Eunuchs remaining on the altar and the musicians playing were caught in the aftermath of the explosion. Some were pierced by fragments of the shattered incense burner, others were struck by musical instruments swept up by the blast, and some were thrown directly off the platform. Amidst the chaos, a fallen musician suddenly scrambled to his feet, pulled a dagger from his robes, and lunged at Ji Hong. At the same time, Ji Jinmo took a step back, his sleeves billowing and kicking up several small stones. With a casual flick of his wrist, he sent the stones flying towards Ji Hong.
The dagger grazed the hem of Ji Hong’s robe. As Ji Hong stumbled backward, a stone struck the back of his knee, sending him uncontrollably to his knees.
A flash of cold light appeared before his eyes. The sharp blade of the dagger grazed his neck, drawing a line of blood.
The assassin flipped his wrist, changing the horizontal slash to a downward stab, aiming for Ji Hong's head. If this blow landed, Ji Hong would surely spill his blood on the spot and perish.
"Protect His Majesty!"
The officials panicked, scattering like lost ants. Minor stampedes occurred, but fear drove them to flee outwards in a mad rush. The guards, disregarding the possibility of harming court officials, shoved aside anyone in their path and charged towards Ji Hong.
As they advanced, they shouted their allegiance.
"Your Majesty, be careful!"
A figure suddenly darted from the side, throwing himself in front of Ji Hong without regard for his own safety.
Ji Hong, in his haste, raised his hand. His sweeping sleeve caught the incoming stones from behind. The sudden figure knocked him aside, and the stones trapped in his sleeve were violently flung out as he swung his arm. They struck the assassin's wrist with perfect accuracy, piercing it. The dagger fell, grazing the shoulder of the figure.
With a "bang," the moment the dagger hit the ground, Ji Hong and the figure both tumbled to the ground.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"
The figure scrambled towards Ji Hong. It was the chief eunuch who had always served him.
"Quick, protect His Majesty, protect him!"
The eunuch's already shrill voice became even more piercing. The guards finally broke through the crowd, drew their weapons, and engaged the assassins in a fierce battle.
"Crack—"
Amidst the clash of weapons, a sharp cracking sound echoed through everyone’s ears. The dragon-carved stone monument left by the founding emperor split down the middle, a terrifying fissure spreading outwards like a spiderweb.
Ji Hong, shielded by the guards, turned his head sharply, his eyes widening in disbelief at the cracking stone monument.
Ji Jinmo tilted his head and looked at the monument.
He suddenly picked up the long sword that had fallen at his feet, leaped into the air, and with a sword strike as if from the heavens, plunged it into the chest of an assassin engaged in battle with the guards. The sword tip angled upward, splitting the man open from chest to abdomen.
After killing one man with a single strike, Ji Jinmo moved through the fray as if in his own private realm.
One man, one sword, piercing chests.
As their exposed chests revealed hearts still beating, the assassins were undeniably dead.
In the blink of an eye, Ji Jinmo had slaughtered all the assassins. After doing so, he ordered the assassins to be dragged and placed before the dragon-carved stone monument, commanding them to be whipped.
Ji Jinmo’s expression was as cold and severe as if he were enveloped in ice. The oppressive aura radiating from him made it impossible for anyone to look him directly in the eye. No one dared to approach him.
They could only watch as he killed and whipped the corpses, and then, still not satisfied, proceeded to dismember them.
At this moment, a golden light began to emerge from the cracked dragon-carved stone monument. As the cracks in the monument widened, more golden light poured out, eventually shooting straight into the sky and illuminating the entire heavens.
The clouds churned, appearing as if an immortal had descended.
Ji Hong pushed away the guards protecting him and walked towards Ji Jinmo, standing shoulder to shoulder with him before the stone monument.
Within the stone monument, a long sword appeared. The words ‘Wen Tian’ were inscribed on its blade.
It was the sword wielded by the founding emperor during his campaigns, the Wen Tian Sword.
After the founding of Lin Yuan, the Wen Tian Sword’s whereabouts became unknown. Historical records stated, "In the first year of Bei Ji, in the third month, the moon eclipsed Xuanyuan... tens of millions of meteors, varying in length, size, and magnitude, traveled westward. By dawn, they ceased. One of them fell into the Lin Yuan Yangguan, mere zhangs from the Founding Emperor's camp. The Founding Emperor obtained it and forged it into a sharp sword, naming it Wen Tian."
It was further recorded, "In the first year of Lin Yuan, also in the third month, the Founding Emperor returned to the heavens. The Wen Tian Sword, which had been hanging in the Imperial Study, vanished."
Since the Founding Emperor's death, the Wen Tian Sword’s whereabouts had been unknown. Who would have thought that after a hundred years, it would reappear with the shattering of the stone monument?
The Wen Tian Sword, forged from a meteorite, was said by the world to be a divine sword bestowed by heaven, only to be possessed by the most esteemed in the land.
Ji Hong's eyes blazed with fervor, and ripples also stirred in Ji Jinmo’s placid gaze. He took a step forward, but before he could extend his hand, Ji Hong grabbed his arm.
"Uncle, what are you doing?"
Ji Hong’s eyes glinted with danger as he looked at Ji Jinmo with a smile that was not quite a smile.
Ji Jinmo’s wrist flicked, easily shaking off Ji Hong’s hand. A beautiful smile played on his lips as he retorted, "Can't Hong’er see?"
Using a senior’s address for the ruler of a nation was no longer mere disrespect; it was outright provocation.
Ji Hong’s hand went numb from the jolt. He hid it beneath his sleeve, his fierce eyes widening. The emperor’s majesty emanated, and the entire square fell into a silence so profound that a pin drop could be heard. Everyone felt as if they had been dragged into a boundless swamp, their bodies being consumed by thick mud. The pressure enveloping them from all sides desperately squeezed the air from their chests, making it difficult to breathe.
An enraged voice boomed from Ji Hong: "Ji Jinmo, do not be too presumptuous."
Ji Jinmo straightened his sleeve, his slightly upturned phoenix eyes openly scanning Ji Hong. His voice was sharp as a blade, chilling to the bone, "This Wen Tian Sword, this King wants it."
"Delusional!"
Ji Hong laughed in fury: "The Wen Tian Sword is the Emperor's sword. Do you deserve it!"
"The Emperor?"
Ji Jinmo turned, looking down at Ji Hong: "If not for this King's protection, would you have lived to see today?"
Ji Hong clenched his fists, his gaze filled with a bloody intensity. He said each word deliberately, "This Emperor remembers the kindness shown by Uncle. However, some things, no matter how much Uncle desires them, are merely the dreams of a fool."
Speaking of kindness, Ji Hong deliberately emphasized the word.
Ji Jinmo suddenly reached out and seized Ji Hong by the neck, acting with an impunity that bordered on lawlessness.
"Your Majesty!"
Everyone gasped in terror, having never expected Ji Jinmo would dare lay hands on the emperor.
"Ji Jinmo, are you attempting rebellion?"
"Ji Jinmo, release His Majesty at once!"
Despite having his neck grasped by Ji Jinmo, Ji Hong began to laugh. The suffocation caused the veins on his temples to bulge. The less air he had, the louder Ji Hong's laughter grew. He said in a hoarse voice, "Ji Jinmo, the Wen Tian Sword or Feng Luan, choose one."