C2 The Decision of the Royal Family

Lin Xi swallowed hard as she gazed at the woman standing before her with an air of pride.

Just as she was about to speak, a glance from the woman sent Lin Xi into unconsciousness.

Time passed indeterminately, and upon awakening, Lin Xi found herself on a beach.

A familiar voice reached her ears:

"Bad boy, you're awake."

It was Loong Yuv.

Lin Xi steadied herself and took in her surroundings, her attention drawn to a small island not far off the coast. There, a pitch-black tower soared into the clouds, its eerie appearance exuding a chilling spiritual energy.

Before Lin Xi could voice her questions, Loong Yuv, in the form of a Kun Beast, offered an explanation:

"This is your sea of consciousness. The tower you see is the Holy Prison Tower."

Hearing Loong Yuv's words, Lin Xi's gaze returned to the ominous structure as she inquired, "What is the Holy Prison?"

Loong Yuv faced the tower, seemingly lost in thought before finally responding:

"It is said that the gods crafted that tower to contain the most malevolent entities from the Whole Heaven Myriad Realms. But now, with the tower damaged, the creatures within are growing restless."

Lin Xi's eyes widened in alarm. "It's so perilous to house it within me. What will happen if it shatters?"

Loong Yuv turned to her with a cold smirk. "Then you'll be the first to perish, and it will be a gruesome end."

Retreating a few steps at the grim prospect, Lin Xi's resolve hardened as she pressed, "There must be a solution. Tell me."

"There is indeed a solution. Fragments of the Holy Prison Tower are scattered far and wide. Finding them will allow us to restore the tower's energy bit by bit."

"However, there's another matter that requires your attention now."

Loong Yuv shifted the conversation, "Kid, do you have an interest in mastering the Sword Dao?"

Sword Cultivator!

Lin Xi nodded eagerly, "Absolutely, I'm very interested!"

Throughout the Nine Provinces and Ten Areas, the Sword Cultivators were a formidable and distinguished lineage.

Yet in the Celestial Azure State, ever since the first Empress unified the dynasty, all Sword Cultivators were brought under the royal family's domain. Beyond the palace, the presence of Sword Cultivators among the various schools and sects was virtually nonexistent.

Practicing the Sword Dao in secret was a capital offense if discovered.

Yet, numerous skilled individuals braved the threat of execution to cultivate in the shadows.

Lin Xi was well aware of the strength of a Sword Cultivator and readily accepted without a second thought.

Loong Yuv watched Lin Xi with interest. With a mere thought, a black coffin about two meters long and sixty centimeters wide crashed down behind her.

The sudden appearance of the black coffin startled Lin Xi, causing her to step back in alarm. She expressed her shock and annoyance, "Hey, what's the deal? Couldn't you give me a heads-up before summoning something? It nearly hit me."

Seconds later, the black coffin began to crumble, revealing its contents—a sword case shaped like an inverted trapezoid, narrower at the bottom and wider at the top.

The most intriguing feature was a circular hole in the upper portion of the sword case.

"This sword case is known as Myriad Dao. You've just encountered a woman, haven't you?" Loong Yuv offered an explanation.

Lin Xi nodded in confirmation.

"The sword case belonged to her; it's a Divine Artifact."

The term "Divine Artifact" stirred Lin Xi, prompting her to scrutinize the dark sword case before her, though she couldn't discern anything particularly remarkable about it.

"Isn't your dantian ruined? I know how to restore your cultivation," Loong Yuv declared.

No sooner had she spoken than her fins flicked, and the sword case transformed into a stream of black light that surged into Lin Xi's body.

"Hey, could you at least give me a warning?"

"Bad boy, I'm going to help you reconstruct your dantian. You must endure!"

Lin Xi surmised Loong Yuv's intention. This woman was certainly headstrong, not bothering with pleasantries at all!

Concentrating deeply, Lin Xi braced herself against the sword case's powerful impact.

"With the sword case as my dantian, I will create the world's foremost sword body!"

"Hang in there, kid!"

At that moment, Lin Xi felt as though her body was on the verge of being ripped apart, her forehead veins bulging and her features contorting with the strain.

Pain!

Excruciating pain from within!

It was the kind of agony that made one wish for death!

Her entire body felt like it was caught in a tempest of swords, every inch of her skin enduring relentless slicing.

Lin Xi gritted her teeth, fully aware that failing to endure would lead to dire consequences. She had to persevere!

...

The following morning, Lin Xi rose from her bed full of vigor, making it hard to believe what she had gone through the day before.

Thankfully, she had withstood the trial and emerged victorious.

She had not only successfully forged the Myriad Dao Sword Case within her Dantian but had also mastered the Beginning Rank technique of Sword Control.

After her success, Lin Xi became aware of the dangers a Sword Cultivator would face in the Celestial Azure State. Loong Yuv reassured her not to worry, as the Myriad Dao Sword Case was not something easily discovered by those in the state.

While reflecting on her ordeal, an elderly man burst into the courtyard.

He approached Lin Xi swiftly, announcing, "Sunn Zheng from the Celestial Azure Dynasty's special task force is here. The general has summoned you."

Celestial Azure Dynasty!

Lin Xi was taken aback. She was aware of the dynasty and the General Mansion's affairs, but she was still a year shy of adulthood. Why the premature summons?

Pushing aside her musings, she followed the old man directly to the General's Hall.

...

"Young General, I regret to inform you that our emperor has decided the ancestral rules established many years ago are no longer necessary," Sunn Zheng declared from his seat of authority, his voice indifferent as he delivered what he considered an inconsequential message.

The royal family was quickly informed of Lin Xi's loss of cultivation.

Upon learning that Lin Xi had been reduced to a cripple, Ye Qinyi saw no point in calling her to the palace, and thus sent Sunn Zheng to notify the Lin family.

Lin Xi remained unfazed by the news, secretly relieved, and offered no objection.

Narrowing his eyes, Sunn Zheng continued, "His Majesty has decreed that from this generation forward, the old rules shall be abolished. The General Mansion simply lacks the credentials to be integrated into the Imperial Family."

The air was thick with sarcasm as Great General Lin Changqing's face turned ashen, yet he held his tongue, daring not to speak out.

Lin Xi had been fretting over this situation. Now a Sword Cultivator, if the Imperial Family discovered her a year from now, her end would likely be gruesome.

But that concern had evaporated; they had lost interest in her.

Sunn Zheng showed no desire to linger, clearly finding the General Mansion beneath him, almost as if it dirtied him.

With a stern face, Lin Xi escorted Sunn Zheng out of the Lin family home, secretly rejoicing inside.

No sooner had Sunn Zheng left than Lin Xi noticed a group approaching the General Mansion. She recognized the leader as Zuo Ci, the Dynasty Army's deputy general, with his son Zuo Daosheng by his side.

Zuo Ci's arrival at the General Mansion, especially given his past animosity with her father, boded ill.

Lin Xi stepped forward to discern the old man's motives.

Before she could get close, Elder Moo's voice emerged from the hall, "Deputy General Zuo, to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit today?"

Zuo Ci, ignoring Elder Moo, strode into the hall with Zuo Daosheng in tow.

"What's the purpose? I'm here to rectify the issues within your Lin family!" Zuo Ci declared loudly, "The position of junior general in the dynasty's army must be reassigned today!"

His stance was unyielding as he stood tall and imposing in the hall, his piercing gaze fixed on Lin Changqing, showing no regard for him whatsoever.

"How dare you be so insolent, Zuo Ci!" Lin Changqing bellowed, slamming his hand on the table.

Lin Xi, returning to the hall and witnessing the deputy general's demeanor, struggled to suppress a laugh. She had just been stripped of her son-in-law title by the Imperial Family, and here he was, barking like a dog.

Without showing any reaction, Lin Xi silently watched the scene unfold.

"Lin Changqing, have you grown so comfortable in your position that you think you own the entire army?"

Zuo Ci spoke with righteous indignation, then swiftly turned to face Lin Xi. "Rest assured, I will play by the rules. Let my son face Lin Xi in a duel to the death!"

"The survivor shall be the Young General!"

His scheme was utterly devious!

"You vile scoundrel, you're fully aware that our Young Lord has lost his powers, yet you insist on him dueling a cultivator!" Elder Moo couldn't stand it any longer and hurled insults at Zuo Ci.

Zuo Ci, however, was unfazed. This duel left Lin Xi with no other option. If he declined, the Young General would have to concede defeat, but if he accepted, his life would likely be at stake.

Lin Changqing's expression turned fierce, and just as he was about to rebuke Zuo Ci, Lin Xi stepped forward and declared, "Fine, let's have this life-and-death battle right now."

Lin Xi's words sent a shockwave through the crowd.

It was clear to all that this was a trap, yet Lin Xi was willing to walk right into it.

Zuo Ci was taken aback as well. He had been certain that Lin Xi would take up the challenge, but he hadn't expected such an immediate response, which set him on edge.

Lin Changqing was even more astonished. Observing Lin Xi's composed demeanor, he couldn't help but wonder if perhaps his cultivation had been restored.

Everyone harbored their own secret agendas.

Seeing that his opponent remained silent, Lin Xi taunted with a smile, "What's the matter? You were the ones who issued the challenge. Are you getting cold feet now?"

Zuo Daosheng watched Lin Xi, who was confidently taunting, then glanced at his father.

"Kill him!" Zuo Ci commanded, making no attempt to conceal his intentions.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Zuo Daosheng charged forward with incredible speed.