Chapter Twenty-One: You, Fit to Be My Subject?

"Your Majesty, the matter you instructed has already been accomplished."
"In about a day's time, all the major tribes of the Western Territories will arrive at the Creek Moon Settlement."
Mosen spoke with reverence, his expression tinged with nervousness.
"Withdraw for now, and remember to arrange a guest room later."
The Shadow Emperor nodded lightly, giving a faint order, then glanced at Lingye and issued another command.
"Yes..."
Mosen dared not delay, respect flashing in his eyes. He hurriedly bowed deeply and left to carry out his tasks.
After Mosen departed, the Shadow Emperor slowly walked to the seat of honor and sat down.
A profound light flickered in his eyes; in his heart, he gradually sank into contemplation.
Little Jin’er and Lingye dared not disturb him, sitting quietly to the side, awaiting his word.
Whoosh...
Not long after, a cold wind suddenly swept through the council hall. As the breeze rolled in, the figure of a middle-aged man clad in a black and gold fur robe, emanating chilling and formidable energy, materialized visibly from mist to reality.
The newcomer was none other than King Chujiang!
"Your Majesty, the Northern Border is in upheaval."
King Chujiang stepped forward, dropping to one knee and bowing respectfully to the Shadow Emperor, his voice deep and grave.
"Three hundred sixty-eight nations—excluding the annihilated Azure Sky, the remaining three hundred sixty-six have all gathered in one place within an hour!"
"The shadow soldiers acting under your decree fought desperately to resist; now, only ten thousand remain!"
"Qingli and the two quasi-emperors of Han Yue have suffered grievous wounds."
"I have come to request permission to join the battle!"
Without delay, a cold gleam flashed in King Chujiang's eyes as his deep voice rang out. The Shadow Emperor's expression grew faintly dark.
"No need."
"Follow me—let us destroy the enemy!"
Without hesitation, the Shadow Emperor swept his broad sleeve, enveloping Little Jin’er, Lingye, and King Chujiang. With a single step, their figures vanished!
Vanishing along with them was the ethereal Yellow Springs flowing outside the valley of Creek Moon Settlement...
When they reappeared, they were already thousands of miles away amid the snowy expanse—a boundless snowfield.
Endless wind and snow swirled across the land, cold gales howled, and a palpable aura of slaughter pervaded the air!
Below, thousands of spectral shadow soldiers guarded a woman clad in battle armor, her body drenched in blood, at the very center with grim determination.
Outside the shadow soldiers, a dense mass of millions formed a vast army!
Above the army, dozens of quasi-emperors hovered in the air, their eyes coldly fixed upon the encircled shadow soldiers, showing not a trace of mercy!
"Your Majesty!"
"It's the Shadow Emperor!"
"His Majesty has arrived in person!"
Suddenly, someone shouted, and the shadow soldiers all raised their heads, gazing up with excitement at the Shadow Emperor.
The quasi-emperors above the army, upon noticing the change among the shadow soldiers, grew visibly tense, beads of sweat breaking out on their foreheads as they exchanged uneasy glances, uncertain how to proceed.
The Shadow Emperor—his name alone was enough to command awe!
To witness him in person was another matter entirely.
Though the Shadow Emperor's aura was faint and his expression calm, he emanated an indescribable sense of oppression.
That day, when he annihilated tens of thousands of quasi-emperors with a wave of his hand, seemed as vivid as if it had happened a moment ago.
No one dared speak. No one dared move.
Each feared that a single displeasure might mean their instant death at the Shadow Emperor's hand...
Crack...
"Qingli, greets Your Majesty..."
At that moment, Qingli, the woman guarded at the center, suddenly coughed up blood, struggling to rise and kneel on one knee before the Shadow Emperor, her right hand pressed to her chest in a respectful salute.
"Your servant, greets Your Majesty!"
The shadow soldiers followed suit, each kneeling on one knee in Qingli’s manner, saluting the Shadow Emperor with utmost reverence.
In an instant, their voices thundered across the land!
With a wave, the Shadow Emperor released a gentle breeze, soothing the wounds within the shadow soldiers’ bodies. His calm gaze swept over the dozens of quasi-emperors, his voice devoid of emotion as it sounded:
"This... does not follow the rules."
His words were soft and slow, yet they echoed across the wind-swept plain.
As they reached the ears of the quasi-emperors, a chill sank into their hearts, and an endless cold climbed their backs!
After a moment’s silence, a middle-aged man dressed in black stepped forward, cupping his hands respectfully to the Shadow Emperor and speaking indignantly:
"Your Majesty!"
"Most of us from the Northern Cold Kingdom have obeyed the rules; aside from the few rebels you punished, no one else has harbored treacherous thoughts."
"I am but a humble commoner, stubborn perhaps, but versed in reason!"
"Had Your Majesty arrived in person, I would have surrendered tens of thousands of troops without protest!"
"But—this fallen princess, possessing only the cultivation of a quasi-saint..."
"I am not convinced!"
"I beg Your Majesty to rebuke this person, to comfort your loyal subjects!"
After speaking, the middle-aged quasi-emperor maintained his deep bow, his face upright and resolute, exuding an air of righteous authority.
Yet those around him turned pale, terror in their eyes as they glanced at the still calm Shadow Emperor, instinctively retreating a distance from the speaker!
Even among the armored millions below, most faces were white with disbelief as they looked at the middle-aged quasi-emperor.
"You think yourself worthy to be my subject?"
The Shadow Emperor showed no anger; rather, he found it somewhat amusing. His calm gaze settled on the middle-aged quasi-emperor, his voice betraying no emotion.
This man had first declared his stance, then demeaned himself as a commoner, offering flattery before shifting blame to Qingli, and finally declared himself a servant seeking justice.
Did the Shadow Emperor not see through his schemes?
When the quasi-emperors of the Northern Border besieged the Valley of Longevity, where was this loyal subject’s devotion?
"Your Majesty, I am but a humble commoner—naturally unworthy."
The middle-aged quasi-emperor’s eyes flashed with a barely perceptible malice as he bent lower, again cupping his hands respectfully:
"But my sincere loyalty..."
Before he could finish, he felt a chilling force descend upon him!
Looking up, he saw the Shadow Emperor pointing at him!
"You deserve death."
A calm voice was all he heard. Before he could react, his body exploded, dissolving into a mist of blood!
"You may ignore the heavens and disrespect the spirits..."
"But my rules must be remembered."
Having done this, the Shadow Emperor’s calm gaze swept over the crowd, his voice drifting out:
"If such slaughter happens again, there will be no living thing left in the Northern Border."
At these words, a deeper chill penetrated all hearts; no one dared even to breathe.
"Take care of matters. The rest—keep them for training."
After a brief pause, the Shadow Emperor ignored the quasi-emperors, turned to King Chujiang, and issued a quiet command, then swept up the thousands below, along with Lingye and Little Jin’er, and strode away.
"Understood."
King Chujiang wasted no time, bowing respectfully to the Shadow Emperor.
Only after the Shadow Emperor had long departed did King Chujiang rise slowly, a domineering aura gathering around him as a sinister smile touched his lips:
"Cold Prison..."
At those words, the temperature in a radius of tens of thousands of miles plummeted!
A chilling wind arose in the world, sweeping with wild abandon as snow and ice grew ever fiercer!
At the same time, a terrifying force erupted from King Chujiang, surging to the heavens!
"Quasi-emperor at the peak—yet his might rivals a true emperor..."
The quasi-emperors felt their hearts tighten, staring intently at the imposing figure in black and gold, his aura cold and domineering, their expressions filled with grave concern.