Chapter 416: Chapter 415: Imperial City Chaos, Suppressing the World
The long night was anything but peaceful.
Scattered Ghostly Evil Beasts appeared here and there, attacking the city.
With Li Jing on the night watch, there surely wouldn’t be any problems.
In fact, he didn’t even have to lift a finger the whole night; the scattered Ghostly Evil Beasts were taken care of by Linglong and Qingfeng before they could even get close to the city.
Linglong and Qingfeng have now rightfully earned their status as "mature" Immortal Items and can hunt monsters on their own.
What’s regrettable is...
Due to the change in experience rules, the sporadically appearing Ghostly Evil beasts couldn’t bring real gains for Li Jing.
Someone was not pleased about this.
If they’re going to come, they should make it more intense!
They shouldn’t just come in groups of tens and twenties, who are they looking down on?
As Linglong and Qingfeng were left out to hunt monsters, Li Jing didn’t idle and used the time to complete the components of the combination Immortal Item sniper rifle he promised Jiang Yini.
After a long night of effort, the required parts were finally crafted.
He had already made a large portion of the parts, there weren’t many left.
The reason it took half the night was due to the stringent requirement of the parts’ shape towards the end of crafting a combination tool; the later stages were far more challenging than the beginning.
Luckily, things went relatively smoothly, even leaving quite a plenty of materials unused.
Having nothing to do, Li Jing even managed to assemble the sniper rifle according to the blueprints given by Jiang Yini.
You know what...
The assembled sniper rifle, which was more than ten meters long and had a caliber of forty-nine centimeters, was so appealing to Li Jing.
It was a man’s romance.
Those who understand, understand.
It was a shame Jiang Yini didn’t give him the Immortal Item core, otherwise he could’ve test it with a couple of shots to see the power of this sniper rifle that supposedly matches the strength of an Immortal Item.
After this night...
Smoke Eye has reached Level 8 of Immortal Item, which is the maximum that Li Jing can nurture for now.
What’s gratifying is...
The repair rate of Unnamed Taoist Tool has increased by 1%.
With a rough estimation, it increases 1% every three days.
This rate wasn’t high...
But with Li Jing soon to step into the Ninth Realm after the next level up, there’s hope for the future.
...
The next early morning...
The explorers of the present world, including those from Longyu, who were influenced by subtlety, gradually woke up.
After a good night’s sleep, they were in high spirits.
Li Jing didn’t stay on the city defenses; he quietly left while maintaining the Silent Shadow state active.
At noon, a few hours later...
Li Jing successfully reached a position where he could see the Da Xia Imperial City.
Looking from afar...
A vast part of the previously towering Da Xia Imperial City had collapsed, the area of most severe collapse seemed to be where the palace was located, and more than half of it had turned into ruins.
It’s quite clear...
During the time Li Jing missed, not only had Emperor Xia Zhengyang of Da Xia died suddenly, but a horrific battle had also broken out in the palace.
Looking again at the top of the city wall...
A small part of the wall was missing.
On the remaining intact wall where the city defence army of Da Xia should’ve been, there were various modern turrets instead, with flags of different factions fluttering everywhere.
Gazing at the palace, there were faint flags of three factions fluttering there.
White Hawk, Supreme Church, Daohe Alliance.
Upon seeing this scene, Li Jing was stupified.
These "three brothers" sure pop up everywhere.
From what it seems now...
Everything indeed seems like what he thought.
Emperor Xia Zhengyang of Da Xia died all of a sudden, along with the nearly annihilated Da Xia’s military power, the forces from the present world pretty much all jumped out.
Looking at the different faction flags on city walls, those who knew would understand that they wanted to take advantage of the chaos to gain more benefits; those who didn’t know would think they were about to perform a rescue-the-king drama.
Li Jing took a rough look...
Longyu and Northern God Country didn’t participate and stayed out of it.
However, many other countries led by the God Country in the Northern Major League did participate.
Shaking his head and retracting his gaze, Li Jing didn’t go into the city but chose to land at Longyu’s stationed spot.
Raising his hand to press the communication earpiece, he was about to check if he could contact Qi Chen and others through the emergency communication channel, but he suddenly felt something and entered the Little Universe.
Almost simultaneously...
In the Heavenly Palace of the Little Universe, the meditating Jiang Yini slowly opened her eyes, her gaze filled with divine light.
Li Jing appeared before her and gave a slight smile.
"Congratulations."
Jiang Yini looked up when she heard the voice and gave a charming smile.
At this moment, she had successfully broken through to the Sixth Realm.
Having just broken through, she was naturally in a good mood.
Seeing that he had come to congratulate her as soon as he sensed her breakthrough, her mood was even better.
"You’re quite attentive. How have things been outside while I’ve been meditating?"
"A bit bad."
Li Jing replied, saying,
"Shi Miaoying has appeared and brought the Sky Demon, leading to the loss of at least 70% of the Da Xia’s military and sect disciples who were fighting back the Beast Tide. If there isn’t an accident, most of the strong ones over the Fifth realm should be dead. Then the Emperor of Da Xia also died and now Da Xia has neither an emperor or soldiers, it’s in chaos."
"..."
Jiang Yini...
During the meditation, she wasn’t aware of time passing.
Hearing Li Jing say that, she apparently missed the time when the Beast Tide had arrived.
But that’s not the point...
The point is...
Demonstrating all these events, she was shocked.
Gazing at Jiang Yini’s bewildered face, Li Jing gave a wry smile, saying,
"Sisi is still in meditation and hasn’t completed her breakthrough yet. Let’s go to Canglong Mountain and talk so we won’t disturb her."
Having said that, he moved with thought and instantly brought Jiang Yini to a pavilion atop Canglong Mountain.
Then...
He explained all the ins and outs in detail, including his extinguishing of the Beast Tide’s source in the Northern Polar Region.
Listening to Li Jing’s detailed explanation, Jiang Yini fell into a long silence.
Li Jing single-handedly solved the century-long Beast Tide, even nipping it in the bud...
Though she didn’t know the scale of the Beast Tide...
But when dealing with it, all the master-level experts of Da Xia were called to action.
Anyone with significant abilities would join the battle against the Beast Tide.
Given that, the scale of the Beast Tide must’ve been massive.
Despite the entire Da Xia high-ranking experts’ joint attack that was necessary to deal with, Li Jing annihilated Beast Tide single-handedly?
If these things were claimed by others, Jiang Yini would definitely not believe them.
But in Li Jing’s case, she believed it, even if it seemed absurd.
This guy in front of her did big things out of nowhere; it’s almost a daily routine...
However, there was one thing right now that she particularly cared about.
In the Heavenly Palace, she couldn’t see the outside.
But in the tower at the top of Canglong Mountain, clear view of the current situation inside the Little Universe was visible to her.
The Little Universe, which was almost entirely filled by Li Jing, now has vast open spaces in the far distance so extensive that one can’t see the end.
Clearly.
The Little Universe had gotten bigger.
And it increased by more than a small margin.
The Little Universe was originally Li Jing’s storage space. The size of the earth realm is closely related to his cultivation level. This expansion of the vast territory signifies that...
Looking at Li Jing who was quietly waiting for her to speak, Jiang Yini hesitated whether to ask him for confirmation, but eventually decided not to speak up.
Nothing else matters.
The key is that this is too demoralizing!
She guzzled oodles of books before she could comprehend and needed to meditate for a few days for the breakthrough.
While somebody else was roaming around outside and then just broke through...
This guy is simply a monster!
Now, he should be at the Eighth Realm...
Pretending not to notice that Li Jing had made a breakthrough, Jiang Yini asked.
"Have you contacted our people?"
"I was thinking of contacting them when I just arrived near the Imperial City camp, but then you woke up from your breakthrough."
Li Jing shrugged.
"Hmm."
Jiang Yini pursed her lips and said.
"Let’s go out first, contact the exploration team, and understand the current situation in the Imperial City."
"Sure."
Li Jing agreed.
...
After leaving the Little Universe, Jiang Yini contacted Ji Youyu and agreed to meet at the camp left by the exploratory Heavenly King Group.
Not much later.
Ji Youyu arrived alone.
Upon seeing Li Jing, she smiled.
"Counselor Li, it’s quite difficult to see you."
Li Jing smiled upon hearing this and said.
"I’ve been busy with things since I entered the Secret Realm, haven’t I?"
He then asked,
"Where are Qi Chen and the others?"
"They’re still at the front line and haven’t returned."
Ji Youyu shook her head and softly said.
"Thanks to Counselor Li, your information was timely. Otherwise, our Longyu and the Northern Major League, along with our other allies’ exploration teams, would have certainly suffered heavy losses. Even though we had preliminarily grasped from you that practicing the Sky Demon Great Method is tantamount to turning oneself into an Alien Species, this sudden event really caught us off guard. This incident happened too abruptly and mysteriously."
Before Li Jing could speak, Jiang Yini said.
"The incident has already occurred, so there’s no point discussing it. Besides, our Longyu and the Northern Major League along with our other allies were able to cut their losses in time, which is already a good outcome."
She then asked Ji Youyu.
"What’s the current situation in Da Xia Imperial City?"
"Not very well."
Ji Youyu shook her head and said.
"Upon Xia Zhengyang’s death, several well-developed princes and grandsons rose at once, in the blink of an eye. It’s ridiculous that the formidable ghostly evil beast that killed Xia Zhengyang didn’t cause many deaths but the princes and grandsons who jumped out turned the palace into a river of blood."
With that, she pointed in the direction of the palace.
"You and Counsellor Lee should have just seen, most of the palace has been ruined. That wasn’t done by the ghostly evil beast, it was completely the handiwork of those princes and grandsons. Of course, part of it is due to the haste of intervening by the forces of the present world."
Jiang Yini fell silent upon hearing this.
Li Jing looked at her with a strange expression.
When they first got back, he thought the palace was destroyed due to the fight between Shi Miaoxue and Shi Miaoying. Turns out it was the sons and grandsons of Xia Zhengyang?
HIs direct line...
Was more troubling than he imagined!
It might be hard for Xia Qianqian to genuinely stand up in this situation.
Meanwhile, Ji Youyu continued.
"The situation now is that a batch of Xia Zhengyang’s princes and grandsons are dead, and few capable ones have gathered some present world forces to keep some dignity. They barely have some sense, knowing that if they continue to fight, the entire court of Da Xia may be completely ruined, reducing it to a point of no return. However, no one can accurately predict the situation that follows."
Having said that, she continued.
"At the moment, those capable princes and grandsons are all slandering each other, this is certainly a deadlock where no one can deal with another. Ultimately, who will be in charge of Da Xia might depend on a battle of life and death, the survivor can ascend the throne."
Without waiting for Li Jing and Jiang Yini to comment, Ji Youyu sighed deeply.
"We from Longyu and the Northern God Country have decided not to participate in this affair, what’s particularly annoying is that Princess Wenqu is currently seeking the support of both our parties."
Hearing Ji Youyu mention Xia Qianqian, Jiang Yini subconsciously glanced at Li Jing.
Seeing Li Jing’s grin, he looked towards Ji Youyu.
"Commissioner Ji, from what you say, neither Longyu nor the Northern God Country have refused Princess Wenqu yet?"
"If it were a normal situation, we would have definitely refused."
Ji Youyu responded.
"Leaving aside the Northern God Country, we from Longyu always maintain a neutral attitude in such matters. The problem now is that the benefits promised by Xia Zhengyang for fighting against the beast tide for Longyu and the Northern God Country have not been delivered yet. If it’s not Xia Qianqian who has worked with us that ascends the throne, we might end up with nothing."
"Ah, this..."
Li Jing was taken aback.
This was a problem he truly hadn’t considered.
Now Ji Youyu mentioned it, he realized it.
Xia Zhengyang is gone, and who comes next is uncertain.
No matter who it is, there’s a high chance that any effort or manpower committed by Longyu and the Northern God Country will have been for naught.
The one to finally seize the throne absolutely won’t be someone easy to deal with, and they’re likely to have support from forces like White Hawk.
Can the forces of White Hawk divide benefits with Longyu and the Northern God Country?
Putting aside the relations between those forces.
The Western forces led by White Hawk and some Eastern forces stood with sect forces during the fight against the beast tide, now which sects are left?
Their benefits, have already slipped away...
Looking at the current situation.
Unless Xia Qianqian takes the throne, Longyu and the Northern God Country might truly end up with nothing.
As for the present world forces’ stances, Li Jing had explained to Jiang Yini in the Small Universe.
Therefore, she had a rough estimate of the benefit originally meant for Longyu and the Northern God Country falling into the hands of White Hawk and other forces.
Quietly glancing at Li Jing, Jiang Yini asked.
"How is it going upstairs now?"
"No specific arrangements have been made yet."
Ji Youyu shook her head.
"However, if there are no surprises, Longyu will still choose not to pick a side. We cannot easily change our longstanding stance for the sake of benefits."
"Hmmm."
Jiang Yini nodded approvingly, then turned to someone else.
"As this matter relates to the national interest, could you make a little extra effort?"
?
Li Jing.
Before he could react, Jiang Yini said.
"Xia Qianqian gained her modern cultivation method through you. Among the entire Da Xia Dynasty, she is the only royal successor who isn’t practicing the Sky Demon Great Method. The present situation matters not only to the national interests of Longyu, but also to whether the Da Xia, which has changed its leader, can get back on track."
With that, she coughed lightly.
"You’ve done so much to eliminate the Beast Tide and eradicate its root problem for Da Xia to get back on track. Why not finish what you started?"
"..."
Li Jing.
On the other side.
Hearing Jiang Yini’s claim that Li Jing had eradicated the Beast Tide, Ji Youyu furrowed her brows.
Since when did the Beast Tide become something that Li Jing had exterminated?
She was indeed at the scene at the time and had reported on time.
However, the Beast Tide had remained unstoppable, and who knows how many people had perished. How did it become something that Li Jing had eradicated?
Just as she was filled with confusion, Ji Youyu stiffened.
When the Sky Demon descended and caused great chaos, she was not at the scene of the central defense line.
She was unaware that the Beast Tide was the result of Da Xia people’s transformation, but she did have the intel that the stricken Da Xia people had turned into Ghostly Evil Beasts.
And when she thought of the century-old Beast Tide that was supposed to arrive on time but didn’t appear...
Ji Youyu was very smart.
Just by guessing, she had figured out most of it.
Ji Youyu, surprised and suspicious, looked at Li Jing and asked.
"Actually, I haven’t had the chance to ask many questions to Counselor Li. You must have a lot of unreported information in your possession?"
Before Li Jing could speak, Jiang Yini rapidly gave a detailed account.
After listening to everything, Ji Youyu was surprised but turned her gaze to a certain someone, raising her hand to vote.
"I vote that Counselor Li should carry on with his kind deed."
Looking at her, Jiang Yini followed suit, raising her hand.
"Two to one."
"..."
Li Jing was speechless, suffocating with a laugh just as he was about to speak up.
But before he could speak, Jiang Yini coughed.
"It’s certainly inappropriate for Longyu’s official position to be involved in this matter. We might be forced to return empty-handed without your intervention this time. I know you’re perceptive, and with your abilities, you can discreetly help Xia Qianqian. She will surely ascend the throne smoothly. This kind of outcome is something both Longyu and the Jianghai Management Bureau would like to see."
Then she added.
"If you make this happen, I can give you anything you want, since the credit will ultimately be for the Jianghai Management Bureau alone."
Li Jing remained silent.
Jiang Yini’s promise was very enticing.
But truthfully, he had no current needs.
He was just a step away from the Ninth Realm. How many things in the modern world could catch his eye?
But then again.
On a broad level.
As a member of Longyu, he hoped for Longyu’s continued prosperity.
On a smaller level.
As a member of the Jianghai Management Bureau, if his bureau could profit greatly from this, he wouldn’t mind adding fuel to the fire.
If he were to truly do it, the task wouldn’t pose a difficulty for him.
After hesitating for a while, Li Jing looked at the beautiful woman with her expectant eyes awaiting his response. He exhaled a sigh and asked Ji Youyu.
"How long can the Secret Realm Passage in Heavenly Saint Land connecting the modern world last?"
Seeing a change in the topic, Ji Youyu furrowed her brows and then responded.
"One and a half months."
?
Li Jing was taken aback.
Normally, the length of time a Big Secret Realm remains open is only about half a month. As an odd exception, the Chongyuan Holy Realm can last for a month. The Heavenly Saint Land has been open for almost half a month, and it’s supposed to last for another one and a half months?
So this means...
The Secret Realm Passage will remain open for a full two months?
It wasn’t just Li Jing; even Jiang Yini, who also wasn’t aware of how much longer the Secret Realm Passage would last, was surprised.
"Has this been confirmed by the Research Institute? Are you sure there’s no mistake?"
"The results have been repeatedly confirmed by various research teams from different forces."
Ji Youyu replied and deftly steered the conversation back.
"Suppose, Counselor Li, you secretly support Princess Wenqu ascend the throne, not only would Longyu get the benefits originally promised by Xia Zhengyang, but we would also have ample time to gain more. With the current Da Xia recovering from a great disaster, Longyu could engage in various collaborations with the Da Xia. In this case, the Northern God Kingdom could also reap huge benefits, and they will undoubtedly be grateful."
Li Jing responded with a bitter smile.
"Alright, I will handle this matter. The two of you don’t need to worry about it anymore."
Upon hearing his approval, Ji Youyu’s face brightened.
Jiang Yini, similarly pleased, looked jokingly at Ji Youyu.
"Commissioner Ji, you must clarify in your report that the Jianghai Management Bureau accomplished this."
"I understand. I won’t let anyone else take the credit."
Ji Youyu quickly nodded and then turned to Li Jing.
"If this matter is successful, my sect and I will certainly benefit. Counselor Li, if you don’t mind, I can later request the Holy Land to allow you to browse the library there."
Li Jing raised his eyebrows at these words.
"Is this true?"
"True as gold."
Ji Youyu was firm.
"Alright, that’s settled then."
Li Jing nodded.
Truth be told, he wasn’t that interested in the Canglan Holy Land’s library.
What he was really interested were the secrets of the realm where the Canglan Holy Land was located.
Not even Chen Yuran’s secluded Heavenly One Taoist school was in the exact same realm. Since it was a secret realm, there must be monsters, right?
Deciding on his next move, Li Jing didn’t linger. He got up and headed for the exit of the tent.
Jiang Yini, seeing this, rose to her feet.
"What are you planning to do?"
"This is quite a troublesome matter. It’s more appropriate to take quick action and eliminate the problem directly."
Li Jing responded, saying.
"I will only take responsibility for helping Xia Qianqian ascend the throne. As for the rest, the two of you can figure it out. Many thorny issues among the people we came with from Longyu this time. Be careful not to let others take the credit from the Jianghai Management Bureau."
With that, he turned and left.
Seeing Li Jing mysteriously avoiding giving his plan, Ji Youyu couldn’t help but frown.
She couldn’t imagine how Li Jing would ultimately act.
Jiang Yini, who was well-versed in his nature, tilted her head in thought, her expression becoming increasingly strange.
...
Da Xia Imperial City.
Xia Qianqian sat in her study at her mansion, clutching a confidential report with a troubled expression.
She didn’t mourn for Xia Zhengyang’s death.
A father who hadn’t looked at her straight until recent times due to Li Jing wasn’t worth her mourning.
But what really troubled her was.
Now her sibling and even cousins of the royalty were all vying for the throne with their utmost powers, yet she could do nothing.
Theoretically speaking.
The present situation is indeed the best opportunity for her to ascend to the throne as a queen.
But this opportunity has come too abruptly...
She was completely unprepared.
Essentially, as her rise had not been long, she hadn’t even had time to gain a steady footing in the Imperial City. What preparation could she have?
There is a saying in common parlance.
Opportunity is for those who are prepared.
Without preparation, how could she ascend to the throne?
The most vexing part was, she thought that she could gain the support of the superpowers in the big world, Longyu and the Northern God Kingdom, and thus have some hope to gain momentum.
However, both sides have yet to respond to her...
At the moment, all she can count on is Shi Miaoxue.
The question was, faced with rivals supported by various forces in the Big World, what could Shi Miaoxue do?
It was not even to mention that she was severely injured now.
Even if she were fit and well, I’m afraid she couldn’t do much.
If only her master was here...
No sooner had this thought flashed in her mind, than the voice of Li Jing resounded in her ears.
"Qianqian."
?
Xia Qianqian looked up in confusion.
Her eyes scanned around, there were no others in the study.
Was she hearing things?
Xia Qianqian blinked and the voice echoed in her ears again.
"Don’t dawdle, come to the courtyard."
!!!
Xia Qianqian.
Without thinking, she hurriedly got up and stepped out of the study.
...
After a moment.
Xia Qianqian saw Li Jing in the courtyard.
Seeing him, whom she had chosen to acknowledge as her master, Xia Qianqian felt as if she had a backer and she bowed in respectful greeting.
"Master, why have you come?"
"I didn’t plan to see you originally, but given the current situation, I have no choice."
Li Jing looked at her and said,
"I will help you secure your throne, but as for the rest, it depends upon yourself."
Xia Qianqian was taken aback upon hearing this.
She hadn’t even decided whether or not to ask Li Jing for help, yet he had taken the initiative.
With Li Jing’s help, wouldn’t the throne be hers for sure?
Just as she was about to say something, Li Jing took out the Smoke Eye and put it on to conceal his appearance and aura, and transformed into a booming thunderbolt, disappearing into the sky.
Xia Qianqian froze at the sight.
The next moment.
The wind and clouds changed in the high sky, and the heavens and earth changed color.
A fearful heavenly might quietly descended.
Upon the change of the world’s color, everyone in the entire Da Xia Imperial City, including those belonging to the current world’s forces, wore expressions like this:
???
When the dreadful heavenly might descended, their expressions were like this:
!!!
This was also part of the World Thunder Punishment.
This one, was totally different from that which Li Jing had formerly performed in the Imperial City, and totally beyond comprehension when compared with his actions back in the Capital of Longyu Country.
Now, he was.
At the late stage of the Eighth Realm.
Although his control over the rules could not yet be spoken of as total control.
But upon stepping into the Eighth Realm, it was simply incomparable to when he was in the Seventh Realm.
The terrifying and oppressive dark clouds not only covered the entire Da Xia Imperial City, but they extended out to unknown distances, engulfing even the settlements of current-world-forces nearby the Secret Realm Entrance.
With the descent of the heavenly might, it further materialized completely.
Even ordinary people with no cultivation could clearly sense what was happening.
Do you know what despair feels like?
At this moment, everyone in the Da Xia Imperial City and surrounding areas was trembling.
On the ground, Xia Qianqian with a pale face was looking up into the high sky.
In one of the secret rooms of her palace, Shi Miaoxue, who had paid a hefty price and seriously injured herself to kill Shi Miaoying, was also pale.
This TM...
What is this?
Forbidden Skill?
Can a Forbidden Skill reach this level!?
Shi Miaoxue was at the Eighth Realm.
Presently in the Da Xia Imperial City, her cultivation was the highest.
Aside from her, there were no other Eighth Realm cultivators in the entire Da Xia Imperial City.
As one who is already eligible to understand the power of the rules, she could clearly feel how terrifying this Forbidden Skill that descended upon the Da Xia Imperial City was, and what kind of rules it contained!
Thunder Punishment.
The power of the Heavenly Path...
"The Da Xia Dynasty is about to draw to a close, and the lives are in distress. All you common people care nothing about making progress, and only about who gets the power. I, the Guardian of the Heavenly Saint Land, now appoint the Ninth Princess of the Royal Family, Wenqu, as the reigning Empress. Whoever disagrees, dies."
A plain voice echoed in everyone’s ears in the Da Xia Imperial City and the surrounding areas.
This was the Voice of Divine Consciousness that Li Jing realized with his powerful Divine Consciousness.
Only Shi Miaoxue, who was still healing her wounds, recognized this.
As for those who did not, it didn’t matter.
At this moment, under the initial formation of the World Thunder Punishment, no one dared to disagree, and no one could speak.
In their minds, there was no shock, no dissatisfaction, only despair.
In the face of the power that could suppress everything, all they could do was despair...
"I hereby warn the People of the Big World, do not interfere too much in the affairs of the Heavenly Saint Land. Otherwise, death."
As the threatening words toward the People of the Big World echoed, the dark clouds in the sky quietly dispersed, and all oppression ceased to exist.
On the ground, Xia Qianqian was dumbfounded.
That’s it?
Is it over already?
And yet, she had to admit that this was enough.
No one would dare to defy Li Jing’s words...
She fell to the ground in exhaustion, covered her chest with her hand, and greedily sucked in deep breaths.
It wasn’t that she was overly excited.
Rather, it was that she had almost just been crushed by the terrifying suppression from the high heavens, and was on the verge of losing her mind...
...
