Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts-Chapter 430 - Can’t We Talk A Little Longer?

“Do my beloved ministers have anything to say?”

As soon as the Emperor’s words fell, everyone glanced at each other.

Most of them were thinking, What could I possibly say? After all, the one being executed wasn’t them. And even if they wanted to say no, would they dare to plead for Prince Qi?

They feared that the moment they opened their mouths to beg for mercy, they would be the next ones dragged to the Dragon Slaying Platform.

As the court officials remained silent, one minister suddenly shouted, “Prince Qi has committed treason! He must be executed!”

With one official leading the way, the others naturally followed suit, voicing their condemnation one after another:

“Prince Qi deserves to die!”

“Prince Qi seeks to destroy the future of our Wu Kingdom’s literary world!”

“He is trying to shake the very foundation of our empire!”

“The top scholar is a great contributor to Wu Kingdom, a man of worldwide renown! If Prince Qi had his way, what would the world think of us?”

“Execute Prince Qi! Deliver justice for the top scholar!”

“Execute him!”

The cries for Prince Qi’s death grew louder and louder. Even those who usually maintained close ties with him were shouting the loudest, as if afraid that any future investigations might implicate them. They feared that the Emperor might suspect them of having connections with Prince Qi.

Listening to the chorus of condemnation, Xu Ming felt no emotion—not even the slightest sense of gratitude.

To be honest, he didn’t believe any of these officials were truly outraged, nor did he think any of them were genuinely speaking up for him.

These cunning old foxes of the court were merely kicking a man while he was down.

Xu Ming was certain that if, one day, he himself ended up at the Dragon Slaying Platform for some reason, these very same officials would be cursing his name just as fervently.

That was simply how the court worked.

In fact, if this weren’t the case, it would feel somewhat unnatural—it wouldn’t even seem like the imperial court.

The Emperor nodded slightly before turning his gaze toward Xu Ming. “Xu Ming, I told you before that I would give you justice. Today, I am fulfilling that promise. Surely, you won’t blame me anymore?”

Xu Ming was startled and quickly cupped his hands in a respectful salute. “Your Majesty, what are you saying? I have never once blamed Your Majesty. I have always believed that Your Majesty would deliver justice for me!”

“Good!” The Emperor nodded again, then handed the Shangfang (Imperial) Sword to Xu Ming. “Take this sword and avenge yourself!”

Xu Ming lifted his head, staring at the long sword the Emperor was offering him.

He reached out and accepted the Shangfang Sword. As he unsheathed it, a fierce sword aura instantly filled the entire Western Hall!

Feeling the overwhelming sword energy, the civil and military officials instinctively shrank back, even lightening their breaths—as if inhaling too deeply might cause the sword aura to pierce their lungs.

“What a fine sword,” Xu Ming thought to himself.

It was his first time seeing the Wu Kingdom’s Shangfang Sword.

To his astonishment, it was actually an immortal weapon! If he recalled correctly, Wu Kingdom possessed only three immortal weapons in total, and one of them was this very Shangfang Sword.

Gripping the sword, Xu Ming walked toward Prince Qi and the others.

Some officials met his gaze head-on, appearing as though they were ready to face death—exuding an air of Even if you kill me, you cannot kill my spirit. What I did was not wrong.

Some were trembling uncontrollably, their eyes filled with fear. They seemed desperate to beg for mercy, but at this point, they knew it would be useless, leaving them with nothing but terror.

Others, like Prince Qi himself, had their eyes shut.

“Was it you who wanted to kill me?” Xu Ming asked calmly, his tone void of any exhilaration from avenging himself.

His voice spread through the hall, unrestrained.

Prince Qi, Chen Lu, slowly opened his eyes and looked at Xu Ming. “Yes, I was the one who wanted to kill you.”

Xu Ming continued, “Why? I don’t recall ever offending you.”

Prince Qi chuckled. “Surely, the top scholar isn’t this naïve? Do you really think that by doing nothing, you won’t offend anyone? Sometimes, simply standing in someone’s way is enough to make you their enemy.”

Xu Ming nodded slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. “So, was I in your way, or someone else’s?”

Prince Qi was momentarily stunned. “I don’t understand what you mean. Naturally, you were in my way. Or do you think I would risk my life for someone else?”

“Let me guess,” Xu Ming continued. “I once heard that your son has yet to take a wife. If I were to die, your son would have the opportunity to marry the princess, wouldn’t he?”

Prince Qi smiled. “Precisely.”

Xu Ming shook his head. “But even if I were dead, there would still be many competitors. Wu Kingdom has no shortage of talented young men. How could you be so sure it would be your son?

By killing me, aren’t you just making things easier for your rivals?

I doubt someone as shrewd as you would overlook that. Or do you have absolute confidence in your son?”

Prince Qi turned his head away, closed his eyes, and let out a long breath. “That’s none of your concern.”

Xu Ming looked at him and asked, “And your son? Where is he now?”

Prince Qi replied calmly, “He’s dead.”

Xu Ming paused, his expression unreadable. “When did he die?”

Prince Qi, as if willing to answer every question, said, “When you were on your diplomatic mission to Beihai (North Sea).”

Xu Ming’s brows furrowed. “How did he die?”

Prince Qi glanced at him and replied indifferently, “Made the wrong friends. He was killed by a demonic cultivator.”

Xu Ming: “And what about that demonic cultivator?”

Prince Qi: “Escaped. Never caught.”

Xu Ming: “Which sect was he from?”

Prince Qi: “I don’t know. Never looked into it.”

Xu Ming let out a cold laugh. “A prince, the heir to your house, was just killed by some demonic cultivator, and that was it? The killer escaped, was never caught, and no one even investigated which sect he belonged to?

Who would believe such a story?”

Prince Qi opened his eyes again and met Xu Ming’s gaze. “Enough with the useless talk. If you’re going to kill me, do it.

Or are you suspecting that my son faked his death? If so, you can rest assured—His Majesty and the others have all seen his corpse.”

Xu Ming stared at Prince Qi. “Can’t we talk a little longer?”

Prince Qi smiled faintly. “The princess has already talked to me plenty.”

Xu Ming: “And?”

Prince Qi chuckled. “Same as what I’ve just told you.”

Xu Ming locked eyes with him.

A long silence passed.

Finally, Xu Ming nodded. “I see.”

The moment his words fell, a flash of cold steel cut through the air.

Prince Qi’s expression froze, as if time had stopped for him.

The next moment, his head rolled from his shoulders, and a spray of blood arced through the air.

The onlookers turned their eyes toward Xu Ming.

He had only used a single strike.

In less than a breath’s time, Xu Ming had carried out the execution.

One by one, heads fell upon the high platform, blood streaming down the steps, soaking into the stone tiles below.