281: A warning to Xiao Yan, the art of imperial strategy

Stillness.

A deathly silence.

The entire square was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone stared dumbfounded at the ring, which had once again become ordinary, then looked up at that majestic figure above the Nine Heavens, who remained calm and composed, their minds completely blank.

Wh-What just happened?

A Soul body powerful enough to make their hearts tremble suddenly emerged from that young man named Yan Xiao, intending Possession of him?

Then, His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor simply turned his head and spoke a single sentence.

That powerful Soul body was... gone?

Blasted apart on the spot and stuffed back in?

Th-What kind of divine method is this?!

Everyone felt their worldview had once again been pressed to the ground and violently rubbed.

They originally thought they had a relatively clear understanding of the Heavenly Emperor's power.

But now, they realized just how ridiculously wrong they were!

The Heavenly Emperor's power was simply beyond anything they could imagine or speculate!

That had completely transcended the scope of "power"!

That was Dao! That was Law! That was the supreme divine authority where words become reality!

"Gulp..." Zi Yan swallowed hard. He looked at the ring on Xiao Yan's hand, his eyes filled with lingering fear.

Just now, he had been calling this guy his brother and patting his shoulder!

Who could have imagined that this guy was hiding such a terrifying bomb, ready to explode at any moment!

Fortunately... fortunately His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor was present!

Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable!

At this moment, Xiao Yan was also chilled to the bone, cold sweat instantly soaking his back.

He stood frozen in place, the scene from moments ago replaying in his mind again and again.

Master... the Elder Yao, who had always meticulously guided him and whom he regarded as a father and life mentor... actually intended Possession of him?

Why?

Why on earth?!

A massive surge of pain and fury from being betrayed by the one he trusted most instantly swept through his entire body!

But immediately following, an even stronger fear, stemming from the depths of his Soul, completely drowned out all his emotions!

He recalled the cold glance from Li Chengqian just now.

He recalled that sentence, a judgment seemingly from the Nine Serenities of Hell.

"My Disciple, are you worthy of touching him?"

My... Disciple?

Xiao Yan's pupils suddenly contracted!

Didn't he refuse?

Why... why would Your Majesty still say something like that?

Could it be... a chilling thought suddenly sprang up from the bottom of his Heart-Nature!

From the very beginning, His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor never gave him the option to refuse!

Whether he agreed or refused.

He was already the Heavenly Emperor's predetermined... Disciple!

Or rather... a chess piece!

Conferring the title "nation-guarding prodigy," granting supreme glory and resources—all of this was just to make him, this chess piece, more conspicuous and more valuable!

So he could fish out enemies hidden in the dark, like Elder Yao just now!

And his so-called "pride" and "unyielding spirit" from earlier, in the eyes of the other party, were probably no different from the pouting of a three-year-old child!

Ridiculous!

Truly too ridiculous!

He, Xiao Yan, thought he was the son of heavenly mandate, believing he could control his own destiny.

Yet, he never imagined that from beginning to end, he was merely a chess piece on someone else's board, one that could be manipulated at will!

An unprecedented sense of humiliation and powerlessness surged into his Heart-Nature.

He clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms.

He raised his head and stared fixedly at the figure that was about to disappear into the clouds.

He wanted to roar, wanted to question.

But he couldn't say anything.

Because he knew that in the face of absolute power, any words were meaningless.

Li Chengqian naturally sensed Xiao Yan's gaze, filled with resentment and anger.

But he was completely unconcerned.

This was exactly the effect he wanted.

A beating.

Only appropriate discipline could make this untamed wild horse understand who the true master was.

As for whether this wild horse would be completely ruined by the discipline?

Li Chengqian wasn't worried at all.

Because he knew that the Heart-Nature of a "son of heavenly mandate" like Xiao Yan was far more resilient than ordinary people.

The more suppression and setbacks he faced, the more it would stimulate his inner potential and that relentless, unyielding drive!

This was the best method of cultivation.

A true towering tree cannot be nurtured in a greenhouse.

Only by enduring wind, rain, lightning strikes, and fire can one grow into a true pillar of talent!

"Cultivate well, young man."

Li Chengqian's calm voice rang out in Xiao Yan's ear one last time.

"I look forward to seeing what kind of... surprise you can bring me."

Having said that, his figure, along with the golden staircase, completely vanished above the Nine Heavens.

As if he had never appeared at all.

The entire square once again fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone looked at the black-clothed youth, who was still standing in place, with extremely complex expressions.

Sympathy, pity, schadenfreude... but even more, there was a feeling of deep, heartfelt... awe!

Regardless, this youth named Yan Xiao was the first, and only, person who dared to openly defy the Heavenly Emperor and live!

He was even personally "saved" by His Majesty!

Although the process seemed somewhat... humiliating.

This still didn't change the fact that he had been labeled "one of us" by His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor!

From now on, anyone on the Divine Continent who dared to touch him would first have to weigh whether they were qualified to endure the Heavenly Emperor's... thunderous wrath!

"Ahem..." Just then, an instructor dressed in scholar's robes coughed twice, breaking the awkward silence.

He walked up to Xiao Yan, forcing a smile that was uglier than a cry.

"Uh... Yan Xiao, since His Majesty has spoken, then starting today, you are the Chief Disciple of the ""Heaven"" Character Courtyard at our Central Region Royal Cultivation Academy."

"This is your identity token, and this is the princely token personally bestowed by His Majesty for the 'nation-guarding prodigy'."

"With this token, you can freely enter any area of our Academy, including the top floor of the Scripture Pavilion and the deepest part of the resource vault."

"All resources of the Academy will be supplied to you without restriction!"

Saying this, he handed the two faintly glowing tokens to Xiao Yan.

All the Geniuses nearby, looking at the two tokens that represented supreme power and status, had bloodshot eyes!

Jealousy!

Naked jealousy!

This, damn it, was true ascension in a single step!

They struggled painstakingly, breaking their heads just to barely enter the "Earth" Character Courtyard or the "Profound" Character Courtyard.

This guy, on the other hand, defied the Heavenly Emperor and instantly became the Chief Disciple of the highest-status ""Heaven"" Character Courtyard!

Is there any justice left in this world?!

However, Xiao Yan simply took the two tokens without expression.

His gaze remained cold.

He neither said thank you nor showed any excitement.

He simply put the tokens away silently.

Then, he turned around and, under the complex gazes of everyone present, walked step by step toward the Royal Cultivation Academy—the highest educational institution on the Divine Continent.

His back looked somewhat lonely.

But his spine remained perfectly straight!

He, Xiao Yan, might only be a chess piece right now.

But there will be a day!

He will use his own power to jump off this chessboard!

And then, personally drag the one playing the game down from that supreme Imperial Throne!