Within the ruined long street of Chaotic Hua City, countless eyes converged upon a figure of immense power. Zheng Chaoyang, a man as mighty and unwavering as a mountain, knelt amidst a scattering of vibrant red petals, the remnants of a shattered Qi-blood flower.

It was a scene of utter disbelief. All who witnessed it, every soul in Upper City, fell into a stunned silence. If Zheng Chaoyang, who commanded a formidable army and had reached the realm of Divine Descent, could be so easily brought to his knees, utterly powerless from beginning to end, then who in the entire Youguo could possibly stand against this force?

The other Yanluo, naturally, were awed into submission by Yin Guan’s might. Even the cruellest, the King of Wu Official, who had initially intended to offer a suggestion – hoping the leader wouldn’t completely destroy Zheng Chaoyang’s body, thus affecting its usability – found his lips moving several times before ultimately refraining.

It was Zhao Che who finally broke the silence.

“I hope you don’t mind me reminding you of something,” he began. “Besides you and your subordinates, General Zheng is the only other Divine Descent realm expert in Youguo. If you wish to govern this country well, to realize your ambitions and ideals, you should not kill him.”

Yin Guan’s gaze drifted from the now-crippled Zheng Chaoyang and settled upon Zhao Che.

Zhao Che could feel it acutely – that sudden, heart-gripping terror. He felt like a drowning man, desperately gasping for air, yet keenly aware that there was no straw within reach! But in his heart, his aged father’s words echoed:

“Every single word I utter, you will engrave upon your mind! Not a single inflection, not a single pause, shall be wrong. Whether you live or die hinges entirely on your performance that day. Che’er, my son! You no longer have the luxury of being a failure!”

Remember…

Remember!

“The desire to make Youguo better, to allow its people to live more prosperous lives – this sentiment is not exclusive to you.”

Under the crushing weight of Qin Guang Wang’s terrifying power, Zhao Che barely managed to hold himself upright. With a bravery that defied imagination, he continued, “For years now, we have made numerous efforts. Including my father… including General Zheng, all have paid a heavy price for this. That is why you see the lives of the Youguo people as they are today. They already live with a decent measure of dignity, and in the foreseeable future, they will live even better.”

“But at this moment, you have appeared.”

“Of course, you have the power to exact revenge. In a situation where we had to rely on the sacred beast to protect the country, my father had long since prepared for his own demise. I will not resent you for that.”

“But Yin Guan, do you truly believe you can do better? Destruction is always easier than construction. After you have vented your anger and hatred, how will you change this country?”

“Most interesting, Zhao Cang’s son. I hadn’t bothered to remember your name before, yet today you have been permitted to speak so extensively. It is not entirely a waste of words.”

“However, these words… they do not sound as if they could originate from you.”

Yin Guan’s gaze swept past Zhao Che and settled upon Zhao Cang’s corpse on the ground.

The Prime Minister of Youguo, his life extinguished by the Yanluo King, now lay on the street, eyes wide open, unmoving. His vacant stare seemed unwilling to close, as if still gazing upon this world. Though he was dead, his arrangements remained.

“So it is with Zhao Cang that I am still conversing, is it?”

Yin Guan, looking at the decaying corpse, spoke thus: “Those treated as mere livestock, their futures and hopes severed – no matter how decent the facade they maintain, the core of their pain will never vanish.”

“At times, fitting them with beautiful collars is not true respect. In moments of leisure, grooming their fur is not true decency.”

“True decency lies in self-respect; true self-respect lies in freedom… Of course, I have not come today to discuss these matters with you.”

Yin Guan shifted his gaze, letting it fall upon the dejected form of Zheng Chaoyang, who seemed as good as dead. Casually, he said, “Wu Official, he is yours.”

“Good… good.” The King of Wu Official’s voice could barely conceal his delight. He knew this was Qin Guang Wang’s reward for his earlier efforts in resisting the giant turtle. He extended a hand in a summoning gesture.

Behind him, a black coffin automatically opened, ready to receive the still-living Zheng Chaoyang. A Divine Descent’s living flesh held far more potential for manipulation and a greater future than a mere corpse.

The black coffin, slung over his back, merely vibrated for a moment before returning to stillness.

Yin Guan calmly looked back at Zhao Che. “You asked, what do I intend to do?”

“Nothing more than… the determination forged that year, watching Zeng Qing being devoured, to slaughter all of you.”

“That simple… is all there is to it.”

He raised his hand once more, pressing it remotely towards Zhao Che.

Zhao Che gritted his teeth, looking at him. “So you fundamentally do not care about this country, nor are you concerned for its people. In your eyes, there is only your narrow hatred and extreme self-centeredness, is that it!?”

Yin Guan spared him a lazy glance. Between his slender fingers, a green light had already begun to leap.

Zhao Che lowered his eyes. “Or… are you merely doing this for Mu Qing?”

Jiang Wang, suspended in front of the giant turtle, felt his eyebrows jump. Su Mu Qing! Yin Guan’s cousin!

It was for the sake of rescuing Su Mu Qing that he and Xu Xiang Qian had initially opposed Zhao Che. Of course, he remembered this person. He was also clear that this person held significant importance to Yin Guan.

Yin Guan, Zeng Qing, and Su Mu Qing had grown up together from a young age, their bond incredibly strong. Zeng Qing had harbored feelings for Su Mu Qing, but Su Mu Qing’s heart inclined towards Yin Guan. To compensate Zeng Qing, Yin Guan had deliberately downplayed his own abilities, allowing Zeng Qing to win the position of City Lord of the Twenty-Seventh City. But he never expected that this concession would lead Zeng Qing into the maw of the beast…

It could be said that the reason Yin Guan chose to cause such a commotion during the sacred beast examination and then leave, the reason why the Hell No Door never concealed its identity, was solely for Su Mu Qing’s safety in Youguo. Su Mu Qing was his only exposed weakness. The stronger he became, the more fearsome his reputation spread, the more valuable Su Mu Qing became, and the less likely she was to be harmed.

And Zhao Che, at this moment, finally produced this name. After playing all the cards available – the welfare of the public, the country’s interests, the overall situation – he was forced to rely on this final leverage.

Yin Guan looked towards the City King, who was stationed at the far end of the long street. The City King shook his head, indicating he had not found Su Mu Qing.

He looked back at Zhao Che and said calmly, “I hope you are not foolish enough to use her to threaten me.”

At this moment, Zhao Che wore a pained expression. “How could I?”

“So…” Yin Guan asked, “Where is she?”

Zhao Che replied, “For her safety, I have hidden her in a very important place. As long as you…”

“Wheel Turner.” Yin Guan interrupted lightly. “Go search his soul.”

Dense, intricate curses, like swarming insects, danced around the Wheel Turner King’s fingers. He walked silently towards Zhao Che.

“I never intended to threaten you!” Zhao Che immediately exclaimed. “The sacred beast! I hid her within the sacred beast’s body! That was a place my father prepared for me, a place for the Zhao family bloodline to be preserved in the face of national annihilation, and I gave it to her! As long as you order your people to release their control on the sacred beast first, I can use a secret technique to move her out!”

“Bien City King, do you think I should believe him?” Yin Guan, suspended in the heights of Upper City, looked remotely towards that point above Lower City, the existence known as Bien City King.

“Are you willing to believe him?” Bien City King replied.

Yin Guan nodded slightly. “It’s an imposition.”

Bien City King stood alone, confronting the giant turtle in Lower City, yet his cold voice clearly echoed in everyone’s ears.

“What secret technique? Give it to me, I will activate it.”

Zhao Che looked down from the air. “How… how do I give it to you?”

His line of sight was instantly seized, piercing the spatial distance and immediately connecting with Bien City King’s gaze.

Within the Tongtian Palace, a terrifying virtual shadow, clad in black official robes, suddenly manifested, looking down upon Zhao Che’s weakened divine soul. Although the innate suppression of the Tongtian Palace could weaken all external invading divine soul powers to a level of safety below the threshold of confusion – the so-called “confusion in the womb” – it was precisely this. Historically, many cultivators who attempted to seize a body, losing physical traction, found their divine souls entering the Tongtian Palace. Eight or nine out of ten ultimately dissolved in the innate confusion. This was the human body’s innate protection for the divine soul, a protection that would only recede after a cultivator broke through the Four Seas and their spiritual awareness could interfere with reality.

But even under this suppression, Zhao Che’s divine soul could still feel an utterly irresistible terror. He dared not think further, fearing the exposure of his thoughts. He dared not speak more, fearing the revelation of flaws. Trembling with fear, he presented the secret technique.

Bien City King said no more, took the secret technique, and exited the Tongtian Palace.

The secret technique Zhao Che could use presented no obstacle to Jiang Wang. After understanding its principle, how to activate it without affecting the giant turtle’s current state was also no problem.

After carefully examining the technique and confirming it had no issues, Jiang Wang and Yin Guan exchanged a look from afar. Then, the technique was activated.

Rumble rumble!

But behold! The central street of Upper City actually began to crack open down the middle. The city ditch split wide open, revealing the giant turtle’s back shell deep below. It was a dark green color, adorned with numerous natural patterns. And among these patterns, one shaped like a flying fairy was blended in, incredibly inconspicuous.

Only at this moment, in a flash of overwhelming light, did its origins become apparent, clearly bearing artificial traces – one could only wonder how the people of Youguo managed to engrave array patterns on this turtle shell. One must remember that with this turtle beast’s defensive power, even the King of Wu Official could not break its defenses.

A strong light suddenly shone forth. After it receded, two figures appeared on the turtle shell. They were sent out of the ditch by the power of the array patterns, falling onto the wide street. The ditch then slowly closed.

Now, everyone’s gaze fell upon these two individuals. One, with closed eyes and unawake, was naturally Su Mu Qing. The other, a black-bearded middle-aged man sitting in meditation beside her, was the former Assistant Governor of the Twenty-Seventh City in Lower City – now the head of the prominent Su family in Upper City, Su Mu Qing’s birth father, and Yin Guan’s cousin’s husband… Su Quan.

Suddenly moved from his hiding place, he showed no surprise. Surrounded by fierce and powerful figures, he showed no unease either. It was as if his heart had rehearsed this countless times. His gaze swept around once, then quickly fixed upon Yin Guan, his expression a mix of surprise and joy. “Xiao Guan! You’re back?”

Yin Guan paid him no heed, merely looking silently at Su Mu Qing’s face. At this moment, she was curled on the ground, eyes closed, seemingly asleep. Her long eyelashes were like delicate curtains. On her beautiful face, there was still a trace of worry, though for whom she worried was unknown.

“She merely fell asleep,” Zhao Che explained lightly. “Her body needs rest and cannot withstand shocks…”

Yin Guan remained silent.

Su Quan stretched out his index finger and gently pressed it against Su Mu Qing’s neck. She then slowly woke up. When she opened her eyes, in the crowd, the first person she saw was Zhao Che.

“Che Lang!” She got up and ran towards Zhao Che, but after only a few steps, she hesitated and stopped, turning her head to look at Yin Guan. At that moment, her expression was incredibly complex. “Cousin…”

Zhao Che flew over, suddenly turning his body and opening his arms, shielding her behind him and facing Yin Guan directly.

“These past three years, we have been together morning and evening, and feelings have developed. Concealing it from my father, we have already secretly pledged our lives to each other. Love knows no beginning, yet it runs deep. Yin Guan, I know you once had a marriage contract, but when you left back then, you did not leave a single word. She had no idea where you went, or if you were even still alive… this is not Mu Qing’s fault.”

With a thud, he knelt down, his voice mournful. “If you wish to blame someone, then blame only me. Do not harm Mu Qing!”

Su Mu Qing, of course, understood what had happened. The person she had longed for in her heart, the one who bravely rebelled against injustice and the country, who embraced hatred and journeyed far alone… had returned through blood and fire. This should have been a romantic legend, a heroic epic. But…

She should have foreseen this scene long ago. Ever since Zeng Qing’s death that year, Yin Guan had become a different person, beginning to cultivate day and night. She should have known long ago that this man possessed the determination to overturn everything and the ability to realize every imagination.

But why… why did she not wait?

She did not know the answer. Three years was so short. Three years was… so long.

There had been some misunderstandings at first, but after spending time together, she discovered that Zhao Che truly was a very good person. When the entire Su family moved into Upper City, they had no relatives to rely on. In those difficult days of adjustment, who had kept her company? When the Su family encountered so many troubles in Upper City, who had stepped forward to protect her? Who had stood in front of her in the face of others’ ridicule and cold stares?

In these past three years, over a thousand days and nights, who had brought her laughter, who had given her warmth, who had repaid her without complaint?

Su Mu Qing walked around to stand in front of Zhao Che. She bravely opened her arms as well, tears blurring her vision as she looked at Yin Guan. “Cousin, Che Lang and I truly love each other… please do not harm him!”

She stood there, arms open, facing Yin Guan directly. Who was she opposing? Who was she protecting?

So this… this was the confidence Zhao Che possessed today. So this was the reason Zhao Che had prepared for his own survival! Not some secret technique, not some drug effect, not those easily pulled out methods. He had truly used over three years to make Su Mu Qing fall in love with him. Even his continuous efforts and performances over these three years had blurred the lines of his own emotions, making it unclear whether his feelings were genuine or fabricated. But whether true or false, it was no longer important.

Zhao Che knelt where he was, tears streaming down his face.

“You silly girl, what nonsense are you speaking!” Su Quan rushed forward at this moment, pulling Su Mu Qing towards Yin Guan’s side. “Your heart has always longed for your cousin, how can you go against your heart today!”

That firm stance was completely unlike the Su family head who had initially wanted to knock Su Mu Qing unconscious and send her to the Prime Minister’s mansion. Su Quan was the most pragmatic of men. What kind of situation was this today? How could he possibly allow Su Mu Qing and Zhao Che to continue their display of affection here?

But Su Mu Qing held onto Zhao Che tightly, refusing to let go. Zhao Che also hugged her, weeping mournfully. A truly pitiable pair of lovers, their love so deep, unwilling to be parted even in the face of death.

The King of Mount Tai’s eyes were strange. He could not believe that such a scene could unfold before a ruthless individual like Qin Guang Wang. He almost wanted to laugh, but the urge to laugh was ultimately suppressed by the desire to live, so he endured with great difficulty.

The Wheel Turner King kept his eyes fixed, concentrating solely on the curses jumping in his palm.

Chu Jiang King then calmly walked forward, her voice cold and somber. “Leader, you should leave first. This place can be handled by me.”

How she intended to “handle” all of this was clearly evident. Among so many Yanluo, perhaps she was the only one who truly considered Yin Guan’s well-being. To preserve Qin Guang Wang’s dignity, the people here… of course, had to be eliminated.

But Yin Guan merely took one step forward, answering Chu Jiang King with his action. He appeared before Su Mu Qing, his eyes meeting hers, separating Zhao Che and Su Quan far behind. His suppressive power rendered Zhao Che unable to even open his mouth and speak.

Looking at Yin Guan’s clean-cut and familiar face, Su Mu Qing could not stop her tears. “Sorry, Cousin, I’m sorry. I…”

“Why do you feel the need to apologize to me?”

Yin Guan finally spoke, his voice still incredibly calm. “It was my inability back then that prevented me from bringing you with me. Whatever happened later, it is all something I should face. I was not strong enough, I did not become strong fast enough, I realized the truth too late – these are all my problems.”

“You did nothing wrong.”

“When people are helpless, they seek dependence. When people are afraid, they seek safety.”

“Not everyone possesses the courage to overcome life’s challenges.”

“In an isolated and helpless environment, within a meticulously crafted trap set by others, people will instinctively grasp at something.”

“But Mu Qing, this is not true emotion.”

“I will grant you ample time, ample freedom, to truly examine your heart and discern what love is.”

He reached out, seemingly intending to stroke Su Mu Qing’s long hair, but stopped halfway and lowered his hand.

“Of course, before that, I will not kill him.”

“If, by that time, you still give me such an answer, then it is not impossible for me to let him go.”

Yin Guan turned his head and lightly glanced at Zhao Che. “Anyway, to me, he is not a person of great consequence.”

Su Mu Qing just kept crying, unable to utter a word. The longing she felt day and night was absolutely genuine. But their time together morning and evening was also not an illusion. What was true, what was false, what was love? She did not know!

“Sleep,” Yin Guan said lightly. “After you awaken from sleep, a new life will begin.”

Su Mu Qing truly closed her eyes and gently fell, falling into a deep slumber.

Yin Guan gave her a gentle push, sending her into Chu Jiang King’s hands, and said lightly, “Take good care of her for me.”

Then he turned and looked at Zhao Che and Su Quan. “Now, let us discuss our matters.”

“Xiao Guan, Xiao Guan!” Su Quan anxiously rushed towards him. “Uncle is on your side, ah! Uncle watched you grow up, and I have great faith in your character! I will certainly counsel that silly girl well later. She was just deceived by that bastard Zhao Che’s flowery words. In reality, her heart has always longed for you. You are the one she truly loves!”

Yin Guan simply looked at him coldly, watching until Su Quan unconsciously stopped his steps and closed his mouth. Only then did he speak. “I will not forgive the things you have done. But because of Mu Qing, I will also not kill you. Now, get out of here and disappear from my sight forever – if you are even a step slow, I will change my mind.”

The scar-ridden Upper City silently testified to the destructive power of the Hell No Door. Su Quan felt an uncontrollable fear, clearly recognizing the resolve in Yin Guan’s words. Not daring to utter a single wasted word, he scrambled away from the scene, flying out of Upper City – without even a single glance at his daughter.

“Mu Qing and I truly love each other. If I have even the slightest intention of harming her, let me be subjected to a thousand cuts and ten thousand scrapes, and not die a good death.” Zhao Che’s tears had not yet dried. He looked at Yin Guan and said, “I know I wasn’t a good person before, but after meeting Mu Qing, she changed me. She is so pure, kind, so beautiful… For her, I did not hesitate to oppose my father, refuse the marriage he arranged for me, and cause a great stir in my family. For her, I reformed myself, wishing to become an upright person. I built bridges, paved roads, relieved disasters, treated her wholeheartedly…”

Yin Guan quietly waited for him to finish, then bent his index finger and tapped the ground beneath his feet. “If you have finished speaking, then please tell me, when will the true owner of this giant black turtle arrive?”

Zhao Che, originally still immersed in an atmosphere of deep emotion, was startled by these words. He feigned calm and said forcefully, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Su Mu Qing’s hiding place is itself the key to contacting that person. When it was reopened simultaneously, a message was transmitted, informing that person that the strange beast he raised has a problem. Am I right?”

Zhao Che felt his throat incredibly dry, but he still managed to say, “Don’t joke. The sacred beast has been with our country since ancient times…”

“Alright, you don’t need to say anything. The answer is written all over your face.” Yin Guan patted his shoulder and said lightly, “Zhao Cang was indeed a difficult person to deal with. As for you, you are truly a failure, you can’t even recite your lines properly… Do you want to know how I will deal with that person?”

The waves of shock in Zhao Che’s heart were terrifying, churning within him. He gritted his teeth and said fiercely, “Since you know it’s related to Jingguo, you shouldn’t be so reckless. Do you know what you will face? Stop now, it’s not too late!”

“Indeed,” Yin lightly sighed. “I guessed correctly, it is indeed related to Jingguo!”

“Divide what needs to be divided, prepare to retreat!” He instructed the others.

The assembled Yanluo immediately scattered to various locations – the imperial palace, the national treasury, everywhere they could plunder. Only the King of Wu Official, who had already obtained Zheng Chaoyang’s body and could not divide anything further, remained in place, watching the scene with interest.

Zhao Che’s face alternated between green and white. There was a pain of being arbitrarily toyed with. Youguo’s biggest secret had been confirmed by his own mouth. In front of Yin Guan, he felt like a monkey, jumping up and down, seemingly only to entertain others. Yet, he had put in so much effort, prepared for so long for this day!

Yin Guan did not give him time for self-pity. He looked at him and asked, “Do you have anything else to say?”

Zhao Che’s heart tightened. He forced himself to speak. “Mu Qing and I… truly love each other.”

Yin Guan did not look at him again, but brushed past him, walking alone towards the other end of the long street. As he passed the King of Wu Official, he spoke as if lost in thought, “What did he just say? Was it a thousand cuts and ten thousand, not die a good death, right?”

“Fulfill his wish.”

The King of Wu Official let out a chilling laugh and walked towards Zhao Che. Zhao Che was first stunned, then filled with great fear. “No, no, Yin Guan, you break your promise! Mu Qing will be sad! You promised Mu Qing you wouldn’t kill me!”

He finally collapsed, turning to flee. But the King of Wu Official simply reached out and grabbed him back. Then, he took down the black coffin, placed it flat on the ground, pushed open the lid, and stuffed Zhao Che inside!

“No, no! I beg you, I beg you! No—”

Amidst such miserable cries, the King of Wu Official also twisted strangely and slowly walked inside.

Yin Guan silently walked through the streets of Upper City, no longer uttering a single word. Behind him, that coffin was already closed. Only a single voice, wailing repeatedly, remained. It became the backdrop to this wounded city.