Two Realms High Martial Arts: Gathering the Heavens to Become a Great Luo Immortal

Chapter 274 The Azure Emperor Enters the Capital, The Emperor's Dragon Fist

The outer city of the capital,

The nearby "Shilixiang" teahouse has always been a place for travelers and merchants from all over the country to rest and exchange information. It is a place where all sorts of people mingle and it is noisy and bustling.

A travel-worn man wearing a straw hat squeezed through the noisy crowd, found an empty table in a corner, and sat down, carefully placing his baggage and a long, cloth-wrapped object against the table leg.

While waiting for the waiter to serve tea, he seemingly casually listened to the noisy discussions around him.

Most of the complaints were about unfair pricing for cargo transport and escort services, and damage to goods.

His attention was drawn to a conversation at a nearby table among several people who were clearly martial arts practitioners.

"Good heavens, you didn't see that spectacle with your own eyes!"

"Above the Palace of Stars, in the blink of an eye, darkness fell, revealing a sky full of stars, shining like jewels, with Milky Ways stretching across the heavens—it was truly magnificent!"

A burly man with a thick beard spoke with great enthusiasm, spitting as he gestured wildly.

"Brother Wang, didn't you just come back from the north a few days ago? Did you really make it?" The tall, thin man at the table hurriedly asked.

"Of course it's true! I originally wanted to go and see the Qionglin Banquet hosted by the White Tiger Saintess Li Qinghan, to see how this White Tiger Hanfeng, who's famous on the Human Ranking, broke through to the Outer Realm. Hey! Guess what happened?"

The burly man with the thick beard deliberately kept everyone in suspense, taking a sip of tea before continuing under the urging gaze of his companion.

"The White Tiger Saintess is truly remarkable. She defeated several top-ranked experts in succession, broke through to the limit in the face of battle, triggered a triple heavenly tribulation, and managed to withstand it all with her unparalleled Seven Kill Sword Formation, steadily stepping into the Outer Realm. At the time, everyone felt that this was an extraordinary event!"

"And then? What does this have to do with the current state of the stars and darkness?"

"Don't rush! Just as Saintess Li finished her tribulation and everyone was still reeling, 'Azure Emperor' Li Xijun emerged from the entrance to the Starry Sacred Land of the Star Palace!"

The burly man with the thick beard suddenly raised his voice, filled with immense excitement.

"Good heavens! When he came out, it was truly earth-shattering. The inner vision manifested outwards. You didn't see it. The scene... How does the Huainanzi say it again: 'The past and present are called the universe, and the four directions and up and down are called the space'?"

"He seemed to possess his own universe, with the sun, moon, and stars arising and ceasing within him, and the phantoms of the Four Symbols divine beasts guarding a terrifyingly purple imperial star. Then, darkness fell, and the entire Star Palace, including our capital city, witnessed that extraordinary phenomenon of a sky full of stars!"

Upon hearing this, the man in the straw hat paused slightly, his hand on the teacup pausing, and listened even more attentively.

"Then came the Heavenly Tribulation. My God, each bolt of lightning was more ferocious than the last, but the 'Azure Emperor' was fine. He easily neutralized the first three bolts of lightning with a flick of his finger or a change in his surroundings, treating them as if they were nothing."

The burly man with a thick beard spoke with great enthusiasm.

"It wasn't until the fourth tribulation lightning struck that it truly became terrifying. A chaotic scene unfolded, as if the world were about to be reborn. Only then did Li Xijun get serious, unleashing an ancient and simple sword embryo. With just one strike, good heavens, he cleaved the chaotic tribulation lightning and the surrounding tribulation clouds in two!"

"That sword light at that time was truly 'a single sword's brilliance chilling fourteen provinces'; the entire northern border must have witnessed it!"

"Four...fourfold heavenly tribulation?!"

The tall, thin man gasped, his voice trembling, "Brother Wang, don't try to fool me! I heard the last person to ascend to heaven in one step and trigger a fourfold tribulation was our founding emperor a thousand years ago!"

"He was a supreme figure who cultivated the 'Eight Desolate Dragon Control True Chapter' and created the 'Emperor Dragon Fist.' Rumor has it he even became an immortal!"

The burly man with a thick beard slammed his hand on the table: "Absolutely true! So many eyes are watching! The news from over there also confirms it; everyone says that 'Green Emperor' Li Xijun is comparable to Emperor Taizu back in the day!"

At the next table, a seemingly mature江湖人 (jianghu person, a person from the martial arts world) interjected:

"Comparable to the founding emperor? That may be too early to say, but this person's potential is indeed terrifying. Don't forget, the 'Eight Desolate Dragon Control True Chapter' that the founding emperor cultivated was said to be incomplete, while Li Xijun cultivated the complete 'Zhou Tian Xing Chen Si Xiang Jue', one of the five supreme divine skills. Just this alone gives him a huge advantage."

These words drew nods of agreement from everyone in the teahouse, and the discussion intensified.

The burly man with a thick beard lowered his voice and said with a hint of mystery:

"That's not all. After the breakthrough, a major event immediately occurred in the Palace of Stars."

"A senior elder of the Azure Dragon Palace bowed deeply to Li Xijun, saying that he had mastered the 'Zhou Tian Xing Chen Si Xiang Jue' and, according to ancestral teachings, should become the common master of all star palaces—'Star Lord'."

"Star Lord?!" everyone exclaimed.

"This...this can happen? Would those Venerable Masters agree to this? Li Xijun is only at the first level of the Outer Realm."

"Hey! Back then, everyone thought this old guy had gone crazy, or was deliberately trying to embarrass Li Xijun."

The burly man with the thick beard chuckled, his expression becoming extremely interesting.

"But guess what? The Vermilion Bird Venerable, universally acknowledged as the most arrogant and powerful, was the first to step forward. Without a word, he immediately bowed deeply, saying 'Greetings, Star Lord.' Immediately afterward, the Black Tortoise Venerable and the White Tiger Saintess Li Qinghan also followed suit!"

A collective gasp and incredulous gasp filled the teahouse.

A young man dressed as a scholar, who had come from Jiangnan, clicked his tongue, his tone carrying a hint of meaningful envy:

"Tsk tsk, Venerable Vermilion Bird, Venerable Black Tortoise... they are both peerless beauties and highly respected masters on the Earth Ranking."

"To give such a grand gesture to a junior who's just starting out on location shooting... If you're telling me there's nothing special going on, I'm the first person who doesn't believe it!"

These words elicited knowing, ambiguous chuckles from many male江湖客 (jianghu ke, a term referring to people who are involved in the martial arts world).

"That makes sense..."

"Sigh, it's true what they say, comparisons are odious. This kind of blessing—no, this kind of power and status—is truly something to behold..."

"I can't be envious, I can't be envious at all!"

Amidst the lively discussion, the tall, thin man who had spoken first remarked:

"Regardless of the circumstances, from this day forward, the Palace of Stars is likely to undergo a major transformation!"

"Li Xijun, this former prodigy on the Human Ranking, is now the true master of the Star Palace, in charge of a top-tier power. The winds of change in the world are likely to be stirred by him."

The man in the straw hat listened silently, placed a few copper coins on the table, picked up his bundle and the long object, and quietly left the noisy teahouse. He quickly turned into a narrow alley, his brow furrowed, thinking to himself:

"Li Xijun has risen to the top in one fell swoop, becoming the master of the Star Palace... This matter is of great importance and must be reported to the Pavilion Master immediately. Otherwise, the future of our Blood-Clad Pavilion may be very bleak."

"Even the Life and Death Sword Sect behind them should be treated with caution."

the other side,

The night was deep.

The Palace of Stars, however, was still immersed in the aftershocks of the day's shock and commotion.

Deep within the Vermilion Bird Palace, in a quiet room with elegant furnishings and fragrant incense, the lighting was warm and the atmosphere subtle.

Li Xijun and the Vermilion Bird Venerable Mu Wanqiu sat facing each other across a small sandalwood table, on which were placed several exquisite dishes of spiritual fruits and snacks, and a pot of fragrant amber-colored spiritual wine.

Mu Wanqiu had changed out of the solemn and gorgeous crimson palace dress she wore during the day, and was now wearing only a light and soft scarlet long dress. Her black hair, like a waterfall, was draped lazily over her shoulders. She had lost some of her usual cold and dignified demeanor and gained more of a woman's gentle and charming style.

With her slender hands, she picked up the jade pot, leaned forward slightly, and poured wine into the empty cup in front of Li Xijun.

As she moved, a faint, delicate fragrance wafted over, not the scent of cosmetics, but like a lotus blooming in flames, clear yet with a hint of heat, perfectly complementing the allure in her eyes at that moment.

They were so close that they could almost feel the warmth of each other's breath.

Li Xijun sat upright, calmly accepted the wine glass, and said, "Thank you for your trouble, teacher."

He calmly considered the other person's thoughts.

Although they had a good relationship because of his older sister, this Venerable One always liked to tease him.

However, his relationship with Mu Wanqiu was at most that of a master and disciple, but it was by no means as the outside world had described in the scandalous rumors.

But what was she trying to achieve by acting like that at the time?

The fact that she was suddenly summoned to this private boudoir made Li Xijun even more puzzled.

Mu Wanqiu did not retreat to her original position. Instead, while still leaning forward, she raised her captivating eyes and looked at him with a smile, her voice slightly husky and languid, utterly alluring.

"My Lord Star," she drawled, "during the day, under the watchful eyes of everyone, I was the first to kneel before you and address you as Lord Star... Are you satisfied?"

Meeting her gaze, Li Xijun said frankly, "Teacher, you are so understanding and considerate of the overall situation. You have given me such firm support when I first took this position. I am truly grateful."

"Oh? Just gratitude?"

Mu Wanqiu's red lips curved slightly, and she leaned forward a little more, her breath sweet as orchids, her voice lower and more suggestive.

"Then... does the Star Lord wish to... truly surpass me, as those idle gossips outside have rumored?"

Her breath brushed past his ear, carrying the mellow fragrance of spirit wine and her own unique scent of fiery lotus, enough to make any man's heart flutter.

Li Xijun also felt his heart skip a beat and his blood and qi fluctuate slightly, but the Ziwei Emperor's will and the foundation of the unity of the three religions deep in his mind instantly calmed him down.

He gazed at the stunningly beautiful face so close to his own, then suddenly chuckled softly, his tone filled with sincere admiration, yet subtly avoiding any direct ambiguity:

"Teacher, you jest. You are exceptionally talented and highly accomplished, and you are also my elder sister's mentor. You have been helpful to Xijun both publicly and privately. Xijun respects you greatly, how could I dare to have the slightest disrespectful thought?"

He paused, his gaze clearing, and cut straight to the heart of the matter:

"If there is anything I need your help with, please feel free to ask. As long as it is within my power, I will definitely do my best to help."

Upon hearing his words, a barely perceptible hint of admiration flashed deep in Mu Wanqiu's eyes.

Then, that alluring demeanor receded like the tide.

She straightened up, sat back in her original seat, and her face returned to its usual noble and aloof expression, with a hint of mischief, as if the alluring woman from just moments before was merely an illusion.

"You little rascal, you still have some conscience after all. It wasn't for nothing that I helped you so much before."

She gave a soft hum, poured herself a glass of wine, and took an elegant sip.

"However, I haven't taught you much in total. Now that you've been promoted to the Field Sight realm, you can call me Sister Mu too."

Seemingly thinking of her own holy maiden disciple whom she had raised since childhood, her expression softened with a smile, eagerly anticipating Li Qinghan's reaction when Li Xijun addressed her in that way.

But soon, Venerable Zhuque, who had come to discuss serious matters with Li Xijun, changed the subject and began to speak seriously:

"Sister, I do have something I need your help with, you newly appointed 'Star Lord' and 'Your Highness'."

"Your Highness?" Li Xijun raised an eyebrow, about to speak.

"Don't be so quick to deny it." Mu Wanqiu waved her hand. "I'm asking you, do you know anything about Hongling's background?"

After a moment's thought, Li Xijun replied, "Senior Sister Mu once mentioned that she comes from a collateral branch of the Mu family."

He naturally knew the Mu family; they were one of the top aristocratic families in the Great Xia Dynasty, having intermarried with the royal family multiple times, making them an ironclad imperial relative and a backbone force of the royalist faction in the court.

His mind raced, and then, recalling the surname of the Vermilion Bird Venerable… a thought suddenly dawned on him.

To be able to cultivate to the level of a Grandmaster on the Earth Ranking at such a young age as a woman, besides having exceptional talent, is probably inseparable from the support of top-tier resources.

Many aspects of martial arts need to be cultivated from a young age, and true masters from impoverished backgrounds are extremely rare.

He looked at the Vermilion Bird Venerable Mu Wanqiu before him, his eyes filled with a questioning gaze: "Sister Mu... could you possibly be a direct descendant of the Mu family?"

Mu Wanqiu readily admitted, "That's right. I am indeed the eldest daughter of the Mu family."

Her tone was flat, as if she were talking about something unrelated to herself, "However, I've been obsessed with martial arts since childhood and have had no interest in court politics or the changing of the imperial power. I left home early to join the Star Palace, and originally I hardly cared about things there. But..."

Her tone was slightly somber: "Given the current situation, the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease. My Mu family has been deeply intertwined with the royal family for generations; we share both prosperity and adversity. My father even rose to the position of prime minister during his lifetime."

"Now that His Majesty the Emperor and the Azure Dragon Venerable have been missing for a long time, the royal family is in decline, the central government is unstable, and even the Central Plains where the capital is located is in turmoil and turmoil."

"If this continues, and chaos breaks out in the capital, it will affect the whole country. This will be a terrible thing for my Mu family and for all the people."

She looked intently at Li Xijun:

"And now, you are the only one in the world who is recognized as having the purest royal blood. Regardless of whether the title of 'prince' is real or fake, in the eyes of the world, you are the only one who can represent the legitimate royal lineage."

Li Xijun instantly understood her intention: "Does Sister Mu mean she hopes I will go to the capital?"

"That's right." Mu Wanqiu said seriously, "You don't need to immediately fight for that elusive throne. You just need to enter the capital as a 'prince,' set an example, stabilize people's hearts, and suppress those restless villains."

"With you here, at least those forces that remain loyal to the royal family, such as my Mu family, have a backbone and can barely maintain the court from collapsing immediately. In this world, a recognized legitimate heir is of great significance for stabilizing people's hearts."

Li Xijun pondered for a moment.

Mu Wanqiu's request was reasonable and beneficial to stabilizing the world, and... he thought of another key point.

"Okay, I agree." Li Xijun nodded. "For both public and private reasons, I should go to the capital. Moreover, I also want to take this opportunity to see if I can get my hands on the legendary royal martial art, the Emperor's Dragon Fist."

His mastery of the "Emperor's Aura Observation Technique" had reached a level of unparalleled wonder, which sparked his keen interest in the "Emperor's Dragon Fist," a technique said to be able to control the fate of the nation and possess immense power.

If one could use this opportunity to enter the capital and gain access to such martial arts, it would be an incredible windfall.

Seeing Li Xijun agree so readily, Mu Wanqiu's face immediately lit up with a bright smile, as if the whole room had become a little brighter.

"Excellent! As expected of the Star Lord I've chosen!" She was in high spirits, all the previous temptations turning into admiration. "Don't worry, the Mu family will take care of everything in the capital. As long as you handle this matter well..."

Her eyes flickered, she paused deliberately, and a subtle, alluring glint returned to her smile as she said meaningfully:

"I, your sister, will certainly not treat you unfairly; I will offer you a 'reward'."

Upon hearing this, Li Xijun merely raised his glass in acknowledgment, his expression calm, but inwardly he couldn't help but smile.

Now that he has mastered the "Four Symbols of the Celestial Stars" technique and reached the Dharma Body realm, what reward could the other party possibly offer to tempt him?

However, it wouldn't hurt to make an appearance in the capital.

It was the coldest time of year, and the biting wind still carried the desolate chill of the north.

On the official road, a seemingly ordinary green-canopied carriage, escorted by a group of sharp-eyed and powerful martial artists, slowly made its way towards the magnificent city that stood majestically between heaven and earth.

—The capital of the Great Xia Dynasty.

A corner of the carriage curtain was gently lifted by a long, strong hand.

Li Xijun gazed at the massive city wall silhouette that stretched across the horizon like a prehistoric beast, a fleeting, almost imperceptible emotion passing through his eyes.

"The capital city... it seems that no matter where you are, you can't avoid dealing with this place that gathers the essence of a country and is also the center of a vortex."

He silently recalled the capital cities of the main world and the Great Sheng world. Although their appearances were very different, their essence as centers of power and places where great events converged was so similar.

He lowered the carriage curtain and closed his eyes to rest.

My trip to the capital was not for the elusive throne, but having promised Mu Wanqiu to stabilize public sentiment, and given my own pursuit of the "Emperor's Dragon Fist," I was destined to be unable to keep a low profile.

Since that's the case, let's make a high-profile entrance!

"Enter the city!"

At the command of the guard leader, the convoy continued its journey at full speed, heading straight for the majestic city gate.

The unique star emblem representing the identity of the Star Lord of the Palace of Stars on the carriage in front, along with the flag embroidered with the Four Symbols guarding the Purple Star that fluttered in the wind, instantly attracted the attention of all the city gate guards and traveling merchants!

"That's... the flag of the Palace of Stars?"

"The Four Symbols guarding the Purple Palace... is that Li Xijun?"

"My God! He really came to the capital!"

"Look! That's the Star Palace Master who, through enlightenment, reversed the external landscape and ascended to heaven in one step, triggering four heavenly tribulations!"

The news exploded like cold water thrown into boiling oil!

After a brief silence at the city gate, a deafening uproar and discussion erupted!

Countless gazes, filled with awe, curiosity, apprehension, or fervor, were all focused on the carriage that was slowly entering the city gate.

Li Xijun sat calmly in the car, seemingly oblivious to the noise outside.

However, he could clearly feel that strands of intent, some strong and some weak, were rising from every corner of the capital, like invisible tentacles, cautiously reaching out to the caravan. But when they touched the invisible barrier around the carriage, which contained the Daoist principles of the celestial constellations, they all quickly withdrew as if electrocuted.

"Li Xijun has arrived in Beijing!"

This news, traveling at a speed ten or even a hundred times faster than the convoy's advance, swept through every corner of the capital city like a raging hurricane.

Teahouses and taverns, grand mansions, palaces and government offices... regardless of status, everyone was talking about this name and the enormous waves that his arrival in the capital might bring!

……

Meanwhile, in the backyard of a seemingly ordinary, even somewhat dilapidated, restaurant in the capital.

In a dark and damp side room, there was almost no furniture, only a hard bed and a futon.

An old man, thin and frail, seemingly just skin and bones, sat cross-legged on a futon like a withered tree. His breath was so faint as to be almost imperceptible, blending into the deathly silence of the room.

Suddenly, his tightly closed, sunken eyes, like those of a skull, snapped open, and two points of eerie green light flashed and disappeared.

He didn't get up, but his withered, chicken-claw-like right hand casually reached out and grabbed at the door!

"Whoosh!"

A faint whooshing sound filled the air, and a paper strip as thin as a cicada's wing, rolled into a small tube, seemed to be drawn by an invisible thread, piercing through the crack in the door panel and landing precisely in his palm.

The old man slowly opened his palm and unfolded the paper.

There are only four small characters written with a special solution above, which are about to fade:

[The Green Emperor Enters the Capital]

(End of this chapter)