Chapter 197 - Humanity's Top Immortal! (1)
With a "Hmph", charming as it might be, the Divine Dawn Empress' beauty was hidden beneath a shroud of blood-red lightning snakes. You couldn't see her stunning face or her graceful figure. Clad in an imperial robe and crown, she exuded a beauty that was more felt than seen.
"We obey the decree!" The hundred thousand Sword Cultivators knelt, their eyes blazing red with fanaticism. For decades, they had honed their sword skills. But with no outlet for their fiery passion, their lives slipped away. Their swords remained sharp, yet their hearts rusted with sorrow.
What a bitter fate it was, to be a sword without a cause! They couldn't unsheathe their swords. But inside the Sword Tombs, they trained day and night, dreaming of this moment to serve their nation with fiery hearts.
Decades of sword sharpening burst forth in divine brilliance today!
Today, these hundred thousand Sword Cultivators overwhelmed five hundred thousand Ancestral Temple Guards. An old man and three women faced the powerhouses of the Azure Leaf faction!
Silent no more, their roar shook the heavens!
From now on, the Sword Cultivators would serve as the Prime Minister of the Divine Dawn Immortal Empire and the three deans of the Grand Temple Academy. The citizens of the Heavenly Realm all had high expectations!
"They have finally found their life's purpose," Yun Xiao thought, aware that this was the happiest moment for Sword Saint Sun and his three aunts. Seeing them tearful, his own eyes reddened slightly.
Then, with a solemn stride, Yun Xiao walked into the blood-stained battlefield, declaring, "I killed these people, so the treasures are mine. No one touch them!"
"..." The crowd was speechless.
They watched, dumbfounded, as Yun Xiao, under the watchful eyes of the Divine Dawn Empress, embarked on a gleeful treasure-hunting spree, starting with the wealthiest person—Ye Qingtian.
Whether it was magic treasures, Saint Stones, or other cultivation resources, they were all sprawled out amidst the gore and blood! Along the rivers of blood, layers of dazzling Saint Stones shone, a sight so spectacular it was beyond words. Corpses danced with treasures. Blood and magic treasure vied for brilliance. This further proved a truth—the essence of the path of Immortals was to kill for treasure!
"He sure doesn't hold back, does he?"
"He didn't even ask the Empress for permission!"
The people were torn between laughter and tears.
"It was the billion ancestors who killed them, but the credit, indeed, goes to Yun Xiao!"
Everyone knew the dire straits they were in when the Sword Demon suppressed the Divine Dawn Empress. But Yun Xiao had managed to awaken the spirits of the wronged. Countless eyes saw him single-handedly sweep the battlefield, as elusive as a shadow.
"Damn, is this guy reincarnated from a miser? I get the Saint Stones, but he's not even letting go of a single Spirit Stone?"
"Shoot! I was hoping to snag a few leftovers later!"
"Let's scatter, folks!"
The crowd was dumbstruck.
"Yun Xiao," the Divine Dawn Empress' eyes, entwined in lightning, fixed on the young man, her gaze electric. "Did I ever say these treasures were yours? The possessions of these traitors are the Empire's property..."
Yun Xiao paused, then shook his head. "Impossible, the billion ancestors of our Sword Cultivators just said these are my rewards. If Your Majesty denies me, it's oppression against our lineage. I'll take this to the Sword Dao Monument for justice!"
"..." The Divine Dawn Empress was speechless. After a long silence, she huffed and said slowly, "Fine, the possessions they carried are yours, but the treasuries, properties, and mines of the Azure Leaf faction belong to me!"
"You're the real skinflint..." Yun Xiao was stunned. Too naive! What the Divine Dawn Empress wanted was the real jackpot. He had been too hasty. As for the masses of the Heavenly Realm and the hundred thousand Sword Cultivators, they were seeing stars watching the two happily dividing the spoils.
"I feel like Her Majesty and him are more suited for each other."
"If Yun Xiao becomes humanity's top Immortal, that'd be really something."
"Two maidens serving one man? Tsk, tsk..."
The crowd was already dreaming up the details.
At this moment, the Heavenly Realm was shaken by the deaths of the Azure Leaf faction's bigshots and geniuses. Yet, the two at the eye of the storm were utterly calm.
"After you're done, return to Chen Heavenly Mansion immediately," the Divine Dawn Empress commanded sternly, her tone brooking no argument.
"Are you busy with something else?" Yun Xiao asked softly.
"Of course, I'm busy!" The Divine Dawn Empress’ voice was icy. "You just killed the strong and the gifted, but the bulk of the Azure Leaf faction, entrenched in the Immortal Empire's power structures, are the real challenge. Rooting them out and executing them will take time... And as expected, to save their skins, they'll soon seek refuge with the demons."
Yun Xiao understood this all too well.
The ages of the Ancestral Temple Guards ranged from twenty to thirty. After these noble scions enjoyed the riches and resources of the Grand Temple and Ancestral Temple, they would ascend to the higher echelons of the Immortal Empire. They would gain true influence and power, commanding the wind and rain.
Why was the Divine Dawn Empress unaware of the dispatch of five hundred thousand Ancestral Temple Guards here? Simple. In terms of espionage, intelligence, and control over the Heavenly Realm, the Azure Leaf faction wielded even greater influence than her!
The fact that the Divine Dawn Empress resorted to using the Nine Heavens Immortal Army for city patrols spoke volumes. In reality, she had very few resources at her disposal!
In the capital of the Heavenly Realm, every passerby in the streets, every waiter in the inns, every matchmaker in the pleasure houses, could be a spy cultivated by the Azure Leaf faction... Such a method of control, subtle and pervasive, was the true mark of mastery.
That's why she had been so constrained before!
Now that the higher-ups of the Azure Leaf faction were dead. Their future had been taken out in one fell swoop. It was like a body without a head, roots cut off, leaving only a cumbersome torso and limbs.
Though bulky and unwieldy, given time, it could be consumed bit by bit!
the Divine Dawn Empress was preparing for war with the Demon Continent. She had to thoroughly excise this cancer. She was truly busy every moment.
Once the decree to eradicate entire families was issued, all the noble houses in the Heavenly Realm immediately began to resist, betraying their nation. As expected, battles had already erupted across the realm.
"I must leave now," the Divine Dawn Empress said, turning to depart.
"Wait," Yun Xiao called out, "Is your identity exposed now?"
"If things have gone as expected, after today's upheaval, it's likely been revealed," the Divine Dawn Empress responded calmly.
No wonder she seemed less concerned about hiding it!
"Are you sure?"
"Quite sure. When I killed Eternal Joy, and you were involved, the Demon Emperors probably began to have suspicions. This latest interaction with you confirms it," the Divine Dawn Empress explained. Her implication was clear. Her dual identities, both having interacted with Yun Xiao, made it easy to connect the dots.
Moon Fairy hadn't yet penetrated the Demon continent's decision-making layer. Yun Xiao had been working hard to win over Lady Hua Lian, but on major issues, she remained tight-lipped.
"This means the purpose behind the War of Immortals is now exposed, rendering it useless," Yun Xiao remarked, somewhat regretfully.
"It can't be helped," the Divine Dawn Empress looked at him, her voice soft, "Plans can't always keep up with changes, and you, indeed, are an unpredictable factor."
"You don't seem too upset?" Yun Xiao inquired.
"Why should I be?" the Divine Dawn Empress smiled faintly. "Sure, my initial plan of wiping out the young geniuses of the Demon Continent failed. But you helped me eradicate the Azure Leaf faction, solidifying my reign. In the long run, the gains are greater!"
That made sense. It was like curing a major illness first!
Taking care of a few symptoms solved nothing fundamental if you were chronically ill.
"So, does this mean the War of Immortals won't continue?" Yun Xiao asked.
"Yes." the Divine Dawn Empress nodded.
"Hmm. Not necessarily." Yun Xiao grinned slyly. "I might have a way to force them back into the game."
"Oh?" At his words, the Divine Dawn Empress’ expectations rose.
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