Slaying the Emperor!

Before that, however, he had to let out a mighty shout to declare his identity. Otherwise, how would the countless commoners, civil officials, and military lords of the royal capital know he had arrived? "Divine Descent has come! Diwu Bufan, prepare to die!" The voice boomed with tremendous power, echoing across the entire royal capital in an instant. Empowered by divine power, Qi Yuan's voice traveled far faster than the speed of sound. Instantly, throughout the capital, countless commoners raised their heads toward the sky, wearing diverse expressions. Elders wept with joy, youths looked bewildered, and others stared in shock. Heaven-rank weapon wielders felt their blood boil with excitement. "To think we would have the chance to witness a divine-rank battle!" "No matter the outcome, this battle will be etched into the annals of history!" "Has the God of Judgment... returned? How unfair! When I was weak, Divine Descent fell, and I was bullied mercilessly. After striving for a hundred years, I finally rose to become a master over men. Before I could even enjoy my fortune, Divine Descent is back?" Reactions to the return of Divine Descent varied throughout the royal capital. For instance, a grey-robed, middle-aged man drew the sword from his scabbard and brandished it toward Qi Yuan: "The world fears Divine Descent, but I do not!" He was originally the descendant of a founding duke; his ancestors had suffered all the hardships for him, so he should have enjoyed a lifetime of comfort. He lacked his elder brother's ambition, nor did he simply lounge around like his younger brother to indulge in pleasures. In truth... he was a complete degenerate who lived only for thrills. In the end, he broke the law. The dignified son of a duke was sentenced by Divine Descent and castrated into a eunuch. Toward Divine Descent, he harbored bone-deep hatred. When the Old Emperor Diwu Bufan eradicated Divine Descent, this man viewed the emperor as his sovereign father, willing to lay down his life for him. "Scoundrel who acknowledges neither father nor ruler, prepare to die!" He drew his blade, fearless of death. He wanted to declare to that aloof, cold-blooded arbiter of judgment that even a vile villain did not fear death. Yet at that moment, the youthful figure did not grant him so much as a single glance. Instead, he soared straight into the celestial canopy. Disregard! This was naked, absolute disregard! The grey-robed man flew into a rage. Glaring at the carriage, he slashed toward it with his sword. Meeting him in return was a sword strike from the yarn-washing crone. Alas, even until his dying breath, he never received a glance from that young man. It was as if he were nothing more than an inconsequential ant. This disdain enraged him even more than death itself, yet he was utterly helpless. In the eyes of Divine Descent, he had never existed at all, nor would the deity ever remember such a trivial nobody. "God Descent!" "As My Divine Descent." "Share the Same Robe." Soaring into the sky, Qi Yuan silently recited in his heart. Facing the gods of Rakshasa Country, Qi Yuan held nothing back. Before the eyes of all the people under heaven, he would execute the Emperor of Rakshasa Country, the supposed sun of the realm. In an instant, a blood-red silhouette of light cast itself upon the earth. Above the skies, a terrifying giant nearly a hundred zhang tall materialized. He was encased in blood-red crystalline armor, with intricate patterns adorning the breastplate. The lower faulds were sharp and defined, carved with a set of balancing scales. Deep crimson pauldrons glimmered with traces of gold, linking together into golden threads like roaming divine beasts. A fusion of As My Divine Descent and Share the Same Robe, Qi Yuan now stood infinitely majestic. Sanctity, demoniac fervor, and eerie malice blended seamlessly into one. One entity, three facets. He was a saint filled with sorrow for the mortal realm! He was a demon surging from the abyssal fury! He was a bizarre, inscrutable horror! In a flash. Blood-red radiance and holy light enveloped the entire royal capital. Across heaven and earth, sanctity intermingled with crimson. Where they overlapped lay dark shadows. Everyone raised their heads toward that towering figure in the sky. Whether ordinary commoners or weapon wielders, the moment they beheld that towering silhouette, terror, reverence, and a sense of insurmountable defeat welled in their hearts. Their legs trembled uncontrollably and their hearts raced violently, driven by biological instinct and megaphobia. Yet no one fell to their knees, for... the holy light gently held them upright. "Is this Divine Descent?" "The God of Judgment?" Some chattered their teeth, while others wore looks of pure dread. Inside the imperial palace, the six gods assembled. Prince Dingyuan narrowed his eyes, a flicker of complexity surfacing within them. "Divine Descent... why does it seem somewhat different from before?" In the past, Divine Descent was merely a divine artifact that shifted into a human form during battle. Back then, it was a faceless, sacred man. Now, blood-red hues were tinged within that sacred light, sending chills down their spines. "It is... far more powerful than before," an elder stammered in fear. In the past, Divine Descent hung above their heads like a suspended blade. Even after cultivating into a God-rank weapon wielder, he had remained uneasy and constantly on edge. Now, that same dreadful sensation had returned. "It was slain a hundred years ago. Today... it is doomed to die once more!" "Even if it has revived, it cannot last long. This must be its strongest state." "Indeed, this old man can also tell that this state is merely fierce on the outside but brittle within. At most... it can only sustain itself for a hundred breaths." "As long as we stall, he is dead without question." These people were seasoned God-rank weapon wielders, after all, and their discernment remained sharp. That towering figure possessed a terrifying aura that struck shivers through them, making even God-rank weapon wielders feel outmatched. Yet such an aura could never be maintained for long. "It is stronger now than in the past," the silent Diwu Bufan spoke up, his expression grim and cold. "Had I not made preparations, I fear that within those hundred breaths, he could easily slaughter at least three of you. "Therefore, remember my benevolence—this time, it is I who saved your lives!" The five God-rank weapon wielders present hurriedly assumed expressions of profound gratitude. Prince Dingyuan was especially thick-skinned; despite being a God-rank weapon wielder, he flattered shamelessly, "Your Majesty is this old official's second father!" Diwu Bufan nodded, an intense thirst for battle flashing in his eyes. He watched the colossal being striding toward the imperial palace, his gaze burning with zeal. A vast, authoritative voice resonated across heaven and earth at that very moment. "A mere divine artifact, a creation of implement masters—how dare you act so presumptuously!" The aura radiating from Diwu Bufan was equally horrifying. Divine might surged, and the intimidating majesty of an emperor struck terror into hearts. Over the past century, Diwu Bufan had cultivated obsessively while neglecting affairs of state. Gathering the world's most precious treasures, the entire realm sustained a single man. His strength had reached the absolute peak of the Three Steps of Sky Treading, infinitely approaching Divine Descent's former glory. Hence, facing the revived Divine Descent today, he possessed the confidence to do battle. Not to mention, he still held a trump card. On the other side, the towering figure approached rapidly. Without uttering a word, he fixed his gaze on the Old Emperor. "Beholding your sovereign, why do you not bow?" Diwu Bufan shouted in high spirits. At this moment, he was no longer the emperor from a hundred years ago who had not even dared to watch the battle. Today, he was radiant with ambition, the true sun of Rakshasa Country. The colossal giant remained silent, letting actions speak for words. A mighty punch caused the heavens and earth to shudder. Seeing this fist, Diwu Bufan's pupils constricted violently. An emotion he had not felt in ages—terror—began to spread across his mind. Furious, his voice grew even louder. "All under the sun and moon is the sovereign's domain! "Within this royal domain, all implements and living beings belong to me! "You... dare to defy me? I shall personally execute you with my own hands! "I shall declare to the world that the Diwu lineage will endure for ten thousand generations, and they shall have the honor of being my subjects for eternity, sheltered beneath my protection!" Diwu Bufan shouted boldly, yet his body reacted honestly. As that fist descended, his body darted away in a frantic dodge. He did not dare to confront Qi Yuan head-on. Far away. Insect Maiden Caidie fluttered her wings. Looking toward the south from afar, a look of regret crossed her face. "Judging by the time, the divine war must have erupted in the Rakshasa Royal Capital. What a pity, we probably won't have the chance to witness it." Shen Lingxuan stood clad in a black dress, radiating an icy aura. Though a veil obscured her peerless visage, even a passing glimpse was enough to know she was a beauty beyond compare. The hem of her dress, embroidered with plum blossoms, extended down to her ankles, concealing her porcelain-white, slender legs completely. Despite her somewhat conservative attire, her voluptuous figure was impossible to hide. Her long legs, slender waist, and ample bust effortlessly drew the eye. Especially those long legs. "Speaking of which, the wielder of that divine artifact shares a name very similar to your husband's—they're both called Qi Yuan," Insect Maiden Caidie remarked. Hearing that name, the faint tear-shaped mole beneath Shen Lingxuan's eye twitched slightly. "Perhaps it is merely someone with the same name." "It has to be just a shared name," Insect Maiden Caidie sighed. "Divine Descent was once the number one divine artifact in the world. Even when shattered, it isn't something just anyone can wield. One would at least need to be a Heaven-rank weapon wielder, whereas that husband of yours... is merely eighteen." Even if someone cultivated from the womb, it was impossible to reach the realm of a Heaven-rank weapon wielder by the age of eighteen. Shen Lingxuan nodded in agreement. In her past life, she had been a Heaven-rank weapon wielder herself, so she naturally understood how difficult it was to reach that stage. Even with the memories of her previous incarnation and talent that surpassed ordinary mortals, and with the assistance of Insect Maiden Caidie, she had only barely stepped into the Heaven rank. Yet she suddenly recalled the words Insect Maiden Caidie had overheard back in Shiwanshanjue. Her husband had come looking for her. She quickly extinguished that speculation in her heart. Of course, while in the Curious Domain, she had obtained a guiling source and immediately fallen into deep slumber to refine it in secret. She was completely unaware of what had transpired within the Curious Domain. Otherwise, she might have realized that this Qi Yuan truly could be her husband. "It's a pity our strength is so weak and we can barely protect ourselves; otherwise, we could have lent Divine Descent a hand this time," Insect Maiden Caidie said. "Divine Descent's master and creator was named Sheng Nü, who was also a Mandate bearer." "Will he win?" Shen Lingxuan asked, looking toward the direction of the Rakshasa Royal Capital. "He won't... Even if he wins, displaying such ostentation will only bring him death," Insect Maiden Caidie said. "Divine Descent... also carries the Mandate of Heaven." Shen Lingxuan felt a wave of disappointment, and a faint melancholy stirred in her heart. Mandate bearers were favored by heaven and earth, yet they had to remain constantly vigilant, forever fleeing pursuit. "Come, let us head to the Divine Wood Abyss. Once you refine the guiling source, and with my help, hiding in the Divine Wood Abyss for a few hundred years won't be a problem. "When that time comes and you become a God-rank weapon wielder, I will take you beyond the heavens!" Insect Maiden Caidie already had a plan in mind. Though Mandate bearers were hunted down, there was a sanctuary for them beyond the heavens. It was very safe there. However, Shen Lingxuan needed the strength of a God-rank weapon wielder before she could go. Aside from the two of them, countless pairs of eyes across the realm were fixed on the battle within the Rakshasa Royal Capital. Inside the Divine Wood Token, a message surfaced. "If Brother Qi can survive this tribulation, I shall recommend him to join the Void Paradise and escape this cage." "Brother Qi? Who is that? Never heard of him," Ji Wuyun replied, somewhat dazed. Yet as soon as she sent the message, she regretted it and wanted to recall it. For it was obvious that this Thorn Blood operative had posted the message in the wrong channel. If she had continued to lurk quietly, she might have intercepted more shocking secrets. The Thorn Blood operative wore a helpless expression. This person really was endearingly foolish. "Brother Kitchen Knife, of course." "Huh?" Ji Wuyun felt a twinge of regret that he had continued speaking. And... how did he know Brother Kitchen Knife was surnamed Qi? The Thorn Blood operative smiled wryly. "Over the past few months, a young man named Qi Yuan has traveled across all twelve provinces of Rakshasa Country wielding Divine Descent, even slaying the Saber Demon. Surely you know of him?" "I know of him," Ji Wuyun answered quickly. "He is Brother Kitchen Knife." "How... how did you figure that out... Wait, Brother Kitchen Knife is facing the encirclement of the gods right now. He won't die, will he?" Ji Wuyun asked anxiously. "This tribulation is hard—immensely hard. "In the Book of Qingshan, there are only a few brief records of this incident. "'The artifact fell, yet Rakshasa endured.'" "Wait, the artifact fell... what about the man?" Ji Wuyun caught the crucial omission. "The Book of Qingshan makes no mention of him. Perhaps... he was not qualified to be recorded." "Is it possible... that he won?" "The chances are slim. If he loses and somehow flees for his life, there might still be a glimmer of hope," the Thorn Blood operative remarked with emotion. Although events recorded in the Book of Qingshan might undergo subtle variations in detail, the overall trajectory could never be altered. Just as Thorn Blood's scheme could not fail. The Divine Wood would transform into a guiling, and the Qingshan Realm would become a guiling domain. And his mission accepted from the Void Paradise was precisely to accelerate this process. "I wonder... what the ending will be," he sighed softly. Meanwhile, within the royal capital. The towering silhouette stood firm like a white jade pillar holding up the heavens, a purple-gold beam stabilizing the seas. His indifferent, majestic gaze made him resemble an aloof Heavenly God all the more. Scarlet blood seeped from the corner of Diwu Bufan's mouth, astonishment plastered across his face. "To think the disparity between us was this vast. Even with all my efforts spent on dodging, I was still wounded by you." Facing Qi Yuan's assault, he had summoned the courage... to dodge, intending to test his own might against him. In the end, dodging swiftly had been futile. He had still been grazed, sustaining no light injuries. "In that case, I shall hold back no longer... and grant you no way out!" Diwu Bufan talked big despite his lacking skills. From his tone, it sounded as though he had been concealing his strength. Yet everyone knew that this was likely the extent of his actual prowess. His so-called refusal to hold back was merely bringing out the dark light spirit. In an instant, an azure glow surfaced before Diwu Bufan. A smug grin spread across his face. "You should know... what this is!" Qi Yuan's expression remained unchanged. With a single glance, he recognized it as the dark light spirit specifically engineered to contaminate divine artifacts. "With this, you are certain to die today!" Diwu Bufan barked coldly. In that split second, the droplet abruptly splashed outward. It was as if blue rain began falling across heaven and earth. This rain... blanketed the entire royal capital, completely unavoidable. "Let's see how you flee!" "If you were another God-rank weapon wielder, you might still use divine power to resist and isolate it slightly." "But you are a divine artifact. The moment your divine power makes contact, it will be contaminated and corroded!" A torrential downpour cascaded from the heavens, threatening to drown the entire capital. The rain imbued with the dark light spirit could corrupt not only divine artifacts, but also... ordinary mortals. This downpour was akin to a genuine storm of sulfuric acid. If it fell, countless lives would be devastated. Towering buildings would corrode and collapse. The rain was falling rapidly. Qi Yuan's expression was serene as he swept his eyes across the commoners below, who were scurrying like ants. They were so frail, yet they clung to life with such resilience. Role-playing Divine Descent, being Divine Descent—at this moment, his choice was... "Inhale!" Qi Yuan opened a gaping, monstrous maw. A powerful suction force converged at that instant. Rain of heaven and earth! All into my body! Facing this blue rain, the colossal giant opened his mouth wide. All the rain across the heavens and earth poured straight into his belly at this very moment. The divine power on his body began dissipating ceaselessly. The white light and golden threads within his blood-red armor were unraveled and continually drained away. In the distance, Liu Sheng watched this scene and said to Liu Chudong in a hoarse voice, "He is just like you... both foolish children. In order to keep this toxic rain from harming innocent commoners, he chose to drink it all!" Though he did not know what was contained within the toxic rain, it was clearly designed specifically to deal with Divine Descent. He could clearly have dodged and merely suffered a light touch, yet to protect the common people, he took the harm upon himself and swallowed the poison whole. Worry and guilt surfaced on Liu Chudong's face. "I... judged a noble gentleman with the heart of a petty person." Before arriving, she had worried that Qi Yuan would lose himself to power. Yet at this moment, sacrificing himself for the common people of the world—this was the foolish yet selfless Divine Descent she truly revered and admired. She gazed into the horizon. She saw that towering crimson figure, seemingly struck by lightning, scorched by fire, and eaten away by venom. Sizzling sounds crackled continuously. Divine power dissolved into thick smoke. His massive form was shrinking steadily. It was as if he were being melted away. At this moment, the commoners sheltered by Divine Descent seemed to realize what was happening. Looking up at that rapidly weakening figure in the sky, they could not help but cry out, "Divine Descent!" "Divine Descent!" "Divine Descent!" More and more people called out. Even though a hundred years was enough to wash away and erase all memories, the longing for Divine Descent among the people of Rakshasa Country had never ceased. A sneer appeared in Diwu Bufan's eyes. "To think that even with a wielder, you are still so foolish. "These lowly wretches—cut down one batch and another will sprout next year. How could they ever compare to the value of our lives?" Qi Yuan had not dodged the dark light spirit, even swallowing the toxic rain into his belly, which exceeded his expectations. His original plan had been to use the toxic rain to force Divine Descent into timid hesitation, slowly grinding it down before delivering the killing blow. Instead, Divine Descent had swallowed it all in one gulp. This saved him quite a bit of trouble. He could already see that Divine Descent's divine power was crumbling away. In just a few breaths, it would thoroughly perish. Yet right at that moment, from within that shrinking body, a languid voice drifted out. "With so many people calling for Divine Descent, if I were Armor Hero or Ultraman, I might have drawn upon the power of their hearts to erupt my cosmo and slay you. "Pity I'm not. I am only myself—a gamer role-playing as Divine Descent." As his voice fell... Boom! The hundred-zhang giant collapsed and drifted away in scattered mists. Emerging before the eyes of the world was an exceptionally handsome young man. Diwu Bufan stared at him, astonishment flashing in his eyes. "Divine Descent is destroyed; your greatest reliance is gone! Who gave you the courage to spout nonsense before me?" Looking at this excessively young man, Diwu Bufan felt a longing for youth, as well as murderous intent. In his eyes, this Qi Yuan was undeniably remarkably gifted. At such a young age, he had likely touched the threshold of the Heaven rank and mastered the realm-protecting divine artifact, Divine Descent. Yet high talent was just talent—without Divine Descent, what was he? Any random God-rank weapon wielder could effortlessly cut him down. "Without Divine Descent... can I not kill you?" A smile spread across Qi Yuan's face. No longer role-playing Divine Descent, he felt the world had become so much brighter. However... he still had to continue role-playing Divine Descent. Under the shocked and stunned gazes of Diwu Bufan and the multiple God-rank weapon wielders, a voice echoed throughout the royal capital. "Your Divine Descent... has returned once more." "I... am the God of Judgment!" "If there is injustice, call upon my divine descent!" "Today, I execute gods!" A fierce, terrifying aura surged, shooting straight into the clouds. The peerlessly handsome young man declared, "I, too, am a god!" "A God-rank weapon wielder!" "He is actually a God-rank weapon wielder!" "How is that possible!" The six God-rank weapon wielders present were dumbfounded. They had never imagined that the one wielding Divine Descent was himself a God-rank weapon wielder. And this God-rank weapon wielder was terrifyingly young! "You are actually a God-rank weapon wielder? Good, good, good!" Diwu Bufan uttered three 'goods' in succession. He felt some surprise and lingering dread, but his confidence remained intact. Such a young God-rank weapon wielder... was indeed earth-shattering, yet he had surely only just entered the God rank. Fortunately, obtaining Divine Descent had inflated his arrogance, leading him to march into the royal capital to slay him. Otherwise, had he concealed himself in secret to cultivate for a century, wouldn't he have become invincible under heaven? "Today, I shall cut you down and pull you up by the roots!" Diwu Bufan struck out viciously, unleashing power at the peak of the Three Steps of Sky Treading. Immediately after, an urgent shout rang out. "Attack together! We must ensure he stays here!" He not only bullied the young as an elder, but also bullied the few with the many. Instantly, the remaining five God-rank weapon wielders took action as well, surrounding Qi Yuan to execute him. Facing the encirclement of six people, Qi Yuan remained completely unfazed. "Sigh, putting on airs is truly exhausting. "Now, let me show you what a technical player looks like! A master of the one-life clear!" In a flash, Qi Yuan's silhouette vanished into thin air. A ray of blood-red light surfaced, revealing traces of a colossal blood blade. Myriad Transformations! Instantly, over a thousand Qi Yuans appeared between heaven and earth. Each of them wielded a blood-red greatsword, cleaving forward in unison. Dying Radiance! Tyrannical Strength! Heaven-Cleaving Sword-Drawing Technique! At this moment, Qi Yuan fought without the slightest reservation. His combat arts and combat techniques were among the absolute strongest in the mundane world, among the transcendent, and even among the gods and immortals. Seven gods ganging up on him? It was clearly him alone besieging the seven gods! Without God Descent, merely role-playing without the need to maintain an aloof posture, his raw power might not match God Descent, but his lethality far exceeded it. Underhanded moves, dirty tricks—he utilized every tactic imaginable. "Kill!" "Kill, kill, kill!" "Die, all of you!" "Cue my BGM!" Innumerable drones took to the skies. Some transformed into speakers, some into heavenly soldiers and generals beating gongs and drums, and others into monsters blowing suonas. All manner of bizarre, melodious, and blaring sounds rang out. Qi Yuan felt as though he had received divine assistance. Horror showed on Diwu Bufan's face. "What are these things?" The other God-rank weapon wielders also harbored deep worry in their hearts. Because in this initial clash, they realized that this Qi Yuan... seemed even more terrifying than Divine Descent. "This is my BGM." "And it is also your funeral dirge!"