Chapter 470: Farewell to the Late Emperor

November 3, afternoon, Chen Guo, Xihai Province.

Xu Jin led his group out silently from the Star-Taking Tower branch in Xihai Province.

Lou Zhi, director of the Chen Guo Xihai Province branch, hurried forward and asked the group, "May I ask which among you is Vice Academic Director Xu?"

"I am."

In truth, Lou Zhi had already guessed from their cultivation base—among the dozen or so who came to greet, only one was a sixth-rank expert.

But seeing Xu Jin's youthful face, he was still taken aback.

This age?

A vice academic director this young? Never in the history of Chen Guo's Dao Academy.

Yet the cultivation base was undeniable.

"Please."

He suppressed his many questions and led Xu Jin's group into the branch, yet his expression grew even stranger upon seeing the people behind Xu Jin.

Aside from one one-armed, flying-sword-wielding man, all the rest were women.

But at this moment, he could only follow orders and dared not ask further.

Since it was the national mourning period, most Dao Academy officials were dressed in white.

The group of women behind Xu Jin, all clad in white, looked especially striking.

A few breaths later, Lou Zhi led them into an empty grand hall. Before he could speak, Xu Jin said, "Director Lou, I need the latest maps of the entire Xihai Province city, including all county cities."

"Yes."

Lou Zhi immediately handed over several jade tablets.

In truth, Xu Jin already had maps of the Xihai Province city and county cities—he was merely cross-referencing now.

With his spiritual sense, he compared them with the maps in his possession.

Minor discrepancies remained, but the core information—especially the locations of their targets—had not changed.

【National Master, I have arrived at the target location with my team and am ready to act at any moment.】

【Await orders.】

After receiving the National Master's reply, Xu Jin said softly, "Director Lou, we will rest for a while. I will notify you if anything arises."

"Understood."

Lou Zhi nodded, but as he turned to leave, he could no longer suppress his curiosity: "Vice Academic Director Xu, may I ask what mission you are here to carry out? Could you at least hint at it? I'd like to prepare accordingly."

Xu Jin glanced at Lou Zhi—his gaze made the sixth-rank fifth-layer Lou Zhi's heart jolt violently, forcing him to look away in haste.

"We are also awaiting orders."

"Understood."

After Lou Zhi bowed and withdrew, the oppressive weight on his heart finally lifted.

"Strange—he's only sixth-rank third-layer, far below me, yet a single glance instilled in me genuine fear? Just who is this man?"

After Lou Zhi left, the tense, pale-faced senior and junior sisters of the Flying Swallow Hall could no longer hold back—they immediately gathered around Xu Jin.

"Senior Brother, when did you come back?"

"Senior Brother, where were you before?"

"Senior Brother, we heard you were dead, and we all..."

The onslaught left Ying Ge retreating to the side—even Xu Jin felt overwhelmed.

Surrounded by a crowd of beautiful women, all dressed in elegant white, all talking only about him, and he couldn't even strike back—how could he endure this?

"Quiet!"

At the sharp command of Senior Sister Yang Miao, all the chatter ceased instantly, replaced by solemn silence.

This, perhaps, was what they called one thing subduing another.

This secret operation was of the highest secrecy.

Once action began, besides local forces in each province and county, each would dispatch a vanguard squad as the main clearing force.

Each county Dao Academy also secretly dispatched support teams.

But due to the extreme secrecy, the vanguard squads were precisely the small group that had trained together previously.

Yet each of them had their own trusted subordinates.

Xu Jin was the exception.

At this moment, Xu Jin finally understood the importance of trusted subordinates.

Fortunately, his master Liu Zhou Qingzhu waved his hand and assigned the core of the Flying Swallow Hall to assist him.

As for Liu Zhou Qingzhu himself, he drew personnel from other vice academic directors.

Liu Zhou Qingzhu's position commanded respect.

And so, the girls of the Flying Swallow Hall joyfully saw Xu Jin, who had returned from the dead.

Though rumors had circulated before that Senior Brother Xu Jin would return from death,

nothing compared to seeing him alive.

But since they had begun their mission immediately, now that they had a moment's respite, they were all bursting with questions, desperate to drain him dry of every detail.

"All of you, stop slacking off in your cultivation! From now on, you will call him Master Uncle!"

"Huh?"

After silencing all her junior sisters with one sentence, Yang Miao dropped a bombshell.

"What 'huh'? Xu Jie has already taken charge of the Hei Wu Kong Hall. Didn't you hear the director call him Vice Academic Director?

From now on, you will call him Master Uncle, understood?" Yang Miao scolded.

"Senior Sister, if we call him Master Uncle, and you haven't become a vice academic director, shouldn't you also call him Master Uncle and not Senior Brother?" asked the petite, white-clad junior sister Jiang Yuan, looking up.

Yang Miao was left speechless.

It sounded... logically correct.

But the senior sister's authority could not be undermined!

She jabbed a finger into Jiang Yuan's flat chest and glared, "You talk too much."

Jiang Yuan stuck out her tongue, made a face, and ducked behind Second Senior Sister Tang Chuo.

"Enough. All of you, meditate and recover. Organize your Star Artifacts, insignias, and elixirs. Await orders at all times," Xu Jin interjected.

But honestly, this generational hierarchy was truly awkward.

Chen Guo, Wan Yi, Mancheng draped in white!

Seven straight days of national mourning left all participants exhausted, especially ordinary people.

Cultivators like the National Master, however, remained vibrant and alert.

"Awaken the spirit!"

At the mournful cry of the Imperial Clan's Grand Director, all imperial bloodlines and palace consorts burst into wailing.

This signaled the final step of the state funeral.

Next, the coffin would be transported several hundred li away to the newly built mausoleum for burial.

The emperor's heirs and consorts still had three more days of rituals, but most ministers' duties were now complete.

Simultaneously, all state affairs would resume and return to normal.

Though called the final step, the procedures were still complex.

For instance, the new emperor must personally escort the coffin, accompanied by the National Master and all ministers, out of the city to bid farewell to Emperor Gan'an's spirit.

Originally, the next step should have been for the National Master and ministers to walk the coffin ten li outside the city before returning.

But when National Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao led the ministers to escort the coffin, his entire body suddenly blazed with starlight.

In an instant, he became as radiant as a star, giving the impression he could rival the sun itself.

This sight sent the new emperor into acute tension, fearing the National Master might deliver a shocking surprise.

Naturally, every eye in the hall fixed on National Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao. The nation's gaze upon him, he slowly rose among the stars, hovering above Wan Yi, and his voice thundered across the land:

"My lords, the late emperor was assassinated by the traitor Zhuang Zhen. He has now been buried with full state rites and will soon rest in his tomb. But the assassin remains at large.

Moreover, thousands of traitors from the Lord Tianyang Star Hall still roam our Chen Guo soil!

The murder of our sovereign—this vengeance unfulfilled is an insult to any loyal minister!

I, Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, swear before the people: as long as I live, I will settle this matter with the regicide Zhuang Zhen—once and for all—to repay the late emperor's trust!"

At these words, a thunderous wave of outcry erupted across Wan Yi.

"Kill the traitor!"

"Kill the traitor!"

"Kill the traitor!"

After the furious cries continued for over a dozen breaths, National Master Cheng Cheng Yuexiao slowly lowered his hands—and instantly, the entire city fell silent.

"Our Chen Guo Dao Academy was established and nurtured by the late emperor!

Now, the late emperor has been assassinated by the traitor starlords of the Lord Tianyang Star Hall—this is a national grudge!

From this day forward, if any traitor from the Lord Tianyang Star Hall walks freely on Chen Guo soil, it will be the shame of our Chen Guo Dao Academy!

It will bring dishonor to the late emperor!

It will bring shame upon His Majesty!

Therefore, as the late emperor departs for his tomb, the ministers of our Chen Guo Dao Academy shall honor him with the severed heads of the Lord Tianyang Star Hall traitors!"

"Grand Commander Pei, issue the military order!

Order all provincial branches, county Dao Academies, and provincial and county Star Patrol units to immediately mobilize troops and launch surprise attacks on the Lord Tianyang Star Hall's branch halls and academies across every province and county!"

"All rebels are to be executed!"

"Yes, sir!"

The moment Grand Tutor Pei Ze received the order, he immediately issued commands on the spot.

"From this moment, all Star-Removal Tower teleportation networks within Chen Guo are suspended; no one may teleport without a military order!" added State Tutor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao.

Simultaneously, military orders were dispatched.

Although the Star-Patrol Guards of each state and commandery had not been ordered to assemble in advance, because it was the day of national mourning, all Star-Patrol Guards in every state and commandery were already stationed at their camps, gathering remotely to escort Emperor Gan'an to his grave!

This amounted to another form of assembly.

Almost the instant the orders were issued, action could begin.

Almost the moment State Tutor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao made his public proclamation, over a hundred beams of starlight suddenly erupted, directly striking the Star-Removal Tower's branch in Dachen Wan Yi.

In an instant, dust and smoke surged into the sky, starlight illuminated everything, and thunderous explosions rang endlessly!

The strength of the Star-Removal Tower's Dachen Wan Yi branch was the strongest.

The Star Lord's cultivation base reached the ninth layer of the sixth realm.

But the problem was, this was Dachen Wan Yi.

This was the capital of Chen Guo, the place where Chen Guo's power was strongest.

Normally, the Star-Removal Tower's Star Lord of Chen Guo, backed by the Star-Removal Tower, received due respect from Chen Guo, who feared the Star-Removal Tower.

But when the tables turned, they became the first target.

Moreover, they faced a devastating annihilation.

Not to mention the other participating Senior Academicians and Deputy Senior Academicians—the leaders were directly the Eighth Realm powerhouse, Peng Lao.

The battle began abruptly and ended just as swiftly.

In merely ten breaths, the Star-Removal Tower's Dachen Wan Yi branch was crushed under Peng Lao's forces.

It wasn't even a case of ambush against unprepared foes.

During these days of national mourning, the newly appointed Star-Removal Tower Star Lord of Chen Guo and his branch personnel had been trembling in fear.

The regicide was the Star Lord of the Sun Star, how could they not be terrified?

They had been on constant guard!

Only as the mourning neared its end did they begin to relax.

They never expected that the moment they relaxed, attackers stormed in.

But those leading the assault were Eighth Realm powerhouses.

Even full alertness would have been useless.

Under the surprise attack, even the temple's protective array failed to activate.

The instant the battle inside the Star-Removal Tower's Dachen Wan Yi branch ended, figures shot into the sky, each carrying one to several corpses.

The next instant, a beam of starlight streaked across the heavens and landed beside the road.

It was Peng Lao, returning from battle!

"Your humble servant presents the severed heads of two traitors from the Star-Removal Tower to escort His Late Majesty!"

The corpses of the Star-Removal Tower's Star Lord of Chen Guo and his Deputy Director were thrown by Peng Lao onto the roadside; under starlight force, their skulls shattered into pieces on the ground!

Immediately after, more beams of starlight descended, each carrying one to several corpses to escort His Late Majesty.

In mere breaths, hundreds of corpses lined the roadside, blood staining the path, killing aura surging into the heavens!

State Tutor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao stood astride starlight, holding the Nine Sheng Bell, expressionless as he monitored all directions.

The new emperor, watching this scene, finally exhaled in relief.

It was not directed at him.

Many palace concubines were terrified by this bloody spectacle, yet were forcibly supported by eunuchs and kept moving with the procession.

At this moment, no one could falter!

As all Chen Guo's noble families watched State Tutor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao riding starlight through the air, a thought suddenly struck them: It has changed!

Chen Guo has changed utterly!

In the past, they barely had backbone, let alone direct confrontation.

But now, they struck directly with lethal force!

This was not a verbal battle!

This was hundreds of corpses!

This meant Chen Guo and the Star-Removal Tower had no room for compromise.

Certain powerful families who had previously considered warning the Star-Removal Tower instantly changed their minds.

Destroy!

Immediately destroy all evidence of close ties with the Star-Removal Tower!

Even eliminate some of the personnel involved.

The wind had shifted.

Chen Guo had changed!

"Your servant, Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, presents the severed heads of four hundred and thirty-seven traitors from the Star-Removal Tower to escort His Late Majesty!

These are the first batch!

Arrangements have also been made in every state and commandery!

May His Late Majesty rest in peace!"

Cheng Cheng Yuexiao bowed deeply toward Emperor Gan'an's coffin from high above, but the next instant, he moved swiftly to stand before the new emperor, bowing slightly, "Your Majesty, our war with the Star-Removal Tower has only just begun. I shall no longer accompany Your Majesty in escorting His Late Majesty!

What follows is the most critical moment."

"I understand, State Tutor, go!"

The new emperor, Gao Ji, still carried dignity—he was not panicked, but worried: "But if this act allows the Star Lord, that traitor, to lead men—" As he spoke, Gao Ji looked toward the city's outskirts, his meaning clear.

He had gone outside the city—how could his safety be guaranteed?

If the Star Lord struck again and he met the same fate as his father, it would be a tragedy!

Now, he had no Eighth Realm protector beside him!

"Your Majesty, rest assured. As long as I am here, Your Majesty is perfectly safe," State Tutor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao assured him.

Hearing this, the new emperor Gao Ji exhaled in relief, returning a half-bow to State Tutor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao, then resumed the procession.

"Grand Tutor Pei Ze, you will remain at the main Star-Removal Tower. I and Peng Lao will patrol outside. Wherever we detect an Eighth Realm member of the Star-Removal Tower, we will use the Star-Removal Orders to link and assemble—within two breaths, we can arrive anywhere," State Tutor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao instructed.

"State Tutor, rest assured!"

"However, we must still control the intensity of this war. After this, we will not participate in any battles below the Eighth Realm—we will only hold position!" Cheng Cheng Yuexiao said.

"Understood."

The next instant, State Tutor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao and Peng Lao stepped into the Star-Removal Tower and vanished; Grand Tutor Pei Ze entered the main tower of Chen Guo's Star-Removal Tower directly.

Instantly, Chen Guo's Star-Removal Tower shimmered with starlight, flickering in and out of the void!

Meanwhile, the other six states and seventy-four commanderies of Chen Guo had received orders and begun action.

Simultaneously, the vanguard team led by Xu Jin, dispatched to Xihai Province, also moved!

And news of Chen Guo's purge of Star-Removal Tower branches and sub-temples—the complete annihilation of the Dachen Wan Yi branch—reached the Star-Removal Tower at once.

Instantly, as reports cascaded upward, the entire temple shook!

(End of Chapter)