An emperor is not only responsible for handling the affairs of the state but must also make public appearances during special occasions, showcasing various personas to stabilize the hearts of the people.
At this time, during the crisp and refreshing autumn of the Sun Moon Continent, Xu Tianran took his wife and child to the royal hunting grounds for an autumn hunt. This was meant to display the martial prowess of the Sun Moon imperial family and the bonds between the emperor and his ministers.
However, as the carriage was moving along, Xu Tianran—who had been deep in thought about state affairs—suddenly lurched forward.
The violent shaking was enough to throw even a Title Douluo off balance, let alone Xu Tianran, whose lower body was not that of a normal person. He stumbled and fell onto the table in front of him.
"Damn it! What's going on!?"
Though tough-skinned, Xu Tianran quickly steadied himself. With his intelligence, he naturally didn't blame the driver, as he was the emperor of the Sun Moon Empire. This route had been specially cleared and patrolled for him. Unless something unusual had occurred, such an incident would never have happened.
In an instant, Xu Tianran sensed a terrifying surge of soul power heading toward his carriage. His expression changed, and the Level 9 soul-guided device beneath his feet erupted with tremendous force, propelling him out of the vehicle.
Only after exiting the carriage did Xu Tianran realize what had happened.
In the fleeting moment just now, events had unfolded too quickly for him to notice. His top bodyguard, Jing Hongchen, had already engaged the enemy in battle.
The attacker's face was obscured, clad in pitch-black soul-guided armor with a grotesque demon mask covering their face, seemingly hiding their identity.
But the fact that they could exchange blows evenly with Jing Hongchen—a Limit-level powerhouse—proved beyond doubt that the attacker was a supreme fighter at the level of a LImit Douluo.
Xu Tianran had no time to think further. Entering the fray of such a battle would surely mean death for him, now only at Level 92. He immediately turned to flee.
As for Ju Zi and his nominal son still seated in the carriage behind him, he couldn't afford to worry about them now.
A lost wife could be replaced; a fake son could be reproduced. But he only had one life!
Personas and reputations? Xu Tianran no longer cared.
But he hadn't fled far when a figure clad in orange battle armor appeared before him, blocking his path.
Instantly, Xu Tianran's face turned ashen.
Even the most foolish enemy wouldn't send someone weaker than themselves to ambush him.
And in that moment, Xu Tianran realized something—Title Douluo-level armor warriors…
Three words flashed through his mind: Tian Xing Academy.
Xu Tianran didn't need to analyze further what the Tian Xing Academy intended to do. The very act of assassinating an emperor spoke volumes about their ambition.
Xu Tianran was now filled with regret. He shouldn't have relied so arrogantly on his own strength, which rivaled that of a Level 98 Super Douluo, and neglected to bring more guards. He should have summoned Elder Kong, who was recovering in seclusion, to protect him. Otherwise, why would he now find himself in such a dire situation?
But even now, Xu Tianran clung to a sliver of hope and cautiously pleaded, "Esteemed Lord, though I don't know what you seek, everything can be negotiated. I beg you to spare my life."
For a long while, the mysterious figure in orange battle armor said nothing. Then, a familiar light laugh softly echoed.
"That voice is…!?" Xu Tianran's expression shifted dramatically, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Ju Zi slowly removed the faceplate of her battle armor, revealing a familiar face. However, the once-gentle smile was gone, replaced by a mocking expression on her pure and lovely visage.
"Indeed, Master's teachings were correct.
There is no such thing as inherent nobility in this world. In the face of absolute power and the inevitability of life and death, all beings are equal."
Knowing her well, Xu Tianran tried to use clever words to persuade Ju Zi to spare him. But in response, Ju Zi vanished instantly, appearing behind him to drive a sword straight through his heart.
With the source of his life destroyed, even a Title Douluo could not escape death.
Xu Tianran's eyes filled with disbelief as he vomited blood, his body falling toward the ground in regret.
Before he hit the ground, Ju Zi retrieved his corpse.
Ye Wen had once taught her: to ensure absolute safety, if you strike, leave no trace—not even the soul should remain. Reduce them to ashes.
Ju Zi disappeared from the spot, leaving behind only a faint whisper.
"It's time for this era to end."
Within an hour, news of Xu Tianran's death shocked the entire imperial court.
Everyone in the entourage, except for Ju Zi and Xu Yunhan, had perished—even Jing Hongchen was not spared.
The reason Ju Zi and her son survived, though somewhat implausible, was accepted by the court officials. After all, Ju Zi had once studied at Tian Xing Academy and had ties with Huo Yu'er and the others. It was plausible that they had saved her in passing.
After all, the Tian Xing Knights were known for their upright and righteous conduct.
But the coincidence was too great, raising suspicions among those who dared to question the official narrative.
Later, a group of Level 9 soul mentors arrived at the scene to gather evidence. After careful analysis, they concluded that a group of evil soul masters had attacked their wise and valiant emperor.
It was truly remarkable—madmen bold enough to assassinate a reigning monarch.
Those in the know, however, were not surprised. After all, Xu Tianran's actions had indeed been dishonorable, and retaliation was not without reason. The only pity was that their already scarce number of powerful fighters had been further reduced.
Fortunately, the overall peace of the Douluo Continent meant there was no immediate risk of further attacks.
Upon learning the outcome, Ju Zi finally set aside her lingering unease. After all, her sisters from the Tian Xing Knights had been the ones to carry out the deed.
As for replicating the aura of evil soul masters, it was child's play for Ye Wen's disciples—with Huo Yu'er's assistance and Electrolux wielding the spirits of countless fallen evil soul masters. Faking it was almost too easy.
With this incident officially classified as an attack by evil soul masters, these malevolent individuals faced yet another wave of relentless pursuit and hatred, making their lives increasingly difficult.
But when the dust settled and the distant spectators of the Douluo Continent analyzed the situation, they found something strange: the Sun Moon Empire's imperial court showed no signs of the expected upheaval. Ju Zi smoothly assumed regency, guiding the young puppet emperor, Xu Yunhan.
Having assisted Xu Tianran in governance, Ju Zi had long been covertly replacing officials with loyalists from Tian Xing Academy.
As for the old aristocracy, hah! Years of war had already left them heavily weakened. Coupled with subtle threats from Huo Yu'er and the others, they had quietly aligned themselves with Ju Zi.
In the end, the Douluo Continent operated on one simple truth: power was everything. With power, one could do as they pleased.
Though the Sun Moon Empire remained stable, the common people began to grow uneasy. After all, paper could not forever contain fire. The fall of Jing Hongchen—though suppressed for now—was bound to leak into the public consciousness sooner or later.
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