Chapter 118: Emperor

Clatter. Two empty sword cases landed beside Qin Mu's feet, rolling twice.

Behind him, numerous scholars were stunned into silence. Even the boy who was Daoist Ling Yun's disciple turned his head, twisting his neck at an alarming angle, and stared wide-mouthed into the hall, stammering speechlessly.

Behind the Pure Yang Hall stood the Grand Learning Hall of the Imperial Academy. This hall was many times larger than the Pure Yang Hall and other structures. A long staircase with nine hundred and ninety-nine steps led up to it. At the top of these steps, in front of the Grand Learning Hall, was the Sage's Throne, a seat exclusively for the Grand Libation of the Imperial College.

However, at this moment, the Sage's Throne was occupied not by the young Patriarch of the Demonic Cult, who was also the Grand Libation, but by a middle-aged man in a yellow robe and an jade crown. The young Patriarch sat below him, and below the Patriarch, extending onto the steps, stood hundreds of civil and military officials, along with several Imperial College Supervisors.

Below the platform, scholars from across the country were competing.

The scholars present here were all powerful individuals, their assessment differing from that of ordinary scholars like Qin Mu. They had endured arduous and challenging trials to reach this stage.

Having overcome immense difficulties to reach this point, some scholars were so overwhelmed by the sight of the man in the yellow robe on the Sage's Throne and the grand spectacle that they fainted and were immediately disqualified.

The man on the Sage's Throne was none other than Emperor Yanfeng, the current ruler of the Eternal Peace Empire.

Emperor Yanfeng's personal attendance at the Imperial Academy was not unexpected. He had visited many times before to observe the nation's scholars as they pursued their studies to become imperial disciples.

The Imperial Academy, along with Grand Colleges and Primary Schools, served as crucial tools for Emperor Yanfeng to challenge the deeply entrenched sects. The Imperial Academy, in particular, was of paramount importance and demanded close scrutiny.

Below the platform, numerous scholars were engaged in fierce competition. Suddenly, with a thunderous crash, the back door of the Pure Yang Hall, which stood in front of the Grand Learning Hall, exploded open. A figure flew backward and crashed into the midst of the ongoing battle!

Following closely behind the figure were numerous wooden swords, striking at the retreating form with even greater speed.

Sword winds whistled, and seventy-one consecutive impacts echoed, pinning the figure onto the steps, where he lay sprawled.

Below the Grand Learning Hall, silence fell. The scholars who had been competing stared blankly, utterly stunned, at the person on the steps.

In front of the Grand Learning Hall, silence also reigned. The hundreds of civil and military officials on the steps were equally startled.

After a moment, Emperor Yanfeng chuckled unhurriedly, "Grand Libation, it seems the competition among your primary school scholars is even more spirited than that of the grand college scholars! Even Our Imperial College Supervisor was sent flying. We are rather intrigued and wish to observe the primary school scholars' competition."

The young Patriarch smiled, "If Your Majesty wishes to see, then let these scholars come forward and compete here. Ling Yun, get up quickly! Haven't you disgraced yourself enough already?"

Daoist Ling Yun, mortified and ashamed, scrambled to his feet and offered an apology to Emperor Yanfeng.

A wooden sword was lodged in his chest; it was the seventy-second one. Seventy-two consecutive wooden swords had struck the same spot on his chest, with the wood already penetrating his muscle, narrowly missing his heart.

Fortunately, while being sent flying, he managed to unseal his other divine treasures, allowing his magical power to recover. This alone prevented Qin Mu from killing him.

However, this humiliation was not just in front of the entire Imperial Academy, but also before the Emperor, the court officials, and even foreign dignitaries.

—Among the civil and military officials on the steps, several were foreign envoys.

Emperor Yanfeng chuckled, "Imperial College Supervisor, you've truly distinguished yourself, to be beaten so badly by a primary school scholar! Who struck you? Call him up; We wish to see who dares to assault a fourth-rank official of Our court."

Daoist Ling Yun was even more mortified, wishing he could disappear into the ground.

The young Patriarch summoned another Imperial College Supervisor and asked him to accompany Daoist Ling Yun, smiling, "Your Majesty, Ling Yun most likely underestimated his opponent and was caught off guard by the primary school scholar. Nevertheless, this primary school scholar's skill is quite remarkable, to be able to beat Ling Yun into such a state. Even I am curious to see who possesses such ability."

In front of the Pure Yang Hall, Qin Mu, as if nothing had happened, looked back. He saw that the scholars behind him were still dazed, except for the girl named Si Yunxiang, who was staring at him with wide eyes. When he turned his head, she quickly averted her gaze, lowered her head, and fidgeted with the hem of her clothes.

'This shy demeanor, it's definitely not Granny Si!' Qin Mu thought, full of confidence.

Just then, Daoist Ling Yun and another Imperial College Supervisor approached quickly. The boy hurried to meet Daoist Ling Yun, calling out, "Master..."

Thwack. The boy was knocked down by a slap from Daoist Ling Yun. The other Imperial College Supervisor frowned, saying, "Senior Brother, why are you so petty, taking your anger out on a child?"

Daoist Ling Yun's face was grim. He looked at Qin Mu, his heart filled with unresolvable resentment, and stiffly said, "You, come with me!"

The other Imperial College Supervisor looked at the other scholars and said, "You all follow as well. The grand examination at Pure Yang Hall is temporarily suspended."

The scholars snapped back to reality and quickly followed.

When they arrived below the platform in front of the Grand Learning Hall, their hearts pounded uncontrollably. No one had realized there were so many people present, all prominent figures of the empire, and even the Emperor himself!

Qin Mu looked around, then lowered his gaze, maintaining a calm demeanor. Wei Yong was also standing below the platform, not undergoing examination. Seeing Qin Mu, he wanted to greet him but restrained himself, agitatedly scratching his ears and cheeks.

Emperor Yanfeng smiled, "Which primary school scholar sent Our Imperial College Supervisor flying? Step forward, let Us see."

Qin Mu took a step forward, raised his head, and faced the Emperor directly, thinking, 'So this is Emperor Yanfeng, the current Emperor of the Eternal Peace Empire?'

Emperor Yanfeng was somewhat different from what Qin Mu had imagined. He had envisioned Emperor Yanfeng as a wise and mighty figure, awe-inspiring like a celestial being. Instead, this Emperor Yanfeng was rather amiable, wearing a yellow dragon robe with a red, gold-inlaid jade belt. His face was a bit plump, his brow wide, his nose bridge high, and he sported a four-pronged mustache.

He had two mustache strands above his upper lip and two below his lower lip, the latter being much shorter but not out of place. It seemed his mustache was regularly trimmed, keeping it neat and tidy, which gave him a refined look.

Emperor Yanfeng curiously scrutinized him for a moment and smiled, "Very young indeed! To possess such strength at your age is truly rare. Where are you from?"

Qin Mu bowed, about to say Lizhou Prefecture, but suddenly changed his mind and honestly replied, "Your subject is from the Great Ruins."

No sooner had he spoken than a young general stepped forward from among the officials, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, please order this person's arrest! He is one of the abandoned people from the Great Ruins!"

At this statement, the entire hall erupted in an uproar.

Qin Mu looked in the direction of the voice, feeling a slight unease. He saw that the young general was none other than General Qin Feiyue. Qin Feiyue was naturally no stranger to him; they had met more than once and had even chatted in an inn in Xianglong City.

Qin Feiyue knew some of his background.

Just then, an old official nearby whispered, "Your Majesty, this young man is the Divine Physician of Flower Lane whom your subject sought out."

"The Divine Physician of Flower Lane, so young?"

Emperor Yanfeng paused, then chuckled, "Young General Qin, stand down. He has already stated he is from the Great Ruins; why the fuss?"

Qin Feiyue argued vehemently, "Your Majesty, this person's origin is suspicious and he is connected to the Demonic Cult. We implore Your Majesty to see clearly!"

Emperor Yanfeng slightly frowned and said, "The Demonic Cult is also a sect under Our rule, and its members are Our subjects. If you ask Us to arrest Our own subjects, how are We to govern the Demonic Cult then?"

Qin Feiyue tried to argue further, "But..."

Emperor Yanfeng's face darkened slightly, and he waved his hand, "Go back. Among Our court officials, there are elite experts from various sects and schools. If we speak of origin, half are from demonic cults or paths. Young General Qin, you are being excessive!"

Qin Feiyue had no choice but to retreat.

Emperor Yanfeng glanced at Qin Mu and smiled, "Under Heaven, no land is not the king's land; within the realm, no one is not the king's subject. Our empire extends beyond Eternal Peace; citizens from the Great Ruins are also Our citizens. Are you a disciple of the Demonic Cult?"

Qin Mu bowed and replied, "Yes."

Emperor Yanfeng laughed heartily, surveying the civil and military officials around him, and said, "The Demonic Cult has always been elusive, but now its disciples are also entering the Imperial Academy to study. Grand Libation, your merits are immense!"

The young Patriarch bowed slightly and said, "This is due to Your Majesty's boundless fortune."

An official nearby said, "Your Majesty, this young man might be one of the abandoned..."

"Abandoned people?"

Emperor Yanfeng dismissed the notion, leisurely saying, "Those abandoned by gods, We may not abandon. Gods may abandon all living beings, but We cannot. Once they are within Our realm, regardless of their origin, they are all Our living beings. Where are these 'abandoned' people you speak of?"

An old official stepped forward, bowed, and said, "But Your Majesty, recently there have been frequent disturbances from various sects. Your subject fears that the Demonic Cult might also be stirring, and if this young man is a spy for the Demonic Cult..."

"These Jianghu sects always want to cause a major incident to scare Us."

Emperor Yanfeng, also somewhat exasperated, sneered, "They claim to be against the Imperial Preceptor, but in reality, they are against Us! They want Us to vacate Our seat and let them sit on the Dragon Throne. What a pipe dream! In the past, the nation was a vassal of the sects; they decided who became emperor, sucking the nation dry and exploiting the common people. Any emperor who didn't follow their will was replaced or killed. Times are different now; sects can only be vassals of the state!"

As he spoke, something seemed to strike a chord within him, and he stood up, somewhat agitated: "The Imperial Preceptor and We are pushing for reform precisely to change the situation where sects control the lifelines of the common people and the nation. We will not only reform, but also revolutionize — revolutionize these sects' very existence, and even Our own! If these sects refuse to reform, then let them wait for Us to revolutionize them! All resources controlled by these sects must be nationalized; they will no longer hold Us hostage! Not only must the sects change, but the court must also change. If the court doesn't change, it will eventually collapse! You all say the Imperial Preceptor is radical, but the Imperial Preceptor is not as radical as We are. The Imperial Preceptor's actions are all at Our instruction! To oppose the Imperial Preceptor is to oppose Us!"