Chapter 72 Han Qianchou's Response
To allow those without talent to practice fate and become Fate Masters...
Is it true or false?
Once this news leaks, the entire world, I'm afraid, will go mad!
"Could this be the fundamental reason why Heaven Mandate Hall fears the Mandate Chaos Masters?" His pupils contracted, and Yu Longqing's body trembled slightly.
He had never understood before, that even if a person could disrupt fate, it shouldn't warrant being hunted by the entire Source World. Only now did he truly grasp the significance; it had already severely shaken the foundation of Heaven Mandate Hall.
"I will now perform the saber art, observe carefully, and then follow suit and learn..."
Too lazy to explain further, Zhang Xuan flicked his wrist, and a Mo Dao appeared in his palm, gently swaying it.
In an instant, streams of Heavenly Mandate Vitality were drawn out from the Phantasm Space, the strength in the saber art that made one's soul tremble flowed into every corner of the room.
Soon, the saber art was performed to completion.
"How much did you remember?" Zhang Xuan looked over.
"Not even one move..."
Yu Longqing's face was full of embarrassment: "Although I could understand and remember it, I just couldn't perform it..."
"Me too! Perhaps I could mimic some of the battle techniques, but the power would be far inferior." Lu Mingrong nodded.
"Try it!"
Zhang Xuan casually tossed the Mo Dao in his palm to Lu Mingrong.
School Head Lu caught it and slashed out.
His move, seemingly identical to Zhang Xuan's recent display, drastically changed trajectory once performed, influenced by a peculiar force, turning into something unrecognizable.
This feeling was akin to knowing the answer was "Zhu Yuanzhang," but one's hand involuntarily wrote "Sun Honglei" when writing it down.
This is the power of fate, if it's not meant to be, no matter how hard one tries, it's to no avail.
"Continue!"
Seeing he couldn't perform it and was about to stop, Zhang Xuan shouted. Flicking his finger, dozens of essences from the Mo Blade Water Flow in the Library of Heaven's Path entered the other's body.
Boom!
Lu Mingrong's body flashed with light, the deviated Mo Dao trembled, returned to the right path, and soon, the sharp glint of the saber, along with Heavenly Mandate Vitality, surged forth, illuminating the entire room like a blood-red setting sun.
"This..."
"Did you really learn it?"
Yu Longqing and Sun Lianxiang were both shocked at the same time.
If they were doubtful before, they were now one hundred percent certain.
"I, I..." Dean Lu Mingrong was even more excited, feeling that the previously confusing and elusive saber art had suddenly become crystal clear in his mind with a flick of the other's finger.
This was a sign that the Fate Lock had been opened.
"The rest of you should try as well!"
Zhang Xuan instructed.
Yu Longqing and another person performed their techniques; with his help, they also quickly mastered the Mo Dao.
The ability to practice the Mo Dao, and to such a high level, exceeding the former Yu Qingyu, proved they indeed possessed the qualifications to become Fate Masters.
"You all continue practicing here, I'll arrange for your departure later..."
Having repaid his debt, Zhang Xuan didn't stay any longer and turned to leave.
"Yes!"
Yu Longqing and the others were all filled with excitement.
Not revealing his secret was simply to repay a favor, but they hadn't expected to benefit from this misfortune.
"It seems my choice back then wasn't wrong..."
Yu Longqing clenched his fist.
Back then, upon realizing the other was a genius, he chose to invest, not hesitating to have his daughter take him as her master, not expecting it to be the most correct decision of his life.
Meanwhile Liu Tianzheng, who made the wrong choice, was already dead, and the Liu Clan had been utterly ruined.
...
Leaving the room where the three were, Zhang Xuan shook off the dust to make himself look disheveled and headed towards the courtyard's main hall.
Before he could get there, he "thump!" fell to the ground, and darkness overtook him as he passed out.
Hearing the sound, Sun Qiang rushed out, understanding the situation and filled with anxiety: "Old master, old master... Master Yue, please save the old master..."
His voice echoed through the courtyard.
"Vice Hall Master Ling?"
Hearing the sound, Yue Longxiao quickly came out to see him in such a disarray, he hurriedly checked the pulse.
"What a mess!"
Yue Longxiao frowned: "Is the injury really this severe?"
This was the first time he had ever felt such a chaotic pulse!
The life force was unstable, the zhenqi was flowing backward, it was already the precursor to going berserk.
After hesitating for a moment, he took out a pill, shoved it into his mouth, and dissolved it with divine energy. Vice Hall Master Ling finally came around.
"What happened?"
Yue Longxiao urgently looked over.
Zhang Xuan struggled to sit up, his voice like a cuckoo's cry: "Master Yue, you must advocate for us... Just now, upon hearing of my brother's arrival, King Han Qianchou summoned us to the palace. After two drinks without any warning, he suddenly made his move. No one expected the wine to be poisoned; my brother was beheaded on the spot, and Master Han and I barely escaped with our lives... By the way, has Master Han returned? How is he?"
"He... is already dead!"
Yue Longxiao shook his head.
He was previously wondering, with Mo Qing's exceptional abilities, how Han Qianchou could have slain him—turns out it was through poisoning.
"Dead? Master Han is dead?"
Zhang Xuan was taken aback, a sense of shared melancholy showing in his eyes.
"Yes!"
Yue Longxiao nodded, "I have already reported this news to the Wanxiang Sect of the Zhou Yi Dynasty. If nothing goes wrong, the message will soon reach the headquarters of Heaven Mandate Hall..."
"That's good..."
Zhang Xuan let out a sigh of relief.
Yue Longxiao, reminded of something, wore a baffled look: "Han Qianchou is always circumspect, steady in his actions. Why would he suddenly erupt in murder?"
Having worked together for many years, he understood a lot about His Majesty the Emperor: He was somewhat ambitious but also very cautious and careful.
Back when he first arrived in Han Yuan City and became a sect leader, he had specifically visited and deliberately committed several faux pas to provoke the other party. Yet, the Emperor pretended he didn't see them.
Just from that, it was clear that the man was cunning and capable of forbearance. Now, without a word, he directly poisoned Mo Qing and executed him... No matter how one looked at it, it felt odd.
If it wasn't for Han Xiao dying immediately after speaking, and the severity of his injuries, he would never have believed it.
"Indeed..."
Zhang Xuan's face flushed, caught like a child with his hand in the cookie jar, and in the end, he could only speak the truth: "Elder Brother Mo Qing drank a few too many and took a fancy to the Consort of King Ping Yuan. In a fit of rage, King Ping Yuan, Han Qianye, dueled him and was slain by my Elder Brother..."
"So that's what happened..."
Yue Longxiao had an epiphany.
It all made sense now.
He had never met Mo Qing, but he had heard about him.
The men of the Mo Blade Sect, from top to bottom, were all extremely lustful... Mo Qing was no exception. He was said to have kept dozens of wives and concubines, indulging in pleasure daily. Unexpectedly, upon coming here, he brazenly made a move on Han Qianye's consort.
This King Ping Yuan was a martial fanatic, famous for doting on his wife, and naturally could not tolerate his spouse being flirted with in his presence...
...
In the sky far from Han Yuan City, Min Jiangtao was seated atop a massive Aerial Origin Beast.
Suddenly Sensing something, he took out a jade token from his pocket and gently tapped on it.
In a flash, myriad Heavenly Mandate Vitality twinkled, and a phantom figure appeared in front of him—it was his teacher, Elder Bai Ye.
"I just received a message from Heaven Mandate Hall. They have clarified the matter. It was Han Qianchou of the Han Yuan royal family who killed Mo Qing and blamed it on Master Han Xiao. Master Han Xiao is also dead now..."
"Han Qianchou killed the third junior brother? Why?"
Min Jiangtao was equally flabbergasted.
"If it really was him, the Han Yuan Dynasty no longer needs to exist," Elder Bai Ye said indifferently.
"Yes!" Min Jiangtao nodded, his expression solemn.
Although his abilities far surpassed Mo Qing's and he could easily handle the likes of Han Qianchou and others, the notion of single-handedly confronting a dynasty still made him apprehensive.
Even the Strongest of warriors would exhaust their Strength if faced with an onslaught from tens of thousands, and he was no exception.
"Accelerate the speed, hurry over..."
After instructing the Origin Beast below him, Min Jiangtao lost the mood to practice and instead drew his saber, Mo Dao, taking deep breaths to focus.
Before this, he had some ideas about investigating Ling Buyang, his junior brother, but now all thoughts were overshadowed by the news of Mo Qing's death.
Ling Buyang had been expelled from the tutelage many years ago, and the teacher barely regarded him as a disciple. Mo Qing was different; he was his personal junior brother, with whom he had shared many moments. His silent death in Han Yuan City had ignited rage within him.
"Han Qianchou, no matter the reason, to dare kill my junior brother... the Han Yuan Dynasty is thoroughly doomed!"
Min Jiangtao's gaze flickered.
Confusion clouded the mind of Han Qianchou, the misunderstood leader, who now stood quietly beside Mo Qing's corpse, just as puzzled.
The Flowing Light Spear Technique of his younger brother was not weak and was nearly a match for himself. Still, being beheaded with a single thrust was beyond his comprehension.
Yet the facts lay before his eyes; amidst the mist, he had heard Han Qianye's furious roars and Mo Qing's death screams.
Both mortally wounded, both perished...
"Reporting to Your Majesty, we've just checked. Ling Buyang is still in the courtyard, he hasn't left or run away. Master Yue Longxiao is currently with him," a powerful guard dressed in golden armor approached.
"If Yue Longxiao is there, it's inconvenient to launch an assault..."
Han Qianchou's brow furrowed tightly.
The Wanxiang Sect was one of the top forces on the mainland, and now that Mo Qing died in the royal palace, they had thoroughly offended the Mo Blade Sect. If they were to offend the Wanxiang Sect as well, it would be truly over for them.
"Right, spread the news that Ling Buyang is a Mandate Chaos Master to Yue Longxiao. Say... Mo Qing was slain for harboring a Mandate Chaos Master and for attempting to rescue someone in the royal palace, covering up for him, which clearly shows they were in cahoots from the start."
Han Qianchou's eyes gleamed with a plan in mind.
Mandate Chaos Masters were to be executed on sight. Not only did Mo Qing fail to kill Ling Buyang, but he also ran to the royal palace to save him, concealing the truth, proving they were birds of a feather.
Han Qianchou could completely use this pretext. What the Wanxiang Sect loved the most was information, and once they knew this, they would surely be willing to pay a high price for it.
At the time, as long as he pleaded for their protection, even if Elder Bai Ye himself came, what could he do?
"He's with Zhang Xuan now. It's definitely not appropriate to transmit a message directly, and this kind of matter is more credible when discussed face to face. Someone, find a way to contact Master Yue Longxiao for me. Tell him I have something I want to discuss in detail and hope he can come out to meet with me..."
After thinking things through for a moment, Han Qianchou turned and ordered.