The words 'Emperor Sword' echoed in all directions.
The sky of Imperial Academy trembled and clouds exploded, rumbling and spreading in all directions, transforming into rings of fluctuations that could be seen by the naked eye.
There was also a supreme might that came from void, turning into an invisible storm that suppressed the Imperial Academy.
All the white towers in the Imperial Academy swayed and the space shook. The students' hearts palpitated and their gazes were attracted by the figure wearing the same uniform as them on the white Dao platform.
At this moment, everyone was looking at that person.
"Did he just say… the Emperor Sword?"
"This person's identity…"
A thunderous sound erupted in the minds of the students and the various forces in the outside world.
The eyes of the Variant Immortal School's school head also revealed disbelief. He had thought that Xuan Leizi might be that hidden senior.
However, the development of the matter left him in a daze. The other party… didn't seem to be that senior but his identity was still shocking.
'It's actually him! He actually joined our Variant Immortal School?'
It was unknown if the Variant Immortal School's school head was shocked or delighted. Although the other party wasn't the person he thought he was, such an identity caused his heart to stir incomparably. He couldn't help but look over.
On the Dao platform, Xu Qing stood tall.
He wore a white linen robe and a student mask. He looked no different from other students of the Imperial Academy.
The identical attire and aura, under the academy's special rules, it was difficult to discern any differences. However, sometimes, the same attire on different individuals could evoke distinct impressions.
Especially in certain specific circumstances, these distinctions could be infinitely magnified.
Just like this moment.
Xu Qing didn't care about others' reactions. Right now, he only thought of the word 'kill'. He had wanted to kill the Seventh Prince for a long time.
Back then in Fenghai County, when the other party deliberately came late to force the old Palace Master to death for the sake of taking the credit, Xu Qing's killing intent had already been planted.
However, at that time, he couldn't do it.
Now, it was different.
At this moment, his gaze carried an imposing air, akin to the heavens and the Dao, infused with the will of humanity, as he looked coldly at the Seventh Prince.
In this moment, he held the higher ground, while the Seventh Prince, despite standing in midair, remained in a lower position.
As time passed, in many instances, the unique charm of life lay precisely in the transformations of status brought about by the flow of years and the passage of time.
The first time Xu Qing saw the Seventh Prince was when he rode a golden dragon in the sky, surrounded by thousands of soldiers and horses, appearing like a red sun on the battlefield at the border of Fenghai County.
The second time was in Fenghai County's capital. The other party was surrounded by cultivators, exuding a heroic spirit, and worshiped by thousands of people, attracting everyone's attention.
At that time, Xu Qing was among the remnants of the army outside the city. The Seventh Prince was like the sky, while Xu Qing was the ignored mud.
Subsequent encounters were pretty much the same.
It was only when Xu Qing returned from the Moon Offering that everything changed, and now… the situation had completely reversed.
This was the charm of time.
It was also why everyone desired opportunities. It was also what Xu Qing had obtained through his struggles.
Once, Xu Qing was not the cloud in the sky, but today, this Guyue Zhangan was mere mud.
A similar feeling also surfaced in the Seventh Prince's heart. It was difficult for him to maintain his composure at this moment, and his expression changed drastically.
In his eyes, the person who stood on the Dao Platform and refuted his father was high and mighty, like the red sun in the sky. Xu Qing was like the clouds, while he was like mud.
This perception transformed into an unprecedented trembling and complexity that erupted from his mind and affected his entire body.
The gaze he used to look at Xu Qing was filled with anger and a hint of madness.
"You're Xu Qing!"
The Seventh Prince's voice was hoarse as he spoke word by word.
The scene unfolding in the sky had long made everyone guess Xu Qing's identity, and the Seventh Prince's words completely exposed this identity.
In an instant, the atmosphere in the entire Imperial Academy and even the entire Imperial City became extremely solemn.
This was because Xu Qing was an extraordinary person.
Not only was he the only region lord in the human race now, but he also carried the Emperor Sword!
To a certain extent, the existence of the Emperor Sword allowed him to have the qualifications to refute the Human Emperor.
However, being qualified and daring to truly do it were two different things.
Clearly, Xu Qing dared to do this!
He indeed possessed the status to utter the words 'rather than ask the bell, it's better to ask the sword'.
Especially now, the authority in his eyes gradually transformed into golden light, radiating in all directions.
Not only were there lights in his eyes, but even more golden beams shot out from within his body
In the blink of an eye, there were hundreds, thousands, and even tens of thousands of rays of golden lights surrounding Xu Qing, forming a sea of light.
Amidst the dazzling light, a large sword manifested behind Xu Qing under the gazes of everyone.
From afar, this sword appeared like bronze, adorned with intricate carvings that exuded both ancient meaning and dominance.
It carried the aura of primordial creation, emanating a supremely majestic and awe-inspiring presence that struck fear into the hearts of onlookers.
The Imperial Academy swayed and the Dao platforms cracked. Everyone who saw it was shocked.
Endless fortune of the human race transformed into clouds and gathered above the Imperial City. The ground continued to rumble and all the living beings in the Imperial City felt the urge to worship.
This was the sword of the race's Dao, the sword of the human race's will, and the sword of the human race's inheritance.
This was the Emperor Sword!
All of a sudden, the students in the Imperial Academy panted and instinctively knelt down in front of the Emperor Sword.
Even the upper echelons of the Divine Fusion School on the black Dao Platform felt their hearts churning and bowed towards the sword.
The Human Emperor fell silent and stared at Xu Qing without saying a word.
The Seventh Prince knew that Xu Qing had always wanted to kill him, just like how he wanted to kill the other party at all times. However, as one thing after another happened, it was very difficult for him to have an advantage. Hence, he could only choose to hide and wait for an opportunity.
But now, before he could obtain this opportunity, Xu Qing had already pushed him into a precarious situation. An intense sensation of life-and-death crisis rumbled in his mind. It kept rumbling and finally transformed into a hoarse shout.
"Xu Qing, how can you use the Emperor Sword for yourself!"
As he spoke, the Seventh Prince gazed towards the Emperor with a tender and admiring look in his eyes, evoking a ripple of emotion in the Emperor's gaze.
"Father Emperor, as your son and a prince, I have witnessed the decline of our people since childhood, witnessed your tireless efforts, and seen the suffering of the masses. My heart is filled with sorrow, and I have vowed to dedicate my life to the revival of our people."
"For this reason, I chose to rescue Fenghai County, to contribute to the expansion of our territories for the resurgence of our people. I am constantly mindful of the upbringing and teachings you have bestowed upon me since childhood. How could I ever stoop to such beastly actions!"
"The person in the image isn't me!"
The Seventh Prince's tone was filled with grief and indignation as his voice echoed in all directions.
The waves in the Human Emperor's eyes intensified. Although he still didn't speak, the pressure from him transformed into oppression that enveloped the Imperial Academy.
He was the Human Emperor but he was also a father.
Though the latter identity had been suppressed and faded into the background, it now resurfaced as someone attempted to kill his son before his very eyes. His identity as a father made it difficult for him to remain calm.
The Heavenly Kings under him looked at each other and finally stared at Xu Qing.
The Imperial Academy's students were already shaken, and the various forces outside were watching solemnly.
What was happening now was too significant.
The Seventh Prince's words indeed made sense.
However, just as everyone's thoughts were in turmoil, a cold voice rang out, as though winter had descended.
"Noisy."
Xu Qing coldly looked at the Seventh Prince and calmly spoke.
As soon as he finished speaking, massive figures appeared amidst the churning clouds in the sky. Each of these figures was astonishingly vast and their identities made people worship them.
They were… the venerable ancestors of the human race.
At that moment, they were all manifested.
The shock caused by their appearance caused waves in the eyes of the various forces outside and too shattered the Seventh Prince's doubts.
This wasn't a selfish usage of the Emperor Sword. This was formed by the blessing of the human race's fortune and the ancestors as evidence.
Xu Qing lifted his head and bowed to the sages in the sky.
"Today, I, Xu Qing, in the presence of our venerable ancestors, condemn the seventh son of the Human Emperor Mystic War, Guyue Zhangan, of treason against the human race!"
Xu Qing's gaze swept over and landed on the Seventh Prince, whose expression was finally filled with horror.
"Guyue Zhangan has committed four sins."
"Firstly, colluding with Illuminate and the once-enemy Holy Wave Race, this is a capital offense!"
As Xu Qing spoke, the Emperor Sword behind him shone with boundless light, its sword cry resonating through the heavens, shaking the earth.
"Secondly, in order to snatch battle merits, you caused the death of the Sword Holding Palace Master of Fenghai County, Kong Liangxiu, and watched as countless cultivators died unjustly in Fenghai County, all to enhance your own reputation, this is a capital offense!"
The Emperor Sword trembled violently, its sword cry growing fiercer, its aura surging in torrents.
"Thirdly, involvement in the murder of the previous Fenghai County Governor, this is a capital offense!"
The Emperor Sword roared, ascending into the sky and tilting towards the Seventh Prince. Countless auspicious energies empowered it, myriad rays of radiance pervaded the surroundings, accumulating a terrifying aura of annihilation.
"Fourthly, for cultivating an evil art and devouring the souls of countless humans, this is a capital offense!"
As Xu Qing spoke, the killing intent in his eyes turned intense. He lifted his hand and pointed at the trembling Seventh Prince who instinctively retreated.
"Emperor Sword, please slay this person!"
The instance Xu Qing finished speaking, the Emperor Sword in the air emitted supreme might. The heavens turned golden and illusory palaces rose from the ground. The figure of the Sword Holding Emperor manifested and stared over.
As the Emperor Sword moved, slashing towards the Seventh Prince, its sword aura soared. Its momentum was akin to a rainbow that could devour mountains and rivers, causing the void to shatter wherever it passed.
This sword contained the soul of the human race, bearing the weight of the vicissitudes of time, unstoppable and unblockable by anyone.
The Seventh Prince was overflowing with horror, rushing desperately towards the Emperor, despair evident in his cries.
"Father Emperor…"
His utterances ended here.
The Emperor's Sword, carrying the might to cleave through the heavens, swept across him. The Seventh Prince had neither the qualification to resist nor the ability to evade. In this sweep, his body trembled violently, his hands shattered, his legs crushed, and his torso exploded.
For a brief moment, remnants of resentment and terror lingered in his eyes, only to dissipate as his head was crushed, vanishing from the world.
He turned into ashes.
His soul too couldn't escape the calamity and directly disintegrated. His body and soul were destroyed completely.
The Dao he had cultivated all his life was too reduced to nothing at this moment.
His imperial bloodline couldn't delay his death.
Under the Emperor Sword, even an emperor could be killed, let alone a prince.
