Then, a splash of blood spluttered in the air.
It was during this moment that Ximen Huanyu felt as if he had been struck by lightning. All his energy seeped away from him, his consciousness telling him that he had no more control over his withering body. He slid thirty feet across the air from the momentum before falling down with a swoosh.
As he fell, Ximen Huanyu twitched as he made an effort to lift his head up and look towards the back, muttering, "Who killed me? Who?"
Reflected in his eyes was a purple-robed youth illuminated by the setting sun, making him glow with dazzling radiance. Ximen Huanyu tried to look with a squint, but the rays of the sun were blinding. He, whose life was burning away like the last flicker of a candle, could only feel himself growing lighter as if melting from the sunlight.
As for the purple silhouette of the youth, he seemed to be carrying the sun on his back as he looked even larger in the shadows, brilliant and ablaze with fire.
"It's me." The youth's voice was cold. "I was the one who killed you."
Ximen Huanyu's consciousness was withering as he chuckled dryly, "Great – great sword technique."
His head lolled to one side, all signs of life thus leaving him.
At this point in time, all six people from the School of Kismet State had gone to the Nine Springs together!
"Clap – clap – clap!" Crisp clapping resounded as the emperor walked out of the hall clad in royal yellow. He clapped unhurriedly. "Marvelous!"
Everything seemed to be too abrupt and the process was too short. The civil and martial ministers had only come back to life then as the atmosphere livened up.
"So this is the case."
"That's why I say…"
"Exactly. With Supreme Cloud here, how can these clowns get their way?"
"What a relief!"
"Gratifying! Gratifying indeed…"
"Glory to Supreme Cloud!"
…
By the side, Ling Xiaozui and Dugu Chou exchanged glances. Both of them felt absolutely indignant.
'Excuse me, both of us did a lot in this battle as well!'
'Why do you only see Supreme Cloud?'
'Could this battle have ended so beautifully by Yun Yang's efforts alone, without our assistance?'
'Are we, the Unrivaled Experts, transparent in your eyes?'
…
The six leading figures of the School of Kismet State were all wiped out in the battle.
It was as if Qiu Jianhan, Fang Qingtian, and the other elders had gone through terminal lucidity; they beamed so brightly that their cheeks were about to fall off.
Actually, it was not only them; all the imperial officials were grinning as happily, the doom and gloom long gone.
They had never felt so gratified and pleased.
After the emperor expressed his thanks personally, he pulled Yun Yang aside and told him softly, "This – If the roots are not removed, the weeds will grow again with a blow of the breeze."
Evidently, His Majesty was still concerned about the School of Kismet State's remaining forces and was blatant regarding his intention to exterminate any possible lingering threats.
Although the School of Kismet State's higher authorities had been banished, resulting in a host of dragons without a head, the overall combat power of this reclusive school was quite prominent. Just the power of the rest of the members was still a qualm to the emperor. Easily, they could become the foundation of extreme insecurity.
"Perhaps not all of them have to be executed. We can see if we want to segregate a portion of them… They – There should be a portion of them who can be wholly utilized by the empire…" The Grand Tutor suggested in a low voice with a frown.
The Grand Tutor's suggestion was impartial. The force itself was free from good and evil, right or wrong. It depended on the person using it. If Yutang could actually absorb the School of Kismet State's strength, it would be hugely beneficial!
Even if only a slight percentage of the members were absorbed, it was still a substantial elevation to Yutang's capability.
To this, the emperor replied faintly, "I don't think that's necessary!"
An overly strong external force would be a challenge to control. What was necessary now was to prioritize stability. No matter how tempting the fruit was, it could only be plucked with equivalent ability!
Yun Yang then said, "If so, the School of Kismet State's name will be removed from this world."
A school that threatened the imperial power and the court officials would become everyone's nightmare even if only one person was left behind. For the School of Kismet State to take on this route, there were only two destined ends – total success or a complete failure.
Should they succeed, they could go on and become even stronger; had they failed, the entire school would be exterminated!
The longevity of the School of Kismet State was thus decided from an exchange of words by the Emperor of Yutang and Yun Yang.
…
Yun Yang and the other two experts had left for some time now, but the overwhelming emotions of the emperor and his ministers were yet to fade.
"I have a new decision," said the emperor, "The past civil service examinations have mainly recruited scholars who are talented in literature and academic prowess, but there's a downfall that we cannot omit. The intellectuals are knowledgeable, but their limitations are plenty as well. If they were to meet the assault of absolute martial power, no matter how high their academic knowledge and how noble they are, it's useless – it's futile."
"Despite the martial category set in every session, it was perfunctory – just a formality, strictly speaking. The so-called evaluation was only to filter people from certain groups of noble heirs… It has effectively prevented the possibility of true impressive forces from serving the country."
His Majesty announced, "I want to reopen the imperial martial arts examination!"
The sudden declaration was shocking. Although the ministers knew that the emperor was unprecedentedly triggered by this incident, the message still stunned the officials.
"Set up The Eighteen Arms ranking, set up martial skill ranking, the national accreditation, corresponding titles," listed the emperor, "How many should there be on the ranks and what official titles they will achieve…"
"What restrictions, uses, system or rules are needed for these, how they work in particular, shall be your responsibility."
The emperor said, "I shall pass this fully to Old Grand Tutor and Old Grand Commandant as well as others for discussion. You should come up with a draft as soon as possible."
He paused for a bit and his tone suddenly turned stern. "This shall be Yutang's fundamental national policy from now on. It's not to be changed for the years to come. I do not wish to see anyone taking this lightly!"
His Majesty enunciated each word with clear emphasis, "I do not wish to experience this humiliation again!"
"I'm giving all of you half a year's time to complete this agenda and promote it to the world!"
The emperor left after issuing the command, leaving behind a posse of bewildered ministers.
There was a saying – an order from above, a hectic race down below. His Majesty could demand the end result without any reasoning, but what if the officials were to be as unreasonable? They could easily be swayed to commit treason – it was simply impossible for them not to do anything!
The Grand Tutor, who happened to be the person in charge, was dumbfounded. He was baffled for a long while before he pounced on Fang Qingtian. "Grand Commandant! You've kept company with His Majesty in recent days. I want to know what this is about!"
Fang Qingtian rolled his eyes as he answered, "Why are you asking me? You were here too, weren't you? Whatever is this about?"
The Grand Tutor said angrily, "Setting up the imperial martial arts examination and commending it so forcefully… How can this be? Since ancient times, martial warriors have often done wrong with their skills. Such examples are not lacking – with this declaration…"
Fang Qingtian replied with equal agitation, "The evidence of martial warriors doing wrong with their skills is right before our eyes – just a short while ago. Everyone here is the witness. What are you crying about? Do you think everyone's blind? Still, how can a cultivator be contained? Only another cultivator can do it! Besides, when saying that martial warriors violate the law with their martial skills, how about intellectuals creating chaos with their scholarly abilities? Weren't the issues that were previously tackled made up by ill-intentioned intellectuals? Why didn't I see you scholars who've been in the imperial court for years resign on your own accord? Why don't we talk about what's to come after you bunch get out of here?"