In front of hundreds of thousands of people, Xu Qing alone rose up, glowing with the light of daybreak. A bluegreen dragon appeared over his head, along with a group of scintillating umbrellas.

Countless people shifted their gazes in his direction. Seventh Prince looked at him. The lieutenant governor stared. Numerous cultivators looked up.

The despairing wail of the boy suddenly disappeared as Xu Qing hovered there looking out at heaven and earth. In the heat of the moment, he wasn’t thinking about whether he’d made the right choice. He wasn’t wondering whether he would live or die. He was just following his heart.

All of the arguments he had been using on himself for the past half a month became powerless. How could they possibly suppress the truth he knew in his heart? Perhaps if another moment had passed, he wouldn’t have done this. And perhaps if he had another chance to do the same thing, he wouldn’t. But right now, he wasn’t thinking about such things.

“I am Xu Qing, who received a 30,000-meter pillar of light when the Grand Emperor assessed my heart. And I object to this!”

In voicing his objection, he had no choice but to mention the 30,000-meter pillar of light and the assessment of the heart. Those were his qualifications. After speaking the words, he felt like a huge weight had been lifted from him. All of the pressure that had been building up on him over the last twenty days or so finally disappeared.

Fuck off, confusion!

Fuck off, deliberation!

Popular sentiment couldn’t suppress his heart. Public opinion couldn’t keep his soul down.

Concerns about good decisions and bad decisions… could all just ** off!

Xu Qing’s eyes shone brightly, and his entire person seemed to glow. The power of destiny aura in the sky seethed, and unexpectedly, some of it actually shifted away from the crown and toward Xu Qing’s head.

Another crown, slightly smaller, was now taking shape above Xu Qing! It represented the approval of Sea-Sealing County’s destiny aura, and the approval of its heavenly dao! Although many people weren’t able to see it happening, there were definitely some people who could see it!

His words echoed like thunder into the hearts of all who could hear. Instantly, the hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the square went dead silent.

A moment passed, and then gasps could be heard everywhere.

Seventh Prince’s gaze focused on the spot above Xu Qing’s head, and his heart started pounding. He knew full well who Xu Qing was. What stuck out to him was one single thing. It wasn’t the services Xu Qing had rendered, or the fact that he earned the measly title of secretary-general from the old palace lord. Instead… it was the 30,000-meter pillar of light during the Grand Emperor’s assessment of the heart!

Never before in history had a person received a 30,000-meter pillar of light in Sea-Sealing County. Most people only had a cursory understanding of what that meant, and that it was rare. To them, a person like that was like an individual with a politically approved family background and education, who could be trusted. And it would ensure they had good prospects for the future.

But given Seventh Prince’s status and rank, he had a much deeper understanding. He knew that because of the Grand Emperor’s assessment of the heart, Xu Qing’s name was now inscribed on the statue of the Grand Emperor in the imperial capital! That statue was not a domain treasure. However, it was a legacy relic that had safeguarded humankind on many occasions. Throughout history, all emperors had prostrated in worship in front of it. People whose names were inscribed on that statue were considered very important to the emperor.

In other words… even Seventh Prince would hesitate long and hard before acting against such a person. And if he killed someone who had received a 30,000-meter pillar of light in the assessment of the heart, it would have a major effect on his reputation.

It was because of that 30,000-meter pillar of light that Xu Qing’s voice echoed out for everyone to hear. And all the cultivators who heard it were shaken to the core.

If this were Xu Qing’s first day in the county capital, then even the backing of the Grand Emperor wouldn’t have been enough for him to be taken seriously. If it was his first day, nobody would know him or understand what he was like. On his first day, people might recognize his name, but nothing else. Anything he said would be meaningless, because though people might have heard he was outstanding, they wouldn’t have actually valued him.

Except this was not his first day.

Without doing it intentionally, Xu Qing had worked his way into the hearts of everyone in Sea-Sealing County. He was the one who had brought great aid to the western front. And because of him being the secretary-general, countless people knew about him. What was more, his actions on the front lines of the war had won him the approval and understanding of all his fellow veterans.

He was a part of Sea-Sealing County. And to the swordsages, he was someone who had risked his life along their side, a comrade-in-arms who they trusted completely! 𝘳𝘦.𝒸𝑜𝘮

That, plus the 30,000-meter light, became like a glowing halo that made him the center of all attention. He had risen to the top based on his own talent, and had earned the deep trust and approval of the people of Sea-Sealing County, and especially to the Swordsage Palace. In fact, when they looked at him, they instinctively thought about Palace Lord Kong.

Not even someone like Kong Xianglong could do something like that. After Palace Lord Kong died, word began to spread about Kong Xianglong’s true identity. And for the most part, Kong Xianglong had been by the palace lord’s side during the war. As a result, his words were taken very seriously, and could shake all of the county capital.

However, after everything Xu Qing had experienced, he had come to realize that the most difficult thing to influence was public opinion. To the mortals in the county capital, the lieutenant governor was a person who had truly benefited the people. In that regard, Xu Qing couldn’t compare at all.

The cultivators from the other palaces were shaken, and at the same time, puzzled. All of that made it very clear to Xu Qing what he was up against. Being clear-headed was sometimes a big mistake.

Even as Xu Qing’s words continued to ring out, the deputy palace lord from the Swordsage Palace, the same one who had watched with tear-filled eyes as Palace Lord Kong perished, rushed out into the open.

“Xu Qing!” he shouted. “Did you actually cultivate that technique I gave you all the way to the first level! Are you daft? I told you not to get greedy, but you just wouldn’t listen!” Though the deputy palace lord was yelling angrily, his eyes betrayed how anxious he was. Spinning, he clasped hands in the direction of the altar. “Your Majesty. Lieutenant Governor. Xu Qing clearly ran into some problems in cultivation. Please, take no offense. I’ll personally take him away right now to punish him!”

At the same time, Honor Guard Sima and Honor Guard Sun from the Swordsage Palace flew up and bowed in the direction of the altar. Down below, there were other veterans who were about to join them. There were more than 100,000 of them, and they included Kong Xianglong, the Captain, Qing Qiu, and Ning Yan. It didn’t matter what happened. It didn’t matter what mistake Xu Qing made. They instinctively wanted to keep him safe. After all, Xu Qing would do the same for them. They were comrades-in-arms!

That was especially true of the Captain, who was already glowing with a faint blue light.

However, before anyone could fly up, the deputy palace lord rebuked them angrily, then once again bowed in the direction of the altar.

Seventh Prince’s eyes were narrowed and his heart pounded as his gaze focused on the spot above Xu Qing’s head. Then he looked down at all the veterans below. At that moment, he realized that if he didn’t handle this matter properly, it could lead to a lot of chaos. If that happened, then even if he smoothed everything out, there would be a blemish on the lieutenant governor. After all, Seventh Prince was now dealing with someone with a 30,000-meter pillar of light, plus the approval of Sea-Sealing County’s destiny aura. A person like that… would be treated thoughtfully even by his father the emperor.

That said, none of this was really his responsibility. He had fulfilled his part of the agreement. If the lieutenant governor couldn’t keep control of the matter, what did that have to do with Seventh Prince? Therefore, Seventh Prince didn’t say anything. He just waited to see how the lieutenant governor would handle the matter.

As the lieutenant governor stood on the altar, he looked at Xu Qing and quietly said, “It’s no bother. However, I’m curious to hear why exactly you object? By the way, Xu Qing, I haven’t forgotten that I had you in my class before.”

Before Xu Qing could say anything, the deputy palace lord again clasped hands and said, “Exalted Governor, there’s no reason for you to give any weight to the nonsense of children!” Then he turned to Xu Qing and yelled, “What are you standing around for? Get out of here!”

With that, he backed up as if to drag Xu Qing away, while simultaneously releasing the power of his cultivation base in case the imperial commanders-in-chief of the lieutenant governor made a sudden move.

“Stop right there, Li Yunshan!” the lieutenant governor said coolly. 1

Li Yunshan was the deputy palace lord’s name. Upon hearing his name spoken, he stopped for a moment, then continued a few more steps until he was standing next to Xu Qing. Looking at the lieutenant governor, he spoke in a voice that mixed bitterness with decisiveness. “Exalted Lieutenant Governor, Xu Qing was the secretary-general to Palace Lord Kong. He’s a swordsage too. He’s young and inexperienced, but he doesn’t deserve to die. After Palace Lord Kong sacrificed his life, I’m the only one left to take care of Xu Qing. Therefore… I vouch for him!”

Honor guards Sima and Sun released the power of their cultivation bases, as did the more than 100,000 veterans.

Seventh Prince’s eyes glittered faintly as he looked at the lieutenant governor.

The lieutenant governor, meanwhile, looked at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing took a step forward, bowed to Li Yunshan and the two honor guards. Then he turned to the more than 100,000 veterans and bowed to them. When he stood straight again, he spoke in a calm voice.

“In the fourth month of this year, after the war broke out, when Palace Lord Kong led the army to the front lines, he gave me a secret mission to investigate the governor’s murder!”

Li Yunshan had been just about to rush forward and drag him away, when the words registered and he lurched to a halt. The hundreds of thousands of cultivators present felt their minds reeling as they looked at Xu Qing.

As everyone looked on, Xu Qing expressionlessly took out the jade slip that Palace Lord Kong had given him.

“It took me half a year to complete that mission. Although we already know the role Marquis Yao played, there are still unanswered questions. And there is still a killer at large. Unfortunately, because Palace Lord Kong sacrificed his life, I didn’t have a chance to report my findings to anyone. Lieutenant Governor… do you mind if I make my report to you, right here and now? I’ve uncovered some evidence relating to the governor’s death that all humans in Sea-Sealing County should know about. I would love for you to point out any errors I’ve made, Lieutenant Governor!”

Down below, the Captain sighed. Eyes glittering with blue light, he prepared to release one more of his seals. Kong Xianglong trembled, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at the lieutenant governor. Ning Yan shrank back a bit. Surreptitiously glancing at Seventh Prince, he inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. Qing Qiu maintained silence, but her knuckles were white as she gripped her scythe.

There was also a random swordsage hidden in the crowd who looked at Xu Qing with a gleam of approval in his eyes, even pride. However, there was also a bit of helplessness in those eyes, within which briefly flickered a hint of golden light.

On the altar was Generalissimo Bloodhorror, who had led the operation in Forbidden by the Immortal. Beneath his mask, his eyes glittered.

The crowds were absolutely silent. In response to Xu Qing’s words, their gazes shifted to the lieutenant governor. Obviously, the governor’s murder had brought sorrow to the entire county. And that wasn’t even to mention that Xu Qing was acting on the orders of Palace Lord Kong. Even the mortals in the county capital were paying rapt attention. Already, public sentiment was wavering.

Xu Qing couldn’t match up to the lieutenant governor in terms of prestige.

However, the lieutenant governor couldn’t match up to the governor and Palace Lord Kong in prestige!

The lieutenant governor looked down at Xu Qing, and he seemed very serious, as if he only just now realized who Xu Qing was.

“Say what you have to say.”

1. Li Yunshan: Li is listed #2 on the list of 100 common surnames. It also means “plum.” Yun means “cloud” and Shan means “mountain.” Madam Deathblade says this name sounds cool but not amazingly unusual. ?

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