205: Chapter 205 Going Their Own Ways, How Did It Come to This?

Below, the ranks were strictly arrayed, commoners watched from the sidelines, and the Imperial Guards and the Jinwu Guard layered their defenses, maintaining a stern watch.

Deep within the Imperial Palace, Emperor Taizong of Tang stood atop a high platform, gazing at the strange phenomenon from afar, his brow tightly furrowed, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Someone actually dared to cause trouble under the Son of Heaven's nose; did they truly believe that the blade in the hand of Li Er was dull?

"What exactly has happened?"

The wind stirred, and a figure descended silently.

It was none other than the Marshal of the Unruly, Yuan Tiangang.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, beneath that cloud and mist is the Jade Cui Pavilion, Chang'an's premier pleasure spot.

Li Taibai has often frequented this place in recent days, drinking and composing poetry. Now it seems someone might have made a move against him."

Yuan Tiangang cupped his hands and reported, his expression grave.

"Li Taibai?"

Emperor Taizong of Tang's heart sank.

This man was famous throughout the world, possessing peerless poetic talent and divine swordsmanship, having long since stepped into the Realm of Land Immortal.

Although he indulged in wine and women, ignored political affairs, and refused recruitment, his strength was unfathomable.

With the precedent of Empress Wu's affair, even if he had no intention of vying for power, he could not be easily provoked.

Normally, he was allowed the freedom to roam as he pleased without restraint, yet who would have thought that today would incite such a disturbance.

"Who on earth did this drunkard provoke?"

"I fear it is not that he offended someone."

Yuan Tiangang gave a wry smile. "Li Taibai frequents the pleasure quarters year-round and never seeks trouble.

People eager to curry favor rush to pay his bar tabs, and no one dares charge him for lodging."

He paused, his voice slightly odd: "Those young ladies would gladly offer money just to exchange for a poem from him.

If any woman was fortunate enough to receive a poem inscribed by him, her standing would immediately increase by more than tenfold."

"Ahem! Ahem!"

Emperor Taizong of Tang coughed a few times, interrupting the speech. "No need to speak of these trivial matters. I only ask you—how should we handle this now?"

Yuan Tiangang shook his head helplessly: "Li Taibai's Realm is too high; the Untouchables simply cannot get close to him; they can only gather superficial information."

Li Er felt his breath catch, almost rolling his eyes.

"Then now, we certainly can't just stand by and watch, can we?"

"Your Majesty, they are targeting Li Taibai. Regardless of the outcome, we have no reason to intervene,"

Yuan Tiangang said in a low voice.

"Nonsense! How can you be so sure they won't turn their hand against Me? If they harbor the same intentions as that Empress Wu, today is merely using the pretext of eliminating Li Taibai to shake the very Foundation of the nation!"

Li Er's tone was sharp.

Yuan Tiangang fell silent.

This was the Emperor's speculation; how could he possibly refute it?

A moment later, Li Er asked again: "Is it truly impossible to intervene and offer aid?"

Although displeased with Li Taibai's arrogance, this man was ultimately a subject of the Great Tang. His mere existence was enough to deter petty villains from all directions.

If he were to perish just like that, the loss would be considerable.

Yuan Tiangang's expression shifted slightly, then he shook his head with a bitter smile.

"Your Majesty, whoever can trade blows with Li Taibai must be a person at the Peak of the same Realm.

Though I am close to that step, I am still short by half an inch. To rashly join the battle would only be feeding myself to the tiger."

When Li Er heard this, he could only let out a long sigh.

At this moment, Li Taibai was truly in peril.

He pushed his Azure Lotus Sword Song to its limit; his Sword Qi surged like a rainbow, crisscrossing the area.

However, the time since his Breakthrough to the Land Immortal Realm had been short, and he had not subsequently tempered himself through arduous cultivation. His Foundation was far less stable than that of the older generation of experts.

Now, facing the encirclement and attack of five masters of the same level alone, his blood and Qi were already churning, and he gradually felt his strength failing.

"Have I ever provoked any of you?"

He forced the others back with a move called 'Bowing Head Grants Life,' his face gloomy as he questioned them.

"You have not offended us, but your talent is too astonishing. To let you live will bring endless future trouble,"

One of them replied coldly, killing intent sharp in his eyes.

"My talent is high? But I spend my days drinking, watching dancers, and drunkenly resting in the arms of beauties! Where is the arduous cultivation?"

Li Taibai felt immensely wronged in his heart.

You seek to seize power and profit, I seek pleasure in the world of romance; we each go our own way, why must it come to this?

"Even spending every day in debauchery, you still managed to reach this Realm at such an age—this proves your talent is Heaven-Defying, and you absolutely cannot be allowed to live!"

That person gnashed his teeth.

As soon as these words were spoken, the gazes of the other four became even hotter than fire.

They had all exhausted their hearts and souls to reach their current Realm, some even forcibly elevating their level through external means, their potential long since depleted.

In contrast, Li Taibai indulged in drinking and pleasure constantly, yet he easily broke through the barrier. It was simply as if the Heavens had gone blind!

In an instant, the five men simultaneously erupted, their attacks like a raging tide and furious waves, every strike fatal, clearly intending to perish together with him.

Within a few breaths, Li Taibai's shoulder and arm were successively cut open, his robes stained red with blood.

He finally sensed that something was wrong, and his heart tightened.

"The Great River Sword, descends from the Nine Heavens!"

A furious shout echoed through the firmament.

A vast torrent of Sword Intent surged downward, resembling the Milky Way pouring down. Sword light tore through the sky, piercing straight through the clouds.

The five men were shaken back repeatedly, and the dense mist was momentarily cleared.

Unfortunately, the Formation possessed its own sentience. As soon as a crack appeared, it rapidly healed, as if it had never sustained damage.

The commoners below looked up and saw a brilliant sword gleam rip through the thick fog, startling them into an uproar.

At this moment, Su Rui stood outside the clouds, his figure faintly visible, having already drawn the attention of a few people.

Only because the cold wind at that altitude was biting were there very few who could clearly see his appearance.

"Empress, who is that person in the sky? Is he the mastermind behind the attack on Li Taibai?"

Fanyin Heaven gazed at the sky, her voice tinged with doubt.

The Empress of the Phantom Sound Workshop, clad in flowing robes, her features stern, swept her gaze over Su Rui's figure, a trace of surprise flashing in her eyes.

"Fanyin Heaven, is that him?"

Fanyin Heaven channeled her Qi to her eyes and, upon clearly seeing the newcomer's face, her expression changed drastically.

"It is indeed that person from the Northern Li... Why has he appeared here? Could it be that Li Taibai offended him?"

Her voice even trembled slightly.

Fanyin Heaven and the others present all changed color upon hearing this.

"No."

The Empress slowly shook her head. "The one who acted is not him personally.

If he had arrived, judging by the strength comparison you mentioned earlier, Li Taibai would not have lasted this long."

She paused, then turned to look at Shaluo Heaven, who was standing quietly beside her.

"You once shared a night with Li Taibai. Are you not moved now?"

"It was merely mutual pleasure,"

Shaluo Heaven spoke indifferently, her expression unchanged.

Everyone was momentarily speechless.

The Empress merely chuckled lightly, unconcerned.

She knew the temperaments of the Nine Beauties under her command were varied; seducing people to obtain secrets was, after all, a tactic of the Phantom Sound Workshop.

Love was merely a tool for them.

The situation was becoming increasingly unpredictable: Li Taibai's life hung by a thread, and a top expert from the Northern Li had quietly arrived. What scheme lay hidden behind all this?

Just as she was pondering, a sudden change occurred high in the sky—

A clap of thunder exploded above Chang'an!

Immediately following, a figure seemed to be struck heavily, flying out of thin air, plummeting from the heavens, and smashing heavily onto the street below the city.

With a deafening crash, houses collapsed, dust billowed, and broken tiles flew everywhere.

A youth, enveloped in pitch-black smoke, sat paralyzed in the deep pit, gritting his teeth as he forced himself up.

Su Rui's lightning strike had actually failed to completely crush him.

"Hey! Who are you? Attacking as soon as you show up, are you sick?"

Before the words were even finished, the youth's figure flashed, instantly appearing at the same altitude as Su Rui, his speed astonishing.

And that massive ball of smoke obscuring the sky, having been dispersed by Su Rui, seemed to have lost its support and was slowly disintegrating and vanishing.

As the illusion receded, the scene finally became fully exposed to everyone.

Li Taibai, in his white robes, was already stained with bloodstains, looking utterly wretched.

The other five were no better off; everyone bore injuries, crisscrossed with sword marks.

"A bunch of trash! Five against one and you still couldn't take him down? You truly disgrace yourselves!"

The youth saw the protective Formation shatter and immediately erupted in fury, fiercely cursing them.