"Catch the assassin!"
The dignitaries in the Purple Smoke Pavilion stirred in shock. The thought of an intruder in the heart of the Sacred Tang Empire's palace was beyond belief. Some officials had even gone pale with fear, their calm shattered by the sudden breach.
"Seems she's making her move," Jason Ji noted, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Suddenly, every lantern in the hall went out, plunging the grand chamber into darkness. The once dignified, confident atmosphere dissolved into chaos. Voices cried out from every corner as officials scrambled in the blackened hall.
"Protect the Emperor!"
"Guard the Empress!"
"Everyone, be on alert!"
Among the attendees, Sarah Long remained the most composed. As soon as the lights went out, she rushed to her father, sword drawn, her gaze vigilant.
During this panic, Jason felt a cold presence beside him. A quiet voice cut through the chaos. "Lord Ji, Lady Dong has successfully diverted the Eight Winds and Rains from the palace. It's your turn to act."
A small token was discreetly placed on the table before him, and the presence vanished. Jason picked up the token, hiding it away, marveling at Livia's cunning. What kind of scheme did she orchestrate to lure all eight guardians away? She's more formidable than I imagined.
Just then, the lanterns reignited, illuminating the hall once more. A rush of Imperial Guards burst into the pavilion, panic evident on their faces.
"Report! What's going on?" Emperor Adrian Long demanded, his gaze fixed on the guards' captain.
"Your Majesty," the captain stammered, "Eight legendary cultivators infiltrated the palace, and… the young princess has been abducted."
"What?!" Long Yuan's face turned grim, and a look of fury twisted his features. "How could this happen under your watch? My daughter—"
Beside him, Empress Snow White paled and collapsed, her mind overwhelmed by the loss of her youngest daughter.
"Mother!" Sarah and the crown prince rushed to catch her, holding her steady.
"Fear not, Your Majesty," the captain said, wiping sweat from his brow. "The Eight Winds and Rains have already gone in pursuit. With their abilities, I am certain the princess will be retrieved unharmed."
"Enough," Adrian Long (Another title for the emperor) commanded, his voice cold. "If my daughter is not returned safely, all of you will answer with your lives." With a harsh glare, he turned on his heel. "We return to Weiyang Palace. Now."
As he departed, Jason watched Sarah's retreating figure, noting the way she clutched the scroll he had gifted her earlier, glancing back at him with an unreadable expression. He felt a pang of guilt but pushed it aside. This was not the time for distractions.
"It's time to move."
With a final deep breath, Jason vanished from the pavilion. Moving under the cover of Eight Steps of the Celestial Demon, he navigated the palace's labyrinthine pathways, his movements swift and precise. Guards patrolled every corner, but Jason's unmatched speed allowed him to slip past each group unnoticed. Soon, he found himself before the imposing structure of the Lingyan Pavilion.
Just as Livia had described, a powerful barrier enveloped the pavilion, ready to alert the entire palace should anyone attempt to force their way in. Jason didn't hesitate. He produced the token and moved forward.
As he crossed into the barrier's range, he felt a powerful energy sweep over him, probing for any unauthorized presence. But the token glowed faintly in his hand, and the energy dissipated. With a quiet push, he opened the doors and stepped inside.
The interior of the pavilion was empty and silent, the air thick with ancient power. Starry lights floated down from above, casting an ethereal glow on the lone meditation mat at the room's center. Surrounding him were portraits of Sacred Tang's founding generals, their eyes seemingly alive with the weight of their legacy.
"The Sacred Tang's founder must have hidden the treasure behind one of these legendary figures," he mused, examining the room closely.
Jason approached the portrait of the legendary General Li Jing. With a swift motion, he plunged a dagger into the stone behind the portrait, carving carefully around it. The blade struck something firm and unyielding deep within, confirming his suspicion.
After a moment's work, he exposed a small, ancient chest embedded in the wall. Inside, a worn scroll awaited him. Jason unfurled it, revealing a faded map marking the hidden location of Sacred Tang's founder's treasure.
The destination? Mang Mountain. Jason's expression darkened. That place belongs to the necromantic clan.
With a sigh, he stored the map and carefully replaced the wall. But he wasn't finished here.
Turning to the meditation mat, he lifted it, revealing a loose floor panel. Using his dagger, he pried it open. Beneath lay a sword sheath that shimmered with a silver glow, radiating an energy that felt oddly familiar.
Without hesitation, Jason took hold of the sheath, pulling out his Immortal Slayer Sword and aligning it with the sheath. In one fluid motion, he brought the two together.
An explosive aura filled the room as the sword and sheath reunited. A surge of killing intent and sword energy radiated outward, powerful and unrestrained. At that moment, Jason's system chimed.
Ding! Congratulations, Host, for unlocking the second seal of the Immortal Slayer Sword!
New Skill Unlocked: Starshift Blade.
Skill Description: Creates an Immortal Slayer field around the user, absorbing all energy directed at it and condensing it into a single, devastating counterattack, tripling the absorbed force. Can be used twice daily, restricted by the host's energy capacity. Ignores level restrictions.
A new wave of power flowed through him as Jason took in the details of Starshift Blade. With this technique, he could absorb any attack directed at him and return it with a force that defied the limits of power.
"With this, even Sacred Tang's elite forces might find me more than they bargained for," he thought with a smirk.
Sheathing the sword, Jason exited the pavilion as quietly as he had entered. Livia's gamble had paid off—the treasure map and the Immortal Slayer Sheath were both in his possession. He felt the anticipation of battle simmer within him as he considered the future, knowing full well that he now held the means to turn the tide against the Empire of Immortal Qin.
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