171: My chessboard, my chess pieces

Along the way, Xu Changqing had been secretly observing.

He found that the closer they got to the Imperial Palace, the heavier the oppressive and murderous Aura became.

On both sides of the main hall, instead of ordinary Imperial Guards, stood rows of Bad People dressed in black flying fish robes and carrying embroidered spring sabers.

Each Bad People exuded a cold Aura that warned strangers to keep away. Their eyes, like hawks, scanned everyone who entered the hall, making these high-ranking officials, who usually lived a life of luxury, feel completely uneasy.

The Imperial Palace guards had almost all been replaced by the Shence Army, whom he had never seen before, dressed in black armor with fanatical eyes.

Their Aura was far more powerful than that of ordinary soldiers, and some of them even showed faint signs of spiritual Qi fluctuations.

Xu Changqing was secretly astonished.

This The New Emperor had actually begun his plan to build a “Cultivator Army” in such a short time!

This courage, this execution ability, was simply astounding!

Jing Tian and Tang Xuejian, on the other hand, were too stunned by the grandeur and majesty of the Imperial Palace to speak.

They were like two country bumpkins entering a grand garden, looking around with eyes full of curiosity and awe.

Tang Xuejian's Young Miss temper had long been scared out of her here.

She followed closely behind Xu Changqing, as if only this Daoist, who appeared immortal, could give her a sense of security.

Finally, they arrived at the legendary center of the Empire's power—the Taiji Hall.

Inside the grand hall, it was vast and majestic.

Two rows of Bad People, dressed in black flying fish robes, stood silently on both sides like statues.

Their gazes converged on the three of them, cutting like knives.

And on the high Dragon Throne, symbolizing supreme power, sat a young figure.

He wore a dark Xuan-colored Dragon robe, without the heavy crown- tassel, and his long black hair was tied up with a simple jade hairpin.

He simply sat there quietly, one hand resting on the armrest of the Dragon Throne, the other casually placed on his lap, his gaze calmly looking down.

But the inherent imperial Aura of authority he exuded, even without anger, seemed to freeze the air in the entire hall.

Under that gaze, Xu Changqing felt the spiritual Qi in his body circulate somewhat sluggishly.

Tang Xuejian was even more terrified, her legs turning soft, almost kneeling directly on the ground.

And Jing Tian felt as if he was being stared at by a primeval beast, his blood almost freezing.

Only one thought remained in his mind.

It's over, it's over, I'm doomed this time!

“Commoner Jing Tian, kowtows… kowtows to Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty, long, long live!”

Without thinking, Jing Tian immediately dropped to his knees with a “thud,” burying his head deeply into the cold golden bricks, his body trembling like a sieve.

“Commoner Tang Xuejian, kowtows to Your Majesty…”

Tang Xuejian also followed, trembling as she knelt down.

Only Xu Changqing remained standing.

He bowed to Li Chengqian on the Dragon Throne with a Daoist greeting.

“Shu Mountain Disciple Xu Changqing, greets Your Majesty.”

Although he also felt immense pressure, the pride of a Shu Mountain Disciple prevented him from easily kneeling like a Mortal.

On the Dragon Throne, Li Chengqian's gaze slowly swept over the three of them.

There was no expression on his face.

But his heart was not as calm as his exterior suggested.

Jing Tian, Tang Xuejian, Xu Changqing.

The main characters of Chinese Paladin 3 had gathered before him in such a way.

This world, indeed, had completely deviated from the trajectory he knew.

“Rise.”

After a long while, Li Chengqian's voice finally sounded faintly.

“Thank Your Majesty.”

Jing Tian and Tang Xuejian stood up tremblingly, still keeping their heads down, not daring to meet that gaze.

Li Chengqian's gaze first fell on Xu Changqing.

“Xu Changqing.”

He slowly spoke, “What is Qing Wei sending you for?”

Li Chengqian's voice was calm, yet it clearly reached the ears of everyone in the hall.

Xu Changqing's heart tightened. He hadn't expected this The New Emperor to directly state his purpose as soon as he spoke.

It seemed Revered Master's guess was correct.

This Your Majesty was by no means a Mortal; he knew far more than anyone imagined.

He composed himself and respectfully replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty, Revered Master ordered Disciple to come and report on the Demon Lock Tower. For half a month, the cracks in the tower body have expanded, and the speed of Demonic Qi leakage has increased by 30% compared to before. The demons suppressed within the tower have also become unusually restless.”

“According to Revered Master and the Elders' calculations, without external intervention, the Two Forms Micro Dust Sword Formation can at most… last for another eleven months.”

By the end, Xu Changqing's voice carried a hint of heaviness.

This news was a huge stone weighing on the hearts of the entire Shu Mountain.

However, Li Chengqian on the Dragon Throne, after hearing this news that was enough to make all Cultivators in the world change their expressions, still showed no change in his expression.

As if everything was within his expectations.

“Eleven months?”

He murmured to himself, his fingers gently tapping the armrest of the Dragon Throne, “It's even shorter than I expected.”

His unperturbed demeanor once again stirred waves in Xu Changqing's heart.

Did this Your Majesty already know?

What else did he know?

“I know about this matter.”

Li Chengqian said calmly, “Go back and tell Qing Wei to stabilize the Formation and guard Shu Mountain well. Within a month, the first batch of supplies from Tiance Manor will be delivered. As for the Seal, tell him not to worry; everything is within my grasp.”

“Yes… Your Majesty.”

Although Xu Changqing was full of questions, he could only bow and accept the order.

He found that in front of this young Emperor, he simply couldn't conjure any thoughts of rebuttal.

The absolute confidence and control exuded by the other party made people instinctively want to believe him.

Li Chengqian's gaze moved from Xu Changqing and landed on Jing Tian, who had been scared like a quail from the beginning, wishing he could bury his head in the ground.

“You, are you Jing Tian?”

“Yes… yes! This commoner is Jing Tian!”

Jing Tian flinched when he heard his name and quickly knelt down again.

“Raise your head and let me see.”

“Yes… yes…”

Jing Tian tremblingly raised his head.

The moment his gaze met the deep eyes on the Dragon Throne.

He felt as if his Soul had been seen through.

The “Demon Sword” within his body, which had always been quiet, at this moment, uncontrollably vibrated violently!

A cold, tyrannical Aura emanated from the sword, seemingly in fear, yet also… excited?

“Hmm, not bad.”

Li Chengqian looked at Jing Tian, and a strange light flashed in his eyes that seemed to see through everything.

He saw it.

He saw the Soul of the Divine General, who once shone brightly and fought against the Demon Lord Zhonglou at the South Heaven Gate, hidden beneath Jing Tian's Mortal skin.