resurface, and their bodies would tremble unconsciously.

To break this state, they must cultivate their own fist intent and shatter his with theirs—otherwise, they would remain like this for life.

"My lords, civil and military officials, why are you all silent? Did my laughter startle you? Or have you all such weak wills that you cannot even stand before me? If so, then the empire's fate resting on these trembling cowards is truly doomed."

Li Yi's tone was calm now; he glanced at them, his fist intent still unrestrained, and none dared meet his gaze.

"This Daoist is deeply unnatural."

One burly general, face dark, gritted his teeth, struggling against the crushing fist intent. Even though he barely held out, he felt as if his spirit had been struck by a heavy fist—his head throbbed, sweat poured down.

"Am I hallucinating? Why do I vaguely see this Daoist transformed into a god, terrifying all officials?"

Another official farther away trembled in terror—whenever he looked at Li Yi, he felt a divine presence bearing down on him, paralyzing him with dread.

Crown Prince Zhao Jing also broke into cold sweat. He closed his eyes, silent, refusing to look at Li Yi, afraid his spirit would shatter and he'd collapse in disgrace.

"This is spiritual will influencing reality. Clearly Xiao Yi's soul and will are strong. Over these years, he's endured countless trials—his strength, realm, and soul all lack flaws. The only pity is that I left Earth too early; he read few books and has limited education."

At this moment, Emperor Li Jiye, the Divine Martial Emperor, felt this fist intent and thought inwardly.

"Audacious!"

At that instant, Grand Tutor Zuo Hanyuan roared—a deep, powerful voice brimming with commanding presence. At over a hundred years old, his spiritual cultivation was formidable, and bolstered by the incense-belief power of his Grand Tutor position, he was unafraid of the fist intent and even had the strength to step forward and rebuke.

"Daoist Taiyi, this is the Bright Hall, not your stage for tricks. Cease your sorcery at once! Do you intend to crush the officials to death? If any colleague here suffers harm, I shall beg His Majesty to execute you immediately."

Grand Tutor Zuo Hanyuan realized he could not let Taiyi continue this madness.

Otherwise, this man would smoothly seize the position of State Daoist, and no one would dare oppose him.

"I am not using sorcery," Li Yi said calmly. "Within the imperial palace, atop this hall, under the Dragon-Tiger energy's suppression, who dares perform sorcery? I merely speak plainly. These officials are shaken by my words because their hearts are guilty. If every one of you were as upright as Grand Tutor Zuo, the realm would be clear and peaceful—why would we need a State Daoist like me to emerge from seclusion?"

"Clearly, there are countless officials who hold office without doing their duty. If so, perhaps I should act on Heaven's behalf to punish the wicked and restore proper state conduct."

Zuo Hanyuan, hearing this, grew slightly angry, but quickly calmed. "Daoist Taiyi, your abilities are astonishing—I am impressed. Yet most here are ordinary people, not cultivators, their bodies frail. It is natural they cannot withstand your divine might. But I wonder—can such power intimidate ancient spirits or malevolent ghosts and gods?"

"No problem," Li Yi said. "Grand Tutor has something to say?"

"Recently, a prisoner was captured in the capital's imperial prison—a thousand-year-old spirit in human form, immensely strong, terrifying in fury. To subdue it, the court deployed two Guardian Gods, eighteen Imperial Deities, and numerous Mountain and Earth Spirits. Only after harnessing the capital's Son of Heaven's aura was it finally subdued. If Daoist Taiyi truly possesses such ability, go slay one such thousand-year-old spirit. If you succeed, I will wholeheartedly accept your appointment as State Daoist. If you fail, please resign voluntarily and retreat to the mountains—do not disturb the court's peace."

Grand Tutor Zuo Hanyuan spoke.

He knew the officials in court had been mentally shattered. His best move now was to find an excuse to send this Daoist Taiyi out of the capital to hunt demons.

Once he left the capital, he would summon incense deities from all regions to surround and kill him—this dangerous man must not be allowed to live.

After all, he had no roots, no power or influence. If he died beyond the capital, no one would avenge him.

Crown Prince Zhao Jing, hearing this, brightened—he also thought it a good plan.

They could not handle him in court—so they would deal with him outside court.

"Very well," Li Yi said. "I shall slay one thousand-year-old spirit, as Grand Tutor suggests. But words alone mean nothing—I require your witness." He narrowed his eyes, then strode forward. "So, Grand Tutor, come with me. Leave the capital, hunt the spirit. When the task is done, I shall safely return you."

As he spoke, he reached out, seized Zuo Hanyuan's shoulder, and beneath his feet, a golden auspicious cloud slowly rose—truly intending to carry the Grand Tutor far from the capital.

Zuo Hanyuan was horrified—he never imagined this Daoist Taiyi was so ruthless, that he would drag him away too.

He struggled to resist, but to no avail—his meridians were crushed by a torrent of blood qi, numb and powerless, unable even to speak. "Your Majesty, wait—I shall return shortly," Li Yi said, then dragged the Grand Tutor out of the hall without looking back.

Emperor Li Jiye smiled silently, letting Li Yi act as he pleased—see how the officials would handle a man with nothing but a fist.

"Daoist Taiyi, wait! Grand Tutor is a pillar of the state—how can he be put in danger? Release him at once!" A burly general immediately spoke up.

Li Yi did not turn back. "Fair point. You come too—better to protect the Grand Tutor, keep each other company."

As he spoke, he reached out through the air—the general could not resist; his body was sucked backward by a vortex of divine energy and landed on the golden cloud. Then they departed from the Bright Hall.

At this moment, no one else dared speak.

It was simple.

This Daoist Taiyi clearly meant to drag someone to their death—anyone who spoke would join them to witness his demon-slaying methods.

Whether they returned alive? Only Heaven knew.

As the golden auspicious cloud rose into the sky.

Though maneuvering the cloud-riding technique was taxing, it was not beyond his capability. Soon, Li Yi carried the two men into the clouds, ascending thousands of meters high, overlooking the vast, boundless earth.

Here, Li Yi's expression turned cold. He casually dropped them.

No mistake. One word. One thought. One content. One look!

Grand Tutor Zuo Hanyuan gasped, terrified he would fall and die. The burly general beside him, as if struck by acrophobia, trembled violently, unable to steady himself.

"I merely seek the position of State Daoist. Why do you oppose me? If you give me no reason today, I shall erase both of you from this world. Do not dream of becoming incense gods after death—I kill not only bodies, but also souls. Without souls, you cannot become incense deities."

Zuo Hanyuan's lips turned white as he stared at Li Yi in terror.

He never imagined this Daoist was so lawless—he had simply snatched him from the imperial palace. He was Grand Tutor, second only to the Emperor, capable of commanding Imperial Deities with a single decree—and yet today, his life hung in another's hands.

"Dao, Daoist, I merely spoke objectively—no personal intent. Please, calm down!"

He understood: circumstances favored the strong. He must yield. A thousand zhang above ground, utterly alone—if he died here, he'd die in vain.

Li Yi let out a heavy snort, not even lifting his eyelids, only exhaling a breath of heart-fire.

Instantly.

The burly general beside him burst into flames—intense heat radiated from within outward. In the blink of an eye, a living man was reduced to ash; the wind scattered a wisp of gray dust into the heavens—his soul gone too.

The general never imagined—he had merely spoken, yet it was he who died.

"Grand Tutor, do you think I dare kill?" Li Yi asked him.

Zuo Hanyuan, witnessing this, nearly suffocated.

That was the Minister of War—gone in a single breath? Before this Daoist, officials were no different from ants. And this Daoist was no incense deity—he was not bound by incense constraints. The court had no power over him.

Must they summon all incense deities across the land to jointly slay Taiyi?

Not only was that impossible—the Emperor would never agree.

"No wonder the Emperor wishes to appoint you State Daoist—you serve him," Zuo Hanyuan suddenly realized, hurriedly saying.

Li Yi said, "I and the Emperor merely exchange what we need. If you do not interfere, you remain Grand Tutor. Otherwise, you vanish with the wind."

He smiled.

That smile sent chills down Zuo Hanyuan's spine.

But quickly, Zuo Hanyuan recovered, bowing deeply and respectfully. "Your humble servant pays homage to Daoist Taiyi."

"It's easier to speak with the wise. Then you know what to do next. I'd rather not make another trip."

Li Yi said no more. Beneath his feet, the golden auspicious cloud descended, returning them to the ground, back within the imperial palace.

(End of Chapter)