Chapter 15: The Emperor’s Sword

"Ding!"

"Detected that Black Steed has pledged loyalty to the host. Task [Mine, Mine, All Mine] is complete."

"The host receives the task reward: one Doppelganger Doll."

"The Doppelganger Doll can create a perfect second body. Would the host like to use it now?"

Fan Li chose, no.

The Doppelganger Doll was too miraculous, a secret reserved for the bottom of his chest; he had no intention of using it in public.

With the [Life Extension Pill], he had tamed Black Steed, then had her pretend to pledge loyalty to Xiang Ning. This journey to the Wu River had gone far more smoothly than Fan Li had expected.

"Your Majesty, be careful!"

Eunuch Chen suddenly shouted!

Fan Li sensed danger at the same time—a vast sword aura descended from the sky, pressing down upon their group.

The Grand Mage of Great Ming, Lan Dao Xing, had finally made his move!

"My lord, Emperor Jiajing, sends this sword aura as a greeting to the Emperor of Great Chu."

"If Your Majesty can withstand this blow, you will be qualified to sit with my lord and drink at the [Three Emperors' Alliance]."

Lan Dao Xing's words immediately clarified the situation for those under attack: this sword aura was sent by Emperor Jiajing, not Lan Dao Xing himself.

As for Emperor Jiajing's strength, rumor had it he was already in the Grand Ascension stage!

Was this sword drawn because Black Steed refused to submit to Great Ming?

Or would Lan Dao Xing have struck regardless of Black Steed’s attitude?

Fan Li had no time to ponder. He shouted, "Black Steed, act now!"

Black Steed moved almost instantly.

She transformed into a dragon, soaring skyward!

Her massive, pitch-black form, as dark as night, wrapped itself around the imperial yellow sword aura from below.

The Emperor's sword, imbued with the power to split heaven and earth, was formidable! But faced with Black Steed, herself at the Grand Ascension stage, it was finally halted.

"Foolish."

Entwined with the sword aura, Black Steed gazed coldly across the pool at Lan Dao Xing.

Because Emperor Jiajing was not present in person, she could firmly block this attack!

"Hahaha! Black Steed, don’t be angry. I am merely carrying out orders. I’ll take my leave now, no need to see me off!"

Lan Dao Xing's voice echoed from afar.

In an instant, he had already fled a kilometer away.

Black Steed wished to pursue, but was entangled by Emperor Jiajing’s sword aura and unable to break free.

Suddenly, she saw Lan Dao Xing turn back in the distance, forming a sword seal with his fingers and flashing a wicked smile.

Black Steed thought, not good!

The imperial yellow sword aura suddenly exploded, the spiritual energy of a Grand Ascension master surging wildly in all directions!

"Damn!"

The explosion of spiritual energy sent up clouds of dust, enveloping the entire Black Dragon Pool.

At the same time, a figure was sent flying, tracing a miserable arc through the air before crashing heavily into the Black Dragon Pool.

It was Fan Li!

"Traitor?!" Xiang Ning exclaimed in shock. "Black Steed, Eunuch Chen, hurry, save him!"

There was no need for Xiang Ning's command. Black Steed instantly reverted to human form and leapt into the water.

Eunuch Chen, however, stood unmoved on the shore.

Xiang Ning’s face had turned pale.

She was completely unscathed by the explosion, likely thanks to Eunuch Chen’s protection.

But why had Fan Li been caught in the blast?

She looked at Eunuch Chen in confusion.

"Why aren’t you saving him?"

The old eunuch immediately knelt and said, "This servant’s primary duty is to protect Your Majesty, especially to guard against Lan Dao Xing returning."

Xiang Ning could not refute him.

"Then... why am I the only one unharmed?"

The old eunuch squeezed out a smile.

"Your Majesty, forgive me. I am but at the Integration stage, barely able to protect you—how could I also comfort Chancellor Fan? Don't forget, Emperor Jiajing is a Grand Ascension cultivator, far beyond this servant."

As they spoke, a figure burst from the Black Dragon Pool, sending up a spray several meters high.

It was Black Steed.

Fan Li, eyes tightly shut, was cradled in her arms.

"How is he?!"

As soon as Black Steed returned to shore, Xiang Ning asked urgently.

Black Steed did not answer, only cast a cold glance at Eunuch Chen.

"This servant is useless. Thankfully, Black Steed was here today, or even Your Majesty might have been in danger."

The old eunuch forced a fawning smile, sounding every bit the sycophant.

He was in excellent spirits; both missions for this journey were accomplished.

Black Steed had returned to Great Chu, and Fan Li had died unexpectedly.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

The old eunuch was just congratulating himself when he heard a familiar voice—Fan Li was coughing violently from swallowing water.

"Put me down, I’m not used to being held by a woman like this."

Not only was Fan Li alive, his condition seemed fine—only drenched and a bit waterlogged.

Black Steed set him down. Xiang Ning wanted to rush over to check on him, but managed to restrain herself.

"Chancellor Fan... what a sturdy fellow," the old eunuch praised, though his gaze toward Fan Li was tinged with resentment.

The residual explosion of Grand Ascension sword aura could have killed several Golden Core cultivators—how had this little Body Refining cultivator survived unscathed?

"Heh, damn eunuch, wasted my only protective talisman," Fan Li cursed inwardly.

When the sword aura exploded, Fan Li clearly saw the old eunuch protect Xiang Ning but leave him aside.

Luckily, the [Protective Talisman] had absorbed the force of the blast for Fan Li; otherwise, he would have been long gone!

"I’ll settle with you later, damn eunuch!" Fan Li muttered in his heart. A gentleman’s revenge can wait ten years—let me get home safely first.

"Great Ming is despicable. Failing to win over Black Steed, they dared plot against me!"

The more Xiang Ning thought about it, the angrier she became, but there was nothing she could do.

At this moment, Lan Dao Xing had already fled far away, probably beyond even Black Steed’s reach.

As for Emperor Jiajing, still in Ming’s capital, Xiang Ning lacked the strength to seek vengeance.

She could only wait, as Lan Dao Xing had said, until the [Three Emperors’ Alliance] to settle accounts.

...

"His Majesty returns to the palace."

"Black Steed is granted the title of Guardian Divine Beast, to share the nation's fortune and longevity."

"Chancellor Fan Li, for his great service, is specially promoted to Duke of Jin."

Fan Li listened to the young emperor bestowing rewards upon him, feeling speechless.

Xiang Ning must be tired of sitting on the imperial throne, now making him Duke of Jin?

Why not simply grant him the surname 'Sima' as well?

After receiving her title, Black Steed claimed a tract of land in Pengcheng as her residence.

Coincidentally, it was right next to the Fan residence.

Xiang Ning was delighted and said, "Black Steed, I’ll trouble you to keep watch over the Fan residence, especially that little traitor Fan Li. Report to me immediately if he shows any unusual activity!"

"Oh, alright."

Black Steed agreed readily, then relayed the emperor's words to Fan Li that very day.

"Why not kill her and make yourself emperor?" Black Steed asked curiously.

Fan Li was speechless.

He thought Xiang Ning was truly lucky to have encountered a disloyal traitor like himself—otherwise, the dynasty would have changed hands long ago.

"Just focus on your cultivation. If I need you, I’ll come find you," Fan Li smiled. "If I get new Life Extension Pills, I’ll give them to you right away. Don’t worry."

"Thank you, Master."

After dismissing Black Steed, Fan Li went straight to the training room.

Inside, a man identical to himself was sitting cross-legged in meditation.

It was the perfect clone created by the Doppelganger Doll!

"I handle the cultivation," said the clone.

"I handle being a traitor and completing system tasks," Fan Li’s true self replied with a smile.