Eastern Divine Capital.
Great Wu considered the east as honorable, annulled the Shang Dynasty Heavenly Capital, established the Divine Capital, and made it the capital ruling over the world, to demonstrate the legitimate orthodoxy.
The Divine Capital was built with the efforts of the whole nation. The city walls are over ten zhang high, grand and majestic, creating awe in those who look upon them. Inside, the population is dense like interweaving threads, with residences neatly arranged according to various markets and districts, akin to orderly vegetable fields.
Various government offices, the Divine Capture Sect, the Six Ministries, the Heavenly Altar, and other buildings are interspersed among them.
The most magnificent of all is naturally the Great Wu Imperial Palace!
This palace stretches six hundred and sixty-six zhang in length, three hundred and thirty-three zhang in width, with surrounding city walls nine zhang and nine high. Outside the palace, there is a moat thirteen zhang and three wide.
The palace is divided into four gates, with the east being the most honored, housing the Divine Martial Gate. Passing through leads to the outer courts of the Taiyang Hall, Central Yang Hall, and Shaoyang Hall, collectively known as the Three Great Halls.
Beyond the Three Great Halls lie the Inner Courts—Qianyang Palace, Jiaotai Palace, Kunning Palace...
These first three halls and the following three palaces are the most crucial parts of the Imperial Palace, where major ceremonies and court conferences take place, and where the Emperor and Empress reside.
Moreover, there are other buildings like the East and West Six Palaces, Imperial Garden, Great Scholar Hall, etc., each exuding extreme luxury, with roofs covered in five-colored glazed tiles and mythical creatures sculpted at both ends.
On the twenty-fifth of the twelfth lunar month.
Outside the Divine Martial Gate, a tavern.
Hidden Dragon Li Qinghe, holding a wine jug, gazed at the Inner Palace while muttering to himself, "No path above the glazed tiles, sounds of fish in the Golden Water River, limitless skillful painters in the world, yet no painting can capture this heartache..."
He continued to mutter while pouring wine into his mouth.
Even though the weather was bitterly cold, it did not bother him the slightest.
Li Qinghe was genuinely heartbroken,
"On the first of January, the grand banquet of the world, the eight Heavenly Persons, forever dominating Jianghu... Ha ha... With such a grand event, I am merely a side character..."
Recently, the Martial Arts world of Jianghu had been tumultuous, with the rankings of Grandmasters changing thrice a day. Who would care for a mere newly-promoted Grandmaster?
Additionally, with various sects closing their gates or isolating themselves, Jianghu, usually bustling and noisy, seemed almost entirely silent.
Li Qinghe was no fool and had sensed the imminent storm, understanding clearly that the Eastern Divine Capital was now the eye of the storm!
Yet, he came regardless.
Even if it meant getting involved, implicated... or even shattered to pieces in the storm, what of it?
The gathering of the eight Heavenly Persons, every Martial Artist wished to witness it, even if merely as an observer!
’Xun Liuyi... although I cannot compare to you, wait for me on the ranking list. I, Hidden Dragon, will not let someone monopolize the glory.’
Despite being disheartened, Li Qinghe was still that proud youth!
He laughed heartily, tossed the wine jug aside, and out of the corner of his eye, he seemed to see many more figures.
Some of them were Grandmasters famous throughout Jianghu, some were obscure novices, but now, for the same reason, the same belief, they had all gathered here.
Even, he saw Duan Mingyu, the peerless in both music and swordsmanship, and Jing Fan, the Iron Arhat... These two, whose sects had closed their gates, daring to show up now, were essentially declaring their separation from their sects.
Such a big sacrifice, just to witness this once-in-a-century grand gathering in Martial Arts!
’I wonder if the Imperial court’s plans will go smoothly... Will the eight Heavenly Persons willingly accept the official recognition? I don’t believe it, at least... with the pride of the Undying Evil Emperor, he would never grovel to the court...’
As Li Qinghe thought, he suddenly felt a surge of fighting spirit within him: "There are still a few days until the first of January, just enough time for me to challenge the World’s Grandmasters and compete for a place on the Earth ranking!"
Although he saw Duan Mingyu, since this person had made a breakthrough even later than him, Li Qinghe directly overlooked him, focusing his attention on Jing Fan, the Iron Arhat.
"My struggle for a place on the Earth ranking begins!"
He took a deep breath, ready to loudly challenge the Iron Arhat in front of the Imperial Palace, when suddenly, an overwhelming fear sprang from nowhere, filling his soul.
Li Qinghe stiffened, mechanically turning his head.
The north wind howled, clouds churned, seemingly forming a funnel.
And at the end of the long street, at the junction of heaven and earth, a figure was slowly approaching the Great Inner Palace!
Clad in a white robe, wearing an Asura mask, his entire aura was like a dark abyss, radiating terror and ominousness.
Every step he took seemed to trample on the hearts of every Martial Artist.
"The third on the Heavenly Ranking, the Undying Evil Emperor!"
Li Qinghe muttered, uttering the name, "Why has he come so early?"
By now, the surrounding area was devoid of bystanders, only Jianghu Martial Arts practitioners remained, watching the figure akin to a Demon God approaching slowly, all bowing their heads, not daring to look directly.
"Could it be... the Undying Evil Emperor wants to clash with the court? Is he not afraid of death... Even the Saint Monk couldn’t..."
Li Qinghe’s eyes shone brightly, as for challenging the Earthly Rankings? He had even forgotten about that himself...
Damn it, even if he were first on the Earthly Ranking, how could that compare to a battle on the Heavenly Ranking?
Footsteps overlapped, and from all directions, golden threads emerged, only when the threads neared could one see, they were an army of Martial Artists clad in golden scale armor.
The Great Wu Dynasty had its Five Direction Dragon Armies, with Black, Blue, White, and Red guarding the four directions, while gold was the most prestigious, it was the color of the Royal Family, hence it comprised the Royal Guards, tasked with guarding the Imperial City, this Golden Dragon Army, also called the ’Golden Scale Army’!
Just their golden scale armor alone was extremely costly, crafted from meteoric iron combined with five metals, impervious to blade and spear, yet very light in weight.
Worn on a Blood Swapping Warrior, one could move through a massive army unscathed, advancing and retreating seven times.
Albeit the Golden Scale Army numbered only a thousand, each of their presences was profound, it seemed the weakest among them had also touched the threshold of Blood Swapping, squad leaders were Grandmasters, causing Li Qinghe’s eyelids to twitch uncontrollably.
He understood this was the top-tier army of the Great Wu Dynasty, and even a single squad could easily encircle and kill him.
If the entire Golden Scale Army were to mobilize, the Qingyuan Sect would likely be crushed as easily as an egg.
Even the weaker among the eight major powers might not be able to withstand them.
Because the Great Grandmaster was the supreme commander of the Golden Scale Army!
"Undying Evil Emperor, you have come early!"
On the Divine Martial Gate, amidst the Golden Scale Army, a towering Great Grandmaster stepped forward with his sleeves flowing, his voice slow yet spreading everywhere, "Furthermore... how esteemed is the title of ’Emperor’? How dare a mere rustic boor like yourself assume it? Why don’t you promptly renounce this title and respectfully plead for mercy from the court?"
In reality, Count Bloodrobe had already sensed the killing intent of the Undying Evil Emperor, hence understood no matter what he said, the Undying Evil Emperor would not retreat, today there would only be a battle!
Since it was a fight to the death with the Evil King Sect, provoking the opponent’s spirit hardly mattered.
"Today... I come to kill!"
With every step Zhong Shenxiu took, it seemed as though he stepped on the hearts of those present, creating a mysterious and eerie pressure.
A thousand in golden armor faced one man, yet they could not hold him back!
The foreheads of the Grandmasters among the Golden Scale Army were covered with cold sweat, wanting to shout orders for their soldiers to advance, but finding themselves unable to speak, even feeling a heavy oppression in their chests as if filled with cotton.
With the sound of footsteps, the cotton seemed to grow heavier, turning into steel.
Zhong Shenxiu arrived in front of the Divine Martial Gate, stepping forward, his entire being seemingly riding the wind, about to land on the city walls.
Under the majestic might of the Great Grandmaster, a group attack was useless, and the only one who could react was Count Bloodrobe.
He roared furiously, his body erupting with bloody light, a blood-red rainbow suddenly appeared, filled with notions of downfall and corruption, rushing towards Zhong Shenxiu, aiming to force him back from the city gate.
Zhong Shenxiu’s body displayed a layer of gray-white stone skin, carrying an eternal and unyielding aura, firmly stepping down.
Like giant waves crashing against rocks, blood light scattered in all directions.
With Zhong Shenxiu stepping forward, his entire being stood upon the Divine Martial Gate.
Simultaneously, every soldier of the Golden Scale Army began violently spurting blood, some even dropping dead instantly!
The Evil Emperor steps on the Imperial Palace!
Dominating the modern world!