Chapter 129: Sword Slashes the Emperor

Changle Street stretched for several miles, ending at an inner city wall five zhang high. Mysterious Duke stood atop the city wall, gazing at Li Qingqiu’s figure from afar, his eyes beneath the mask complex.

“Li Qingqiu, who exactly are you? Is your martial arts truly just martial arts…”

Mysterious Duke felt a strong sense of defeat well up in his heart whenever he recalled the methods Celestial Master Jiang displayed yesterday.

Nearly two hundred years of accumulation couldn’t compare to decades of another’s fortune. Although this wasn’t the first time, he was always greatly affected.

He knew he couldn’t stop Li Qingqiu, nor would he fight to the death for Zhao Zhi. He even wished for Zhao Zhi’s death.

It was just that the current trend of events displeased him. It was all Zhao Zhi’s fault for being too foolish, losing his reason for the elixir of immortality.

Mysterious Duke gave Li Qingqiu a deep look, then turned and leaped down from the city wall.

Li Qingqiu looked up into the distance. After just one glance, he continued to charge forward, his steps quickening, and the sword in his hand moving faster and faster.

Sword light continuously flashed on Changle Street, and more and more Divine Martial Soldiers fell. The Jin Wu Guards followed Li Qingqiu’s movement on the eaves of the houses along the street, hesitating to descend.

Divine Martial Soldiers were monsters who only knew how to fight, oblivious to pain. But Jin Wu Guards were different; even after consuming martial god pills and yin ghost pills, they retained their human will.

As humans, encountering an unbeatable existence inevitably bred fear… Outside the South City Gate.

The group of Martial Artists saw the soldiers on the city wall with their backs to them and decided to sneak up. They quickly arrived before the city gate, looked inside, and then all of them froze.

The city gate faced Changle Street directly. The dense piles of corpses on the street made their scalps tingle, and they couldn’t help but recall Li Qingqiu’s face.

Li Qingqiu looked like a scholar, yet he was so terrifying?

How long had he been in there? Yet he had killed so many people. Even if those killed were people they hated, they still instinctively felt fear.

“Wait a little longer. Perhaps the emperor will soon summon all the city’s soldiers. That will be our chance.”

An elderly Martial Artist whispered, receiving agreement from the others. Although there were many corpses inside, the number of Imperial Guards near the city gate was also considerable. If they forced their way in, they would likely be minced into paste.

A Martial Artist with a saber on his back sighed, “Perhaps, after today, the heavens of Great Li Dynasty are truly about to change.”

Upon hearing this, everyone else felt invigorated.

No matter what the world would become in the future, they all currently hoped that Emperor Zhao Zhi would die soon… In the central square of the Imperial City, the previously noisy prisoners all stared in fear at the high platform, utterly silent.

To be precise, their gazes were all drawn to the same person.

It was Emperor Zhao Zhi.

At this moment, Zhao Zhi’s Dragon Robe violently billowed, and his entire body was enveloped in a strange black Qi. Above his head, a ghost shadow nearly three zhang tall floated. This ghost shadow was humanoid, entirely black, with arms like blades and horn-like shapes on its head.

People believed in ghosts and gods, but very few had actually seen a ghost. Even seeing a ghost in broad daylight would be terrifying, let alone the colossal ghost above Zhao Zhi’s head, which inspired awe and dread.

True Man Qingxiao and the other prisoners on the platform were also frightened by the giant ghost above Zhao Zhi’s head, their expressions blank.

Zhao Zhi spread his arms, a look of infatuation on his face. He took a deep breath and said, “This is the feeling, the feeling of omnipotence.”

The ministers dared not approach, even forgetting to flatter him.

Boom—

A deafening roar came from the south, startling everyone into turning their heads. They then saw buildings in the southern district being shattered, dust flying, and dozens of Divine Martial Soldiers and Jin Wu Guards soaring into the air, as if some colossal entity was attacking. The scene was extremely impactful, making everyone’s hearts tremble.

True Man Qingxiao tilted his head, equally shocked by this sight.

“Roar—”

A high-pitched tiger’s roar came from within the rolling dust. Before the roar had completely dissipated, a silver giant tiger burst out from the dust. It was three zhang tall at the shoulder, with a majestic physique, shimmering with a faint silver light. Its appearance startled everyone.

Behind the silver giant tiger, a person stepped over the ruins. It was Li Qingqiu.

Mountain Lord Divine Incantation!

Li Qingqiu’s mastery of the Mountain Lord Divine Incantation wasn’t exceptionally high, but his Origin Qi was boundless.

“Zhao Zhi, your time has come.”

Li Qingqiu’s voice came, clearly reaching everyone’s ears.

The prisoners immediately became excited. The Mountain Lord that Li Qingqiu had conjured looked like a Divine Beast, its Aura completely matching the fierce ghost above Zhao Zhi’s head, giving them confidence and making them ecstatic.

“Is that a real tiger?”

“No, it’s fake, it has no physical form.”

“Hiss—is this martial arts, or immortal magic?”

“How can this be martial arts! Even ghosts have appeared!”

“Is he Li Qingqiu, the Sect Leader of Qingxiao Sect?”

As the prisoners excitedly discussed, True Man Qingxiao also looked at Li Qingqiu. He didn’t recognize Li Qingqiu, and his eyes couldn’t help but dim.

Zhao Zhi, standing on the high platform, also looked at Li Qingqiu. This was his first time seeing Li Qingqiu, who was even younger than he had expected.

Although he was surprised by the Mountain Lord Divine Incantation, he was more excited now. The stronger Li Qingqiu was, the more he could display his own strength.

“Li Qingqiu, why are you so intent on rebelling against me?”

Zhao Zhi took a step forward and asked loudly. The ghost Qi around him began to spread, and Evil Qi surged between his brows.

“Harming the common people, treating human lives as mere grass, and you still ask? Zhao Zhi, stretch out your neck. My heavenly rainbow sword is about to lop off your dog head.”

Li Qingqiu’s voice followed, his tone icy. His attitude invigorated the prisoners.

“heavenly rainbow sword…”

True Man Qingxiao suddenly looked up, his gaze fixed on Li Qingqiu, his eyes gradually reddening, even glistening with tears.

Hearing Li Qingqiu’s provocative words, Zhao Zhi was furious. His face became ferocious, and he immediately waved his sleeve at Li Qingqiu. The giant ghost shadow roared and pounced towards Li Qingqiu.

Seeing the giant ghost shadow attack, the Mountain Lord roared, then leaped up, preparing to clash head-on with the giant ghost shadow.

Everyone fell silent, waiting nervously.

The giant ghost shadow swung its ghostly claws in the air, while the Mountain Lord raised its tiger claws. When they collided, the giant ghost shadow was actually directly shattered by the Mountain Lord.

The Mountain Lord landed, kicking up rolling dust. It shook its head, then charged towards the high platform.

Zhao Zhi’s expression changed drastically. He didn’t retreat but instead stepped forward quickly, reaching the edge of the high platform. He struck out with both palms, and vast ghost Qi surged from them, raising a terrifying strong wind that forcibly tore the Mountain Lord apart, turning it into white Qi that dissipated.

Zhao Zhi withdrew his palms and sneered, “Li Qingqiu, my cultivation has reached a thousand years. No one in this world can be my enemy. What other tricks do you have?”

Li Qingqiu didn’t answer, merely quickening his steps, moving faster and faster.

Zhao Zhi raised his right arm, palm facing upwards. He clenched his right hand, and the ground in front of him suddenly cracked, the fissures rapidly extending, closing in on Li Qingqiu.

Li Qingqiu stepped onto the cracks, a visible Qi shield forming in front of him, forcefully resisting Zhao Zhi’s power as he advanced.

Zhao Zhi’s eyes narrowed. He pulled back his right arm, then pushed it forward with great force, completely shattering the ground in front. Countless rocks rose up, surging towards Li Qingqiu.

Everyone felt the ground tremble, and all the Martial Artists looked at Zhao Zhi in fear.

What terrifying power was this!

Did he truly possess a thousand years of cultivation?

Before the Jin Wu Guards, Divine Martial Soldiers, and prisoners could think further, a sword light illuminated the square, and Zhao Zhi’s pupils subconsciously dilated.

Under Zhao Zhi’s gaze, Li Qingqiu, holding the heavenly rainbow sword, pierced through all the rocks in his path, tearing through the fierce wind, like a sharp arrow streaking across the sky, arriving before him.

Zhao Zhi was greatly alarmed and subconsciously raised his palm to block.

Pfft—

The blade pierced through his palm, blood splattering, and the blade continued to press towards his throat, forcing him to fall backward.

In the blink of an eye, in the eyes of others, Zhao Zhi had just used his power to raise rows of magnificent rocks, and Li Qingqiu had already flown forward with a single sword strike, piercing through the rocks in his path and arriving before Zhao Zhi. The entire process took less than two breaths.

Too fast!

So fast that others didn’t have time to think.

Li Qingqiu’s face was cold. He slashed off Zhao Zhi’s right arm with a single sword, then withdrew his sword and raised his leg.

Zhao Zhi ignored the pain of his severed arm. As he was about to fall, he instinctively used his other hand to support himself on the ground, only to be stomped on the chest by Li Qingqiu.

Boom!

The stone high platform violently trembled, its surface cracking into countless fissures that extended to the feet of every minister and prisoner. Zhao Zhi, pinned to the ground, his eyes wide open, spat out a large mouthful of black blood.

Li Qingqiu stepped on Zhao Zhi’s chest, drew his sword forward with his right hand, and placed the tip of the sword against Zhao Zhi’s throat.

The world suddenly fell silent!

Celestial Master Jiang looked at this outcome, his eyes widening, his mouth unconsciously agape.

Zhao Zhi was defeated?

When Zhao Zhi displayed his thousand-year cultivation, everyone was terrified. They never expected that even such a powerful person was no match for Li Qingqiu.

Li Qingqiu slightly raised his chin, looking down at Zhao Zhi, and said, “Though your cultivation may be a thousand years, it is ultimately not something you cultivated yourself. You can’t even unleash one-tenth of its power, you trash.”

Zhao Zhi could no longer be angry this time, for he could feel the keen edge of the heavenly rainbow sword, making him smell the scent of death.

He had never felt so close to death.

“You…”

Zhao Zhi opened his mouth, but as his gaze met Li Qingqiu’s eyes, he was scared out of his wits.

He quickly turned his head and shouted into the distance, “To arms! Quick, save the Emperor!”

The Jin Wu Guards snapped back to their senses. They all drew their sabers and swords, charging towards Li Qingqiu.

Li Qingqiu’s right hand, which held the sword, suddenly loosened. The heavenly rainbow sword seemed to be violently pushed by an invisible force, directly plunging downwards, piercing through Zhao Zhi’s throat and rendering him unable to speak.

“Ergh…”

Zhao Zhi gripped the blade of the heavenly rainbow sword with his left hand, trying to pull it out, but he couldn’t budge the blade at all. Blood gushed out frantically, quickly staining his vision red.

Li Qingqiu ignored the Jin Wu Guards attacking from all directions. He leaned forward slightly, gripped the hilt, and with a flick of his wrist, directly severed Zhao Zhi’s head.

The head rolled along the high platform, making dull thudding sounds, startling the Jin Wu Guards into stopping, looking at him in disbelief.

Li Qingqiu held his sword, his gaze sidelong at Celestial Master Jiang, and asked, “You call yourself a Celestial Master and understand the method of immortality. I’m very curious, if I were to cut off your head too, could you still achieve immortality?”

Celestial Master Jiang subconsciously retreated, his face filled with shock and anger. He looked at Li Qingqiu and asked tremblingly, “You… are you an immortal cultivator?”