Chapter 230: Imperial Tutor

Earth Ancestor Imperial Dynasty, Xiantian Palace.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the He Zhou territory has suffered from severe drought for years, and the people are living in misery! The incumbent Governor of He Zhou, Mingluo Shengzhu, has turned a deaf ear, exploiting the people at will, usurping power, harming the nation, and bringing disaster to the populace! Is he not a thief to the world!

Now there are ten carts of material evidence and over a hundred human witnesses; I hope Your Majesty will make a heavenly judgment!"

In the hall, Dizu Huangzun sat high upon the imperial throne, with the ministers of the court arranged in rows to the left and right, three rows each; among those in the front, all radiated fluctuations of the Shengzhu level.

It could be said that these few alone were enough to sweep through all forces in a region, excluding the Daotu.

In the center of the great hall, a middle-aged man dressed in the attire of a Censor stood with his head held high, his eyes wide and his expression cold.

Yet his aura appeared somewhat withered; his original strength at the Middle Realm Peak had now almost fallen to the Initial Realm.

Standing beside him was a middle-aged, burly man wearing a deep blue royal robe, his hands hanging at his sides, appearing somewhat distracted.

Dizu Huangzun looked at the two, his expression indifferent, and casually flicked a golden light that landed on the Censor; the Censor's aura gradually stabilized and recovered.

"Mingluo, do you have anything to say?"

The voice was not loud, yet it seemed to shake the heavens, carrying a heavy majesty.

Mingluo Shengzhu straightened his robes and bowed to Dizu Huangzun, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the criminal evidence mentioned by Dou Yushi is indeed true.

But my ancestors once received the grace of the Ancestral Emperor, and all matters within the He Zhou territory can be decided at my own discretion and handled as circumstances require.

Even if there were improprieties, they fall within the scope of discretion; as the governor of a province, it is impossible for every single matter to follow complete procedure."

"Within the scope of discretion? Then does the Governor mean that you are innocent and that this subordinate has falsely accused you!" Dou Yushi glared at Mingluo Shengzhu.

He held the Immortal Sword bestowed by the Imperial Sovereign, capable of executing treacherous officials in the court; had his strength not been insufficient, he would have already chopped this fellow's head off! "Dou Yushi, calm your anger. This King is not saying you are making a false accusation, but the situation was urgent, and my methods were inevitably somewhat non-compliant with regulations. Regarding this aspect, I will naturally reflect on it."

Mingluo Shengzhu spoke, his voice calm, clearly not taking it to heart.

"Urgent situation? Can an urgent situation justify the wanton slaughter of civilians and allowing your subordinates to commit evil? Was the Ancestral Emperor's grace from back then meant to be used like this?!"

Dou Yushi's expression was indignant; the scene of the blood-stained earth was something he had seen with his own eyes, and how could it be explained away by a mere 'urgent situation'?

Hearing the mention of the Ancestral Emperor's grace, Mingluo Shengzhu's expression turned slightly cold, and his Shengzhu-level aura radiated naturally.

Dou Yushi's body trembled slightly, but immediately after, his waist token released a layer of golden light that enveloped him, isolating the Shengzhu pressure.

"Dou Yushi, I advise you to learn more about the facts; what one sees with one's own eyes is not necessarily the truth. As for those rebels, that I did not exterminate their nine generations is already an act of grace from the Ancestral Emperor.

As for your claim that my subordinates committed evil, I only look at their achievements, not their methods," Mingluo Shengzhu said.

"Rebels?! If it weren't for your ruthless methods and indulgence of your subordinates' evil deeds, where would these rebels have come from! The Governor's ability to invert black and white is truly full of holes!"

Dou Yushi gasped for breath; he had not expected that even before the Imperial Sovereign, this fellow would still dare to quibble! Mingluo Shengzhu shook his head, ignoring him, and instead looked at Dizu Huangzun.

Bowing in salute, he spoke: "Your Majesty, my heart is known to heaven and earth; it is just that my methods were a bit excessive, so there is no need to keep an eye on me all day, is there?"

Dizu Huangzun lowered his eyes, "Mingluo, considering the merits of your ancestors and that you still have a heart for the nation, step down from your position as Governor and spend your remaining years in the Imperial Capital."

Mingluo Shengzhu's pupils shrank violently; to spend his remaining years in the Imperial Capital—was this to place him under house arrest? In the past, these Censors had impeached him more than once or twice, and the Imperial Sovereign had always brushed it aside.

But today, why "Your Majesty, I—"

Before he could finish, Dizu Huangzun looked at him, and the pressure of an Immortal Lord level made his shoulders sink, forcing him to kneel halfway to the ground.

"Where is the Imperial Tutor?"

The voice reverberated, spreading from Xiantian Dian, and the soldiers outside the hall shouted in unison, "Where is the Imperial Tutor!"

"This subject is here."

An aged figure stepped up the stairs from outside the hall, his white robes stained with blood, his left hand dragging an Imperial Sword that scraped across the ground, his right hand holding a young head.

The aura around his body had not yet fully subsided, almost exceeding the Shengzhu level.

Arriving inside the hall, he casually threw the head onto the ground; the head rolled, coming to a stop at the feet of Mingluo Shengzhu.

Mingluo Shengzhu looked over, his expression changing drastically, "Zheng'er!"

He turned back to look at the old man, "Imperial Tutor! You! What have you done!"

The Imperial Tutor casually brushed the bloodstains from his body, his white robes giving him an immortal, transcendent air. "Your Highness He Wang, you colluded in secret with the four great Immortal Sects, raising troops under the name of rebellion, and the evidence is conclusive. His Majesty has spared your life; will you not thank him for his grace?"

Having said this, he looked at Dizu Huangzun, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the four great Immortal Sects and over seventy True Immortals, along with thirty thousand disciples, have all been executed.

The seventy million rebel troops entrenched in the He Zhou territory, as well as over four hundred thousand colluding individuals in the prefectural armies and government offices, have also been slaughtered. Over thirty of Your Highness He Wang's kin have arrived outside the hall."

The voice echoed in the hall; although there was no emotional fluctuation, it made everyone feel a chill.

Mingluo Shengzhu was stunned upon hearing this, collapsing to the ground in a daze, and it was a long while before he blankly picked up the head of his own son.

"Mingluo, I have prepared a villa for you in the Imperial Capital with quite pleasant scenery. From now on, you shall accompany your kin and spend the rest of your life in the Imperial Capital."

Dizu Huangzun waved his hand, and a Shengzhu-level expert from the front row of officials walked out and helped Mingluo Shengzhu up, "He Wang, come with me."

Mingluo Shengzhu hunched his body, his aura surging as if it might erupt at any moment, but after a few breaths, it gradually stabilized.

He suddenly raised his head to look at Dizu Huangzun, "Your Majesty, you are wrong! If you do not turn back now, the Imperial Court is in danger!"

"Enough, Your Highness He Wang! Quickly, come with me!" The Shengzhu supporting him hurriedly pulled him away.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Xiong Laosi!"

Mingluo Shengzhu's voice gradually became unclear; Dizu Huangzun looked at the Imperial Tutor, "You have worked hard, Imperial Tutor."

"Your Majesty is too kind; this is the duty I should fulfill."

As soon as the words fell, outside Xiantian Dian, a beam of immortal light arrived suddenly and crashed directly into the hall.

The immortal light dissipated, and a short figure appeared; it was Sun Xingzhe.

"Monkey, why are you here instead of traveling to the East?" the Imperial Tutor asked with a smile.

Sun Xingzhe shook his head in confusion, and upon seeing the Imperial Tutor, he hurriedly bowed, "So it is the Imperial Tutor; why are you standing when you should be sitting up there?"

The Imperial Tutor smiled, "I just returned from He Zhou."

"Oh, I see."

Sun Xingzhe looked at Dizu Huangzun, "Imperial Sovereign, I, Old Sun, encountered a peerless ruthless person at the Changsheng Sword Sect in the Eastern Region; you must help me, Old Sun!"

"A peerless ruthless person? Are you talking about that Elder Qin of the Changsheng Sword Sect?"

Dizu Huangzun looked at the ministers in the hall, "My dear ministers, who is willing to accompany this monkey on a trip?"

As the words fell, the ministers looked at one another, all seeing retreat in each other's eyes.

That Elder Qin of the Changsheng Sword Sect has been a storm-like presence these past two days; there is almost no one who does not know of them.

Their strength is comparable to seven Immortal Lords, their origins are extremely mysterious, and there are even rumors that they are the offspring of an Immortal Prince from beyond the heavens.

A personage of this caliber, whether in terms of strength, status, or background, is not someone they can compare to.

Sun Xingzhe revealed an anxious expression, "Don't just stare! Think of a way for old Sun here!"

"Great Sage, it is not that we do not wish to speak. It is that this Elder Qin is truly not someone we can handle."

"If not, why doesn't the Great Sage go and pay a visit before their cave? Perhaps they might let you continue your journey east?"

"Exactly, exactly! This method is excellent!"

Hearing this, Sun Xingzhe scratched his head in anxiety, his teeth grinding incessantly, "You! You are usually so imposing, why are you cowards now? Useless! Useless!"

The Imperial Tutor watched him scratching his ears and cheeks and began to laugh, "Hehe, Great Sage, do not be anxious. How about this old man accompanies you on a trip?"

Uh, forgot to set the timer, thought it had updated.

(End of this chapter)