Chapter 121: Imperial Authority, Divine Authority, Dao Authority

Chapter 121: Imperial Authority, Divine Authority, Dao Authority

The entire martial arena was shrouded in dark clouds formed from condensed water vapor, like layers of black gauze enveloping the sky. Lightning flickered within the clouds, creating a tempestuous scene.

"Boom!"

Thunder rumbled, and lightning crackled.

The heavy rain failed to extinguish the flames on the Heavenly Vine. These were no ordinary flames—they were the fire of a martial artist's heart force. The Martial Arts Heart Palace transformed heart force into visible flames, making them impervious to mere rainwater.

However, the rain still exerted some suppressing effect on the Flame Heavenly Vine.

"Ten Thousand Swords Transforming into Rain!"

Profound Qi surged from Ning Xiaochuan's body, taking the form of a sword. The water vapor in the rain condensed into a hundred ancient swords, swirling around him to form a net of blades.

"Swish! Swish!"

Countless sword sounds echoed around him as the sword shadows darted like agile serpents, slicing through the Heavenly Vine and tearing open a gap.

A five-foot-long Profound Qi Sword materialized in Ning Xiaochuan's hand. His body transformed into a bolt of lightning as he thrust forward with a breathtaking strike.

"Whoosh!"

In an instant, Ning Xiaochuan appeared before Princess Lanfei. The Profound Qi Sword grazed her snow-white neck, leaving behind a crimson mark.

Princess Lanfei was terrified to the core. Had she not sidestepped at the last moment, Ning Xiaochuan's sword would have severed her head.

For some reason, she felt an overwhelming fear of Ning Xiaochuan—especially when he wielded a sword. It stirred an instinctive urge to flee.

When his sword had flashed toward her, her neck had turned icy and numb, as if it no longer belonged to her—as if it had already been severed.

Her fear of Ning Xiaochuan's sword stemmed from a past encounter where he had indeed beheaded her. Though that memory had faded, her martial instincts still evoked terror.

Once bitten, twice shy.

"How can I feel fear? No, absolutely not! I am a royal princess. Others should fear me—I cannot fear anyone!"

Suppressing her dread, Princess Lanfei channeled her Profound Qi and pointed at Ning Xiaochuan. "Kill!"

"Boom!"

Countless Flame Heavenly Vines surged toward Ning Xiaochuan, each like a sharp spear, whistling through the air as if to pierce him through.

Ning Xiaochuan stood firm, his sword held horizontally. A hundred Sword Qi Shadows hovered behind him like the aura of a peerless sword immortal.

"Whoosh!"

His body turned into a streak of lightning, shredding the Flame Heavenly Vines. A hundred sword phantoms guarded him as he thrust his blade into Princess Lanfei's left shoulder. Blood gushed from the wound.

The strike was too fast to evade. Princess Lanfei barely managed to avoid her heart but could not escape the piercing blow.

The sword energy annihilated the Flame Heavenly Vines in the arena, reducing them to ashes. A hundred Sword Qi Shadows floated behind Ning Xiaochuan, their gleaming edges flickering ominously.

Princess Lanfei felt the piercing pain in her chest as she stared at the sword in Ning Xiaochuan's hand. A wave of fear surged within her once more. Though unwilling, she gritted her teeth and forced out the words, "I admit defeat."

"Swish!"

The sword in Ning Xiaochuan's hand dispersed on its own, transforming into Profound Qi before flying back into his body.

Behind him, the hundred Sword Qi Shadows scattered, dissolving into mist and vanishing into the air.

Above, the clouds parted, revealing a warm ray of sunlight.

After a brief moment of silence, the entire martial field erupted into thunderous cheers: "Marry him!"

"Marry him!"

"Marry him!"

This was the bet Ning Xiaochuan and Princess Lanfei had made before their duel. Now, the crowd joined in, demanding that Princess Lanfei fulfill her promise.

Ning Xiaochuan, however, paid no heed to the matter. As soon as Princess Lanfei conceded, he turned and walked out of the martial field.

A strange glint flashed in Princess Lanfei's eyes as she pressed her slender fingers against the wound on her chest. "Ning Xiaochuan," she called out, "once we leave the Emperor's Martial Palace, I will inform my father of our marriage. Rest assured, I, Yu Lanfei, always keep my word."

"No need. Our grudges are settled from this moment onward. Don’t trouble me again, and I won’t trouble you either," Ning Xiaochuan replied without turning back.

"That won’t do. Since I’ve publicly declared my intention to marry you, it now concerns the dignity of the royal family. You cannot refuse," Yu Lanfei said with a smile.

Ning Xiaochuan frowned slightly at the mention of "royal dignity," but he said nothing more and left the martial field.

Yu Qianqian approached him, her face filled with resentment. "Ning Xiaochuan, how do you plan to handle things with Princess Lanfei?"

Ning Xiaochuan dismissed the matter entirely. "Princess Lanfei is a smart woman. She wouldn’t treat marriage as a joke. She’s just unwilling after losing to me."

Yu Qianqian shook her head. "I don’t think so. She seemed serious."

"Even if she truly intends to marry, I won’t take her as my wife." Though Princess Lanfei was undeniably beautiful, Ning Xiaochuan felt no fondness for her—let alone affection—and thus had no intention of marrying her.

Yu Qianqian looked skeptical. "You really wouldn’t marry her? Princess Lanfei is peerlessly beautiful, a royal princess no less. Her mother, Consort Luosha, is the emperor’s most favored concubine. Marrying her would guarantee wealth, luxury, cultivation resources, and immense benefits for the Jian Pavilion Marquis House. Not to mention, you’d gain a stunning beauty as your wife. If she truly insists, you wouldn’t accept? I don’t believe you."

"I’d sooner marry you than her," Ning Xiaochuan said offhandedly, then immediately regretted his words.

He merely felt some goodwill toward Yu Qianqian, unlike his complete indifference toward Princess Lanfei. But to Yu Qianqian, his words sounded like a confession.

Her face flushed crimson, a faint shyness coloring her expression as she bit her lip and whispered, "Really?"

Ning Xiaochuan said, "I was merely stating the facts, nothing more."

"Are you certain?"

"Absolutely."

Though Ning Xiaochuan had already explained himself, Yu Qianqian was in no mood to listen.

After a moment of contemplation, she continued, "This matter might already be beyond simple resolution. Since Princess Lanfei publicly declared her intention to marry you, it’s as if she has announced to the world that you are her betrothed. Xiaochuan, perhaps you don’t yet understand what imperial authority truly means in the Yulan Empire."

"In this world, there are three powers that no mortal force can shake—imperial authority, divine authority, and Dao authority. Imperial authority reigns supreme, divine authority stands above all, and Dao authority governs humanity."

"In the Yulan Empire, the deterrence of imperial authority even surpasses that of divine and Dao authority. It is the most terrifying force, one that no one dares to defy. To offend it is to invite the death penalty, the crime of exterminating one’s entire clan."

Yu Qianqian went on, "Imperial authority is absolute. All martial artists must uphold it—this is the creed the empire has instilled in its people for centuries. Whoever dares to defy imperial authority becomes the enemy of the entire world. And who represents imperial authority? Naturally, it is the current Jade Emperor."

"Princess Lanfei, as the daughter of the Jade Emperor, is herself a part of imperial authority. If she announces her intent to marry you, only for you to reject her, you would be slapping the entire imperial family in the face. With royal dignity humiliated and imperial authority challenged, the consequences for you would be catastrophic. This is likely the outcome Princess Lanfei wishes to see."

Ning Xiaochuan frowned. "Imperial authority again. Is it truly unshakable?"

Yu Qianqian replied, "In some other nations on the continent, divine and Dao authority surpass imperial authority, preaching the 'divine right of kings.' This means imperial authority is granted by the gods. So, if someone in the Yulan Empire can elevate divine or Dao authority, they could rightfully claim the mandate of heaven and become the new ruler."

Ning Xiaochuan glanced subtly at Yu Qianqian, thinking to himself, People say the Great Golden Roc King covets the Jade Emperor’s throne—it seems there’s truth to the rumors. Yu Qianqian’s deep dissection of imperial authority must be aimed at finding its weaknesses, paving the way for the Golden Roc Prince's Manor to commit treason.

Ning Xiaochuan had no interest in who ruled the Yulan Empire. His only concern was the safety of those he cared about—as long as they remained unharmed, nothing else mattered.

"Princess Lanfei is still young. It’s normal for her to act impulsively. Perhaps she’ll regret her words in time and take them back."

At the moment, Ning Xiaochuan had no desire to be entangled in such trivial matters. His sole focus was cultivation—strengthening his power to control his own destiny, rather than being manipulated by so-called imperial authority.

The battle between Yu Tiadi and Hu Han Yeli concluded with Yu Tiadi’s victory.

Next would be the match between Yu Tiadi and Ning Xiaochuan. The winner would advance to the finals to compete against Ming Yang for this year’s Champion title.

Yu Tiadi stood at the center of the martial arena, his gaze fixed intently on Ning Xiaochuan.

Ning Xiaochuan said, "You’ve just fought a major battle. Your Martial Arts Profound Qi must be heavily depleted. I’ll give you an hour to rest."

Yu Tiadi did not rest, his fighting spirit still blazing strong as he declared, "Ning Xiaochuan, back in the Fire Demon Mountain Range, I already saw your extraordinary nature. Borrowing twenty Black Firewood Pearls from me, you charged alone into the Valley of the Fallen Dragon to rescue Princess Qianxi. Such boldness is truly beyond the reach of ordinary men. Who would have thought we’d both come this far, standing as the most outstanding individuals of this generation. I know you bear a grudge against Ming Yang, and I’ve decided to lend you a hand."

Ning Xiaochuan was slightly taken aback. "How do you intend to help me?"

Yu Tiadi lifted his Halberd, his face brimming with heroic resolve as he strode out of the arena with effortless grace. "Brother Ning, this match is yours. I look forward to your climactic showdown with Ming Yang tomorrow."

With that, Yu Tiadi exited the arena, leaving behind a towering silhouette.

None of the warriors had anticipated such an outcome—Yu Tiadi had voluntarily conceded?

"Yu Tiadi truly lives up to his reputation as the unparalleled prodigy of the Kirin Prince's Manor. Knowing that Ning Xiaochuan and Ming Yang will engage in a life-or-death battle tomorrow, he deliberately conceded so Ning Xiaochuan could conserve his strength and face Ming Yang at his peak."

"Yu Tiadi possesses such magnanimity—it’s truly admirable. His martial prowess is on par with Ning Xiaochuan’s, and he stood a great chance of winning."

"What do you know? Yu Tiadi and Ning Xiaochuan are sworn brothers. Back in the Fire Demon Mountain Range, when Ning Xiaochuan borrowed twenty Black Firewood Pearls to rescue Princess Qianxi, Yu Tiadi didn’t even blink before handing them over. Outside the Blood Mountain Demon Palace, it was also Yu Tiadi who fiercely suppressed those who sought to harm Ning Xiaochuan. Yu Tiadi is a hero of unmatched loyalty and righteousness—one should make friends like Yu Tiadi!"

"One should make friends like Yu Tiadi!"

The chant erupted across the arena, soon taken up by the entire crowd.

Murong Wushuang was dumbfounded. Others might believe Yu Tiadi and Ning Xiaochuan were close friends, but he knew the truth was far from it.

"What’s gotten into Yu Tiadi? Why’s he suddenly acting so shameless?" Murong Wushuang muttered in confusion.

Yu Qianqian chuckled. "This is Yu Tiadi’s brilliance. He doesn’t dare face Ming Yang, so he conceded to Ning Xiaochuan instead."

Ning Xin'er frowned. "If Yu Tiadi didn’t want to fight Ming Yang, he could’ve just conceded to him tomorrow and secured second place. Why concede to Brother today and settle for third?"

Yu Qianqian shook her head. "If he conceded to Ming Yang, everyone would see him as a coward and scorn him. But now—just look. By conceding to Ning Xiaochuan, he’s painted himself as a righteous hero. It’s the same act of surrender, but Yu Tiadi has perfected the art. Not only does no one think him weaker than Ning Xiaochuan, his reputation in the eyes of the mentors has actually risen."

"There’s another advantage to his move. He wasn’t confident he could defeat Xiaochuan—in fact, he might’ve lost. But now, all the glory is his. A loss that’s more honorable than victory."

After hearing Yu Qianqian’s analysis, Murong Wushuang and Ning Xin'er were stunned, realizing just how cunning Yu Tiadi truly was.