The other ministers loyal to the Yue Family, unaware of the inner details, were as anxious as ants on a hot pan. The City Guard had revolted, and the right commander of the Imperial City Guards had rebelled, so with Yue Fanchen commanding those ten thousand Imperial City Guards, they would inevitably breach the Imperial Palace sooner or later.

The most important issue was that Lu Nianxin was no match for Wu Tianxiong, and even though Yue Fanyi, Yue Danchen, and Han Yan were quite capable, the Wu Family had more than just Wu Tianxiong as a master. It could be said that the Yue Family, led by Wu Tianxiong, was like fish on the chopping block, ready to be slaughtered at any moment.

No matter whether Lu Nianxin was willing or not, the throne was definitely lost. The only difference was whether to abdicate or fight to the death. Choosing the former might allow for a few more days of delaying the inevitable, but choosing the latter would mean none of the Yue Family would see the light of day.

Thinking of the Yue Royal Family’s legacy, passed down for ten thousand years, being exterminated like this, many loyal old ministers wept with grief.

"Wu Tianxiong, besides those fifty thousand City Guards, and those ten thousand Imperial City Guards, what else do you have to rely on?" Lu Nianxin suddenly asked.

"With my strength, along with them, isn’t that enough?" Wu Tianxiong boasted.

"Not enough." Lu Nianxin smiled, a smile so light, so composed.

Those slightly narrowed eyes reminded Mu Hanyan once again of the cunning old fox of legend.

Seeing that familiar smile on Lu Nianxin’s face, a strong sense of unease welled up in Wu Tianxiong’s heart. If he wasn’t mistaken, many years ago, when the Emperor first ascended the throne, several senior ministers and family heads were disobedient. Lu Nianxin challenged them as a cultivator, wielding a great sword, going to each door one by one. At that time, she had that same smile.

"Feng Wu, Ba Dao!" Wu Tianxiong no longer had time to reminisce because Lu Nianxin’s great sword was already raised high, slashing directly toward him.

The sword beam was so light yet so domineering, the two contradictory sword intents perfectly fused into this one strike.

The aura that seemed to sever the heavens and the earth shocked everyone to their core, making every hair stand on end instantly.

Wu Tianxiong instinctively raised his longsword to counter, but unfortunately, this time, he gained no advantage, not even dreaming of splitting the difference.

With a dull thud, Wu Tianxiong was sent flying, his tall and brawny figure crossing over everyone’s heads, crashing into the artificial hill behind, causing it to collapse with a loud crash.

"No, impossible!" Wu Tianxiong, his face covered in dust, struggled to his feet, incredulously looking at Lu Nianxin in front of him, who was an unstoppable force.

"Do you think I’ve lost control and that my injuries couldn’t possibly heal so quickly?" Lu Nianxin sneered coldly, not giving Wu Tianxiong any chance to catch his breath, unleashing another strike.

Wu Tianxiong grunted, once again sent flying.

"Do you think I’m trapped by a forbidden technique, unable to break the prohibition so quickly?" Before Wu Tianxiong could rise from the ground, Lu Nianxin slashed at him again.

"Do you think my strength is restrained, my wounds still unhealed, so the Yue descendants are just at your mercy?" Lu Nianxin continued to unleash one slash after another, each blow carrying the terrifying power of Shattering the Sky.

This kind of power was something Wu Tianxiong simply could not withstand.

In the Imperial Garden, the artificial hills shattered, the stone pavilion collapsed, and even the stone tables and chairs were cracked by Wu Tianxiong’s impact.

A torrent of sword energy swept by like a storm. At this moment, Wu Tianxiong, his hair disheveled and his clothes in tatters, was bruised and battered, blood streaming down his head. Even the longsword in his hand, comparable to a divine artifact, showed jagged notches.

Yet his face did not show any pain, only his eyes were filled with shock.

Every word from Lu Nianxin pierced Wu Tianxiong’s heart like a sharp sword: How could it be? How could she have regained her strength? Didn’t Tian Annan say that the forbidden technique she fell under had been lost for millions of years, and even Tian Annan couldn’t break it? In just one night, how did she unlock the prohibition and restore her strength?

Overwhelmed by extreme shock, he even forgot the pain on his body.

"Unfortunately, you forgot one thing, I have a good granddaughter!" Lu Nianxin finally revealed the answer, pouring all her strength into the final slash.

"Crack!" The longsword in Wu Tianxiong’s hand, already full of teeth marks, finally shattered, and the remaining force of the sword energy struck him hard in the chest.

With a scream, Wu Tianxiong fell into a pool of blood. This strike not only shattered his internal organs but also damaged his meridians and Qi Sea, with even his Heart Meridian suffering severe injuries.

"So it’s you, you again!" Wu Tianxiong gathered his last breath, pointing at Mu Hanyan with endless regret.

At this moment, he finally recalled Tian Annan’s words from last night: With Mu Hanyan in Shangyue, who knows what unexpected events might occur, what miracles might happen.

If only she hadn’t been allowed to come to Shangyue in the first place, if only she had been intercepted and killed halfway, if only, after the sword sound competition, they had seized the opportunity to eliminate her early and eliminate the root of the problem—if only... but unfortunately, there are not so many "ifs" in this world. Staring fixedly at Mu Hanyan, Wu Tianxiong finally exhaled his last breath, his eyes remaining open, filled with too much unwillingness, too much regret, and too much hatred.

Everyone stared blankly at the scene. Moments ago, Wu Tianxiong, who was so domineering and had forced his way into the palace, had just died like that!

After a while, the surrounding ministers snapped back to reality, glancing at Lu Nianxin, then looking toward Mu Hanyan.

Although Lu Nianxin’s words weren’t entirely clear, they vaguely understood. The reason Wu Tianxiong dared to rebel and seize the throne was because he knew Lu Nianxin was trapped by a forbidden technique and was seriously injured. Presumably, the forbidden technique was not trivial, and in his view, it was impossible to easily break. However, he never anticipated that Mu Hanyan would break the prohibition on Lu Nianxin, delivering the most fatal blow to him.

Looking at Mu Hanyan, their eyes now bore even more admiration and awe.

Lin Weicheng and Mo Yunhai finally awoke from their stupor, while the others were filled with surprise and reverence, but the two of them were full of fear.

Exchanging glances, the two suddenly sprang into action, lunging toward Mu Hanyan.

With Wu Tianxiong dead, no one in the Wu Family could achieve greatness. Their conspiracy was completely shattered the moment Lu Nianxin delivered that slash; only by capturing Mu Hanyan as a hostage could they possibly save their lives.

Great Sword Master, Sword Saint! Not until the two made their move did the others see their strength. Lin Weicheng was a Great Sword Master, while Mo Yunhai, although much younger, was far superior in strength, having reached the Sword Saint Realm.

No wonder they dared to collude with Wu Tianxiong in rebellion, as it turned out, they still had this level of strength.

"Han Yan, be careful!" Lu Nianxin exclaimed in alarm.