Chapter 101 The Crown Prince Regent

The first spring after the unification of the mortal realm brought unprecedented vitality to the entire Xuanhuang continent. The Vermilion Bird Avenue in Luoyang Divine Capital had been widened threefold, the bluestone paths were spotless, merchant shops lined both sides, and trade caravans from all corners of the world arrived in an endless stream. Wheat in the Northern Territory was already heading, rice in the Southern Domain was being transplanted, water channels crisscrossed the Western Desert, and fishing boats from the Eastern Sea returned fully loaded; everywhere was a scene of prosperity.

In the Imperial Study of the palace, Emperor Cao Xukun leaned back on the dragon throne, playing with a jade pendant he had intercepted from an Immortal Realm envoy, his gaze deep. After breaking through to the early stage of the Mahayana Realm, he could clearly feel the fragility of the mortal realm's barrier; the aura of the Immortal Realm was drawing closer, and the timing for ascension was ripe. However, the mortal realm had just been unified and was waiting to be restored; he had to leave behind reliable people to guard it before he could leave with peace of mind.

"Emperor Xuan! Are you looking for me?" Before Li Tieniu had even arrived, his loud voice echoed in first. He was wearing brand-new armor, sticking out his round belly, and strode in, carrying a freshly roasted chicken in his hand. "I just got this from the Imperial Kitchen, you should try it; the imperial chef roasted it especially well today."

"You only know how to eat." Emperor Cao Xukun smiled as he took the chicken, tearing off a leg. "I called you over because I have serious business to discuss. I am preparing to ascend to the Immortal Realm, and the mortal realm needs someone to guard it."

"Ascend to the Immortal Realm?" The roasted chicken in Li Tieniu's hand nearly fell to the ground, his eyes wide as copper bells. "So soon? I thought you were going to stay for another eight or ten years! If you leave, what will happen to the mortal realm? Who will be the boss?"

"That is why I am discussing it with you." Emperor Cao Xukun took a sip of tea and said slowly, "I intend to establish the Crown Prince's Regency, with Crown Prince Cao Hao acting as regent to handle daily government affairs. As for military matters, I plan to appoint you as the Grand Marshal of the Great Xuan Dynasty's Mortal Realm Armies, commanding all armies in the mortal realm, guarding the Divine Capital, and protecting the borders and the people."

"Me? Grand Marshal?" Li Tieniu jumped up in excitement, nearly lifting the roof off. "Is this for real? Emperor Xuan, you aren't joking with me, are you? I'm just a rough fellow, can I be a good Grand Marshal?"

"Why not?" Emperor Cao Xukun patted his shoulder. "You have followed me through countless battles for so many years; no one is better at fighting than you. Moreover, you are loyal and devoted, which is why I trust you the most. As long as you don't just focus on eating all day and manage the army well, no one will dare to cause trouble."

"Rest assured, Emperor Xuan!" Li Tieniu patted his chest in guarantee, his face serious. "I guarantee I will train the army until they are howling! Whoever dares to rebel, I will split them in half with one axe! Even if people from the Immortal Realm come down, I will block them for you! You can go to the Immortal Realm and show off—no, I mean, go explore the Immortal Realm with peace of mind! With me here, nothing will go wrong in the mortal realm!"

Just then, a young man in green crown prince court robes walked in. He had a handsome face, his brows and eyes were seven parts similar to Emperor Cao Xukun's, his demeanor was composed, and his gaze was sharp—he was none other than Emperor Cao Xukun's eldest son, Crown Prince Cao Hao. At only sixteen years old, he had already reached the Spirit Transformation Stage, and he handled government affairs in an orderly manner, winning the recognition of all civil and military officials.

"Your son greets Father Emperor." Crown Prince Cao Hao knelt on one knee and performed a standard, grand salute.

"Rise." Emperor Cao Xukun nodded. "Hao'er, Father Emperor is preparing to ascend to the Immortal Realm; the affairs of the mortal realm will be left to you. I am appointing you as the Crown Prince acting as regent to oversee the court. For everything, discuss it more with the chancellors and your mother; if you encounter something you cannot solve, use the Sound Transmission Jade Talisman to contact me."

"Your son obeys the decree!" Crown Prince Cao Hao stood up, his eyes firm. "Please rest assured, Father Emperor! Your son will certainly not fail your trust, will govern the mortal realm well, and will guard the Great Xuan empire! I will never let anyone destroy this hard-won peace!"

Emperor Cao Xukun nodded with satisfaction. With Crown Prince Cao Hao acting as regent, Li Tieniu in charge of the military, and the assistance of his wives, Empress Bing Yao, Governor Ye Qingyi, and Feng Qingyan, the foundations of the mortal realm were as stable as Mount Tai, and he could ascend to the Immortal Realm without any worries.

Just as the three of them were discussing specific matters, a violent explosion suddenly came from outside the hall, followed by the screams of guards.

"This is bad! Someone is breaking into the palace!"

"Stop them! They are too strong!"

Li Tieniu's expression changed, and he immediately picked up his giant axe: "Which blind thing dares to break into the palace at a time like this? Tired of living?"

Crown Prince Cao Hao also frowned, his hand resting on the sword at his waist.

Emperor Cao Xukun picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and said in a flat tone: "Don't be anxious, let them in. I want to see who is so bold as to run wild in the Divine Capital."

A moment later, a group of cultivators in white Taoist robes rushed into the Imperial Study. Leading them was a young man with a face like jade and eyes like bright stars, wearing a Taoist robe embroidered with the sun, moon, and stars, holding the Primordial Sword, with a faint aura of chaos swirling around him—his "showing off" level was maxed out.

This person was the Son of Destiny from the hidden Primordial Sacred Land, Taichuzi. He had awakened the ancient Primordial Dao Body and had reached the late stage of the Fusion Realm at only twenty years old, hailed as a once-in-ten-thousand-year genius of the mortal realm. Having hidden in the Sacred Land to cultivate, he learned that Emperor Cao Xukun had unified the mortal realm and declared himself the Master of the Mortal Realm; he was extremely unconvinced, believing that Emperor Cao Xukun had merely stolen the world through luck and was not worthy of being the Master of the Mortal Realm.

"Emperor Cao Xukun! Get down here!" Taichuzi pointed at Emperor Cao Xukun and roared sternly, "You thief who stole the country! Relying on schemes to intercept and kill the Son of Destiny and stealing the luck of the Heavenly Dao, you dare to call yourself the Master of the Mortal Realm? It is simply the biggest joke in the world!"

"I am the Holy Son of the Primordial Sacred Land, the reincarnation of the ancient Primordial Dao Body, the orthodoxy of the Heavenly Dao! Today, I shall act on behalf of the heavens, depose you, a muddled ruler, disband your Great Xuan Dynasty, and restore the order of shared governance by ancient sects! Those who follow me will be ranked among the immortals when they ascend to the Immortal Realm in the future; those who resist me are rebels against the Heavenly Dao and will surely be destroyed by the heavens and earth!"

The Sacred Land disciples behind him raised their long swords in unison and shouted: "Holy Son of Primordial is invincible! Kill the rebels! Restore the orthodoxy!"

Sword energy surged, shattering the doors and windows of the Imperial Study.

Li Tieniu was so angry his nose was crooked, and he grabbed his giant axe, ready to charge up: "Damn it! Another show-off! What kind of thing are you? You dare to point fingers at our Emperor Xuan! Primordial Dao Body? I think it's Primordial Idiot! Watch me split your Dao Body with one axe!"

"A mere brute, daring to act presumptuously in front of me?" Taichuzi sneered and waved his hand casually. A fierce sword aura shot straight at Li Tieniu, fast as lightning.

Crown Prince Cao Hao was quick-witted and drew his sword to block in front of Li Tieniu. With a "clang," Crown Prince Cao Hao was forced back three steps, the web between his thumb and forefinger split, and blood flowed freely.

"Crown Prince!" Li Tieniu was shocked.

"A little skill, but that's all," Taichuzi said with disdain. "Emperor Cao Xukun, can you only hide behind women and children? If you have the guts, come out and fight me one-on-one! If you can beat me, I will immediately lead the Sacred Land disciples to submit; if you can't beat me, then obediently abdicate and let the worthy take over!"

Emperor Cao Xukun slowly put down his teacup and stood up. He was not angry, just looking at Taichuzi indifferently, his eyes without a ripple, yet it made Taichuzi feel a sense of panic for no reason.

The pressure of the early Mahayana Realm quietly spread out, and the entire Imperial Study was instantly frozen, the air turning solid. The disciples behind Taichuzi turned pale, kneeling to the ground one after another, their long swords falling to the ground with a "clatter, clatter," unable to even lift their heads.

Taichuzi's expression also changed drastically, trembling all over, feeling as if he were being pressed by a great mountain, making it difficult even to breathe. He forced himself to straighten his back, bracing himself to keep up the act: "Emperor Cao Xukun! Don't think that just because your cultivation is high, you can do whatever you want! I am the orthodoxy of the Heavenly Dao, the Primordial Dao Body is invincible! Your pressure is useless against me!"

"Orthodoxy of the Heavenly Dao?" Emperor Cao Xukun sneered, walking slowly in front of him. "In the mortal realm, I am the Heavenly Dao. My words are the laws of the Heavenly Dao. Your so-called Primordial Dao Body, in my eyes, is nothing but a pile of scrap metal."

He extended a finger and tapped lightly on Taichuzi's forehead.

"Crack—!"

Taichuzi's prized Primordial Dao Body instantly filled with cracks. The spiritual power in his body leaked out wildly, and his cultivation plummeted at a speed visible to the naked eye, falling all the way from the late stage of the Fusion Realm to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

"Ah—! My Dao Body! My cultivation!" Taichuzi let out a shrill scream, collapsing to the ground, his face deathly pale. "Impossible! This is absolutely impossible! The Primordial Dao Body is invincible! How could you destroy my Dao Body!"

"There is nothing impossible." Emperor Cao Xukun withdrew his finger, his tone cold. "I gave you a chance, but you didn't take it. Considering you didn't cause too many casualties, I will abolish your cultivation and expel you from the Divine Capital. If there is a next time, I will definitely execute you without mercy."

"Drag them out." Li Tieniu immediately called the guards to drag Taichuzi and his disciples out like dead dogs. This once arrogant Holy Son of Primordial ultimately ended up with his cultivation completely abolished and slinking away, becoming the laughingstock of the whole world.

After dealing with Taichuzi, Emperor Cao Xukun turned to look at Crown Prince Cao Hao and Li Tieniu: "Did you see that? In the future, if you encounter such clowns who don't know the immensity of heaven and earth, don't be polite, just beat them into submission. If they won't submit, kill them."

"Understood!" The two replied in unison.

The next day, Emperor Cao Xukun held a grand ceremony at the Taiji Hall and formally issued an imperial edict: Appointing Li Tieniu as the Grand Marshal of the Great Xuan Dynasty's Mortal Realm Armies, commanding all armies in the mortal realm; appointing his eldest son, Crown Prince Cao Hao, as the Crown Prince acting as regent to oversee the court; and having the three empresses, Empress Bing Yao, Governor Ye Qingyi, and Feng Qingyan, assist in government affairs.

After the edict was issued, the civil and military officials knelt on the ground and shouted in unison: "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Crown Prince! Long live the Grand Marshal!"

After the ceremony, Emperor Cao Xukun stood at the highest point of the palace, looking up toward the nine heavens. There, clouds swirled and immortal energy drifted; it was the direction of the Immortal Realm.

"Crown Prince Lingxiao, Seven Great Dynasties, wait for me." Emperor Cao Xukun raised the corner of his mouth in a confident smile. "The Master of the Mortal Realm is about to arrive in the Immortal Realm."

The wind blew his black dragon robe, and the golden sunlight shone on him, his aura looking down on the world.

Everything in the mortal realm had been arranged properly, and preparations for ascension were about to begin.