Chapter 94: The Whole World Refuses to Accept This! (Extra Chapter! Please Subscribe)

Beneath the firmament, within the divine temple.

A blood-red pillar of light surged into the sky, illuminating the sea of clouds surrounding Mount Shenyue and forming a thousand-mile expanse of crimson clouds. Hundreds of lightning bolts twisted and cracked, and amidst them, countless grey-blue ghostly shadows flickered and vanished like smoke. The void shattered like glass, the sound of splintering glass echoing incessantly.

Suddenly, a tiger’s claw erupted from the void, striking directly at the Emperor of the Great Zhou within the temple. A gale swept across ten thousand miles; the roar of a tiger shook heaven and earth!

The majestic, overwhelming power of a peerless Demon Emperor tore through the boundaries of the realm. Carrying a formidable momentum, the suddenness of the strike caught even the Emperor of the Great Zhou off guard. Though he reacted swiftly, the ambush was so abrupt that he was momentarily overwhelmed.

The only weakness of the Spirit Path is a fragile mortal body. If the Demon Emperor’s sneak attack were to succeed, even if he held the beast in high regard, he would suffer grave injuries, perhaps even lingering ailments.

The Emperor’s majestic face turned cold and stern. He had no time to ponder how this Demon Emperor had breached the boundaries of the realm or why the attack was so precisely aimed at the Great Zhou’s royal ceremony. He had no time to consider the consequences of being struck; he could only fight.

His eyes narrowed. With a wave of his hand, specks of golden starlight flowed from his fingertips. Simultaneously, a vast and immense divine manifestation began to take shape behind him, sketched out by his primordial spirit. The divine general, clad in golden armor with a solemn, sacred countenance, roared at the intruding Demon Emperor and shot into the sky.

Outside the rift in the void, a pair of brilliant tiger eyes, filled with amusement, peered through the darkness, sizing up the Great Zhou Emperor.

"If you had been prepared, you might have defended against this blow. But now, you are caught unawares while I have been gathering strength for a long time. The difference in our states is clear."

The mocking laughter echoed in the Emperor's ears. Yet, the Great Zhou Emperor remained calm; a faint smile even graced his cold, majestic face as he looked up at the rift in the sky.

"The Great Zhou truly is infested with vermin. One Demon Emperor after another... I let that Qingqiu Demon Emperor escape last time, but you shall not be so lucky. Since you have come, do not bother leaving."

The Emperor’s primordial spirit surged; mystical seals flickered between his brows. Thousands of golden rays scattered around him. The divine general he had summoned paused, let out a roar, and surged with even greater intensity toward the ferocious tiger claw.

The brilliant tiger eyes behind the rift shifted, a flicker of surprise appearing within them. It was clear the Demon Emperor had not expected the Great Zhou Emperor to abandon all defense, choosing instead to commit his full strength to a lethal counter-attack, as if determined to slay him here.

The tiger eyes betrayed a moment of hesitation. The Demon Emperor knew that if he clashed head-on with the Great Zhou Emperor, he might inflict grave wounds or even kill him, but he would not emerge unscathed. He would need at least a century to heal. Even with the long lifespan of the demon race, such a waste was not easily borne.

Yet, the Emperor’s attack was already upon him. He had no time to think; he could only grit his teeth and commit to the strike. After all, he was the one who had launched the surprise attack; he held the advantage.

The tiger claw, covered in blood-red fur and containing a thousand years of savage wildness, blotted out the sun and tore through the void! It struck like a blade, colliding head-on with the Emperor’s divine arts.

In an instant, clouds churned, and a terrifying, oppressive aura swept out from Mount Shenyue like a raging storm. This scene unfolded in the blink of an eye; in mere seconds, the sacred, auspicious atmosphere had transformed into a hellish landscape.

The court officials, nobles, local ministers, and many royal kin—none of them had even had time to react!

Then, the sound of shattering glass intensified. The divine manifestation the Emperor had summoned in his haste was seized by the bloody claw. The massive, powerful figure of the divine general stiffened, but his counter-attack left deep, bone-piercing wounds on the tiger’s claw. The force of the blow traveled along the claw, tearing through the rift and striking the owner of the brilliant tiger eyes.

A cry of pain and a roar followed. Demon blood, thick and potent, rained down from the heavens. It was as if a rain of blood was falling upon the world!

The next moment, the bloody claw clenched tight. The divine general’s manifestation shattered! Simultaneously, the Great Zhou Emperor’s complexion turned pale, and his upright figure staggered.

The brilliant tiger eyes, peering through the rift, flashed with malice. The claw descended once more, striking directly at the Emperor. This was a calculated ambush; the speed and ferocity of the assault were such that even the Emperor struggled to parry.

On Mount Shenyue, the court officials were paralyzed with shock at the moment of the ambush. They stared with wide, disbelieving eyes. Some stood frozen like wooden statues; others, while stroking their beards, nearly pulled them out in their panic.

"What is happening?"
"How could a Demon Emperor appear here? And to assassinate His Majesty?"
"It is catastrophic! The attack is too fast; we cannot stop it! His Majesty is the only Celestial at the scene!"

The sacrificial site was filled with cries of horror. After a brief, chaotic discussion, officials, imperial guards, and bodyguards scrambled toward the temple, desperate to assist. They knew not what use they would be, but they could not retreat. At the same time, they felt a sliver of relief: only one Demon Emperor had attacked. If the demons hidden in the canals had not been purged by the Lamp-Lighting Bureau earlier, the carnage would have been unthinkable. They also realized that not even the Lamp-Lighting Bureau could have foreseen this; who would have imagined that the temple—the holiest of royal grounds—had been compromised?

All eyes were fixed on the temple, where the Emperor’s figure had vanished into the blood-red mist. Before they could even reach the temple, they feared the worst. They were powerless to face the Demon Emperor or aid their sovereign.

Yet, amidst the chaos, standing at the head of the royal family, the Empress Dowager Li remained calm. Her aged face retained its noble elegance; her deep purple dragon robes billowed in the wind. She was calm to the point of stillness.

Though the ambush had shocked her, there was no panic. Instead, she began to think. Who had conspired with the Demon Emperor? Who had laid the trap, allowing the beast to breach the realm and strike at the heart of the ceremony? Only high-ranking royals could enter the temple. Who was it?

She did not look at the temple to see the Emperor’s fate. She was confident. This was the confidence she held in her son, Wu Shang—the man who had carved his way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. To her, the priority was finding the traitor.

Her gaze swept over the royal descendants. She looked past those who lacked the status and focused on those closest to her: Wu Yuemei, the new Crown Prince Wu Ling, the eldest son Wu Ming, and the Prince of Nanming.

Wu Yuemei’s face was a mask of panic, her lips trembling as she whispered the name "Guang'er." If the situation allowed, she would surely have run down the mountain to protect Cheng Guang, the Heir to the State Duke. The Empress Dowager looked past her.

The new Crown Prince, Wu Ling, was also unlikely; she had been in seclusion, and as Crown Prince, her movements were watched.

Then, there was the eldest son, Wu Ming. The Empress Dowager frowned. His once intelligent face was now blank, his legs trembling uncontrollably. *Forget it, this pathetic child is incapable of such a feat,* she thought.

Then, she looked at the Prince of Nanming. He was watching the temple with an expression of intense nervousness, his jade beads clicking incessantly in his hands. He seemed deeply worried about the Emperor’s fate.

The Empress Dowager frowned. She knew this son well. Although not her biological child, she understood every prince. The relationship between the Prince of Nanming and the Emperor was not good. In the past, he had even cried at her feet, begging for protection, fearing that the Emperor would execute him to secure the throne.

*A man so cowardly... why does he show only concern and tension now, with no sign of fear?* She discovered a clue. It was hard to believe, but the Prince of Nanming had no reason to betray the Emperor, who had treated him well.

"Nan'er, was this your doing?" she whispered, her voice so soft that only the Prince, his wife, and those closest heard her.

The Prince of Nanming froze. The jade beads in his hand stopped. His nervous expression began to fade. He looked toward the temple, watching as the Emperor’s aura slowly vanished. *He disappeared? Is he dead?* The Prince’s thoughts swirled, and he nearly laughed out loud. *I didn't expect the White Tiger Demon Emperor to succeed. My efforts were not in vain.* His face relaxed.

"You miss it, don't you?" the Empress Dowager said, turning to look at him.

"I knew I couldn't hide it from you, Mother," the Prince replied, his smile growing wide. "I rarely visited the capital, rarely spoke, rarely saw you—all to keep you from suspecting me. It seems my efforts were correct."

His voice was clear, reaching the Empress, the imperial concubines, and the ministers nearby. The Empress Dowager watched this man—both familiar and like a stranger—and fell into a heavy silence.

The temple was now quiet. The bloody claw had disappeared. Everything seemed to have settled.

The Empress, hearing their exchange, looked at the Prince of Nanming in disbelief. *The Prince of Nanming is the missing Crown Prince Huainian? The man the Emperor searched for for decades was hiding under his nose?* She gathered her children behind her and shouted, "Crown Prince Huainian, how could you collude with demons to assassinate His Majesty!"

"How could I?" the Prince laughed. "It was quite simple. Mother, the throne was mine to begin with! I was the Crown Prince for three hundred years! Three hundred years! My father intended to pass the throne to me, but you, the State Duke, and Wu Shang took it from my hands. I am not reconciled. Mother, I am not reconciled."

The Empress Dowager stood alone, her frail body facing him. "I did nothing wrong. Wu Shang killed me, so I must kill him," the Prince continued, his voice calm. "What if I colluded with demons? Truthfully, Mother, the Demon race and the Devil race are both using me as a stepping stone to this world. But what of it? They need me. In this world, I can still be an Emperor. The Great Zhou will not fall. You will still be the Empress Dowager. Wu Shang is dead; I can feel it. I am the only one who can inherit the throne."

He smiled and bowed slightly. "Mother, I am not Huainian; I am the Prince of Nanming. My brother was killed by the Crown Prince Huainian. I shall inherit the throne as the Prince of Nanming. No one will say otherwise."

The blood-red pillar of light faded. The heavens began to clear.

***

"I do not agree!" the Empress Dowager declared, her aged voice ringing out. "The people of this world will not agree! How much havoc did you wreak in the past!?"

The ministers and guards, having finally reached the temple, heard her words. They stood frozen. *The Emperor is attacked, and the Empress Dowager is confronting the Prince of Nanming? What is this about past havoc?*

The Prince of Nanming stood before the temple path, his face etched with feigned grief. "Everyone, my brother is dead. Crown Prince Huainian has conspired with demons to assassinate him. I wish to ascend the throne today. The Empress Dowager disagrees, but a nation cannot be without a ruler for a day. I will defy her wishes and inherit the throne."

Silence fell upon Mount Shenyue. The air felt solidified.

"This is impossible!" an old official shouted. "Even if His Majesty was attacked, he cannot be dead! He is a Celestial!"

"Prince of Nanming," another official scolded, "even if His Majesty has passed, to ascend the throne on the very same day is too hasty! I suspect you are involved!"

The Prince of Nanming sighed. "I care deeply for my brother; how could I collude with demons? Now, I am the only one qualified to inherit the throne." He glanced at Wu Ling. "That girl, the new Crown Prince, has a cultivation of only the fourth or fifth rank. She is not fit to be Emperor."

The officials were conflicted. They were reluctant, but the Prince of Nanming was the only option. If it were the notorious Crown Prince Huainian, they would resist, but the Prince of Nanming... they had no reason to oppose him. Compared to the weak Wu Ling, the world would more easily accept the Prince of Nanming.

Just then, a young official knelt. "The nation cannot be without a ruler! I humbly request the Prince of Nanming to ascend the throne!"

Others followed, kneeling one by one. The Prince of Nanming’s smile grew. "Since everyone insists, I shall ascend."

The Empress Dowager, her face pale, slammed her staff onto the ground. "This is not the Prince of Nanming; it is the Crown Prince Huainian! He colluded with demons! He deserves death!"

The crowd was stunned. *The Prince of Nanming is Huainian?* They looked at him, but saw no resemblance. Could he have used some magical treasure to change his appearance? Such a thing had never been recorded in history.

"The Empress Dowager is distraught," the Prince said calmly. "Does anyone here oppose my ascension?"

Silence reigned. Humanity is easily tested; even the loyal ministers were silent.

"I do not agree!" the Empress Dowager repeated. "The people of this world do not agree! When the demons reached the capital, when the land was lost, you were still thinking of the throne! You are the same now!"

Wu Yuemei stepped out, her gentle demeanor replaced by the fierce pride of a royal princess. "I do not agree! Even if you are not Huainian, your ambition is monstrous!"

Wu Ling stepped out, her face cold. "I do not agree."

The Empress and the concubines followed. The Prince of Nanming stood alone.

"It seems you do not want to do this the easy way," the Prince muttered. "Very well."

"Do it," he commanded.

His followers lunged at the dissenting officials. A fierce clash of spiritual energy erupted on Mount Shenyue. The Prince of Nanming summoned his divine manifestation, a raging fire-god, and prepared to strike down the royal kin.

The Empress Dowager stood before her family, waiting for the end. "I have failed you all," she whispered.

Just as the Prince’s attack was about to land, two figures appeared, blocking the blow. It was Qian Siyuan and Li Zhengyang.

"Oh? The Lamp-Lighting Bureau? I didn't see you earlier," the Prince said.

Suddenly, he noticed the chaos around him. From every corner—temples, trees—black-clad agents of the Lamp-Lighting Bureau emerged. They were armed to the teeth, breaking the very rules of the ceremony they were sworn to uphold.

The Prince’s face twitched. *They brought weapons?*

The tide began to turn. The Prince’s followers were cut down one by one. He watched as his loyal officials were dragged away and slaughtered. He felt insulted. *How dare they?*

"It doesn't matter," he scoffed. "I can suppress them myself."

He turned to the Princess of Nanming. "You can strike now."

The Princess, a manifestation of the Devil Emperor, looked at him coldly and moved away. The Prince felt a strange unease, but dismissed it. He raised his hand to summon his divine manifestation, but suddenly, he felt a sharp, cold pain in his side.

He froze, looking down. The Princess of Nanming had driven a blade into his flesh.

"What are you doing?" he gasped.

She didn't answer, only twisted the blade.

"Wait," he begged, not daring to offend the Devil Emperor. "We have already won! The White Tiger Demon Emperor has killed the Emperor! The throne is ours!"

The Princess ignored him, her cold expression flickering into a strange, almost playful smile. She looked toward the temple. "Don't be impatient. The Emperor is not dead. But... someone is about to die."

Suddenly, five-colored light erupted from the temple. A space of absolute order formed, and from within it came the agonizing screams of a beast. The rift in the sky shattered.

The Demon Emperor had fallen!

A deep chill spread through the Prince of Nanming. Two figures emerged from the temple: Cheng Zhihai and the Emperor, Wu Shang. Their robes were stained with the blood of the White Tiger Demon Emperor.

The Prince’s world collapsed. *Who betrayed me?*

He looked at the Princess of Nanming, only to see her gaze fixed on someone behind him. Her cold demeanor vanished, replaced by a soft, coquettish expression. "You know, acting is so tiring."

The Prince of Nanming’s worldview shattered completely. *You are the Devil Emperor, not a courtesan!*

He turned to see the Heir to the State Duke, Cheng Guang, watching him with a smile.

"Old man, did you enjoy the assassination?" Cheng Guang asked. "Today, you shall taste what it feels like to be stabbed in the back."

The Prince tried to speak, but another cold, sharp pain pierced his side. He looked at the Heir to the State Duke, and finally, he fell into a heavy, eternal silence.