My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult-Chapter 360 - 260 Imperial City Chronicles the Worlds

Chapter 360: Chapter 260 Imperial City Chronicles the World’s Events

Chapter 360: Chapter 260 Imperial City Chronicles the World’s Events

Imperial Palace, Imperial Study Room.

In the loft, there were seven thrones, each adorned with a yellow felt mat, a red floral carpet, mattresses, and backrests. Additionally, each bed had a spittoon, a mirror, a ruyi scepter, and a ceremonial knife.

On either side of the mattress, low tables were placed, displaying treasures and stationery carved from materials like jade, porcelain, enamel, bamboo, wood, ivory, and horn.

Furthermore, the room was furnished with semicircular bookcases, crescent tables, guqin tables, chairs, embroidered stools, and cabinets.

Due to the small and convoluted space of the Imperial Study Room, the furniture was mostly of exquisitely small and delicate designs, featuring black lacquer with gilded details and inlaid mother-of-pearl.

The walls were adorned not only with silk and paper scrolls but also with a royal calligraphy piece. In addition, there were screens, often made of rosewood and decorated with jade and ivory inlays.

The Imperial Study Room alone could be described as the epitome of lavishness.

At that moment, Zhao Zhiwu, dressed in his dragon robe, leaned against one of the thrones. Under the scorching heat, his face appeared unnaturally red, and his eyelids drooped weakly as if he might fall asleep at any moment.

Despite his efforts to stay alert, his fatigue was palpable.

Just then, Xu Qianyue’s voice emanated from outside the door, “Your Majesty, the State Preceptor has arrived.”

At this sound, the previously sluggish Zhao Zhiwu sat up, his cloudy eyes suddenly sparkling with life, resembling a fierce tiger that had just awakened.

It was a dramatic change from moments earlier.

No one knew whether the performance had been then or was now.

Zhao Zhiwu said, “Bring him in.”

His voice was full of vigor, resonant and powerful.

“Yes.”

Xu Qianyue slowly retreated.

Zhao Zhiwu remained seated, calmly picked up the royal tea next to him, and gently sipped. A surge of bitterness sprang up, which gradually dissipated, leaving a faint sweetness spreading through his mouth.

Soon, Xu Qianyue led Xiao Qianqiu into the room.

Xiao Qianqiu, as always, was dressed in a simple, clean blue Daoist robe, wearing cloth shoes, with bright, spirited eyes, and his steps neither hurried nor slow.

He approached the throne and bowed, saying, “Greetings, Your Majesty!”

Zhao Zhiwu waved his hand and said, “I have said before that the State Preceptor need not bow in court. Please, there’s no need for such formality. Have a seat.”

Xiao Qianqiu chuckled lightly and replied, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for the honor of a seat.”

With that, Xiao Qianqiu went to a throne and sat down cross-legged.

Zhao Zhiwu looked at Xiao Qianqiu opposite him and said, “It feels like it has been ages since I last saw the State Preceptor, though it has only been a few months. And ever since you went to Nanping Dao, I have been missing you constantly.”

Xiao Qianqiu said, “I apologize for causing you concern, Your Majesty. If given the opportunity, I shall visit Yujing City more frequently to see you.”

After becoming the State Preceptor, Xiao Qianqiu had rarely visited Yujing City, generally engrossed in arduous practice in the mountains. His visits to Yujing City had been few and far between.

“You should visit more often. I see you less and less,” replied Zhao Zhiwu.

Recalling the past, Zhao Zhiwu stretched out his hand towards the table and gestured, “I still remember your first visit to the capital, you were only this tall.”

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Xiao Qianqiu, now in his forties, was not considered young, but he wasn’t old in front of Zhao Zhiwu, who had been on the throne for nearly forty-three years.

Xiao Qianqiu also nodded and remarked nostalgically, “Back then in Flower City on East Lin Road, the moon was full, and the flowers were blooming. Following my master, it was the first time I beheld Your Majesty’s august presence. It was an intense moment, still vivid in my memory even after all these decades have passed.”

Under the moonlight of the city, and beneath the city lights, people in the lamplight, flowers in their eyes, embedded not only desolation.

As time slid past numerous springs, autumns, and summers, occasionally, we forget.

Both individuals were perhaps feeling sentimental, or they were simply feeling sentimental for each other.

Zhao Zhiwu was able to ascend to the throne and become emperor, with Ye Ding and the Zhenyi Sect being one of the biggest contributors, which is why the Zhenyi Sect was able to firmly establish itself as the National Religion and why Ye Ding and Xiao Qianqiu were able to successively become the State Preceptor.

For others, revisiting the past is merely reminiscence, but at their current positions, the implications were different.

Zhao Zhiwu said, “Seeing today’s State Preceptor, I think Brother Ye would be very comforted. Please have some tea, State Preceptor.”

In Xiao Qianqiu, he seemed to see a cultivation even more profound than Ye Ding’s, deeper thoughts, and an even more unfathomable future.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Xiao Qianqiu gently picked up the teacup and took a sip, then said, “I heard that someone broke into the Imperial City and severely injured Your Majesty. Is this true?”

Zhao Zhiwu nodded and said, “Yes, this person is indeed the ‘Immortal Qianqiu’ that Brother Ye had mentioned to me before.”

A serious expression appeared on Xiao Qianqiu’s face, “It really is him.”

Zhao Zhiwu stood up and slowly said, “This person’s strength is profound and unfathomable, like the vast expanse of the ocean, beyond human capability to contend with, and is the only one I have seen in my life.”

Although Zhao Zhiwu had consumed a great amount of Essence Blood to reach the Grandmaster Realm, being a true Grandmaster, his strength was naturally not to be underestimated. Even he spoke of him this way, one could glimpse the strength of this ‘Immortal Qianqiu.’

Zhao Zhiwu continued, “Not only him, the strength of that Buddhist ‘Buddha’ is also not to be underestimated, profound and unfathomable.”

Xiao Qianqiu nodded in agreement, “This Xi Hafu brings forth the presence of the ‘Buddha,’ truly terrifying.”

Currently, the Great Yan Dynasty had only one expert of the Grandmaster Realm. If the Great Yan Emperor were to pass away, the pressure faced by the Great Yan Dynasty would be immense.

Although these two Grandmasters had not yet made their move, Great Yan had to take precautions and prepare for possible issues before they arise.

Zhao Zhiwu looked into Xiao Qianqiu’s eyes and seriously said, “Therefore, the current Great Yan must not fall into chaos.”

Xiao Qianqiu understood that this was Zhao Zhiwu’s warning to him.

No matter how he and the Ghost Swordsman fought, he should not forget the external threats faced by the Great Yan Dynasty.

Xiao Qianqiu performed a Daoist salute with one hand, “Your Majesty, rest assured, I understand. Not only is the Zhenyi Sect with the Great Yan Dynasty, but my life is also within this land and rivers.”

Zhao Zhiwu expressed sentimentally, “Having the State Preceptor is truly Great Yan’s fortune.”

…..

Yujing City, Golden Throne Hall.

Under the azure sky, the golden yellow glazed tile roofing of the heavy-eaved building looked exceptionally brilliant.

Golden locked windows and vermilion-painted doors complement the platform base; colors are vivid, grand, and magnificent.

In the center of the great hall, there was a vermilion-painted square platform about two meters high, on which a golden-painted dragon throne was placed, and behind it a dragon carving screen. Beside the platform stood six tall Coiled Dragon Gold Pillars, each wrapped around a vigorous Golden Dragon.

An Jing stood beneath the hall, looking up at the ceiling, where in the center, a large gold-carved Coiled Dragon hung from the dragon’s mouth, a large silver-white orb dangling.

At this moment, Li Fuzhou and Han Wenxin stood beside him; compared to Li Fuzhou’s calm composure, Han Wenxin was overwhelmingly excited, almost as if he was about to jump up.

Especially when he saw the beautiful and delicate palace maids on both sides, his heart stirred greatly, and his eyes unabashedly invaded their space.

Suppressing his excitement, Han Wenxin whispered, “The Imperial Palace, Brother An, this is the Imperial Palace, where the Emperor lives!”

Just then, Bai Mei, the eunuch, came over, “His Majesty summons you.”

“Alright.”

An Jing nodded his head.

Han Wenxin, upon seeing Bai Mei’s two white eyebrows, was greatly surprised and asked, “Eunuch, may I know your age now?”

The white-browed eunuch glanced at this impolite young man, “One hundred and seven.”

“What!?”

Han Wenxin exclaimed in shock, “Eunuch, are you actually one hundred and seven? And still so strong?”

Although Fan Daoji’s hair and eyebrows were white, his complexion looked very rosy, and his steps were as vigorous as a dragon or tiger. One could hardly tell he was an old man.

Zhuo Yuchang beside them shook his head and said proudly, “My adoptive grandfather is almost one hundred and eight.”

“That’s wonderful. The eldest in our village would pass away at just over eighty.”

Moved, Han Wenxin hurriedly asked, “Eunuch, how do you manage to keep so young?”

Bai Mei eunuch glanced at Han Wenxin and then towards his groin, saying, “Cut that thing off and you’ll live a long life.”

Han Wenxin subconsciously clamped his groin, and cold sweat actually broke out on his forehead.

I’d rather not have such longevity.

“Please go ahead.”

Bai Mei eunuch glanced at An Jing and then made a welcoming gesture with his hand.

An Jing nodded his head and walked forward, only to see a figure approaching him head-on at that moment.

Xiao Qianqiu.

Upon seeing the person coming, An Jing couldn’t help but smile and say, “It’s been a long time, State Preceptor, you look even more eminent than before.”

Since the battle at Abyss Lake, the change in Xiao Qianqiu was quite apparent.

If previously, one could still see the arrogance that defied the mundane world on him, that arrogance had now all but dissipated, or perhaps was concealed in his heart.

He had fully integrated himself into the mundane world, becoming a part of it.

Xiao Qianqiu, looking at that unbelievably young face, said, “Compared to me, your elegance is truly astonishing.”

An Jing shook his head, “You flatter me, State Preceptor.”

Xiao Qianqiu calmly said, “The undying Qianqiu has already appeared. This person is a nemesis of the Mystical Sect, and with the inevitable trends, it’s time for the Mystical Sect to unite.”

An Jing nodded and said, “Indeed, it is time to unite.”

As the oldest sect in the world today, having even older roots than the Demon Sect, and having occupied the position of the foremost sect for a long time, the Mystical Sect has had a profound influence worldwide.

If the Mystical Sect could unite, it would undoubtedly be an event capable of shaking the entire world.

A glint surfaced in Xiao Qianqiu’s eyes, “With the Mystical Sect united, and me as the Daoist Master, you aiding by the side, I could even carve out the lineage of the Ancient Sword Sect for you, and in thirty years, pass on the position of Daoist Master of the Mystical Sect to you.”

The Mystical Sect was divided into many factions, including the Pill Faction, the Talisman Faction, the Qi Faction, and the Sword Faction. The Sword Faction, however, was the first to fall, after which the sect was governed by the other three factions.

“Hahaha!”

An Jing burst out laughing upon hearing this, “State Preceptor, you really have a sense of humor.”

Xiao Qianqiu said, “In thirty years, you could be invincible in the world, and then take over the Mystical Sect….”

An Jing said lightly, “I don’t need thirty years.”

Saying this, An Jing walked towards the Imperial Study Room.

Watching that figure clad in white, Xiao Qianqiu remained silent for a long time before saying, “Interesting, let’s see how good your Sword Dao is then.”

An Jing, guided by Bai Mei eunuch, slowly made his way to the door of the Imperial Study Room.

Standing beside the door, Bai Mei eunuch said, “Please!”

An Jing took a step over the threshold and slowly walked into the Imperial Study Room.

Thin white smoke rose, mingled with a faint purple light, and through the mist, one could immediately see Zhao Zhiwu seated at the head of the table.

At that moment, he was wearing a loose dragon robe, his expression showing a hint of fatigue, one hand resting on the round table, the other supporting his face as he took a brief rest.

An Jing stepped forward and bowed with clasped hands, “Your Majesty, I pay my respects.”

Zhao Zhiwu opened his eyes and said, “Sit down, pour the tea yourself, I brewed it personally.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

An Jing sat upon the throne and poured himself a cup of tea.

Zhao Zhiwu took a deep breath and said, “Regarding the matters between you and the State Preceptor, I am already aware. No matter how you struggle against each other, remember this.”

An Jing nodded slightly, “Rest assured, Your Majesty, I am not someone who fails to see the bigger picture.”

The external threats facing Great Yan were already severe; if the two of them were to create internal strife, the dissolution of the Great Yan Dynasty would be imminent.

Zhao Zhiwu nodded, then said, “Zongzheng Huachun is no easy adversary, do you know who is backing him?”

The news of An Jing’s duel with Zongzheng Huachun had already spread all over, which would have caused a sensation previously, but this time it was overshadowed by the rumors in Yujing City, yet it still caused ripples across the land.

Zhao Zhiwu knew very well the prowess of Zongzheng Huachun, originally a top Five Qi Grandmaster, but now, having merged with a strand of Earth Vein Spirit’s intent, his strength was terrifyingly high, potentially making him another Great Grandmaster after Xi Hafu.

An Jing stated succinctly, “I know. Qian Qiu never dies.”

“That’s him.”

Zhao Zhiwu solemnly said, “Beware of Zongzheng Huachun, and be even more cautious with this person.”

An Jing asked, “Your Majesty, how strong is this person really?”

Zhao Zhiwu pondered for a long time and said, “Unfathomable, yet possessing the strength of the greatest ever.”

“Has his cultivation almost reached the limit of a Great Grandmaster?”

A gleam appeared in An Jing’s eyes. Since Zhao Zhiwu, who was at the Grandmaster Realm himself, said so, it was enough to indicate the strength of Qian Qiu the Immortal.

“Not just in cultivation.”

Zhao Zhiwu said wistfully, “He has already attained complete separation from Heaven and Earth, meaning he is not at all constrained by this world.”

Upon hearing this, An Jing was shocked, “Complete separation from Heaven and Earth!?”

Such a realm was almost akin to becoming one with Heaven and Earth, the horror of which needs no further explanation.

Lv Guoyong was just an ordinary person yet could take on three Five Qi Grandmasters simultaneously and even killed one. How terrifying then would Qian Qiu the Immortal be if, with the cultivation of a Great Grandmaster, he completely separated from Heaven and Earth?

Zhao Zhiwu said indifferently, “This person has killed several Great Grandmasters. Naturally, those who have reached the Grandmaster Realm are no ordinary people, yet with each Grandmaster he kills, Qian Qiu the Immortal incurs injuries on himself. Though he does not die, his wounds are real and have increasingly burdened him over time. His recent trip to Yujing City severely wounded my heart meridian, but I also exacerbated his internal injuries by leveraging the True Dragon Qi of the Great Yan Dynasty, making it difficult for him to stir trouble anytime soon.”

An Jing narrowed his eyes, “Your Majesty, is your heart meridian truly shattered?”

Zhao Zhiwu said, “Indeed.”

An Jing fell silent, keenly aware that once the heart meridian is shattered, even a Grandmaster would have no chance of survival.

A Land Immortal is still a Land Immortal, not a Heavenly Immortal.

It seems the rumors are indeed true, but could the person spreading these rumors really be Zongzheng Huachun or the Black Ice Platform?

Zhao Zhiwu, seeing the doubt in An Jing’s eyes, smiled and said, “The rumors were deliberately spread by me.”

An Jing asked, “Oh? Does Your Majesty have other intentions?”

…….