Chapter 48 - Chapter 1327-to-Chapter 1334

Chapter 1327: Ambush From the Forefather

All four of the great emperors were battle-hardened veterans. With Jiang Chen's orders, they led their elites to each of their assigned positions outside the formation. The young lord remained in the center to oversee the affair.

"Old Brother Mo, attack the eastern gate first. Beware of lightning strikes.

"Vastsea, take the western gate. Watch out for chaotic astral winds!

"Jiao Yun, Jiao Feng, ready yourselves to attack the north and south gates at any time. Listen for my command, and note well that these two gates conceal threats of water and fire."

With a thunderous rumble, Emperor Peerless led the attack. He pushed both fists in a single stretching motion, sending two aureate peaks towards the eastern gate.

The emperor kept Jiang Chen's reminder about the lightning strikes at the forefront of his mind. That was why he had elected to forgo metallic weaponry, choosing to attack great emperor level boxing auras instead.

Emperor Vastsea was determined not to be outdone. This was the first time he had a chance to do anything for Jiang Chen! He poured a hundred twenty percent into the effort and rained a storm of blows upon the western gate.

The Jiao brothers followed suit at the northern and southern gates.

The palace's inner courtyard was plunged into hysterics. The agitations from the attacks on the formation made those inside feel like they were on a vessel in a turbulent sea. The possibility of capsizing at any moment was panicking everyone.

They knew that the inner formation was very powerful, but the posturing behind the attacks seemed even more impressive. No one was sure that the formation would hold against such phenomenal blows.

"Forefather, have… have they seen through the secrets of our formation? How can they know that they're supposed to attack all four gates at once? Is that Jiang Chen kid really some ridiculous formation master?" Great Scarlet's emperor felt his heart twist in a knot. His face was bloodless and pale.

"Hmph, so what if he has? The formation will hold for a while yet! Take over operating the formation and try to draw their attentions this way. I'll look for an opportunity to attack that Jiang Chen kid. I'll take him out in a single swing!" House Yan's forefather was grim.

"Be careful, forefather." The family's forefather was the emperor's only bulwark. He didn't want anything to happen to his last bastion of defense.

"Hmph! Since we're at this point already, we can only charge forward the face of adversity. This is our only option, regardless of how slim the chance. I think we have a fifty percent chance of coming out of this alive anyways." The forefather was confident.

...

Outside the palace, Jiang Chen oversaw the four battling great emperors from a high vantage point. He marveled at the remarkability of the inner palace's formation. Despite a concerted strike from four great emperors and his superb leadership, destroying the formation still proved difficult.

As more and more attacks pounded into the formation, so too did more and more of its hidden features come to light.

Lightning crackled, thunder rumbled, and electricity snaked across the firmament.

An ocean of flames roiled, fiery tongues licking the sky.

A crashing wave threatened to swallow up all in its wake.

A roaring tempest sent currents of turbid air in every direction.

The four-attribute formation would be significantly more fearsome without the four great emperors suppressing its strength from all four directions.

The great emperors in question respected Jiang Chen all the more for his foresight. They'd been a bit confused about the young lord's caution a few moments prior, but personal experience now informed them of the formation's hidden potency. They realized that the young lord's eye was keener than theirs after all.

If they'd charged headlong into the formation and triggered its restrictions, they would've suffered rather painful injuries – if not outright death.

"The formation is strong, but it costs a lot of spirit stones to maintain. Great Scarlet doesn't have stones that are particularly pure, which is an intrinsic flaw they cannot overcome. They won't be able to utilize the formation's power to its fullest. Make sure to put your own safety first. We will break the formation apart bit by bit!"

Jiang Chen uttered a reminder to the great emperors. He didn't want them to act in haste. As he concentrated on the battle, his Psychic's Head triggered an uncomfortable notion. In the next moment, he felt a piercing pain in the ring seal located in the ocean of his consciousness. Was it warning him of something?

"Hmm?" Though Jiang Chen was still curious about what the restriction actually was, he always trusted the seal's premonitions implicitly. There was always something afoot when he received one.

The Great Scarlet capital was already under his control. The imperial family was presenting some futile resistance still, but Jiang Chen believed that they had no chance of escaping. The entire capital had been surrounded by Goldbiter Rats. Everything was proceeding as he had expected. So why then, had he received a warning?

His considerations didn't delay his physical actions. He grabbed at his Crimson Heavens formation disk without hesitation, concealing himself within an Eight Trigram Boulder Formation. Simultaneously, he opened up his senses and probed for any slight differences in the fabric of space.

He felt a faint current beneath him, almost imperceptibly so.

"Who's there?" Jiang Chen glared downward, golden rays blasting out of his Evil Golden Eye. The aureate light expanded to fill the surrounding place, revealing all concealed objects and persons.

"Hehehe, lie down, kid!" There was a snicker from the middle of nothingness. A person tunneled out from a patch of thin air immediately beneath Jiang Chen, as if he had torn through space to get there.

It was a white-haired man with an impressive presence. His outstretched, wrinkled palm projected an enormous version of itself in a grasping motion toward Jiang Chen. The momentum behind it was as stupefying as a thunderclap.

"A great emperor domain?" A bit shocked, Jiang Chen called upon his Eight Trigram Boulder Formation for aid.

Boom!

Everything happened in only an instant. If Jiang Chen had been half a second slower, the assailant would've grasped a hole in the middle of his chest. As the grasp clutched towards the young man, the formation rumbled into motion.

Ker-chunk!

A wave of cracking sounded all around the formation. Rifts appeared in its runes, created by the forcefulness of the hand alone. Thankfully, the latter was stopped in its tracks in the process. The hand clattered to a halt just one yard away from Jiang Chen. The assailant was none other than House Yan's forefather!

He had borrowed the wind and lightning of the formation to conceal himself and sneak out. The four great emperors hadn't detected his presence because of this. Drifting here on the chaotic currents of the formation, he had hidden himself like a gust between the spaces. His sole objective was to land a lethal blow upon Jiang Chen.

As he delivered his attack, the old man thought that he had already succeeded. Alas, he had underestimated Jiang Chen's alertness and reflexes in the end. The Eight Trigram Boulder Formation had managed to block his grasp.

The forefather was stunned, but knew that he couldn't lose the opportunity by delaying. He pushed forward aggressively, pouncing upon Jiang Chen like a huge eagle. A sizable pair of shears appeared in his hands.

Like an enormous, bestial maw, the shears carried rows of jagged teeth upon its edges. It swept through space toward the young lord's position. The shears moved with frightening speed and ferocity. They could seemingly cut up even a mountain that stood in their way.

But how would Jiang Chen be hit by the second attack after neutralizing the first? He instantly dove into the Kunpeng Meteoric Escape, disappearing from his original location.

As he did so, he tossed something into the air. It turned into a stream of golden light, expanding almost instantaneously. It was his magnetic golden mountain!

"Down with you!" Though Jiang Chen hadn't tapped into all the powers of his magnetic golden mountain, he could use it to good effect to hinder the old man's attack.

Deep down, Jiang Chen was astounded. He hadn't thought that Great Scarlet would have a great emperor in his wildest dreams.

Even the three sect heads hadn't heard of such a thing.

However, there was no reason for him to panic. This expert of the imperial family was plenty strong, but not nearly to the same degree that Emperor Shura had been. Having successfully dealt with the latter, Jiang Chen wasn't scared at all of the former.

The mountain's crushing weight bore down furiously upon the old man, who was glaring daggers at it. He swept his sleeves at the mountain in an attempt to swat it aside, foregoing everything to propel himself closer to his young target.

Unfortunately, he found that a strange force had slowed his sweep. In the next moment, currents of invisible, turbid magnetic forces made his entire person sluggish.

"Hmm? What the hell is this?" The old man was astonished. Finally, he understood why such a young kid had been able to become Veluriyam Capital's young lord. That someone of his age had been able to evade a great emperor expert's repeated attacks without breaking a sweat… this was truly appalling news!

"I must kill that kid. House Yan faces certain destruction with him around!" The forefather became even more determined to kill Jiang Chen after his shock.

Not that he had much chance of succeeding; his initial strike had had the highest likelihood of success. It was all downhill from there.

The old man twisted free of the magnetic golden mountain's restrictions, only to be met with a giant claw from space. Five finger-talons, sharp as knives, shot toward the top half of his head.

A true dragon was behind the claw!

House Yan's forefather felt his blood run cold.

Emperor Peerless was the first to react. He abandoned the formation, leaping to the young lord's aid.

"I am here, young lord."

Emperor Vastsea instantly dropped everything to arrive at Jiang Chen's side as well.

"Excellent timing," Jiang Chen smiled coolly. "Capture this old man. If you can't, kill him on the spot!"

Emperor Peerless looked meaningfully toward Emperor Vastsea. With a tacit understanding between the two, they both activated their great emperor domains, locking down the nearby space.

The Jiao brothers blocked the two remaining directions, taking the front and rear respectively. Their own great emperor domains were deployed to the maximum as well. The four great emperors acting in unison created a harmonizing effect between their domains. The amazing presence exerted obstructed any possibility of escape for House Yan's forefather.

Chapter 1328: Fall of the Forefather

House Yan's forefather was almost a legendary character in Great Scarlet Mid Region. None of the region's three great sects knew that he was still living. However, his resources were still limited by the scope of his location. He'd managed to break through to great emperor, but his level was mediocre. He was inferior to any one of the Jiao brothers, which put him far below Mo Wushuang.

Being surrounded by four great emperors put him in a state of alarm. He accelerated as much as possible in order to make an attempt at a full-speed escape. He knew intimately the danger that he was currently in. He wasn't sure if he could get out of here alive, much less kill Jiang Chen.

As a decisive man, the forefather was single minded in his pursuits. There was no need to consider anything aside from his current plan of fleeing.

He drew his fingers across empty space, materializing a powerful talisman that illuminated its surroundings like a golden sun. In the blink of an eye, the forefather was swallowed up by the sun's rays, turning himself into a fleeing streak of light.

"Hmph!" Emperor Peerless seemed to have known about the forefather's plans beforehand. He rubbed his hands together, creating two enormous palms that crushed inward like two icebergs.

Emperor Vastsea sniggered. "Leaving so soon? I don't think so!"

The emperor raised both arms, sending wave-like ripples into space. The beautiful ripples created a watery veil that stretched around several dozen yards of surrounding space, enclosing the area within.

Jiang Chen was astonished at Emperor Vastsea's ability. The young man had had the wrong impression of the emperor given the penchant for flattery and a weak spine, but the man was actually quite strong.

The Jiao brothers traded a look with similar sentiments. They hadn't thought much of Emperor Vastsea either. But from the looks of this, the great emperor's prowess was definitely above either one of the brothers!

Emperors Peerless and Vastsea's simultaneous attacks rendered House Yan's forefather's escape attempt futile. His streak of golden light collided with walls left and right, but was unable to clear a path out.

The forefather's face paled, anxiety rising in his mind. Once the space was fully locked down, he would be a sitting duck. Someone of his strength would struggle against even a single one of the Jiao brothers, which meant he had no chance whatsoever against four great emperors together.

Emperor Vastsea had a vested interest in showing off his strength before his new master. He showed off a wide variety of methods, sending House Yan's forefather scurrying every which way.

"There's nowhere for you to run! Give up already!" Snickering, Emperor Vastsea sent wave after wave towards the old man.

The forefather was already tired from evading the prior barrage of attacks and could only continuously retreat from Emperor Vastsea's new wave of merciless attacks.

Emperor Peerless was content to sit back and watch. He wasn't going to take the spotlight from someone who clearly wanted to put on a good performance before the young lord. He was more than fine with simply backing Emperor Vastsea up for the moment.

The Jiao brothers on the other hand, watched with predatory eyes. They wanted desperately to put themselves in there, but were unwilling to join Emperor Vastsea's relentless pursuit. They didn't want a reputation of ganging up on their opponents. Therefore, they refrained from participating in the fight.

One on one, House Yan's forefather wouldn't have fared nearly so poorly against Emperor Vastsea despite his inferiority. Unfortunately, because he wanted to escape very badly, the difference in their strengths made it harder for him to weather Emperor Vastsea's attacks.

Thump!

There was a collision of forces. The forefather's body was sent flying. Emperor Vastsea kept up the attack, sending forth a one-two punch. His boxing aura created a horrifying wringing force, like two azure dragons forming two watery twisters. Every path of retreat for the forefather was cut off. He was swept involuntarily into the enormous vortex by the twisters.

Once he was dragged inside, he was within Emperor Vastsea's domain of influence. His fate was now in the emperor's hands.

Thump, thump, thump!

Emperor Vastsea moved as quickly as lightning. He landed a flurry of lethal blows upon House Yan's forefather. The old man couldn't move to evade them; his movements were forcibly restricted by the twisters.

"Pfft!" The forefather spewed blood everywhere. The golden light about him evaporated almost instantly, and his entire person exploded like an overfilled balloon. Emperor Vastsea's attacks had destroyed the old man's ocean of qi and shattered his meridians.

Thud!

The forefather's body fell hopelessly down, his limbs twitching like a near-dead dog's. His body curled up, and he tried to struggle to his feet, but the flow of blood from his mouth was unceasing.

His natural survival instincts fueled a half-hearted crawl. Unfortunately for him, a great emperor who'd his ocean of qi destroyed was effectively crippled. The severity of his wounds meant that he had very little life left in him, if he wasn't about to die outright.

"Haha, congratulations, Daoist Vastsea." Emperor Peerless smiled serenely. "This man must be an forefather-level character in Great Scarlet. You've done valuable work today."

Emperor Vastsea chuckled. He didn't dare put on airs before Emperor Peerless. "I know that the three of you held back for my benefit. I do appreciate it plenty. I'll be sure to remember the favor next time!"

"Let's go down and take a look, shall we?" Emperor Peerless smiled.

The captured minister, Old Guo, felt his face utterly pale. The sight of House Yan's forefather being defeated so swiftly had deadened his heart. If the forefather died, House Yan would have no more cards up its sleeve.

"It's all over!" Old Guo was despondent.

"Young lord, my job is done." Emperor Vastsea dashed excitedly to Jiang Chen's side, like a child who'd just won a prize.

"Yes, you've done good work today." Jiang Chen frowned at the House Yan forefather still struggling on the ground. "End his misery," he said coldly.

"Please don't," Old Guo pleaded mournfully. "Young lord Jiang Chen, this old man is House Yan's forefather. He didn't participate in Great Scarlet's incursion into Myriad Domain. In fact, I'm sure he had no knowledge of it in the first place. You've rendered him useless already. Why kill him?"

Those from Regal Pill Palace were furious when they heard this.

"Why are we not supposed to kill him? What gives you the right to say that? Did you think of showing mercy back in Myriad Domain?" Shen Trifire couldn't resist jumping out.

"That's right. Crimes must be punished. We won't kill innocents for no reason, but these people from the Great Scarlet Empire must be destroyed!" Every disciple of the Palace was filled with righteous fervor.

"I'll do the honors," Palace Head Dan Chi cupped his fist to Jiang Chen. Walking over, the palace head cut off the old man's head with a single flashing stroke.

House Yan's forefather died with his eyes open. The look in his lifeless orbs resembled a dead fish's, full of despair and tinged with regret.

Old Guo wailed, his entire body shivering. "Jiang Chen, you petty thief! You deserve a cruel death!"

"Silence!" Jiao Yun swatted the old man into unconsciousness.

"Young lord, this is House Yan's forefather. He is the imperial family's last bastion of reliance. Showing his head off to the public will shatter any lingering thoughts of resistance," Emperor Vastsea advised.

"There's no need." Jiang Chen's tone was cool. "The forefather is already dead. The formation should be trivial. Continue breaking through the it."

With the death of the forefather, the imperial family's last trump card was done for.

Great Scarlet's emperor had seen the proceedings from beginning to end. He'd felt uneasy when the forefather's preemptive strike failed, and trouble when the old man was encircled by four other experts.

Alas, his knowledge made no difference. A man like him had no strength or courage to rescue his relative, and there was little he could do but watch as his forefather was smacked down to earth and decapitated.

"Emperor of House Yan, this is your forefather's head! Take it home with you and wail!"

"House Yan's forefather is dead. The remnant of House Yan should come out to their deaths!"

Dread spread through the palace upon House Yan's forefather's death. The emperor in particular became like a soulless corpse. The din outside elicited no reaction from him.

"You must take hold of yourself, Your Majesty!"

"The future of the empire rests in your hands, Your Majesty."

But the emperor reacted as if he hadn't heard any of those words. His face was emotionless as a paralyzed man. How could he collect himself in such a situation? The death of his house's forefather had torn his last sliver of hope to shreds.

Veluriyam Capital's army waited watchfully outside, and four great emperors were tearing into the palace's formation. It was a powerful one, but its destruction was inevitable under the great emperors' combined strengths.

Everything was over!

Great Scarlet's emperor dragged himself toward the inner courtyard with heavy steps.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you can't abandon us now!"

"Your Majesty, we still need you to maintain order here. Your Majesty…"

Anarchy filled the entire palace. Everyone knew that this was the end. This really was the end!

"Stop shouting, everyone!" A man in the robes of a military officer stepped forward. "This empire belongs to House Yan," he said indignantly. "The invasion of Myriad Domain all those years ago was due to that family's willingness to act as the Eternal Celestial Capital's dogs. We didn't participate in their crimes, so why should we pay for them?"

"Yes, Grand Commandant Huo is right. We've all been working hard on the empire's domestic affairs. None of us has ever laid a hand on anyone or anything from Myriad Domain. Why should we die for House Yan?"

"Yes, let's arrest all the members of that clan. We shall deliver them unto young lord Jiang Chen!"

"Come on, everyone! Don't let a single one from House Yan escape. They are a helpful layer of protection in these troubled times!" One person's incitement was enough to evoke a tide of responses. Like a boiling-over pot of soup, the palace became more chaotic by the minute.

Chapter 1329: The End of the Road

Multiple hands come together to push a wall down. It was a scene of kicking a man on his way down. The imperial clan had ruled for countless years over Great Scarlet. The emperor's word was law and his prestige radiated like the sun.

However, his decisions during this series of momentous events had incurred his subjects' disappointment, causing them to lose all hope. And at this moment, the accumulation of all these negative emotions finally broke the camel's back.

When people lost all hope, they could lash out with a crazed violence difficult to imagine. Unlike some mundane empires, loyalty and patriotism weren't paramount in the world of cultivators. Self interest and benefits reigned supreme.

Great Scarlet's emperor wasn't truly beloved to begin with. Now that his people also blamed him for leading the empire to its ruin, the tensions finally exploded. A stubborn, brainwashed minority tried to stop the crowd's impulsiveness, but was drowned by a human tide in no time at all.

"Capture him, seize that vermin and hand him over to young lord Jiang Chen!"

"House Yan's cruel and unjust rule should have been ended long ago. If not for them, how would Great Scarlet be backed into such a corner today?"

"Indeed, they happily did the Eternal Celestial Capital's bidding and ended up dragging all of us down. Why should we pay for their sins? What gives them that right? Everyone, let's charge together."

"Charge!"

Like a tumultuous torrent, the crowd crashed toward the harem, startling the palace guards who shouted in panic, "Protect the emperor, protect the emperor!"

Palace guards were brainwashed from birth. Their whole existence revolved around the emperor. They lived and died for him. Every one of the guards was an elite. Despite their few numbers, each of them was a force to be reckoned with.

Hearing news of the turmoil inside the palace, they had no choice but to abandon the perimeter defense and group together to suppress internal strife. The palace was turned upside down in a hubbub, a chaotic bloodbath in which dogs howled and ghosts wailed before Jiang Chen's forces even stormed the place.

Under siege from civil officials and military officers alike, the emperor's humiliation turned into rage. He shouted like a madman, "Kill them, slaughter all of these deserters!

"Don't leave any of them alive. These renegades are harming our nation, I want all of them butchered! They were dogs in the manger to begin with, and now instead of sharing my burdens in times of life and death, they even dare rebel?"

The emperor bristled with rage. He couldn't win against Jiang Chen out there, but was he also going to let these traitors step on him? His anger instantly turned the palace into a river of blood.

"Your Majesty, it's enough to make an example of some. Who will the empire rely on if we kill everyone?" A vice-captain of the palace guards advised quietly.

The emperor responded with a punch and sent the vice-captain flying through the air.

"You animal, who the hell do you think you are? Do I need you to teach me what to do? Do you have what it takes? The empire? What bloody empire? All of us are dead once the formation breaks!

"Rather than dying to these outsiders, I might as well relieve them of their suffering myself! Hahaha. The food they eat, the water they drink, the wealth they enjoy, everything belongs to me. They live if I say they're to live, they're dead if I say they're to die. All of them is to die!" Gone insane, the emperor looked incomparably malevolent, his messy hair floating in disarray, his head and face covered in bloodstains.

Holding a longsword, he hacked at anyone he saw. Other than House Yan's forefather, almost no one in Great Scarlet was his match cultivation-wise. Now that he had his eyes on slaughter, who was his match?

As the lively massacre took place inside, an enormous rumble suddenly sounded from the formation outside. The entire palace trembled as if struck by an earthquake.

The emperor's body stiffened. He narrowed his eyes, staring fixedly at a direction outside as a despairing thought flashed through his mind. "Is the formation broken?"

He suddenly remembered something and ran madly towards his harem. This was where the imperial family lived. Other than grown princes who had to leave to establish their own princely mansions, all the women and children of the clan lived there.

Of course, with the emperor's advanced age, he had no young sons. As soon as he rushed inside the harem, he chanced upon a group of concubines gathered together, panic and trepidation written all over their faces. Seeing the emperor, the women ran to him shouting, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, what's going on?"

Insanity glinting in his eyes, the emperor suddenly slashed wildly.

The flash of the naked blade cleaved into two the concubines running at the front, felling them into a pool of blood. Split in two, the women didn't die right away. They propped their hands on the ground in desperation, trying to stand up, only to find there was nothing left below their waist...

Incomprehension and desperation flashed through their eyes.

"Don't blame me! When those vicious bastards storm this place, all of you will be dirtied. I would rather see my women die at my own hands than to let you be tarnished by that scum!" He lifted his sword and charged inside.

There were countless beauties in his harem. The killing moments ago was merely the beginning. When the concubines saw him rushing at them with murderous intent, they shrieked and ran away.

Was this still the emperor they yearned for day and night? No! This was a demon king escaped from hell and bent on massacre!

"His Majesty has gone mad, everyone flee for your life!"

"Your Majesty, one night as husband and wife is worth a hundred years of devotion. Please spare your loving concubine!"

"Your Majesty, don't kill your humble servant. Ah!"

How strong was Great Scarlet's emperor? What could be easier for him than to kill a few defenseless women? In his frenzy, he hacked down the hundreds of concubines with just a few charges, leaving none of them alive.

Studying the ground coated in blood and limbs, the emperor murmured to himself, his eyes rife with madness, "That's right, there's still the descendants of House Yan left. If they have to die, they then should die beneath my sword. I can't let them perish at these bastards' hands."

Insanity had taken hold of his entire being.

Right when he was about to step out of the door, a blinding light flashed in front of him, followed by a voice shouting, "Young lord, I found Great Scarlet's emperor. This old guy's gone mad, he killed all of his women."

Following that voice, countless people quickly rushed in, including the heads of the three great sects.

Great Scarlet's emperor had quite a delinquent streak in him. Realizing he was surrounded, he simply stayed put and dropped his butt onto a chair with a strange giggle.

"Where's Jiang Chen? Have him come and see me!" He looked entirely unfazed in the face of death.

"Tsk tsk, this idiot must still think he's the mighty emperor." Jiao Feng looked at him in disbelief.

"No need for nonsense. Let's cripple him first, then let the young lord handle him. We can't kill this scumbag, we need to wait for the young lord's decision," Jiao Yun reminded.

Just then, Jiang Chen arrived at the scene, accompanied by Emperor Peerless. The Regal Pill Palace's survivors followed in their wake.

Great Scarlet's emperor sat on his chair without the slightest concern in the midst of enemies. Since he knew he couldn't escape from death's clutches, he feigned an undaunted confidence, looking very much like a hooligan. He glanced at Jiang Chen. "You're that little scoundrel Jiang Chen?"

Blazes erupted from Palace Head Dan Chi's eyes. "Yan, you heartless wretch, after invading our Myriad Domain twice and destroying our lives, how dare you still be so insolent with so many crimes on your conscience?"

"Hahaha, who do you think you are?" The emperor laughed heartily as he threw a contemptuous glance at Dan Chi. "If I'm not mistaken, you must be the so-called palace head of the Regal Pill Palace? Why are you running your mouth here? Without Jiang Chen, what could your Regal Pill Palace do against me? What could ten Regal Pill Palaces do against me?"

That was the naked truth, but Dan Chi graced him with a mere grim smile. "Now that things have come so far, what use are your little tricks? Trying to drive a wedge between allies? Correct, my Regal Pill Palace relies on Jiang Chen, just like your Great Scarlet is the Eternal Celestial Capital's lackey. And what of it? All that matters is that your death is at hand. Your bloodline is going to be exterminated, your house eradicated. From today on, Great Scarlet's House Yan will disappear from this world!"

Great Scarlet's emperor's face drained of all color. His gaze swept through the three great sect's sect heads, his whole being burning with anger. "House Yan being erased by Myriad Domain is retribution from the heavens. But what of you three sects? You enjoyed the most honored status in my nation, yet collude with my enemies when push came to shove. Do you have any face left to be standing in front of me?"

"Pfft. Yan, aren't you ashamed to mention this? Great Scarlet was already driven to the brink by your clan. Resources? Correct, our three sects did indeed get some. However, everyone knows that your clan hoards at least more than half of the resources from Great Scarlet. You also offer a portion as tribute to the Eternal Celestial Capital. The sects are only thrown some scraps. Otherwise, why isn't there a single second rank sect in Great Scarlet?"

"That's right. Almost every mid region has a second rank sect. Only Great Scarlet has been monopolized by your House Yan, yet you still want to make us believe you hold sects in high regard. The origin of Great Scarlet's destruction is none other than House Yan!"

"Our region will never see a better tomorrow if House Yan doesn't die!"

For some reason, Jiang Chen felt utter disgust for the bickering between the emperor and the three sect heads.

"Yan, there's only one road left for you no matter what you say today. Will you travel down this road on your own, or will this young lord have to send you off on this journey?" He had no desire to waste time in nonsense.

"Hmph!" the emperor sneered. "You want to send me off? Do you dare fight against me one on one?"

Jiang Chen smiled impassively. "Stop putting up a front. Killing you would be as easy as slaughtering a pig. Do you think you're worth a duel?"

The emperor wanted to goad Jiang Chen into single combat and use that opportunity to seek a lifeline. But seeing Jiang Chen's sheer disdain, he realized how vain his hopes were. He howled with laughter. "So much for that young lord bullshit! Jiang Chen, you might destroy my empire, but the great powers in Upper Eight Regions won't take this lying down!

"Just you wait. Pillfire City, the Eternal Celestial Capital, they won't let you get away with it!" He shouted himself hoarse, as if the anger in his heart could kill Jiang Chen and destroy the entire world.

The final whimpers of a defeated dog was beneath Jiang Chen's contempt. He merely ordered with an indifferent smile, "Jiao Yun, kill him!"

The emperor's face became as pale as death. He suddenly activated an escape glyph in hand, wanting to borrow its power to flee.

However, even House Yan's forefather couldn't run from the inescapable siege. How could a mere emperor realm like him slip away in front of so many great emperors?

Jiao Yun sent the fleeing light crashing down from the sky with a single slap.

Thump! Great Scarlet's emperor dropped on the ground like a dead dog. When he opened his eyes, his vision chanced upon the face of a concubine he'd cut in half. Her eyes full of bitter rancor seemed to be cursing and mocking him.

Chapter 1330: The Scene is Set

The death of Great Scarlet's emperor marked the end of House Yan.

Emperor Vastsea led his men into the palace and exterminated the entire imperial lineage, leaving none alive. With the assistance of the three great sects, another purge was conducted in the capital, completely uprooting House Yan's foundation.

The extensive slaughter caused a great amount of anxiety amongst the citizens, but Jiang Chen was quick to ease their fears.

"The imperial family colluded with the Eternal Celestial Capital to invade Myriad Domain and slaughter all that I held dear. My vengeance today is only directed towards House Yan and their collaborators. Those who have nothing to do with them can rest easy. There's no need for panic."

These words eased the public's anxiety a little.

"Young lord, we've done all we can here. What should we do about the fourth rank sects that also invaded Myriad Domain?" Emperor Vastsea smiled.

"Those sects are no longer a cause for concern. They're sitting ducks now that we've taken over Great Scarlet." Jiang Chen smiled blandly. "Vastsea, split your men into four groups and stamp out the Qitian Sect, Bamboo Sect, Golden Glyph Sect, Zither Sect…

"Jiao Yun, you shall lead two more groups of men to deal with the Four Quadrant Sect, Cloud and Wind Palace…

"Jiao Feng, lead two groups as well and deal with the Mystic Fire Sect, Nine Waves Sect…

"Old Brother Mo, accompany me to the Thunder Note Hall and the Great Roc Sect!"

It was only natural that Jiang Chen would want to destroy those two sects out himself as they were the ones who'd personally invaded the Regal Pill Palace.

…...

He quickly graced the two sects with his presence, arriving when they were still contemplating if they should flee after hearing about the purge. These fourth rank sects all suffered major losses when they attempted hunting down Jiang Chen, so much so that they were no longer any better than the fourth rank sects from Myriad Domain.

They could never withstand a series of onslaught by the Peafowl Guards, especially when overseen by Jiang Chen himself and with Emperor Peerless here in support.

Palace Head Dan Chi and Elder Yun Nie was finally able to vent their grievances after so many years. They showed the two sects no mercy and slaughtered the high level executives like pigs. This was especially true for Palace Head Dan Chi. A half-step emperor like him was now a mammoth-like existence to them. Fueled by seething hatred, he personally disposed of at least a dozen of them.

Having trained in Veluriyam Capital for many years, the Regal Pill Palace disciples quickly realized how mediocre Great Scarlet fourth rank sects were now. Since widening their horizons, these sects that were once deemed too gargantuan to overcome had become a small nuisance at the very most. They were now far stronger than the geniuses from these fourth rank sects. In fact, the geniuses from Regal Pill Palace consistently flattened their peers.

Three days later, the slaughter in Great Scarlet finally stopped. House Yan and their collaborators were completely purged from the face of the earth. Those who managed to escape the catastrophe would eventually be captured as well. There was nowhere to hide from an all-encompassing net.

The fourth rank sects had been uprooted from their very foundation. A complete and utter shift had occurred in Great Scarlet after the dust had settled. The region was now advancing towards a new tomorrow.

"Young lord, we've completely taken over the region. The only factions left are the third rank sects and the weaker fifth to sixth rank sects. All collaborators of the imperial family have been cleansed from the realm."

"Young lord, this region is quite vast."

"Why don't we take over the reins and turn it into Veluriyam Capital's rear garden?" The crowd voiced various suggestions.

Jiang Chen smiled. "You needn't worry as I've already made plans. For now, let's leave them to their own devices.

The crowd didn't understand what Jiang Chen was thinking.

"Young lord, now is a great time to take over Great Scarlet. The imperial family has fallen and there's a void to fill. Wouldn't it be a pity if we don't strike while the iron's hot?"

Jiang Chen waved his hands. "We'll take over the region one day, but now isn't the time. Eliminating them was only the first step. Now, we need to move onto the next step and restore my homeland back to its former glory. Everyone, care to take a trip with me to Myriad Domain?"

"We are more than willing." The crowd answered willingly.

"But young lord, why aren't we taking over the region now?" Emperor Peerless asked curiously.

Jiang Chen smiled. "If we leave the three great sects to their own devices, they'll start a power struggle to fill the void of authority. After they're done clawing at each other's throats and the region has fallen into utter chaos, we'll come back and take over the place in one fell swoop."

Emperor Peerless' eyes glimmered after a moment's thought. "How brilliant!"

The Jiao brothers simply couldn't fathom the reasoning behind all of this. What difference did that make? Were they supposed fear the three great sects? These lowly peasants posed no threat! One could easily obliterate them with a swat of a hand!

Emperor Vastsea also slapped his thighs after pondering about it briefly. "Such brilliance! Young lord, I'm thoroughly impressed by your foresight."

Jiao Yun scratched his head with puzzlement. "Everyone is singing the young lord praises, but this brute still has no idea why."

"Hehe. If the young lord takes over the region now, the outside world will denounce him for commencing conquest under the guise of revenge. This will reflect badly on the young lord.

"If the region falls into chaos by itself, the young lord can assume control of the region under the guise of keeping peace. By then, the citizens would have grown weary of the chaos inflicted by the three sects. They'll be begging for a powerful faction to intervene, stabilize the situation, and return peace to their home. Moreover, they'll be more than happy to welcome the young lord due to his reputation and status.

"Any naysayers from the outside world would be wasting their breath as long as the citizens supports the young lord's reign. They will willingly let the young lord take power as he is the only one who can return peace, stability, and prosperity to the region."

The Jiao brothers finally understood what was going on. Jiao Yun scratched his head. "Heh! To think that there's so many intricacies to this situation! A brute like me only knows how to fight and kill! I'm not very good with my brain."

Jiang Chen laughed. "Alright, since most of House Yan's stragglers have already been eliminated, let's head to Myriad Domain."

…...

The senior executives of the three great sects had been under a great deal of stress lately. What were they going to do if the young lord chose to stay? However, their worries quickly faded away when they heard that young lord Jiang Chen was leaving for Myriad Domain with his men.

The news made the three sects beyond excited. The young lord was a lot more honorable than they'd initially thought. Was he really going to leave right after taking his revenge, leaving behind the entire region? Anyone with even the slightest ambition would've taken the area for themselves.

"Are they really leaving?" The Sky Eagle sect head thought that it was a hoax when he first heard the news.

"Sectmaster, Veluriyam Capital's army is already preparing to depart."

"Report!" Someone immediately rushed into the room. "Sectmaster, great news! Young lord Jiang Chen and his cohort of experts have left the Great Scarlet capital! Half of Veluriyam's men have already departed!"

"What?" The sect head surged to his feet. "Quickly, summon the sect executives! I have plans to arrange!"

The Myriad Buddha Sect and the Scarlet Parting Sect had received news of Jiang Chen's departure as well. The sect heads of the two sects were already excitedly plotting for the future. Jiang Chen's departure meant that Great Scarlet was now without a ruler, and that they were the most powerful factions here! This was an opportunity of a lifetime!

Their ambitions instantly blossomed to extreme proportions.

…...

Jiang Chen led his army to the borders of Myriad Domain. The land was still in tatters and a downcast pallor still clung to everything. It was apparent that the region hadn't recovered from the invasion yet. The four emperors in charge of overseeing Myriad Domain immediately came to greet Jiang Chen when they learned he was here.

"You've worked hard. All four of you." Jiang Chen commended.

Palace Head Dan Chi and the others were overwhelmed by various emotions after stepping foot on Myriad Domain soil. It was a mix of excitement, melancholy, anticipation, as well as endless painful memories.

Tears streaked down Elder Yun Nie's face. "To think that an old man like me would set foot on Myriad Domain soil once again. The heavens have eyes! The Regal Pill Palace will finally see the day once more after all these years because of young lord Jiang Chen!"

Elder Yun Nie suddenly faced Jiang Chen and went on his knees. "Young lord Jiang Chen, please accept this kowtow from me."

Thump! Thump!

The young disciples of the Regal Pill Palace followed suit and got on their knees too.

"Everyone please get up! I may be the young lord of Veluriyam Capital, but I'm also a member of the Regal Pill Palace! How can I accept your bows when it is also my responsibility to restore our sect to glory and reclaim our homeland? Come, let us head to the sect!"

Jiang Chen helped everyone up.

The crowd grew more and more cheerful as they made their way towards their home. They'd finally returned, not discreetly, but proudly. No matter how much tragedy they'd faced, the worst had already come to past. A new dawn was finally rising for the Regal Pill Palace.

Chapter 1331: The Precious Tree Sect, Dan Feis Reappearance

In Myriad Domain, the sixteen kingdoms alliance's Skylaurel Kingdom still knew peaceful days. The great chaos that engulfed region in the past had left deep marks on Skylaurel, but not to the point of extinction, thanks to its status as a mundane kingdom. The former fourth prince had now ascended the throne. However, the past few years hadn't been easy on him.

During the invasion of Myriad Domain, all kinds of factions had also set foot in the sixteen kingdoms alliance. But the then Purple Sun Sect, later Purple Light Division of the Ninesuns Sky Sect, had met with sudden disaster and been destroyed in the space of a single night.

The alliance originally thought they would see better days after the Purple Light Division's destruction, but the Ninesuns Sky Sect sent a prompt replacement. Many factions of wandering cultivators also entered the sixteen kingdoms, setting down roots in every mundane kingdom.

As one of the four great kingdoms of the alliance, Skylaurel was a comparatively prestigious existence and one of the places most prized by the various factions. It saw more of its lands forcibly occupied than most. Although Ye Rong was emperor, the restriction and control the various factions exerted on Skylaurel almost turned him into a figurehead, a puppet.

However, about half a year ago, the Ninesuns Sky Sect had suddenly withdrawn its forces stationed in the region.

Even so, the territories they vacated were immediately seized by others. Just as before, foreign cultivators reigned unopposed. Some of the cultivators came from Great Scarlet, some from other regions. Like dragons among fish, these various factions were the sixteen kingdoms alliance's real masters.

Skylaurel's royal capital was as bustling as before, but none of the faces from the good ole days could be found now. Instead, the streets were filled with foreign cultivators dressed in every sort of bizarre attire.

The royal tutor Ye Chonglou disappeared a long time ago. Tian Shao, the most loyal of the Dragonteeth Guard, had also vanished. Although Emperor Ye Rong still had trusted aides at his side, all of them were too weak. None of them could help him vie for the control of the kingdom. Yet, he had no choice but to forge on as a puppet monarch.

As a mundane kingdom, very few rumors from the outside world made their way into Skylaurel.

Alas, after painstakingly wrestling away the imperial throne, am I destined to be a puppet for the rest of my life? Ye Rong couldn't resign himself to this. He kept close to heart the cherished memories of the old Skylaurel, of his youth, of the years he spent sharing joy and suffering with Jiang Chen.

"I wonder where Brother Jiang Chen is now?" The thought would occasionally flutter across Ye Rong's mind in the depths of the night.

Ever since Jiang Chen's departure from the Precious Tree Sect, Ye Rong's information network had lost sight of his good brother. After all, he was merely the ruler of a tiny mundane nation. The uncle and cousin Jiang Chen had left behind in Skylaurel also departed at some point in time.

The Precious Tree Sect was one that shared in Skylaurel's fate. As one of the four great sects of the the sixteen kingdoms alliance, the Precious Tree Sect used to be one of the wealthiest. In particular, its Precious Tree of the Rosy Dawn attracted the interest of many wandering cultivators.

The sect's territory was now under the control of a group of cultivators. These men were former adventurers from another region who'd formed a team and occupied the sect's lands, establishing their own called the "Tree Spirit Sect," and had collected a bunch of wandering cultivators.

When it came to strength, the Tree Spirit Sect far surpassed its predecessor. After all, the Precious Tree Sect only had two origin realm cultivators. In comparison, the Tree Spirit Sect had many origin realm cultivators, while the one calling himself sectmaster was at initial sage realm.

Like a dove occupying a magpie's nest, the Tree Spirit Sect had made themselves at home.

Back in the day, the entire Precious Tree Sect had evacuated the premises in order to hide from Great Scarlet's invasion, leaving their territory to be occupied by foreigners. If the sect ever returned now, they most likely wouldn't recognize their home anymore. A foul, murky atmosphere now reigned over their former domain.

On this day, a slender figure suddenly appeared from a ripple in the void outside the mountain gates and emerged in front of the sect's entrance. It was a woman, her figure tall and willowy, her features clear and elegant. A thin layer of grief seemed to shroud her as she landed in front of the sect.

"Who goes there?" Someone jumped out and blocked the way of this exquisite woman.

The two men barring the path naturally belonged to the Tree Spirit Sect. Seeing the gorgeous young woman in front of them, they looked at each other with eyes gleaming with evil intentions.

This woman's breathtaking appearance and her cool temperament made evil desires stir in their hearts.

"Hot damn, the heavens must have seen how hard we've had it of late. They're delivering a meal to us?" One of the two, a dry, skinny man asked his companion with a wicked laugh.

"Tsk tsk, how fine, look at this hot chick. What a sweet figure. Look at that face! If she wasn't so cold, if she could be a bit more passionate, it'd be sheer perfection! Old Yang, you have to let me go first this time." The other man, a burly bald fellow, beamed ear to ear with an obscene grin.

He sized up the beautiful woman's figure up and down, not bothering to conceal his lust. His face expression, the look in his eyes… all seemed to be undressing her in front of him.

However, his companion wasn't willing. "Old Gao, why would you go first? You want to score this magnificent thing first and leave me with your sloppy seconds? Piss off! Over my dead body!"

None of the two were willing to cede an inch.

Quiet and cold, the woman looked at each blade of grass and each tree of the Precious Tree Sect, sadness and regret welling in her eyes.

"Precious Tree Sect… The trees, the mountains, the rivers, nothing has changed, but the faces are now those of strangers… Old lord, Jiang Chen, where on earth are you? Where did you go?" The woman's lips moved faintly as if murmuring to herself. "Perhaps I truly erred. If I hadn't left Skylaurel, hadn't left the Precious Tree Sect, then things could've turned out much better." This woman was Ye Chonglou's adopted daughter, as well as his disciple, Dan Fei.

Her appearance was as it had ever been, as if she was impenetrable to the vestiges of the passing years. The bold, heroic spirit was simply now a little dimmer in this woman who used to be the greatest beauty in Skylaurel, replaced by a newfound sadness absent from her youth.

"Hey girl, what are you mumbling about?"

"Which clan are you from, do you have a husband?" The two men babbled flighty nonsense at her, flirting and whistling.

"Is there something wrong with her mind?" The bald Old Gao looked at Dan Fei with some suspicion.

"Who cares? Even if there's a problem with her mind, an unearthly beauty like that is a sumptuous feast all the same," the skinny Old Yang said with a depraved laugh.

An icy glint suddenly flashed in Dan Fei's phoenix eyes as she snapped out of her distress.

"Oh, looks like her brain's working fine."

"Tsk tsk, this little girl seems to have heard us talking about her. She looks a little shy, and maybe also a little angry?"

Dan Fei coldly looked at the two of them, responding quietly, "I don't want to kill people. Cut off your own tongues and get lost."

The two men blinked, then looked at each other, wondering if they heard wrong. This sweet and delicate girl seemed so weak even the wind could blow her away, but her tone was quite the pompous one when she spoke.

Cut off their tongues and get lost?

The bald Old Guo couldn't hold back his laughter. "Interesting, interesting! Who would have imagined this little girl would be so amusing? It's more interesting doing a girl like her with some fight in them. Don't you think so, Old Yang?"

"Hehe, indeed indeed. The personality of a wild mare, she's even more to my liking!"

The two of them felt no threat coming from this weak and tender girl. Moreover, this was the sixteen kingdoms alliance, not the Upper Eight Regions. In this kind of remote backcountry, no one was mad enough to throw their weight around in the Tree Spirit Sect.

"Girl, you want to cut off this lord's tongue? Come come, let's have a kiss. I can let you cut off my tongue if you can, I'll die happy either way. Hahaha…"

Dan Fei's expression darkened. Her body flashed by the man's side like a gust of wind, stopping roughly seven to eight meters behind him.

The skinny man froze. For a split second, he seemed to feel a slight strength cutting across his throat.

As soon as this thought struck him, his head suddenly loosened from his neck and slid down, landing on the ground before he could even close his eyes. Rolling to and fro, the world in front of him suddenly seemed to have been turned upside down...

The next moment, realization finally dawned that his head had been separated from the rest of his body. Unfortunately, this thought was to the last of his life.

Lewdness morphed into dread on the bald man's face, like seeing a ghost in broad daylight. He looked at the beheaded corpse of his companion, so frightened he almost wet his pants.

W-what kind of speed was that?

He didn't even see anything before his companion's head was removed. Both of them were origin realm. They were existences who could move unimpeded in the sixteen kingdoms alliance. With that kind of cultivation, how did his companion end up beheaded in a remote backwater by a strange pretty girl?

Fear spread through every cell of his body.

"D-don't come any closer," the trembling bald man stammered, his face pale, "Young lady, celestial maiden, goddess… I've sinned, I-I was blinded by lust. I've really sinned. Here, I'll slap myself, so please don't kill me, I beg you…"

Despite his tall and sturdy frame, the bald man didn't have a whiff of courage to his name. Left, right, his slaps landed on his own face without interruption.

"Do you want to live?" Dan Fei asked, her voice chilly.

"I-I do." The bald man knelt on the ground with a thump. "Exalted maiden, this villain is blind and offended you. Just think of me as a fart and let me go!"

"Tell me, who's presently occupying the Precious Tree Sect?" Despite her serene tone, Dan Fei's aura froze the man to the bone. He shivered uncontrollably.

Chapter 1332: Charge In And Open Up A Slaughter

"I'll talk, I'll talk! This place isn't called the Precious Tree Sect anymore. It's now the Tree Spirit Sect. Teams of wandering cultivators squat in this area and have established a sect. The sectmaster and several elders come from the strongest team. Ever since the Tree Spirit Sect took over, many wandering cultivators have come for shelter, spreading the sect's fame."

This bald fellow looked tall and brawny, but he was a sheep in wolf's clothing. Dan Fei's threat was enough to make him pee his pants, so he obediently spilled the beans and told her everything.

"A bunch of good-for-nothing ragtags!" Dan Fei's black brows knit slightly together. An ad hoc sect with a stolen territory, founded by wandering cultivators, and home to outlaws didn't have much cohesiveness to speak of, no loyalty nor sincerity. Bluntly put, they'd gathered together for mere temporary interest.

"What about the members of the original Precious Tree Sect?" Dan Fei asked, her tone impassive.

"O-original?" the bald fellow stuttered. "I don't think there was anyone here before! The Precious Tree Sect was empty by the time we came here. I heard the members of the Precious Tree Sect all vanished in a single night before Great Scarlet invaded Myriad Domain. Who knows where they went? No one's spotted a glimpse of them since then."

"Are you certain?"

"I-it's just something I heard." Under the oppression of Dan Fei's icy aura, the bald man stumbled over his words, his face deathly pale. "I-I came here later. I only heard about what happened before that from others."

"Tree Spirit Sect?" Anger flickered in Dan Fei's heart. "You steal someone else's home and even dare change the name of the sect? This Tree Spirit sect head, who is he and where does he come from?"

"H-he's a wandering cultivator from Upper Eight Regions. He's a sage realm senior, his cultivation is far above ours." The bald fellow trembled from head to toe when he felt Dan Fei's murderous ire.

"Sage realm? What's his name?"

"Celestial maiden, everyone calls him Sectmaster Qin. His nickname in the wandering cultivator world is apparently Qin Thirteen."

"Qin Thirteen? Never heard of him." Dan Fei shook her head slightly.

"My lady, I've told you everything I know, so please let go of my worthless self," the bald man implored piteously.

A cold light flashed in Dan Fei's eyes. She responded frostily, "In that case, cut off your tongue and get lost!"

"Ah? Goddess, please spare me!" The prospect of cutting off his own tongue frightened the man to no end.

However, he stole a glance up and noticed Dan Fei's icy expression. His heart shivered and he realized his life would be forfeit if he didn't obey. He clenched his teeth, thrust a dagger inside his mouth, and cut off half his tongue. Cold sweat trailed down on his forehead from the pain. He grabbed the lower half of his tongue and turned on his heels, making good his escape. How would he dare tarry a second longer?

His tongue could be reattached if he sought immediate treatment, but if he tarried and the frosty maiden regretted her decision, then it would be his head at stake.

For Dan Fei, killing an insignificant character didn't alleviate her anger. Without sparing a glance for the bald fellow, she gazed at the Precious Tree Sect's main doors with a slight frown.

"The old master used to live in seclusion inside Skylaurel, but he yearned day and night to return to the Precious Tree Sect. His heart belongs there. He would be distressed if knew his sect had fallen into the hands of a bunch of ragtags."

At this thought, added to the recent frustration of her fruitless search, the bottled-up frustration in her heart instantly erupted.

"For the old master's sake, for his sake, I can't allow the Precious Tree Sect to be seized by these savage brutes. What if they came back one day?"

Her arresting figure turned into a pale blue stream of light. She shot inside the sect in the blink of an eye.

Dan Fei hadn't come very often to the Precious Tree Sect, and the few times she did come, it was to accompany the old master. Hence, she held no deep feelings for this place.

However, when she passed through the mountain gates, she beheld a decadent sight poles apart from what was once one of the four great sects. Wandering cultivators idled along everywhere to the eye. Some drank liquor and ate meat, others sought leisure, and some indulged in debauchery.

...

Standing somewhere high above, Dan Fei overlooked the sect, her heart about to explode in anger at the scenes she was witnessing. Her ears pricked as she caught faint voices from a residence at the rear of the mountains, as well as wicked laughter from a group of men drifting in and out.

Lifting her brows, Dan Fei aimed her piercing gaze in that direction.

She saw a group of completely naked girls being chased by a group of men, like sheep being hunted by hyenas. The girls randomly shrieked in terror and fright. They were mindless with fear, their virtue the last thing on their minds. Each of the men held a whip and cracked it in the air.

The scene was reminiscent of humans herding livestock.

Most of these girls were very young, but all of them were attractive with a superb figure to match. Strips of bloody bruises marked their white, tender bodies. It was easy to tell they were being held captive, targets for these brutes to vent their feelings on.

The men lashed their whips in the air. Whenever a strip of leather wrapped around a woman, they would subject her to all kinds of depraved actions, like the men were animals.

Seeing the obscene chaos, Dan Fei's eyebrows rose in anger.

"These beasts!" As a woman, she fumed at the sight of the savages defiling these women. Her figure blurring, Dan Fei hurled herself downward.

"Hm? What's going on?" These men were clearly veterans, and their cultivation wasn't weak, but all they saw was a blur. Had someone appeared inside the yard?

Some paid no attention to her as they continued chasing after the women, caught in their lust amidst chuckles and laughter.

Dan Fei's exquisite figure flew past them, the short blade in her hand cutting across the wind.

Pfft, pfft!

Two clear sounds swept past the necks of the two cultivators running at the front, suddenly halting their forward momentum. In the next moment, geysers of blood spurted from their throats. Their necks tilted as a pair of massive heads tumbled onto the ground.

"Ah?" Behind the two, the men who were running a little slower paused at this sudden change. They rubbed their eyes, took another look, and saw a young woman as stunning as a goddess riding the wind in their direction, fixing them with a stare as cold as winter.

"Eh? Where's this chick come from?"

"Be careful, everyone. This wench has extraordinary skill!"

"Hurry up, let the sectmaster know enemies have invaded the sect!"

Dan Fei's face remained expressionless, but an intense desire to kill was the only thing on her mind. She wanted to slaughter these swine in human skin down to the last and repay them for the humiliation they'd inflicted on these women!

Her silhouette blurring again, Dan Fei accelerated even faster.

The cultivators in the rear were about to escape the courtyard, but Dan Fei reached the exit before them. She was like the wind, her figure as fast as lightning.

Swish swish swish. As if reaping wheat, the short blade in her hand slashed without reprieve, each strike felling a wandering cultivator as they rushed to the doorway.

There were a dozen men in this group. Dan Fei had chopped down five of them in the space of a few blinks. The rest of them looked at her with dread in their eyes. Seeing her ravishing appearance, the first thought to cross their minds was an evil one. But soon, only terror was left in their hearts.

"This girl is ruthless. Everybody attack together, let's kill her!"

"I agree. We can't escape since none of us can match her speed. Attacking her together is our only chance of getting out of it alive."

"Die!" These men were decisive desperados. It was in for a penny, in for a pound. Since they knew they couldn't escape, they steeled themselves and charged together at Dan Fei.

From beginning to end, no emotion could be seen on Dan Fei's face. But a murderous glint suddenly sparkled in her cold eyes. Her short blade slashed like the gale. White light burst forth like fish jumping out the surface of a river.

When the white light vanished an instant later, something seemed to be strangling the men's necks. They threw down their weapons, hands scrabbling at their throats, deathly afraid they might lose their heads otherwise.

But they did indeed lose them. Their hands drooped weakly down in midair. Thump thump thump. Skulls fell in quick succession.

Dan Fei had beheaded all nine cultivators in the space of a single move. Simply killing these beasts didn't ease her anger. With a leap upward, she flew into the air and raised her voice. "Qin Thirteen, get the hell out here!"

Her shout wasn't as resounding as Jiang Chen's dragon roar art, but it carried an astounding momentum with it, engulfing the entire Precious Tree Sect like a raging flood. Floating high in the air, she spread her consciousness to its limits and fixated her phoenix-shaped eyes on the entire Precious Tree Sect's domain.

A figure flashed out of a secret residence like a bolt of lightning. "Which honored senior has come to my Tree Spirit Sect? Is there anything we can do for you?"

This man was dressed in sumptuous clothes. He was quite good looking with his thick eyebrows and didn't give off the image of an evildoer. However, a book couldn't be judged by its cover.

"You're Qin Thirteen?" Dan Fei stared at him with cold eyes.

"Indeed, this humble one is Qin Thirteen. And my lady, you are?" Seeing Dan Fei's extraordinary demeanor, Qin Thirteen decided to remain until he could sound her out.

However, he was a sage realm cultivator and immediately sensed the gore exuding from below. Glancing sidelong, he saw a dozen sect members lying on the ground at sixes and sevens, their heads separated from their bodies.

With a quiet hiss, Qin Thirteen asked in a grave tone, "Young lady, who might you be? Don't you think it's a bit much to crash the gates of my Tree Spirit Sect without any advance warning?"

Dan Fei's smile was cold. "Is there a need for advance warning when killing someone?"

Qin Thirteen froze. "You mean you're the one who killed these men?"

"These men were guilty of perpetrating atrocities. I presume you must also be an accomplice of theirs as the so-called sectmaster. Don't worry, you're going to keep them company soon." Her voice was indifferent. She had no desire to waste words with Qin Thirteen. "How many of you are there in total? Summon them all."

Qin Thirteen gasped audibly. This girl as beautiful as a celestial maiden seemed more and more inscrutable. His intuition told him she possessed remarkable strength!

Chapter 1333: Stalemate

"Miss, my name is Qin Thirteen. If I've offended you anywhere, I do apologize first." As a man experienced in the ways of the world, Qin Thirteen was deft at reading people's emotions. Dan Fei's murderous intent had intimidated him into backing off. His tone softened in an attempt to gather information. He was unsure he would have any advantage by making the first move.

"Apologize?" Dan Fei's tone was cool. "Some crimes can't be merely apologized for."

Qin Thirteen grew serious. "Miss," he saluted with cupped fist, "I'm not some no-name. Elder Qiu in the Empyrean River Palace, of the Upper Eight Regions, is my uncle. I…"

"Enough." Dan Fei smiled placidly. "Me killing you has nothing to do with whether you're faous or not."

Qin Thirteen had never seen such a dogged opponent before. His expression turned frigid. "Miss, you have to make it clear to me why you want to kill me. Your mannerisms and ability tell me that you are a genius from a large sect. Are you one of the Ninesuns Sky Sect's or the Eternal Celestial Capital's? As I said, my uncle is an elder of the Empyrean River Palace. The Palace too is a first rank sect. Don't I deserve at least an explanation?"

"The Empyrean River Palace?" Dan Fei frowned a little. "What kind of place is that? Never heard of it."

Huh?

Qin Thirteen was completely stunned. Could there be people in the human domain who'd never heard of the Empyrean River Palace? His brain fritzed out for a moment. He'd wanted to borrow the Palace's name to bring some pressure down the woman. It seemed that this idea had been very foolish. And yet, he wasn't sure whether the woman's ignorance was real or feigned.

Dan Fei really hadn't heard of the Empyrean River Palace. She'd solely focused on cultivation after being saved by Emperor Peafowl all those years ago and hadn't paid much attention to outside affairs.

"Miss, the Empyrean River Palace is one of the first rank sects in the Upper Eight Regions. One of the largest in the entire human domain." Qin Thirteen couldn't help his emphasis.

"Are you done talking already?" Dan Fei furrowed her brow.

Qin Thirteen was at his wit's end. "Woman," he blurted out angrily, "are you set on opposing me? On opposing the Empyrean River Palace?'

"You're overthinking things. I'm only here to kill you."

"How have I angered you? Even if I'm to die, I should at least die knowing why." Qin Thirteen sneered. "A piece of advice: don't push your luck. Otherwise, you'll bring shame upon yourself even if you're a genius from a large sect!"

Dan Fei's expression was cool. She pointed at the women below. "You cage up people like beasts for your own enjoyment. Does that not deserve death? Furthermore, you squat in the property of others. Twice the crime, twice the punishment."

"Hahaha, do you seek justice for these ordinary women? They're no better than animals." Qin Thirteen cackled loudly. "Their ant-like significances mean nothing in the eyes of real cultivators such as us. Don't you eat meat, miss?"

He found it quite amusing that she was intervening on these women's behalves. Was this woman really a first rank sect's genius? Suspicion crept into Qin Thirteen's mind.

Dan Fei sighed softly. "Just as you treat ordinary people like cattle, so too do I treat you. If you're allowed to kill them, why can't I kill you?"

Qin Thirteen was incensed at hearing this. "I'm a sage realm expert! How can you compare me to those people?"

"Are the lives of ordinary people not lives, too? What crimes have they committed?" Dan Fei's tone grew colder and colder.

"No crime but weakness. Who told them to be weak? Because they are weak, they deserve to live for our enjoyment." Qin Thirteen saw no problem in his reasoning. "Are you really the disciple of a large sect, miss?"

"Not at all," Dan Fei retorted coolly. "Not that I need to be one to kill you. It doesn't matter what you say, Qin Thirteen. You won't escape death today."

She was intent on cutting him down.

Not the disciple of a large sect? Qin Thirteen scrutinized Dan Fei once more, weighing the possibility of this revelation.

"What? You dare pilfer someone's property, but you don't have the courage to fight?" Dan Fei sneered.

"Pilfer someone's property? There was no previous owner. That's how it was when I came here. I don't understand what you're going on about." Qin Thirteen's eyes moved shiftily. "Are you related to this place, perhaps?"

"You talk too much." Dan Fei was done with the conversation. She raised her shortsword into the air, creating an atmospheric shift. A swish of the blade and a few afterimages was enough to propel her into Qin Thirteen's proximity.

Qin Thirteen's heart fell. He was both surprised and wary. Producing a black claymore, he sliced toward Dan Fei's torso. He was actually an earth sage realm cultivator. He presented himself to the public as an initial rank sage realm cultivator to hide his ability. To be more precise, he was fifth level.

In a large sect, someone with that kind of cultivation wasn't much. But in a place like Myriad Domain, especially a place as secluded as the sixteen kingdoms alliance, Qin Thirteen's cultivation made him a terrifying presence.

That was the reason he had been able to retain control of the Precious Tree Sect's grounds for so many years unchallenged. Larger sects didn't care about the land and smaller factions couldn't compete with him. Moreover, his relation to the Empyrean River Palace's Elder Qiu intimidated a fair number of people.

Unfortunately, trading blows with Dan Fei told him that though the woman wasn't necessarily higher level than him, her methods were more than a match for his.

Their weapons clashing created a shower of sparks.

With a malicious bark of laughter, Qin Thirteen brought his claymore down on the side residence below. There were a few dozen ordinary women within. If they were hit by the blade aura, they would be made into instant mincemeat.

Angered by Qin Thirteen's actions, Dan Fei hurtled downward after the blade aura, raising her shortsword to block the attack with a gust from her own weapon. Her body was pushed back by the exchange, dropping another few yards.

"Tsk tsk, what a goody-two-shoes girl. It seems that you really do care about these mortal ants. Why don't you stay to keep them company?"

The blows traded so far were enough for Qin Thirteen to have some confidence in his ability to win against the woman. Her concern for the ordinary women below would be her downfall. This was a golden opportunity for him. If he could use this to his advantage, it was very possible to win and even capture the woman.

Dan Fei's beauty and potential connection to Precious Tree Sect made Qin Thirteen thoughtful. She had said herself that she wasn't some large sect's disciple, no?

He'd been cautious with his conduct because she seemed like a genius from a first rank sect. He didn't dare offend her too much, lest she be pushed too far. But since new information had come to light that she wasn't as strong as a first rank sect's true disciple, he began to have some other ideas.

His prudence turned into malice.

When Dan Fei had departed from Skylaurel Kingdom all those years ago, she'd only been spirit realm. She had advanced a fair bit after Emperor Peafowl's rescue; he'd taught her and purified her body, stimulating her body's latent cultivation potential.

She hadn't improved with nearly the same kind of terrifying quickness as Jiang Chen's, but she was fourth level sage realm now, following a system of cultivation that Emperor Peafowl had drafted for her.

The sealed door cultivation she had undergone recently had given her a tremendous breakthrough. Because of this vast increase in strength, Dan Fei's return to her homeland had been rather smooth. On her way here, she'd easily taught some would-be evildoers a harsh lesson.

Still, she was shocked after fighting Qin Thirteen for a while. The bald man had said that Qin Thirteen was initial sage realm, but he was definitely mid sage realm in her opinion. In fact, he was quite possibly higher level than her.

Thankfully, her years spent following Emperor Peafowl hadn't been in vain. She had learned from the best martial methods available. The difference in their cultivation levels was disadvantageous, but not insurmountably so.

There were two reasons she wasn't having a good time after the short exchange.

First, she was uneasy about Qin Thirteen's potential attack on the ordinary women below.

Second, Dan Fei's increase in cultivation was offset by a drastic lack of combat experience. She hadn't even been origin realm when first coming to Veluriyam Capital. But she was now already fourth level sage realm.

She'd barely fought anyone in the interim. This was an extremely unfavorable point for her. She had been able to kill those cultivators before now with ease because of her level. Killing origin realm cultivators was as easy as an adult beating up children. There was no possibility of overcoming such a radical discrepancy in raw strength.

Her fight against Qin Thirteen revealed her present weaknesses.

"Why is she this green? Does she have no experience whatsoever in the world?" Qin Thirteen was astonished. "The way she fights certainly confirms it, yet the methods she uses are mysterious and powerful. Where did this woman come from? Wouldn't it be trouble for me to capture her, if she really is from a large sect?"

Qin Thirteen was between a rock and a hard place. He didn't know how to deal with his sudden anxiety. The woman attracted him a great deal and he didn't want to let her out of his grasp. Yet worry lingered in his heart. If the woman really did have a powerful background, then he was playing with fire.

"No way… if she's a disciple from a large sect, she can't possibly be this inexperienced. Their disciples begin traveling from a young age and are sure to be far more experienced than someone like me. Competition within large sects is cruel. A disciple as inexperienced her wouldn't be able to survive internal competition, much less live to venture outside her own sect!" This was how he reassured himself.

Because of this change of heart, his attacks became more ferocious. Every cut of the claymore moved with a mountain-cleaving momentum. Dan Fei was repeatedly forced back.

She was clever enough to play around her inexperience. She adopted a defensive stance, buying time to come up with a strategy.

Despite her inexperience, Dan Fei was a sharp girl. She was forced back, but there was no sign of defeatism in her expression.

"Qin Thirteen is a shameless man. If I use my methods to push him back, he'll use those ordinary women as hostages against me." Dan Fei's brain whirred. "To kill him, I must strike him down in one blow. Otherwise, he'll take those women with him to the grave."

Though Dan Fei didn't know those women, she wasn't going to throw them to the wolves. It wasn't in her nature to see the meek as no better than ants.

As for Qin Thirteen, Dan Fei wasn't scared of him one bit. His current advantage meant nothing. She had a plethora of guidance from Emperor Peafowl over the years and had cultivated a custom-made system of methods. Most importantly, she had a variety of high rank treasures from the emperor.

These treasures could guarantee her life even against emperor realm opponents, much less a mid sage realm cultivator around her own level.

But how would Qin Thirteen know any of this? He swung his claymore with increased ferocity, walling Dan Fei in with his attacks. His dominance in battle increased his confidence in the near-future conquest, dampening his earlier concern and wariness. He had only one thought remaining. Take down this beautiful woman!

Qin Thirteen had seen more than his fair share of pretty girls during his time in the world. However, seeing a woman with Dan Fei's kind of style was the first.

He'd had occasional glances at the top geniuses of first rank sects. They belonged to a completely different world than him, and the only way he could look at them was upward. He and they were as different as a toad and a flock of swans. But he felt at this very moment that a swan was very close to his grasp!

Qin Thirteen had his own plans. He didn't much care about the ordinary women below. He had only given the impression of wanting to kill them to threaten Dan Fei. He didn't want to harm them at all.

The aftermath of sage realm experts battling it out would wreak havoc on the surrounding environment. This land belonged to the Tree Spirit Sect now, and he didn't want to damage it too much. That was why he'd fought Dan Fei airborne the entire time.

The other cultivators of the sect came out from their hiding places as the two fought, watching the aerial combatants intently.

"What're we waiting for? Let's go help!" A few of Qin Thirteen's closest friends called out.

"Just watching is enough, my brothers," Qin Thirteen roared with laughter. "Take notes! Watch me take this girl home! But pay attention to those ordinary ants. If they attempt to escape from the side residence, cut them down on the spot!"

Qin Thirteen's orders eliminated any thoughts Dan Fei had about telling the women to run away. She knew that regardless of what she said, the weak non-cultivators couldn't leave the defenses of the sect. Leaving the side residence meant walking into the jaws of death.

There were people everywhere within the Precious Tree Sect's former grounds. At least a thousand of them, most at least origin realm. There were a handful of sage realm cultivators here as well.

"How has Qin Thirteen gathered up so many wandering cultivators here? The Precious Tree Sect was only a sixth or seventh rank sect. Is it so attractive to them?" Dan Fei found this odd.

Their numbers meant that delaying was worse for her than it was for the opponent. This place was crawling with cultivators! She was determined to resolve the problem as briskly as possible.

Her right hand still brandishing her shortsword, she produced three multicolored feathers in her left. They were peafowl feathers, one of the treasures Emperor Peafowl had given to her for protection.

She tossed them into the air, chanting. Suddenly, the three feathers dyed the entire sky into a kaleidoscopic veil. The firmament was filled with prismatic light.

Qin Thirteen had no time to react at all. Shock flashed through his eyes, but the incandescent light was right next to him in the next instant. One of the feathers became a razor, drawing itself across his face.

Pfft! The light darted past Qin Thirteen's body.

With a ripping noise, the arrogant man was cut cleanly in half. The left and right parts plummeted in their respective directions.

Thump! The two halves of his corpse landed almost simultaneously, bringing with them a bloody rain shower.

Dan Fei was as astonished as the rest. Emperor Peafowl had only told her to use the feathers in times of danger. He'd said that they would allow her to kill higher level enemies, but the 'how' part had been conspicuously absent.

She'd produced them partially because she had wanted to try them out. The results were rather stunning. The dominant Qin Thirteen was rendered helpless before the peafowl feathers. Given the speed with which he'd been bisected, his reflexes hadn't even had a chance of saving him.

The three peafowl feathers returned to their original appearance, resting quietly in Dan Fei's palm. It was as if they were completely divorced from that bloody affair.

Dan Fei's crystal eyes considered the peafowl feathers in her hand, her expression still incredulous. "Your Majesty, you've treated me far too well," she murmured to herself emotionally. "Excuse my foolishness for not severing this final tie to my past. I promise you that if I still can't find him, I will return to Veluriyam Capital and nurture Nian'er to adulthood. Before that though, please forgive my stubbornness. Even if I don't manage to find him, I must find the old master. I am also very grateful to him…"

Clutching her peafowl feathers, Dan Fei lost herself for a moment. Meanwhile, the wandering cultivators below exploded in activity.

"The sect head is dead! That woman was the murderer!"

"Brothers, let's avenge the sect head!"

"Yes, kill that woman!"

The uproar snapped Dan Fei out of her reverie. Qin Thirteen's death had helped her get a better picture of what she was capable of. She glared coldly downward, her graceful lashes fluttering. She locked onto the loudest few.

"Go!" She tossed the three feathers into the distance. Like bolts of lightning, they dove at the boisterous scoundrels.

Whoosh!

Three more heads were sent high into the sky. The swiftness of their decapitation and the force of the flight were astounding.

None of these wandering cultivators had any idea that killing so casually was even possible.

Dan Fei didn't stop at those three. She maneuvered the feathers left and right, reaping lives like a farmer taking in crops crops. The most rambunctious cultivators were mowed down like swathes of wheat.

There was mass chaos and hysteria within the Precious Tree Sect. There was no one left in the crowd willing to incite violence after Dan Fei's killing spree. The remaining cultivators had only a single thought left: flee!

They were a rag-tag group from the start, gathered together by profit alone. Qin Thirteen and his cohorts being slaughtered in such a terrifyingly overwhelming way crushed any sentiments of their own resistance.

Run away!

They wanted nothing more than to run away. Once that thought was cemented, countless people made a mad dash outward from the sect. They didn't think they would get much more time to do so.

"Listen up, cultivators." Her bloodshed finished, Dan Fei declared coldly. "This place belongs to the Precious Tree Sect. I'm not going to pursue you from here, but any who dare set foot in this place once more will be slain without warning!"

Her warning eased the wandering cultivators' minds. From the sound of it, the pretty lady wasn't going to kill them after all. After killing Qin Thirteen and his associates, Dan Fei kept her word, allowing the others to leave in peace.

In about fifteen minutes, every cultivator had departed from the Precious Tree Sect's grounds.

A patrol around the mountain revealed that no one living remained aside from the ordinary women. Dan Fei descended to the earth, walking to the entrance of the residence.

"Where were you all taken from?"

"My lady, we… we are all honest citizens of Skylaurel Kingdom."

Dan Fei sighed softly. The honest were often taken advantage of. These ordinary women had been taken here by those evil cultivators solely to sate their lusts. If she hadn't come here, they wouldn't have been able to live past the week. How could ordinary women survive the torture of cultivators? Perhaps they were only a single batch of those evil cultivators' toys.

Gritting her ivory teeth, Dan Fei sighed once more. "You're safe now. Are you able to go back?"

The women's eyes were filled with fear and misery. Their misfortune the past few days had paralyzed them with despair.

Dan Fei shook her head. She had been able to save their lives, but it seemed that not much remained of their wills to live.

"This is the site of the Precious Tree Sect. It shouldn't be too far to Skylaurel Kingdom. Go back. I'll watch over you in secret to protect you from any predatory cultivators," Dan Fei consoled.

Of course, the wandering cultivators had dispersed already. They were unlikely to return any time soon – or ever.

"My lady, are you… are you one of the great cultivators from the Precious Tree Sect?"

Dan Fei shook her head. "Alright, rest here for a while. I will take you back to Skylaurel Kingdom tomorrow morning."

She hadn't yet given up. She planned to search within the former grounds of the sect to look for any clues. Where had the people from the Precious Tree Sect gone?

Rumor had it that they had disappeared before the invasion of Myriad Domain. If that was true, then they had likely avoided the disaster altogether. If they had left on their own, they were sure to have left some hint of their whereabouts. Dan Fei began to look more carefully for where hints could be.

Alas, the Precious Tree Sect was in a state of utter ruin after Qin Thirteen and company's continued occupation. The buildings and layout of the sect had been completely altered, and there was no trace where its people had gone.