Chapter 843: Chapter 346: The Cost of Being Emperor

Emperor Jianyuan possesses such cultivation, such power, that he could easily create another dragon vein for Daning before his abdication.

After the ‘Primordial Emperor Xuanhuang’, the subsequent generations of sovereigns have mostly had short lives.

Emperor Jianyuan was originally supposed to be nearing his twilight years.

Yet this one has achieved First-grade cultivation, allowing him to live for at least another hundred years—

Thus, although the Daning Dragon Vein is shattered, the national fortune is far from its decline, on the contrary, it will ascend to its peak during these hundred years.

“I heard that decades ago, a highly-skilled mage divined the national fate of Daning. He left a prophecy that spoke of the union of Qin and Chu, and the sun rising on the West Mountain. Coincidentally, the burial ground of the Dominating Martial King is just west of Wang’an City, below the West Hillside. Her ghostly marriage companion is precisely the last bloodline of the West Capital Chu Family, Chu Zheng. Perhaps this prophecy pertains to Emperor Jianyuan.”

Wang Dongtian chuckled, with a hint of mockery in his eyes: “This His Majesty harbors great designs, but there is no need for undue worry. Do you not see that the various Divine Sects have yet to show their faces and have not intervened in today’s upheaval in the Palace City? And that the Confucian Sect is still delaying, turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to Li Changsheng’s invasion of the palace?”

Si Wufa understood clearly.

For tens of thousands of years, the various Divine Sects and the Divine Continent Dynasty have counterbalanced each other, even in times of chaos, none can dominate alone.

Moreover, there is the ‘Confucian Sect’ that combines the literati and noble families of the world.

They control the regions, possessing not only the power to resist the various sects but also to restrict successive emperors.

However, today, these forces have not appeared.

The reason behind this, isn’t it worth pondering?

※※※※

Inside Harmony Hall, although Li Changsheng reined in his Sword Qi and Kill Intent, the atmosphere remained as cold as ice.

When Li Changsheng stepped into the hall, with a wave of his sleeve, he attracted the earth and stones in front of the imperial steps, forming a Taishi Chair, and then sat brazenly upon it.

The several First-grade senior officials of the court who followed him in took no notice and said nothing.

According to the etiquette established by the Grand Ancestor of Daning, the seats of the various Divine Sect Masters are equal to those of a Prince.

The Formless Divine Sect is the foremost of the Divine Sects in the world, making Li Changsheng’s status inevitably half a rank higher than the others.

So if you really consider it, this person’s knocking on the palace gate and storming the forbidden city today isn’t really inappropriate.

In the decrees of the Grand Ancestor of Daning, the Masters of the various Divine Sects originally had the right to meet the emperor at any time.

What’s more, now is not the time to discuss etiquette and regulations.

The court is not as strong as it once was, and talking to Li Changsheng about the traditions and rules of Daning now would be to court humiliation.

This time, Li Changsheng did not deliberately use the Measuring Heaven Sword to level the sovereign seated on the imperial throne to his own height.

After this battle, how could this emperor have the qualifications to look down upon him from above?

Looking across the entire world, there are hardly any who can gaze down upon him.

With a serene expression and a hint of a smile, Li Changsheng said, “It turns out that it was the Palace Supervisor acting on his own initiative. What does His Majesty plan to do about it?”

Seated on the imperial throne, Emperor Jianyuan maintained a composed demeanor, seemingly unaffected except for a slightly pale complexion: “So, Sect Master, how do you think this person should be dealt with? I plead for leniency on his behalf.

Sect Master Zong Daban has managed the Imperial Palace for decades, during which he’s blocked no fewer than twenty assassination attempts for me, personally executed over thirty Blood List Demons, and vanquished many demons causing havoc in the world, accumulating great merit. Presumably, today, he simply sought to protect his exhausted master; I ask the Sect Master for understanding.”

The fleeting breeze over dust, Zong Qianliu, was slightly moved, bowing deeply to Emperor Jianyuan in silence.

Li Changsheng couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration again in his heart.

No wonder he is Jianyuan—

A formidable ruler following the Grand Ancestor and Taizong of Daning.

He has indeed met his match.

Li Changsheng somewhat regretted not obliterating this person with a single finger just now.

However, the attitude of the Five Great Divine Sects, the seventeen Second-grade sects, and the Worldly Gate Confucian Sect cannot be ignored.

The world is not yet in chaos; the Formless Divine Sect cannot recklessly initiate disorder, or it would incite resentment from all people and suffer backlash from across the land.

At that time, even with the protection of the Wood Sword Immortal, the Formless Divine Sect would inevitably face destruction.

This is offending Heaven, and there is no one to pray to.

Emperor Jianyuan killed nine Red Dragons, breaking the Dragon Vein; is this not a form of threat?

If this person dies, Daning is certain to collapse, and the world would return to chaos.

This sovereign takes the people of the world as hostages to coerce all sides.

In the past, at most, they might have just replaced the emperor; with so many in the Daning Royal Family, they could choose at will.

However, now, the Six Great Divine Sects must tread carefully.

The Kill Intent in Li Changsheng’s heart was almost uncontrollable.

As long as this Emperor Jianyuan lives, the Formless Divine Sect will face endless trouble.

Next, he thought of Chu Xisheng.

If it were a year ago, he would certainly choose a suitable time, a suitable method, to perish together with Emperor Jianyuan, eliminating the hidden threat to the Formless Divine Sect.

But now—

Li Changsheng’s heart calmed down: “This person has made slight contributions to the peace of the world. Otherwise, I could have taken his life just now. However, his rebellious nature is a calamity to the court, not a blessing. No amount of loyalty can disregard court rules or the sovereign’s will. If he dares to act on his initiative now, who knows if he might falsely transmit imperial edicts in the future?

I have two thoughts: one is to have His Majesty charge him with great disrespect and obstruction of internal and external matters, abolish his cultivation, and exile him to the frontier; the other is to send him to serve in the Northern Ice State army, where my Formless Divine Sect will nail him with the Soul Suppressing Nails to monitor him. This person must serve thirty years of hard labor in the north or slay three First-grade Giant Spirits or demons before he can return south of the Cliff Mountain Range.”