Li Shuntian froze the two servants into blocks of ice in an instant. Seeing this, Liu Yang was terrified into silence; he finally truly believed that the Ninth Highness had returned with godlike power.
Nearby, Yue Haixia didn't think much of the display. It was merely a basic Flash-Freeze spell that any mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator could perform.
"Who ordered this?" Li Shuntian demanded.
"This... I don't know! I have no authority over the inner palace. Everything there is managed by Head Eunuch Ma!" Liu Yang stammered. He couldn't judge the strength of an Immortal; he only knew his former prince was now a terrifying entity.
"Yue Haixia, look after my mother. Liu Yang, where is my brother, the Emperor?"
"At this hour, he should be receiving the civil and military officials at the Hall of Heaven and Earth!" Liu Yang cried out.
"Good!" Li Shuntian grabbed Liu Yang and took flight. Liu Yang, never having left the ground in his life, trembled violently as they soared through the air. Lin Haoming, curious to see the nature of this world's royalty, followed closely behind.
---
The Imperial Hall
They reached the Hall of Heaven and Earth in moments. The imperial guards were startled by the three flying figures, but knowing they were Immortals, they hesitated to block them. Li Shuntian didn't wait; he simply tossed Liu Yang through the palace doors.
"Liu Yang! What are you doing?"
The man sitting on the dragon throne shouted in reprimand as the eunuch skidded across the floor. But his voice died in his throat as Li Shuntian landed, sneering, "Second Brother, quite the majestic air you have. Do you truly think being an Emperor makes you a Son of Heaven?"
"Ninth... Ninth Brother!" The Emperor, Li Yitian, felt his eyelids twitch.
"I'm surprised you recognize me. I thought you'd forgotten I existed," Li Shuntian said dismissively.
"Li Shuntian!" a grey-haired elder official stepped forward, shouting. "The Second Prince is now the Emperor! As a subject, how dare you speak to him with such tone? Kneel!"
Li Shuntian didn't waste a word. He raised a hand, and a fireball shot forth. In the span of a few breaths, the high-ranking official was reduced to a pile of ash. Screams erupted throughout the hall. Simultaneously, three figures—an old man, a burly man, and a woman—appeared out of nowhere to shield the Emperor.
Li Shuntian ignored them, looking straight at his brother. "My apologies, Second Brother. I seem to have accidentally incinerated your father-in-law."
---
The Choice of the Immortals
With protectors in front of him, Li Yitian regained some composure. "Li Shuntian, you are too insolent! Even with your magic, you cannot be tolerated! Guards, seize him!"
The three Immortal protectors didn't move. The woman, who looked to be in her thirties but was likely over sixty, said cautiously, "Ninth Highness, since you have joined the sect, you should not interfere in secular affairs. Sect rules forbid us from meddling."
The three were also cultivators, but their auras were weak. The woman was the strongest at the 8th level of Qi Refining. They could tell Li Shuntian was at the 7th level, but they hesitated to strike.
"The sect forbids meddling," Li Shuntian countered, "but taking revenge for one's secular kin is an exception. Liu Yang, tell them—what has become of my mother?"
"Lady Wang was cast into the Cold Palace, bullied and humiliated until she lost her mind!" Liu Yang shouted, realizing the Ninth Prince held the upper hand.
The three protectors exchanged looks. The woman hesitated. "Princess Yongfu is currently a disciple of Senior Brother Qian. Junior Brother Li, do not make this difficult for us."
Senior Brother Qian was clearly the inner disciple stationed at the Soaring Cloud Tower. This was why they protected the Emperor and ignored Lady Wang.
Lin Haoming, who had been watching the drama, finally spoke up. His voice was deep and commanding. "This is a family matter. If this Senior Brother Qian is unhappy, tell him to come find me. Don't meddle in things that don't concern you. I can guarantee Junior Brother Li won't target anyone else. As for the Emperor... just find another one. The Li family is large; I'm sure someone else can sit on that chair while you all continue to enjoy your riches."
Lin was at the 9th level of Qi Refining and looked incredibly young—not even twenty. Dressed in casual clothes and speaking with such authority, the three protectors immediately assumed he was a Core Disciple of the sect. Only the most unimportant inner disciples were sent to guard mortal kingdoms; they had no desire to offend a rising star. They stepped aside immediately.
---
The Fall of the Emperor
Seeing his protectors go silent with a single sentence, the Emperor watched in horror as his court fell into a deathly hush.
Li Shuntian's eyes turned cold. He released the Mystic Iron Sphere. Under his guidance, the black orb shot forward like a meteor.
CRUNCH.
Li Yitian didn't even have time to scream. He was pulverized instantly, his body turned into a mess of broken bone and flesh.
The three Immortal Masters watched, noting the power of the Mid-Grade Magic Tool. Such a weapon cost more than they could save in half a lifetime. They felt relieved they hadn't fought, and grateful to the Core Disciple for giving them a way to save face.
Lin Haoming, meanwhile, looked at his Merit Bead in confusion. He had just received three pulses of merit. He had already gotten one from Li Shuntian's gratitude, but these three new ones came from the protectors.
Saving their lives by giving them an excuse to quit earned me merit? Lin found the irony hilarious.