182: White clothes enter Chang'an, sword intent shocks the imperial city

The news of Li Chengqian's marriage alliance with Northern Liang and the enfeoffment of Xu Weixiong as Empress swept across the entire world like a magnitude twelve earthquake.

In the Li Yang Dynasty, the emperor and his officials paled.

The Northern Mang imperial court was sleepless all night.

Everyone was stunned by Li Chengqian's astonishing move, which went against all conventional wisdom, leaving them with tingling scalps.

They couldn't understand how the unruly Northern Liang King, Xu Xiao, would willingly hand over his daughter and the military command of three hundred thousand cavalry to an emperor notorious for his 'tyranny'.

Even more, they couldn't fathom how the Kaiyuan Emperor, who was decisive and disregarded rules, would so easily believe Xu Xiao's 'surrender' and even directly grant her the position of Empress.

This game of chess, they couldn't comprehend.

But they all keenly sensed that an unprecedented, new, iron-blooded era, led by the Great Tang, was about to arrive.

However, just as all the kingdoms under Heaven were restless and secretly speculating about this political marriage, an uninvited guest also arrived outside Chang'an City.

It was a figure dressed in white, with two sabers on her back.

She stood there alone, quietly, on the bustling official road, yet she seemed out of place with the entire noisy world.

Her appearance was exquisitely unearthly, causing passersby, regardless of gender, to involuntarily glance at her, yet they dared not approach due to her aloofness that kept people a thousand miles away.

It was Nangong Pu She, who had traveled all the way west from Martial God City in the Eastern Sea.

She looked at the majestic city before her, ten times grander than Martial God City, with no ripples in her cold eyes.

In her heart, there was only one thought.

Immortal arts.

The best in the world.

She took a step and walked towards the tall city gate.

Her appearance immediately caught the attention of the Shence Army and Bad People at the city gate.

That striking white attire.

That peerless face, whose gender was indistinguishable.

And the two ancient long sabers on her back, which were clearly not ordinary items.

All indicated that this person was a Jianghu person.

And, a Jianghu person not to be trifled with.

"Stop!"

A Bad People centurion, leading a squad of agents, immediately stepped forward and blocked her path.

"No weapons are allowed at the city gate! Unsheathe your saber!"

The centurion's voice was cold, filled with unquestionable authority.

Since The New Emperor ascended the throne and the Bad People took charge of the capital's surveillance, no one had dared to be so arrogant in front of them.

Nangong Pu She stopped, lifted her eyelids, and glanced at him indifferently.

"My saber never leaves my side."

"Presumptuous!" The centurion, hearing this, flew into a rage. "Men! Seize her!"

Several agents behind him immediately drew their embroidered spring sabers and pounced towards Nangong Pu She like wolves and tigers.

However, they were fast.

Nangong Pu She's Saber Intent was even faster than them!

She didn't even draw her saber.

Just a thought.

A cold, sharp, and extremely pure Saber Intent burst forth from her body!

Buzz—!

The air, at this moment, seemed to freeze.

The Bad People agents who had rushed forward suddenly stiffened in place.

Their faces were filled with terror.

Because they felt an invisible, cold blade seemingly resting on their necks.

If they dared to move again, that blade would mercilessly cut their throats!

Even the centurion's face was pale, and cold sweat streamed down his forehead.

He was also a ruthless character who had climbed out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, but he had never felt such terrifying killing intent!

No, that wasn't killing intent.

It was a purer, more Advanced will.

It was the will of the "saber"!

In front of this will, he felt like a child holding a wooden stick.

And the other party was a sharpened, peerless divine weapon!

...This sudden, powerful Saber Intent instantly alarmed all the experts in Chang'an City.

Deep within the Imperial Palace, Tingfeng Courtyard.

Xu Changqing, who was instructing Jing Tian in sword practice in the courtyard, suddenly stopped his movements.

He abruptly turned and looked towards the city gate, his usually placid face showing a look of shock for the first time.

"What... what astonishing Saber Intent!"

He exclaimed in a low voice.

This Saber Intent was pure, sharp, and domineering!

Its intensity was even comparable to some of the Elders of his Shu Mountain!

In this world, apart from that Wine Sword Immortal who roamed the human world, was there actually someone else who could Cultivate the Mortal martial Dao to such a degree?

Chang'an City was indeed a place where hidden Dragons and crouching tigers resided!

...Tiance Manor, training ground.

The Wine Sword Immortal, who was lying on the roof, drinking wine and watching the new recruits sweat profusely, also suddenly stopped pouring wine into his mouth.

He sat up and looked towards the city gate with interest.

"Oh? Another interesting young fellow has arrived."

He chuckled and took another gulp of wine.

"This saber play is quite something. Although still far from perfect, it's much stronger than these foolish Qi Cultivating youngsters."

"It seems Chang'an City is getting livelier and livelier."

...Imperial Study.

Li Chengqian, who was reviewing memorials, also slowly raised his head.

His gaze seemed to penetrate layers of palace walls, directly falling on the white-clothed figure at the city gate.

"Hmm?"

A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Nangong Pu She?"

He recognized the newcomer.

The white fox-faced individual who was exceptionally talented in the world of snow and eventually became the best under Heaven.

Why had she come too?

A realization flashed in Li Chengqian's mind.

It seemed that the butterfly effect caused by his 'variable' was even greater than he had imagined.

Not only had it attracted protagonists from different Universes.

Even these supporting characters, who were originally supposed to shine in the Jianghu, had been drawn in.

"Somewhat interesting."

A slight curve appeared at the corner of Li Chengqian's mouth.

He could feel that although Nangong Pu She's Saber Intent was powerful, it still remained at the level of 'technique'.

It was still a hundred and eight thousand miles away from the true 'Dao'.

However, this talent was indeed one in a million.

If it were to be slightly refined... A thought emerged in his mind.

Through his omnipresent and pervasive imperial will that covered the entire city, he issued a cold command to the Bad People at the city gate.

"Let him in."

"Bring him to see Us."

In front of Chang'an City Gate, the atmosphere was extremely tense.

The Bad People centurion and his agents all had pale faces and stiff bodies, not daring to move an inch.

They felt that the invisible blade suspended over their necks was getting colder and more real.

They had no doubt that with just a thought from the other party, their heads would be separated from their bodies.

Just as the tension was at its peak, a cold, emotionless voice, without any warning, directly resounded in their minds.

"Let him in."

"Bring him to see Us."

It was Your Majesty's voice!

The centurion's body trembled violently, and his eyes instantly filled with the most fervent awe.

He immediately sheathed his embroidered spring saber and bowed deeply to Nangong Pu She.

"Yes... yes, it was I who failed to recognize a truly great master and offended you!"

"Your Majesty has decreed that you are to enter the palace for an audience!"

His attitude had undergone a complete 180-degree change.

From his previous arrogance, he had become humble and respectful.

Nangong Pu She's cold eyes moved slightly upon hearing this.

She slowly withdrew the Saber Intent that was powerful enough to change the very color of the world.

The air began to flow again.

The Bad People agents felt their bodies relax, and they were instantly drenched in cold sweat, as if they had just been pulled out of water.

Their gazes towards Nangong Pu She were now filled with nothing but fear.

Nangong Pu She ignored them.

Her gaze passed through the tall city gate and looked towards the Imperial Palace, located in the deepest part of Chang'an City, exuding supreme majesty.

She knew who the voice that had directly sounded in her mind belonged to.

The Kaiyuan Emperor, Li Chengqian.

His voice arrived before his person.

Moreover, it was in a way she completely couldn't understand, directly descending his will!

This method had already exceeded the scope of martial arts.

It was true 'immortal arts'!

Nangong Pu She's heart pounded with unprecedented intensity.

She knew she had come to the right place.

"Lead the way."

She only uttered two words.

"Yes, esteemed master, please follow."

The centurion dared not show any slack and personally led the way for Nangong Pu She.

Along the way, any oblivious officials or pedestrians who tried to approach were unceremoniously rebuked by him.

Nangong Pu She thus passed unimpeded through the bustling Zhuque Avenue, through the heavily guarded palace gates, and finally arrived before the Taiji Hall, which symbolized the pinnacle of the Empire's power.

As she stepped alone into this vast and majestic hall, she saw the young emperor seated on the Dragon Throne.

Li Chengqian.

He merely sat there quietly, not releasing any Aura.

But Nangong Pu She felt a pressure a thousand, ten thousand times more terrifying than the will she had felt at the city gate earlier!

That was not the Aura of a Martial Artist.

It was a more fundamental, more Advanced, existential level of crushing force.

In her eyes, what sat on the Dragon Throne was not a person.

But a deep, boundless starry sky.

It was a Universe constantly being born and destroyed, constantly being reshaped.

Her proud Saber Intent, capable of cleaving mountains and rivers, seemed as insignificant as a speck of dust before this starry sky.

"You wish to see Us?"

Li Chengqian's voice, faint, echoed through the hall.

Nangong Pu She's body trembled slightly.

She forcefully suppressed the shock in her heart, raised her head, and for the first time, her cold eyes showed a ripple.

"I heard that the Great Tang Emperor possesses the number one immortal arts under Heaven."

Her voice was still cold, but it carried a hint of tremor that even she hadn't noticed.

"I came to seek the Dao."

"Seek the Dao?"

Li Chengqian, upon hearing this, suddenly smiled.

It wasn't a cold, mocking smile.

But a genuine, intrigued smile from the heart.

"Our Dao is the Dao of battling Heaven, the Dao of destruction, the Dao of reshaping the Universe."

"This path is paved with mountains of corpses, seas of blood, and bones as steps."

"Do you also wish to seek it?"

Li Chengqian looked at her, his gaze seemingly able to penetrate the deepest part of her Soul, that purest desire for 'first place'.

Nangong Pu She fell silent.

She could feel that what the other party said was true.

It was a path more insane and more domineering than the pure martial Dao she pursued.

But, precisely because of this, it drew her even more.

"How can I learn?"

After a long while, Nangong Pu She raised her head, looked directly into Li Chengqian's eyes, and asked the question.

"Our Dao is never passed on to outsiders."

Li Chengqian slowly stood up, step by step, descending from the high Dragon Throne.

He walked in front of Nangong Pu She, looking down at this peerlessly beautiful white fox-faced woman.

"Our Dao is only bestowed upon Our subjects, Our... tools."

His voice was cold, yet filled with an undeniable allure.

"Do you wish to become Our saber?"

"A sharp blade that can cleave this world for Us and glimpse that supreme scenery?"

Nangong Pu She's heart pounded violently.

To become someone else's saber?

For her, who had lived a life of pride, only for herself, this should have been the greatest insult.

But for some reason, when these words came from the mouth of the man before her, she felt no aversion at all.

Instead, there was a strange sense of excitement and... honor?

She knew that the man before her was not recruiting her.

He was bestowing upon her an opportunity to touch a higher level of the world.

An opportunity that she might never achieve in her entire life.

"How do I prove my worth?"

Nangong Pu She didn't answer directly but instead asked a question.

She knew that to obtain something from this emperor, she first had to demonstrate her value.

"Very simple."

A slight curve appeared at the corner of Li Chengqian's mouth.

"From today onwards, you shall be Our personal guard."

"Stay by Our side and watch how We, step by step, bring this world under Our feet."

"If you can survive this storm."

"If you can demonstrate your role in this game of chess."

"Then, what you desire, We will naturally give you."

Li Chengqian reached out and gently lifted Nangong Pu She's chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.

"Now, tell Us your choice."

Nangong Pu She looked into those eyes, as deep as a black hole, and felt as if her Soul was being sucked in.

Her pride, her stubbornness, were shattered into pieces before this absolute, overwhelming power.

"I..."

Her throat was somewhat dry.

Finally, she slowly knelt on one knee.

"Nangong Pu She, greets Your Majesty."

This was her choice.

And her only choice.