Chapter 118: The World in Turmoil, Sober Amidst the Drunken Masses

Luo Binwang's sudden eruption shocked the entire crowd. Moments later, a familiar voice echoed in Lu Xin's ears.

"Imperial Shrine, Liu Zhi!"

Looking back, he saw that a group of men in Onmyoji robes had appeared outside the crowd. Leading them was Liu Zhi, a spirit official from the Imperial Shrine whom Lu Xin had dealt with several times before. Liu Zhi possessed the cultivation of the sixth level of the Void Observation Realm, far surpassing Lu Xin. However, seeing the transformation in Luo Binwang, Liu Zhi wore an expression of horror, his brow furrowed deeply.

His voice cut through the deathly silence of the scene, reaching everyone's ears.

"A breakthrough of two levels simultaneously?"

Lu Xin froze. Looking at Luo Binwang again, the child's aura was clearly more than twice as strong as before, and his internal injuries had completely healed. The eight wisps of Taoist True Fire hovering above his head were proof enough: he had reached the eighth level of the Void Observation Realm!

For a ten-year-old child to possess such formidable cultivation was a height that ordinary Onmyoji could never reach in a lifetime. Even more terrifying was that Luo Binwang had ascended two levels in a single instant. Such efficiency in cultivation was not only frightening but enviable.

The area outside the Hongwen Academy was chillingly quiet. The Imperial Guards stopped their assault, and the scions of the prominent noble clans held their tongues. After taking a long, deep breath, Luo Binwang suddenly fixed his gaze on Zhang Yuzhi. In an instant, the son of the Duke and the Captain of the Zhao-Wu Guard froze.

"Curving necks to sing to the heavens! Hahaha, so that's how it is, so that's how it is..."

Luo Binwang's change finally brought a smile to Lu Xin's face. In that moment, he realized that while he might not be able to change this era or history, his arrival might just change the lives of the common people.

"Youth is shallow in worldly wisdom, unaware of the difficulties of human interaction. A single word is as fragrant as osmanthus, yet the world reeks like rot. In this world, it is never swords that kill, but the human heart! Today, regardless of whether you are the son of a Duke or a descendant of a noble clan, I, Luo Binwang, will force you to kneel and admit your wrongs, even if I have to sacrifice my very flesh and blood!"

With a sudden, piercing cry, Luo Binwang, wreathed in black light, appeared instantly before Zhang Yuzhi. His speed and magical power were several times greater than before. Zhang Yuzhi, unable to react or even summon his lightning powers, felt his left arm gripped by the child. With a violent jerk, bones and tendons snapped!

"Crack!"

The crisp sound of breaking bone made even Lu Xin blink. It did not end there; after breaking Zhang Yuzhi's left arm, Luo Binwang smashed a fist into his right knee. Zhang Yuzhi winced in agony, collapsing to his knees.

Though this scene felt prolonged, it occurred in a flash. By the time the others reacted, Luo Binwang had already subdued Zhang Yuzhi. The nearby Imperial Guards were the first to recover, but the magical pressure radiating from Luo Binwang was so intense they could not draw near.

"Audacious madman! You dare continue your violence at the feet of the Emperor?"

Recovering his senses, Liu Zhi roared, charging into the crowd. The spirit official of the Imperial Shrine unleashed his full power, six golden talismans spinning behind his back. The others followed suit, brandishing their spirit swords and surrounding Luo Binwang from all four directions. Lu Xin was naturally among them.

"The imperial examinations are imminent! Who are you to dare cause such chaos at the Hongwen Academy and defy the laws of the world? Release that candidate at once, or be killed without mercy!"

***

Lu Xin had anticipated the appearance of the Imperial Shrine's Onmyoji; he could have guessed as much from the gaze Wei Tunyun had cast earlier. As the Superintendent of the Imperial Shrine tasked with suppressing the capital, Wei Tunyun would naturally not tolerate any Onmyoji causing trouble in Chang'an. What puzzled Lu Xin was why, as the venue for the exams, Wei Tunyun had not come to stop this himself. With his cultivation, he could have subdued everyone in an instant and restored peace to the Hongwen Academy.

Thinking of this, Lu Xin could not help but glance at the high tower three or four miles away. Wei Tunyun’s silhouette was still there.

"He is likely waiting for me and Luo Binwang to commit murder before he strikes. By then, there will be no turning back! No..."

Lu Xin’s expression shifted drastically. He tried to stop Luo Binwang, but the child had already engaged Liu Zhi. Aside from Liu Zhi, the other Onmyoji were mere weaklings at the second level of the Void Observation Realm. Luo Binwang, having ascended two levels, was at his peak and paid them no mind.

Just as the Imperial Shrine members brandished their swords, the black brush hovering above Luo Binwang’s head darted out, tapping each of them on the crown of their heads. Immediately, black light flared, and the ancient character for "Prison" appeared on Liu Zhi's forehead. Moments later, all the Imperial Shrine Onmyoji were bound by strands of black light, unable to move.

Having done this, Luo Binwang kept his eyes locked on Zhang Yuzhi, ignoring everyone else.

"Kneel and admit your wrongs, or die!"

"Hahaha... Kneel to you? Boy, a commoner without rank or title, born of low status—you think you are worthy of me, Zhang Yuzhi, performing such a rite? You are dreaming! Everyone, look closely at how arrogant this person is."

"Luo Binwang, I can be lenient with you, but you must not harm him! He is a Captain of the Zhao-Wu Guard, an official of the imperial court. Do you realize you are committing an act of insubordination?"

"Oh, insubordination, is it? Hahahahaha..."

Seeing Sun Denyu intervene, Luo Binwang arched his brow, reached out, and pulled the old man toward him through the air. It was clear he intended to force Sun Denyu to kneel as well. Lu Xin was horrified and rushed forward to stop him.

"Don't kill anyone, this is a trap! Your cultivation has broken through and your power has increased; leave now before it escalates further."

"Hmph, I came to take the imperial exams; why should I leave?"

Luo Binwang showed no appreciation. Seeing Lu Xin interfere, his anger flared. No sooner had he spoken than he kicked Sun Denyu, forcing the chief examiner to kneel before all the candidates in the world, howling in pain.

Lu Xin gasped. He had only intercepted Sun Denyu to frighten the Imperial Guards and give Luo Binwang a chance to escape. He never dared to actually kill. But Luo Binwang’s current actions were far more severe than killing Sun Denyu.

"Treason, this is pure treason. Luo Binwang, as a candidate, you dare make the chief examiner kneel? Whose bastard son are you?"

"Luo Binwang, release the Libationer at once! Otherwise, everyone will be implicated!"

"He’s mad. These commoners are so obsessed with getting ahead that they’ve lost their minds. Denied a chance at the exams, he turns into a maniac—worse than an animal!"

***

The sight of Luo Binwang forcing Sun Denyu to kneel caused an uproar among the candidates. The dignified Libationer of the Imperial Academy, the chief examiner personally appointed by the Emperor, was kneeling at the feet of a mere child in front of scholars from every province. This was not only an insult to the exams but a slap in the face of the imperial court and the Emperor himself!

Lu Xin turned pale. Just as he was about to speak, Luo Binwang let out a sinister laugh, turning into a streak of black light that swept past him. Lu Xin turned, only to see Zheng Huiming wailing as he fell to the ground in pain. Lu Houze retreated three steps in terror and immediately twisted the jade ring on his finger. Dozens of talismans flew from the ring, swarming toward Luo Binwang. The boy didn't care; with a wave of his hand, a raging fire turned the talismans to ash.

At the same time, Wang Xiding quickly grabbed the sheng at his waist, his fingers dancing over the pipes, and a clear, piercing melody echoed through the heavens. Lu Xin felt his head grow heavy and his thoughts muddled, so he covered his ears. Luo Binwang was the same, swaying on the spot, nearly losing his footing.

"Damn it! Daring to ambush me—since I was a child, I have never suffered such humiliation!"

Taking advantage of the gap, Zheng Huiming scrambled up and swung his white feather fan at Luo Binwang. *Hum, hum, hum...* The void trembled, and a massive bronze bell descended from the high heavens. Once it covered Luo Binwang, it released thousands of electric arcs, as if trapping him in the depths of a thundercloud. Struck by the lightning, Luo Binwang’s expression twisted, and he froze in place.

"Kill him! Such an evil creature deserves to die!"

Sun Denyu and Zhang Yuzhi both stood up. Seeing Luo Binwang contained, they began to curse viciously. By now, the Libationer of the Imperial Academy had lost all sense of decorum. Zhang Yuzhi, missing an arm and crippled in one leg, was drenched in sweat, his face pale and ferocious, clearly wishing to skin his tormentor alive.

Once Luo Binwang was trapped under the bronze bell, the spell on Liu Zhi and his men lost its effect. The Imperial Shrine group, having broken free, immediately set up an array, condensing a massive thundercloud above Luo Binwang. Liu Zhi sneered, brandishing his sword as he charged toward the child inside the bronze bell. But before he could take a few steps, a golden light flew from the side, slamming his sword into the ground.

"You Lu boy, this has nothing to do with you. Do you really intend to see this through to the end?"

"Officer, I simply do not want to see you slaughter the innocent; it would delay the examinations and bring the Emperor's wrath upon you."

"Hahaha, what a big mouth! Do you think this world belongs to you? That whatever you say goes?"

Liu Zhi had always regarded Lu Xin as a thorn in his side, and seeing the youth intervene was exactly what he wanted. Picking up his sword, he changed his footwork and lunged directly at Lu Xin.

"Cycle of the Heavens, Life and Death Void, Seal of Despair! Three Lives and Seven Reincarnations, Worlds of Sorrow, Seal of Reincarnation!"

Lu Xin struck out with two great hand seals, but Liu Zhi deflected them easily with his sword. The opponent was at the sixth level of the Void Observation Realm; not daring to clash head-on, Lu Xin leaped onto a willow tree. Just then, a group of soldiers charged from the end of the street. Judging by their attire, they were all officers from the Yongzhou Prefecture, at least a hundred in number. Among them was a palanquin, carried by eight men, which was extraordinarily luxurious. The man in black walking beside the palanquin caused Lu Xin’s expression to darken instantly.

"The Minister of Personnel, Duke of Qi, Lord Zhangsun is here. All irrelevant persons, withdraw at once! No clamor allowed."