Chapter 137: Sword Emperor and Blade Emperor, A Fierce Confrontation!
“Who dares intrude on the forbidden palace grounds?”
“Scram!” Gu Jingyun flew straight toward the palace, striking down anyone who dared block his path.
With a single casual palm, he sent the elite guards of the imperial Shenlong Army spewing blood as they were thrown back hundreds of meters. He held back out of respect for Tai’an City’s palace, sparing them, but any less restraint, and he’d have killed them in an instant.
After all, this was the imperial palace of Tai’an; he had to show some respect for his old friend.
“Zhao Tai’an, is this how you welcome an old friend after so many years?” His booming voice echoed across the city like a dragon’s roar, carrying a hundred miles beyond the palace. From afar, a calm response immediately echoed back.
“Come in.” Countless onlookers were stunned by the powerful exchange between the two Great Emperors, igniting waves of speculation.
“The Tai’an Emperor invited him directly into the palace. Who is this?”
“Never seen him before… Could there be someone of such rank in the Canglan Dao Domain?”
“I know! He attended the Tai’an Emperor’s celebration for his daughter’s birthday once. I did some digging afterward—this man’s origins are extraordinary!”
“Tell us!”
“He rose to fame at the same time as the Sword Emperor, mastering the blade, and is known as the Blade Emperor!”
“The Blade Emperor? I remember! He’s incredibly powerful. Back then, even the Sword Emperor barely managed to defeat him.”
Gu Jingyun entered the majestic palace, with its pavilions and flowing waters, and soon found himself face to face with Emperor Tai’an in his imperial robes.
“Old friend, indeed, it has been far too long,” Emperor Tai’an greeted him with a smile.
“Do you still consider me a friend? Then let’s discuss whether the marriage arrangement you promised years ago still stands.”
Ah, so this was why he’d come. Emperor Tai’an sighed internally, already feeling a headache brewing.
“Please, have a seat. We can discuss this calmly.”
“Calmly? Today, you must give me an answer!” Gu Jingyun demanded, refusing any pleasantries.
Though he was the ruler of an immortal dynasty, Tai’an Emperor’s expression finally showed a hint of displeasure at Gu Jingyun’s lack of decorum.
“In matters of marriage, one must consider the wishes of the children. Qingmeng is my beloved youngest daughter, and I would never force her into anything against her will.”
“So you’re reneging on your word?” Gu Jingyun sneered, his hands folded behind his back. “Zhao Tai’an, you should know this is one issue on which I will not compromise.”
“Then what would you have me do? Should I speak to Lin Weixuan directly?”
“Hah, Lin Weixuan? Do you think he would turn against me over something so trivial?”
Great Emperors rarely came into direct conflict over personal matters, even when it involved family. Emperor Tai’an and the Sword Emperor, for example, would never intervene in minor quarrels among their children; it was beneath them.
Besides, should such conflicts escalate, it could lead to bloodshed and devastation beyond measure—something no one wanted.
So Gu Jingyun was confident that Lin Weixuan wouldn’t create an enmity over his son, seeing it as not worth the trouble. After all, a Great Emperor with power was enough to throw Beiyang into chaos.
“Oh? He’s already here. You may ask him yourself.”
…
The arrival of the Sword Emperor in Tai’an City sent waves of excitement and shock throughout the city!
Stories of the Sword Emperor’s legend were endless. Three thousand years ago, he had swept through the Canglan Dao Domain undefeated, playing a vital role in establishing the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty’s dominance.
He was the ultimate target of countless cultivators—a figure they aspired to but could never surpass.
In the past, if someone had asked whether anyone could surpass the Sword Emperor, his pride would have led him to scoff at the idea. But now, things were different…
In Tianjian City, he had repeatedly heard news of his son Lin Qi’an’s astonishing achievements. Some feats even made him feel a rare flicker of fear.
When had his son become so monstrously talented? Never mind his peers; even some of the older generations would struggle to be his match. At this rate, he might actually surpass his father one day!
His purpose in attending the grand ceremony was partly to see for himself how far his son had come. Just as he entered Tai’an City, he sensed two familiar auras emanating from the palace.
“There are old friends waiting for me. You all go on ahead.” With a single step, Lin Weixuan disappeared from sight.
“Mother, I want to go find Brother!”
“Very well, go to your brother.”
Lin Hongyu ran off excitedly to seek out Lin Qi’an.
Meanwhile, with only two steps, Lin Weixuan crossed all of Tai’an City, reaching the palace.
“You finally arrived, Lin Weixuan!” Gu Jingyun’s heart immediately stirred with the desire to battle.
But now wasn’t the time to spar; he needed another seven days to fully hone his blade intent, forged over a hundred years. After a century without drawing his blade, he wanted this single strike to finally defeat Lin Weixuan!
“There’s something we need to discuss,” Gu Jingyun began, quickly explaining the issue involving their disciples.
“That’s the situation. The Tai’an Emperor’s younger daughter is to be my disciple’s wife, so tell your son to stay out of it!”
His tone was harsh, even commanding, a deliberate show of defiance. Gu Jingyun had always hated feeling inferior in front of Lin Weixuan, and it had haunted him so much that he once thought, ‘Why was Lin born before me?’
So when the opportunity arose, he would fight for it fiercely!
After hearing this, Lin Weixuan chuckled. Yet his laughter caused the falling leaves around them to split in two, as if they had been severed by an invisible sword.
The sword intent spread like a wave, forcing even the guards at the Celestial Layer level outside to gasp for air. In the sky, a drifting cloud transformed into the shape of a sword, poised to strike from above at any moment.
“What do you mean by this, Lin Weixuan?” Gu Jingyun’s brows furrowed in irritation.
“Are you really meddling in matters of the younger generation? Gu Jingyun, it seems you’ve started to backtrack on your principles after all these years.”
“You…!” Gu Jingyun’s face twisted with both shock and rage, utterly caught off guard by Lin Weixuan’s refusal to grant him even a shred of dignity!
Suddenly, a second Emperor’s aura rose in opposition. Another cloud transformed into a massive blade, meeting the sword-shaped cloud head-on.
The world’s pinnacle blade and sword intents clashed invisibly, like two armies of generals setting up for a confrontation. The very air around them twisted, creating faint ripples of Dao patterns.
A bird happened to fly through, but as it brushed against the intangible currents, it disintegrated into ash mid-flight.
For ten miles around, everyone below the level of Saint collapsed to their knees! The pressure of the Great Emperors’ confrontation was enough to destroy one’s spirit entirely, leaving them crippled.
After a tense moment, the clouds reverted to their natural form, and a gentle breeze swept through as if nothing had happened.
In reality, the two Great Emperors had already engaged in a brief but fierce exchange. True power didn’t always manifest in overt destruction; sometimes, the victor was decided without a single blow.
A trickle of blood slipped from the corner of Gu Jingyun’s mouth, instantly swept away by the wind.
Lin Weixuan, his hands behind his back, said calmly, “The affairs of the younger generation should be settled with their own fists. This Emperor will not intervene, nor do you have the right to.”
“That was a promise from the Tai’an Emperor!” Gu Jingyun protested.
Tai’an Emperor thought wryly to himself, ‘Now that you’ve lost, you’re shifting the blame onto me?’
“Ahem, my eldest daughter Zhao Yunji also once had an engagement with Lin Qi’an, yet that’s been annulled, hasn’t it? The world changes, and everything depends on fate.”
“You!”
“The grand ceremony is about to begin. Your disciple will have plenty of chances to prove himself. If he truly can overshadow Lin Qi’an, there’s no reason why my daughter wouldn’t take notice.”
The Tai’an Emperor’s suggestion was clear: the outcome of this rivalry would be determined at the grand ceremony. There, each would rely on their own strength, leaving no room for complaints.
“Fine, then we’ll settle it at the ceremony.” Gu Jingyun turned to leave, only to stop after a few steps and look back. “Lin Weixuan, in seven days, do you dare accept a single strike from me?”
“A blade honed for a century? Why wouldn’t I?”
The Tai’an Emperor could only manage a wry smile. It seemed inevitable that the two would end up sparring again. Every time they met, it always came down to this.
After all, it had been a century since their last match.
Gu Jingyun had abstained from drawing his blade for a hundred years, preparing for this one decisive strike. Their showdown in seven days would coincide with the grand ceremony—a spectacle bound to captivate the world.
…
When Gu Jingyun returned, Li Xuan immediately rushed forward. “Master, how did it go?”
“Use your own strength. What else can I say? If you want a woman, take her yourself.”
Gu Jingyun’s response hit him like a bolt from the blue. Li Xuan’s face went pale. The first grand dream he’d had since leaving the mountain had shattered just like that!
But wait—if he remembered correctly, Tai’an City also had an elder princess. She was renowned as the number one beauty of the Canglan Dao Domain, a beauty unmatched even by the fairy-like maidservants surrounding Lin Qi’an. And, rumor had it, she once had a marriage arrangement with Lin Qi’an but had since annulled it.
This had to mean she despised Lin Qi’an!
Excellent.
Determined, Li Xuan vowed to win the elder princess’s heart. ’You took my fiancée? Then I’ll go after your former betrothed!’
Without delay, he left to gather every detail he could about Zhao Yunji, from her background and personality to her hobbies and interests. Whatever was necessary, he would be prepared.
Upon learning she practiced the art of lightning cultivation, he borrowed ancient texts on lightning techniques from his master, rare treasures not circulated beyond the sect.
With these in hand, he was certain Zhao Yunji would be intrigued!