The ground trembled with lingering aftershocks.
The seventeenth Imperial Sovereign’s struggles were so ineffective that he couldn’t even launch a counterattack. It was clear that this Imperial Sovereign’s understanding of his personal authority was far inferior to Lu Lingzi’s understanding.
That was especially true of the wounds. They were innumerable. All the air from the 5,000,000-kilometer area poured into him, seeping into every crevice of his fleshly body and soul, as if to completely fill them. When the process was complete, the seventeenth Imperial Sovereign would be destroyed in body and soul.
The dramatic scene was so shocking that, almost instantly, people started showing up to see what was going on. Some came as their true selves, others sent divine will. Some had grave expressions, others were shocked, and there were some who seemed thoughtful. And yet all of them were equally taken aback!
“It’s hard to believe this Lu Lingzi has achieved such a deep level of understanding about this authority!”
“No wonder Grand Emperor Devilbird is taking him seriously. And it’s also no surprise that the Lan Clan’s plot against him failed so spectacularly!”
“And then there’s that Sir Blood Dust.... He’s definitely not somebody to take lightly. And he clearly has more secrets besides having the Netherflame Secret Magic. It’s just too bad that Lu Lingzi covered for him during his fight with Sir Westdevil.”
“Yeah, but it’s very telling that the heaven-devil formed from Sir Westdevil’s authority just up and fled. It was probably some unknown method that caused the heaven-devil to turn traitor.”
“That heaven-devil authority might be shockingly deadly, and can give the enlightened astonishingly quick progress. But the side effects can be very difficult to deal with. You’re constantly dealing with the danger of the heaven-devil rebelling and turning on you.”
As various parties reeled in shock, Xu Qing came to his own conclusions about what was going on.The empress’ arrival didn’t just lead to him sighing with relief. It also confirmed his previous speculation; the empress wanted to have the initiative here in the lands of the western Devilbirds. And the empress had seized that initiative just now, by taking all the air in a 5,000,000-kilometer area and directing it at the seventeenth Imperial Sovereign.
This was how to establish prestige. And it was also a way to send a message.
Xu Qing suddenly realized he’d come to a better understanding of how to handle important matters. It was very much in line with what he had learned from Master Seventh.
He looked over at the struggling seventeenth Imperial Sovereign. From the way the Imperial Sovereign’s face was distorted, Xu Qing could well imagine how terrifying it was to deal with that immense weight.
The empress’ face remained calm the entire time. And then, instead of outright killing him, shē waited until the very last moment before closing the blood-red eye on hēr forehead. Shē retracted the authority.
The moment that eye closed, the sun shē had summoned vanished. The air that was weighing down on the Imperial Sovereign was scattered by the wind.
Without that immense weight on him, the seventeenth Imperial Sovereign’s injuries quickly healed up. Then he blurred, vanished from the spot he occupied, and reappeared up in midair. There he looked at the empress, his expression complicated. He said nothing. He wasn’t the only one to react in such a way. The others who had come to watch the fight were equally silent. This demonstration of superiority, followed by clear humility, was what a truly powerful expert was like.
“Can you move?” the empress asked Xu Qing.
He quickly nodded.
“Then let’s go. We’re returning to the eastern Devilbirds.” The empress strode toward the horizon.
Xu Qing didn’t hesitate to fly up into the air and follow hēr.
And thus, the Imperial Sovereigns of the western Devilbirds looked on as the empress led Xu Qing away through the dome of heaven. Eventually, they disappeared over the horizon. No one attempted to block their path.
Sir Westdevil had apparently been forgotten. Dead was dead.
It was only the seventeenth Imperial Sovereign who looked over at Sir Westdevil’s corpse, which was a withered husk after having been attacked by the heaven-devil. Eventually, he sighed, cleared his thoughts, and left.
The trip to the west was over. The wind returned, blowing through the 5,000,000-kilometer area, and clearing the area of the gazes of all onlookers.
***
On the wing-like dao altar of the western Devilbirds, Grand Emperor Devilbird sat cross-legged looking at the scene play out. When it was all over, he retracted his gaze.
“How amusing,” he murmured. “Is shē really so confident I’ll let hēr do what shē wants?”
Cruel laughter rang out in response to his words. At the same time, a black figure wreathed in flames and chains appeared in midair. “Of course shē’s confident!”
Grand Emperor Devilbird looked up at the black-cloaked figure. A long moment passed, and then he laughed.
***
By now, the empress was nearing the border between the west and east. Xu Qing was following close behind. The empress hadn’t said anything during the journey, nor had Xu Qing. Thinking back to everything that happened in the west, he tried to come up with a more accurate theory about what was really going on.
After the empress arrived in the western Devilbird lands, Grand Emperor Devilbird issued orders that set the tone for what was to come. After that, most of the Imperial Sovereigns issued challenges.
Given the balance of power between the eastern and western Devilbirds, it’s not hard to figure out what’s going on. The Devilbirds from the two areas are at odds with each other.
That’s especially true considering the sensitive nature of Lu Lingzi’s status. He’s an apprentice of Grand Emperor Netherflame, and is also a consummate chosen among the eastern Devilbirds. He thwarted the Lan Clan’s plot, then accumulated enough bloodline power to become an Imperial Sovereign.
Then he did something really outstanding. He revealed the secret of Grand Emperor Netherflame’s secluded meditation facilities to everyone. Without shedding any blood, he united the Imperial Sovereigns of the eastern Devilbirds, and smoothly took over the power structures and resources of the Lan Clan.
During that time, he handed out numerous invitations to enter the secluded meditation facilities of Grand Emperor Netherflame, which secretly implied that he was actually plotting to kill certain people. That, in turn, broke down the barrier between the east and west, and ensured that the western Devilbirds could also get involved.
After analyzing all of this, Xu Qing was starting to realize why the western Devilbirds were acting in the way they were.
Lu Lingzi’s background, status, methods, and the fact that he was rising to prominence ensured that many in the Devilbird holy land were watching him now. However, there were some things that obviously weren’t so simple. That was why, after Grand Emperor Devilbird set the tone for things, the western Devilbirds had obviously been given an unstated mission to crush Lu Lingzi.
But the empress didn’t face that challenge head-on. Instead, I was sent to deliver challenges, which meant that shē kept the initiative.
Xu Qing could thus come to the conclusion that he had successfully accomplished his mission. That was why the empress had taken such forceful action when the seventeenth Imperial Sovereign showed up.
I guess the big question is whether or not Grand Emperor Devilbird saw through all of this. And if he did, does it mean that he had some reason for letting it all happen?
Xu Qing looked at the empress in front of him as he considered the matter. He had already come up with a possible answer to the question....
In that manner, time passed.
The empress was neither in a hurry nor moving slowly. As the afterglow of sunset shone onto the tenth Imperial Sovereign mountain, the rogue cultivators there looked up at the two returning figures. As they bowed their heads in excitement and reverence, Xu Qing and the empress landed on the mountain.
Upon entering the grand hall, Xu Qing bowed, then hesitated briefly before telling the empress about the red candle tattoo.
The empress listened, then calmly said, “And here I thought you were going to keep hiding it. Turn around and remove your outer robe.”[1]
Xu Qing immediately removed his outer robe and turned his back to show the candle tattoo. After studying it in detail, the empress’ eyes glittered in surprise.
“That candle doesn’t come from Revered Ancient,” shē said in a cool voice. “It’s from an ancient organization in the Ninth Star Ring. I’ve never heard of it transferring onto the body of a cultivator. But I do know that, when ignited, it can incinerate souls. I could help you seal it. However, to you, this thing can be both a detriment and a blessing. It just depends on how you use it. Therefore, I’ll leave it up to you whether or not to seal it.”
With that, shē walked to the end of the hall and sat down cross-legged.
Xu Qing considered the matter as he put his clothes back on. For the time being, he wasn’t going to ask the empress to seal it. He would study it further before making a final decision. Clasping hands, he bowed, then turned to leave.
That was when the empress’ voice once again echoed out. “Don’t leave the Imperial Sovereign mountain. In five days, you’ll take a command medallion from me to the Immortal Skills Hall of the eastern Devilbirds.”
Xu Qing blinked a few times and suddenly found himself thinking about his Eldest Brother. He turned to look at the empress. “Your Majesty, the eastern Devilbirds’ Immortal Skills Hall is where—”
The empress snorted coldly. “They sent out a notice yesterday inviting all eastern Devilbird Imperial Sovereigns to send emissaries to witness their grand immortal adept ceremony.
“They also notified everyone that the apprentice of the former grand immortal adept, Yue Dong, was competing with the current grand elder to earn the title of grand immortal adept. However, Yue Dong was defeated and taken captive by the grand elder.
“In five days, the Immortal Skills Hall will hold their succession ceremony, and will take Yue Dong’s Six Thieves Deceive Life away. The ceremony has to be approved by all of the Imperial Sovereigns, which is why everyone was invited to bear witness.”
An odd expression appeared on Xu Qing’s face. Obviously... the empress knew who Yue Dong really was. However, when he heard that his Eldest Brother had been defeated and taken captive by the grand elder of the Immortal Skills Hall, it seemed to him... that it was probably all part of his Eldest Brother’s plan. He was all too familiar with his unreliable and crazy Eldest Brother.
“I want you to head over there and see how they plan to take away Yue Dong’s immortal skill,” the empress said.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Xu Qing said loudly.
Upon seeing Xu Qing react in this way, the empress reached up and kneaded the bridge of hēr nose. Shē had been worried all along that unforeseen variables would pop up. That was why shē had tried to send Xu Qing and Erniu away, only for them to show up anyway. The only question now was which of them would cause more trouble.
“Generally speaking, the Imperial Sovereigns don’t interfere in the internal affairs of the Immortal Skills Hall. They’ll support whoever wins. Once you’re over there, do not cause a big scene. And tell your Elder Brother that High God Sunfire previously requested that he be sent to fight for the Firemoons in the war. I tactfully refused.”
Xu Qing could hear the veiled threat in hēr words. Quickly bowing, he bid farewell.
The empress shook hēr head as shē watched him leave. No wonder their Master sends them out instead of keeping them around....
Five days passed in a flash.
At dawn, Xu Qing flew off of the tenth Imperial Sovereign mountain and headed at top speed toward the eastern Devilbirds’ Immortal Skills Hall.
He wasn’t feeling worried at all. In contrast, he was looking forward to what was coming.
1. If directly translated from Chinese, what the empress literally says is “take off your clothes.” However, she’s not asking him to strip naked, so I’m adding a bit of clarity here. Traditional types of ancient Chinese clothing for men would usually involve multiple layers of garments, including pants and one or two layers of robes. Of course there could be additional elements. If you’ve watched your fair share of kung fu and wuxia movies, you’ll know what I’m talking about. In movies, especially the older kung fu ones, the male characters will inevitably end up topless during fight scenes as their robe is either taken off or ripped off. Anyway, in this passage, the empress is obviously asking Xu Qing to take off the clothing covering his back. ☜