The morning air was cold, the mist curling around Tianyuan's palace like a living thing. Golden light seeped through the tall windows, catching the dust suspended from yesterday's chaos. The pavilion still lay in ruins, but the city had already begun its usual rhythm.
Mo Tianxing walked the corridors alone, robes sweeping silently over the polished stone floors. The smell of incense mixed with the faint copper tang of blood from Huo Zhen's training yard- nothing he hadn't smelled a hundred times before.
He stopped at the window overlooking the city. From above, Tianyuan looked orderly, almost peaceful. But the emperor knew better. Peace was always a fragile mask, and he had learned long ago that the cracks always appeared first in the smiles of officials.
Oh, look at them, running about as if yesterday night's pavilion fiasco was a festival.
His sharp gaze caught movement in the courtyard. Officials were gathering in clusters, whispering, pointing subtly toward the palace gates. One of them looked particularly nervous, tugging at his sleeve every few seconds as if the fabric contained the answers to all questions.
Probably plotting to overthrow me before breakfast. Ambitious little worms.
He turned from the window, walking toward the council chamber.
Inside, the chamber was arranged with the usual rigid hierarchy- senior ministers at the front, younger officials in rows behind them. Their faces brightened immediately at his entrance, smiles were carefully measured.
Mo Tianxing did not acknowledge the pleasantries. Instead, he stood silently for a long moment.
Finally, a senior minister cleared his throat. "Your Majesty… after last night, rumors of the Crimson Demon Sect's defeat have reached the neighboring kingdoms. Envoys have arrived from Yunzhou and Fenglin… they request audience."
Mo Tianxing arched an eyebrow.
"Request? I suppose it is polite to ask before attempting my head on a platter."
The senior seemed nervous in front of his emperor, as usual.
Then Mo Tianxing nodded once, decisively. "Prepare the audiences. Individually. One at a time. No one leaves without my notice."
The officials immediately began to move, scribbling notes and bowing in tight synchronization.
By midday, the first envoy arrived. A tall man draped in jade-green silks, representing Yunzhou. His smile was smooth, practiced, but Mo Tianxing noticed the subtle twitch in his left eye.
I have concluded that this one might be a weirdo.
"Your Majesty.." the envoy said formally, bowing low. "I come bearing proposals of trade and mutual protection. After news of your recent victory over the Crimson Demon Sect, many fear instability along our borders. Yunzhou seeks a… cooperative pact."
defeat of the crimson demon sect? fine, i shall indulge in their whims
Mo Tianxing inclined his head slightly. "And you arrive alone?"
The envoy's smile faltered. "I… am but a messenger, Your Majesty."
"Yunzhou's offer is noted. Leave the details and follow me to discuss matters, I will consider them."
The envoy bowed, careful not to turn his back, and retreated.
Once the door closed, Mo Tianxing exhaled softly, pacing the length of the chamber
***
Mo Tianxing allowed himself a rare moment of rest, leaning against the carved balcony railing. The morning sun had softened, glinting off the black-and-gold spires of the palace, and for a fleeting moment, the world seemed almost… peaceful. Almost.
Peaceful. Hah. I must be imagining it. Probably a trick by the universe to make me nap and miss a coup, although the envoy is here too..
The envoy was seated, organizing his thoughts along with the scrolls he has.
Mo Tianxing then turned his head, eyes sweeping the training yard below, expecting the usual chaos of laboring servants and low-ranking trainees. But something caught his attention
he didn't even know his name, yet he feared such a pitiful brat?
golden hair plastered to his sweat-streaked face, was bent over a pile of stones, moving them with methodical precision. The lashes from last night's punishment still probably marked his back, but he worked steadily, silently, ignoring the sharp shoves and whispered insults from older laborers.
Curious. and yet, he refuses to collapse. How very… annoying, along with the part i can't kill him at all
One of the laborers pushed him aside, smirking. "hey you damned rat! Hurry up! You're slower than a crippled dog!"
Han Liuyan's hands didn't falter. He glanced up briefly, eyes sharp, expression unreadable. Then he went back to moving the stones as if nothing had happened.
Hmph. Persistent little worm, this one certainly brings surprises.
Although, he did seem a little amused.
The envoy from Yunzhou was watching the emperor with careful calculation. Mo Tianxing, however, found his gaze drifting occasionally toward the boy below, thinking less about diplomacy and more about this inconvenient, infuriating spark of defiance.
The envoy cleared his throat, drawing Mo Tianxing's attention. "Your Majesty… if I may," he began, leaning slightly forward, hands clasped, "I have been thinking… regarding the borders. Perhaps…"
He hesitated, eyes flicking toward the balcony as he walked towards where the emperor was, and for a brief moment, Mo Tianxing caught the faintest twitch of frustration or perhaps admiration, on the envoy's face as he noticed the boy.
Ah. I see. Even outsiders notice the problem child
"…perhaps a more… subtle approach might benefit both our realms."
Oh, do go on, Mr. Jade-Slick. Entertain me with your brilliant schemes
Mo Tianxing thought dryly, allowing the envoy to ramble. Yet he listened carefully, beneath the practiced words and occasional stumble of tongue, there were hints that the envoy was hiding knowledge beyond mere politeness.
The envoy shifted, glancing toward the balcony again. "Your Majesty, may I ask… do you often observe your… subjects in this manner?" a sudden change of topic, it seems this man was very curious.
"Of course. Mostly to make mental notes of whom i should belittle… and whom to despise in exquisite detail."
The envoy paused letting out a nervous laughter.
He must be thinking "THE EMPEROR IS OUT HIS MIND, CRAZY, SICK, INSANE!"
Well, most probably.
Mo Tianxing smirked faintly, allowing himself one long breath, feeling the weight of the palace, the city, and the world pressing gently against him.
After a long pause, the envoy straightened, lifting his chin slightly, realizing something he spoke."Your Majesty… I owe you apologies for my earlier informality. My name is Wen Zhenyu, envoy of Yunzhou, acting on behalf of His Sovereign, emperor Lan Wenhao."
he forgot introductions? well it's not like envoys need of introducing themselves.
Mo Tianxing's golden eyes narrowed. "Emperor Lan Wenhao, is it? So polite to send a lone messenger while his kingdom trembles at the news of yesterday's… entertainment." He let the words hang, testing the envoy's composure.
Wen Zhenyu's lips twitched, almost a smile, though careful. "Your Majesty's reputation precedes you. I come knowing that diplomacy must sometimes take subtle forms… lest the most subtle of observers find offense where none is meant."
Mo Tianxing's golden eyes swept over Wen Zhenyu, noting the envoy's careful posture and the way his fingers barely brushed the scrolls, as if afraid to disturb the world itself.
"Wen Zhenyu." Mo Tianxing began, tilting his head slightly, "you speak of diplomacy as though it were a gentle breeze, when the world is nothing but storms and fire. Pray tell… does Emperor Lan Wenhao truly believe you alone can prevent disaster while bearing the burden of a kingdom's caution?"
Wen Zhenyu blinked, lips twitching in a measured, almost nervous smile. "Your Majesty… my sovereign trusts that careful negotiation can avert unnecessary bloodshed. I am but the instrument of his intention."
Mo Tianxing let the words hang. He leaned against the balcony railing, allowing the morning sun to warm his sharp features. "An instrument, is it? Very well. And what… does this instrument bring for my consideration?"
Wen Zhenyu bowed once more, sliding a small, lacquered box forward. "Your Majesty, Emperor Lan Wenhao requests the honor of your presence at a formal banquet in Yunzhou. He wishes to discuss matters of mutual borders, trade, and stability- personally. It is a rare invitation, given the… recent disturbances along the eastern passes."
ah, so he's too lazy to travel
"Hmm," he murmured, golden eyes narrowing in thought. "And tell me, Wen Zhenyu… if I accept this invitation, will your emperor expect me to smile politely, nod, and hand over Tianyuan's plans as a gift?"
Wen Zhenyu's expression remained composed, though a faint tension flickered in his eyes. "Your Majesty, Emperor Lan Wenhao desires… clarity, not surrender. He values discussion and… mutual understanding. Nothing more."
Mo Tianxing hummed softly, pacing the balcony.
He let his gaze drift toward the horizon, where the mist shrouded Tianyuan in a soft gray veil. "Very well. I shall consider your sovereign's offer. Tell him… I may grace Yunzhou with my presence. Or perhaps I may simply send my regards instead."
The envoy bowed deeply, lips pressed into a thin line. "Your Majesty, the message will be conveyed faithfully."
As Wen Zhenyu departed, Mo Tianxing lingered at the balcony, watching the city pulse with the orderly rhythm of a world that barely suspected the games already in motion.
Five kingdoms including mine, to what will this even lead to? Ah yes, countless schemes.
***
Three days had passed since that fateful day, and the other envoy has yet to arrive.
Mo Tianxing was watching his pet fish swimming around the container, For an emperor servants usually do all his tasks.
"i am so very bored." Mo Tianxing spoke
"ah? what's that?" he leaned towards the fish bowl
"i should study the cultivators skills? test them? strengthen my kingdom and pick out potential warriors? then that i shall do."
***
The imperial decree spread quickly, All cultivators within the capital were to gather at the Sky-Seeking Platform for inspection.
No reason was given.
No explanation was owed.
Because Mo Tianxing did not explain himself! so most of the people there were nervous.
The Sky-Seeking Platform sat atop the palace's highest terrace, a vast circular arena carved from white stone, engraved with ancient runes that shimmered faintly beneath the sun. Mist drifted lazily around its edges, giving the illusion that one stood above the heavens themselves.
Rows of cultivators filled the platform. Some wore sect robes embroidered with clouds and cranes. Others carried swords at their backs, heads lowered, breathing careful and measured.
No one spoke loudly. Not when the emperor had summoned them. Mo Tianxing arrived without announcement.
He simply walked in.
Black and gold robes trailing like spilled ink.
Crown resting lightly on his head.
Golden eyes sweeping the crowd as if counting livestock.
Silence fell instantly.
He did not sit either even when offered, he only dismissed the person who did so.
He stood at the platform's highest step and looked down at them all.
Like a god bored with his own creation.
So these are the famed cultivators of Tianyuan. They look… disappointingly like livestock.
His lips curved faintly.
A senior cultivator stepped forward, bowing deeply.
"Your Majesty summoned us. May we ask-"
Mo Tianxing lifted a hand.
The man stopped mid-sentence, cold sweat forming at his temple.
"I wished to see."
Nothing more, Just that.
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Confusion. Unease.
Mo Tianxing's gaze moved lazily- robes, swords, talismans, trembling fingers. Then his eyes stopped on one young cultivator near the back.
wasn't this the one that called that murderer (future) of mine a "rat" ?
The boy stood straight, chin lifted too high, pride too loud.
Mo Tianxing pointed.
"You. Step forward."
The boy stiffened, then obeyed, walking to the center. He bowed stiffly.
Mo Tianxing looked down at him.
"How long have you cultivated?"
"Seven years, Your Majesty. I have reached the third realm."
"Oh?" Mo Tianxing tilted his head slightly.
"And you believe yourself impressive?"
The boy's lips tightened. "I… strive to serve Tianyuan."
Mo Tianxing smiled.
Not warmly.
Never warmly.
He descended the steps slowly until he stood directly before the boy.
Then-
He raised his hand.
And slapped him.
The sound echoed across the platform.
The boy stumbled but did not fall. His cheek reddened instantly. Shock widened his eyes.
The boy felt humiliation.
Mo Tianxing leaned closer, voice quiet enough that only the front rows heard.
"Remember this feeling. If your pride ever outpaces your usefulness… this is mercy compared to what follows."
Silence lingered after the slap.
No one dared breathe too loudly.
Mo Tianxing turned back toward the gathered cultivators, hands folding behind his back as though nothing of consequence had happened.
Then he spoke.
"Strength is worshipped in this world." His voice carried easily across the platform.
"Yet worship without proof is meaningless."
His gaze swept them again-
"So. Entertain me."
A ripple of unease passed through the crowd.
Mo Tianxing's lips curved slightly.
"Who will spar with me?"
No one moved.
Of course they didn't.
To spar with the emperor was an honor. To offend him in a spar was a death wish, Seconds passed. The wind brushed the platform. Somewhere, a crane probably cried.
Boring.
Then -
A young man stepped forward.
He was tall, dressed in plain gray robes, hair tied simply with no ornament. His sword hung at his side- old, well-maintained, not flashy. His eyes were clear and steady.
Interesting.
He walked to the center and bowed deeply.
"This disciple, Xu Liangren, offers himself for His Majesty's entertainment."
His voice was respectful. Not trembling nor was it arrogant, it was simply sincere.
Mo Tianxing raised an eyebrow.
Interesting.
A faint stir ran through the cultivators. They whispered amongst each other, desperate to see the emperor, Han Liuyan had snuck earlier to watch from the side..
Mo Tianxing stepped down onto the arena floor.
"Draw."
Xu Liangren's hand moved.
Steel sang softly as the sword left its sheath.
The moment Xu Liangren's sword left its sheath, the air changed. Not loudly, not dramatically, but with the subtle tension of a bowstring drawn to its limit. Mo Tianxing did not summon a weapon. He merely lifted a hand.
"Begin."
Xu Liangren moved first. A single step forward, light and controlled. His sword traced a half-moon arc, aimed not to kill but to test. The blade whooshed through the air. Mo Tianxing tilted his head aside, the sword passing a finger's width from his cheek. A faint stir went through the crowd.
Xu Liangren did not press further. He retreated one step, eyes steady. Mo Tianxing's lips curved faintly. He knows not to overreach. Good.
Then Mo Tianxing moved. No flourish, no wasted motion. He crossed the distance in one breath, palm striking toward Xu Liangren's chest. Xu Liangren reacted instantly- his sword reversed, the flat of the blade catching the emperor's wrist, redirecting force instead of meeting it head-on. The impact rang like a bell. Neither flinched.
Mo Tianxing twisted free, spinning behind Xu Liangren in the same motion, fingers reaching for the back of the young man's neck. Xu Liangren dropped low, rolled forward, and rose with his sword already raised. Their eyes met-
Step. Turn. Strike. Block. Redirect. Mo Tianxing's robes swept like flowing ink. Xu Liangren's sword flashed like cold moonlight. The watching cultivators could barely follow. it was an impressive spar indeed.
Mo Tianxing feinted left. Xu Liangren did not fall for it. Instead, he pivoted right, blade flicking toward Mo Tianxing's sleeve- precise, restrained, stopping just before contact.
Han Liuyan froze..
The sword hovered. Mo Tianxing stared at it. Then slowly raised two fingers and pushed the blade aside.
Xu Liangren immediately lowered his sword and knelt. "This lowly person would never dare injure the Son of Heaven."
not like he could anyway. Mo Tianxing was about to counter if he hadn't stopped.. then-
Silence.
Then Mo Tianxing exhaled once, quiet and measured. A rare laugh escaped him, soft enough to make the crowd's spine chill. "Interesting!" He turned, hands folding behind his back. "Xu Liangren. From today onward, you remain within palace grounds. Train under my personal guard. Serve when called."
So it was a test.. The emperor was testing the strong!
Xu Liangren bowed deeply. "This lowly person humbly accepts."
A murmur rose among the gathered cultivators. Some impressed, some unsettled. Xu Liangren remained kneeling, head lowered, breathing steady. Mo Tianxing did not look back at him again. His interest had already moved on.
He lifted his gaze to the crowd. "Next."
The word was light. Casual. As if inviting entertainment.
For a moment, no one moved. Then a figure stepped forward.
A woman.
She was young- perhaps eighteen or nineteen, maybe younger. Her hair was bound high with a crimson ribbon, her cultivation robes simple but clean. Her eyes were bright, stubborn, and unafraid. She clasped her fists and bowed. "This disciple, Shen Yao, requests the honor of sparring with Your Majesty."
A ripple of surprise spread. Some cultivators frowned. Others whispered warnings. Sparring the emperor was one thing. A woman stepping forward so boldly was another.
Mo Tianxing studied her. Not her face, not her figure- her posture. Balanced stance. Weight evenly distributed. A swordswoman.
"How amusing, You wish to entertain me too?"
Shen Yao did not flinch. "If Your Majesty wishes for entertainment, this disciple will provide it. If Your Majesty wishes for strength, this disciple will show it."
Bold. Too bold.
Mo Tianxing smiled. It was not kind. "Very well. Begin."
Shen Yao drew her sword in a clean motion. Unlike Xu Liangren's quiet precision, hers was sharp and fiery. She lunged immediately, blade aimed for Mo Tianxing's shoulder.
how reckless
Mo Tianxing stepped aside. Her sword cut empty air.
She did not stop. Second strike. Third. Fourth. Each one faster, lighter, pressing him backward across the platform. Her sword technique was raw, but her intent was clear- overwhelm before hesitation could take root.
Mo Tianxing's expression remained unchanged.
he moved.
He caught her wrist with one hand.
Shen Yao's eyes widened. She twisted, trying to break free, channeling qi into her grip. Mo Tianxing merely tightened his fingers. Not enough to break bone. Just enough to remind her of the difference between them.
He flicked his hand.
Shen Yao was sent sliding across the stone floor, stopping on one knee, sword still in her grasp, breathing hard.
Silence fell.
She lifted her head, eyes blazing with refusal to yield. She stood again, gripping her sword.
Mo Tianxing's golden eyes gleamed. "You still wish to continue?"
Shen Yao steadied her breath. "Until Your Majesty commands me to stop."
For a brief moment, something flickered in the emperor's gaze. Approval? Interest? Or merely the satisfaction of watching a flame struggle before it burned out.
He crossed the distance in one step and tapped two fingers against her forehead.
A pulse of qi struck.
Shen Yao's sword dropped. She fell back, caught by two attending cultivators before hitting the ground.
Mo Tianxing turned away as if the match had already left his mind. "She has potential. Assign her to the Inner Training Court. If she survives three months, promote her."
The elders bowed quickly. Shen Yao, still dazed, lowered her head in gratitude.
The crowd whispered again.
Xu Liangren watched quietly from his kneeling position.
And Mo Tianxing, the tyrant, emperor, monster in silk and gold- stood at the center of it all, expression calm, as if none of this mattered.
The murmurs had not yet settled when another voice rose from the edge of the platform.
"Your Majesty."
It was soft. Too soft. Yet the crowd parted instinctively.
Han Liuyan stepped forward.
His golden hair was still damp from labor. His thin robe hung loosely over his frame. The marks of previous punishment were hidden beneath cloth, but his posture remained straight.
Mo Tianxing turned.
For a moment, his golden eyes darkened. Something sharp passed through them, fast as a blade.
"So, You wish to join the performance as well?"
Han Liuyan lowered his head. "This lowly servant requests a spar."
Silence struck the platform.
Xu Liangren frowned. Shen Yao's eyes widened. Even the elders exchanged uneasy glances. A servant-slave. Untaught. Untested. Asking to spar the emperor. He was also petite and small looking!
Mo Tianxing's lips curved.
"You have never cultivated." he said. "You carry stones, sweep halls, and endure punishment. What makes you think you may raise a sword before me?"
Han Liuyan's voice remained steady. "This lowly servant practiced in secret. At night. With broken wood. I wished to learn cultivation… to become useful. To not remain weak."
Mo Tianxing stared at him.
Then, almost idly, he asked, "Your age?"
"Thirteen.." Han Liuyan answered.
A ripple went through the crowd again.
Mo Tianxing stepped down from the high platform. Each step echoed. When he reached Han Liuyan, he stood before him, looking down as one would at an insect that had suddenly learned to speak.
"Pick up a sword." the emperor said.
A training blade was placed into Han Liuyan's hands. It was too large for him. Yet his grip was correct. His stance… surprisingly proper.
Mo Tianxing raised one hand. "Begin."
Han Liuyan moved.
Not fast. Not slow. Precise. He swung upward in a clean arc, just as he had practiced alone in silence countless nights. Mo Tianxing turned aside easily. Second strike. Third. The boy's breathing stayed controlled.
Mo Tianxing allowed three strikes.
On the fourth, he moved.
He stepped into Han Liuyan's guard and struck once- an open palm to the boy's shoulder. Han Liuyan staggered back. He did not fall. He raised his sword again.
Mo Tianxing struck again. This time Han Liuyan slid across the stone floor, catching himself on one knee.
Mo Tianxing's gaze sharpened. The air around him shifted. His next movement was too fast for most eyes. Han Liuyan tried to follow- but his balance lost. He dropped to the ground.
Mo Tianxing stood over him.
"You hid training beneath my roof.." the emperor said softly. "You dared lift a blade toward me. Do you know what that means?"
Han Liuyan paused-
Mo Tianxing struck This time he did not hold back. His palm landed against Han Liuyan's forearm with a clean, precise force.
A sharp crack echoed across the platform.
Han Liuyan's sword fell from his hand. He staggered, biting back a gasp, clutching his arm instinctively. His knees hit the stone floor, breath unsteady.
The crowd stiffened.
Even Xu Liangren's fingers tightened.
that's right.. kneel
The sword trembled in Han Liuyan's remaining grip. His broken arm hung uselessly at his side, pain crawling up his shoulder with every breath. Still, he stepped forward.
Mo Tianxing's gaze lowered. "You can no longer hold a sword properly."
"This lowly servant only needs one hand.." Han Liuyan said quietly.
Han Liuyan moved once more.
born of desperation, of years of stolen practice in shadows. His blade cut upward in a reckless arc.
Mo Tianxing shifted to evade- but Han Liuyan's sword was quick to follow.
And steel grazed his cheek.
A thin red line appeared.
Silence struck harder than thunder.
The emperor touched his own face, studying the blood on his fingertip. His eyes lifted. Not anger. Not fury.
Interest., he was surprised. out of all the cultivators the one that hit him was one that does not cultivate..
Han Liuyan's knees finally gave. He collapsed, breathing ragged, sword slipping from his grasp. he clutched his arm in pain.
Mo Tianxing stepped closer. Close enough that only Liuyan could hear him.
"i have yet to ask.. What is your name?"
"H-Han Liuyan your majesty.." he still bowed despite the painful feeling of his body. A murmur rippled through the watching cultivators.
Mo Tianxing turned away as if bored. "You are not useless."
The sentence alone froze almost everyone.
He ascended the platform steps, blood still trailing down his cheek, voice carrying coldly across the courtyard.
"take him away and treat his broken arm."
Xu Liangren blinked. He knew better than anyone- this was mercy. But it was also a command that could never be refused.
As servants rushed forward, Han Liuyan lay on the stone, eyes half-lidded, pain burning through him, yet his lips curved faintly, a slight smile of satisfaction and relief.
Notes-
Sky-Seeking Platform (登天台)
A ceremonial stone dais within the imperial palace where cultivator candidates demonstrate their strength before the emperor.
Heaven's Selection Trial (天选试炼)-
An imperial examination for cultivators, personally overseen by the Emperor to choose those worthy of serving the dynasty.
Cultivation Realms (修真境界)-
The hierarchical stages of a cultivator's progress. Specific levels have not yet been revealed.