"What? The Heaven-Suppressing King is coming out of seclusion?"
Hearing Huang Yunan’s words, the Desolate Old Monster asked, his face a mask of panic, "Where did you get this information? Is it reliable?"
"It’s reliable!"
Huang Yunan explained, "The news was secretly relayed by a spy I placed in the Heaven-Suppressing Royal Mansion. His entire family’s lives are in my hands; he would never dare betray us."
The Desolate Old Monster’s expression turned grave.
’If the news is true, the Heaven-Suppressing King is about to launch his rebellion.’
For all these years, the Heaven-Suppressing King’s treacherous ambitions had never died. He wanted to replace their Huang Family and become the Royal Family of the Desolate Empire.
The Desolate Old Monster asked, "What is your current realm?"
"I’ve been practicing the Martial Emperor Technique inherited from Elder Qu Luo. In the past few days, I’ve already advanced from Warrior Great Perfection to the Mid Stage Martial Artist realm."
Huang Yunan answered truthfully.
"So fast?"
The Desolate Old Monster was astonished.
It had only been a few days, yet Huang Yunan had broken through two realms. Such speed was simply heaven-defying.
It was no less impressive than the top geniuses in the world.
Huang Yunan said confidently, "At my current cultivation speed, in another year... no... in eight months, I can break through to the Martial King Realm."
"There’s no time."
But the Desolate Old Monster shook his head.
If Huang Yunan broke through to become a Martial King, she could do as she pleased throughout the entire Northern Profound Domain. However, they didn’t have that much time.
The moment the Heaven-Suppressing King came out of seclusion, he would rebel.
Two days!
They only had two days.
Huang Yunan said in a serious tone, "Grandfather, let’s ask Elder Su to intervene. At worst, I’ll owe him a favor. Once I become a Martial King, I’ll pay him back."
"For now, that’s our only option."
The Desolate Old Monster nodded in agreement.
In his view, no one could refuse a favor from a Martial King, especially since Huang Yunan had the potential to become a Martial Emperor.
The Desolate Old Monster took out a Communication Stone, preparing to contact Su Mo.
But just then, a cold chuckle suddenly echoed into the Imperial Palace Hall. "Heh heh, old man, are you trying to call for help?"
"Who’s there?"
the Desolate Old Monster cried out in alarm.
The newcomer sneered, "What, you can’t even recognize my voice anymore?"
"You... Heaven-Suppressing King?"
the Desolate Old Monster exclaimed.
Just as the Desolate Old Monster’s voice fell, a towering, middle-aged man in a dragon robe strode into the Imperial Palace Hall with the gait of a dragon and the prowl of a tiger. It was none other than the Heaven-Suppressing King.
"But aren’t you...?"
Huang Yunan’s face was filled with terror.
The Heaven-Suppressing King said dismissively, "You didn’t really think I was coming out of seclusion in two days, did you? Heh heh. Bring him in."
CLANK CLANK!
Two guards dragged in a martial artist covered in wounds.
Huang Yunan was stunned.
The battered martial artist was the very spy she had secretly planted in the Heaven-Suppressing Royal Mansion. He had been captured by the Heaven-Suppressing King.
Huang Yunan asked in confusion, "Since you already knew his identity, why did you have him relay false information to me?"
"It’s simple. I wanted to catch you off guard, leaving you no time to react,"
the Heaven-Suppressing King explained.
He wanted to replace the Huang Family as the new master of the Desolate Empire, but he had no desire for a protracted war.
A bloodless coup would be best.
Relaying false information was to make the Desolate Old Monster lower his guard, then brazenly storm in and easily eliminate both him and Huang Yunan.
"You... You’re despicable!"
Huang Yunan said angrily.
The Heaven-Suppressing King sneered, "In the struggle for power, profit is paramount. There is no such thing as despicable or not. Men, kill this person."
THUMP!
With a swift fall of their blades, the two guards beheaded Huang Yunan’s spy.
The Heaven-Suppressing King asked with a cold smile, "Desolate Old Monster, now it’s your turn. How would you like to die?"
"Heh heh, so what if you kill me?"
the Desolate Old Monster cackled strangely.
The Heaven-Suppressing King frowned. "What do you mean?"
The Desolate Old Monster mocked, "The meaning is simple. Even if you kill me and wipe out our Huang Family, you’ll never be able to rule the Desolate Empire, let alone the entire Eighteen Kingdoms."
"You’re talking about Chu Tianxiong, aren’t you?"
the Heaven-Suppressing King asked disdainfully.
’Once I’ve secured my throne in the Desolate Empire, I’ll make a trip to the Beast Taming Sect and eliminate Chu Tianxiong.’
’Then, no one will be able to stand in my way.’
However, the Desolate Old Monster shook his head. "There is someone a hundred times more terrifying than Chu Tianxiong. You have no idea how powerful he is. He could kill you with a sneeze."
The Heaven-Suppressing King asked with a savage expression, "Who is this person you’re talking about?"
"Su Mo!"
the Desolate Old Monster replied.
’Su Mo?’
The Heaven-Suppressing King was stunned.
’Isn’t that the person who killed my son?’
The Heir of the Heaven-Suppressing King had died at the hands of rebellious Guest Elders, but it was all because Su Mo had glanced at the Heaven-Suppressing Royal Mansion.
Therefore, the Heaven-Suppressing King had placed the blame for this debt directly on Su Mo.
The Heaven-Suppressing King said in a cold voice, "After I take the throne, I will naturally seek revenge on him. But first, I will kill you."
With that, the Heaven-Suppressing King threw a punch at the Desolate Old Monster.
The Desolate Old Monster rose up to resist.
BOOM!
The Desolate Old Monster was sent flying instantly. He spat out two mouthfuls of black blood and cried out in shock, "You... You’re not at the Early Stage Martial Monarch Realm?"
"Early Stage Martial Monarch? I left that behind long ago."
The Heaven-Suppressing King sneered, "Let me tell you the truth. I broke through to the Early Stage Martial Monarch Realm three years ago. The reason I didn’t make a move was to accumulate my strength and ensure my plan was foolproof. Now, I am already at the Late Stage Martial Monarch Realm."
"What? You’re a Late Stage Martial Monarch?"
The Desolate Old Monster said in disbelief, "Heaven-Suppressing King, you’ve been hiding your strength for so long... You... you... What a deep and calculating scheme."
’When Su Mo went to the Heaven-Suppressing Royal Mansion, if the Heaven-Suppressing King had revealed his strength as a Martial Monarch, those Guest Elders would never have rebelled.’
’Yet, the Heaven-Suppressing King chose not to save him, watching with his own eyes as the rebellious Guest Elders killed his own son.’
’Is he even human?’
The Heaven-Suppressing King was unconcerned.
To him, what was the death of a few sons as long as he could secure his interests?
He could always have more sons.
The Heaven-Suppressing King commanded, "Men, throw the Desolate Old Monster into the death-row prison. Send invitations to all the powers within the Eighteen Kingdoms. Tell them that I will be holding a sacrificial ceremony to heaven and ascending the throne as Emperor."
"Yes, sir!"
the guards replied respectfully.
「Two days later.」
The Heaven-Suppressing King sat majestically in the grand hall. A guard rushed in and reported, "Reporting to Your Highness, the Heaven-Suppressing King, all invitations have been sent."
"Have there been any responses?"
the Heaven-Suppressing King inquired.
The guard replied, "Reporting to Your Highness, since the invitations were sent out, we have not received a single response from any power."
’What?’
’They’re all ignoring me?’
The Heaven-Suppressing King shot to his feet in surprise.
He had clearly revealed his formidable strength as a Late Stage Martial Monarch. Why were these people still disregarding him?
The Heaven-Suppressing King roared, "Those bastards! Do they all intend to oppose me? Aren’t they afraid I’ll annihilate them?"
"According to what this subordinate knows, the powers of the Eighteen Kingdoms have received an invitation from the Xiao Family of Qingyang City. They have all gone to the Xiao Family in Qingyang City to attend Su Mo’s celebration."
The guard presented an invitation card to the Heaven-Suppressing King and said respectfully, "This is the invitation they sent to the Desolate Old Monster. It was intercepted by our men. Please take a look, Your Highness."