A System That Beats Death

Jian was a prosperous empire that was built upon land deeply affected by catastrophes long past and disasters laying dormant. Landlocked on all sides by hostile nations, it would seem truly miraculous to have achieved such levels of prosperity and military might. However, like many civilizations, those of ample resource achieved their status using exploitation and enabling rampant corruption.

The religion of Jian was that of the Sword God's will. Believed to have graced this land once long ago and left his sword behind, the only god that Jian has ever known and will ever acknowledge is the Sword God whose name remains forgotten due to incompetent historians and consecutive disasters. Other than the Royal Family, the most prominent devotees of the Sword God would be the Sheathed Temple. Once the Jian Emperor would pray with the commoners at the Sheathed Temple, but that tradition has long since perished for a reason unknown to the populace of the Jian Empire.

Within the Heart of the Empire, there were no signs of poverty. Commercial enterprises flourished and merely having a property located there would signify great prestige. The markets never ceased to be bustling and at the center of all the pedestrian activity would be the Imperial District which seemed to alienate itself from the rest of the Capital.

Located within the Imperial District were the courtyards where the Princes, high-ranking officials, and nobility resided while the Imperial Court lay at the very forefront in order for politics to be easily accessible. Everyone also assumed that the Jian Emperor lived with the Princes in the Imperial District but less than a dozen people knew that he in fact did not.

And now at the height of its grandeur, the Jian Empire was about to be in great turmoil, and none would expect it to escalate to the extent that it could be compared to the disaster which destroyed the Empire preceding the Jian Empire. Not even the group instigating the great upheaval.

While the Imperial Court was in session, an affluent and extravagant carriage discretely halted to allow for the venerated individual within to disembark.

As the discussion between the ministers became more and more heated, the court was silenced by an unexpected voice.

"This Prince has returned", the fourth Prince stated upon entering the great hall of the Imperial Court. At the highest point within the hall sat the Imperial throne where the Jian Emperor lay indifferent to the bickering of ministers.

Not having his father return his gaze, the fourth Prince slightly raised his eyebrow in confusion but ignored his initial suspicion. Not bothering to kneel, he walked forward but was for some reason, denounced by the ministers.

"What a conceited Prince", one of them whispered.

"Exactly, he's neither the firstborn nor the Crown Prince yet he never bothers to kneel", another whispered back.

Seeing that the subjects dare defy him, he was about to respond but the Crown Prince Wugai came to their aid. Sneering he said, "Wujun, don't blame these ministers. In fact, this Prince agrees. For a coward who ran from an important battlefield, you have a lot of confidence to dare return to Jian!". Actually, he didn't say that. Instead, the Crown Prince announced it as if to garner attention in order to publicly defame and humiliate the fourth Prince.

Briefly glancing at the Crown Prince, Wujun couldn't help but frown. When did this piece of shit gain the courage to speak out against the head of the neutral faction?

"And which bastard says this Prince ran?", the fourth prince shouted back fearlessly. He had suspected it but their recent interactions proved his suspicions. They had planned for him to be sent to a battle that he could not win and due to surviving, had assumed he ran. Luckily, his masked benefactor was there. He then narrowed his eyes and subtly eyed all the ministers here. None of them were redeemable in his eyes and he would make sure to tear them down afterwards. Family, friends, and especially all their filthy concubines would be crushed along with them.

Surprised by Wujun's disregard, Wugai's sneer grew more distinct. How shameless, he thought. With his next move, he could then remove the remaining opposition entirely.

"Then why did you forsake your troops and the entire nation by allowing a hostile army to near the border?", Wugai said in an accusing manner.

Wujun inwardly scoffed. Clearly, that was the work of the First Prince. Before Wujun could respond though, Wugai exclaimed in shock.

The Jian Emperor suddenly collapsed and fell from the Imperial Throne. An assassin cloaked all in black then leapt down and nodded at Wujun. The individual then disappeared right after.

The Imperial Court immediately fell into disorder with many of the ministers glaring and blaming Wujun. Wugai also immediately condemned Wujun and went up to the Jian Emperor. Unable to find the Imperial Seal, Wugai's expression slightly changed.

A commander in the Crown Prince faction immediately went to apprehend Wujun. That commander then collapsed upon attempting to seize the fourth prince. Wujun's strike to the commander's solar plexus had penetrated through the commander's heavy armor.

Wujun then revealed a meaningful smile.

"I was only here to announce that the Third Prince has just died. The Assassin: The Jian Emperor"

___

Nanling stood at the top of a dune staring at the entrance of the coliseum and sighed, "The end of a legend... How poetic"

Wuyue's expression was incredibly dark while Nanling's expression was quite wistful. Wuyue then finally said, "Do you think he took Master's body with him?"

"What do you mean?", Nanling asked in confusion.

Wuyue then rushed towards the collapsed entrance to the coliseum and hurriedly started to remove the rubble.

"What are you doing?", Nanling asked in alarm and immediately tried to stop Wuyue.

"I need to give Master a proper burial at the very least", Wuyue shouted in a desperate tone.

Before Nanling could stop Wuyue, a hand covered in frozen flames burst through all the rubble. Following the hand was an explosion which erased all the debris that clogged the entrance and somehow, did not create shrapnel in the process.

A familiar silhouette appeared among the dust cloud and a familiar voice stated, "Who are you trying to bury?"