Bow to Her Majesty the Empress

"Sword Emperor, did you wantonly harm a prominent member of our Tianxuan? Could it be that Yuan Sword Sect harbors rebellious intentions?" Zheng Tao's expression darkened, and sharp glints flickered in his eyes. 

"Wantonly?" Qin Wufeng stood proudly in mid-air, giving a cold laugh. "Li Zheng willfully captured and almost killed a disciple of Yuan Sword Sect. Isn't that true? You still want to shift blame to me?" 

"He almost killed my son!" Li Zheng, his eyes bloodshot, was seething with anger, but he faced the imposing aura of the emperor-level powerhouse and dared not make a move. 

"If it weren't for the prestige of the Imperial Academy, do you think a junior like you would have the qualifications to speak with me? What standing do you have to speak here?" Qin Wufeng waved his hand nonchalantly. 

Li Zheng seemed as if he had been slapped hard across the face. His head turned to the side, and a bloody handprint appeared on his face for no apparent reason. 

"Sword Emperor, this is the capital!" Zheng Tao, witnessing Qin Wufeng humiliating Li Zheng, spoke with a chilly tone. 

Qin Wufeng, hands behind his back, proudly declared, "And what of the capital? The entire world knows that there is nowhere I, Qin Wufeng, cannot go." 

"You!" Zheng Tao was momentarily speechless. In reality, Yuan Sword Sect was no longer under the jurisdiction of the Tianxuan Empire. However, on the surface, as long as they didn't break ties, they could preserve the last shred of face and maintain the integrity of the empire's territory. 

Seeing Zheng Tao at a loss for words, Qin Wufeng continued triumphantly, "Since disciples of Yuan Sword Sect are citizens of the empire, they should be treated equally in the imperial examinations." 

"If certain individuals relying on their family's background can't handle losing, then as a senior, I must step forward and speak for the younger generation." 

Qin Wufeng's words echoed across the entire arena. Although those who held loyalty to the Tianxuan Empire felt extremely angry, they were powerless. 

In principle, Qin Wufeng's words were not entirely wrong. On top of that, even if there were any unjust words, if spoken from the mouth of a Martial Emperor-level powerhouse, they would automatically become the truth. 

"Subordinate Lin Zhishi, respectfully welcomes the Deputy Sect Master!" Lin, bowing deeply, paid his respects. He had informed the sect immediately about Lin Yang after his extraordinary victory over Tian Sheng, knowing that Lin Yang's future achievements were boundless, and he was destined to become a crucial pillar of Yuan Sword Sect. 

The sect took this matter seriously and sent Deputy Sect Master Qin Wufeng to intervene. At the critical moment, Qin Wufeng not only saved Lin Yang but also saved Lin Zhishi's life. 

If Lin Yang had perished, Lin Zhishi's future within the sect would have come to an end. 

In the crowd, Chu Yanran was also in tears, grateful that the Deputy Sect Master had intervened and saved him. Thankfully, the heavens had spared them. 

Lin Yang, on the edge of life and death, was about to reveal his greatest secret, and now he had been saved by the Deputy Sect Master, bringing immense relief. 

"Sword Emperor! Hmph, Lin Yang is truly lucky!" Mo Qingkuang, witnessing the sudden change in the situation, expressed his frustration. "Seems like dealing with Yuan Sword Sect isn't that easy." 

'Indeed, but Lin Yang is the protagonist. His fate was never meant to end here,' Mo Fan sighed softly in Mo Qingkuang's mind. 

He had long known that Qin Wufeng would come to the rescue. In the plot he arranged in his book, Lin Yang defeated Li Ang in the final battle, but things took a different turn afterward. Lin Yang almost lost his life, and at the last moment, he was saved by Qin Wufeng, who used a powerful strike to awe the entire arena. 

Later on, because of disrespectful remarks, the Empress personally took action to suppress Qin Wufeng. Lin Yang took advantage of the chaos to escape, entering a period of prolonged evasion. 

The current situation had not deviated from Mo Fan's expectations. Qin Wufeng appeared as scheduled, shaking the entire arena. 

Now it was time for his beloved Empress to display her might. 

Just as everyone was suppressed by the presence of the Sword Emperor Qin Wufeng, the veil on the elevated platform finally spoke. 

"Since we are all citizens of Tianxuan, why not kneel when you see me?" A cold voice emanated from the pavilion, injecting a powerful dose of confidence back into the crowd. 

Indeed, what if there was a Sword Emperor? 

This was the capital, and the Empress, a Martial Emperor, was sitting in judgment! Even if you were a Sword Emperor, would you dare to act recklessly before the Empress? 

Qin Wufeng felt a shock to his heart as the cold and plain words felt like a heavy hammer smashing into his chest, instilling a sense of fear. 

"Empress, according to the rules of Tianxuan, Emperor-level warriors have the right to ascend to the court without the need for formalities. They are also exempted from paying respects." Qin Wufeng cupped his hands and responded. 

Tianxuan Empire had established such rules to win over powerful individuals. Martial Emperors could interact with the emperor as equals without the need for formal ceremonies. 

Qin Wufeng's mention of Tianxuan's rules was also an appropriate response to the Empress. 

However, unexpectedly, an invisible force came out of nowhere, and Qin Wufeng, who had just been floating in mid-air with an air of elegance, was forcefully suppressed to the ground, raising a large cloud of dust. 

When the dust settled, people saw Qin Wufeng, who had just been proud and unmatched, now lying prostrate on the ground, struggling against some mysterious force. The bulging veins on his neck and his clenched fists indicated his fierce resistance. 

Unfortunately, it was all in vain. 

"Although peers can communicate on equal terms, it doesn't mean you can speak to me in this manner now! In Tianxuan, my words are the rules!" The Empress's cold voice rang out, devoid of any emotion. 

The Empress had taken action! 

No one saw her move, and her appearance remained hidden. The mighty Sword Emperor Qin Wufeng, who had been invincible just moments ago, was now lying on the ground, completely subdued. 

"Your Majesty, this person has acted lawlessly, openly attacking your humble servant, allowing his disciples to disrupt the imperial examination, and harming the geniuses of our nation. May Your Majesty execute justice and uphold the dignity of Tianxuan!" Li Zheng, despite his injured hand, quickly turned around and knelt, begging for justice. 

The imposing aura of a Martial Emperor was something they couldn't afford to offend. Now, with a Martial Emperor backing them, they would not easily let Qin Wufeng go. 

The Empress did not respond to the people's pleas. Instead, she addressed Qin Wufeng, "They all want me to kill you. Do you think they're right?" 

Qin Wufeng's struggling body suddenly came to a halt, and his once flushed face turned extremely pale. 

He clearly heard the killing intent concealed in the Empress's tone. 

In recent years, with the arrogance of the Yuan Sword Sect, the Tianxuan royal family had tolerated them from multiple perspectives. 

Even he almost forgot that the strongest in Tianxuan, the only Martial Emperor in the Central Province, was the Empress standing before him, who rarely appeared. 

He dared to be so arrogant in front of her. Even if she killed him, the Yuan Sword Sect would have no way to retaliate against her. 

Martial Emperor-level strength was almost the pinnacle in the world. In this vast land, unless the old monsters from the sacred places emerged, there were few who could rival a Martial Emperor. 

A wise man knows better than to fight when the odds are against him. Qin Wufeng made his choice without hesitation. 

"Qin Wufeng of the Yuan Sword Sect pays respects to the Empress!"

***