Chapter 492: The True Martial God Battles in the Imperial City

Xiamawui Station.

This is a station belonging exclusively to Beiliang Dao, and also one of the very few stations permitted to be built within the Capital.

Because the Beiliang King Xu Xiao has rarely entered the Capital to pay respects to the Emperor since he was enfeoffed and went to his fief, it has been a desolate sight for these years. Officials from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue have petitioned countless times to abolish Xiamawui, which has almost become a customary rule. If anyone dared not submit a memorial regarding this matter upon taking office, they would inevitably be squeezed and ostracized by their seniors and colleagues.

After Xu Weixiong moved into Xiamawui Station, the first few days were deserted; apart from the Tangxi Sword Immortal, who has marital ties to Beiliang, paying a visit, there were hardly any shadows in the entire alley. Many people throughout the Capital felt it was deeply satisfying and clapped in approval, all saying that the laws of Heaven are clear and those who lose the Dao find little support.

However, today is different.

The restaurant not far from Xiamawui Station is packed to the brim, with high-ranking officials and nobles, heroes of the Wulin, and even more women.

There are young maidens, plump matrons, and even many girls whose figures are just beginning to blossom...

As for the reason, it is very simple: Murong Tonghuang, who occupies the top spot in both lists, has arrived, and is right inside Xiamawui Station.

This news originated from today's morning court session.

It is said that Murong Tonghuang casually slapped and killed an unknown number of imperial palace experts.

It is said that the Second Princess Xu Weixiong killed the Imperial Academy students and insulted the Right Libationer in one smooth motion.

It is also said that Murong Tonghuang returned to Xiamawui Station with the Second Princess.

Half an hour ago, Murong Tonghuang even walked out of Xiamawui Station and looked up to admire the lush Dragon Claw Locust tree outside the courtyard.

Although it was only a fleeting glimpse, almost every window had heads adorned with pearls and hairpins poking out at the same time, all eyes shining with light.

Some were tender and filled with affection, some boldly cast flirtatious glances, some were shy and hesitant to speak... there were even shameless, bold women who shouted Murong Tonghuang's name, expressing their admiration without any concealment.

And Murong Tonghuang, who is first on both the Martial Evaluation and the Rouge List, looked back and smiled.

Truly a beauty capable of toppling cities and kingdoms, peerless in elegance. The entire long street instantly boiled over, with constant sweet cries, and who knows how many women fainted.

It is just a pity that Murong Tonghuang returned to the station very quickly. The women who arrived later were filled with regret and sighed mournfully.

"Princess, the wine you wanted has been bought back."

The Station Master of Xiamawui Station, Tong Ziliang, walked in from outside the door. He is a former Beiliang official; before retiring from the army, his rank was neither high nor low, and he became the person in charge of the station. He is very respectful toward the Second Princess, especially after learning that she had recently killed the Imperial Academy students who were disrespectful to Beiliang and punished the ungrateful Jin Sanlang, he is even more respectful and submissive.

"Station Master Tong, what is this..."

The Second Princess Xu Weixiong, who has an ordinary appearance but an excellent temperament, looked at Tong Ziliang with slight surprise. She had heard that the "Snow Buried" at the inn across the street tasted good, so she had a servant go buy a pot to drink with Murong Tonghuang. Station Master Tong was in a good mood today and insisted on buying the wine himself.

This trip to buy wine took a long time, and even with the Second Princess's patience, she was getting a bit impatient; at this moment, the Station Master finally returned.

He was indeed holding two pots of "Snow Buried" in his hands, but he was also clutching a large bundle in his arms, packed full, almost unable to be tied shut.

"These were all given to Mr. Murong by the young ladies and female knights outside. It's not that I didn't want to refuse, but those women are either noble young ladies of high status or powerful female knights and fairies. Looking at that stance, if I didn't deliver them, I fear my legs would have been broken."

Station Master Tong wore a look of being unable to laugh or cry, first putting down the two pots of "Snow Buried," then opening the bundle, and suddenly a large pile of things tumbled out with a clatter.

Not to mention a large stack of letters, there were also fans, combs, embroidered balls, jade pendants, and sachets...

Station Master Tong then took a crumpled ball of paper from his bosom: "Mr. Murong, this is a round fan sent by the second daughter of Minister of Rites Zhang, this is a sachet sent by the eldest daughter of Vice Minister of Revenue Wang, this is..."

Xu Weixiong and Murong Tonghuang are such shrewd people; the two looked at each other and understood the sequence of events, and at the same time, smiles appeared in their eyes, and they shook their heads and laughed.

"You may go down first."

Yu Liancheng waved away Station Master Tong, and incidentally picked up the paper filled with writing, his gaze sweeping over it, and he actually found the names of several wives and concubines of current court officials, clicking his tongue in wonder, pondering whether he should do some thieving of fragrance and jade tonight, and play the role of the old Yu next door.

"Tsk tsk, I didn't expect that I, a wanted criminal of the Imperial Court, would be so popular."

Putting down the paper, Yu Liancheng picked up a jade pendant and began to fiddle with it; it still carried a faint, pleasant fragrance.

Xu Weixiong poured a cup of "Snow Buried" for Yu Liancheng and filled her own, laughing: "Sir, you do not know, but among the well-informed young ladies of noble families in the Central Plains, if there aren't ten thousand who admire you, there are ten thousand and one."

She drank a cup of wine, feeling it cool and refreshing, truly worthy of the reputation of "Snow Buried," and said leisurely: "This is also something that cannot be helped. In the hundred years of the world's Wulin, there are only a handful of people with supreme martial arts, but to also be handsome and elegant, and to act with flair, is very rare indeed."

Counting them up, there was only the Old Sword God Li Chungang in his youth. Wang Xianzhi is a reckless old man, and Deng Taie is indeed of the Sword Immortal class, but unfortunately, his appearance is a bit lacking. Qi Xuanzheng and Cao Zhangqing could count as half, but one is a Land Immortal who never enters the world, and the other is just a bookworm obsessed with restoring his country.

In the end, only Sir lives up to expectations. Not only are you the unprecedented first on the Martial Evaluation and the Rouge List, Murong Tonghuang. You are also the famous Master of Huishan, and now Huishan, under the management of Xuanyuan Qingfeng, is already a Wulin Holy Land. Moreover, the poems you wrote in your early years are widely circulated, and several of them can be passed down for a thousand years, making people recite them involuntarily, their mouths watering with delight. Some even say that the next term, Sir will be the unprecedented Murong Third List."

Yu Liancheng took a sip of "Snow Buried," a look of contemplation appearing between his brows.

Xu Weixiong asked tentatively: "Sir, what are you thinking about?"

"Weixiong, shall we make a deal?" Yu Liancheng looked up at this future Beiliang King.

"Sir, please speak."

Yu Liancheng touched his nose and said: "When you become the Beiliang King, give me a civil post and a military post, how about that?"

"What does Sir mean by this?" Xu Weixiong was puzzled.

"There have been no wars since the Spring and Autumn period, so there is no General-Minister Evaluation, but this world will not be quiet for long. When the world is in chaos, naturally, a civil and military evaluation will emerge. You say, if I were to be first in all five evaluations, wouldn't that be quite spectacular?"

"Sir's idea... is truly quite spectacular."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Setting this aside, Yu Liancheng said again: "By the way, apart from revealing my tracks when I entered the city, I have been wandering around Taian City with Wuzhu, and no one knows our whereabouts. How did you know I was there at that time?"

Xu Weixiong laughed: "The student was just guessing. Fengnian said that Sir likes excitement, so I thought Sir would not want to miss the grand spectacle of thousands of Imperial Academy students heading to the palace."

"That brat Xu Fengnian..."

"By the way, Sir, why haven't I seen Miss Wuzhu?"

"Most likely she is still sleeping at the inn, or else she is lying on the bed reading a novel." Yu Liancheng shook his head.

Xu Weixiong laughed dumbly.

"Originally, this trip was to watch the excitement, and incidentally to send you to Xiamawui, but it seems this trip was the right choice." Yu Liancheng cast his gaze toward the deep-rooted Dragon Claw Locust tree.

The late autumn into winter sunlight was extremely mild and warm, spilling down from the sky, but it was cut into very fine pieces by the lush Dragon Claw Locust tree.

Xu Weixiong frowned slightly, guessing tentatively: "Mr. Murong, is someone playing tricks on the Dragon Claw Locust tree, and is it aimed at me?"

Yu Liancheng nodded.

Xu Weixiong pondered for a moment: "Involving Luck?"

Yu Liancheng nodded again, his gaze looking toward the direction of the Imperial Palace, as if piercing through layers of void to see the towering Imperial Palace in the far distance: "If I am not mistaken, it should be the Qi Practitioners of the Celestial Master Mansion joining forces with the Qintian Bureau, using this Dragon Claw Locust as bait, and the True Martial God Statue as the medicinal guide, to suppress or even consume your Luck, and your Luck is related to Beiliang..."

"The one in the Imperial Palace is truly showing great imperial favor to Beiliang." Xu Weixiong said with a sneer.

How can the cold-bloodedness of the two generations of Liyang monarchs not chill one's heart.

"You need not worry; I said that within the Capital, I will cover for you."

Yu Liancheng rose to his full height, his expression suddenly turning indifferent: "Some time ago, I severed the connection between Xu Fengnian and the True Martial Great Emperor, and by chance, I obtained a wisp of the True Martial Great Emperor's aura. Perhaps I can give the Liyang Emperor a lesson..."

As he spoke, his aura surged behind him, and a phantom image of a golden-armored Celestial God appeared out of thin air.

Amidst the permeating golden light, it gradually solidified, transforming into a true deity, as if its true form had descended from the Nine Heavens, wielding a sword and stepping upon a tortoise and snake.

——True Martial Great Emperor.

……

…………

The True Martial Great Emperor guards the North, governs the Black Tortoise, and severs all demons and monsters under heaven.

Behind the three main halls of the Imperial Palace, there stands a statue of the True Martial Great Emperor, over ten zhang tall.

At this moment, a group of people is heading toward the statue of the True Martial Great Emperor to pay their respects. This group does not appear vast, but their momentum is unparalleled.

This is simply because the status and background of this group are truly significant.

The supreme Emperor of the Zhao Family.

The three highly favored Great and Little Celestial Masters of Longhu Mountain.

Sun Tanglu, the Chief Eunuch who succeeded the Human Cat Han Shengxuan.

There are also several attendants of the imperial study who have reached the age of thirty, as well as the new Crown Prince Zhao Zhuan, who is currently in the limelight.

The three Great and Little Celestial Masters are, respectively, the renowned "Prime Minister of Green Prose" Zhao Danping, the outsider of the Celestial Master Mansion bestowed the title of White Lotus Master by the Emperor, Bai Yu, and Zhao Ningshen, who made a stunning debut among the 'Ning' generation.

"Master, is that Murong Tonghuang really that powerful? Is he as powerful as the Land Immortals from your Longhu Mountain who attained the Dao and ascended? If it really doesn't work, let's go to the heavens and invite a few gods to deal with him." The new Crown Prince Zhao Zhuan was seeking knowledge from the White Lotus Master.

The White Lotus Master, who had ruined his eyes from reading too much, squinted slightly and smiled: "Martial artists have great advantages in combat, especially top-tier brutes like Murong Tonghuang and Wang Xianzhi. As for Land Immortals, ascension can grant longevity, and their methods are complex and spectacular; bringing the dead back to life, scattering beans to turn them into soldiers, and producing thunder in the palm are merely common feats."

"So, Master, you said so much... but in reality, you just can't beat him?" Zhao Zhuan hit the nail on the head.

"Correct, we cannot beat him." The White Lotus Master gave a bitter smile.

His own ancestor had been beaten to death by someone; he truly had no face to brag about this.

At this moment, Zhao Danping and Zhao Ningshen frowned simultaneously, looking almost at the same time toward a certain place in the south of the city.

The White Lotus Master squinted his eyes, also realizing the gravity of the situation.

At the same time, he sighed inwardly; he naturally knew the schemes involved.

Under the Emperor's decree, the Celestial Master Mansion and the Qintian Bureau joined forces to plot against a young girl.

It seemed like imperial art and domineering methods, but in reality, it was somewhat unsavory. Now that it had been seen through by others and they had come to the door, and their methods were even more advanced, they could only take it; even if they suffered, they should have no complaints or regrets.

Boom, boom, boom!!

The statue of the True Martial Great Emperor, which stood like a mountain, began to sway, more and more violently.

The entire Imperial Palace also seemed to begin to tremble and shake along with the swaying of the statue, as if there were a minor earthquake.

Zhao Ningshen, the rising star of Longhu Mountain, quickly formed seals with both hands, his face solemn, his robes moving without wind, his whole body exuding an immortal aura, as if he were an immortal from the heavens.

It was just that the immortal carried killing intent.

The True Martial statue froze for a moment, but soon began to sway again, the amplitude growing larger and larger, and many hidden talisman arrays around the statue were implicated and destroyed in an instant.

"Your Majesty, this place is dangerous, please retreat temporarily."

The Prime Minister of Green Prose, Zhao Danping, blocked the body of the Zhao Family Emperor, as if worried that the statue would suddenly crash down upon the Son of Heaven.

The current Emperor's face was gloomy, his eyes narrowing slightly: "What is going on?"

Zhao Danping hesitated for a moment and answered truthfully: "Someone at Xiamawui discovered our arrangements, and judging by the current situation, they are unwilling to let it go easily and want to settle the score."

The Emperor said coldly: "Oh? Who has such great ability to not only break the arrangements of your Celestial Master Mansion and the Qintian Bureau but also dare to come and settle the score with Me."

Zhao Danping smiled bitterly: "If I am not mistaken, it is undoubtedly Murong Tonghuang."

"It's him again!"

A trace of killing intent flashed in the Emperor's eyes; ever since that person appeared in the world, he had been constantly opposing and causing trouble for him. Every time he heard that person's name, he could not help but feel a wave of irritation.

But unfortunately, he, the Son of Heaven, could do almost nothing about the other party.

"Please, Your Majesty, retreat temporarily."

Zhao Danping spoke again.

And the True Martial statue swayed more and more violently; on its originally wooden and dead face, a trace of spirit appeared, as if it might wake up from its slumber at any moment.

"I will not retreat." The Zhao Family Emperor said coldly: "This is the Imperial Palace. If I must retreat while in the Imperial Palace, then is there any place in the world that is safe? If I retreat, then all the Imperial Guards should be executed!!"

Boom!!

The next moment, the True Martial stone statue finally "came to life," full of fighting spirit, standing tall between heaven and earth.

Boom! Boom!

Following that, the True Martial Great Emperor moved his legs, coming straight toward the Zhao Family Emperor. Every time he stepped on the ground, the ground trembled, and the hard, rammed floor shattered.

"Protect the Emperor."

"Quickly protect the Emperor."

The figures of the Imperial Guards appeared in the Imperial Palace, layer upon layer of shadows, blocking the path of the "True Martial Great Emperor," each with a solemn expression, drawing swords and blades.

These guards were not only loyal to the core but also possessed extraordinary skills; any one of them, if placed in the chaotic world of the Edo, would be an expert capable of founding a sect.

But at this moment, as they joined forces to block the "True Martial Great Emperor," they felt not a shred of security; their minds were shrouded in a massive fear, as if they could be blasted into meat paste at any moment.

Crash!!

"Those who block me shall die!!"

The "True Martial Great Emperor" waved a single arm, as if he were lifting a pillar supporting the sky, setting off a violent gale and huge waves, with sand flying and stones rolling.

And the experts blocking his path were instantly shattered and sent flying like rag dolls, failing to block even a single move.

Immediately after, one of the "True Martial Great Emperor's" giant hands reached toward the current Emperor, vast and mighty, grabbing at the void. Even though there was still some distance, the Zhao Family Emperor felt the bones in his entire body rattling, as if he might be squeezed into a ball of meat paste at any moment, his face turning bright red, and a hint of fear flashing in his eyes.

Boom!

A streak of purple light tore through the sky and exploded in the giant palm of the "True Martial Great Emperor," actually causing that massive body to stagger slightly; it was a purple thunderbolt condensed from the Luck of the Son of Heaven, and its power was extraordinary.

At the same time, an old man blocked the path in front of the Son of Heaven.

"Your Majesty, let this old man block True Martial."

This old man was burly, not losing to the men of the North, with a rigid and deathly face that showed not a hint of spirit. His temples were gray and he was no longer young, yet the surging Martial Dao energy radiating from his entire body was something ten or a hundred prime-aged men could not compare to.

This person was none other than the ancestor of the Nanyang Liu Clan, one of the ten great magnate families of the Spring and Autumn period, the one who contributed the most to the White Clothes Case, the gatekeeper of Taian City, Liu Haoshi, who had once blocked three consecutive assassination attempts by Cao Guanzi.

Anyone with slightly well-informed sources knew that the Imperial Palace was guarded by two great Martial Dao Grandmasters.

One was the Human Cat Han Diaosi, who had been beheaded by Yu Liancheng, and the other was this Liu Haoshi before them.

This man had stepped into the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm fifty years ago and was the expert who had lingered in the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm the longest in the current age. With the full support and offerings of the Zhao Family, in terms of strength and methods, he could be considered half a Land Immortal.

As the words fell, Liu Haoshi tapped his toes, his energy billowing, and together with the two Celestial Masters, Zhao Ningshen and Zhao Danping, he killed toward the "True Martial Great Emperor."

"Father, are we... not leaving?" Zhao Zhuan watched the massive battle not far away, his heart trembling. Occasionally, a stray stone or two would graze his face, breaking him out in a cold sweat.

The Zhao Family Son of Heaven stood with his hands behind his back, staring gloomily ahead, and said in a deep voice: "Our Zhao Family established peace in the Central Plains; when have we ever retreated? When have we ever retreated within our own Imperial Palace!?"

"Yes, Father." Zhao Zhuan lowered his head.

Boom!

Boom-boom!!

The thunderous roar of the massive battle was incessant.

This "True Martial Great Emperor" was controlled and guided by the energy intercepted by Yu Liancheng; the wisp of energy was being depleted with every use, and the strength displayed by the "True Martial Great Emperor" was growing weaker.

As for the Imperial Court side, they had both the Great and Little Celestial Masters who understood various Daoist mysteries, as well as Liu Haoshi, a top-tier Heavenly Phenomenon expert, and they were actually managing to hold off the "True Martial Great Emperor's" bombardment-like attacks.

And as guards poured in continuously, the scales of victory in this battle began to gradually tilt toward the palace experts.

As time passed, the attacks of this "True Martial Great Emperor" grew weaker and more sluggish.

Everyone could not help but feel a surge of joy, only Liu Haoshi, who was rich in battle experience, frowned, feeling that this battle could not possibly end so easily.

Suddenly, the "True Martial Great Emperor" let out a long roar toward the sky, raising one fist high as if borrowing power from the firmament, stirring up gale winds, and smashed it down.

Boom-boom!!

The "True Martial Great Emperor" slammed a fist heavily into the ground, causing the earth to shake violently as if a magnitude twelve earthquake had erupted; even experts proficient in martial arts, caught off guard, could not stand steady and were sent flying.

The originally solid floor shattered into a massive hole, and countless stone fragments shot out in all directions like a torrential storm; the power of each strike was more terrifying than a heavy bow or crossbow, and once hit, it meant broken tendons and fractured bones.

As the saying goes, power rises from the ground; once ordinary martial artists left the ground, it was not easy to borrow force to strike, and because the event was sudden, many experts were hit by the stone fragments before they could react.

Amidst the continuous wailing, the Zhao Family Son of Heaven's head was buzzing, nearly losing the ability to speak. When the dust settled, the guard experts, who had been accumulated at the cost of unknown amounts of manpower and resources, were reduced to only a few, and every one of them was wounded.

At this moment, the shattered "True Martial Great Emperor" roared and lunged fiercely toward the Zhao Family Son of Heaven.

"Your Majesty, watch out."

Zhao Ningshen, Liu Haoshi, and other experts were unable to intercept it in time, each releasing thunderous purple light and the like to block it.

But this was the "True Martial Great Emperor's" final strike, a flash of light before extinction, so even though it was bombarded, it still lunged toward the Zhao Family Son of Heaven with unwavering determination.

In an instant, a dark cloud had enveloped the Zhao Family Son of Heaven.

The Zhao Family Son of Heaven finally changed color.

Even with supreme power, in the face of cataclysmic martial force, he was still as weak as an ant.

Just at this moment, an extremely young eunuch appeared before the Zhao Family Son of Heaven, appearing to have nothing special about him, only calm and unhurried, as he gently tapped a finger on the forehead of the "True Martial Great Emperor."

Bang!

Instantly, the already crack-ridden True Martial Great Emperor began to disintegrate, stone fragments pouring down like a flood, dust flying, and only a slightly mocking voice echoed in the surroundings along with the dust.

"Old Zhao, one shouldn't be too ruthless in life; three feet above your head there are gods, be careful of being struck by lightning."

The Zhao Family Son of Heaven's face was as dark as water, his fists clenched inside his dragon robe.

And that young eunuch had already vanished, as if he had never appeared at all. The surviving guards gasped for air, looking at the surrounding mess, as if fallen into a nightmare.

Boom!!

Xu Weixiong looked toward the direction of the Imperial Palace from afar, and as faint, violent tremors came, she couldn't help but ask curiously: "Mr. Murong, what did you do?"

"Gave them a little lesson, and incidentally probed the foundation of this Imperial Palace." The True Martial Dharma Image behind Yu Liancheng gradually became ethereal, and after a final gust of wind blew, it dissipated completely.

Xu Weixiong's eyes brightened as she said: "Can you tell me in detail, sir?"

"Not interested, go find out for yourself. With such a big commotion, don't tell me the spies of your Beiliang Fushu Chamber are all trash." Yu Liancheng stretched, standing up lazily.

"Sir, are you going to..."

Xu Weixiong looked at Murong Tonghuang, who was gradually walking toward the door, her confusion deepening.

"These young ladies came from so far away, I can't let them return disappointed; seeing them won't cost me a piece of flesh." As he spoke, Yu Liancheng pushed open the door, a smile warmer than the spring breeze rising at the corners of his mouth.

Consequently, the alleyway boiled over once again, with scent sachets and embroidered handkerchiefs being thrown recklessly.

PS: Including the two thousand from this morning, eight thousand words completed.