The First Lackey Under The Empress

Please enlighten me!

At this moment, Zhao Du'an stood on the arena, his thick and steady voice amplified many times by the magical rune arrays around the arena.

It clearly swept across the entire plaza.

Instantly, Bianji, who was standing next to him, was stunned, a momentary daze appearing on his indifferent face.

While the young monk "Tianhai", cross-legged in the center of the arena,

wrapped in a yellowish-brown martial monk's short robe, dark shorts, and cloth shoes of the same color, with his two arms with smooth muscle lines resting on his knees, opened his eyes suddenly!

At this moment, in the eyes embedded in his ordinary face, a sharp, cold light flashed horizontally.

Staring intently at Zhao Du'an, who was challenging him, the yellow silk ribbon on his head moved without wind.

"You? Challenge me?"

The young Tianhai asked in a cold voice.

Zhao Du'an smiled and said, "Yes."

Beside him.

Bianji quickly calmed down, a habitual smile spreading across his handsome face:

"Lord Zhao, don't jest. There are rules for challenges…"

Zhao Du'an looked at him and said calmly:

"My age meets the requirements, and I am not a Taoist priest from the Celestial Master's Mansion. As for my realm, coincidentally, I just entered the Divine Chapter realm two days ago, so I think I meet the rules."

As he spoke, a faint halo suddenly rose around him, enveloping his body, hazy and mystical.

This is the "Qi Emission" technique that martial artists automatically master after advancing to the Divine Chapter realm, also known as "Protective Qi."

When he fought against the leader of the rebel gang, Frost Sword, the opponent used this move to block his flying knife.

Displaying it at this moment is undoubtedly a powerful way to prove his cultivation.

Zhao Du'an withdrew his Qi and turned to Bianji, asking with a smile:

"Why, is it not allowed?"

… …

Whoosh—

The conversation between the three on the stage only took a few breaths, and at this moment, the clamor of the crowd in the plaza suddenly erupted like hot oil poured into cold water.

The onlookers couldn't hide their surprise.

"Zhao Du'an? Is that person on the stage the rumored Zhao Yama from the imperial court?"

"Is it true? Is he the one favored by the Sage in the rumors?"

"Didn't they say that this person is a great villain and a despicable person…? How can he be so handsome?"

"Bah, people are talking about his character. His appearance is naturally good, otherwise, how could he be noticed by the Sage…?"

The law does not punish the masses.

Moreover, a considerable number of people in the crowd are from out of town.

Under the shock, they didn't have many scruples when speaking.

Especially some women, their eyes lit up, staring at the image on the light screen in mid-air, their eyes captivating.

In the past six months, Zhao Du'an's reputation has spread far and wide, but not many people have actually seen him.

Now that he is going to challenge the little monk, the uproar it caused is no less than Jin Jian's defeat.

As for the people on the stands who were familiar with Zhao Du'an, they were even more stunned.

They were both surprised by Zhao Du'an's challenge and even more shocked that "Zhao Yama" had silently entered the Divine Chapter realm.

"Venerable Hai, did you know already?"

Mo Chou was stunned and turned to look at the old eunuch in the python robe.

The latter said with a complex expression:

"I could guess that he would break through. But I didn't expect him to go on stage."

"Then… how confident is he?" Mo Chou asked subconsciously.

"Confidence?" The eunuch in the python robe glanced at her strangely, without saying a word.

Xue Shence, in a martial general's official robe, opened his mouth in a deep voice, explaining:

"Lord Zhao is only a beginner. Even if the imperial family's offerings have profound inheritance, it is impossible to bridge the gap. The only thing to worry about is whether this little monk is sensible and will hold back a bit."

Is it that disparate…? Mo Chou was stunned. She didn't understand cultivation and said subconsciously:

"With his cunning, he must have confidence to go up there."

Zhao Du'an's image of being a schemer was already "deeply rooted in her heart" for the female prime minister.

She instinctively didn't believe that Zhao Du'an's brain would do something stupid like passively taking a beating.

Ma Yan inserted himself into the conversation, the great eunuch's expression solemn:

"Or is it to temper his martial heart?"

As a "fellow disciple", he had also received guidance from Venerable Hai in the past and deeply knew Old Hai's teaching style.

Therefore, even if he didn't know the details, he could guess that the reason why Zhao Du'an had changed his temperament and was willing to face risks must be due to Old Hai's influence.

Little did he know that Venerable Hai was also cursing in his heart at this moment:

"I only said that you should have the heart of a martial artist who doesn't avoid battle, but I didn't say that you should go looking for death. When Emperor Taizu tempered his heart, he also challenged people who were slightly stronger than himself, but he didn't say to be like you…"

However, thinking on the bright side.

In today's situation, no matter what, the little monk Tianhai couldn't possibly kill anyone.

And His Majesty and even Celestial Master Zhang are sitting not far away… nothing major will happen… The old eunuch also felt relieved, snorted, and muttered:

"It's good to let this kid suffer a little. At worst, he'll lie down for a month or two and learn a lesson."

… …

At the same time.

Inside a small courtyard deep in the Celestial Master's Mansion.

The Empress and the Old Celestial Master, sitting opposite each other under the banyan tree, were also stunned.

Xu Zhenguan was shocked that her loyal dog had suddenly gone on stage to seek death.

Zhang Yan was surprised that his "little friend" had shown his face at this moment.

Fortunately, the two top figures in the current world were attracted by Zhao, and they did not notice the brief consternation on each other's faces.

"It's simply nonsense!"

The Great Yu Empress did not have the joy of learning that her favored minister had advanced, but instead, her face sank.

Deep in her beautiful eyes, a strong worry flashed:

"He only broke through a few days ago, and he's already so ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth!"

At this moment, she even had the impulse to rush out and forcibly stop this farce.

Not really angry, but worried!

With her eyesight, how could she not see that Zhao Du'an only had the share of being ravaged and beaten against Tianhai?

But the clarity of being an emperor made her forcibly restrain herself.

She knew that if she really did this, she would become a laughing stock in the eyes of the world.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured," the Old Celestial Master said with a smile, experienced and steady:

"There are rules on the arena, it's fine."

The implication is that there are many strong people present, and people will not have accidents.

Xu Zhenguan realized that she had lost her composure and hurriedly restrained herself, saying bitterly:

"I didn't expect this move either."

Zhang Yan smiled and waved his hand, indicating that Her Majesty did not need to explain, and suddenly said with emotion:

"I think this little friend Zhao also wants to restore some glory to the Xu family."

Xu Zhenguan was stunned and absent-minded.

Her phoenix eyes looked at the tall and straight figure in the water curtain, and she couldn't help but be touched.

She remembered that she had indeed talked to him about how the strong members of the imperial family had seized the limelight in the past.

So… he did this for me?

Yes, with this little thief's cunning and brain, and his style of asking the court for help at the first time whenever there is a fight, how could he not know the risks of going on stage?

Presumably, he can also see that from the court's point of view, he does not want the Shenlong Temple to become famous.

So, he stood up?

Appearing on the stage in the name of an offering?

But… the little monk Tianhai's temperament may not care about the face of the court and show mercy…

"Your Majesty, let's wait and see," Zhang Yan said leisurely.

The Old Celestial Master looked like he was watching a play, but he had already used the power of "Heavenly Dao" to silently divination once.

The result of the divination surprised him quite a bit, but it was not good to tell the Empress.

Xu Zhenguan sighed softly, calmed her mind, frowned and looked at the light curtain, already thinking about how to rescue him later.

… …

"Of course, you can."

Bianji only hesitated for a moment before nodding with a smile.

A demeanor of a virtuous Buddhist monk.

He smiled and praised:

"I didn't expect Lord Zhao to cross this threshold in just a few months. Congratulations. According to the rules, you can indeed go on stage, but this poor monk thinks…"

Zhao Du'an interrupted him and said lightly:

"Since I can, let's start."

"… …" Bianji had no choice but to swallow back the steps he had offered to him, taking a deep look at him and nodding lightly:

"In that case, Tianhai, you can exchange blows with Lord Zhao. Remember, don't get too heated and stop when you've made your point."

Bianji knew the little monk's character, which was eccentric and hateful of evil.

Zhao Du'an was obviously in the "evil person" category, and he was afraid that the little monk would get carried away and really beat him into a serious injury, making it difficult for both Shenlong Temple and the court.

Therefore, he emphasized that as long as he was defeated, it was okay, and it was best not to hurt him if possible.

"Hmph." The little monk Tianhai stood up, not knowing if he had listened, just sneering.

Bianji sighed and chanted a Buddhist prayer, suddenly flying away from the arena.

"Brother Zhao…" On the other side, Gongshu Tianyuan helped Jin Jian up and couldn't help but open his mouth, wanting to dissuade him.

But it was too late.

Around the circular arena, the earth rumbled and vibrated, and the huge barrier that had been removed slowly rose again, isolating the inside and outside.

It also heralded the beginning of the challenge.

"It's really going to start, I wonder who will win."

On the stands, an official's wife worried, "How can a person like Lord Zhao go around wielding weapons and hurting his face?"

You Jinhua had no intention of paying attention to these women's strange focus, holding the handkerchief tightly in her right hand and her daughter's hand in her left, extremely nervous:

"Why is it really going to start fighting? That monk is so powerful, if…"

Zhao Pan was also panicked, but at this moment, she tried to calm down and comforted her mother:

"It's okay, Big Brother is also in the Divine Chapter realm. Besides, that monk has already fought a battle, so he probably doesn't have much energy…"

A noblewoman sitting next door had already heard that these two were the Zhao family's women and couldn't help but explain:

"One is just entering the Divine Chapter realm, and the other is at the peak, there is a world of difference. That little monk Tianhai also took a great pill. Even if he's not at his peak, he's almost there."

The Zhao family's women were even more panicked, holding on to the railing, staring at the arena, afraid that something might happen.

… …

On stage.

As the huge light罩 fell, Zhao Du'an only felt that the outside sounds were suddenly blocked.

At the same time, the internal sounds were also greatly weakened.

In the spacious plaza, only he and the three-eyed little monk opposite him were left.

"Dong!"

The sixteen or seventeen-year-old little monk Tianhai stood a few feet away, the yellow bronze "Six Paths Staff" whistling through the wind, skillfully spinning in his hand, and heavily planted on the ground.

With the hexagonal prism as the center, dust rose around it, and ripples undulated.

The autumn wind passed through the light罩, causing the monk's robe to shake like waves, and the ribbon on his bald head to flutter.

"I know you,"

On Tianhai's ordinary face, with only a slightly pointed chin, his eyes were indifferent, with a hint of interest, staring at Zhao Du'an, the corners of his mouth upturned:

"After I returned to the capital, I heard many things about you."

Zhao Du'an stood with his hands behind his back, calmly meeting the eyes of this Buddhist monster.

In a trance, he had the illusion of being a prey being stared at by a fierce tiger in the mountains or a lion in the grasslands.

He smiled: "Is that so? What did they say about me?"

Tianhai showed his white teeth, his pupils seemed to overflow with sharp light:

"They say you do all kinds of evil and are a first-class traitor."

"Oh?" Zhao Du'an looked curiously at the top of the little monk's head:

“I also heard that you were born with a third eye, called the ‘Eye of Compassion,’ which can distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong. Can you even see people through a silk ribbon?

Or do you think you're too ugly to be seen?

I saw you fighting fiercely with Jin Jian just now, and I wanted to tear off your scarf to take a look, but I couldn't. So, I came up myself.”

Tianhai didn't seem to expect that this imperial dog from the Zhao family would be so talkative. The young man's thin cheeks became even more expressionless:

“You are not worthy for me to use the Eye of Compassion.”

“Is that so? So, without seeing it, you are sure that I am a treacherous official?”

Zhao Du'an said in surprise, “I heard that you often take action outside, saving evil people. In this way, so-called salvation is just wanton killing. It is really strange that Buddhism can tolerate you.”

“You…” Tianhai choked, suffering a dumb loss. The young man said angrily:

“I will discern the world myself, I don’t need you to teach me!”

Then, he said irritably:

“Stop talking nonsense, take out your weapon, and let's end this after the fight.”

Zhao Du'an stared at the staff in his hand and shook his head, saying:

“My handy weapon is only a flying knife, and it's still for the Mortal Realm. I thought it was not suitable for the arena, and it can't compare to your treasure, so I won't take it out to embarrass myself.”

Tianhai was stunned for a moment, his brows furrowed into a "川" character, and he sneered:

“Then go borrow a weapon, lest I beat you down later, and others say that my Shenlong Temple is bullying people.”

Zhao Du'an said, “Can any weapon be used?”

Tianhai frowned, feeling that this person was too long-winded and very irritable:

“As long as you can wield it, anything is fine!”

“Okay, then please wait a moment, little monk.”

Zhao Du'an smiled:

“I came in a hurry, so allow me to borrow a weapon to fight.”

The young monk had an arrogant expression. Having just won the Buddhist-Taoist competition, his momentum was like a rainbow. He naturally wouldn't take an imperial dog in his eyes.

With his arms folded, he stood firmly and casually, with an extraordinary bronze long staff standing beside him, his eyes looking down, with an "anything goes" expression.

However, Zhao Du'an did not leave the arena or ask anyone to borrow a weapon.

He just suddenly closed his eyes.

In his mind, the night before he stepped into the Divine Chapter Realm a few days ago appeared.

…

In the Martial God Diagram.

Emperor Taizu once again walked down from the "Green Mountain" next to the Martial Emperor City, covered in blood.

Zhao Du'an carried him back to the inn in the town, threw him into the bathtub, washed away the blood, and poured in new hot water, adding medicinal packets for healing.

In the rich medicinal fragrance, Zhao Du'an pushed open the window of the inn. Outside the window was the towering mountain range of the Green Mountain.

The setting sun gradually sank to the ground. From this angle, the back of the mountain could be vaguely seen, revealing a corner of the sea.

The shimmering waves were like碎金.

“Old Xu,”

Zhao Du'an sat on the round stool in front of the window, propping his chin with his hands, looking at the scenery outside, letting the wind lift his messy hair:

“I probably understand now why you climbed the mountain again and again, but… let’s just say, can’t you bring a weapon or something?

We are going to challenge, not to be beaten. The heart of a martial artist can’t be the heart of being beaten, right…

Look at other martial artists, they all carry swords up the mountain, but you… foolishly using your bare hands, who won’t beat you if you don’t get beaten, aren’t you stupid?”

Behind him, in the bathtub.

The rugged man with disheveled hair, soaked in the medicinal soup, leaned against the edge of the bathtub, his eyelids not opening.

The dense beard on his jaw moved, and his voice said hoarsely:

“I have a weapon.”

“Where? Why didn’t I see it?” Zhao Du'an turned his head and looked at him curiously.

Old Xu gestured to the two people's luggage.

Zhao Du'an quickly got up and picked up the large bag that Old Xu had been inseparable from since the desert.

“Open it,” Old Xu said.

Zhao Du'an unfastened the bag and really grabbed a weapon from inside.

It was slender in shape and wrapped in rags. He quickly unwrapped it and couldn't help but be stunned.

The room suddenly lit up for a moment.

Inside the bag, there was actually a sword.

A precious sword with a slender hilt, a dark red pattern all over the blade, and cast from an unknown metal, with an extremely sharp edge.

There was no scabbard, just a lonely sword.

The wind blew, and a strand of Zhao Du'an's hair fell, gently floating on the blade, and was instantly cut into two pieces.

Old Xu stretched out his hand and held the sword in Zhao Du'an's hand. It suddenly trembled slightly, and then turned on its own, landing in the rough palm of Taizu, who was sitting in the bathtub.

Zhao Du'an was stunned for a moment, because just now, he vaguely saw Old Xu's Qi Sea Dantian, vaguely showing a vague dragon shape through his skin.

It was somewhat similar to the dragon soul in his body at the moment…

Yes, the so-called dragon soul was originally condensed from Emperor Taizu's internal strength.

The biography also said that the Great Yu Taizu measured the earth with his feet, and only after walking through the mountains and seas did he refine a mouthful of Xuanhuang Qi.

For no reason, he understood something in his heart.

“Why don’t you use it if you have a sword?” Zhao Du'an couldn’t help but say.

Old Xu looked up and glanced at him.

At this moment, the Great Yu Taizu in the painting was as vivid as a living person. The slightly stiff face showed humanized expressions for the first time, as if he were alive at this moment.

“Because the current me does not have this sword.”

Old Xu casually threw the precious sword back to Zhao Du'an, his lips seemed to smile under his thick beard:

“It’s a gift for you.”

Zhao Du'an was stunned for a moment, and asked inexplicably: “What is it called?”

“The sword is called Tai'a.”

…

…

Outside.

Just as Zhao Du'an fell into memories and quietly activated the sleeping dragon soul in his Qi Sea Dantian.

In a corner of the palace, in the deepest part of the magnificent Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The center of the hall, which enshrines the spiritual tablets of the emperors of the Great Yu Dynasty.

A dark sword box suddenly vibrated.

“哗啦啦…”

Immediately afterwards, the huge table filled with spiritual tablets also vibrated, the candlesticks swayed, and the curtains swayed.

One by one, the spiritual tablets fell down with a crash.

“Bang!”

The dark sword box suddenly opened. Inside the wooden box, which was covered with bright yellow silk, the Great Yu Taizu's saber, also the Tai'a Sword, the sacred weapon of the Xu family, seemed to feel an invisible call.

It flew out on its own, directly broke through the roof, pierced a big hole, turned into a stream of light, rose from the ground, swept out of the entire palace, and flew towards a certain direction.

“What’s going on?!”

The Imperial Guards stationed in the Imperial Ancestral Temple were shocked and rushed over as soon as possible, but could only stare blankly at a dazzling golden stream of light cutting through the sky in the gloomy sky.

“The Taizu’s saber!”

“Quickly report to His Majesty, the Tai'a Sword has flown away!”

There was chaos in the palace.

…

…

“Hey, what’s going on? Are we still fighting or not?”

“Yeah, why did Zhao Yama close his eyes and stop moving?”

“Could it be some kind of invisible divine soul fight? Can’t we see it?”

Around the arena, the crowd gradually made a noisy sound.

Because the sound was weakened, the dialogue between the two people on the field was not heard by the people, so they were particularly puzzled.

“Why isn’t big brother moving? Could it be that he’s adjusting his inner breath?”

Zhao Pan’s expression was serious, and she tried to analyze it with her extremely limited martial arts knowledge.

You Jinhua just stared nervously, and when she heard this, she looked at the noble lady next to her who seemed to know a lot, and tried to ask.

But the other party also shook her head, her expression blank.

“What is Lord Zhao doing?”

An official couldn’t help but speak, “Aren’t we going to fight? Are we still fighting or not? It’s been so long…”

Many people were both confused and annoyed, the expected fight between the two sides had not been staged for a long time.

They thought they were going to fight, but then this kind of change happened.

“This is…”

Mo Chou looked at Eunuch Hai and Xue Shence in confusion, seeking help from these two court powerhouses.

Xue Shence was quick-witted and heard the conversation coming out of the hood, and forcibly explained:

“Lord Zhao seems to be waiting for a weapon. Maybe someone will send it to him.”

This Privy Councilor really couldn’t figure it out either.

However, at this time, the old eunuch in the python robe suddenly raised his head.

The gray hair danced in the wind, and a pair of old eyes suddenly burst into a terrifying pure light, and in an instant, he entered a very vigilant posture.

The next second, Xue Shence also moved his ears slightly, and suddenly turned around, looking in the direction of the palace.

Bianji raised his head.

Gongshu Tianyuan and Jin Jian also suddenly stood up.

At this moment, many strong people in the field first turned their heads and looked at the distance in shock, and then countless people also exclaimed:

“What is that?!”

On the arena.

Tianhai, who was holding his arms, feeling irritable, and was about to urge him, suddenly opened his eyes and turned his head in horror.

In his pupils, he clearly reflected a dark cloud, and at the end of the accumulated dark clouds of continuous autumn rain, a golden light suddenly lit up and cut through the sky at a terrifying speed!

At that time, a golden light broke through the air, accompanied by a muffled sound of “rumbling”.

With unparalleled power, in an instant, it slammed into the light shield that sealed the arena.

The protective cover, which could weaken and block the power of the “World Realm” level, first dimmed for a moment, then flickered frantically dozens of times in an instant, and then collapsed!

Immediately, there was a series of motor-like explosions.

Accompanied by the shattered light shield, a strong wind swept up, causing the flags to shake, and the surrounding people were terrified, hugging their heads and scurrying around.

On the stands on both sides.

Countless people in the stands where the Tianshi Mansion, Shenlong Temple, and the high-ranking officials of the court were located stood up in shock!

Widening their eyes.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Zhao Du'an, who was in a state of closed-eyed contemplation, had raised his hand at some point, opening his five fingers and holding it empty.

In his palm, there was a heavy sword with unparalleled sharpness.

Sword Name: Tai'a

In the strong wind, Zhao Du'an opened his eyes and smiled at the little monk Tianhai, who was shocked and horrified:

“The weapon I borrowed has arrived.”

…

ps: I’m a little afraid to click the publish button. I can already imagine the unhappy expressions of the readers, but it’s really not water (crying)

After repeated weighing, should this paragraph be written first and then fight, or fight first… fight to the end, and then summon the Tai’a Sword… In fact, the latter has stronger dramatic tension, but the former is more logical, so I used a chapter to summon it first, and then fight.

You don’t have to wait for the next chapter. I’ll try to stay up late to write and see how many words I can write. Readers, please read it again tomorrow morning.