[Your descendant, Li Yaozu, with the help of Fang Linglong, has defeated Zhao Wan.]
[Obtained a large amount of spoils of war.]
[Supreme-grade Dharma Treasure: Soul-Enrapturing Heart-Unraveling Bell.
Its chime can penetrate Rules and bewitch the human heart and soul.
It can induce violations of the Ten Precepts (killing, stealing, lust, lying... ). Those who fall victim will find their Divine Souls trapped in self-delusion.]
[Mid-grade Dharma Treasure: Purple Wisteria Shadow-Veil (Slightly Damaged).
The Veil is endless; used as a garment to cover the body, it kills without form. It can conceal one's killing intent and physical form.]
[Mid-grade Dharma Treasure: Dream-Entering Mirror (Completely Destroyed). Draws people into dreams in broad daylight.]
[Spirit Objects...]
"Thump!"
Within the Heavenly Palace, Zhao Wan plummeted from the spatial rift and crashed onto the ground. This battle had lasted for five days.
At the start, the Heavenly Palace had been deserted, but by the time Li Yaozu emerged, it was bustling like a marketplace.
Imperial Preceptor Min Youguo stood waiting, leading the hundred officials and the commanders of the Imperial Capital.
Crown Prince Sheng, his face pale, sat slumped dejectedly upon the central throne.
As Zhao Wan's dying body hit the ground, the disheveled Crown Prince, his hair in disarray, trembled all over.
He choked back sobs as he cried out, "Wan'er... Wan'er..."
Li Yaozu was also pale. His white robes were covered in bloody claw marks. His right hand still gripped his sword, and blood flowed from his wrist down the hilt and along the blade before dripping onto the ground.
Li Yaozu gazed at the numerous powerful experts in the Heavenly Palace, yet he paid them no mind whatsoever.
Even seeing Zhao Wan on the verge of death, he still felt a lingering fear.
"Sister Fang, thank goodness for you".
Zhao Wan's spoils were currently inside his sword box—especially that "Soul-Enrapturing Heart-Unraveling Bell."
Zhao Wan had used that accursed Dharma Treasure the moment they met, and he had fallen for it in the very first exchange.
He was a sword cultivator with a heart as still as water, for heaven's sake! A sword cultivator!
Yet, as long as one has violated the Ten Precepts, they will fall victim to it. And who in this world has not violated a precept?
Then there was that Dream-Entering Mirror—the scenes within that dream were simply too shameful for him to speak of.
Inside the sword box, Fang Linglong toyed with several Dharma Treasures.
"Ah Zu, this bell is actually quite nice. If you refine its artifact spirit and combine it with your sword technique, 'Trickster Flashstrike,' it could have miraculous effects.
As for this mid-grade shadow-veil dress, give it to my disciple. That girl definitely won't accept it, so you must force it upon her. It's a pity about this mirror; it's completely ruined."
As she spoke, Fang Linglong received no response from Li Yaozu.
She could only sense his darkened expression and couldn't help but furrow her brow.
"The great enemy has been defeated; why do you look like this? When I entered your body, most of your injuries were physical. Could it be that your Divine Soul was injured? Did you fall for her technique?"
"...." Li Yaozu's expression froze.
It took him a few moments to respond nervously, "I was hit by the Killing Precept. I experienced mountains of corpses and seas of blood; I just need a moment to recover."
"That's not right. You don't have any killing intent about you."
"My heart is as still as water; I suppressed the Killing Precept long ago. Sister Fang, please don't ask anymore."
"Oh."
Inside the sword box, a sly look appeared on Fang Linglong's face.
...
"Lord Imperial Preceptor, you owe my Li family a Void Refining corpse."
Li Yaozu scanned the surrounding hundred officials, his expression displeased.
In such a vast imperial court, he did not believe he was the only one capable of killing Zhao Wan.
He, Li Yaozu, was no savior; it was simply that this scheming lot needed someone daring enough to ascend the Heavenly Palace, kill the Crown Princess, and show utter disregard for Crown Prince Sheng.
After sending just this one message to Min Youguo, he vanished from where he stood, heading toward Azure Cloud Prefecture.
On the ground, Zhao Wan was still crawling wretchedly toward Crown Prince Sheng, who sat upon the throne.
"Wan'er... Wan'er!" Life returned to Crown Prince Sheng's vacant eyes.
He sprang up from his seat, only to stumble and fall to the ground, crawling toward Zhao Wan.
The officials of the court watched with complex expressions.
Zhao Wan and Crown Prince Sheng, this exquisite couple who had tyrannized the court for decades, were now nothing more than a pair of chess pieces on their game board.
Min Youguo waved his hand casually.
"Seize the Zhao family demon, throw him into the death-row prison, and help His Highness the Crown Prince back to his chambers to rest.
This official must report the completion of the mission to His Majesty."
"Transmit His Majesty's decree: The lands of Duravia Trade Prefecture have been governed by Prince Qian for many years, leading to the exhaustion of resources and the rise of unruly subjects."
"Now, Duravia Trade Prefecture is to be merged into Azure Cloud Prefecture."
"The Azure Cloud Li clan has performed meritorious service in protecting the throne and restoring order to Our Imperial Dynasty.
Li Dalong, Prefecture Lord of Azure Cloud, is hereby appointed Guardian of the Southern Border.
He is charged with suppressing the Wu Clan in the south and the Southern Sea region.
He shall hold the Second Rank, command an army of one million, and await His Majesty's imperial commands at all times!"
The civil and military officials of the entire court were shocked.
Of the Imperial Dynasty's thirty-six prefectures, the Li clan now possessed the lands of two.
That alone would be one thing, but with the Imperial Preceptor returning to power during this chaotic age, the establishment of the position "Guardian of the Southern Border" was a change unseen in tens of thousands of years.
In the future, this Li clan would answer only to imperial decrees and enjoy the protection of the Imperial Preceptor.