Chapter 254

Chapter 254: The Emperor’s Seat Rotates!

Expeditionary Army!

　　Ye Tianming had considered the possibility that the Expeditionary Army might not follow orders, but he truly never expected them to turn around and threaten him instead.

　　Purge the emperor’s inner circle!

　　The underlying meaning of those words was: we may not be able to touch you directly, but we can touch the people around you.

　　The power of the aristocratic clans and sects was even greater than he had imagined.

　　He was now beginning to understand why secular emperors, when nearing death, would always arrange a path for their successors in advance.

　　It really couldn’t be left unarranged. And what’s more, Guanxuan Sword Master was still alive, yet these people already dared to act this way. If he were truly gone, wouldn’t these people go completely off the rails?

　　The Academy’s two supreme combat forces now had only Sword Sect remaining.

　　Ye Tianming turned to look at Ye Zhuxin. Ye Zhuxin’s expression was calm, showing no stance whatsoever.

　　Ye Tianming thought for a moment, then said, “What would it take for Sword Sect to help me?”

　　He had decided to give some ground.

　　Conditions?

　　They could be discussed!

　　He was not someone who couldn’t be flexible.

　　Ye Zhuxin shook her head and refused outright, “Young Master, Sword Sect has no desire to get involved in all this messy business.”

　　Ever since Guanxuan Sword Master left, the Sword Sect here had lived a life free from worldly strife. On top of that, sword cultivators generally disliked getting involved in politics, so over the years, Sword Sect had grown accustomed to a leisurely and unrestrained existence.

　　Of course, the most important reason was that Sword Sect valued strength above all else. Whether it was the former Human Sword Master or the later Guanxuan Sword Master, both had conquered them through sheer power. But this current Young Master had not yet conquered them.

　　Ye Tianming gave a slight nod, “I understand what you mean.”

　　With that, he looked at Ye Zhuxin, “I’ve heard that Sword Sect has a supreme sword formation, one left behind by my father in his time. And to this day, only two people have ever broken through it — one is Sect Master Ye Yu, and the other is you.”

　　Ye Zhuxin turned to look at Ye Tianming, raising an eyebrow, “Young Master wants to give it a try?”

　　Ye Tianming nodded.

　　Ye Zhuxin fixed her gaze on Ye Tianming, “Are you serious, Young Master? The power of this formation scales with the strength of the challenger — the stronger the challenger, the stronger the formation becomes.”

　　Ye Tianming said, “Take me there.”

　　Ye Zhuxin stared at Ye Tianming for a moment, then said, “Follow me.”

　　The two transformed into a streak of sword light and vanished from the spot. When they reappeared, they were standing before a tall tower.

　　Ye Zhuxin said, “Within this tower, there are a total of 98,000 sword formations. These formations interlock with each other…….”

　　Ye Tianming suddenly set down Sword Ancestor, then walked into the tower alone.

　　Ye Zhuxin’s dark brows furrowed slightly.

　　Three breaths later.

　　Hum!

　　As a sword cry rang out and echoed through the air, Ye Tianming walked back out the way he had entered, while above the tower, the sound of sword cries rang out one after another without end.

　　The formation was broken!

　　Ye Tianming glanced at Ye Zhuxin and shook his head, “This formation…… is far too weak.”

　　With that, he picked up Sword Ancestor and walked toward the sect’s exit.

　　Ye Zhuxin: “……”

　　Ye Tianming suddenly stopped in his tracks and said, “Things that are too outdated can simply be replaced. Deputy Sect Master Ye, don’t you think?”

　　With that, he transformed into a streak of sword light and disappeared into the distance.

　　Ye Zhuxin fell silent.

　　She understood — this Young Master was warning her.

　　If Sword Sect became “outdated,” it could be replaced.

　　Could this Young Master actually do it?

　　Would he dare?

　　He would definitely dare.

　　She already knew about the matter with the cabinet. This Young Master was determined to reform, and the way things were going, he was clearly serious about it.

　　Sword Sect was proud, its status transcendent — but it had never been transcendent in front of the Yang family.

　　After all, the reason Sword Sect had developed so rapidly was entirely due to the efforts of the Yang family’s previous two generations.

　　Of course, that wasn’t the key point. The key point was that when she herself had challenged the formation, it had taken her a full half hour. Even Sect Master Ye Yu had taken a quarter of an hour back in the day. But this Young Master had done it in just a few breaths.

　　Terrifying!

　　She could hardly imagine that this Young Master had actually lost to that young man called Ye Tianming.

　　Of course, she now faced a choice.

　　Help, or not help?

　　If she didn’t help, it was obvious that once this Young Master finished dealing with the Academy’s affairs, given his current way of doing things, he would without a doubt come to deal with Sword Sect next.

　　When that time came, would Sword Sect really try to fight him head-on?

　　After a moment of silence, Ye Zhuxin said, “Someone come, issue a secret order — have all Sword Sect disciples return to the sect immediately.”

　　An elderly sword cultivator appeared before Ye Zhuxin and said in a deep voice, “Sect Master, have you decided to take a side?”

　　Ye Zhuxin glanced at him, “Take a side? In the Guanxuan Universe, is there anyone who stands opposite the Young Master?”

　　The elderly sword cultivator hesitated, then said, “Should we notify Sect Master Ye Yu about this matter?”

　　Ye Zhuxin shook her head, “When the Sect Master left, he entrusted me with full authority over Sword Sect. If the Young Master were incompetent, naturally we wouldn’t follow his orders. But our Young Master has both strength and wisdom — given that, why wouldn’t we support him?”

　　With that, she looked at the elderly sword cultivator, “Are you actually prepared to rebel?”

　　The elderly sword cultivator smiled bitterly, “I have no such intention.”

　　Ye Zhuxin raised her head and looked toward the horizon, saying softly, “Do you think he came here to ask Sword Sect for help? He didn’t……”

　　The elderly sword cultivator was somewhat puzzled, “What do you mean?”

　　Ye Zhuxin didn’t elaborate further. She turned to look at the elder, “Go find Qin Feng of Xianbao Pavilion. I want all the information on the Expeditionary Army.”

　　The elderly sword cultivator was a bit confused, “What do we need their information for?”

　　Ye Zhuxin’s eyes narrowed slightly, “When my Sword Sect fights, we fight only the strongest!”

　　Elderly sword cultivator: “……..”

　　Ye Tianming returned to Guanxuan Hall. Miss Ding was there handling official documents, and when she saw him return, she smiled and said, “You went to Sword Sect?”

　　Ye Tianming nodded, “Yes.”

　　Miss Ding said, “Sword Sect shouldn’t be a big problem. They’re straightforward people with no ill intentions — their tempers are just a bit rough. It’s this Expeditionary Army that’s the real concern……”

　　Ye Tianming said, “I was just about to learn more about this Expeditionary Army.”

　　Miss Ding said, “I’ve already prepared their information for you.”

　　With that, she picked up a scroll and handed it to Ye Tianming.

　　Ye Tianming took the scroll and opened it. A beam of light shot directly between his brows, and in an instant, a flood of information poured into his sea of consciousness.

　　Before long, he had a general understanding of this Expeditionary Army.

　　The Expeditionary Army had been jointly established in its time by Xianbao Pavilion and Guanxuan Academy. The people selected were drawn from units such as the Guanxuan Guard, the Shadow Guard, and the Guanxuan Imperial Guard — and naturally, only the finest were chosen.

　　The purpose of forming this Expeditionary Army was to expand territory, broaden the map of the Guanxuan Universe, and bring the Academy’s reach to unknown civilizations.

　　In truth, the original intention was good. The civilizations this Expeditionary Army visited all received a new martial dao culture, and Guanxuan Academy’s martial dao civilization was far superior to that of ordinary civilizations.

　　But as time passed, the Expeditionary Army ventured further and further away, until eventually Guanxuan Academy gradually lost control over them.

　　Ye Tianming also learned one critical piece of information: the commander of the Expeditionary Army and Xin Gongzi were sworn brothers bound by life and death.

　　Xin Gongzi!

　　Ye Tianming’s brow furrowed deeply.

　　He suddenly felt that something was off. Originally he had only sensed that Xin Gongzi wanted to seize power and influence, but now it seemed things might not be so simple.

　　He needed to reassess Xin Gongzi and not underestimate him.

　　Ye Tianming pulled his thoughts back and looked at Miss Ding, “Have the aristocratic clans and sects made any moves recently?”

　　Miss Ding shook her head, “No, it’s been unusually quiet.”

　　Ye Tianming said, “Then it’s the calm before the storm.”

　　Miss Ding nodded, then said, “As per your instructions, I’ve already brought in some talented individuals from other academies. Their character has been thoroughly vetted — no issues whatsoever.”

　　Ye Tianming said, “Arrange for them to be placed within the Academy.”

　　Miss Ding reminded him, “The sects and clans may push back. They won’t simply allow their power to be gradually handed over like this.”

　　Ye Tianming nodded, “I understand.”

　　Miss Ding knew the young man before her was not reckless. She nodded and said nothing more.

　　Ye Tianming suddenly asked, “Miss Ding, can I ask you about matters related to cultivation?”

　　Miss Ding smiled, “That’s not really my area of expertise.”

　　Ye Tianming nodded, “Alright then.”

　　Miss Ding said, “However, regarding your cultivation, I do have a small personal thought.”

　　Ye Tianming asked, “What is it?”

　　Miss Ding smiled and said, “No matter how profound a great dao concept may be, it ultimately needs practice to support it. Otherwise, it’s nothing but a castle in the air — easily shattered.”

　　Ye Tianming fell silent.

　　Miss Ding smiled and said, “These principles are ones you surely already understand. The reason I’m bringing them up again is that I hope you realize — practice requires confronting the fears and the darkness within your own heart.”

　　After a moment of silence, Ye Tianming gave a slight nod, “One step at a time.”

　　Right now, he had far too many things to deal with.

　　Miss Ding nodded, “What needs to be done first is to fully take control of Guanxuan Academy. Only after fully taking control of it can true reform begin.”

　　Without thoroughly resolving the issue of the clans and sects, his reforms could never move forward.

　　Ye Tianming turned to look out beyond the hall and said softly, “It should be time to lay the cards on the table.”

　　He was eager to reform, but he knew those aristocratic clans and sects were even more eager.

　　Both sides were eager — so naturally, it was time to lay everything on the table.

　　Miss Ding suddenly said, “As per your request, I’ve already invited the people of the Tianlong Clan to come to the real world……. Shall I have them come meet you?”

　　Ye Tianming said, “Where are they? I’ll go meet them.”

　　Miss Ding said, “I’ll take you there.”

　　Ye Tianming nodded, and soon the two of them disappeared from the hall.

　　Xin Gongzi’s residence.

　　At this moment, the heads of the major clans and sects had all gathered at Xin Gongzi’s residence.

　　The Helian Clan patriarch said in a deep voice, “Xin Gongzi, we can’t keep letting the Young Master carry on like this. This isn’t reform — he’s going after our lives!”

　　Another clan leader quickly nodded in agreement, “Exactly. The Young Master is completely out of control right now. If we keep letting him run wild like this, he’ll tear Guanxuan Academy apart.”

　　A hot-tempered elder said bluntly, “Damn it, let’s just rebel outright! Emperors take turns sitting on the throne — this year it’s our turn. What the hell are we afraid of? Let’s rebel!”