Chapter Seven: The Immortal Sword Quest Begins!

Arriving at the newly constructed office building, everything seemed familiar—faces he knew well.

The current emperor was Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi, the fourth emperor of the Great Tang after Li Chengqian’s abdication (though historically he was the third emperor, succeeding Li Shimin). The prime minister was Wu Zetian...

Hmm, in this life, the Empress Wu, following reforms that allowed women to hold official positions, had grasped the reins of power far more swiftly than anyone had anticipated.

Moreover, she had not followed her original path—she had not become a concubine of Li Shimin nor the empress of Li Zhi.

“Hey, little Wu Mei, long time no see! You’re even more beautiful than before!”

“My lord, it’s been five years. You finally deign to step out of the Imperial Advisor’s residence. Besides, I’m almost fifty now—how can my looks compare to yours, who haven’t aged a day in fifty years?”

Hao Yun waved cheerfully, and Wu Zetian flashed a hint of wistfulness... Li Zhi, seated on the dragon throne, was stunned. Since Wu Zetian had become prime minister, she had ruled with an iron fist, executing many corrupt sons of noble families, earning a reputation as the most ruthless prime minister in history. When had she ever shown such a girlish demeanor?

“Oh, you know, so many come knocking that I like to stay quiet, sleep, watch movies—it’s delightful,” she replied coquettishly.

“Heh, you may be at ease, but you’ve left a mountain of work to me. I’m so busy now; I really owe it all to your prophecy,” Hao Yun smiled wryly.

Wu Zetian shot him a playful glare... In her previous life, she had wished to be a teacher or a doctor, but because of Hao Yun’s prophecy, her father changed her education, thrusting her forcefully into her role as the iron-fisted prime minister.

She was a delicate and enchanting girl! Who else could be blamed but him?

“Oh, being a teacher is nowhere near as good as being prime minister! Relax, relax! By the way, are you married?”

“Tch, in this Great Tang, who is worthy of me?”

Wu Zetian smiled with supreme confidence, while Hao Yun smirked at Li Zhi... Well, if I'm not interested, it really isn’t my fault...

“Alright, you’re awesome!”

He gave a thumbs-up and nodded casually, signaling that Li Zhi need not be so formal. Having dealt extensively with founding monarchs and ministers like Li Shimin and Changsun Wuji, Hao Yun frankly held little regard for Li Zhi.

Well, if even he looked down on Li Zhi, it was no wonder Wu Zetian did so even more.

“My esteemed Imperial Advisor, I wonder what new high technology you’ve brought us this time?”

Once he found a seat, Wu Zetian approached behind him with all the charm of a thousand blossoms, massaging his shoulders and whispering sweetly. She was quite envious of Hao Yun’s knowledge of electrical power and computer technology...

That sort of thing simply couldn’t be developed overnight.

Hearing Wu Zetian covet his smart systems, semiconductors, and computing tech, Hao Yun shivered and refused to let her press any buttons.

“Stop. The technology in my hands is beyond your reach for now. The era gap is too great; it would take you at least a hundred years to catch up. I’ve come to tell you that my time has come.”

Wu Zetian froze; Li Zhi turned pale... Since Hao Yun had never shown signs of aging, none had imagined that the nation’s steadfast pillar would leave! To the public, Hao Yun’s reputation far surpassed that of the Tang royal family!

Throughout the years of reform, no one had ever stolen Hao Yun’s credit—it was said that in the world of Immortal Swords, he was a saint!

If Hao Yun stepped down, the Great Tang could instantly have a new master! Every citizen, including the noble families, would support him!

This sudden announcement of departure nearly scared them to death!

If word got out, the reigning emperor, prime minister, and all officials would have no way to explain to the people—they might all be forced to resign.

“Imperial Advisor, please don’t frighten me! If there’s anything you’re dissatisfied with, just say it! Even if you want my life, that’s not impossible!”

Li Zhi knelt immediately, hands raised in oath, ready to abdicate... The burden was too great; he could not bear it!

Wu Zetian was less dramatic, softly asking, “Imperial Advisor, do you have some other matter to attend to?”

“Enough, stand up. We’re all fifty or sixty years old; no need to kneel so easily.” Hao Yun gave Li Zhi a gentle kick, then smiled and nodded at Wu Zetian. “You’re right. Coming to the Great Tang, I only have fifty years. Besides wishing to protect the people, I must fulfill a more important task.”

“Couldn’t you stay a little longer?”

Wu Zetian looked at him with reluctance.

Hao Yun smiled and stroked her hair. “There is no feast that never ends. The promise I made to Li Shimin long ago, I have fulfilled. Now, I must complete my true mission: to eradicate a demon threatening the world. For the Great Tang, for humanity, this is the final necessary act.”

“A demon?!”

Upon hearing this word, Wu Zetian’s eyes narrowed instantly. Her mind raced, searching among recent famous figures for one worthy of the title.

Then, the name of a small southern nation, which had invaded the Great Tang multiple times, flashed through her mind.

“Imperial Advisor, do you mean the Imperial Advisor of Nanzhao, the Moon Worship Sect leader, Shi Jieren?”

“Hm? You know him?”

Hao Yun looked at Wu Zetian in surprise. Given the current strength of the Great Tang, it seemed impossible for the Moon Worship Sect leader to roam Chang’an freely or even abduct the Minister of Rites as in the original story.

“Yes, he came once recently but was driven off by the White Tiger Formation led by my Xuanjia Guards,” Wu Zetian replied cautiously. “He is powerful. If not for the White Tiger Formation doubling the killing aura of the Xuanjia Guards, we might not have held him back.”

“What about the Astronomical Bureau? And Mount Shu? If I recall correctly, Mount Shu joined the Great Tang five years ago, right? Did the Sword Saint not intervene?”

Hao Yun was annoyed. Mount Shu had voluntarily joined the Great Tang to accept disciples, but did that mean they would do nothing else? And the Astronomical Bureau—have Yuan Tiangang and the others wasted their efforts all these years?

“No. The Astronomical Bureau has just begun cultivation; the strongest, the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal, has only just reached the Golden Core stage... As for Mount Shu, the Sword Saint has conveyed that the Moon Worship Sect leader has his own duties. Mount Shu dares not defy the grand momentum of heaven and earth, so...”

“Dares not defy the grand momentum? Hah, sounds like a decree from the Celestial Court. Ever since the Great Tang rapidly developed and overshadowed other nations, such things have happened more than once!”

Hao Yun’s tone was displeased. If he had already broken through to the mid-stage of the Heavenly Father level, equivalent to the Galactic rank, what was he afraid of from the Celestial Court? If provoked, he alone could overturn it!

But now, having just entered the Heavenly Father level and at most a Celestial Immortal in cultivation, he truly would not stand a chance... It seemed this three-star mission was far more complicated than he had imagined!