Chapter 84

A beam of spiritual energy, like an arrow loosed from a bow, shot forth from the distance. The light locked onto Luo Dian's wrist with terrifying sharpness. Quickly, within Luo Dian's shrinking pupils, the light pierced straight through his wrist. "Ah!"

Luo Dian let out a wail of agony. Blood spurted as he was sent flying backward like a kite with a snapped string.

"Pah!"

Upon hitting the ground, Luo Dian spat out a mouthful of blood, his face deathly pale and his aura withered. He shakily rose to his feet, his face twisted in rage. "Which damn bastard dares to lay a hand on me?" He was nearly mad; how dare anyone in the tiny Jixia Academy strike him?

Even the Third Prince standing nearby was stunned. Who was this, so bold as to provoke the Tianzun Imperial Dynasty? Xu Chen used the technique of shrinking the earth to a footstep, appearing before Luo Dian. "I heard you threatened others using my name?"

Luo Dian roared, "You damn thing, how dare you..."

"Slap!"

This time, Xu Chen needed say nothing more. The Spirit Spring Spirit flicked his finger. A beam of spiritual energy light pierced straight through Luo Dian's face.

In an instant, Luo Dian's appearance was utterly ruined. His teeth fell out, his face was covered in blood, and his body convulsed.

Seeing this, Third Prince Luo Zhendong's pupils shrank slightly. He vaguely sensed that Xu Chen was truly serious this time. It seemed everyone feared the Tianzun Imperial Dynasty, yet Xu Chen did not. The Spirit Spring Spirit said indifferently, "Is my Brother Chen someone you can insult?" Luo Dian was also terrified, yet he still threatened, "You, how dare you?"

"Slap!"

Seeing this, the Spirit Spring Spirit delivered a spiritual energy slap through the air.

It sent Luo Dian spinning through the air for several rotations before he finally crashed to the ground. Upon landing, Luo Dian was trembling uncontrollably, barely able to speak. Tens of thousands of white-robed disciples in the Academy stared in stunned silence. "So, so cool!"

Tens of thousands silently gave Xu Chen a thumbs-up. To be honest, they had long endured Luo Dian. But no one dared to use their hands, for the Empress was fiercely protective of her own. So even though Luo Dian was arrogant and overbearing, the people in the Academy turned a blind eye, and even the Sect Master did not appear. They never expected that the Sect Master would not appear, but the Junior Sect Master would. Shangguan Luoyun saw this scene, her heart turning slightly sour. "For Ruoling, he has gone to such lengths."

She knew very well that with this, the Jixia Academy and the Tianzun Imperial Dynasty had essentially torn off the mask of civility.

Luo Dian was so grievously injured that there was almost no chance of recovery.

Chi Lian also wore a look of envy. If Xu Chen did this for her, how wonderful that would be.

At this moment, Li Ruoling's eyes were filled with tears.

He had come, and just like in the previous life, he treated her very well.

Not long ago, she had thought he no longer wanted her. Xu Chen looked at the grievously injured but still living Luo Dian and said indifferently, "For the Empress's sake, I will give you one chance.

But only one. If you dare use me to threaten others again, no matter where you are, I will kill you." Luo Dian's servants kowtowed frantically. "Yes, yes, thank you, Junior Sect Master, for sparing our lives." With that, they supported the wretched Luo Dian and hurriedly departed.

Xu Chen watched them leave, his eyes narrowing slightly.

He was gambling, betting that the Empress would not let the grand plot of the selection collapse.

Because the Empress herself had collapsed not long ago; she was extremely interested in him and would have loved to carry him back to the palace.

So this time, the one likely to suffer would be only Luo Dian.

And he would remain unharmed.

"Boom!"

As Xu Chen pondered, a Seventh-Rank Early Stage aura erupted. In an instant, the aura surged like waves, constantly radiating from him. The plaza, capable of holding tens of thousands, was now filled with Xu Chen's spiritual energy. "Se... Seventh Rank!"

Tens of thousands of disciples in white robes stared in stunned silence once more. My heavens! Is this the Young Palace Master?

With the same time in the palace, they are only Fourth Rank.

Yet the Young Palace Master can already tread on the void and has advanced to Seventh Rank.

Luo Dian, Luo Zhendong, and others who had just fled in a disheveled state felt this aura and were instantly shocked inwardly.

Such a steady aura, such a young age, such a monstrous talent!

For Xu Chen to reach this level in such a short time is truly terrifying. Luo Dian's face showed fear, yet he gritted his teeth and said, "This time, I will make Xu Chen pay." Luo Zhendong was now completely clear-headed: "Are you crazy? Haven't you realized your mistake yet? Last time, the Empress favored Xu Chen highly."

Luo Dian snorted coldly: "I am returning to the palace. I do not believe she values Xu Chen more than me." Luo Zhendong was speechless: "Do as you please then; I have no intention of getting involved." He had originally wanted to learn from Luo Dian's persistence in pursuing Bu Fengshuang. Who would have thought that upon arriving, Luo Dian was nearly crippled.

He had almost wet himself just now, so he quickly took Luo Dian and left. This Xu Chen's talent is truly the most terrifying and outrageous he has ever seen! If possible, recruit him in the future; under no circumstances provoke him! With that thought, Luo Zhendong fled even faster. "This Luo Zhendong is quite sensible."

Xu Chen looked at the backs of Luo Dian and Luo Zhendong and said indifferently.

In his past life, he had joined Luo Zhendong's ranks, being ordered around and treated poorly. In this life, even if he were to join Luo Zhendong, Luo Zhendong would likely be terrified. Bu Fengshuang nodded: "He is considered one of the smarter ones among the five princes fighting for the throne." Xu Chen chuckled lightly: "I am quite curious if Luo Dian will survive today." He estimated that if the Empress was like other female protagonists, Luo Dian would surely die. Based on the Empress's previous behavior, this was nine times out of ten certain.

Having finished speaking, Xu Chen prepared to leave and cultivate the Heaven-Grade Martial Art.

Unexpectedly, Li Ruoling grabbed Xu Chen's sleeve: "Wait, wait a moment."

Xu Chen froze: "What is it?"

He had come only to tell others not to oppress people using his name, or they would inevitably pay the price.

As for Li Ruoling, he hadn't paid much attention. Li Ruoling gathered her courage and said: "Thank you."

Xu Chen nodded: "Remember from now on, anyone who uses me to threaten you can be ignored, or even killed."

Li Ruoling felt moved and gritted her teeth, asking: "What if I cannot kill them?" Xu Chen was calm: "Then I will kill them!"

Li Ruoling almost cried again: "What if I kill them and end up implicating you?" Xu Chen smiled proudly: "For such enemies, I will kill their entire family." Having finished speaking, Xu Chen swept his sleeve and left. The three women followed Xu Chen closely behind.

Tears slid down Li Ruoling's face; she was moved to the extreme. He was still the same him, treating her so well.

It turned out that in his heart, her position was still so important. Tens of thousands of white-robed disciples watched this scene with envy. Is this love? The Young Palace Master would offend the Tianzun Imperial Dynasty for the Saintess. The Young Palace Master truly has great spirit!

Shangguan Luoyun and Chi Lian's eyes dimmed slightly. He still liked Li Ruoling so much. It was like this in the past life, and it is the same in this life.

Xu Chen, why do you treat her so well?

At this moment, Xu Chen quickly returned to his residence, preparing to cultivate.

Bu Fengshuang could not help but say: "This Luo Dian is considered the most useless prince in the Tianzun Imperial Dynasty."

Xu Chen nodded: "Every dynasty has such useless princes; it is not strange." In the original text, Luo Dian did not even have the qualification to fight for the throne. Among those five princes, Luo Dian was not included.

This was the reason Xu Chen crippled Luo Dian, as it would hardly affect the main plot. Bu Fengshuang nodded: "You cultivate; we will guard you at all times." Xu Chen wasted no words and began to sit cross-legged, cultivating the "Immortal Body Emperor Nerve Sutra". He estimated that in five days, he could advance his physical body to the Seventh-Rank Early Stage. After finishing his physical body cultivation, he would cultivate other things, such as the Divine Jade Battle Armor and spiritual sense. Tianzun Imperial Dynasty, Imperial Palace.

Empress Luo Shen was currently looking at a portrait, her eyes immersed in the face depicted, slightly dazed. It was as if everything in heaven and earth was not worth one ten-thousandth of this portrait. Looking closely, who else could this portrait be but Xu Chen?

When Empress Luo Shen emerged from her trance, her eyes cleared.

"When will this charming fellow come to the Tianzun Imperial Dynasty?"

"I... really cannot wait any longer."

Luo Shen lay sideways on the bed, her long jade legs shifting positions, a look of expectation and longing rising on her beautiful face.

If Shangguan Luoyun were not so tricky, she would have snatched him away long ago; why would she need to wait bitterly? "Whoosh!"

As she pondered, her shadow guard appeared, kneeling and clasping his hands to say: "Reporting to Your Majesty, there is urgent news." Luo Shen was indifferent: "Speak."

The shadow guard immediately reported everything that had just happened at the Jixia Academy.

Upon hearing this, the Empress flew into a rage, yet her heart felt slightly sour: "He still likes Li Ruoling so much."

She could never understand; whether in strength or temperament, she was superior to Li Ruoling, and her looks were in no way inferior.

Was it simply because Xu Chen met Li Ruoling first, so he fell for her? "It's all that damn author's fault. If not for him, how could it be like this?"

Luo Shen gritted her silver teeth, saying angrily.

Then, Luo Shen's eyes showed killing intent: "Where is Luo Dian?"

This damn thing, if he had provoked someone else, she would have been too lazy to care.

But if he provoked Xu Chen, even if she had to exhaust all her strength, she would never allow Xu Chen to suffer a single grievance.

The shadow guard reported: "He is on his way to the palace; he wishes for Your Majesty to take charge and arrest Xu Chen." Luo Shen sneered: "What does he intend to do by arresting Xu Chen?"

The shadow guard said: "Take him back, sever his tendons in hands and feet, cripple his dantian, gouge out his eyes, and make him suffer unbearable pain."

Luo Shen's beautiful face was ice cold: "Exact words?"

The shadow guard nodded: "He said it just a quarter of an hour ago."

Luo Shen said coldly: "Then he need not come; let him disappear forever." The shadow guard was startled, but still nodded: "As commanded."

Having finished speaking, the shadow guard's figure vanished from the palace.

Luo Shen snorted coldly: "Daring to touch my Xu Chen, how dare they? Must kill the chicken to scare the monkey." Her brothers, originally snatching commoners' daughters and committing corruption, she had been too lazy to care about.

But do not think she did not know; if they became even more brazen on top of that, they would die. This time, Luo Dian touching Xu Chen far exceeded her bottom line.

Xu Chen was her reverse scale; no one could touch him.

The next day, the news that Luo Dian died within the palace spread like a storm. The entire Tianzun Imperial Dynasty knew of this, and various sects also heard whispers.

In fact, various sects knew that before Luo Dian's death, he had been beaten into a disheveled retreat by Xu Chen, shouting for revenge before leaving.

Yet only a single day passed, and the man was gone.

Smart people instantly guessed that dying inside the palace meant it was almost certainly the Empress who acted. Otherwise, no one could kill people freely under the Empress's nose. Then, by deduction, the Empress likely killed Luo Dian for Xu Chen. Thus, Xu Chen's importance in the Empress's heart was a hundred times greater than Luo Dian's.

In an instant, the princes fighting for the throne panicked, and the various sects preparing to deal with Xu Chen were stunned. With the Empress's backing, forget about dealing with Xu Chen! The Empress's strength is something ordinary people cannot handle. The Third Prince, Luo Zhendong, felt his heart race: "Fortunately, I did not act then, or I might be gone too. This damn Luo Dian, why provoke Xu Chen's woman? Damn, I thought Luo Dian could succeed; who knew he just waited a month for Xu Chen not to act. Once he acted, someone died!" He swallowed hard, vowing to curry favor with Xu Chen in the future. The other princes also realized the severity of the situation.

At this time, before their strength reached 450, do not touch Bu Fengshuang or Shan Qianqian. They are all within the Jixia Academy; the possibility of death if provoked is extremely high! Similarly bitter were the Five Poisons Sect and the Heaven Sword Sect. They had originally plotted to kill Xu Chen, but now, it seems they should forget it. If Xu Chen were to meet with an accident, these two sects might be leveled by the Empress. The Empress's strength is unfathomable. Finally, the news of Luo Dian's death returned to the Jixia Academy. Originally, everyone in the Jixia Academy thought they would sever ties with the Tianzun Imperial Dynasty. Unexpectedly, Empress Luo Shen actually sent an envoy to apologize directly to Xu Chen. Yes, she sought out Xu Chen, not Shangguan Luoyun. Shangguan Luoyun was stunned: "Luo Shen secretly killed Luo Dian, and came to apologize the very next day?" Chi Lian also looked baffled: "This is a bit outrageous; if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it." The tens of thousands of academy disciples also looked stunned watching this scene. Not breaking ties was one thing, but the Empress coming to apologize? What kind of face must one have to make the Empress do this? Wow! No wonder he is the Young Palace Master, awesome! In an instant, within the entire Jixia Academy, Xu Chen was regarded as a heavenly being! Soon, under the gaze of all, the Empress's envoy arrived before Xu Chen: "Young Palace Master, this is the Nine Spirit Night Pearl; it has the effects of calming the mind and assisting cultivation, and can also generate fluids and quench thirst.

The Empress is very sorry for yesterday's incident and hopes you, being a magnanimous person, will not hold Luo Dian's clownish behavior against her." Having finished speaking, the many envoys knelt, begging Xu Chen to accept the Nine Spirit Night Pearl. Xu Chen: "..."

No, he had thought the main plot would not be damaged and the Empress might help him. But he truly did not expect the Empress to come like this.

Damn, this has him completely stumped.

— Author's Notes —

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