Chapter 35: The Emperor Competes for Supremacy

The Alliance of Three Emperors was undoubtedly a golden age for the mortal world!

The reason it was regularly held in Lü City was not merely because of the Lü clan’s neutral standing. More importantly, Lü City was considered a sacred land in the hearts of all practitioners of the Way of the Scholar. At this very moment, three thousand scholars had gathered here! They were the audience for the Alliance of Three Emperors, as was customary for every such summit. For scholars were the voice of public opinion! Today, having witnessed the entire proceedings firsthand, these scholars would naturally spread word of the emperors’ performances across the land.

In time, the emperor who distinguished himself would see his reputation soar, while the one whose conduct faltered would instantly lose face, unable even to secure his throne. Fan Li gazed at the three thousand scholars already seated, his heart filled with emotion. Drawing from the memories of the original host, he knew that the Han dynasty once had a “Young Emperor” who, during the Alliance, suffered a humiliating defeat. His disgrace was broadcast by the three thousand scholars, and his name instantly became infamous throughout the realm.

After returning to his country, though he had not sat on the throne for a hundred days, the Young Emperor was swiftly deposed by powerful courtiers and soon thereafter died a sudden, violent death. Fan Li glanced again at Liu Xie, the current Emperor of Han, who was truly an unfortunate monarch. The Han dynasty began to decline with the Young Emperor, passing through a succession of weak rulers before the throne finally landed in Liu Xie’s hands. Truth be told, Liu Xie was not a wise or saintly ruler, but at least he could be considered a mediocre one. Alas, he was born in chaotic times, and with only the qualities of a middling ruler, he could never hope to reverse the dynasty’s decay.

Liu Xie seemed to know this himself, as he was visibly uneasy. The three emperors stood atop separate high platforms, each allowed to bring a single attendant. At this moment, the other two emperors besides Xiang Ning had already ascended their platforms alone.

“Would you like me to accompany you?” Fan Li asked quietly.

Xiang Ning looked at the towering platform, her heart filled with dread. She nearly nodded, wishing Fan Li could be by her side, but then recalled yesterday’s Imperial Seal and forcibly suppressed the impulse.

“A traitor feigning concern—clearly he’s ready to usurp my throne. When I return to Great Chu, I’ll surely become his prisoner, and yet he still pretends here?” Xiang Ning bit her lip, suddenly turned and shot Fan Li a fierce glare.

That look brimmed with disappointment, resentment, anger, and a hint of inexplicable sorrow.

Fan Li was baffled, wondering what was wrong with this woman. Was she about to cry, or not?

“Your Majesty, please ascend the platform.”

The three platforms stood arranged in an equilateral triangle. A fourth platform, noticeably shorter and set farther apart, deliberately avoided disrupting the emperors’ formation.

Lu Chunqiu stood upon the fourth platform, respectfully reminding Xiang Ning to ascend.

As soon as Lu Chunqiu spoke, the scholars below became agitated.

“Master Lu! At last I see Master Lu!”

“After the Alliance, I’ll linger in Lü City a few days longer—if Master Lu lectures, I’ll have the joy of hearing him!”

Xiang Ning soared onto the high platform. Hearing the scholars’ adulation for Lu Chunqiu, she was astonished. For the first time, she felt the true weight of Lu Chunqiu’s position in the hearts of scholar cultivators—surpassing even that of the emperor!

“Hmph!”

Among the three emperors, the Jiajing Emperor’s face darkened. Mere scholars, ignoring the sovereign? They deserved death!

The murderous intent in the Jiajing Emperor’s heart chilled the air, causing the temperature in the hall to plummet! Everyone felt a jolt, fearfully raising their heads to behold the emperor’s undisguised ferocity and powerful cultivation.

A true overlord!

This was the first impression the three thousand scholars had of the Jiajing Emperor—so strong that they almost forgot the other two sovereigns.

Fan Li, however, smiled calmly.

Ruling by intimidation? Indeed, an overlord.

But “overlord” was not always a compliment. It acknowledged the emperor’s talent, but also his temperament. To serve such a ruler was as perilous as keeping company with a tiger.

In Fan Li’s previous world, ancient ministers most dreaded serving such monarchs—like Gou Jian or Zhu Yuanzhang.

The three thousand scholars cowered in silence, but their gaze toward Lu Chunqiu remained full of reverence. Every generation’s Marquis of Literary Faith was their sacred teacher.

As the current Marquis, Lu Chunqiu’s cultivation in the scholarly way had not surpassed his ancestors, but he was still a master of the highest order!

He had reached the ninth grade of the Harmonious Dao, one step from the Grand Completion.

Moreover, he possessed a rare artifact, the “Spring and Autumn Annals of Lu,” crafted by the first Marquis and the greatest scholars of the realm.

This tome was far more than a tool for enlightenment—it was a treasure of defense!

Legend had it that a Lu ancestor, to preserve Lü City’s neutrality, once endured a strike from each of the three emperors of the era.

Using the “Spring and Autumn Annals of Lu” for defense, he withstood blows from the three Imperial Seals. After the earth shook violently, the three emperors retrieved their seals, yet the defensive power of the Annals remained unbroken.

Everyone knew the Imperial Seal was not necessarily the emperor’s strongest attack.

Yet for all three emperors to strike together, and for the “Spring and Autumn Annals of Lu” to withstand them, its defensive power was undeniable!

“Your Majesties, who shall begin?” Lu Chunqiu asked.

The Alliance of Three Emperors was simple in content.

A contest of scholarly arts.

Thousands of years ago, the three kingdoms pledged a covenant, restoring peace to the world and swearing never to raise arms.

No emperor wished to bear the infamy of warmongering, so at every alliance, the nations tested each other with contests of learning.

Each emperor would display his abilities atop his platform, without attacking anyone.

If needed, an emperor could appoint a minister to assist him, but that was a sign of weakness. Unless absolutely necessary—as in the case of the Young Emperor of Han, who, being young and lacking power, required ministerial support.

Yet even so, the Young Emperor was utterly defeated.

“Ahem, let me begin,” Liu Xie, Emperor of Han, suddenly spoke.

To be the first to act was to draw the fire—unless one possessed absolute confidence, no one wished to go first.

Liu Xie’s strength was weaker than most emperors past. There was little advantage for him to begin, but he cast a distant glance at Xiang Ning, as if to say: “Son-in-law, for the sake of the alliance between Chu and Han, I, your father-in-law, will serve as your stepping stone.”

Xiang Ning, though young, understood his look and was deeply moved, feeling ever more guilty for her deception.

Liu Xie drew the sword at his waist.

As the blade left its sheath, a desolate and majestic dragon’s cry echoed across heaven and earth!

“This is the emperor’s sword—the True Dragon Sword,” Fan Li could not help but praise.

Yet, he sensed an ill omen in the dragon’s cry.

Xiang Ning, still young, failed to notice anything amiss and, instead, silently cheered Liu Xie on with excitement.

Liu Xie shouted, “Ten Thousand Thunder True Dragon Slash!”

Instantly, thunderclouds gathered above Lü City.

Lightning descended, striking Liu Xie’s True Dragon Sword.

The lightning did not harm him, but instead wrapped the blade, giving it a “coat of thunder” and multiplying its power many times over!

In that moment, the Emperor of Han’s “Ten Thousand Thunder True Dragon Slash” seemed the strongest attack between heaven and earth!