Young White Horse: I, Ye Dingzhi, offer sacrifice to the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Page 67

If they make a move, the emperor might really die. Their failure to protect him is also a capital offense.

“Young Master Baili.” Zhuo Qing sighed softly.

"Alright, let's stop using our internal energy. Otherwise, I'm afraid I might accidentally kill you if we keep fighting." Baili Dongjun laughed. "But don't use your meager internal energy anymore, or you might end up lying in a coffin."

"What exactly do you want to do!" Zhuo Qing shouted.

Baili Dongjun darted out and was already beside Emperor Tai'an. He then grabbed Emperor Tai'an by the collar, threw him to the ground, clamped his legs together, and began to slap him repeatedly.

"Being an emperor has spoiled you rotten. You've been killing off your entire family every day. Now that your family has been wiped out, do you know how that feels?!"

"This slap was delivered on behalf of the entire Ye family!"

"This slap was delivered on behalf of the Marquis of Zhenxi's mansion!"

"This slap was delivered on behalf of Miss Yi!"

"Miss Yi doesn't like your son, so what kind of person are you to force her to marry him!"

"Aren't you furious right now, wanting to yell 'Rampage my whole family'? But right now, the people who could stop me are tied up by my brothers, and the rest of them don't even dare to move! Isn't that right, Shen Luohan!"

Startled, Shen Luohan brandished his sword and shouted, "Baili Dongjun, you are a traitor! Get out of here at once, or I'll give you a whole corpse!"

"Then come over here." Baili Dongjun slapped him again.

"Damn it, if I go there, my entire clan will be wiped out." Forced into a corner, Shen Luohan leaped up and swung his broadsword down.

"No!" Zhuo Qing brandished his sword to stop him, but he couldn't.

Baili Dongjun raised his head and laughed, "Well done!"

He leaped up as well, (Qian Lezhao) drew the heavy sword from his back, and slashed at Shen Luohan. The two swords clashed, and Shen Luohan glared angrily: "Get down!"

“No.” Baili Dongjun raised an eyebrow.

Shen Luohan possessed superhuman strength, and in recent years his internal martial arts skills had reached a level of perfection. In a contest of sword force, he had not lost for over a decade. However, although Baili Dongjun was slender, he wielded his sword with apparent ease, yet no matter how Shen Luohan pressed down with his momentum, Baili Dongjun remained completely unmoved.

"Sheathe your sword." Baili Dongjun suddenly pressed down with his heavy sword, and Shen Luohan's mountain-chopping knife instantly slipped from his hand. Baili Dongjun struck Shen Luohan with his left palm, then caught the mountain-chopping knife and brought it down, embedding it fiercely an inch away from Emperor Tai'an's head.

Emperor Tai'an was already bruised and battered, and he didn't even have the strength to be angry anymore.

"Watch closely, if the two of us brothers join forces now, killing you will be this easy!" Baili Dongjun stood up, dusted off his clothes, turned around, and walked towards Ye Dingzhi.

The three were still exchanging moves, but everything that had just happened affected them, so that none of them dared to use their full strength until Baili Dongjun's purpose became clear.

"Old Ye, I've already crippled the emperor. Killing him wouldn't be a good idea, since my whole family still serves as officials in Beili. Anyway, he's not going to die anytime soon. Can we give him some face and stop fighting now?" Baili Dongjun smiled and extended a hand to Ye Dingzhi.

At this moment, another guest arrived on the city wall of Tianqi City.

The guest looked very young, yet there was an unspeakable sense of age between his brows. A long, narrow sword hung at his waist, and his gray robe, though somewhat worn, was very clean. Just like Baili Dongjun had done earlier, he silently gazed at this familiar city.

"Tianqi City is really lively today, even City Lord Luo has come." Ji Ruofeng had already sat down and was looking at the old acquaintance in front of him.

Chapter 66: More People? Good Will Prevail Over Evil? The Banner of Ten Thousand Souls, Emerge!

Luo Qingyang was sent by Yi Bu to serve as a guard in the Imperial Palace after the battle half a year ago. In just a few months, he became the top guard in the Imperial Palace. He helped Emperor Tai'an fend off countless assassination attempts, both overt and covert, when Emperor Tai'an was touring the country. He was especially valued by Emperor Tai'an during the period when the Grand Eunuch Zhuo Qing was on sick leave.

So much so that a few days ago, Emperor Tai'an summoned him to his side and asked him, "I am about to die. Qingyang, you have saved me many times. While I am still the king of Beili, I would like to repay you in some way."

"I want to leave Tianqi City," Luo Qingyang said calmly.

After pondering for a long time, Emperor Tai'an sighed softly and said, "Your martial arts are very high, it's a pity that you're just a guard. How about this, I'll grant you a city, and you can establish your own city there, comparable to Wushuang City."

Luo Qingyang nodded: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Which city do you want? I'll give it to you." Emperor Tai'an coughed lightly, gesturing to the eunuch beside him to open the map of Beili. The parchment scroll listed the most famous cities of Beili. "Except for the imperial city, which I cannot give you, you can choose any of the others, Qingyang."

Luo Qingyang glanced at it and pointed to the west, to a place without a name: "There."

Emperor Tai'an was taken aback: "There? That place used to be one of the most important cities in Beili, but due to climate change, it has become a desolate desert and is now an isolated city."

"Qingyang is a swordsman, and the sword he practices is called the 'Desolate Sword.' This city can help me nurture my sword. I humbly request Your Majesty's permission," Luo Qingyang said in a deep voice.

"Very well, then I will grant you this city!" Emperor Tai'an nodded.

Three months later, Luo Qingyang left Tianqi City alone and came to the desolate land to the west. (Second part) group: One man resides in one city, known in the martial arts world as Lord Luo.

"It seems that Lord Luo's Desolate Sword has been perfected. I just wonder which side Lord Luo is here to help," Ji Ruofeng asked meaningfully.

"Why do we always have to choose one side?" Luo Qingyang countered.

“Interesting, interesting. Back then, the three of you fought side by side in Tianqi City to snatch a bride. You were good friends who fought side by side. Now, all three of you have become top ten masters in the world. Yet, when you return to Tianqi City, you have to take three different paths?” Ji Ruofeng said quietly.

"Why must we take one particular path?" Luo Qingyang countered.

Ji Ruofeng shrugged and remained silent.

Luo Qingyang leaped forward and headed towards the palace.

"To beat up the emperor like this, you're really disrespecting your emperor!" Ye Dingzhi smiled slightly, the demonic aura in his eyes seemingly vanishing in an instant.

Baili Dongjun also laughed and said, "If we're ever unhappy in the future, we can always go back to the palace and beat up the emperor again."

"I think it's a good idea." Ye Dingzhi nodded.

Baili Dongjun breathed a sigh of relief: "Then, 827, would you three please stop?"

The Grand Eunuch Zhuoqing glanced at the Imperial Preceptor. The current situation seemed to be beyond their imagination. If they did not stop, then once Baili Dongjun sided with Ye Dingzhi, the two of them would die, and Emperor Tai'an would also die. If they stopped, as Baili Dongjun said, they had humiliated Emperor Tai'an in front of the whole world by beating him up. However, if the Demonic Sect withdrew its troops, there would be no need to fight, and Beili could be kept safe.

How to choose?

"Why are you looking at me? I don't know," Qi Tianchen said to Zhuo Qing in an annoyed tone.

From their hearts, they would naturally prefer the second option, but they knew Emperor Tai'an's temperament better than anyone. However, just as they were pondering this, they felt a burning, stinging pain in their palms. When they looked up again, they saw that the demonic nature in Ye Dingzhi's eyes had not diminished but rather increased.

"But Baili, it's no longer just my business."

Ye Dingzhi suddenly raised his hand and sent Zhuo Qing, Qi Tianchen, and Master Wangyou flying. Qi Tianchen and Zhuo Qing retreated to Emperor Tai'an's side, their faces pale, indicating they were seriously injured.

Master Wangyou staggered back several steps, his breathing becoming unsteady.

Ye Dingzhi also took three steps back; this was the first time he had been repelled.

"The path I'm walking now is one that you and I are destined never to walk together." Ye Dingzhi extended a palm to Baili Dongjun: "Draw your sword."

Baili Dongjun remained expressionless.

He wanted Ye Dingzhi to make a choice, but Ye Dingzhi was now forcing him to make the only choice.

This time, we will ultimately not be able to travel together.

Baili Dongjun stretched out his palm, and the Undying Dust that was originally stuck in the ground flew back into his hand.

The left hand is untouched by dust, the right hand is adorned with finery; both hands are skilled in swordsmanship.

"We've known each other for so many years, but we've never really fought. I heard that after you lost all your power that time, you actually found a good opportunity. I'd like to see that." Ye Dingzhi raised his Wuji Staff.

After a long silence, Baili Dongjun finally spoke: "It seems I need to beat you up before you wake up."

"Then come on, don't hesitate any longer." Ye Dingzhi took a step forward, dodging a hundred flower-like sticks, and smashed them down towards Baili Dongjun.

With a gentle spin, Baili Dongjun unleashed both swords and blades, shattering the flowery staff into pieces!

"Rise!" Ye Dingzhi raised his hand and shouted angrily.

Everyone on the Qingyun Platform felt a violent tremor beneath their feet, and some even lost their footing.

"Freeze!" Baili Dongjun paused, suppressing Ye Dingzhi's true energy.

"What kind of martial art is this?" Ye Dingzhi asked.

"My own creation, the Heaven-Piercing Internal Skill!" Baili Dongjun's sword slashed past Ye Dingzhi's temple.

Ye Dingzhi exclaimed, "Good!" Then, with a flick of his Wuji Staff, he struck Baili Dongjun in the chest.

Baili Dongjun's sword was also pressed against Ye Dingzhi's throat.

The two stopped and looked at each other.

He then put away his weapons.

Fight again!

"So many people have come to the palace today, as if they were entering an empty place. It's truly shameful." The commander of the Imperial Guards looked at Qingyuntai, his hand on the long sword at his waist, and cursed angrily.

“They are all martial arts masters; they can fly up to such a high Qingyun Platform. What can we do?” A guard next to him comforted him, “The Grand Eunuch and the Imperial Preceptor are up there. Don’t worry.”

"If the boss were here, they wouldn't have the chance to run wild," the commander said helplessly. "The boss's swordsmanship is truly the best in the world."

Suddenly a person landed in front of him, dressed in gray, with his back to him looking at the Qingyun Terrace above.

"Who!" The commander drew his long sword and shouted, "Today I really don't believe in this evil. Does nobody take our Imperial Guard seriously?"

"It's been a long time." Luo Qingyang turned around and said slowly, "Still as reckless as ever."

"Boss?" The commander was taken aback, then looked at the Qingyun Platform, sheathed his sword, and hesitated, "Boss, are you also going up?"

Luo Qingyang nodded slightly, then condensed a sword aura, and his figure floated towards Qingyun Platform on the sword aura.

"The boss's swordsmanship has gotten even better!"

The commander said enviously.

.....

........

The human world is too boring, and heaven is too lonely. Only I, an immortal, walk among mortals, and I am the most carefree in the world.

This was a boastful statement once made by Li Changsheng, the former number one martial arts master in the world.

Those who heard it at the time were all impressed by the arrogance of the words. Some were not only impressed but also yearned for it, determined to become immortals in the world as well.

For example, Baili Dongjun.

He gripped his sword and dagger tightly, closed his eyes, and recalled Li Changsheng's brilliance from that day.

That was the proud independence of an immortal descending to earth, the overwhelming and crushing power of an absolute realm. To surpass Ye Dingzhi now, he had to force himself into that immortal realm.

Half a step into the realm of the divine is not enough; one must take that final half step.

Ye Dingzhi also threw his Wuji Staff on the ground and suddenly pressed down on the long sword at his waist.

Ye Dingzhi always carried that sword. Although no one had ever seen Ye Dingzhi draw his sword during the Demonic Sect's eastern expedition, people often forgot that Ye Dingzhi had always used a sword.

The demonic sword is nameless, yet it is already the strongest sword in the world.

The moment Ye Dingzhi pressed his hand on the sword, he also thought of his master.

Sword Immortal, Rain-Born Demon.

"I told you not to watch the final sword strike, but you did anyway."

In Ye Dingzhi's mind, the magnificence of that sword strike was no less than that of Mr. Li.

Because that sword strike was a strike of despair, a strike of loneliness. When Yu Shengmo swung his sword, he already knew that this was the last strike of his life, so it was extremely brilliant and magnificent.

Master, our final sword strike is a little different.

With this sword, I will sever all ties between myself and the past, and from now on, I will be Ye Dingzhi, a man without a single friend in this world.

Although they are very different.

Yet the same despair prevailed.

“Master, you said you wanted me to be a disciple who could surpass Li Changsheng, but today, by some twist of fate, we have actually ended up fighting.”

On the Qingyun Platform, the others held their breath.

"Zhuoqing, go and ask the Grand Tutor when he can draw his sword?" Emperor Tai'an, whose face was already bruised and swollen, was not too angry at the moment, and his tone remained calm.

Zhuo Qing was taken aback: "This servant will go and ask right away."

"Conceal your appearance and don't let anyone discover you," Emperor Tai'an whispered.

"Yes." Zhuo Qing immediately withdrew with his sword.

Emperor Tai'an then asked, "Grand Preceptor, when will Master Qingfeng of Huanglong Mountain and his disciple Mo Yi arrive?"

Now, only a few peerless experts who have reached the Divine Realm and are at the pinnacle of spiritual cultivation might be able to suppress and kill Ye Dingzhi if they join forces.

Even the Sword Guardian and Master Wangyou couldn't stop Ye Dingzhi.

Emperor Tai'an now only wants to eliminate any future troubles, and even if it means his own death, he wants to drag Ye Dingzhi down with him.

Otherwise, the Northern Li Dynasty would have completely collapsed.

Qi Tianchen hesitated for a moment before saying, "They should be here soon."