Chapter 1381: Establishing Authority
At the table, a total of twelve Saints sat, almost all of them descendants of former ministers of the Holy Bright Central Empire, belonging to the top-tier experts under the command of the Bright River King.
Of course, there were also some Saints who were too far from the Holy Bright City and could not return in time.
"Ruo Chen, is it really you? Eight hundred years, a full eight hundred years, where have you been?"
The Bright River King, seated at the head of the table, suddenly stood up, his expression somewhat excited as he walked toward Zhang Ruochen.
The Bright River King appeared to be about fifty years old, nearly eight feet tall, with broad shoulders and a thick build. He wore a silver crown carved with dragons and a silver robe of sacred armor. Within his body, thick Saint Qi and blood Qi were concealed, as if a divine dragon lay dormant beneath his skin.
As he approached Zhang Ruochen, the aura emanating from the Bright River King grew increasingly powerful.
In Zhang Ruochen's eyes, it was as if a sky-covering wave was surging toward him.
"A king among Saints, the Twelfth Imperial Uncle has indeed stepped into the Saint King realm," Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
If it were another Saint, even a True Saint, enduring the impact of a Saint King's sacred might, they would inevitably lose composure, feel fear, retreat, bow, or even kneel.
The gap of a single major realm was the difference between a python and a true dragon.
Yet Zhang Ruochen remained expressionless. He summoned the Abyssal Ancient Sword and thrust it into the ground. Instantly, a sharp sword intent erupted, tearing apart the surging Saint King's might.
"Twelfth Imperial Uncle, as a Saint King who has cultivated for nearly a thousand years, can you not control the release and withdrawal of your own might?" Zhang Ruochen said coldly.
Originally, Zhang Ruochen had come to meet the Bright River King with the mindset of seeing a relative.
But the other party had not thought the same, instead trying every means to intimidate Zhang Ruochen, even seeking to suppress him.
Zhang Ruochen naturally had to adjust his mindset, adopting a strong stance as the Crown Prince.
"How dare you speak to the Twelfth Lord like that? You are far too insolent."
An old man clad in sacred armor spat out a sonic wave, rebuking Zhang Ruochen.
This man, named Yan Kaixuan, had reached the True Saint realm and was also known as "Triumphant True Saint." His strength ranked among the top three under the Bright River King's command.
Triumphant True Saint stood up and said, "In the presence of a Saint King, you dare to draw a weapon. If it weren't for the possibility that you are the son of the Bright Emperor, you would already be a corpse by now."
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Triumphant True Saint and said, "What do you mean by 'possibility'? Are you doubting this Crown Prince's identity?"
"That's right, this Saint does doubt your identity. As everyone knows, the Crown Prince died in the palace coup eight hundred years ago. Many cabinet elders and ministers at court saw his corpse with their own eyes. Even if the Crown Prince did not die, he would be over eight hundred years old now, not a young brat like you," Triumphant True Saint said rudely.
Another Saint-level figure chimed in, "You, a prince from a remote border kingdom, claim to be the Crown Prince of the Holy Bright Central Empire. Do you take us all for fools?"
White Su Granny snorted coldly, "Yan Kaixuan, Wang Ji, even if your fathers were still alive, they would have to bow to the Crown Prince. The two of you dare to speak to the Crown Prince in such a tone? This old woman will not let this go today."
Zhang Ruochen stopped White Su Granny, who was about to strike, and walked toward Triumphant True Saint. He stared at him intently and said, "You cultivate the 'Divine Illumination Heavenly Art.' You must be a descendant of the Yan family? What is Yan Xuan to you?"
Triumphant True Saint was slightly startled. This young man had only glanced at him and had seen through his cultivation technique—quite impressive.
Triumphant True Saint remained composed and said, "He is my father."
"Whoosh—"
Zhang Ruochen grabbed the hilt of the Abyssal Ancient Sword. Instantly, the flow of time within the hall became extremely slow.
The force-type inscriptions on the Abyssal Ancient Sword lit up, increasing the weight of the war sword to over ten million jin, and he swung it directly toward Triumphant True Saint's neck.
How could Triumphant True Saint have expected Zhang Ruochen to suddenly attack him?
Within the sword domain and time domain, even with his early True Saint cultivation, he had no time to defend.
"Plop."
The Abyssal Ancient Sword shattered the sacred armor, struck Triumphant True Saint's neck, and sank into his flesh, breaking his collarbone. The pressure forced Triumphant True Saint to bend his legs and fall heavily to his knees.
"Boom!"
Cracks like a spiderweb spread across the ground, and even the defensive formations beneath the earth could barely hold.
Zhang Ruochen's Time Sword Art was still at the third level, forming a time domain that could only last for one breath.
After one breath, the flow of time returned to normal.
Triumphant True Saint's hands and feet erupted with vast sacred light, shaking the entire hall.
"Zhang Ruochen... you... you dare to attack this Saint..."
Triumphant True Saint grabbed the blade of the Abyssal Ancient Sword with both hands, trying to stand up again.
Zhang Ruochen held the sword with one hand, yet his strength was greater than Triumphant True Saint's two hands combined, pressing the sword blade downward as if to cleave Triumphant True Saint's body in two.
The other Saints in the hall all changed expressions.
Yan Kaixuan, who had reached the True Saint realm, was forced to his knees by Zhang Ruochen's single sword strike and could not rise. Zhang Ruochen's strength was terrifying.
All the Saints turned their gazes to the Bright River King.
Here, perhaps only the Bright River King himself could suppress Zhang Ruochen and save Triumphant True Saint.
The Bright River King's expression was cold and heavy, but he did not act.
Because the Bright River King knew very well that Zhang Ruochen's identity was not fake.
The national fortune and destiny of the Holy Bright City, even the will of successive Bright Emperors, had already acknowledged him—how could it be false?
The Crown Prince of the Holy Bright Central Empire had just issued a Crown Prince's decree, and then he was suppressed by his own imperial uncle. If such news spread, Zhang Ruochen and the Bright River King would become the laughingstock of the entire Kunlun Realm.
Originally, the Bright River King had only wanted to suppress Zhang Ruochen's arrogance, to keep him in line and prevent him from seizing power. But it had backfired, giving Zhang Ruochen an opportunity to establish his authority.
Suppressing the anger in his heart, the Bright River King stepped forward and advised, "Ruo Chen, Yan Kaixuan's disrespect toward you is indeed quite insolent. But his father, King Yan Xuan, once commanded fourteen million troops of the Holy Bright Central Empire. He was a first-class figure in the military, who followed your father into the wilderness to expand territory and campaigned against the Undying Blood Clan. He experienced no fewer than a thousand battles, large and small, and rendered unparalleled meritorious service. The Yan family's ancestors have also been loyal to the Holy Bright Central Empire for generations. For their sake, spare his life today, how about it?"
"If it weren't for the merits of his father and ancestors to the Holy Bright Central Empire, Twelfth Imperial Uncle, do you think he would still be alive? This Crown Prince only needs three swords to cut off Mu Qingtian's crown. Twelfth Imperial Uncle, how many moves do you think Yan Kaixuan could last against Mu Qingtian?"
Zhang Ruochen withdrew the Abyssal Ancient Sword and swung it toward the ground. A large splash of sacred blood slid off the blade, staining the center of the hall's floor.
At that moment, all the Saints present realized that the young man before them was not just the Crown Prince of the Holy Bright Empire but also a Sword Saint who could defeat Mu Qingtian and suppress Yan Kaixuan. He was not someone they could easily manipulate.
Triumphant True Saint stood up again, a look of caution in his eyes. He no longer dared to underestimate Zhang Ruochen as before.
Zhang Ruochen, holding the blood-dripping war sword, walked step by step to the highest seat in the hall and sat down.
That seat had originally belonged to the Bright River King.
The Bright River King's mouth twitched slightly but eventually turned into a laugh: "Ruo Chen, something extraordinary must have happened to you. Now, all cultivators in the Kunlun Realm say that Xumi Saint Monk saved you and brought you to the present day, eight hundred years later. In any case, your Twelfth Uncle is very happy that you've returned. However, this time, you acted too rashly. You shouldn't have issued that Crown Prince's decree. You should have discussed it with your Twelfth Uncle first."
Zhang Ruochen asked, "Why?"
The Bright River King said seriously, "The current situation is different from before! The Empress has become a god, ruling over the world. The Ten Blood Emperors have all died by her sword. The various races across the seas and wilderness dare not disobey. The Demon Sect, the Black Market, and the Death Zen Sect have either submitted or withdrawn from the Kunlun Realm. By announcing your identity so loudly and issuing a Crown Prince's decree, aren't you putting yourself and the old forces of the Holy Bright Central Empire at the forefront of the storm?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Is Twelfth Imperial Uncle worried that the imperial court will wipe us out? Should we continue to hide in the shadows, living days of darkness, instability, and danger?"
Triumphant True Saint said coldly, "This is called biding our time."
"Biding our time? Chi Yao has already become a god. Living another hundred thousand years would be easy for her. When exactly are we supposed to stop biding our time?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
The crowd fell silent.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Instead of biding our time, why not actively surrender to the imperial court and submit to the First Central Empire? Wouldn't that be better?"
"Impossible. The Yan family has an irreconcilable blood feud with the First Central Empire. Even if we die, we will not submit to them," Triumphant True Saint said.
Wang Ji snorted coldly, "For eight hundred years, we have been fighting and struggling with the imperial court. The hatred has only deepened. Surrendering to them would be like tying our own hands—the outcome would only be worse."
"Our Bai family, countless elders have been brutally killed by the imperial court. Countless women have become playthings on the beds of imperial officials. Even if we die, we will not submit to them."
Zhang Ruochen said, "So, you all want to continue hiding in dark corners, living a life of survival? Unable to take revenge, unable to surrender or submit, and if captured, the fate would be worse than death. Is that it?"
The hall fell silent.
Some wanted to retort but only moved their lips, unable to say a word.
There was no denying that Zhang Ruochen had struck at their pain.
"You live such a difficult life. Why not follow this Crown Prince? Perhaps I can give you a different future. Perhaps the Holy Bright Central Empire can be rebuilt, and it will be even more glorious and prosperous," Zhang Ruochen said.
Triumphant True Saint gritted his teeth and said, "Your Highness, aren't you being too confident? Anyone can speak bold words, but not everyone can back them up."
"If, within ten days, this Crown Prince can destroy the Lingxiao Heavenly King Manor, will you believe me then? Will you submit to me then?"
Zhang Ruochen's gaze was sharp, fixed in the direction of the Lingxiao Heavenly King Manor, and the Abyssal Ancient Sword in his hand emitted a chilling light.
Hearing this, all the Saints present were deeply shaken.