章 425: Chapter 425: The Five Elements Ancestors
"Your Highness, His Majesty's dying wish was for this old servant to look after you. I can still serve Your Highness!" The old eunuch wailed. He desperately clung to life, never expecting the crown prince to be so ruthless as to offer him poisoned wine. This wasn't how he envisioned things.
Creak!
The door opened, and another withered old eunuch slowly entered, carrying a wine cup.
"Liu Xun! What are you doing here?" The first eunuch's heart pounded. Wasn't this the old dog he'd suppressed ten years ago? He hadn't expected to see him here. Perhaps out of sheer rage, the old eunuch forgot his own lowly status. But none of that mattered now. The key was his refusal to accept his fate.
The young emperor gestured, and Liu Xun approached, a sneer playing on his lips. The sharp glint in his eyes unnerved the old eunuch.
"What are you doing?"
"Your Highness, save me! I can still serve you faithfully!" He cried out, knowing the crown prince wanted him dead. He wouldn't be spared. He was the late emperor's loyal dog, privy to many secrets. His network within the palace was extensive, and the crown prince couldn't risk letting him live.
Liu Xun seized the old eunuch, forced his mouth open, and poured the poisoned wine down his throat. The poison tasted deceptively sweet. Within moments, the old eunuch clutched his throat, emitting a bloodcurdling scream. Blood flowed from his seven orifices, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
The young prince watched the entire scene with cold indifference, his expression unchanging, as if accustomed to such events.
Liu Xun knelt and said, "Your Highness, please accept my condolences. The empire cannot be without you."
"My father ruled diligently for decades, only to fall victim to treachery. The pain… the pain is unbearable. A family cannot be without its head, a nation cannot be without its ruler. Make the arrangements. The coronation will be in seven days. Summon Wang Zhong to see me." The young prince stared straight ahead, a single tear slowly tracing a path down his cheek. It was a tear of grief.
Seeing this tear, Liu Xun's heart trembled. A heartless prince.
"Yes, Your Highness."
The prince's current focus was to continue his father's diligent rule. Those responsible for his father's murder must die. However, in his current position, he was powerless against them. Whoever could slay his father amidst an army of hundreds of thousands was a formidable foe.
Endure. Persevere. Wait for the right moment.
Purple Mountain, Lin Manor.
The Heaven and Earth Saints were still reeling from the recent events. Every time they closed their eyes, the horrifying scene replayed in their minds. It had been truly domineering, truly terrifying.
"We underestimated Manor Lord Lin," the Earth Saint sighed. "His Majesty hid his strength well. When the True Dragon's Protection manifested, I felt a sense of helplessness. It was as if heaven and earth themselves were protecting him. Even with my abilities, I doubt I could have broken through it. But Manor Lord Lin… he was even more terrifying."
The Heaven Saint took a sip of wine and said softly, "We are fortunate to have encountered such a master. Your fist technique has reached a level you never dared to dream of, and my swordsmanship is the same. Do you think we could truly ascend in broad daylight?"
"Difficult," the Earth Saint replied. "We both witnessed His Majesty's power. Protected by the Dragon Qi, his strength was astonishing, surpassing even ours. Yet, Manor Lord Lin suppressed him with a single move. Did you see Manor Lord Lin ascend?"
The Heaven Saint pondered this, finding the logic sound. He dismissed the thought of ascending in broad daylight.
By now, every sect and school in the martial world knew of how Manor Lord Lin of Purple Mountain had taken the emperor's head amidst an army of hundreds of thousands. The news stunned everyone, and some even dismissed it as a fabricated tale. It wasn't until the crown prince's ascension that they finally believed it.
They were eager to see how the empire would react to Purple Mountain. Such an act was unforgivable. Yet, surprisingly, the empire seemed indifferent, taking no further action. This confused many. What was the empire thinking? Would they simply let it go?
Purple Mountain's Lin Manor gradually acquired a mythical aura within the martial world. Rumors spread of a hidden treasure of the previous dynasty, containing not only endless wealth but also near-mythical martial arts techniques. Each rumor captivated the hearts of many, fueling their desire for the treasure. However, these desires remained buried, for even the empire made no move. What chance did they have against the Lin Manor of Purple Mountain?
Several Months Later. The Imperial Palace. The Study.
Wang Zhong, head of the Surveillance Department, reported with a grave expression, "Your Majesty, these five are the predecessors I found in the far north. They are known in the martial world as the Five Elements Ancestors. They have lived in seclusion for over a century."
Five withered old men stood in the study, their bodies so emaciated they seemed devoid of life. Yet, they exuded a terrifying aura. Their vital essence and spirit were perfectly contained, a sign of complete mastery. Each elder bore a mark on their forehead: a burning flame, a clear water droplet, a clump of thick earth… corresponding to the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.
The young emperor rose from his throne, walked towards the Five Elements Ancestors, and knelt. "I beseech you, esteemed predecessors, to accept me as your disciple."
"Your Majesty, please rise." Elder Jin waved his hand, and an invisible force enveloped the emperor, gently lifting him up. His technique was impressive, his True Yuan profound. Every movement held immense power.
"Your Majesty is the rightful ruler, protected by the Imperial Dragon Qi, impervious to evil and undisturbed by all methods. We are unworthy of your obeisance."
"We have heard of your situation. The Manor Lord Lin of Purple Mountain has likely reached the realm of Heaven and Man. Your father cultivated the Imperial Dragon Shocking Heaven Technique, a peerless art in its own right. By drawing upon the Dragon Qi, its cultivation speed is remarkable, advancing by leaps and bounds. However, this technique has a fatal flaw. Its full power can only be unleashed within the empire, where the Dragon Veins converge. Outside the empire, its power diminishes significantly."
The young emperor's face registered surprise. "I was unaware of this."
Elder Jin continued, "It is understandable, Your Majesty. Legend has it that this technique was created by several Heaven and Man realm experts through painstaking effort. Because it pursued a path of rapid advancement, it defied the natural laws of martial arts. By the time they realized the need for modifications, it was too late. They had already been corrupted by the Dragon Qi during its creation and perished."
"Esteemed predecessors," the young emperor said, "I wish to avenge my father. If I continue cultivating the Imperial Dragon Shocking Heaven Technique, I fear I will never have the chance."
Elder Jin smiled. "Your Majesty need not worry. You summoned us for revenge, did you not? While the Imperial Dragon Shocking Heaven Technique is powerful, it pales in comparison to the Five Elements Secret Art we cultivate. We each cultivate one of the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Though powerful individually, they are not at their peak. We can impart this secret art to you. Once you master the unification of the five elements, you will be the strongest in the world, and revenge will be child's play."
Wang Zhong knelt, his heart filled with envy. Such a peerless secret art would only be bestowed upon the emperor. Even if he desired to learn it, the Five Elements Ancestors would likely not even consider him.
"Thank you, esteemed predecessors, for your assistance. From now on, you may reside here. I bestow upon you the title of National Teacher, and even more, Imperial Teacher." The young emperor's gratitude was overflowing, his sincerity evident, completely winning over the Five Elements Ancestors.
They were fond of this young emperor, seeing in him a respectful and benevolent nature. For an emperor to kneel before them, these old immortals, and request to be their disciple, made everything worthwhile. Moreover, they had been searching for a suitable successor, and the emperor was a perfect fit.
They had discovered the Five Elements Secret Art in a cave during their youth. Each cultivated one element, but upon reaching a certain level, they discovered a flaw that prevented them from reaching greater heights. They had secluded themselves in the far north, dedicating themselves to research, and finally discovered the problem. The ultimate stage required the unification of the five elements, but they had already progressed too far down their individual paths to achieve it.
Now, with the emperor's favor and his request to be their disciple, they readily accepted. The five elements, mutually generative and restrictive, formed an endless cycle of immense power. They yearned to witness the true power of the unified five elements.
Thus, the Five Elements Ancestors remained in the palace, assisting the emperor in his cultivation. They recognized his exceptional talent, unwavering determination, and unparalleled wisdom. They imparted their knowledge without reservation.
Days turned into months, months into years. Ten years passed quickly. The once young emperor had matured, and his mastery of the Five Elements Secret Art had reached a profound level. However, in the eyes of the Five Elements Ancestors, this was still far from sufficient. He needed to continue striving.
The imperial palace held a wealth of treasures and medicinal herbs. Century-old Vermilion Fruits and other spiritual fruits were not uncommon.
The Training Hall.
The Five Elements Ancestors watched as the emperor channeled the five elements, each represented by a different colored True Yuan, swirling around him in a harmonious cycle of mutual generation and restriction. They exchanged glances, smiles of satisfaction gracing their faces. They had chosen wisely. His comprehension was exceptional, and with the protection of the Imperial Dragon Qi, he had cultivated their Five Elements Secret Art to a level they had never achieved.
Over the years, they had witnessed the emperor's respect and reverence for them. They, in turn, felt immense pride in his growing strength, like watching their own creation flourish. The sense of fulfillment was beyond words.
Purple Mountain, Lin Manor.
Han Yan had been here for twenty years, waiting for Lin Fan to conquer the world. Yet, nothing had happened. This confused her. She felt like she was missing something. No matter how much she pondered, she couldn't find any clues. But she knew one thing for sure: she had to protect her younger sister and prevent Lin Fan from getting his hands on her.
By the Pond.
Han Xiaoxiao had blossomed into a breathtaking beauty, surpassing even her older sister in both figure and appearance.
"Brother Lin, I'm cold." Han Xiaoxiao was growing impatient. She longed for Lin Fan to make a move, but even after all this time, he remained indifferent, seemingly oblivious to her beauty. It was truly frustrating.
Brother Lin, she thought, if you don't taste my flesh soon, it's going to get old!
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