In the first place, aside from Nie Tiankong's support, Ye Qingyu was able to become the [Military Judge of the Nine Swords] largely because of Commander Sun Yi's support. Among the Royal City army headquarters, apart from the King of Zhenyuan's camp, Nie Tiankong's camp, and several other large factions, Commander Sun Yi was also a force of considerable weight which everyone could only look sideways at. The reason was very simple – he was backed by a contemporary Martial Emperor.

Although the Sun clan's Martial Emperor had not appeared publicly for a generation, he was the last surviving Martial Emperor whom everyone in Royal City had seen before, and was the last Martial Emperor to showcase his divine prowess, that being when he wiped out an extremely prominent family in Royal City.

Although people had once guessed that he was already dead because he was already very old and feeble the last time he appeared, this was only a guess nevertheless. While such private guesses were tolerated, to investigate this matter overtly would be no different from courting one's own death. After all, the rage of a Martial Emperor was not something which most people could withstand.

Commander Sun Yi was normally reticent and maintained a neutral stance. He also avoided getting involved in fights among the various n.o.ble cliques as much as he could, and thus his status was rather detached.

This was why many people were surprised like never before when he spoke up and recommended Ye Qingyu to be the contemporary [Military Judge of the Nine Swords]. Nevertheless, they had to properly measure the weight of his words.

This could be said to be ninety percent of why Ye Qingyu was able to obtain such a powerful and eminent military post so smoothly. When Commander Sun Yi opened his mouth, many people felt that this could be the will of the Sun clan's Martial Emperor.

“Perhaps Commander Sun Yi simply took a liking for Zhang Longcheng.” Linghu Buxiu guessed. “After all, Younger Brother Zhang Longcheng is really tough and fearless. Having just arrived, he has nothing to lose and can thus do anything he wishes. Besides, the fact that he defeated that person of the King of Zhenyuan's residence tonight tells us that his cultivation and strength have reached a certain level, and he is thus worthy of the sideways glance and enlistment from a Martial Emperor.”

“Enlistment?” A beam of light flashed through Nie Tiankong's mind when he heard this word. Feeling enlightened at once, he stood up abruptly and snapped, “I get it.”

“Commander, you mean...” Linghu Buxiu looked at him.

He laughed. “You should know that the Sun clan's Martial Emperor was already very weak and feeble when he last appeared. Although his divine power was once matchless, such that he was able to wipe out a large force in Royal City, it was difficult for him to conceal the rotten aura about him, which clearly indicated that his lifespan was nearing depletion. Am I right?”

Linghu Buxiu nodded. “That's indeed so.”

Nie Tiankong laughed again. “If this being has truly died, the Sun clan would effectively have lost a central pillar, and their distinguished status in Royal City would be gone for good. They should thus be feeling very anxious. Besides, they will need a new pillar, be it a new ally, to consolidate their status in the Dark Realm.”

“It can't be that simple. Though the Sun clan enjoyed a detached status because they had a living Martial Emperor, they were relatively weaker in terms of their status in the army and the military force they controlled. Once they lose the support of a Martial Emperor, they will be annexed by other forces, and won't be qualified to form an alliance with other forces, unless they can find a new Martial Emperor to support them...” Linghu Buxiu had a very clear view of the situation in the city.

All things considered, he did not think much of the Sun clan's prospects once they lose the support of a Martial Emperor.

However, as he spoke on, he seemed to realize something.

Raising his head abruptly, he looked most astonishedly at Nie Tiankong. He finally understood what the latter had meant earlier. “Could it be that the Sun clan feels that Zhang Longcheng has the potential to become a Martial Emperor, and that's why they're helping him at all costs and have allowed him to become the [Military Judge of the Nine Swords]? This is akin to making overtures...”

“It may be that being, and not Sun Yi, who feels that Zhang Longcheng has the potential to become Emperor.” Nie Tiankong enunciated his final conclusion.

Linghu Buxiu was shocked by this a.s.sertion.

Perhaps this explanation sounded rather absurd, but taking into account the silver sword light that soared into the sky and pierced the giant golden palm of that being at the King of Zhenyuan's residence earlier on during the night, as well as a few other matters, things no longer felt absurd.

For a time, the room was silent.

After the two men had summed things up in the most rational way, they became quiet and exchanged glances, seeing the tempest that had been whipped up in the depths of the other's eyes.

This was the first time they realized the true value of the country b.u.mpkin they had brought from the obscure and tiny place that was Luoshen Ridge.

It took a long while before Linghu Buxiu regained his senses.

His heart suddenly jolted as he cupped his hands toward Nie Tiankong. “This is a good thing, hahaha. If that's indeed the case, I'd have to congratulate you, Commander Nie Tiankong. No matter how the Sun clan tries to cozy up to Zhang Longcheng, you are his true benefactor after all. Besides, based on what I know, he has wholeheartedly served you all this time. You just have to keep on supporting him, and you'll be the first person he shows grat.i.tude toward when he becomes Emperor.”

Nie Tiankong was actually also feeling happy inwardly.

However, he skillfully concealed his happiness.

“How can becoming Emperor be so easy? That would require the bones of ten thousand Saints. Given that there are so many Quasi-emperors in this Royal City, each of them exceptionally talented and ambitious, how many can actually get to that stage? But indeed, Zhang Longcheng is worthy of being fostered. I will need to pay more attention to him going forward.”

This military upstart made up his mind on this night.

Similar events took place in many other heavily-guarded places in the Guardian Royal City.

One sword was all it took to defeat a Quasi-emperor.

The strength displayed by Ye Qingyu astonished countless personages.

At the same time, the words spoken by Ye Qingyu as he stood on the roof, under the pillar of moonlight, had put many personages on alert. It was plain to all that this newly-appointed military judge was a cruel man who was more powerful than them. This served as a warning to them that they should really think carefully about provoking him again.

Dark currents were surging in the night.

On this night, countless factions and n.o.ble forces urgently adjusted their a.s.sessment of the newly appointed [Military Judge of the Nine Swords], Zhang Longcheng, recognizing him as a dangerous character who should not be provoked again.

Approximately half a month after coming to the Guardian Royal City, Ye Qingyu finally started to bare his powerful and sharp fangs. This was dissimilar to his initial plan to keep a low profile, but he had no regrets, as the circ.u.mstances were dissimilar to what he had imagined.

To many people, this was a night which was long like no other.

But to Ye Qingyu, this was just a sleep.

The sky was already fully bright when he opened his eyes.

He wanted to return to his original state, comprehend the Great Dao from its subtleties, and re-experience the life of a normal being by eating and sleeping like a non-martial person. In this way, those often overlooked subtleties of human nature – even those undesirable qualities such as sloth – that had left him for many years would return to him.

He believed that this was a way to comprehend the Great Dao.

In the morning, he walked out of the Military Judge mansion and ate three large bowls of noodles at a roadside noodle stall not far away. Feeling a little bloated, he slowly circled the mansion to understand the surrounding environment. It was already afternoon by the time he returned.

An afternoon nap followed.

Not long after falling asleep, he was woken up by a message from [The Beginning].

Little Ten, the White-boned Earth Dragon had digested a few memories once again and confirmed the ident.i.ty, appearance, and information of one of Ren Puyang's murderers. It thus sent word via [The Beginning's] communication device.

After he finished reading the message, Ye Qingyu came up with a few plans.

He then headed down to the military archives.

Given his present rank and post, he had the permission to read all archives except for the secrets of the royal n.o.bility. After entering the archives, he began to flip through book after book, and only left the archives when it closed in the evening.

However, before leaving, he also borrowed a large number of books, including many ancient ones, within the permitted limits. Unlike in the Vast Thousand Domains, many of the Dark Realm's ancient books were preserved and intact. After all, the Guardian Royal City had governed the entire Dark Realm all along, and thus it was easy to collect and organize many historical secret plans and ancient books.

After declining the dragon horse mount provided by the army headquarters, he walked along the street.

He could still feel the feeling of being watched which had started ever since leaving Marquis Tingtao's mansion, albeit it was a lot more obscure than the previous day. Evidently, there remained many forces and people secretly monitoring him.

He completely paid no attention to this.

It took him two hours to walk back to the Military Judge mansion.

Within the large, unpeopled mansion, leaves flew about in the wind, rustling as eerily as evil spirits. In the main hall, Ye Qingyu did some night reading by lamplight before sleeping soundly.

He would do the same for dozens of days to come.

This bewildered many people who had thought that the newly-appointed [Military Judge of the Nine Swords], Zhang Longcheng, would be a new broom sweeping clean.

What a flash in the pan. After aggressively killing Marquis Bloodbone and his son, and defeating a Quasi-emperor with a single sword, he's just going to keep his temper back, cultivate himself, and muddle along?

n.o.body could correctly guess what the [Military Judge of the Nine Swords'] plan was.

On the twentieth day, Ye Qingyu finally finished reading all of the archives he was permitted to read, memorizing every single word of them.

n.o.body would believe that such a reading rate was possible. However, in nearly a month's time, he had practically gained a clear understanding of every Guardian camp personage in the Royal City and even the Dark Realm, save for the top-level royal n.o.bility and those Martial Emperors who, according to the legends, were still alive in the Royal City.

“It's time to get my hands and legs busy.”

Ye Qingyu walked out of the military archives and stretched.

Subsequently, instead of returning to the vacant Military Judge mansion, he calmly walked toward the King of Zhenyuan's residence.

Such a change of route attracted the attention of countless people at once.

Although undetected by normal people, the winds and dark currents were already surging among the upper n.o.bility, many of whose hearts began to tighten.

After forbearing for a month, is this murderous [Military Judge of the Nine Swords] finally going to bare his savage and sharp fangs again?

Many top-level strategists immediately put down whatever they were doing and began to take note of the figure who was slowly walking toward the King of Zhenyuan's residence.

“Keep a close watch.”

“Report every single action and movement to me.”

Similar commands were pa.s.sed down in different places by different people.

Ye Qingyu finally arrived in front of the King of Zhenyuan's residence.