The land of Northern Liang was garrisoned by an imposing army of a million soldiers.
This caused Emperor Qinwu endless apprehension.
In the past, Qin Xiao had listened to him, completely obedient to him as his father. Everything had been under his control.
But now, Qin Xiao seemed like a completely different person.
This sense of unease grew increasingly profound.
He had to eliminate this threat!
"Qin Xiao, you have committed a grave mistake. Acknowledging your errors and making amends is the greatest virtue. Do you truly wish to rebel against your own father?"
Emperor Qinwu's gaze was icy. He stared intently at Qin Xiao, waiting for his answer.
Amidst the oppressive atmosphere,
ten thousand imperial guards raised their sharp blades, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
The gleaming swords and sabers reflected a cold, harsh light under the night sky.
A chilling aura of death swept over them.
Seeing this, the hearts of the people from Northern Liang leaped into their throats.
Yet even so, facing a desperate situation of certain death, they still did not lay down their weapons.
Everyone looked at Qin Xiao.
As long as he was there, he was their pillar of strength.
Lu Fengxian's face was filled with fury, his teeth grinding audibly.
"On what grounds?!"
"Northern Liang used to be nothing but a desolate land, constantly oppressed by the Xiongnu barbarians year after year. If it weren't for you, General, there wouldn't be this million-strong army, let alone the prestige that shakes the northern desert steppes!"
He had witnessed Qin Xiao's rise with his own eyes.
He also knew exactly what price Qin Xiao had paid for the million-strong army of Northern Liang.
The rich foundation Northern Liang possessed today was entirely earned through the blood, sweat, and tears of all the brothers-in-arms.
To ask Qin Xiao to hand it over on a silver platter now—what would that make of their fallen brothers?!
Just as Lu Fengxian was consumed by rage, a cold glint flashed in Jia Xu's eyes.
"Your Majesty, we only have two paths before us now, though both would tarnish your reputation."
Jia Xu lowered his voice and whispered into Qin Xiao's ear.
"The first path is to take Emperor Qinwu hostage, forcing the imperial guards to hold back for fear of harming him. We can fight our way out of the imperial city, return to Northern Liang, and then use the emperor to command the nobles, eventually bringing the entire world under your control."
"The second path is to feign surrender to show weakness. Then, when they are off guard, we first assassinate your parents and frame someone else, followed by massacring the entire imperial family. That way, you will become the rightful and legitimate emperor."
Qin Xiao: "???"
Lu Fengxian: "???"
"As expected of our military strategist, what a venomous scheme!"
Lu Fengxian gasped, subconsciously taking three steps back. The way he looked at Jia Xu was as if he were looking at a demon.
To ask His Majesty to commit patricide and matricide.
No sane human being would even dare to think of such a thing!
This completely bypassed all moral and ethical boundaries—it was a beastly act that would be spat upon by the entire world!
Jia Xu waved his feather fan, his smile as warm as a spring breeze.
"This plan goes against the harmony of heaven, but it does not harm us. It only requires Your Majesty to disregard your reputation."
Qin Xiao looked at Jia Xu's seemingly noble and righteous demeanor.
Anyone who didn't know better would think he was a great scholar of renown.
In reality, this guy was full of malicious schemes to his core.
"No wonder the original owner of this body didn't dare to use him but still forced him to stay by his side. It turns out he was afraid that letting him go would bring disaster to the world."
For the first time, Qin Xiao gained a completely new understanding of the people around him.
However, just because others didn't dare to use him didn't mean he wouldn't.
"There is no need for such trouble."
Qin Xiao waved his hand, his eyes deep and dark, as if everything was perfectly under his control.
"I have my own way."
His words piqued Jia Xu's curiosity.
Facing this certain-death situation, what other way could there be to survive?
Qin Xiao took a step forward, his black and gold dragon robe fluttering loudly. An aura of a king looking down upon the world spontaneously emerged from him.
"You want the military power of Northern Liang?"
He took the tiger tally from his chest and played with it in his hand, his tone incredibly frivolous.
The moment Emperor Qinwu saw the tiger tally, his eyes became extremely fervent and greedy. He wished he could snatch it away immediately.
Although he was known to the world as the Martial Emperor.
Only he knew that this title was entirely unearned.
The world only knew that after he ascended the throne as emperor, he turned the tide and pushed the weak Qin State to its peak.
Ranking it among the Seven Great Powers.
Crowned with the title of Emperor Qinwu, looking down proudly upon all heroes!
But they didn't know that two-thirds of the entire country's military force was completely under Qin Xiao's control.
In the past, Qin Xiao had obeyed him like a dog, without the slightest thought of resistance.
Now, everything had changed!
Whether for power or prestige, he had to hold it tightly in his own hands!
He needed to firmly control Qin Xiao; he absolutely could not let the other party slip from his grasp!
At this moment, Qin Rushuang spoke with disdain.
"Qin Xiao, don't think that bringing out the tiger tally to curry favor will make us forgive you. The wrongs you have committed are too numerous to record."
"Once our younger brother Qin Yu returns, you will pass the throne to him, and we will consider letting you stay by Imperial Father and Mother's side to serve them."
Her tone was incredibly condescending.
As if letting Qin Xiao wait upon them was some sort of grand blessing bestowed upon him.
Empress Dowager Wen also chimed in.
"Letting this little bastard serve us? I'd be worried he's plotting something!"
"He should be made to toil like a beast of burden, just like those lowly eunuchs!"
Her voice was shrill, and the look she gave Qin Xiao was full of venomous resentment.
At this moment, she didn't look like a mother at all.
Instead, she looked more like Qin Xiao's mortal enemy.
Everyone looked at Qin Xiao with mockery in their eyes.
It seemed they were just waiting to see Qin Xiao grovel in the dust.
Seeing that Qin Xiao didn't utter a word, Emperor Qinwu nodded in satisfaction and walked briskly toward him.
The distance between the two was no more than ten paces.
"Qin Xiao, as your father, I have the right to discipline you. Since ancient times, the father has been paramount!"
"As long as you hand over the tiger tally, as your father, I can allow you to make amends for the mistakes you've made!"
"Although you are incredibly stubborn and of base character, we are, after all, father and son."
"When Yu'er inherits the throne in the future, I will allow you to serve as an attendant by his side. This is your chance to redeem yourself; I hope you won't be ungrateful!"
He spoke slowly, pausing after every word, yet his voice was sonorous and forceful, echoing clearly.
His attitude was extremely arrogant.
It was as if forgiving Qin Xiao and letting him become an attendant was already a tremendous favor.
Such a humiliating scene made the soldiers of Northern Liang grind their teeth in pure fury!
"An attendant! How the hell is that any different from being a slave?!"
Lu Fengxian clenched his fists tightly, his eyes radiating an intense murderous intent.
He was on the verge of being unable to suppress the rage in his heart.
The Sky-Piercing Halberd in his hand hummed with power. He only needed a single command from Qin Xiao to charge straight into the imperial guards!
However, Qin Xiao just laughed.
"You want to plunder everything that is mine, and then make me serve as an attendant to a fake prince?"
"Hahaha! How ridiculous. I don't give a damn about your forgiveness!"
"You old fool! Have you forgotten the taste of the beating you received a few days ago?!"
Qin Xiao's eyes gleamed with ferocity, his tone chilling to the bone.
"Today, I am going to let you, you old fool, taste my iron fist!"
Without another word, Qin Xiao vanished in a flash and appeared directly in front of Emperor Qinwu.
He raised his fist high, smashing it toward Emperor Qinwu's head accompanied by a howling gale!
"Qin Xiao, you wouldn't dare!"
Emperor Qinwu had been on guard, but Qin Xiao's speed was pushed to the absolute limit. He could only see a blur of afterimages and had absolutely no time to dodge!
Watching the massive fist draw closer and closer, Emperor Qinwu's expression drastically changed.
In his haste, he channeled his protective astral energy, but it was shattered to pieces by the punch as if it were made of paper!
The fist pressed forward with unstoppable momentum!
"Ahhh!"
"Bang!"
A heavy punch landed ruthlessly right on Emperor Qinwu's cheek.
It was visibly apparent that Emperor Qinwu's facial features had caved in.
Blood splattered through the air.
Emperor Qinwu let out a tragic scream as his entire body was sent flying. He traced a perfect arc through the air before crashing heavily onto the ground.
Everyone present was struck dumb!
They watched helplessly as Emperor Qinwu was sent flying like a dead dog.
Their minds went completely blank!
How could this be possible!
Qin Xiao actually dared to beat his own father!
Where on earth did he get the audacity and courage!
"The... the Supreme Emperor!"
Screams accompanied by wailing suddenly erupted!
Empress Dowager Wen threw herself at Emperor Qinwu in a panic, crying out as she helped him up from the ground.
"Emperor Qinwu, are you alright?"
Emperor Qinwu's face was covered in blood, bruised and swollen, with blood trickling from the corners of his mouth. It felt as if every bone in his body had shattered.
Yet, the look in his eyes as he glared at Qin Xiao was filled with unparalleled fury!
This was the rage of having his power and dignity provoked and trampled upon!
"Qin Xiao, how dare you... how dare you strike me..."
Emperor Qinwu struggled to his feet and pointed at Qin Xiao. His eyes were wide open, practically shooting flames!
He roared, enunciating every single word, "Men, seize Qin Xiao! Dead or alive!"
Ten thousand imperial guards instantly raised their swords and charged at Qin Xiao!
"Kill!"
Lu Fengxian and the other military generals hastily rushed to guard Qin Xiao's sides.
"Protect His Majesty!"
Facing the enemies swarming from all directions, Qin Xiao showed no trace of fear. He merely snapped his fingers calmly.
"Great Snow Dragon Cavalry, come forth!"
The crowd was taken aback.
They looked around in all directions.
"Qin Xiao! Death is at your door, yet you are still spouting nonsense! The palace is swarming with imperial guards; how could your army possibly be here!"
Emperor Qinwu's face was full of disdain as he shouted, "Men! Capture Qin Xiao!"
But the very moment his words fell.
"Rumble! Rumble!"
The earth shook, and warhorses neighed!
"The Great Snow Dragon Cavalry is here! Kneel and accept your deaths!"
he colors of other people’s emotions. Light red meant anxiety. Gray meant exhaustion. Orange meant excitement. Yellow... meant repression. At the same time, he could gain unlimited control over one of those colors. Pale cyan: relaxation. Using this ability, he started offering “two-yuan hugs,” spending an afternoon exchanging emotional-color experiences with others. Then came his final female customer of the day— a girl whose emotional color was pure black... —— A week later, Xu Chuan had become skilled at using pale cyan—Relaxation—treating it like a bottle of menthol balm whenever he needed it. That was when he discovered he had unlocked another unlimited emotional color: Purple, the color of fear. So these emotional colors refresh every week? Fine, I take it back—I’ll never call you useless again... —— Much later, after Xu Chuan had accumulated countless emotional abilities, one night, he suddenly found himself inside someone else’s dream. There, he could use the emotional colors he possessed to paint. And in her dream, he painted her a shower of pink shooting stars, spreading across the depths of the night sky...
nd fell into a coma while saving his younger sister from an out-of-control car. He became a vegetable. No one knew that his consciousness had crossed into a world of cultivation. Over the course of sixty years, he began as the lowest kind of mine slave, struggling to survive amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood. By sheer chance, he eventually obtained the complete memories of a fallen Immortal King. Alchemy, medicine, formations, feng shui, physiognomy, artifact forging… Every great inheritance of the cultivation world was now his. But when he opened his eyes again, he discovered that ten full years had passed in the modern world. To pay for his treatment, his father had sold the family’s shop and house, leaving himself covered in lasting injuries and illness. His mother had cared for him day and night, and more than half of her hair had already turned white. His younger sister, who had been only fifteen back then, was now twenty-five. To help repay the family’s debts, she had been forced to lower her head and put on a smiling face in places of glittering lights and endless revelry. Only then did Chen Xuan understand that what he had lost was not merely ten years. He had lost the life his entire family was meant to have. The good news was that he had brought back the memories of an Immortal King’s entire lifetime. The bad news was that his soul had returned alone—his cultivation had not come with him. Spiritual energy was scarce, resources were depleted, and the modern world still had firearms, surveillance, capital, and laws. If he wanted to protect his family, break free from everyone’s control, and become truly invincible beneath the heavens, he would have to start all over again.
ts me of treason?" "Correct. The host must return to the capital and gradually build up influence." "Wait—I have half a million soldiers, and you want me to go back to the capital to 'build influence'?" "Host, you are currently the Northern Garrison General, loyal to the Great Xia Dynasty." "Of course I am loyal to Great Xia! Absolutely loyal!" "But you keep referring to yourself as 'We'..." "Never mind the details! Summon all the regional commanders and military officers! We suspect treacherous officials are manipulating the court! They shall march with Us to the capital and purge the corrupt!" "......"
s the Eldest Princess, renowned for her cold and aloof detachment, became the most docile of lambs, obeying his every command without question. But when the final move was played on the chessboard, as Gu Chenghan seized everything and ascended on the verge of apotheosis, that very Princess suddenly embraced him from behind, her tone carrying a dependence never heard before: "Wait... you haven't yet... commanded me to love you forever." Gu Chenghan froze abruptly. She... hadn't been hypnotized?! ... [The Eldest Princess's Diary] [When my soul was extracted, becoming the sole spectator outside my own shell] [At first, there was overwhelming fury, until I saw] [How he used my sword to effortlessly shatter my inescapable doom] [How he wielded my authority to eradicate fatal conspiracies I had never even detected] [Like a deity, he rescued me from the deep mire I was trapped in] [If not for those annoying vixens, he and I would be a match made in heaven] [I think I am ill, gravely ill] [My deity should belong to me alone] ... "Hypnosis? Oh, it succeeded, my dear Master." "Only this time, it's my turn to hypnotize you."
