Chapter 24
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
This chapter is edited by Farouq Omileye. Thank you for your contribution!
Chapter 24: Your Emperor Is Back!
The snow was falling heavily, and before she knew it, Tao Huai found herself buried under a thin layer of snow.
The cold was bitter, biting into her skin. Her head felt as if it were freezing. Despite her best efforts to stiffen her body, she trembled uncontrollably, from head to toe, from the inside out. Her cheeks were frozen, burning with a red flush.
She felt as though an icy monster was running wild within her.
Sigh…
Tao Huai let out a quiet sigh.
This body… it’s still too sensitive and weak. It can’t even handle this much cold. After all, she was just an ordinary person.
But she had done her part. If this accident hadn’t happened, she would have completed her task.
She stared directly at Bai Lian. “I’ve waited for over ten years. Do you know how I’ve spent these years? No, you don’t!”
I wasn’t supposed to ask that, was I?
Bai Lian felt a bit dejected.
Tao Huai sneered.
She couldn’t let these ten years of plans be destroyed today! Her face twisted into a malicious grin, and the slow, sardonic smile that formed made Ling Yue shrink behind Bai Lian.
Tao Huai shouted, “I heard your cultivation is close to the Transcendency Stage. Yes, you’re strong enough to look down on me! Even if I gave my life, I wouldn’t be able to defeat you!”
“?!”
Bai Lian grew even more puzzled.
When did my strength reach the Transcendency Stage?
Who spread such an exaggerated rumor?
Bai Lian was flustered, but she kept her expression neutral.
Partly because she was used to such things, and partly because a new task had just appeared in front of her:
Task 1: Immediately attack Tao Huai. (Reward: Vacuum Immeasurable Sutra)
Task 2: Shout, “Stop talking nonsense. Come on, face me!” (Reward: The spell – Nine Layers of Thunder)
Task 3: Observe Tao Huai quietly. (Reward: Soft Skill +10)
Bai Lian quickly scanned the situation.
It seemed that a battle was inevitable. None of these tasks would be easy.
The rewards of Task 1 and Task 2 were worth more than a middle-grade Spirit Tool. Though Task 3 didn’t offer much, considering her last fight with Nishang had granted her 8 points of Hard Skill, 10 points of Soft Skill was likely a sign that her opponent here was probably in the later stage of the Soul Changing Stage.
Later stage of Soul Changing!
Bai Lian glanced at Ling Yue, who was hiding behind her. A sense of uncertainty tugged at her, but she had to stay strong.
She couldn’t run even if she wanted to. Even if she could, she wouldn’t. Running would not only cost her face but also her Master’s.
“Is this it? An Lan, the leader of Qiongming Peak, has such a cowardly disciple? How unfortunate!”
To hell with that! My Master must not be mocked because of me!
But, Bai Lian still opted for Task 3, the safest choice.
After all, help would take time to arrive. If she were killed before it came, all would be for nothing.
Having made her decision, Bai Lian simply looked calmly at Tao Huai.
You go on.
But to Tao Huai, everything appeared differently.
There’s a saying:
Bai Lian’s smile is equal to an invitation from the King of Yama.
It was chilling.
But at least it showed Bai Lian was getting serious.
If she wasn’t smiling, it would mean she was looking down on me.
Tao Huai’s expression turned as cold as ice.
Bai Lian’s calm demeanor only made Tao Huai feel as if she were being mocked: You’re right. I’m stronger than you—a rat scurrying in the dark!
This woman…
Tao Huai felt a sharp pain in her heart.
I can’t stand it! I can’t stand it!
You’re a Natural Saint, huh? So what? Can Natural Saints do whatever they want?
Evil people have their rights, too!
“Ahhhhhh—”
A sudden shriek cut through the cold night. Tao Huai’s eyes flashed with a blinding red light.
Stupid woman!
In this world, only the strong can survive, not those so-called good people!
“Why?”
Bai Lian was momentarily stunned.
What’s happening? Why is Tao Huai smiling?
Tao Huai’s grin stretched wide, revealing her teeth.
She had changed her plan. Originally, she had intended to join forces with the evil forces hidden beneath the altar to strike at Bai Lian from two directions. Then, in the chaos, she would grab Ling Yue and throw Bai Lian into the altar.
But now…
Tao Huai laughed manically.
“Arrogance will be your downfall. You may be powerful, but you should not have come to the royal city! Do you think I’ve done nothing these last ten years? Hahaha, from now on, feel the power of the King of Nanwang Country!”
Her laughter sounded like a ghost’s howl.
Ling Yue trembled.
This wasn’t the Tao Huai she knew.
When the laughter subsided, a shadow emerged from the top of Tao Huai’s head, rising into the evening sky.
It was a broken soul.
“!”
Bai Lian’s eyes widened.
Wait!
That’s… a man, right?
After all, the soul’s chest was flat, its rear was flat, and its crotch…
Bai Lian didn’t dare look at its crotch, but it had a beard…
It was hard to say this was a woman.
Well, it’s not impossible. Who says a woman can’t have a beard?
Great. Another man pretending to be a woman!
Bai Lian remained unfazed. She wasn’t about to let this shadow slip away.
The Tianshu Sword Array activated. A flash of sword light instantly shredded the shadow into pieces, sending Tao Huai to the snow like a lifeless doll.
Her body was still warm, but there was no life left.
In this freezing, snowy night, it wouldn’t take long for her body to freeze.
“Sister Tao Huai!”
Ling Yue, still hiding behind Bai Lian, couldn’t help but shout.
Not Sister Tao Huai, it’s probably Brother Tao Huai.
But that wasn’t the point.
Bai Lian shook her head. “She’s dead. Let’s go.”
A bad feeling gnawed at her.
For this reason, she had prepared a call for help and could send it at any moment.
Ling Yue nodded silently.
After witnessing Tao Huai’s madness, she no longer doubted Bai Lian’s words.
She didn’t feel relieved. She felt lost. What was her past? Just a dream made of lies?
What did the future hold?
Bai Lian gently took Ling Yue’s hand and quickly walked toward the edge of the royal city.
The city, suspended in the air, had regained its stability.
Nothing seemed to hinder them along the way, and they made their way to the walls without trouble. But that’s when the problems started.
Before them stood a blue curtain of light.
It erupted from the city walls, encircling the royal city like a fence.
“The king power of Nanwang Country? Why does it sound so childish?”
Bai Lian suddenly turned back.
Ling Yue collided with her, and she quickly stepped back as if pricked by something sharp.
“Sorry, I—”
Bai Lian reached out to touch Ling Yue’s head.
Lost in thought?
“Everything will be fine,” Bai Lian reassured her.
Although, in truth, Bai Lian wasn’t so sure.
Perhaps peace would return to Nanwang, but would Ling Yue ever recover from all of this?
An unfortunate childhood takes a lifetime to heal.
Bai Lian thought of her Martial Sisters—the jade rabbit, Si Yunsheng, Qing Luan, and many others.
What king power? Come on! Face me!
Bai Lian raised her head, looking past Ling Yue’s shoulder.
The blue curtain of light trembled, like a flickering beacon, followed by the royal city shaking in the air.
Buildings collapsed, rubble mingled with the boundless sea of sand below, and a vast flow of sand surged into the sky like a geyser.
An invisible force pulled the sand, the debris, and the remains of buildings together.
Something enormous was rising from under the altar!
Bai Lian saw it—a magnificent chariot.
A purplish light hovered above it, and as Ling Yue, her head still pressed by Bai Lian’s hand, turned, she saw a figure emerge from the light.
The man wore white battle armor and held a spear. He wasn’t tall but was thick and sturdy, like the earth itself.
“Ancestor,” Ling Yue whispered.
Bai Lian’s eyes locked with the former king.
She understood his gaze.
Nanwang Country, your emperor is back!