120: Chapter 120 Ling Xi! How dare you threaten to suppress your father?

Beneath the broken walls of the Generals Mansion ruins, Ye Wentian stared intently in the direction of the Imperial Palace.

The barrier set up by Little Black Bird blocked all sound, so he couldn't hear any fighting, but his heart grew increasingly anxious.

The Imperial Palace was heavily guarded, with a Heavenly Human Realm Old Ancestor overseeing it. Even if Xiao Ruobai and Hanyu were strong, it would be difficult for them to succeed quickly, and they might even fall into danger.

Just as he was pacing anxiously, familiar footsteps suddenly came from afar.

Ye Wentian abruptly looked up to see Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu walking side-by-side, with the intelligent Little Black Bird perched on one of their shoulders.

Behind them, a man in a moon-white robe followed, his clothes spotless, his aura so ethereal he seemed not of the mortal world.

"Xiao Ruobai! Why are you back?"

Ye Wentian rushed forward, his tone filled with urgency.

"Is it because the Imperial Palace guards are too strict, and you couldn't find an opportunity to act? It's alright, we can plan for the long term; we'll eventually wait until..."

Before he could finish, Xiao Ruobai's calm voice interrupted him: "Uncle Ye, there's no need to wait. Our great vengeance has been avenged. All Bloodline of the Great Yan Dynasty Royal Family have been executed."

"You... what did you say?"

Ye Wentian's pupils constricted, and he stumbled back half a step, looking at Xiao Ruobai in disbelief.

"All Imperial Family Bloodline? This... how is this possible? There's a Heavenly Human Realm Old Ancestor in the Imperial Palace, and so many hidden guards. How could you be so fast..."

His voice was full of shock; he even wondered if he had misheard. That was the Great Yan Dynasty Royal Family, entrenched for many years. How could it be completely annihilated by just two people in a mere half-hour?

Xiao Ruobai didn't offer much explanation, merely stepped aside to reveal Gu Changge behind him, introducing him with a solemn tone: "Uncle Ye, this is my Master, Gu Changge."

Only then did Ye Wentian properly look at Gu Changge. With just one glance, he felt the man's aura was unfathomably deep, as if it could encompass heaven and earth. He cupped his hands in a salute: "I am Ye Wentian!"

Gu Changge nodded slightly, his gaze falling upon Ye Wentian, and he spoke calmly: "You were Xiao Zhan's former subordinate. You sacrificed your Dantian to protect the Generals Mansion back then, which shows loyalty and bravery. Since you are someone Xiao Ruobai cares about, I will help you this once."

Before his words finished, Gu Changge raised his hand, and a pale golden Spiritual Qi surged forth. This Spiritual Qi, imbued with immense vitality, poured into Ye Wentian's Dantian like a torrent!

Ye Wentian felt a scorching warmth in his Dantian. His Dantian, which had been shattered and dormant for years, rapidly reformed under the nourishment of this Spiritual Qi. The blockage in his Meridians instantly vanished, becoming even smoother than during his Peak years!

Even more astonishing, the Spiritual Qi within his body surged wildly. His Cave Heaven Realm cultivation, which had long been stagnant, began to ascend rapidly.

The barrier of his Breakthrough Bottleneck cracked, and in an instant, he broke through to the Peak of Cave Heaven Realm, continuing to surge upwards. The threshold of the Heavenly Human Realm was also easily breached by this Spiritual Qi!

In mere moments, Ye Wentian transformed from a Cultivator withuseless person (cultivation completely destroyed) to not only recovering his Peak Cave Heaven Realm strength but also directly breaking through to the Late Stage of Heavenly Human Realm!

He felt the surging Spiritual Qi within him, looking at his hands, which once again possessed power, trembling with shock. His lips moved for a long time, but he couldn't utter a complete sentence.

"This... this is the aura of the Heavenly Human Realm?"

Ye Wentian whispered tremblingly, his eyes filled with ecstasy and disbelief. He had never imagined that in his lifetime, he would not only recover his cultivation but also break through to the Heavenly Human Realm, a realm countless Cultivators dreamed of!

He suddenly knelt, about to kowtow to Gu Changge in gratitude, but an invisible Spiritual Qi held him up, preventing him from lowering his head any further.

"No need for such formality." Gu Changge's tone was calm as he withdrew his hand.

Ye Wentian, held by the Spiritual Qi, looked at Gu Changge with immense gratitude, then turned to Xiao Ruobai, about to say he wished to follow them.

However, Xiao Ruobai suddenly spoke, his tone serious: "Uncle Ye, now that the Great Yan Dynasty Royal Family is destroyed, the Imperial Capital is leaderless, and the common people may fall into chaos.

You once defended the northern borders with my father; you understand military governance and the hearts of the people, and you've just broken through to the Heavenly Human Realm, possessing enough strength to stabilize the situation—are you interested in becoming the new Emperor of this Great Yan Dynasty?"

"Become Emperor?"

Ye Wentian was completely stunned, waving his hands repeatedly, "Xiao Ruobai, this is absolutely impossible! I am merely a former subordinate of the Generals Mansion, how could I..."

At this moment, a dense and overwhelming scent of blood wafted from the Imperial Palace, carried by the wind, spreading like an invisible tide through the streets and alleys of the Imperial Capital.

It was the smell of residual Spiritual Qi, warm blood, and corpses, carrying the desolation of the Imperial Family's demise, striking hard at the hearts of every citizen and official.

Soon, the ministers' spies reported back: the Imperial Palace was strewn with corpses, the Imperial Family Bloodline completely annihilated, and the perpetrators were none other than Xiao Zhan's son, Xiao Ruobai!

...Several days later, Ye Wentian ascended the throne in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, changing the national title to "Xia." He proclaimed to the world the Generals Mansion's vindication, posthumously honoring Xiao Zhan as "Martial King of the Northern Frontier," and all those involved in the Generals Mansion incident were thoroughly purged.

The Generals Mansion was also redecorated and renovated, looking brand new. This residence, once burdened with blood feud, shed its decay and desolation, regaining vitality, becoming a solemn and warm sight in the Imperial Capital, both comforting the departed and guarding new life.

Gu Changge patted Xiao Ruobai's shoulder: "With matters here concluded, accompany Master to travel through the Eastern Domain. It will be both a journey and a cultivation experience."

Xiao Ruobai understood and followed along with Fang Hanyu and Little Black Bird.

The three people and one bird left the Imperial Capital, heading west!

Since arriving at Azure Profound Sect's Zizhu Peak, Gu Changge had rarely ventured outside. Now, he used this journey not only to experience the Eastern Domain's landscape but also to use the power of heaven and earth to guide his Disciple's cultivation.

They arrived at a broken cliff, where a sea of clouds churned below, and the Spiritual Qi was several times denser than elsewhere.

Gu Changge pointed to the sea of clouds and said: "Xiao Ruobai, you cultivate the 'Dao of Battle.' You need to temper your heart with the vastness of heaven and earth. The sea of clouds is like waves now; raise your Halberd, and use your battle Qi to stir the momentum of the clouds. See if you can gain any insights."

Xiao Ruobai nodded, took the Nine Heavens Dragon Soul Halberd from his back, and leaped to the edge of the cliff.

Golden battle Qi erupted from his body, intertwining with the Spiritual Qi churning in the sea of clouds. The tip of his Halberd slashed through the air, actually causing the sea of clouds to condense into a "Dragon of Battle" phantom.

He let out a deep shout, and the battle Qi, carrying the Dragon shadow, struck out. The sea of clouds below the cliff exploded, and a flash of Breakthrough inspiration flickered from his brow—the barrier of the Late Stage Cave Heaven Realm had quietly shattered amidst this enlightenment from heaven and earth!

Fang Hanyu watched with surging emotion. Gu Changge turned to him: "You cultivate the 'Dao of Sword,' which emphasizes 'the unity of heart and sword.' The welcoming pine on that cliff edge, rooted in the rock crevices, endures wind and rain without falling. Sit quietly beneath it, perceive its 'resilience,' and try to integrate this Concept into your sword."

Fang Hanyu sat cross-legged as instructed, his fingertips resting on the hilt of the Primordial Sword. A gentle breeze rustled the pine branches; the pine needles trembled but did not break. That resilience, rooted in desperation, gradually merged into his understanding of the Dao of Sword.

After a while, he opened his eyes and brandished his sword. The sword light was no longer sharp but carried the suppleness of pine branches. A single stroke across the cliff face sent rock chips tumbling down. The sword mark was like intertwining pine roots, natural and seamless. His Dao of Sword Concept had advanced another layer.

Only after Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu finished their cultivation did Gu Changge speak: "Cultivation is not about isolating oneself. All things in heaven and earth are Dao. The vitality of a rice field, the vastness of the sea of clouds, the resilience of an ancient pine—all can be integrated into your Dao."

The Master and Disciples continued their journey. As they passed through a city, a commotion suddenly arose ahead.

They saw a middle-aged man in brocade robes chasing a girl of about sixteen or seventeen, roaring with a furious expression: "Ling Xi! Stop right there! How dare you talk back to your elders and threaten to suppress your own father? You have no respect for your superiors!"