This scoundrel is a bit of a swordsman.

"Xiao, you wretch, do you know why so many important people are on the city wall today?" Xu Zhonghou took a step back, and the golden-armored soldiers immediately grabbed Xiao Xingchen.

"Because His Majesty wants to give the whole world an explanation. He not only wants you dead, but also wants to ruin the reputation of your Xiao family. Do you think the honor you've enjoyed for over ten years came for nothing? Everything comes at a price, and now it's time for you to pay it back. Enjoy it from now on."

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, at this very moment, the Nanling Xiao family has probably been wiped out, and there is no longer a family of sword immortals in this world."

Xu Zhonghou laughed heartily as he walked away, then waved his hand.

Upon receiving the order, the four golden-armored soldiers immediately lifted Xiao Xingchen up, two by his arms and two by his ankles, then raised him above their heads.

They were carried like this, slowly being led out of the city gate. As Xiao Xingchen moved, the crowd on the city wall also began to move.

Xiao Xingchen was confused. He had only been in this world for a day, and all his experiences had left him bewildered. His previously clear thinking now seemed completely wrong.

Are the thoughts of people in ancient times different from those in palace dramas? Are all TV dramas deceiving people?

This shouldn't be happening. I transmigrated, so I should be the protagonist, right? How could things change so drastically in just one day, even implicating the sword immortal families? This doesn't make sense.

He desperately tried to recall what he had overlooked, but so many things didn't make sense. He knew he was destined to miss his chance.

When he was carried out of the palace gates, he discovered that a huge crowd had already gathered outside the city walls. His appearance only fueled the crowd's excitement.

"Your Majesty is wise, having rid the people of a scourge,"

"Kill that little bitch, avenge the people!"

"It would be an injustice if we didn't kill that little bitch!"

The various roars made Xiao Xingchen's heart sink. Just then, from the top of the city wall came a voice of condemnation.

"The Xiao family of Nanling, relying on their privileged status and the power of a sword immortal, have acted tyrannically, oppressing the people and colluding with enemy nations. With the approval of the Heavenly Secrets Bureau, they are guilty of treason and sentenced to the extermination of their entire clan, to be carried out immediately."

"Xiao Jianren, the eldest son of the Xiao family, has acted perversely and disregarded the law. A total of 1,872 crimes have been investigated and found, each with a valid basis and verifiable. According to the laws of the Great Qian Dynasty, he is sentenced to the punishment of having his bones removed. He will have 1,872 cuts made in public. After 1,872 cuts, whether he lives or dies, it will all be over. This punishment will be witnessed by all the people of the world. This was first approved by the Martial Emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty. This is to proclaim to all the countries of the world that the Great Qian Dynasty does not tolerate evil, and the emperor is subject to the same laws as the common people."

This imperial edict stunned not only the onlookers below, but also the important figures on the city wall.

The Crown Prince, the Eldest Princess, and all the various princes and nobles looked deeply puzzled.

The eldest princess, in particular, was absolutely certain that the person at the front valued Xiao Jianren, and had even analyzed the entire trajectory of the current situation with Mr. Mu. However, she never expected that Emperor Wu would choose to eliminate their entire faction.

A century ago, the Great Qian Dynasty was besieged by various states. When the enemy was at the gates, the Sword Immortal Xiao appeared out of nowhere. With a single swing of his sword, he annihilated ten thousand enemy soldiers. Records indicate that the sky collapsed, the earth shook, and flames soared into the heavens. That sword strike was like divine punishment, not only rescuing the Great Qian from its predicament but also awe-inspiring the world for centuries. The plaque inscribed with "A Sword That Suppresses Mountains and Rivers" originated from this event.

There are many sword immortals in this world, but there is only one Xiao Jianxian (Sword Immortal Xiao). There are even rumors that Xiao Jianxian has already touched the threshold of Tian Jianxian (Heavenly Sword Immortal), but none of this can be confirmed, because Xiao Jianxian mysteriously disappeared after that and has never appeared in the world again.

Over the course of a century, the Xiao family received great favors in recognition of Xiao Jianxian's achievements. Their existence was a decisive factor in the stability of the Great Qian Dynasty for hundreds of years. Any enemy who wanted to take advantage of the Great Qian Dynasty could not avoid the three words: Xiao Jianxian!

But now, Emperor Wu of the Great Qian Dynasty has personally eliminated this greatest ally. Treason? Even Xiao Jianxian at his peak never imagined such a thing, let alone the Xiao family, which is now in decline.

And this bone-scraping punishment? He was just a spoiled brat, so a single cut would have been enough. But bone-scraping was an insult to Xiao Jianxian's name. What was Emperor Wu of Daqian thinking?

All these questions are perplexing, and the Nine Nether Platform beneath the city wall is even more chilling. The Nine Nether Suppresses Souls; those who die here are condemned to eternal damnation.

What kind of hatred could drive this king, who enjoyed all the riches of the world, to the Netherworld?

Among the common people, many also showed confusion, even shock. The shock brought by Emperor Wu's edict had surpassed their hatred for Xiao Jianren.

Inside a tea stove, a strikingly beautiful woman hesitated, raising her cup in uncertainty. Beside her stood fully armed men in black, all silently awaiting orders.

"Why, why did things turn out this way? What exactly does Emperor Wu want to do?"

"Your Highness, could it be that Emperor Wu has already obtained the Sword Immortal's secret?"

"Impossible. If he really obtained the Sword Immortal's inheritance, he wouldn't have been raising Gu for more than ten years. Until yesterday, I was still certain that he was protecting Xiao Jianren!"

A woman's cold voice rang out, revealing her face. It was none other than Crown Princess Chen Miao, who had been devoured by the white tiger.

“Something must have happened last night that we don’t know about. In just one night, his attitude changed dramatically. Who entered the palace last night?”

"Your Highness, last night the Lord of the Heavenly Mystery Palace brought a beggar into the palace. There was no one else besides him."

"A beggar? What beggar?"

"I don't know, that person went straight into the Martial Emperor's Palace and never appeared again."

Chen Miao rubbed her forehead, feeling a bit of a headache, and muttered to herself,

"The Crown Princess is dead, the tribute has disappeared, and the tax money has been stolen. Instead of investigating these matters, Emperor Wu wants to completely eradicate the Sword Immortal Clan. Has Xiao Jianren's existence become so important that he would ignore all of this and still want to eliminate him completely? But what is so special about Xiao Jianren?"

"The Master of Nebula Pavilion once left behind a prophecy: stars descend from the heavens, the prison chair becomes a throne, the sword immortal reappears, and a single sword can shatter the universe. I have been lying low in the Great Qian Dynasty for decades, yet I have never been able to fathom the mystery within."

Thinking of this, she sighed helplessly, got up and walked to the railing, looking at the man in the middle of the execution ground.

Xiao Xingchen was currently tied to a prison chair. This chair was made of a special material; unlike ordinary chairs, its backrest consisted of three pillars of varying lengths, rather than a chair back.

His hands were strapped to the armrests of the chair, and his feet were fixed to the legs. Combined with Xiao Xingchen's upright posture, it gave the illusion that they were seeing an emperor sitting on a dragon throne.

"The prison chair is like a throne; could it be referring to him?"

Chen Miao was shocked by her own absurd guess.

"Your Highness, are you saying... Impossible! Stars descend from the sky, and the prison chair becomes a throne, but at this hour, no stars have descended, so where did this throne come from?"