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nThe next day, it was a clear, sunny day. It was a rare day in Changan City where it did not snow in the late winter.

nThe banquet guests had not departed. However, it was time to put an end to the Emperor’s birthday banquet. The Resource Battle had ended. All the disciples of the various sects that had congregated in Changan City were prepared to head back to their various sects and continue their cultivation.

nThis Resource Battle had been an extremely huge shock for many of the new disciples. Many of the proud and arrogant ones among them finally understood that the resources that they had did not come easy after they had experienced a terrible beating. They would certainly treasure the cultivation resources even more after this and work hard at their cultivation.

nOutside Changan City.

nThe wind blew against the stubborn dead vegetation on both sides of the road, causing them to sway non-stop. The cold wind blew up one’s sleeves, causing a biting chill.

nFang Lang, Ni Wen, Liu Bubai were all from Luojiang City. Hence, Chao Xiaojian allowed them to all head back to Luojiang City together. It would be a chance for them to visit their families after having been away for a month.

nJiang Linglong remained at the Martial Arts King Manor while Geshu Yuehua returned to the Sword Guild before everyone else.

nChao Xiaojian picked up his sword, brought everyone in tow and turned into a stream of light that headed towards Luojiang City at high speed. Changan City shrank beneath their feet until it became a tiny point then completely disappeared from sight.

nLuojiang City.

nIt had not snowed at Luojiang City at all. However, there had been multiple winter showers. It looked like an ink painting.

nThe sword light tore through the sky and arrived in front of Luojiang City.

nThe soldiers guarding the city in the city towers of Luojiang City were shocked. They quickly bowed in respect. As soldiers guarding the city, they had a discerning eye. Chao Xiaojian arrived on a flight sword that was not produced by a large commercial company. It was a sturdy steel sword.

nThat was an unbelievably powerful feat!

nThe city gates opened. Chao Xiaojian smiled and entered the city.

n“Go back home, all of you. Spend quality time with your family. We’ll head out tomorrow,” said Chao Xiaojian.

nFang Lang, Ni Wen, Liu Bubai bowed with clasped hands. After that, the three of them left and walked down the familiar main street in Luojiang City.

nChao Xiaojian swung his hand as his white hair fluttered under the drizzle of rain.

n“Wen Ting, come with me to another place,” shouted Chao Xiaojian at Wen Ting who had planned on visiting Headmaster Cui.

nWen Ting gulped down a mouthful of wolfberry tea in a slight daze.

n…

nDing Ding Ding!

nThe sound of the steel hammer rang out unceasingly from the blacksmith in Luojiang City. The furnace was blazing as sparks flew out in all directions. A thick slurry of water splashed around, hissing as it turned into steam.

nAn old man dressed in a thin robe held a steel hammer and was hammering non-stop. A couple strands of white hair hung over his forehead.

nOutside the blacksmith’s workshop, the wind and rain grew fiercer. The sound of the signboard flapping in the wind rang out constantly. Thunder would occasionally resound from behind the clouds.

nThe sound of footsteps over the puddles quickly arrived outside the building.

nTwo figures entered the building. The old man stopped hammering. After that, his wrinkled face contorted into a frown, “I have nothing much to offer you as a host. Find a place to sit by yourselves. I don’t usually get such familiar customers in my shabby workshop.”

nChao Xiaojian and Wen Ting looked at the old man and smiled with clasped hands. “Old Huang, you’re too kind.”

nThe old man stopped working and sat with them. He turned to look at Wen Ting and the rapier at his waist. The rapier that had previously behaved like a wild beast was now enclosed within its scabbard and was in a much calmer state. It carried less rage.

nThe old man swept an eye over Wen Ting and noticed that not only did Wen Ting appear stronger, his essence and spirit were also much better than before.

n“As expected of Xuanyuan Taihua…” sighed the old man with full emotions.

n“She can make the weak into something extraordinary and fill Wen Ting with life even after his sword heart was destroyed. Everything was within expectations.”

n“This is only to be expected of the Tang Dynasty First Sword over the last 200 years. Why have you both come to see me today?”

nThe old man took out a dirty cloth and wiped his hands before staggering back to his rocking chair. He sat down and asked calmly.

n“Wen Ting, you little punk. You still owe me quite a sum of money. However, that little kid, Fang Lang paid for it on your behalf. Hence, your debt is settled.”

nWen Ting smiled in embarrassment. He had allowed Fang Lang to take the Blooming Lotus Sword for a look, hence, the debt should have been settled…

nChao Xiaojian found a chair to sit on. He looked at the old man and said, “My senior sister appeared in the Youzhou Demon Portal. The barrier between the two realms was torn and we could see the Tang Dynasty from the demon realm. This was because that kid, Fang Lang, awakened the spiritual sense that my senior sister hid within the Blooming Lotus Sword.”

nChao Xiaojian’s words caused the languid old man to slowly widen his eyes. There was a bright sparkle in his eyes.

n“I’ve said it before, how could Xuanyuan Taihua have passed on without any news? This is great news. However, what does this have to do with you coming to see me?” said the old man mildly in a raspy voice.

nWen Ting took a sip of wolfberry tea at the side. He had somewhat figured out what Chao Xiaojian’s plan was.

nIt was true, there was no one under the heavens that was better suited than this old man before him to escort Fang Lang in his mission to retrieve the three swords.

nWen Ting was astonished that Chao Xiaojian had included the old man in his plan.

nHowever, would he be able to convince him?

nWen Ting swallowed a mouthful of wolfberry tea and smiled.

nThe storm continued to rage outside.

nInside the building, the discussions continued.

n…

nFang family market street.

nEver since Fang Lang became the champion, the reputation of the Fang family market street rose. Today, this market street was a bustle of activity with people flooding the street.

nThe Fang family had produced a champion. This news had shocked the entirety of Luojiang City. Old Fang had also become a famous person in Luojiang City. The Fang family market street business had also grown in leaps and bounds.

nFang Lang wore white robes with his scabbard on his back as he walked leisurely down the familiar streets. He did not head to the Fang family market street, instead he wandered down the streets of Luojiang City.

nOccasionally, he would stop to buy some snacks. Other times, he would assess some small items. Ever since he had entered this world, Fang Lang had devoted everything to his cultivation. He lacked certain understanding of the things from the outside world.

nAs he walked, he arrived at the Fang family market street. When the people there saw Fang Lang, a couple of the staff who were familiar with him rubbed their eyes in disbelief. After that, they cleared their throats and yelled, “The master is back!”

n“The champion is back!”

nAll of a sudden, the people in the market street seemed to have surged like boiling water. Old Fang was at the accounts office calculating the accounts. When he heard the uproar outside, he quickly put down the brush in his hand and walked out of the accounts room.

nHe saw Fang Lang in the center of a group of people. A group of staff, a couple of the city folks, and also a couple of business friends were circled around Fang Lang, hounding him with questions.

nFang Lang was not arrogant. He smiled as he responded and talked about a couple of interesting things.

nFang Lang seemed to sense Old Fang and turned his head over. He instantly smiled and nodded.

nA smile appeared on Old Fang’s face. He immediately called out one of his staff to go to the Fang family restaurant to book the entire place and get them to prepare all their best delicacies!

nHis son had returned home, as a father, his heart was full of joy!

nOld Fang pushed through the crowd and retrieved Fang Lang who was trapped within a circle of people.

n“Young fellow, why didn’t you tell me that you were coming home?” scolded Old Fang good-naturedly.

n“The Resource Battle had ended. I suddenly got the chance to come home to visit my family. It was out of my predictions,” explained Fang Lang.

nThe father-son duo strolled through the market street as they chatted. Occasionally, some merchants would ask Old Fang if his son was back. Old Fang would smile and nod as he replied.

nThe two of them walked to the restaurant and as soon as they entered, the food was ready for them.

nOld Fang asked Fang Lang to have a seat at the table covered in food. He had not invited anyone else to join them. There were no guests joining them, just father and son sharing a meal together, savouring this rare opportunity to be reunited.

nIt was said that cultivators had no home. Old Fang had thought that after Fang Lang entered the Sword Guild, he would hardly ever be able to come home every eight to ten years.

n“Don’t be worried if you encounter any difficulty in your cultivation, or any bottlenecks. Don’t be frustrated. Come home more frequently and I’ll drink wine with you. Perhaps you’ll achieve some enlightenment soon after,” said Old Fang with a smile as he served Fang Lang with more and more food.

nOld Fang asked Fang Lang about his future plans. Fang Lang did not hide the truth from him. He told Old Fang that he had been accepted by the Tang Dynasty’s First Sword as her disciple.

nOld Fang was amazed when he heard that. Of course, he was more worried about Fang Lang’s safety and urged him to be careful.

n“If you really aren’t capable or if it becomes too dangerous, come back to Luojiang. I have nothing else apart from this business. However, it’s expanded and is now quite a huge business. Why don’t you come back and take over? There’s eight market streets, five restaurants and also ten thousand acres of good farmland. You’ll never have to worry about anything!”

n“Our family can be considered one of Luojiang’s richest families!” said Old Fang with a smile.

nFang Lang could not help but smile when he heard these familiar words that tried to diminish the fighting spirit within him. Just as before, Old Fang was still his biggest stumbling block in his cultivation journey!

n…

nThe Western Region Demon Portal.

nThe rune platform that had been delivered to the demon portal beforehand began to shine brightly. Ripples of energy shook through the air.

nA moment later, a figure dressed in eunuch’s clothing appeared.

nIn the demon portal, Asi Luoshan stood in his armor as he watched the figure walk off the platform. He slowly let out a sigh.

n“Your highness.”

nThe eunuch raised his head. It was the third prince, Li Liancheng who had used the strength talisman of the Main Path Guild to change his appearance.

n“Uncle Luoshan.”

nWhen the third prince saw Asi Luoshan, his tense emotions finally relaxed.

nEven though the third prince’s mother was not a foreigner, she had a good relationship with Asi Luoshan. This was why the third prince had received the backing of many foreigners.

n“I’ve already learnt of the events that happened in Changan.”

nAsi Luoshan said, “Your highness, you have been plotted against yet the Emperor still punished you. I can’t wrap my head around that. It’s understandable that you feel wronged.”

n“Fang Lang has hurt you numerous times. Despite this, the Emperor has never punished him. In fact, he ignored it. Why is this the case? That’s because he managed to obtain the Blooming Lotus Sword. It seems that he might be able to retrieve the Withering Lotus, the Circling Lotus and the Reincarnating Lotus in order to guide First Sword Taihua back from the demon realm.”

n“However, has the Emperor considered who would benefit the most when First Sword Taihua returns?”

nAs the two of them walked in the demon realm, they chatted back and forth.

nYellow sand drifted slowly in the air. The Western Region Demon Portal was an extremely harsh environment.

nAsi Luoshan in his armor, raised his arm and pointed in the direction of Changan.

nHe said, “Your highness, do you remember when chaos erupted in Changan, it created a huge uproar. However, that person never appeared. However, when I used Blood Essence at the Vermillion Bird Gate, that person appeared. When Nan Yehuo attempted to kill the Emperor, why didn’t that person appear when such a huge thing occurred?”

nAsi Luoshan’s burly figure suddenly gave off a terrifying aura.

nThe third prince had just removed the eunuch’s robes. He did not expect that Asi Luoshan would discuss this secret with him.

nWhen he thought about it carefully, Li Liancheng narrowed his eyes.

nAsi Luoshan turned to look at the third prince with an extremely dark look in his eyes. The words that he said were shocking. It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck down from the heavens!

n“Something… might have happened to the Emperor.”

n“The reason that you feel wronged, your highness, is because the Emperor… is not the Emperor any more! He has not been the Emperor for a long time.”

nAs soon as Li Liancheng heard those words, he felt his entire body shudder. It felt as though a chill was spreading across his body from his feet.

n‘Was it possible that the Emperor… isn’t really the Emperor?’

nThe look in Asi Luoshan’s eyes was deep and impenetrable.

n“The provincial governor system was personally approved by the Emperor ten years ago. However, this governor system has been rendered useless merely because of a word from Fang Lang. Why is that so?”

n“Furthermore, the battle of the crown prince was initiated by the Emperor ten years ago. You and the first prince have fought for ten years. However, now the first prince had died tragically and you have been framed and then forced into the Cold Palace. The battle for the crown prince has become a joke! Why? Does the Tang Dynasty not need a crown prince?”

n“That’s because… the Emperor is no longer the Emperor.”

nAsi Luohan’s words made the third prince feel as though he had uncovered a great secret. His entire body shook.

n“General Luoshan, w-what’s the best way to tackle this?”

nAfter careful thought, Li Liancheng found that it was extremely strange indeed. Over the past ten years, the Emperor had concealed his face. Over the past ten years, the Emperor never had many warm and close interactions with the princes…

nThe so-called battle for the crown prince was truly a joke!

nFurthermore, when Fang Lang attacked Li Liancheng three times with his sword, the person that the Emperor admonished was him!

nLi Liancheng was now connecting all these dots together in his head! A shocking revelation flashed upon him, just like a streak of lightning in the dark night!

nAsi Luohan took a deep breath in. His burly figure stood proud in the peak of the demon realm. His eyes flashed with a unique light. A strong spiritual sense spread out. It was as if a giant rock had stirred up huge waves in the sea of consciousness in Li Liancheng’s mind.

nHe spoke solemnly, “All the injustices that you have encountered were because of this, your highness. I cannot allow that fellow, Fang Lang, to attack you thrice more with his sword.”

n“Furthermore, I need you to save the Emperor, your highness! In order to give the Tang Dynasty the truth that they deserve and to give you the justice that you deserve!”

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