I have Taoism and can understand other worlds

Chapter 571 Absolute Sword Master

"It's been a long time since I've been here, and Chengtian Palace has become like this." Lu Shiming looked at the main hall with a touch of emotion. He talked to Jiang Wen about this main hall, which used to be the center of the Great Qian Dynasty. "Every time there was a grand ceremony, the emperor would hold a grand event here. It is said that the late emperor liked to handle state affairs in this Chengtian Palace, but I didn't expect that now few people come here."

As he spoke, Lü Shiming wiped the dust that had accumulated on the pillar. Not only was no one here, but the main hall of the imperial palace was also completely neglected.

"The imperial palace is indeed vast, but surely this main hall shouldn't have fallen to such a state?" Jiang Wen looked at Chengtian Palace with some confusion. Although this main hall was far inferior to the Chunyang Palace he had seen before, its exquisiteness and solemnity surpassed it. Whether it was the carved dragons on the pillars or the painted eaves, it was all the work of divine craftsmanship. One could only imagine how many talented individuals the Great Qian Emperor had mobilized when this main hall was built.

“Since the death of the Crown Prince, the Emperor has never come here again. I only heard my father say that the Emperor sat here all night on the night the Crown Prince fell,” Lü Shiming said.

Jiang Wen did not respond, but silently stared at the dragon throne.

The marks on the dragon throne are clearly visible, enough to prove the inner turmoil of the person sitting on it at the time. Perhaps the emperor at that time still had a sliver of compassion.

As the two passed through the main hall and were about to leave Chengtian Palace, they suddenly heard the sound of chanting.

Then, as the twilight sunlight shone towards the direction from which the chanting was coming, they saw a middle-aged man in white robes reading a book in a pavilion outside the palace.

This man had a face as bright as the moon, and eyebrows as sharp as swords. His sideburns were long and flowing, and his features were well-proportioned. Even from such a distance, one could still sense his extraordinary nature.

He carried a long sword on his back, and the sound of the sword could be heard even before it was drawn.

“Uncle-Master Juejianzi,” Lü Shiming said.

"Uncle-Master? He's from the Tai Shen Palace?" Jiang Wen asked.

“Hmm,” Lü Shiming nodded. “Although Uncle Juejianzi is not a Palace Master of the Six Palaces, he is a sword prodigy that the Tai Shen Palace sees only once in a thousand years. It is said that when Uncle Juejianzi was young, he mastered the Sword Heart at the age of twenty and entered the Dao Palace at the age of forty. Now he is over three hundred years old, and I don’t know how strong he is. My master once said that the Palace Master is not the most powerful. Perhaps Uncle Juejianzi is the strongest among the nine True Persons of the Tai Shen Palace.”

"The strongest. I'd like to test my skills if I have the chance." Jiang Wen looked at Jue Jianzi, a fighting spirit rising in his heart. Since the incident at Buzhou Mountain, he had rarely encountered an opponent he could fight with his full strength. Saints were hard to find, and most wouldn't dare to challenge him. Now that he had met a master swordsman, he naturally wanted to test his skills.

But it wasn't the right time, Jiang Wen thought to himself. Although Chengtian Palace was an abandoned palace, it was still part of the imperial palace. If a fight broke out, it would likely attract attention, making it difficult to escape.

Lü Shiming was able to enter the imperial palace this time because he obtained the royal seal of the Northern Ming King. Although the emperor forbids ordinary people from entering the imperial palace, the Northern Ming King is no ordinary person.

The so-called privileges of not having to bow when entering the court, wearing swords and shoes in the palace, not being called by name when being praised, and being granted the Nine Bestowments are nothing more than those of the Northern Ming King.

“My martial uncle’s arrival here is probably not for good reasons,” Lü Shiming said, frowning.

“Even so, let’s be frank and meet openly,” Jiang Wen said with a smile, striding towards Jue Jianzi. His figure moved like a shadow, arriving at the pavilion in an instant.

Jiang Wen bowed to the middle-aged man with his hands clasped and said, "This humble Taoist, Taixuzi of Jingxu Temple, greets fellow Daoist."

"Jingxu Temple, I've heard that girl mention you before." Juejianzi put down his book and looked at Jiang Wen with a smile. Only then could Jiang Wen see clearly that there was a thin sword scar on the man's face.

"Fellow Daoist, are you perhaps referring to Li Yunshang?" Jiang Wen asked.

"You came to the Imperial Palace, who else could it be for if not that girl?" Jue Jianzi sighed. "I'm waiting for you here not to make things difficult for you, but simply to discuss some matters with you." "Isn't Uncle Jue Jianzi here to oversee things at Chengtian Palace on the Emperor's orders?" Lü Shiming also approached, bowed respectfully to Jue Jianzi, and asked calmly. "If not, Uncle should make way."

"Haha." Jue Jianzi laughed upon hearing this, pointing at Lü Shiming and shaking his head. "You brat, you're still as stubborn as ever. I'm your senior uncle, can't you be a little more polite?"

"Because I was just telling the truth," Lü Shiming said nonchalantly.

“Alright, I am indeed here on the Emperor’s orders.” Jue Jianzi’s smile faded as he looked at the two of them seriously. “The Emperor knows you have entered the Imperial Palace and has asked me to speak with you.”

"What?"

"Black Mountain is not a safe place," said Juejianzi.

"..." Lu Shiming remained silent, then shook his head at Jue Jianzi. "Uncle-Master, I must go to Black Mountain. Where A Meng is, I should be there too."

"The Emperor has already sent people to search for them, and they should be brought back soon. Your reckless entry into Black Mountain will certainly be dangerous. You know better than I how dangerous Black Mountain is," Jue Jianzi said solemnly.

"Please rest assured, Uncle-Master, I am confident that I can enter the Imperial Palace today. Moreover, my friend beside me is exceptionally strong and will surely protect me in Black Mountain," Lü Shiming replied calmly.

"Him?" Jue Jianzi stared at Jiang Wen with sharp eyes, his tone tinged with disbelief. "He's just a cultivator at the Life Fire Realm. How could he possibly protect you in Black Mountain? If the Northern King finds out you stole his token, he'll be furious. Shi Ming, you're the Northern King's only son. If anything happens in Black Mountain, do you want to break your father's heart?"

"My mind is made up," Lü Shiming said coldly. "Please make way, Uncle-Master."

"You." Jue Jianzi's expression changed, and he looked at Lü Shiming with some annoyance. He hadn't expected his junior disciple to be so stubborn, unable to hear a shred of goodwill, and even disrespectful to his senior uncle. His expression shifted several times before finally returning to calm.

Jue Jianzi looked at Lü Shiming with a cold face and said, "What if I'm unwilling?"

“Then don’t blame me for being impolite,” Lü Shiming said decisively. He held lightning in his hand, and a bronze cauldron slowly circled around him. “I have heard a lot about the name of Uncle-Master Jue Jianzi. Today I would like to have a match with Uncle-Master and see if the reputation of the Sword Immortal Jue Yun is still sharp.”

"Very well, very well indeed." Jue Jianzi laughed, his aura surging. His hair flew wildly, and the sword on his back hummed. "Your master has raised a fine disciple, huh? He wants to have a match with me. Well then, let me teach you a lesson on what it means to be outmatched."

"Please make way, Uncle-Master," Lü Shiming said without fear.

The two faced off, their magical power surging forth and spreading in all directions towards Chengtian Palace, causing the grand formations within the imperial palace to flicker.

Many of those who were sitting in meditation opened their eyes, looking at Chengtian Palace with confusion, surprise, or amusement.

"A kid from Tai Shen Palace? That old bastard Jue Jianzi is here too? Interesting."

"Who dares to fight in the Imperial Palace? This aura belongs to Jue Jianzi. Anyone who dares to fight Jue Jianzi is truly ignorant and fearless."

Within the imperial palace, people harbor differing sentiments, and a conflict is imminent at Chengtian Palace.

(End of this chapter)