Chapter Thirty-Four: The Path of Great Void, Li Qingzhou

Not long after, in the Forbidden Palace of the northern Imperial City, surrounded by towering walls.

Outside the four walls, a thousand Black-Armored Guards stood sentry, while on the ramparts, Imperial Guards clad in crimson armor and clutching longbows kept constant watch. Within the city, the scene was one of magnificent splendor; the palaces, though not exceptionally tall, were exquisitely ornate. Pillars of golden wood supported intricately carved beams, and every brick and tile shimmered with crystalline clarity. The floors, paved with smooth white jade, were covered in a layer of crimson and gold interwoven carpets, creating an atmosphere of extreme opulence.

"Has the report from Xijiang Prefecture arrived?"

Inside one of the halls, the Emperor of Wei leaned over his desk, scanning through memorials, and asked in a low voice.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I have already dispatched someone to inquire with the Left Chancellor."

Liu Gao spoke with lightning speed, his voice clear and resonant, not daring to make the slightest error.

"The memorial is with Xie Jing?" The Emperor of Wei frowned.

"Yes, that is what the secret agents of the Black Dragon Guard reported."

"Hmph, he certainly knows how to keep his composure!"

The Emperor of Wei let out a laugh that could have been either a cold sneer or a mockery, then tossed aside the memorial in his hand and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

Seeing this, Liu Gao quickly stepped forward, carefully kneading the Emperor's shoulders.

"Your Majesty, the drought is a disaster sent by Heaven, and it is difficult for human effort to reverse it. Even if Wuliang Mountain and the Taixu Dao Sect intervened, at most..."

Before he could finish his sentence, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside.

"Father! Father!"

The twelfth prince, Wei Letian, and Princess Wei Xiaoyun trotted into the hall.

Liu Gao inwardly cursed his luck and, before the Emperor could flare up, immediately moved to intercept them.

"His Majesty is fatigued today..."

"It is fine, let them come over."

The Emperor of Wei waved his hand, forcing a smile as he looked at his children and asked, "What is the rush? Has that old stubborn fool Gu Tiangang been bullying you again?"

"No," Wei Letian said. "Father, it's Chen Er..."

Wei Xiaoyun interrupted him, rushing to say, "It's Chen Yi from the Marquis of Wuan's household. He defeated Master Ning!"

Having said that, she shot a glare at her twelfth brother. "Chen Er" was their private nickname for Chen Yi; how could they address him like that in front of their father?

The Emperor of Wei paused. He remembered the name Chen Yi and couldn't help but feel a spark of interest. "Tell me, how did he defeat Master Ning?"

"A sword duel! Master Ning said she wanted to spar with Chen Yi, and then..."

As Wei Letian and Wei Xiaoyun recounted the event, mixing words with gestures, the Emperor of Wei finally understood the situation.

"He defeated the sword-wielding genius of the Taixu Dao Sect using only sword techniques? Liu Gao, I recall Ning Xue is sixteen now, correct?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, it is said she just turned sixteen."

Liu Gao was equally astonished.

***

Others might not be aware, but he was well-versed in the undercurrents between the Marquis of Wuan’s manor and the Marquis of Jingye’s manor. While no one knew exactly what Zhou Tiance was planning, all signs indicated that he was secretly surveilling the Marquis of Wuan’s household. And the one caught in the eye of this vortex was this child named Chen Yi.

"Hahaha... I truly did not misjudge him. Among Chen Taiping's two sons, it is indeed the second who has promise!"

The Emperor of Wei laughed, his previous worries regarding the drought swept away.

"Your Majesty’s vision is as sharp as a torch."

After his laughter subsided, the Emperor looked at Wei Letian and the princess, exhorting them, "Do you understand now why I sent you to the Xingwu Academy?"

"Do not think that just because you have royal blood in your veins, you can look down on others. Today it is Chen Yi; tomorrow, it could be someone else."

"There are many people in this world with more natural talent and greater strength than you. Remember that you must strive to improve."

"We will strictly follow Father's teachings. We take our leave."

Wei Letian and Wei Xiaoyun exchanged a secret glance and, after speaking, turned and ran off. *Hmph, we brought him good news, and instead of a reward, we get a lecture. Not listening, not listening, not listening!*

The Emperor of Wei laughed and scolded them under his breath, then turned to contemplate. "Send someone to deliver an oral decree to the Marquis of Wuan."

Liu Gao quickly grabbed pen and paper to record it.

"Tell him that with me here, the events of the Lantern Festival will never happen again. Tell him to rest easy and focus on his garrison duties."

At this point, the Emperor of Wei paused, a faint smile touching his lips.

"Also, go to the Marquis of Jingye’s manor and summon Zhou Tiance. Tell him I miss him and want him to accompany me to the back mountain for a hunt for two months."

Liu Gao was stunned. Two months? Was the Emperor planning to stay at the mountain hunting grounds until the Mid-Autumn Festival just for the sake of that Chen Yi? What about the drought outside?

At this moment, the Emperor of Wei continued, "And Xie Jing—issue an imperial decree for him to personally oversee disaster relief in Xijiang and Jiangnan Prefectures. If he fails to handle it well, he need not return!"

"Yes."

*That is more like it,* Liu Gao thought.

***

Ning Xue left the forbidden palace grounds in a daze, making her way back to the Taixu Dao Sect’s branch in the capital.

She walked straight through the pavilions and flying eaves to the rear courtyard. Just as she hesitated, raising her hand to knock on the door, she heard Gu Tiangang’s voice from within.

"Junior Niece Ning, come in."

Ning Xue pushed the door open, but her steps faltered. A look of surprise crossed her cool features.

"Master, why are you here?"

Inside the room, besides Gu Tiangang, stood a handsome young man in a green robe, standing by the window with his hands behind his back. It was her master—Li Qingzhou, known as the greatest sword-talent the Taixu Dao Sect had seen in a thousand years.

"I was passing through on business and decided to come see you," Li Qingzhou said with a smile.

Gu Tiangang mercilessly exposed him: "He’s clearly here because he heard of a sword-wielding genius and wants to recruit them into the sect early."

"Master..." Ning Xue looked at the handsome youth with a hint of resentment.

Li Qingzhou was caught off guard and coughed. "Don't listen to your Senior Uncle's nonsense. I am primarily here to see you, and only incidentally to catch a glimpse of that genius."

As he spoke, he seamlessly changed the subject. "Did you finish your studies early today?"

Ning Xue's expression flickered slightly, and she nodded gently. "There is something I wish to report to you and Senior Uncle."

"What is it?"

"Today, I sparred in swordplay with that genius, Chen Yi..."

"Oh?" Gu Tiangang raised an eyebrow. "How many moves did he hold out for?"

Li Qingzhou also became interested, stroking his chin. "Since you were only comparing sword techniques, you must have intended to test him. I suspect he could withstand ten moves; after ten, you would have gauged his depth and ended it with one strike."

But to their surprise, Ning Xue bowed her head, bit her lip, and said, "Disciple lost. And he... he only used two swords..."

*Lost?*

Gu Tiangang and Li Qingzhou paused, exchanging a glance. Both saw the shock in the other's eyes.

They both knew that Ning Xue’s talent for the sword was exceptional; otherwise, she could not have reached the stage of Small Accomplishment in the Sword Dao at the age of sixteen. Coupled with ten years of relentless practice, her swordsmanship was perfected, especially her mastery of the vibration technique. Even without using sword energy or intent, based purely on technique, she was already the best among her peers in the entire Taixu Dao Sect.

How could such a genius lose to Chen Yi?

Even if his talent were heaven-defying, he had only been practicing for a thousand days or so. Unless he was a prodigy born with innate knowledge!

"Tell us in detail," Li Qingzhou said, his smile fading as he asked calmly.

"Yes."

Ning Xue then recounted the sword duel she had with Chen Yi at the Xingwu Academy. As she described the process, she drew her sword to demonstrate, so that her elders could understand more clearly.

"Master, Senior Uncle, although there were only two strikes, I could feel that his sword technique was extremely concise and sharp. Every move struck at my fatal weaknesses."

"Could it be... could his attainment in the Sword Dao be far beyond the Small Accomplishment stage?"

As she spoke, Ning Xue looked dejected. If his Sword Dao was already at the Small Accomplishment stage at three years old, it was terrifying enough. If it were the Great Accomplishment stage... her Sword Heart might truly shatter. How could there be a sword genius in this world more monstrous than her own master?