Chapter 290: Great Emperor Ziyang's Murderous Intent

Chapter 290: Great Emperor Ziyang's Murderous Intent

Three days later, above the Underworld Kings Mansion, a massive flying treasure, shaped like a lotus petal, descended slowly, attracting the attention of countless people.

Under the gaze of Empress Zhou Wu, Qin Xuan and the others slowly boarded the fairy boat.

"Go back. Stop standing there looking so longingly. Once I return, I will definitely completely eradicate the strange Qi within your body."

Qin Xuan stared at Empress Zhou Wu's vermilion lips, bidding farewell with a smirk on his face.

"Scoundrel!"

Recalling the events of the past few days, the fury in Empress Zhou Wu's heart was like surging waves, one after another, endless.

However, during this time, the strange Qi eroding her heart meridians had been curbed.

Given time, she would surely be able to successfully suppress it.

Once Qin Xuan returned, she would settle the score!

Whoosh—

Exhaling a breath of clear Qi slowly, she felt a sense of relief wash over her upon confirming she didn't see Zhou Chen's figure, her inexplicable worry easing slightly.

To ensure Zhou Chen didn't rush into danger alone, she had specifically arranged for Linglong and the others to invite Zhou Chen into the imperial palace.

It was called an invitation, but in reality, it was imprisonment; she would only grant him freedom after Qin Xuan and the others had left.

The vast Mingyue Imperial Dynasty would need Zhou Chen, its backbone, to manage it in the future.

How could she place the life of the future Mingyue Emperor in danger?

Just as she turned her head, ready to leave, she saw Su Youyu, dressed in a ru-skirt, dragging Zhou Chen out from within the lotus-petal-shaped flying treasure.

She shouted loudly toward the direction of the imperial palace, "Big Sister, we are taking the Underworld Prince away!"

"I want to explain to you here that the Underworld Prince was not tricked out by me."

"I only just found out myself, so when I return, you must not blame me!"

"If you want to blame someone, blame the Second Sister. It was she, the Inner Attendant, who betrayed you. She was the one who brought the Underworld Prince out from General Gu You and Linglong and the others."

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

Ning Waner had once betrayed her, and this time, Su Youyu did not hesitate to betray Ning Waner as well.

"Zhou Chen!"

Empress Zhou Wu looked at Zhou Chen on the flying treasure, her eyes filled with rage, forgetting even to hide her identity as her Soul Power shook, shooting straight into the clouds.

As she approached the flying treasure, she saw the lotus petals closing one by one, suddenly emitting massive energy, directly tearing through space and jumping away.

Empress Zhou Wu pursued with all her might, only to find she could not catch up at all.

This flying treasure had come quite suspiciously; it could actually jump through the Void Realm continuously. Let alone her current body of Shangguan Ying, even her true self would likely struggle to catch up.

"Qin Xuan!"

"Ning Waner!"

"Good, very good indeed!"

In the shattered void, Empress Zhou Wu clenched her hands tightly.

She had never dreamed that for the past few days, she had been watching Qin Xuan closely, inseparable from him.

She had thought that Zhou Chen would be unable to escape the imprisonment of General Gu You and Linglong.

Who would have thought that Qin Xuan would use the strategy of "openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang."

What she found most unacceptable was that Ning Waner had actually betrayed her!

Disregarding her orders, she had listened to Qin Xuan and taken Zhou Chen out of the imperial palace!

"Qin Xuan, if Zhou Chen suffers even the slightest mishap!"

"I will have your life in exchange!"

"You deserve to die, you truly deserve to die!"

Empress Zhou Wu gritted her teeth in hatred, her beautiful lips twitching wildly, her pearly white teeth nearly shattering from the force of her bite!

—

"Good heavens, if it weren't for the fact that Shangguan Ying, this wet-behind-the-ears girl, lacked the strength."

"And if it weren't for the fact that Big Sister was right there in the Fengqi Palace."

"I would have suspected that Big Sister had chased after us herself."

Su Youyu patted her ample chest, still feeling lingering fear.

Ning Waner sat dejectedly to the side; Her Majesty the Empress had ordered her to guard the Underworld Prince well, yet she had committed theft while on duty.

She had listened to Qin Xuan's bewitchment and brought the Underworld Prince out.

She didn't know what mood Her Majesty the Empress was in right now, or how she would punish her upon her return.

If the Underworld Prince suffered any mishaps in the God Ruins, even death would not be enough to compensate for the loss to the Mingyue Imperial City.

Zhou Chen stepped forward and consoled her understandingly, "Second Sister, this was my own wish. I will take responsibility for all consequences. If my strength is truly insufficient and I die in the God Ruins, you can join the Celestial God Clan with Master Qin. Given the foundation of the Celestial God Clan, they should be able to protect you and Master Qin."

Ning Waner forced a bitter smile; she didn't know how to respond and just shook her head, ignoring Zhou Chen.

Qin Xuan moved closer, sat down beside Ning Waner, reached out, and wrapped his arm around her slender waist.

He pressed her head onto his shoulder and said with a light laugh, "Take it one step at a time. Perhaps this will be a great Opportunity for Zhou Chen."

Ning Waner leaned against Qin Xuan's sturdy arm, her cheeks flushing slightly as she let out a soft "En."

Luo Xinyi watched from the side, feeling sour in her heart, but she dared not show anger.

She could only vent her frustration on Luo Xianxian, scolding her angrily, "Luo Xianxian, where are you taking us?"

"We are already in the territory of the Ziyang Empire. Don't tell me you sold Qin Xuan's whereabouts to Great Emperor Ziyang and are selling us to the Ziyang Empire!?"

Luo Xianxian first spoke a few words to several experts of the Celestial God Clan at the lotus pod, then came to the lotus petal where Qin Xuan and the others were, shaking her head, "How is that possible? Don't overthink it. I have already informed the elders of my clan about the conflict between Qin Xuan and the Ziyang Empire, and there is nothing improper about it."

"This time, it's not just you; some prodigies of the Ziyang Empire and geniuses from various clans will enter the God Ruins. It saves time to pick everyone up at once."

After speaking, the flying treasure landed with a boom in the territory of the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

Not far outside the mountains, a handsome young man was still tirelessly persuading, "Miss Scarlet Thorn, entering the God Ruins this time is a rare Opportunity. Even someone as powerful as Great Emperor Ziyang has entered the God Ruins before."

"Even if you don't want to travel with me, you can't ignore the Opportunity, right?"

"Aren't you staying in these Hundred Thousand Mountains to temper yourself?"

"If you go to the God Ruins, the resources you obtain there will be a hundred, a thousand times better than what you can find in the Hundred Thousand Mountains!"

Luo Xinyi stared at the man who was like a piece of adhesive plaster and said in surprise, "Isn't that Long Chen?"

"How does he dare to appear in the Ziyang Empire?"

Su Youyu rolled her eyes, "The True Dragon Precious Technique has already been cultivated to Major Achievement by Qin Xuan, and he can even control the Three Thousand Dragon Flame. Even a fool knows that Long Chen is just a scapegoat. The kill order issued by the Ziyang Empire against him has long existed in name only. Let alone in the Hundred Thousand Mountains, even in the Ziyang Imperial Capital, no one would chase Long Chen anymore."

Long Chen looked back and saw the Celestial God Clan's flying treasure approaching. He became increasingly anxious and shouted, "Miss Scarlet Thorn, the clansmen of the Celestial God Clan have already arrived. Do not waste this Opportunity!"

He had chased Scarlet Thorn from the Ziyang Empire all the way to the Mingyue Imperial Dynasty.

And now, he had chased her from the Mingyue Imperial Dynasty to the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

Even though Scarlet Thorn's attitude toward him had worsened time and again, and she had even repeatedly wanted to kill him.

Long Chen didn't care at all.

He vaguely remembered the scene in the Three Thousand Weak Waters where Scarlet Thorn had jumped into the bone-chilling cold without hesitation just to keep him warm.

He didn't know why Scarlet Thorn's attitude toward him was gradually worsening.

But he was certain that as long as he thought of Scarlet Thorn and pursued her relentlessly.

Sooner or later, Scarlet Thorn would be moved by him and travel forward with him.

This trip to the God Ruins was the best demonstration of his care for Scarlet Thorn.

Boom—

The sealed cave suddenly opened.

Long Chen felt indescribable joy when he saw Scarlet Thorn, who had been in seclusion, walk out.

He had waited for several days, and finally, Scarlet Thorn had finished her seclusion.

She could explore the God Ruins with him!

However, Scarlet Thorn, who walked out, did not look at Long Chen but gazed toward the top of the flying treasure.

When she saw Qin Xuan, her eyes lit up.

Indeed, her perception was not wrong.

It really was Qin Xuan who had come!

Qin Xuan was also going to the God Ruins.

In that case, she didn't mind going to the God Ruins for some tempering!

On the lotus petal, Luo Xianxian looked at Long Chen and said with dissatisfaction, "For the trip to the God Ruins, no one can enter without an invitation. I remember I only invited you, Long Chen. When did I tell you that you could bring others?"

Long Chen pointed to Qin Xuan's direction from afar, "I don't believe that all those women beside Qin Xuan are prodigies invited by your Celestial God Clan. Why can Qin Xuan bring friends, but I cannot?"

"Your Celestial God Clan is eager to use us in the God Ruins to carve out a reputation. If you won't even agree to this small request, then I won't go!"

He had heard about the God Ruins in the Tianya Sword Pavilion.

It seemed like the Celestial God Clan was letting them enter the God Ruins for tempering, but in reality, it was just using their hands to increase their bargaining chips when fighting against opposing clans.

No one owed anyone anything; it was just a mutual exchange of needs.

Since Qin Xuan could bring people, why couldn't he?

He possessed the Sword Heart Physique, and his understanding of the Dao of the sword was already extraordinary and holy.

He also carried the foundation of the Tianya Sword Pavilion.

He was definitely not weaker than Qin Xuan.

Why couldn't he have the same treatment as Qin Xuan?

Luo Xianxian snorted, "Who told you that everyone beside Qin Xuan is a connection? Wu Bingqing has the Soul-Devouring Body, Zhou Chen possesses the God-Demon Power, Ning Waner is a powerhouse at the Quasi-Emperor Realm with the demeanor of a Confucian Sage, and Luo Xinyi and Su Youyu each have their own unique strengths. When has it ever been your turn to point fingers at how the Celestial God Clan acts?"

Long Chen stood in front of Scarlet Thorn, raised his chin proudly, and said in a deep voice, "Today, if I cannot take Miss Scarlet Thorn to the God Ruins, then I won't enter the God Ruins at all!"

He believed that with his own foundation, the Celestial God Clan would know how to act after weighing the pros and cons.

Who knew that Luo Xianxian would roll her eyes and wave her hand indifferently, "Let's go!"

"If you don't go, then don't. Look at how cocky you are. Do you think the Celestial God Clan is short of one Sword Heart Physique?"

Boom!

The massive lotus petal hummed, already accumulating energy, preparing to tear through space once again.

Long Chen gritted his teeth, looking at Scarlet Thorn with a conflicted expression.

He had never dreamed that the Celestial God Clan's attitude would be so tough!

So tough that they were even prepared to give up on him.

Scarlet Thorn could choose not to go to the God Ruins, but he could not.

If Qin Xuan obtained a great Opportunity in the God Ruins while he stood still.

The gap between him and Qin Xuan would require decades, or even centuries, to bridge.

He gritted his teeth, struggling internally as he looked at Scarlet Thorn, just about to dispel her desire to go to the God Ruins.

Just then, Qin Xuan on the lotus petal spoke slowly, "Take Scarlet Thorn with you."

Thud!

The flying treasure landed again.

Luo Xianxian threw an olive branch toward Scarlet Thorn, "Miss Scarlet Thorn, please come up to the lotus and have a chat."

Long Chen couldn't hold it in anymore and roared loudly, "Why can she go now?"

When he wanted to take Scarlet Thorn to the God Ruins, it wasn't allowed, but as soon as Qin Xuan spoke, there was no problem at all?

Luo Xianxian said impatiently, "Neither you nor I saw the uniqueness of Miss Scarlet Thorn, but Young Master Qin saw it. Miss Scarlet Thorn has what my Celestial God Clan needs, so naturally, she can enter the God Ruins."

"Where is Miss Scarlet Thorn unique?" Long Chen asked, frowning.

Luo Xianxian rolled her eyes and urged, "Is that any of your business? If you want to go, get on; if not, forget it!"

Ask her where Scarlet Thorn was unique?

How would she know?

She only knew that Scarlet Thorn and Qin Xuan were entangled.

Let alone her, even the obtuse clansmen of the Celestial God Clan wouldn't agree to Long Chen's request to take Scarlet Thorn away; wasn't that clearly going against Qin Xuan?

If Long Chen insisted on arguing a winner with Qin Xuan.

Then she could only abandon Long Chen without hesitation.

"Qin Xuan, you just wait for me!"

Long Chen boarded the lotus petal without a word, looking at Qin Xuan's location with gnashed teeth.

He was determined that in the God Ruins, he would definitely make Qin Xuan know the consequences of being his enemy!

Next, the Celestial God Clan continued to pick people up.

Those Aristocratic Families, or those with well-informed sources, all sat quietly on the lotus petals, minding their own business, separate from Qin Xuan and the others.

As for some reclusive prodigies from clans that were like paradises, without exception, whenever they met Qin Xuan and the others, they displayed the arrogance of prodigies and their competitive nature never ceased.

Some even went so far as to provoke Qin Xuan, who was surrounded by beauties.

Wu Bingqing killed nearly half of them, and for the remaining prodigies, it was only after Luo Xianxian cried and begged, pleading with Qin Xuan to speak up, that she stopped Wu Bingqing's violent actions.

Until the massive flying treasure landed above the Ziyang Imperial Capital, and a sudden change occurred.

Rumble—

A giant golden palm was seen tearing through the firmament, pointing directly at the massive lotus, covering it from above.

Flames soared to the sky, and thunderclouds rolled.

It was like a world-ending catastrophe.

On the lotus petal, two Celestial God Clan experts appeared simultaneously, sacrificing a scroll that covered hundreds of miles.

From within the scroll, millions of golden-armored soldiers flew out, wielding sabers, spears, axes, and halberds, charging toward the giant golden palm.

It took a full stick of incense's time, and only before the scroll turned to dust, was the giant golden palm leveled.

From the Ziyang Imperial Palace, a Great Emperor with majestic power and wearing an imperial crown arrived, moving ten thousand miles in a single step.

Standing there, he was like a great sun.

Dazzling to the point of being unable to look directly at.

Great Emperor Ziyang saw through the layers of Restrictions on the lotus and snorted coldly, shaking mountains and seas, causing even the entire lotus to vibrate and tremble violently.

"Qin Xuan, that scoundrel, destroyed the Butian Holy Land and injured my son."

"He even seized the True Dragon Precious Technique from my Secret Realm."

"Today, I will take his life. Does the Celestial God Clan truly intend to become my enemy!?"