Chapter 76

Li Chunyang's heart skipped a beat, and he smiled bitterly, saying, "If it were an ordinary minister, I would have killed him. But Kong Renyi is a descendant of the sage, representing the orthodox Confucianism of the world. His every word and action sets an example for scholars. If I kill him, I will surely be condemned by the people, and wherever I go, I will be pointed at and criticized."

Li Yunxiao's gaze was like a knife, staring at Li Chunyang. He sighed and shook his head, saying, "Old man, you still have too much concern for the secular world. We, who pursue the path of martial arts, value strength above all, and act on our emotions. What orthodox Confucianism? These are just the rulers' means to control the people in the secular world. To us, they are no different from dung. When we command the nine heavens and laugh from the clouds, who will dare to criticize us?!"

Li Chunyang was stunned, and Li Yunxiao's words echoed in his mind like thunder, making his brain buzz.

"Our kind should stand above the world! You have fought countless battles and fear nothing, yet today you are afraid of a mere pedantic scholar. Don't let Yunxiao see you as a laughingstock!" Li Yunxiao's gaze grew cold, and a strong killing intent spread without concealment. "Today, I will eliminate these pedantic ants. Let's see who can stop me!"

A great aura of killing intent emanated from him, pressing down on Li Chunyang's face as he moved, making even this mighty Martial King shiver, his heart surging with waves of shock. Li Yunxiao's words had struck him like thunder, giving him a sudden clarity. The path of martial arts suddenly opened before him. How could he achieve the Way by being timid? Only by advancing fearlessly and overwhelming all obstacles could he truly be a martial artist!

The killing intent emanating from Li Yunxiao now made even this veteran general, who had killed countless people, feel a deep, primal fear from the depths of his soul.

"How is this possible? How can this boy have such a heavy aura of killing intent? It's as if he has slaughtered countless beings and accumulated immense karma. Even I feel a hint of fear before him!"

Li Chunyang's eyes were filled with confusion; he found himself increasingly unable to understand his grandson.

This killing intent was a manifestation of the soul's murderous aura. Although Li Yunxiao had killed fewer people than Li Chunyang in his previous life, those he had killed were all great figures, masters, and overlords, each with a killing intent far heavier than Li Chunyang's by ten thousand times! Standing at the peak of the continent, his aura of supreme rule had instilled awe in all.

The grandfather and grandson stood side by side, riding white horses toward the imperial court.

They made no effort to conceal their auras, and people on both sides of the road felt a chilling tremor from afar and quickly moved out of the way.

Li Chunyang carefully observed his grandson's expression, feeling a deep sense of emotion and a renewed aspiration for the path of martial arts. After advancing to the Martial King realm, he had been content, thinking he had reached the pinnacle of his life. But now, feeling the aura of a great master from Li Yunxiao, he realized his vision had been too narrow, and he had only just begun on the path of martial arts.

He secretly resolved that once the matter with Qin Yue was resolved, he would completely withdraw from secular affairs and focus on cultivation.

"Who is ahead! This is the entrance to the imperial palace. You must not act rashly. Dismount and walk!"

The guards at the palace gate saw the two white horses approaching and their pupils constricted in shock. They quickly gathered their strength and shouted loudly.

Li Yunxiao's face darkened, and he focused his voice into a single line, which suddenly burst out and echoed in the sky above the palace, "The front lines are in urgent need. I have important military news to report to His Majesty. There is no time to wait. Please forgive my rudeness!"

The guard was startled and quickly shouted, "No matter what, you must dismount and walk. Wait for me to inform His Majesty!"

"It's too late. Move aside!"

"Rudeness! Dismount!"

"If you don't move aside, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"Boldness! If you don't dismount, you are courting death!"

"Alas, why make it so difficult." Li Yunxiao sighed lightly. The white horse had already rushed to the palace gate. The two guards were shocked and quickly drew their swords. A glint of sword technique flashed in Li Yunxiao's eyes, and the Taiyin Cold Sword suddenly unsheathed, a cold light reflecting out and instantly piercing the eyes of the two guards. Then, with a flash of cold light, two heads flew off!

Li Chunyang's pupils dilated slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "A lesson would have been enough. Why did you kill them?"

He had led troops for many years and treated his subordinates like family.

Li Yunxiao's gaze darkened, and his body radiated a strong killing intent, "Today, I am here to kill!"

Li Chunyang frowned, silent, and quietly followed behind. His grandson's actions and thoughts were completely beyond his understanding. But he felt a sense of awe, and he did not want to interfere. He just wanted to see how Li Yunxiao would handle the situation today.

With him, a Martial King, backing him up, the worst that could happen was a rebellion. In the Tian Shui Kingdom, who besides the one from Jialan Academy could stop him? After hearing Li Yunxiao's words that morning, his secular concerns had gradually faded, and he no longer cared about serving the country.

"Who dares to擅自闯入皇宫,斩杀侍卫!"

A series of angry shouts echoed from inside the palace, and a large number of guards quickly surrounded them. It was early morning, and the ministers were all in the grand hall, with Kong Renyi lying on a stretcher in the aisle, and over a hundred tutors from the National College kneeling outside.

"I am Li Yunxiao, son of General Li Changfeng, and I have urgent military news to report to His Majesty! The situation is critical, and there is no time to wait. Please step aside!" Li Yunxiao shouted in response, his Taiyin Cold Sword radiating a chilling aura, intimidating the circle of palace guards who dared not approach.

"Whoever you are, if you dare to kill the palace guards, you will face certain death!" A figure soared into the air, his large sleeves billowing, his body rolling like a ball, whirling toward them. If not for his head, he would have looked like a flower ball.

In an instant, he was above Li Yunxiao, shouting and extending his short arms, slapping down a palm. Dark clouds gathered in the sky, and four-colored forces converged in his palm, forming a massive pressure that descended in layers!

Li Yunxiao's entire body was locked by the aura, unable to move, and felt as if a mountain was pressing down, bearing immense pressure. The fine horse he was riding, under this pressure, let out a tragic neigh and exploded into a pool of blood and flesh.

His gaze focused, and he said coldly, "Eight-star Four Symbols realm, Martial Lord!"

Li Chunyang, behind him, was shocked. The person was the palace guard commander, Jing Feibai, at the Eight-star Four Symbols realm, which was unexpected. Without waiting for the palm to land, he leaped off the horse and rushed toward Jing Feibai at a speed that was hard to see with the naked eye.

"Bang!"

Everyone saw two figures collide in the air, and the ball-like figure seemed to lose air, spewing a large mouthful of blood, and then whistling, spinning in the air and flying away.

Only Li Yunxiao saw clearly that the old man first grabbed Jing Feibai's arm and broke it, then kicked him in the chest.

Li Chunyang landed from the air, his face stern, and he said in a deep voice, "Urgent military news, and you dare to obstruct! Any who dare to obstruct the reporting of military news will be killed without mercy!"

The guards' faces changed, and they recognized the person as Duke Jing, Li Chunyang. They were all terrified and dared not step forward to obstruct.

Li Chunyang coldly glanced around and nodded slightly to Li Yunxiao, indicating that they could go. Today, he would be his guard, and no one would dare to obstruct!

Li Yunxiao knew that the old man was waiting to see his performance today. He smiled and took a big step forward, shouting loudly, "I am Li Yunxiao, son of General Li Changfeng, and I have urgent military news to report to His Majesty!"

His voice spread out, echoing into the grand hall.

In the grand hall, everyone was shocked. Qin Yang's face changed, and he inwardly sneered. He stepped forward and said, "Father, the Li family is becoming more and more lawless. What do they think this palace is? They dare to kill the guards and force their way in. This is a blatant disregard for the imperial authority and should be punished by death!"

Qin Yue was also sweating coldly, not expecting Li Yunxiao to make such a big scene. In the court, not only was Qin Yang watching closely, but also Kong Renyi, the descendant of the sage and Confucian mentor, lying there, ready to deal with them. Now, with the guards killed, all the strategies she had planned to request the military order were useless.

Qin Zheng was furious, coughing violently in his dragon chair, and said angrily, "Summon Li Chunyang and Li Yunxiao to the hall!"

"Summon Li Chunyang and Li Yunxiao to the hall!" The eunuch's voice echoed down.

The palace guards, hearing the summons, all breathed a sigh of relief, wiping the cold sweat from their foreheads. If the king had not summoned them, and Li Yunxiao had walked into the hall, they would all have been guilty of a capital offense. If they had tried to stop him, they would have been dead for sure. Now, with the summons, they were pardoned, and they quickly retreated.

"Li Chunyang, Li Yunxiao, stop!"

Suddenly, a loud shout came from ahead