Chapter 508 509: Jiangdong Unlimited Combat Tournament!
Chapter 509: The Jiangdong No-Holds-Barred Brawl!
Tianwu Hall, Xuanwu Gate.
The cultivators of the Imperial City Bureau ultimately lacked sufficient foundation, and the combat power of the Incense Qi Divine Path was too feeble—truly inferior even to the officials of the Dao Court.
Moreover, Lü Yang had ordered them not to use force.
Thus, under the onslaught of the hundred officials, the human wall formed by the Imperial City Bureau retreated step by step, and cracks appeared in the incense divine light, allowing voices to penetrate deep into Tianwu Hall.
"What's happening?"
In the rear palace, Empress Xiao awoke from meditation, her delicate brows furrowing slightly. She had been contemplating the mysteries of the [Seven Luminaries Heaven] when a sudden unease interrupted her.
With this thought, she immediately activated her divine sense.
Then she saw the scene outside Xuanwu Gate, and her expression changed instantly: "This... a coup? How audacious! Do they intend to tear all pretense apart?"
Empress Xiao's beautiful face turned ashen, completely unprepared for such a vehement reaction from the officials. In this situation, she and Crown Prince Longxing had to step forward—at the very least to meet with them and hear their grievances. Otherwise, if things truly escalated, it would only plunge the Dao Court into greater chaos.
'Could it be that Du Huan acted too aggressively?'
'If that's the case, then it's easily resolved—just throw Du Huan out as a scapegoat. A pity... I had thought that dragon would be smarter...'
Empress Xiao's thoughts raced.
Yet the next second, her eyes abruptly narrowed—for in the distance, she saw billowing dust and heard the synchronized sound of marching feet.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The thunderous noise soon revealed columns of soldiers clad in full-face heavy armor, wielding black-and-red court staffs, emerging from the dust and advancing toward Xuanwu Gate.
"The Five Armies Garrison!?"
"You—what are you doing?"
"I am a Presented Scholar from the imperial examinations of the 543rd year of Jiayou! The Five Armies Garrison dares to mobilize without orders—do you realize this is a grave crime?"
The response to these rebukes was a staff crashing down upon their heads.
"Thud!"
The dull impact was like a whistle signaling the start of a match. In the next instant, all soldiers of the Five Armies Garrison surged into the crowd of officials like wolves among sheep.
As capital garrison troops, their official ranks were the lowest ninth-grade. Yet, like the Five Armies Commanders, when they formed ranks as a unit, these positions combined to exert absolute suppression over all officials below fifth-grade—covering ninety percent of those present.
As for Foundation Establishment officials, the Five Armies Commanders dealt with them personally.
With the generous rewards Lü Yang had promised, plus a little assistance from [Puppet on Strings], the morale of the entire Five Armies Garrison soared to unprecedented heights.
The scene was truly like tigers descending upon a flock of sheep.
In moments, the area outside Xuanwu Gate was filled with wails and screams, the stench of blood rising to the heavens. Meanwhile, the Imperial City Bureau, which had been retreating earlier, now regained its vigor.
"Officer! Stop hitting us, stop!"
Several officials, beaten into cowering submission by the garrison soldiers, their earlier fervor completely evaporated, wailed: "We were just passing by—"
"Thwack!"
Before they could finish, a cultivator from the Imperial City Bureau dashed over and swung a staff across their faces, instantly spraying blood and shattered teeth.
Then, with utmost seriousness, the cultivator turned to the garrison soldiers: "You lack experience. After hitting them once, how can these vermin still speak? Here, let me demonstrate—follow my lead. Only then can Commander Du Huan see your loyalty!"
Soon, the brawl escalated to a fever pitch.
Officials attempted to flee on beams of light, only to be relentlessly pursued by cultivators from the Five Armies Garrison and Imperial City Bureau, their staffs swinging so fast they left afterimages.
"This... this..."
Inside Tianwu Hall, Empress Xiao's eyes widened in shock. Similarly, Crown Prince Longxing stood dumbfounded, clearly unable to process the situation.
"What's happening?"
The Crown Prince swallowed hard before turning to Empress Xiao for help. She, however, quickly regained her composure after a brief moment of astonishment.
'...How audacious!'
The same words, but no longer directed at the officials—now they described Lü Yang. She never imagined he would dare to do such a thing!
With this thought, Empress Xiao's brows furrowed deeper:
'More importantly... what kind of unorthodox method did he use to make the Five Armies Commanders obey him? This defies all reason!'
For the first time, Empress Xiao wondered if she had misjudged him. In her plan, the Five Armies Garrison was loyal only to the imperial family—Lü Yang should have had no way to control them. The only solution was for her to step in, ensuring Lü Yang bore all the blame while she reaped the benefits.
Yet reality had diverged completely from her expectations.
Not only were the commanders supposedly loyal to the Tianwu imperial family obeying Lü Yang, but even those aligned with the Three Dukes had inexplicably switched sides, all following him!
'A miscalculation... This is bad!'
Realizing this, Empress Xiao immediately understood her predicament: with control over the Five Armies Garrison, that dragon would inevitably covet her Heavenly Son's Talisman!
Instantly, a stinging pain spread across her skin as an overwhelming sense of crisis engulfed her, as if a giant hand were crushing her.
'Where is Du Huan? Where is he!?'
—Empress Xiao's question was also shared by the Junior Preceptor, Junior Guardian, and Junior Tutor observing covertly. Where was that dragon now?
Li Taian immediately turned to Junior Tutor Zheng Pingyi.
Yet after frowning and sensing for a long while, the latter shook his head: "I detect no aura at all. It's highly likely he left Tianwu City in secret."
"Left? Impossible!"
Li Taian shook his head firmly before gritting his teeth: "Regardless, keep watch on the palace. If that dragon wants the Heavenly Son's Talisman, he must enter the palace!"
At this moment, Empress Xiao, Crown Prince Longxing, the Junior Guardian, Junior Tutor, and Junior Preceptor—five Grand True Persons at Foundation Establishment Perfection—all unleashed their divine senses, enveloping the entire Xuanwu Gate inside and out, leaving no gaps. Under such surveillance, almost no one could sneak into the palace unnoticed.
"Attendants!"
At this moment, Empress Xiao suddenly commanded sternly: "Deliver my decree—summon the Five Armies Commanders into the palace. I shall receive them personally to inquire about the capital garrison."
This was an opportunity!
'Though I don't know why, Du Huan clearly isn't here... Seizing this chance, I must see if I can turn the commanders to my side.'
With this thought, a cold glint flashed in Empress Xiao's eyes:
'If possible, excellent... If not, and they are truly under some evil spell, then bury them all. Better that than letting them fall into enemy hands!'
Only one question remained: would the Five Armies Commanders heed the summons?
Under Empress Xiao's tense gaze, the commanders—still embroiled in the brawl—immediately halted upon hearing the eunuch's proclamation.
"Your subordinates obey the decree!"
Without hesitation, all five commanders accepted the edict.
Seeing this, Empress Xiao secretly sighed in relief. No matter what, once inside Tianwu Hall, the commanders would be at her mercy.
After all, the Five Armies Commanders could only regulate the entire Dao Court with the Heavenly Son's Talisman. Without it, they were merely third-grade officials—Empress Xiao could eliminate them with a breath. Thus, the situation had not yet spiraled beyond control.
Soon, the Five Armies Commanders entered Tianwu Hall.
As they proceeded, Li Taian and the others attempted to follow with their divine senses, but Empress Xiao coldly snorted, cutting them off outside the hall.
Next, she also expelled Crown Prince Longxing.
For no other reason than this: if the commanders refused to submit, she intended to kill them—such matters were best witnessed by as few as possible.
"Five Generals..."
Empress Xiao carefully chose her words before speaking softly, intending to first probe the commanders' state—whether they were truly under Lü Yang's control.
Then she froze.
One, two, three... There should have been five commanders, yet she suddenly saw a sixth person.
A handsome face, a composed smile, Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivation, and that eerie half-human, half-dragon aura—all unmistakably identified the newcomer.
Lü Yang clasped his hands and smiled: "Greetings, Empress."
In an instant, all sounds ceased.
For that brief moment, Empress Xiao's thoughts came to a complete standstill... She simply couldn't comprehend how Lü Yang had appeared here.
Though the answer was quite simple:
'I have cheats.'
Golden Talent · Petty Person!
[Petty Person: You can actively reduce your presence. The more people around you, the harder it is for anyone to notice you.]
Before Empress Xiao could struggle to speak, Lü Yang suddenly straightened with solemnity:
"Five Armies Garrison, attention!"
"Salute Her Majesty the Empress!"
At his command, the five garrison commanders stomped in unison and raised their hands to their sides: "Loyalty!"
Empress Xiao instinctively took a step back, her vermilion lips trembling slightly, her beautiful eyes filled with wariness—like a lamb cornered by a wolf.
"You... what do you intend to do?"
Lü Yang took a step forward and said calmly:
"Upon investigation by the Imperial City Bureau, the Minister of Military Affairs of the Capital has confessed that the Junior Tutor, Junior Guardian, and Junior Tutor are all suspected of colluding with the Demon Sect to assassinate His Majesty."
"I request Her Majesty grant me the Heavenly Son's Talisman to authorize their arrest."