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In the dimly lit bedroom of the Sun Moon Empire's palace, soft light cast a faint glow over the lavish surroundings. Emperor Xu Tiannan sat in a wheelchair, his face pale and his expression tinged with melancholy.
He gazed at the palace entrance, his heart a whirlpool of conflicting emotions.
At that moment, a figure slowly entered the palace—it was Empress Ju zi. Her belly was swollen with pregnancy, yet she maintained her proud and upright posture.
She walked gently to Xu Tiannan's side, her eyes betraying a faint trace of coldness.
Xu Tiannan noticed the indifference in her gaze and felt a flicker of disdain himself, though he masked it with a feigned concern. Softly, he asked, "Ju zi, you look a bit tired. Do you need to rest?"
However, Empress Ju zi simply shook her head coolly, not uttering a word. She quietly caressed her belly, her expression devoid of any warmth, only a hint of aloofness.
Xu Tiannan watched her in silence, growing increasingly irritated by her continued reticence. He assumed she was still upset with him, so he tried to ease the tension by saying, "The child will be born soon, won't they? We still haven't chosen a name."
Ju zi remained unresponsive, her hand still resting on her belly. After a long pause, she finally spoke, her voice flat, "I've already chosen a name. He will be called Nianchen."
Hearing this, Xu Tiannan was initially pleased. "Nianchen? What a meaningful name," he said with a smile, believing he had successfully lightened the mood.
But Juzi quickly corrected him, her tone unyielding, "Not Nianchen—Ji Nianchen."
Xu Tiannan's smile froze, and anger flashed in his eyes. Trembling with fury, he demanded, "Why that name? Could it be…?"
"Yes, it's exactly what you think."
Ju zi's reply was firm and unwavering. Without hesitation, she revealed everything about carrying Ji Juechen's child, recounting the details with a calm demeanor, leaving nothing hidden.
As Xu Tiannan listened, his rage boiled over. He stood abruptly, his face contorted with hatred.
"You wretched woman!" he spat, seething with venom. "Guards! Kill this shameless harlot and the bastard in her womb!"
But just as the guards moved to act, a group of figures dressed in water-blue robes burst through the windows.
They moved with startling speed, striking like a whirlwind, effortlessly taking down the guards.
In moments, the room returned to silence. The newcomers stood behind Empress Ju zi, like guardians, their eyes cold and resolute, silently conveying to Xu Tiannan that they would not allow any harm to befall her.
"You're with the Shui Clan! So, you've been in league with them all along!" Xu Tiannan roared, nearly spitting blood from sheer fury.
Then, with venomous determination, he shouted, "You have your backers, but so do I! Master Zhongli, now's the time—strike!"
As Xu Tiannan called out, a figure slowly emerged from the shadows behind him—it was the leader of the Holy Spirit Sect, Zhongli.
His gaze was deep, and his aura was formidable.
"Shui Clan?" Zhongli was taken aback by the scene before him and hesitated to act. Though the Holy Spirit Sect had ties to the Sun Moon Empire, even he dared not rashly challenge the unfathomable power of the Shui Clan.
Seeing Zhongli's inaction, Xu Tiannan's anger surged again. He barked at him, "Master Zhongli, why aren't you doing anything? What are you waiting for?!"
But the sect leader remained composed, addressing the Shui Clan members with calm detachment. "Ladies and gentlemen, this matter has nothing to do with me. I have no intention of becoming enemies with the Shui Clan."
"What?!"
Xu Tiannan's fury intensified. He lashed out, "Master Zhongli, I've given you plenty of favors over the years, and now, when it counts, you refuse to help me?!"
Unmoved, Zhongli responded coolly, "Xu Tiannan, our relationship is a thing of the past. Given the current situation, I have no desire to get involved. You would do well to look after yourself."
Seeing that the situation was no longer in his favor, Xu Tiannan descended into madness, determined to play his final card. He decided to blow up the palace, taking Zhongli, Ju zi, and the Shui Clan with him in a devastating explosion. His face twisted with a deranged expression, and a manic gleam flickered in his eyes.
"Hahaha!"
His laughter echoed through the palace, like the cackle of a demon from the depths of hell. "Did you think I would go down without a fight? You're wrong! I've planted soul energy bombs beneath the palace. With just the press of a button, I'll take you all to the grave with me!"
"Bombs?"
A look of horror spread across everyone's faces. They never imagined Xu Tiannan would go to such extreme lengths, planting bombs beneath his own palace!
"Let's all die together!"
Xu Tiannan sneered as he pressed the switch. The members of the Shui Clan tensed, rushing to stop him, but it was already too late.
Xu Tiannan's finger pressed down on the switch.
Yet, nothing happened.
"What… What's going on?!"
Xu Tiannan's expression twisted in shock and confusion. Just then, he felt a hand tightly grip his throat.
Looking up, he found himself staring into the cold eyes of Zhongli, the Holy Spirit Sect's leader.
Zhongli spoke with icy indifference, "The soul device array beneath your palace was created by my Holy Spirit Sect. Did you really think you could use it to kill me? Foolish."
With that, Zhongli threw Xu Tiannan to the ground in front of the Shui Clan members, signaling them to deal with him.
A Shui Clan expert stepped forward, seizing Xu Tiannan, and with a faint smile toward Zhongli, said, "Thank you, Master Zhongli."
Zhongli nodded slightly, responding calmly, "No need for thanks."
As Xu Tiannan was apprehended, Ju zi wasted no time. She rushed toward him, her mind consumed with one thought—to protect herself and her child at any cost.
"Die, you beast!"
Her voice was cold and resolute. As she moved, the blade of a dagger flashed in her hand, aiming straight for Xu Tiannan's heart.
"No—"
Xu Tiannan's eyes widened in terror as he stared at Empress Ju zi. But it was too late; her dagger plunged into his chest.
With a muffled sound, Xu Tiannan collapsed to the ground, his eyes fixed on Empress Ju zi, filled with unwillingness and despair.
Empress Ju zi's face reflected a mix of sorrow and emptiness. As everyone was processing the shocking turn of events, a sudden, distant rumble echoed from outside.
The Shui Clan members looked up to see a swarm of dark, ominous objects approaching the palace through the sky.
"Soul device missiles!" Zhongli's face turned pale.
The Shui Clan members, too, were gripped with fear.
The missiles cut through the night sky like black arrows, emitting a deep, ominous hum. Their tails glowed with a cold, eerie light, like the harbingers of death, racing toward the palace with terrifying speed!
(End of Chapter)