516: The Sword Guardian Appears

"What? I said I would give you a chance to live, but I never said I wouldn't cripple your martial arts."

"Over the years, following Emperor Taian, you've done plenty of atrocious things. If you want to blame someone, blame yourselves for entrusting yourselves to the wrong person."

"Following a ruthless, arrogant, and ignorant tyrant like Emperor Taian, it's only natural for you to end up like this," Duan Zhengchun said.

Duan Zhengchun's words left the three of them unable to retort.

Emperor Taian hadn't expected that Grand Eunuch Jin Xian and the other two wouldn't even last a single move against Duan Zhengchun. Duan Zhengchun's methods seemed even more eerie than those of Eternal Life Li back then.

"Useless, truly useless! What use do I have for you?"

"The three of you joined forces and yet weren't a match for him alone. Truly useless." Emperor Taian glared at the three of them with a dark expression.

Jin Xian and the other two looked at each other, seeing the disappointment in one another's eyes.

They had thought that since they ended up in this state to protect Emperor Taian, he would at least feel some gratitude; instead, he insulted them so harshly.

The three of them suddenly felt their hearts turn to ash.

"Heh, Emperor Taian, have some Face. In this situation, you don't even have a single capable person by your side. Haven't you wondered why?"

"If it weren't for your character, would there be no Masters in Northern Li willing to stand by your side and help you?"

"Your current situation is entirely of your own making."

"Do you think Eternal Life Li couldn't kill you back then? If it weren't for his past friendship with your ancestors, you would have been dead long ago."

"The reason Eternal Life Li didn't strike you directly was that his disciples were still in Northern Li, and too many people were involved."

"That's why he spared your life. He also foresaw you would have this day. Today, no one can save you."

"Daring to assassinate me again and again, do you really think I have a good temper?" Duan Zhengchun said coldly.

"Humph, you want to kill me? That depends on whether you have the strength."

After Emperor Taian finished speaking, he took out a Jade Token and crushed it. A surge of power shot up into the sky.

Simultaneously, a terrifying fluctuation rose from the Back Mountain of the Imperial Palace, followed by the appearance of a soaring Sword Intent.

Feeling the appearance of that terrifying Sword Intent, a smile appeared on Emperor Taian's Face.

"Duan Zhengchun, today you will undoubtedly die."

"Is this what you're relying on?" Duan Zhengchun looked at Emperor Taian with a strange expression.

As his voice fell, a figure suddenly appeared in the field, blocking the path between Duan Zhengchun and Emperor Taian.

This was an old man with white hair and beard, yet his complexion was ruddy, not looking like an old man at all.

He was the Sword Guardian who had been in seclusion deep within the Imperial Palace, the final trump card of the Bei Li Imperial Family.

"Senior, kill this bastard quickly! This guy wants to kill me, you absolutely cannot let him go." Emperor Taian pointed angrily at Duan Zhengchun.

The Sword Guardian didn't look at Emperor Taian, his eyes fixed solely on Duan Zhengchun.

Among those present, aside from Duan Zhengchun, he was the strongest. Without Emperor Taian needing to speak, he knew that Duan Zhengchun was the target.

"I really didn't expect that after so many years of seclusion, I would encounter such a brilliant junior as soon as I emerged."

"It's truly astonishing. Looking at your strength, you are even more of a Prodigy than Eternal Life Li was back then."

"How about giving this old man some Face today and letting this matter drop?"

"I guarantee that Northern Li will not move against you again." The Sword Guardian looked at Duan Zhengchun with a smile.

"Sorry, your Face isn't enough."

"I warned him long ago. The first time he sent someone to assassinate me, I didn't lower myself to his level and warned him."

"However, he thinks that because he is the Emperor of Bei Li, only he can kill others while no one dares to touch him. He has provoked me repeatedly and even sent assassins to kill me."

"Do you think I'm easy to talk to? That I wouldn't dare to act?"

"Now that I've come in person, it's impossible for me to return empty-handed," Duan Zhengchun said coldly.

Hearing that Duan Zhengchun wouldn't even give Face to the Sword Guardian, a look of madness appeared on Emperor Taian's Face.

"Haha... Duan Zhengchun, you're dead for sure this time. You won't even give Face to the Sword Guardian; no one can save you today."

"Senior, kill him quickly! Kill this arrogant bastard!"

Emperor Taian's reaction made the Sword Guardian shake his head in helplessness. Although he had been in seclusion, he knew something of Emperor Taian's Heart-Nature.

It truly disappointed him. Back then, he became the Sword Guardian because of the Xiao Family Ancestors. If not for that reason, he wouldn't want to deal with Emperor Taian at all.

Over the years, Emperor Taian's actions had lost the people's support. For the sake of power, he had committed countless atrocities without even realizing it.

However, since he had made a promise back then to protect the Bei Li Imperial Family, now that he had been called out, he couldn't just sit idly by.

"Sigh, The true name, are you sure you want to do this?"

"This is the last time I will take action. After this, I will have no further connection with your Xiao Family." The Sword Guardian's tone was filled with helplessness and the weight of years.

Hearing the Sword Guardian's words, Emperor Taian's expression changed instantly. How could he not understand the meaning behind them?

Clearly, this was the last time he would protect the Bei Li Imperial Family, the last time he would protect the Xiao Family.

Now, the Sword Guardian was the Xiao Family's strongest trump card. Losing him would not be a good thing for the Xiao Family.

Without the Sword Guardian, any Master of the Carefree Heaven Realm could drive straight in.

"Senior, why is this so?" Emperor Taian looked at the Sword Guardian with a solemn expression.

"Why? I said at the beginning that I wouldn't act unless it was necessary."

"Furthermore, I said before my last seclusion that there was only one chance left to act. Now that you are asking me to act, that chance will be gone."

"Therefore, I will no longer protect your Xiao Family in the future. What happens then will depend on you." The Sword Guardian looked at Emperor Taian expressionlessly.

"Fine! In that case, you must kill this bastard today," Emperor Taian said coldly.

The Sword Guardian hesitated for a moment and looked at Duan Zhengchun. In his eyes, Duan Zhengchun didn't have a trace of Internal Energy fluctuation; he seemed like a completely ordinary person.

But he knew very well that the person before him was definitely not simple.

He must have Cultivated a Cultivation Technique to hide his strength, which was why he couldn't see through him.

But was there really a Cultivation Technique in this world that even he couldn't see through?

Even back then with Eternal Life Li, it wasn't that he couldn't see through him.

He could feel the aura on Eternal Life Li, but he couldn't sense anything from the person in front of him.

"The youth are to be feared. What is your name, young friend? Who is your Master?" The Sword Guardian looked at Duan Zhengchun with a smile.

"Old man, no need to try and get close. I have nothing to do with your Northern Li."

"And I have nothing to do with the Eternal Life Li you're imagining. I am Duan Zhengchun, the Reliant King of Dali."

"I only came here to kill a dog. Did you say you plan to act?" Duan Zhengchun looked at the Sword Guardian dismissively.

"Kingdom? Duan Zhengchun, the Reliant King of Dali? In that case, you are a descendant of the Dali Duan Clan? Duan Siping is your Old Ancestor?" The Sword Guardian looked at Duan Zhengchun in surprise.

"Oh? Old man, you even know about my Duan Family Old Ancestor?" Duan Zhengchun looked at the Sword Guardian with a Face full of surprise.