radicalducati Chapter 16: Bloodstained Imperial Observatory
Chapter 16: Bloodstained Imperial Observatory
Tai'an City, the Grand Pillar State Mansion.
The midday sun was scorching, yet it couldn't penetrate the heavy atmosphere inside the study.
Xu Xiao frowned, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table, on which lay a military intelligence briefing from the Southern Tang Dynasty—vague yet terrifying.
"150,000... a full 150,000 troops, plus Gu Jiantang himself..." His voice was hoarse, each word seemingly crushed from his chest, "and they were actually routed by one man and one sword? You must know that Gu Jiantang's ability to lead troops is comparable to mine; he just lacked an opportunity!"
"If it weren't for confirmation from multiple military intelligence sources, I would never have believed this absurd report. Even the mighty Sword Emperor of Western Shu back then could only stop eight hundred of my iron cavalry. Gu Jiantang took away five thousand heavy cavalry—and Lu Shengxiang too!"
He shook his head, as if trying to shake off the image. What kind of martial artist could withstand such an iron formation? Was it the legendary Lu Zu, who could travel a thousand miles on a sword, or a celestial emperor banished from heaven?
Wu Su sat opposite him, her pregnancy already showing. Even though she came from the Wu family's Sword Tomb and had seen the scenery at the pinnacle of the martial world, she couldn't help but feel a chill upon hearing the details of this battle.
No one doubts the authenticity of this battle, but in any case, Gu Jiantang has indeed died in battle and his army has been routed; this is a fact.
"This nameless swordsman from the Southern Tang Dynasty had only existed in legends of the martial world, never truly appearing before. But now, with a single stroke of his sword, he has shaken the ages." Her voice was soft, yet every word was clear. "What's even more chilling is that he hid so well, concealing his abilities from the entire world, yet not from Huang Sanjia. Truly worthy of the title 'Master Calculator'!"
"No wonder, no wonder! He never went to Southern Tang to persuade the Nine Kingdoms of the Spring and Autumn Period! It turns out he didn't dare."
After a moment of silence, she looked up at Xu Xiao, her fingertips slightly clenching on her abdomen: "But it's also fortunate... that it wasn't you who went to Southern Tang."
"Yes, thankfully it wasn't me. I don't think I'm any better than Gu Jiantang at dealing with martial arts figures." Xu Xiao gave a bitter laugh, but the smile quickly faded into a deeper brow. "But with Gu Jiantang dead, and at this crucial moment when the world is about to be unified… Li Yang's backbone has been broken. And what about His Majesty…?"
He looked at Wu Su, a rare look of worry in his eyes. "Although we are now heavily guarded, with Longhu Mountain, the Imperial Observatory, and the elite troops that have been recalled... I still feel uneasy. That nameless swordsman from Southern Tang acts completely irrationally, slaughtering 150,000 soldiers with such ruthlessness... Su'er, if something really happens, what about the Imperial Observatory...?"
Wu Su met his gaze and naturally understood what her husband had left unsaid. Xu Xiao's friendship with the current emperor Zhao Li and Yang Tai Sui was a true bond forged from humble beginnings. This worry stemmed partly from his loyalty as a subject and partly from his concern for his brother.
"Rest assured." Her tone was calm, yet carried immense weight. "If Your Majesty is truly in danger, I will go. It will simply be a transition from the mortal sword to the worldly sword, entering the realm of the terrestrial immortal. No matter how strong that nameless swordsman from Southern Tang is, he is not the True Martial Emperor descended to earth; even two fists cannot defeat four hands."
She leaned forward slightly, her eyes sharp as a sword: "In the battle of Southern Tang, Gu Jiantang had many soldiers and generals, but no top martial arts masters to hold them back. His army was pierced through by a single sword, and his defeat was like a landslide. But Tai'an City is different."
"Now, the capital is teeming with experts. Yang Taisui is a master of Buddhism, Han Diaosi points to the celestial phenomena, and Master Liu Hao has been stationed in Tai'an for many years, his abilities are unfathomable. In addition, there are the elites of Longhu Mountain and the Imperial Observatory who can calculate the secrets of heaven and suppress all directions, along with the well-prepared 'Iron Wall,' 'Divine Strategy,' and 'Iron Pagoda'... This is no longer a simple military formation, but a complex formation that integrates the fortune of the imperial court, the top martial arts of the martial world, and the iron blood of the battlefield."
"Even if that person is truly the reincarnation of Lu Zu or the descent of Zhenwu, being trapped in such a net of heaven and earth, surrounded by enemies on all sides, with his vital energy being worn down and suppressed layer by layer, he would inevitably die from exhaustion and regret."
"What we should be worried about now is not his coming, but whether he comes or not. We, including those tens of thousands of troops, cannot be permanently trapped under the walls of Tai'an. Western Chu has not yet been destroyed, and Northern Mang is still lurking. Liyang cannot afford to waste its time."
Xu Xiao frowned even more after hearing this, agreeing with his wife's words. No matter how terrified Li Yang was, it was impossible for them to maintain such a near-national defensive posture for a threat that might not even come. The stability of the border and other parts of the country was the most important thing.
Just then, the steward came to report that Master Yang Taisui, who had just returned from Longhu Mountain with the army, had sent someone to invite the prince to the mansion for a chat, to drink some vegetarian wine, and to talk about what he had seen and heard recently.
Xu Xiao wanted to find out the true situation of the capital's defenses and the emperor's recent condition from his close friend and imperial tutor, so he got up and agreed, gave Wu Su a few instructions, and hurriedly went out.
However, as night deepened, Xu Xiao still had not returned.
Wu Su felt a vague unease.
In Tai'an City, no one dared to easily touch this great pillar of the state who commanded 300,000 iron cavalry.
What she feared most was that Xu Xiao, for the sake of so-called brotherhood, would lead his troops to fight against the nameless swordsman of Southern Tang.
Just as Wu Su was about to send someone to Yang Taisui's residence to inquire, Empress Zhao Zhi's letter arrived. The letter was personally delivered by a female official, who looked anxious. She said that Xu Xiao seemed to have a dispute with His Majesty in the Imperial Observatory, and the atmosphere was tense. She hoped that Wu Su would come quickly to mediate.
Wu Su and Zhao Zhi had known each other since their early days and shared a deep friendship. Upon hearing that Xu Xiao might have met with misfortune, she didn't dwell on it, nor did she doubt how such a secret letter could have been so easily sent out of the Imperial Observatory. Worried about her husband, she stroked her lower abdomen, picked up the renowned Great Liang Dragon Sparrow sword, and alone stepped into the Imperial Observatory in the night.
The gate slowly closed behind us, and the Imperial Observatory was unusually quiet in the night.
Wu Su followed the female official who was leading the way, traversing the long staircase. The dim light of the lanterns cast her long, solitary shadow on the cold stone slabs.
The moment Wu Su stepped into the front courtyard of the Imperial Observatory—
The lights suddenly blazed on! But it wasn't the warm light to welcome guests; instead, it was the cold light of countless torches locked in by a chilling aura!
ambush!
From all directions, shadowy figures suddenly erupted, instantly surrounding her at the core! These people were dressed in various styles, including the standard armor of palace guards, the tight-fitting clothes of martial arts practitioners, and even barbarians from the Northern Wilderness. Their eyes were filled with deep-seated hatred and cold killing intent.
Xu Xiao swept through six kingdoms, his horse traversing the martial world, leaving enemies everywhere. Many blamed this butcher for the destruction of their nations and the ruin of their families. Killing Xu Xiao was too difficult, but if this butcher, on the verge of reaching the pinnacle, could be wiped out, leaving his life's work without an heir, ultimately ending in nothing... what could be a more satisfying, more soul-crushing revenge?
Wu Su instantly realized that this was a meticulously planned assassination plot against her!
The Empress's letter was nothing more than bait to lure her into a trap.
The hand holding the sword trembled almost imperceptibly.
Not only was I heartbroken by my friend's betrayal, but I was also chilled by Xu Xiao's unwavering sincerity.
During the day, Xu Xiao's words, "If His Majesty is in trouble, go and help him," still echoed in his ears.
From the front, three auras of the Finger Profound Realm pressed down like mountains, while a vast and profound Celestial Phenomenon Realm pressure enveloped the entire area! Among them, the one at the peak of the Finger Profound Realm, with an aura as yin and as venomous as a viper, was none other than the human-cat Han Diaosi! And the Celestial Phenomenon Realm elder who was the hidden leader, whose aura resonated faintly with the entire Tai'an City, was none other than the reclusive gatekeeper Liu Haoshi!
These "comrades" whom Wu Su had envisioned fighting alongside the nameless swordsman of the Southern Tang during the day, now all turned against her alone.
"Why?" She uttered two words, very softly, yet with an icy edge.
Han Diaosi raised his left hand, and three thousand red threads flowed gently between his fingers. Behind him, on the brightly lit pavilion, stood a figure in a yellow robe.
This powerful eunuch from the Imperial Palace, whose voice was as high-pitched as a needle, said: "His Majesty's decree: The child conceived by Lady Wu is a demon, which may bring disaster to the country and shake its foundations—it must be eliminated immediately."
The swordsman from Western Shu, whose country had been destroyed and whose family perished, curled his lips into a cold smile. His gaze, like a poisonous dagger, scraped across Wu Su's slightly protruding belly: "Wu Su, did you ever think of this day? You, and the bastard child in your womb, will both die."
"I really want to see... what kind of face Xu Xiao will have when he hears about your deaths! Hahaha—"
"Clang!"
A clear, resonant sword cry tore through the night sky as the Great Liang Dragon Sparrow was unsheathed! The sword light, like water, illuminated her pale yet resolute face.
Despite the numerous and powerful enemies, Wu Su showed no fear in her eyes, only the coldness of betrayal and the resolute determination to protect her own. She was once the most outstanding swordswoman of her generation at the Wu family's Sword Tomb. If she hadn't married Xu Xiao, becoming a terrestrial sword immortal might not have been a pipe dream for her.
That night, the pregnant Wu family swordswoman, wielding the Great Liang Dragon Sparrow, fought alone against more than a dozen first-rank masters at the Liyang Imperial Observatory, including many grandmasters and giants of the Finger Profound and Celestial Phenomenon realms!
Sword light crisscrossed, like a mournful wind howling across ten thousand miles, its chill penetrating to the bone; sword energy soared into the sky, its brilliance illuminating half of Tai'an City!
The Great Liang Dragon Sparrow, its sword, is recorded in history as having the reputation of "a single sword chilling the winds of ten thousand miles" and also known as "a single sword illuminating thirty provinces, its fierce energy soaring to the heavens and shooting towards the Dipper and the Ox!" On this night, in the hands of its female owner, this sword shone with the most brilliant, yet most tragic, light.
However, the enemies were too numerous, too strong, and too well-prepared. This was no ordinary duel; it was a desperate siege, regardless of the cost. Han Diaosi's red silk was unpredictable and insidious, specifically designed to break through protective qi; Liu Haoshi, taking advantage of Tai'an City's terrain, exerted overwhelming pressure, as if the city were collapsing; the other masters each unleashed their unique skills, fearless of death, seeking only her swift demise!
Wu Su's swordsmanship was divine, yet she had to be distracted protecting the fetus in her womb, and also endure the opponent's insidious attacks targeting her pregnancy. Blood gradually soaked through her white dress, the crimson spots a shocking sight.
Han Diaosi's figure remained shrouded in shadows outside the battle zone. At this moment, his effeminate voice echoed from all directions, like a venomous snake spitting its tongue: "Wu Su, why struggle any longer? His Majesty has ordered... that he will try his best to leave you with a whole corpse."
"Heh..." Wu Su deflected a cold arrow that came flying from her side with a single sword stroke, a chilling sneer curling her bloodied lips. "I think Zhao Li is unwilling to lose too many combatants at this moment, leaving no one to block the Southern Tang's sword, is that it?!"
She gasped for breath, her hand split open from the impact, blood trickling down the hilt of her sword. Yet, the "Great Liang Dragon Sparrow" in her hand remained as steady as a rock, its tip unwavering. Her gaze, like cold lightning, pierced through the shadows, shooting straight to the brightly lit pavilion deep within the Imperial Observatory: "Twenty years of brotherhood, sharing life and death... Zhao Li! What you did tonight—I truly feel sorry for Xu Xiao!"
Up in the pavilion, the figure in yellow robes finally appeared. Zhao Li stood by the railing, his face hidden in the shadows of the eaves, only a cold voice rang out, brooking no argument:
"No need to delay any longer. Kill her."
In an instant, the killing intent surged!
Han Diaosi's three thousand red silk threads suddenly straightened, like a blood-red spider web descending from the sky; Liu Haoshi clasped his hands together, and the earth vein energy of Tai'an City rumbled, pressing in from all directions; all the experts around her held nothing back, and the flashing swords, hidden weapons, and poisonous light transformed into a destructive torrent, pouring down on her!
Wu Su brandished his longsword, creating a curtain of swords before him, yet he was still forced back, each step leaving cracks in the stone slabs. Blood continuously spilled from the corner of his lips, staining his pristine white robes a grim crimson.
She could clearly sense that the enormous array deep within the Imperial Observatory was operating at an accelerated pace, like invisible shackles binding her layer upon layer. But what trembled her heart even more was the faint yet tenacious breath within her womb—her child, with each surge of her blood and qi, each collision of her inner energy, sending forth subtle yet clear throbbing movements.
Can't wait any longer!
A look of despair and determination flashed in Wu Su's eyes.
She raised her head and roared, her voice shaking the palace! No longer suppressing herself, no longer caring about the permanent damage to her Dao foundation and the greatly reduced lifespan after childbirth, she forcibly reversed the Qi, drawing upon the most abundant and violent primordial energy in the world, and recklessly broke through that barrier of realm!
Land-based Sword Immortal - Pseudo-Realm!
A torrent of sword intent and the primordial energy of heaven and earth surged into her body, causing the fetus in her womb to tremble violently. Blood spilled from the corner of her mouth, her aura surged, and the sword light suddenly intensified tenfold! The Great Liang Dragon Sparrow let out an unprecedentedly passionate cry, and a dazzling sword aura that swept across the heavens and earth swept out, forcefully tearing a gap in the encirclement!
Not seeking to kill the enemy, but taking advantage of this moment, Wu Su transformed into a sword light, ignoring the numerous killing moves coming from behind, and with the extreme speed of a pseudo-realm terrestrial immortal, carrying a rain of blood and a resolute sword intent, soared into the sky, wanting to break free of the cage!
however--
Outside the Imperial Observatory, in the night sky, dozens of magnificent Daoist formations were already arrayed in a solemn formation. The elite forces of Longhu Mountain were all deployed, their talismans like dragons and their thunder magic like a net, working in conjunction with the Imperial Observatory's fully operational grand formation to crash down!
Even though Wu Su had already reached the pseudo-realm, he still broke through the barrier by force. His energy was not stable, and he was forcibly blocked for a moment by the long-planned power of heaven and earth!
For the pack of tigers and wolves behind her, that was enough in an instant.
Han Diao Temple's three thousand red threads surged back like a river of blood, entangling and strangling her; Liu Haoshi formed a hook with one hand, shattering the energy flowing around her in mid-air, while his other hand clenched into a fist like a hammer, invoking a vast celestial phenomenon, and crashed down!
"boom--!!!"
Wu Su was slammed back to the ground like a meteor, dust billowed up, and bricks and stones shattered.
The dust and smoke dissipated slightly.
She leaned on her sword, kneeling on one knee amidst the ruins, her white clothes stained crimson. She coughed up a mouthful of blood, which splattered onto the cold stone.
All around, wolves were closing in, pressing closer and closer.
At the same time, at Yang Taisui's residence.
As Xu Xiao raised his glass, his heart skipped a beat. Immediately afterward, he felt a terrifying sword intent rising from the direction of the Imperial Observatory, familiar yet filled with grief and despair!
"Su'er—!!!"
Xu Xiao's eyes were bloodshot, and he crushed the wine glass in his hand! He suddenly turned his head and looked at Yang Taisui across from him, whose expression was complicated and whose eyes were filled with shame. In an instant, he understood everything.
All that talk of reminiscing and drinking, all that talk of what I've seen and heard, it's all just a ploy to lure the tiger away from the mountain!
"Yang Taisui! You're very well!!!" Xu Xiao's beard and hair stood on end, like a furious lion. He kicked over the wine table and didn't even look at his former "brother" again. His figure transformed into a black lightning bolt and rushed towards the place where the sword intent erupted like a madman.
On the other side, in the darkest corner beneath Tai'an City.
A figure stood alone in silence, gazing at the towering city wall before him, which resembled a colossal beast, seemingly hesitant.
As they entered the city, the blood-stained sword intent soared into the sky, its mournful cry like the cry of a phoenix.
The figure finally moved.
With one step, he disappeared into the night.
It's as if it never existed.
------
Some readers have misunderstood, so let me clarify: The protagonist gained access to the Gray Fog Space sharing ability (he got a cheat code), which allowed him to elevate his cultivation level. He propelled a commonplace cultivation manual to unprecedented heights. Without this cheat code, even if he thoroughly studied the manual within the statue, he couldn't possibly achieve such a meteoric rise.
The protagonist, lacking the talent of a platypus, obtains a Qi Cultivation Manual and becomes the world's number one martial artist in just seven days.
Finally, I would appreciate it if you guys could leave more comments; there are too few comments on this book.