Li Jing swung her hand and casually swept away the Advisor Hong before rushing towards her brother with the highest speed she could muster with the newfound strange power within her own body.
She didn't know what was happening, she just remembered her brother being stabbed and the rest was blurry, once she finally opened her eyes properly, this was what she woke up to.
'I feel as if I can control the heat around me as I wish... Is this ho-' she cut herself off with a shook of her head.
'This is not the time to think about such things, I need to rescue my brother first.'
She was disappointed in herself, but she didn't even have time to think about that.
She could feel the chaotic power inside her and knew that she had to study and learn about it to fully control it, but she didn't have the time to waste on such things at the moment as there were much more pressing matters, like her brother being on the verge of death and needing her help for the first time in her whole life.
She didn't mind how much spiritual power she wasted as she boosted her speed once again, bringing her speed up to the Emperor's speed. At this point, it wouldn't take much time for her to catch up to him anymore.
Emperor had already seen what happened behind them but he could give neither his time nor his attention to such things at the moment. He secretly gazed at Li Jing as if he didn't care about her, yet he couldn't help but secretly let out a sigh of relief when he saw her brush past his brother without care.
'Thankfully she seems to agitate to think properly due to her newly awakened bloodline, if she had taken both my friends, I would have to surrender as the Empire would fall without the support of multiple Peak Dao level cultivators.'
If something happened to his brother and advisor, the Emperor and his cousin who stayed behind in the Imperial Palace would be the only Peak Dao stage beings left in the grand Glorious Yang Empire. He couldn't let such a thing happen no matter what. This was his responsbility, not only as an Emperor, but also as a father.
'I will take revenge for you, Li Qiye... It might get delayed a little bit, but you will be revenged properly, that I promise.'
He fixated his eyes on the Wang's running back who kept maneuvering out of his grasp to let Li Jing catch up to them.
'Do you think you are the only one who can burn his blood essence?' he sneered in his heart before making his decision.
He felt a deep pain inside his body, but he completely ignored it as he only had his goal in his mind.
His face heated up and gained a new color, becoming a crimson red that was far too deep to be healthy.
He had only burned a small amount of his blood essence that could be recovered with some of the top-quality treasures in his treasury, yet the boost of strength he got was so much higher than Wang's essence blood burning. That was simply the difference between a Peak Dao being, someone who was already close to mastering a Law or Dao.
Under the surprised eyes of Wang, Li Jing, his advisor, and his brother; his speed increased once again, this time, for the last time.
As his speed peaked, it became even harder for Li Jing to catch up to him and it didn't take much time for him to catch up to the already half-dead Wang with a swift maneuver.
Fury burned his heart as he wanted to kill him right here and right now for everything he did, killing his son, killing his brother, killing his cousin, nearly destroying his entire Empire, the Empire which was given to him by his father, which was given to him by his father and so on... This was the legacy of his ancestors.
'But, I have to endure... That is my duty, my responsibility as the Emperor.'
He held back his anger and cooled his heart with the teachings of his father.
He grasped Wang from his gaping wound, his hand almost reaching his spine, and spoke up with an authoritarian voice, letting Li Jing know who had the situation in control.
'She broke through the Dao stage, but her strange bloodline gives her battle prowess beyond her actual stage. I think I can win without any serious injuries, but,' his eyes scanned the battlefield, remembering how much they had lost already, 'It is not worth the risk at this point. I would rather be a coward, rather than dead.'
He couldn't even risk an injury at this point as his actual enemies from other Empires and Sects would jump on him like vultures, so decided to negotiate.
''Your brother,'' he said as he pointed to Wang who was hiding his pain behind a cold face to relax his sister, ''wanted to bargain.''
He nodded to Wang, ''I accept your offer.''
--
''Her bloodline is better than I expected. She not only directly breakthrough the Dao stage, but she also gained control over the Law of Ice comparable to a Peak Dao stage being.'' an elder from the Frozen Shoe Palace said as she secretly glanced at the place Ice Empress was watching the spectacle.
''Tch, what wouldn't I give for her bloodline...'' her disciple who had just reached the Deity Ascension stage said with envy oozing out of her voice.
''If you are going to be jealous, be quiet about it. You know, we are talking about... that person, right?'' the elder reminded her disciple with a telepathic message.
''What?''
''She is obviously the Ice Empress you dumbass!''
''No way!'' the young girl exclaimed in shock.
''You are just making fun of me, aren't you? Anybody with decent knowledge on the Ice Empress and the history of the realm has already realized it. There is no way you are that thick-headed.''
'I told her to focus on her cultivation and not care about anything else, but I obviously didn't mean that much! What are you going to do without some common sense?'
''Fine, I will educate you thoroughly when we get back to the sect.'' she said with a small sigh before the young girl had an opportunity to respond.
They continued watching the stream in the sky.
---
[Extra chapters soon on P@treon/lowkeygoodstuff]