Chapter 689: Chapter 690: Demon Sealing Sword Intent, No Demons Under Heaven
The next morning, at dawn, in the Imperial City.

Above the city gate, three heads were hung high, firmly affixed above the gate. To the left was the head of an old monk, to the right a Taoist, with the Grand Emperor in the center. All three staring with eyes wide open, as if their resentment could find no outlet.

Li Xiaobai did not show himself in front of the public. After accomplishing all this, he quietly went into hiding. His body was now covered in the black aura of the Demon Sealing Sword Technique, which made his appearance frightening and not suitable for public view.

He knew that the remaining matters would be understood by the officers within the Imperial Court; that Prime Minister he had appointed would handle everything properly on his behalf.

At the same time, people throughout the Central Plains saw such a proclamation in front of their homes:

“In today’s world, demons run rampant within the Imperial Court, bringing chaos to the Central Plains and causing the common people to live in misery. The governmental offices are corrupt, exploiting the commoners and committing countless crimes. Furthermore, our borders were on the verge of being breached!”

“Fortunately, Young Master Li Xiaobai came forth to assist. With the power of one man, he repelled the army of a hundred thousand Southern Barbarians, saving the Central Plains from fire and water. Thereafter, he ascended to the Imperial Palace, preferring to bear the infamy of the world rather than let those with malicious intentions in the court remain. Now that the true demon heads have been subdued, the new Emperor will soon ascend to the throne, and a new era of peace will begin. From now on, no one will dare to persecute the commoners!”

“Today, this official announces on behalf of Young Master Li Xiaobai that from this day forward, the people should discern good from evil, right from wrong. If anyone discovers imperial officers scheming treachery, report it immediately, and the Imperial Court will take action to reward the good and punish the evil!”

“Below are the crimes of the corrupt officials of the current Imperial Court…”

This proclamation was personally penned by the new Prime Minister, hurriedly produced by civil and military officials working overtime, and posted throughout every street and alley of the Central Plains, fearful of any delay. It was imperative that all citizens could see it.

The reputation of Li Xiaobai was at stake; they had to handle it with care.

The Central Plains’ three most formidable masters had all been slaughtered by Li Xiaobai, and they clearly understood what that implied. From now on, if they wished to live and work in peace and hold office, they would have to be honest and clean, like the wind in their sleeves. Anyone who endangered the people as the young Emperor and the Chen Family had would meet an even more miserable fate.

Those three heads nailed firmly to the city gate served as the best warning.

In just one day, a great upheaval had begun among the Central Plains populace.

“Could it be that Li Xiaobai is not a demon head but a savior? Have we all misunderstood him, and the new Imperial Court officials are the real culprits behind all the crimes?”

“The Imperial Court has issued the proclamation; there’s no falsehood in that. We all misunderstood Li Xiaobai before; he was truly fighting evil on our behalf!”

“Damn it, I even threw my shoe at him before. I hope I didn’t chill his heart.”

The commoners within the Imperial City looked at the proclamations in front of their homes, their expressions full of shock.

They had all witnessed Li Xiaobai pursuing the Grand Emperor the day before, and at that time, they had all sided with the Grand Emperor. Now they felt somewhat ashamed; not only did Li Xiaobai not take offense, but he also eliminated that tumor for them, causing them deep embarrassment.

“Is it true? Then why is the Imperial Court speaking out only now? Why did no one step forward to uphold justice before?”

Someone questioned.

“Isn’t it obvious? The Imperial Court was previously under the control of those corrupt officials. Now that they have been slaughtered by Young Master Li, the remaining honest officers are starting to voice out to the world!”

“Good news, this is tremendously good news. The dog Emperor is dead, and the new one will surely be a splendid ruler. Our days will become prosperous!”

Some scholars analyzed seriously; Li Xiaobai had killed all those vile and shady figures, leaving only the honest officials behind.

“It’s just that I never expected that in just a few days, our Central Plains would experience a change of dynasty. If those Southern Barbarians hear of it, they might start getting ideas again!”

“No need to worry, the proclamation said it all. Young Master Li has already scared those Southern Barbarians off. In the near future, the Central Plains will not suffer foreign invasions.”

“From now on, we can live our lives properly…”

The people chatted inconsequentially, filled with excitement and joy. Such a significant action by the Imperial Court was meant to set an example to everyone – an era of clean governance was approaching, which meant less exploitation and oppression, and certainly, the people were overjoyed.

Atop a certain mountain range, Li Xiaobai observed all this, a hint of a smile flashing across his face.

This result was not bad, although the commoners still remained unenlightened, but at least they would no longer be oppressed by the Imperial Court. A true era of peace was on its way, and all beings would be blessed.

Li Xiaobai entered deep into the mountains. He had told Long Xue before that he wanted to live in seclusion, leading a life beyond the mortal world. But now, he was alone.

By the lakeside, a thick black shadow sat cross-legged, the pitch-black aura constantly erupting and turning the lake beneath it completely black. Li Xiaobai did not care about these things. He gave up running his cultivation technique, gave up eating, even gave up breathing and thinking. He was prepared to transform into essence here…

…

The scene changed.

Time flew by, and the sun and moon moved like shuttles.

Sixty years had passed in a flash, and the Central Plains had once again fallen into turmoil. Three changes of dynasties had caused the Imperial Court and government officers to gradually forget about the existence of Li Xiaobai, and so the officials gradually forgot the earnest teachings of integrity from the previous generation.

They were tainted by this glitzy and extravagant world, with money, status, and women being their pursuit.

On this day, the government exploitation was severe, and the common people could barely survive.

On this day, the Imperial Court once again stirred up war, aiming to conquer the Southern Barren Lands and completely unite the Central Plains.

On this day, a two-hundred-thousand strong army at the border stormed the city gates of the Southern Barbarians effortlessly, as if splitting bamboo without exertion. With the remnants of the Spirit Realm Technique passed down by veteran soldiers, almost everyone was at the Spirit Refinining Realm, looting and slaughtering within the city walls of the Southern Barbarians, committing all kinds of atrocities.

On this day, corpses were strewn across the land, with bones of the frozen dead in the Central Plains, and souls of the destroyed nation in the Southern Barren Lands.

Deep within the mountains, Li Xiaobai slowly opened his eyes, awakened by the pungent smell of blood that had drifted into his nose.

“Not eating or drinking for a sixty-year cycle, and yet still not entering a state of meditation and demise, to be invincible is truly very lonely.”

“What is this smell coming from below the mountain, has the Southern Barbarians invaded again?”

Li Xiaobai stood up, the Demonic Qi surging around him. Now, his appearance was aged, his flesh as withered as kindling, essentially a dried-up skeleton.

With a trail of black mist, he stood erect in the sky, overlooking the beings below. He fell silent.

This scene was not unfamiliar to him. Sixty years ago, he had eradicated the corrupt officials of the Central Plains because the Imperial Court was unjust, and the common people could not survive. Now, as if in a cycle of Heavenly Dao, a mere sixty years later, the actions of The Imperial Court were even worse than back then, having intensified exponentially.

And the people living in dire straits remained as they were sixty years ago, hanging on by a thread, barely alive, resigned to their fate.

The difference was that this time nobody stood up to voice their grievances.

Everything happening below was clear to Li Xiaobai, clear to see, clear to hear—old men starving to death on the side of the road, infants in swaddling clothes being gnawed at by wild dogs, women being oppressed beneath government officers, while the officials toyed with jewels and precious stones.

Laughter and joyful noises were intermixed with wails and screams reaching Li Xiaobai’s ears, but this time he had no intention of stepping in to help.

“Even if I intervene today, slaughtering all the people in the Imperial Court, such scenes will still repeat themselves in a few decades. Relying on strength and fear to intimidate is just a temporary solution, not the root cause. This demon is not something one can simply eradicate on the surface level; the demon head always exists, rooted in people’s hearts, within their desires; it will always find a way to break through the soil.”

“It’s like the demon in my heart, my younger apprentice sister, who has already become the demon of my heart. As long as this heart demon is not expunged, the Demonic Qi on my body will deepen by the day. I’ve noticed it long ago but have been unwilling to let go. Today, I’ve been taught a lesson by the world; it must be the cycle of causality.”

“I’d rather fall into demonic ways to eradicate all demons in the world, but if one never truly understands the nature of demons, how can they talk about eradicating them?”

“I’ve left the Spirit Realm Technique and the Demon Sealing Sword Technique on the stone stele at the mountain’s peak, waiting for the next heir. After all, the only thing that can contend with the passage of time is legacy.”

Li Xiaobai felt indifferent as he slowly extended a finger, the Demonic Qi swirling as if undergoing some transformation at that moment, which he recognized but paid no attention to.

Without the slightest hesitation, he pressed his finger to the space between his brows. Black Sword Qi shot straight from his crown to the sky, forming a pillar of surging Demonic Qi infused with Sword Intent.

The Demon Sealing Sword Evocation cleaved through the clouds, piercing the sky; at that moment, whether commoner or soldier, all felt their knees weaken and prostrated themselves on the ground. That black sword brilliance seemed to pierce the darkest yet most fragile part of their hearts, causing them a moment of lucidity.

“There are such formidable beings in the world!”

“That direction—my father told me about it. That’s where Li Xiaobai, the Demon-Sealing Swordsman of yesteryears, absconded. For years, by the deliberate guidance of the government, no one has ever approached that place. He’s still alive!”

“That person is a top expert at the Void Merging Realm, and there are even rumors that he has already stepped into the Earthly Immortal Realm, beyond what any common sense can gauge!”

“That great figure’s appearance at this critical juncture must indicate his dissatisfaction with our actions. If he descends from the mountain to cleanse us, what then should The Imperial Court do? Could it be that the events of sixty years ago are about to unfold again?”

Inside The Imperial Court, every official was in a state of fearful unrest, and the middle-aged man on the throne was nearly unable to stay seated. He had grown up hearing stories about Li Xiaobai, and now, this legendary figure might come to settle accounts with The Imperial Court, an intimidating thought.

“Proclaim the order: the two-hundred-thousand-strong army at the border must immediately retreat to the Central Plains, and for losses endured by the Southern Barbarians, provide double compensation!”

“Every official in The Imperial Court shall donate ten thousand taels of gold to help the disaster victims. In addition, arrest all those who have been corrupt or taken bribes and behead them outside the Imperial City to show the people. Any of you officials who have unmarried daughters in your households, send them back to the people!”

“Starting today, The Imperial Court shall uphold four words: clean governance and integrity. Do you understand?”

“As you command!”

Li Xiaobai was destined not to witness the commotion and decisions within the Imperial Palace. At that moment, his golden Primordial Spirit within his brow shattered inch by inch, and the mighty Sword Intent of the Demon-Sealing Sword had shattered his obsessions, allowing him to completely let go of his resentment and rage towards Long Xue.

As the pillar of Sword Intent gradually dissipated, the billowing Demonic Qi receded, revealing a frail and broken body. With unsteady yet resolute steps, he walked toward the center of the lake, until his entire body submerged and left no ripple behind.

“With the Demon Sealing Sword Evocation, the world is without demons!”