This scoundrel is a bit of a swordsman.

Chapter 203 Facing the Martial Emperor

Surprisingly, Murong Fenghua's quiet disappearance did not cause a great uproar; on the contrary, many people were delighted by the woman's disappearance.

This undoubtedly weakened the profound foundation of the Great Qian Dynasty without anyone realizing it, like peeling away layers of an onion.

Over the years, although the various countries have coveted the Great Qian Dynasty, they have been able to only look on from afar and hold back.

The fate of Xiao Jianxian is unknown, which is fine, at least everyone can be certain that Xiao Jianxian will not reappear.

However, Murong Fenghua was a real person in the imperial palace. They were not afraid of Emperor Wu, but they were full of hostility and respect for Murong Fenghua.

Upon returning to the water, Yun Xiyao's first question was: "Who is that woman?"

This demonstrates the profound impact Murong Fenghua's emergence had on the new generation of leaders.

"Xi Yao, decades of seclusion in the waters may have given you the illusion that you can overpower the younger generation and even surpass the older generation. Today is an excellent opportunity for you to witness the brilliance of the most outstanding person in the world. We do not expect you to become an emperor in the future, we only hope that you can follow in her footsteps. In this way, the waters can rest easy."

The elder sighed, his gaze fixed on the horizon, as if tracing the path of Murong Fenghua's disappearance.

With Murong Fenghua's departure, the world situation is about to undergo earth-shattering changes. After all, a person standing at the pinnacle can decide too many things.

"Elder, who exactly is she?"

"Murong Fenghua, the Empress of the Great Qian Dynasty!"

"What? The Empress of the Great Qian Dynasty? How is this possible?"

This time, not only was Yun Xiyao stunned by this identity, but even the scholar and Meng Qianfan, who had been listening nearby, were astonished, looking as if they had seen a ghost.

"This is outrageous! I've never seen an empress with such power!"

The scholar couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

"Emperor Wu's empress, or rather, the deposed empress, was actually her?"

Meng Qianfan seemed to have heard about it, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, because there were records about this empress in Xiao Xingchen's intelligence.

"Hehe, we prefer to call her Murong Fenghua, rather than anyone's empress. Although others call themselves emperors and empresses, she was already famous throughout an era long before Emperor Wu ascended the throne. You must remember that you must treat Murong Fenghua with respect. She is the only one who dared to draw her sword to the heavens! Drawing a sword to the heavens, how could an ordinary woman do that?"

The Grand Elder corrected Meng Qianfan's idea, which struck the three of them like a thunderbolt once again, because in the Grand Elder's eyes they saw a respect as vast as a surging river and a longing as bright as the stars.

"What kind of magnificent history does she have that could make the Grand Elder show such an expression?"

Yun Xiyao couldn't help but be curious, but what followed was a rock-solid determination in her heart.

This woman was standing up for Xiao Xingchen, but who exactly was Xiao Xingchen? Moreover, according to intelligence reports, the story of Xiao Xingchen bowing three times to the deposed empress spread like wildfire, which made her curiosity surge like a tidal wave.

Judging from Xiao Xingchen's performance today, what makes him so special that he was chosen by the Demon Emperor and gained the favor of such an extraordinary woman?

Such questions, like a clear spring, flow gently in the hearts of many.

Murong Fenghua's fleeting appearance reignited everyone's curiosity about Xiao Xingchen. The Great Qian King, this new king who appeared out of nowhere, made a dazzling debut in a breathtaking way.

Although fraught with danger, it also shone brightly like a star in the night sky. For a long time, Yong'an, and indeed the entire world, had not witnessed such a massive upheaval.

Therefore, with the disappearance of Tian Dao, messages of information drifted in all directions like snowflakes.

This time, Xiao Xingchen's fame has truly spread far and wide. After all, who could ignore the existence of a king of the Great Qian Dynasty?

Emperor Wu stared blankly for a long time before snapping out of his daze and looking intently at Xiao Xingchen.

"I never expected that our second meeting would cause so much trouble. I am really curious that you possess a sword from the Jade Capital. I must admit that I did feel a pang of regret when the Heavenly Sword appeared. You are a very difficult pawn to control; if you are not careful, you may turn against me."

"Your Majesty is indeed straightforward, as swift and decisive as a storm. I thought you would play games with me, but I never expected you to tell me so directly that I am just a pawn. Is Your Majesty always so frank?"

Xiao Xingchen's slightly sarcastic words were like a sharp blade, cutting through the air with a piercing sound, making the Princess and Ruoxue beside him tremble with fear.

You must know, that's Emperor Wu! How dare he speak so disrespectfully?

"You do have some guts, making you one of the best among the younger generation. Your ability to cause trouble is unmatched. So what are your plans now? Are you willing to become my pawn?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"Of course not. Although I consider your relationship with her, in the face of my grand ambitions, personal feelings are nothing but fleeting clouds. Only value is the standard of measurement."

"I wonder what Your Majesty intends to do. How did someone as insignificant as me catch your eye? Even pawns have their own standards, and I truly do not believe I am qualified to be your pawn."

The two stood in the void, exchanging words like needles clashing against wheat awns, causing Huangfu Lingxue to frown deeply. One dared to speak, and the other dared to ask questions; they were truly unconventional.

“You are quite special. From the moment you first appeared, I had doubts about you. Feng Hua’s attitude towards you only deepened my doubts. When she went to great lengths to obtain the Fortune-Granting Token for you, I knew that you were the one I was looking for. Even though you have been tainted by the aura of many others, it does not stop me from betting on you.”

"So what exactly are you betting on? Is it the demons beneath the ancestral temple, or the heavens above?"

Xiao Xingchen asked directly, clearly noticing that with Murong Fenghua's departure, the Martial Emperor seemed to have become much more amiable. Perhaps it was out of guilt, or perhaps it was out of affection for Murong Fenghua. This was completely different from the Martial Emperor he had seen in his previous life, who had wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible.

"It seems you know a great deal, perhaps even about the very earth beneath your feet?"

Emperor Wu's answer was ambiguous, like trying to see flowers through a fog, causing Xiao Xingchen to frown. These masters always spoke in such cryptic and enigmatic ways, but he silently memorized it.

"Since that's the case, I'll grant you the title of king. What does Your Majesty plan to do with me next? Will you use me to destroy the Xiao family, or...?"

"Oh? It seems you really do know something. Tell me, why did you say I needed to borrow your help to destroy the Xiao family?" Emperor Wu became interested and began to press for answers as if chatting with an old friend.

"You're planning to tarnish my name, strip away the aura of the Akatsuki Sword Immortal, and then wipe out the Akatsuki family with lightning speed, isn't that what you're aiming for?"

"Hmm, not a bad idea. You know what, I never thought that making you a king would have this advantage."

"Your Majesty, let's not beat around the bush. I believe you have something to say to me, but if you continue to treat me like a fool, then there's no need for us to continue this conversation."

"Haha, as expected of the person she has chosen. Even when Ling Xue and Ling Feng came to the capital, I never saw her so attentive. Now I understand, I am certain that you are that person, Dawn Star."

Emperor Wu laughed, his eyes flickering uncertainly. This made Xiao Xingchen tense up. He saw killing intent in Emperor Wu's eyes. Although it was deeply hidden, there was no doubt about it. What shocked him even more were those four words: Breaking Dawn Star.

These were his death threats in his previous life, and to this day he still hasn't deciphered the true meaning of those four words. Hearing the Emperor utter those words again, he couldn't help but ask...

What exactly does "Dawn Star" mean?

"You want to know? Then it depends on whether you have the qualifications. Often, people only know about things at a certain level when they reach a certain height. The Dawn Star is a truth passed down orally by stargazers throughout the ages, and no one except emperors knows it."

"Since Your Majesty has said so much, you must have already thought of how to obtain this qualification for me, right?"

Emperor Wu nodded, greatly appreciating Xiao Xingchen's quick understanding. He only needed to subtly hint at something, and Xiao Xingchen immediately grasped its hidden meaning, which earned him high praise.

"You've already visited the Silent Temple beneath the ancestral temple. What are your thoughts?"

"Thinking?"

"The Northern Region needs a map to find the ruins of the gods, the Water Region needs to rescue the great demon, and many others need to explore the mysteries beneath the ancestral temple. You are the only one who has been down there. Don't you want to do something? You know those great demons have been trapped for thousands of years and are already on the verge of death. If they could obtain a legacy, they could save hundreds of years of cultivation. Don't you yearn for it?"

The Emperor's voice was seductive, constantly assaulting Xiao Xingchen's eardrums.

"No, I am still very weak. Although I don't know what's under the ancestral temple, it's not something I would covet. So if Your Majesty is trying to get me into the ancestral temple, you've miscalculated. I'm not going to be cannon fodder."

Both were engaged in a battle of wits. Up to now, Emperor Wu was still playing the riddle-maker, and Xiao Xingchen naturally played along, continuing to speak. He also wanted to probe Emperor Wu's deeper meaning and what he was really thinking. Neither of them had revealed their thoughts yet.