Chapter Seventeen: When the Emperor's Sword Points, What Should Be Done?

"Princess, please give the order!"

Tens of thousands of shadow soldiers fell to one knee, their voices thunderous as they called out.

In an instant, the roar was like a tidal wave, shaking the heavens and earth.

"Three days ago, Bai Ling, the divine envoy of the Celestial Dynasty, slaughtered all the citizens of our Cold Moon Kingdom. Every soldier was slain and forged into war puppets!"

"Our mountains and rivers are shattered, our homeland destroyed!"

Gazing at the respectful figures stretching across the plain, a deep glint flashed in Qing Li's eyes, her cold voice echoing across the land.

No one among the shadow soldiers spoke. At her words, each of them trembled; a trace of blood flickered in their eyes.

"Had the Emperor not intervened, how could we exist now?"

"Though we are souls of the dead, we have been granted the path of spiritual cultivation!"

"At the banks of the Forgotten River, he protected us, restored our nation, and let us see our loved ones again!"

Qing Li's voice turned colder, each syllable deliberate, resounding over the plain and exploding in the hearts of tens of thousands of cultivators.

"Such a great kindness—how can it ever be repaid?"

At these words, Qing Li's eyes grew even deeper. She slammed her long spear into the ground, making it tremble; the soldiers stiffened, their hearts pounding.

Such a debt of gratitude—death itself would not suffice to repay it!

Thinking thus, every soldier's eyes burned red, guilt rising from within. Not a single one dared to speak.

Seeing this, Qing Li said no more. Her aura gradually calmed, and she spoke lightly:

"If the Emperor points his sword, what should we do?"

"Slaughter them all!"

In an instant, tens of thousands of shadow soldiers raised their heads, eyes shot with blood, weapons held high as they shouted in unison.

Indeed!

The Emperor had granted them a second life.

It was the Emperor who saved their homeland.

He revived their loved ones.

Such a kindness from the Emperor could not be repaid, not even in death.

If the Emperor pointed his sword, then with flesh and blood they must repay this grace of rebirth!

"Kill!"

Without hesitation, a cold gleam flashed in Qing Li's eyes as she shouted.

"Kill!"

Tens of thousands of shadow soldiers roared as one and charged at the thousands of Celestial soldiers ahead.

In an instant, they were swallowed up.

Meanwhile, amidst the clouds—

"Grandmaster, this elder sister’s methods are truly remarkable."

Little Jin’er gazed thoughtfully at Qing Li below, her eyes contemplative as she murmured to herself.

"This girl is indeed clever," the Yin Emperor nodded in agreement, his voice calm. "She knows when to advance and retreat, is capable, understands the stakes, and her resolve is commendable. Her talent is outstanding. If she were not disloyal to the Underworld, I would not mind guiding her to help her achieve the rank of Immortal Emperor."

Jin’er nodded thoughtfully, her eyes pondering. Suddenly, as if recalling something, she tugged at the Yin Emperor’s sleeve and asked, "Grandmaster, when will the Underworld reopen? Father said that once you return, the Underworld would surely reappear. But these days, I haven’t heard a word about it."

"Soon." The Yin Emperor smiled and said no more.

He already had plans in his heart regarding the reopening of the Underworld.

If the Underworld were to return to the world, it must do so with unparalleled might, crushing all enemies!

On the one hand, this would intimidate the Celestial Dynasty; on the other, it would serve as a warning to all races of the heavens.

Only through a baptism of endless slaughter on the day the Underworld reopened could they buy more time.

Once the Lord of the Celestial Dynasty learned of this, he surely would not act in person, but tests and probes would be inevitable...

The Yin Emperor had already made his decision.

Now was the time to hone the blade.

When the blade was sharp enough, he would unite the Three Realms, Six Mysteries, and Seven Star Sea outside the Immortal Domain of Tianyuan. Then, using this as a foundation, the Underworld would reopen.

Let the Yellow Springs pave the path to the stars, and the other shore flowers blossom and scatter.

Even should an Immortal Emperor descend, what could they do?

All was prepared, save for—

The blade that would slaughter all races!

"Later, return to Longevity Valley and make preparations," he said after a pause. "I intend to seal the Ashura once more."

With that, the Yin Emperor turned to King Chujiang, gave a quiet command, and said no more.

King Chujiang dared not delay; he bowed in respect and withdrew to carry out the order.

"Grandmaster, why did King Chujiang’s cultivation fall from Immortal Emperor to quasi-emperor? Did the Ten Lords of Yama rely on external force for their power?"

After King Chujiang left, Jin’er’s eyes flickered with thought as she voiced her doubt.

The Ten Lords of Yama had once suppressed all realms with the peak power of Immortal Emperors. If the collapse of the Underworld caused their power to drop to quasi-emperor, it seemed too far-fetched.

Moreover, after tens of thousands of years, the Ten Lords of Yama still lingered at quasi-emperor—how could they be so feeble?

This was not at all the demeanor the Ten Lords of Yama should possess.

At her words, the Yin Emperor fell silent for a while before answering quietly, "In your view, when the Lord of the Celestial Dynasty reappeared, what realm of cultivation had he reached?"

"Daring to seize the endless universe so decisively after your departure, Grandmaster, he must be at least half a step into Transcendence, or not far from it," Jin’er analyzed seriously.

"If you were the Lord of the Celestial Dynasty, and learned that your ten old foes were growing rapidly, what would you do?"

The Yin Emperor gently rubbed Jin’er’s head, his gaze drifting to the distant sky, his voice calm and unreadable.

"I understand," Jin’er nodded, murmuring to herself. "The Ten Lords of Yama, once supreme, wielded Immortal Emperor power to suppress all realms. In aptitude and character, they were the finest of their kind."

"If they wished to reclaim their Immortal Emperor status, at most it would take a few thousand years. But there was no one who could buy them those few thousand years."

The Yin Emperor nodded slightly, his eyes lingering for a long moment on the tens of thousands of shadow soldiers below, now gathering for battle, before he murmured, "The matter in the Northern Territory is settled for now. Come with me to the Western Region."

"Wherever Grandmaster goes, Jin’er will follow!"

Jin’er stuck out her tongue playfully and grinned.

With that, the Yin Emperor smiled and shook his head, took a step forward, and both their figures vanished.

When they reappeared, they stood in a place of endless yellow sands, winds howling in every direction.

All around was barren desolation, save for a small, battered town not far away, perched atop the sands with a few shadowy figures moving within.

"What a thick demonic aura... yet it feels strange..."

Staring at the little town, Jin’er frowned, a trace of solemnity in her eyes.

"Our purpose here is precisely this demonic aura," the Yin Emperor replied with a faint smile. Taking Jin’er’s hand, he walked toward the town.

Soon, they had entered, following the aura to its source.

"Hit him! Beat him hard!"

"Little wolf cub, dare to steal from me? I’ll break your legs today!"

"Orphaned brat, deserves to starve!"

A rough voice rang out from a nearby alley, the sound of smashing objects echoing. Jin’er’s brow lifted, a chill flashing in her gaze.

"Grandmaster, may I kill here?"

The Yin Emperor said nothing, merely shook his head with a sigh, and led Jin’er into the alley...