Chapter 459: Perhaps This Is the Reason?
The royal capital.
The Netherkin chaos had temporarily reached a lull.
Whether human cultivators or the Netherkin cultivators, all forces halted their assault.
Between heaven and earth, the boundary that had originally split the royal capital battlefield had already shattered. The illusory upside-down royal capital hanging in the sky was now nothing more than a hazy mirage.
Within that misty sky, three golden feathers—each wrapped by the phantom of a roc—wove through the air, scattering pitch-black nether energy like ink. They unleashed Divine Transformation realm pressure without restraint, to the point where even the air seemed to freeze.
On the ground, intricate patterns spread across the land of the royal capital, covering the original grand formation. From the patterns surged a power that resembled liquefied petroleum—violent and sinister—releasing an evil aura that caused layers of spatial ripples to appear nearby.
This disturbance seemed to resonate with the three golden feathers in the sky. A fissure filled with an ominous premonition slowly tore open at one corner of the sky above the royal capital.
It was merely a small crack, yet the pressure leaking through it was apocalyptic—suffocating.
Among the Netherkin race inside the capital, the lower-level Netherkin who had appeared from the southern Nether Formation had already thrown themselves to the ground.
Next were the Nascent Soul realm Netherkin hovering mid-air, bowing as well, and finally, the two Divine Transformation Netherkin closest to the sky—the black bear and the peacock—both assumed a posture of submission.
"We welcome the Netherking's descent!"
The Netherkin roared in a chaotic chorus.
Even though the being behind the fissure had not yet emerged, the royal capital was already shrouded in nether energy, as if it had been overtaken by the monster domain.
Only the Immortal Nation's imperial palace, along with the northern region of the capital connected to it, remained enveloped in dazzling golden light, untouched by the invading evil.
Above the palace, the young Empress held the Human Emperor Sword, her complexion pale.
Unlike before, the Human Emperor Sword was now sheathed. It was constantly manifesting visions of all living beings, vast mountains and rivers, lakes and seas, the sun, moon, and stars—these illusions merged into the surrounding golden radiance.
Beside her, Elder Yun and Elder Lei looked exhausted, yet both continuously formed hand seals, channeling spiritual energy toward the Empress to replenish her rapidly draining strength.
But even so, with her current cultivation, sustaining this wide golden barrier formed by the Human Emperor Sword's power was extremely taxing.
"Your Majesty, how much longer can you maintain this?"
Elder Lei asked, face grim.
Although the young Empress's face was pale, her voice remained calm:
"If the Netherkin continue making no further moves like this, then with the secret technique assisting me, I can sustain it for another half an hour."
"Has Your Majesty's Mortal Alter Ego still not responded?" Elder Yun's brows were knit tightly.
The Empress had previously hinted that her Mortal Alter Ego was experiencing some kind of problem.
To his question, the Empress gently shook her head.
"Although there's been no response… it should be close to breaking free."
In truth, the Mortal Alter Ego had responded—but considering what it had said, it was probably best not to repeat it.
As for "close to breaking free," that was merely her guess…
After all, the Demon Sect Holy Saint had already helped her Alter Ego eliminate the most dangerous obstacles. Surely he wouldn't get stuck at the very last step… right?
Of course, one should always prepare for the worst.
"If there is truly no other choice… I will have the Daoist Alter Ego bear the immortal soul this time."
The young Empress said, "Then once the Mortal Alter Ego returns, I will forcibly merge with it."
"No! Doing so will definitely trigger qi deviation. Even if it succeeds, it will inflict irreversible damage to Your Majesty's body."
Elder Yun was the first to object: "If it comes to that, this old woman might as well gamble her life and carry the immortal soul herself!"
The Empress remained silent.
There were requirements to bear the immortal soul.
The term "immortal soul" was actually inaccurate—it was not the soul of an immortal or anything like that, but rather the soul of the Ancient Heavenly Gate.
The Ancient Heavenly Gate had emerged during the final days of the ancient era—a colossal organization founded by a group of unfathomably powerful experts who built that immense system and bestowed upon that celestial realm a soul of its own.
Ancient scrolls recorded that in the primordial era, any cultivator who gained the recognition of the Ancient Heavenly Gate's soul would receive its blessing while within the Ancient Heavenly Gate. Their strength would increase by leaps and bounds… which was why even the top experts of that age were unwilling to fight Ancient Heavenly Gate cultivators within the Ancient Heavenly Gate itself.
But now, with the Ancient Heavenly Gate fallen into ruin and no Ancient Heavenly Gate cultivators remaining, anyone who wished to borrow the power of the immortal soul would inevitably suffer backlash.
Only those seated upon the imperial throne—cultivators bearing the Dragon Fortune—could reduce this backlash to the lowest possible degree.
The young Empress braced herself against the Human Emperor Sword, gazing toward the fissure in the sky that continued to widen.
"It's alright. I believe in him."
She whispered softly to herself.
...
In the northern region of the capital, which was enveloped in golden light—
"Fortunately, we had already evacuated all the civilians from the southern district earlier, and countless more have entered the Human Immortal List's pocket space. Otherwise, just the northern district alone could barely hold this many citizens and cultivators of the capital."
Wearing a mask adorned with feather patterns, Night Crow spoke words that sounded like good news, though his voice remained unusually heavy.
His eyes swept across the crowd below.
Overall, the citizens and cultivators of the royal capital were still fairly calm.
In truth, if the Netherkin race had opened with the kind of display they were currently showing, at least half of these civilians and lower-stage cultivators would have collapsed in terror…
But the repeated advantages the Immortal Nation had gained in earlier clashes had already planted a seed in their hearts.
Since Immortal Nation was so well-prepared for the earlier battles, they must also have countermeasures for whatever came next, so there's nothing to fear.
Most people held this belief.
Especially the cultivators who had survived the southern low-ranked battlefield.
They had watched with their own eyes as one Qi Refining Netherkin after another acted like broken playthings—twisted and deranged—in front of them… Even now, the scene of what had essentially become a Netherkin purgatory remained vivid in their minds, and their exhilaration had yet to cool.
Especially with a few individuals among the crowd actively helping to ease the tension.
"Huh? Young lady, you came from Hidden Dragon City? First time using a mortal-grade Artifact from my Demon Artifact Pavilion? Haha! Pretty good, right? Our Pavilion's Artifacts are top-notch! Personally designed by our Holy Saint!"
"And since you've got such good taste, let me tell you a little secret— Do you know why our Demon Artifact Pavilion is supplying the Artifact for this battle in the capital?"
"There was business involved, sure—but the more important reason is the relationship between our Holy Saint and Her Majesty the Empress! What kind of relationship? Hehe~"
"Don't believe me? Tsk, even though our Holy Saint hasn't personally taken action yet, if he did, those Netherkin outside would be turned to ash in an instant! And he might even flirt with Her Majesty while doing it!"
In the crowd, conversations like this spread rapidly.
The Demon Artifact Pavilion stewards watched Li Xing excitedly weaving through the crowd, boasting nonstop:
"…"
"This disgraceful clown!"
Xu Yunchun, the young man who clashed with Li Xing the most, spat in irritation.
The woman with the closest relationship to the Holy Saint was clearly that girl named Lu Yuliu!
A sword cultivator—elegant, beautiful, strong—a perfect match for their Holy Saint!
"Forget it, let him be."
Hu Dingtian silently turned his head away.
Heretic path! The Holy Saint and the Holy Maiden ship is the true righteous pairing!
Beside him, Old Wang—Wang Wude—fell into deep thought.
The rumors circulating among the common folk about the Holy Saint and that courtesan from Red Blossom Pavilion… were they true or false?
If they were true… Did that mean the Holy Saint, like him, had found true love in the pleasure districts?
Up above, Night Crow withdrew his gaze.
"Overall, things are still stable for now."
He said, "The only problem is—even we don't know how many trump cards Her Majesty still has left… If this drags on, or if the Netherkin makes any sudden moves, the current balance could easily collapse."
Beside him, Xuan Ming touched his own flamboyant, messy hairstyle.
"Immortal Nation should still have quite a few reinforcements… If the Daoist Sect Master is willing to act, or if those Immortal Nation old monsters who've been in secluded death-closed meditation join forces, even if the Netherking descends, it shouldn't be too big of a problem—unless the previous Netherqueen herself takes action…"
"Don't jinx it. The situation is already heavily against us."
Wutong had somehow joined this group of Six Gate Bureau Golden Ranked members without anyone noticing, and she cut in sharply.
But as she spoke, she shot a strange glance at the figure behind them—a silent "Kirin" wearing a scale-patterned mask.
For no particular reason, she felt something was… off about this "Kirin."
Xuan Ming scratched his head.
If anyone is supposed to have the "crow's mouth" curse, shouldn't it be Night Crow literally?
And just as he looked at Night Crow, the latter opened his mouth again.
"Reinforcements, huh… I wonder where that Demon Sect Holy Saint vanished to. At a time like this, with his strength, he should at least be able to expand the advantage Immortal Nation gained earlier."
Not to mention, he could show off magnificently in front of Her Majesty. Who knows? Maybe the Empress deciding to officially make that Holy Saint her future Consort hinges on this one spectacular performance?
On top of that, if the Demon Sect Holy Maiden is present, there might even be a chance for the Demon Sect Sect Master to lend a hand as well…
As for the nonsense the Demon Artifact Pavilion staff were spreading—about the Demon Sect Holy Saint wiping out the Netherkin race in an instant—yeah, those were just tall tales.
Even if that boy stepped into Nascent Soul, he was still far, far away from Divine Transformation.
Forget about the Divine Transformation realm Netherkin—there were still a huge number of Nascent Soul realm Netherkin out there, and while they remained protected under the power radiated by the Divine Transformation Netherkin, they were immune to techniques. How could he possibly annihilate them in an instant?
"Wait… what is that?"
Xuan Ming's voice suddenly shot upward.
He didn't need to point it out— the uproar below had already alerted Night Crow and Wutong. They turned their gazes toward the edges of the Human Emperor Sword's golden light.
There—around each Nascent Soul realm Netherkin race member—space fissures had suddenly opened.
From the fissures flew countless lightning chains, shooting out and instantly binding those Nascent Soul demons who had just been cheering in anticipation of the Netherking's descent.
And it wasn't only lightning. Some fissures vomited forth undying flames, and the Netherkin wrapped in them let out shrill and miserable screams.
Several Six Gate Bureau Golden Ranked members exchanged looks instinctively.
There's no mistaking it—the aura attached to those lightning chains and flames belonged unmistakably to that Demon Sect Holy Saint.
...
Within the pale-golden pocket space—
Three young women sat staring at each other with wide eyes, not far from the still-unconscious Luo Wusheng.
"So… can someone explain exactly what's going on here first?"
Dressed in a white skirt, Bai Xiaoyao forced herself to keep her gaze steady as she looked toward Kirin across from her.
"Avatar of Her Majesty the Empress."
Kirin exhaled lightly.
For some reason, she felt that the Demon Sect Holy Maiden before her exerted far more pressure than in their previous meetings—enough that even she felt somewhat affected.
Perhaps… it was because the other girl had removed that beautiful hair ornament?
<+>
Cultivation Realm:
1, Qi Refining
2, Foundation Establishment
3, Golden Core
4, Nascent Soul
5, Divine Transformation (Formerly Known as Tribulation Crossing)
6, Tribulation Transcendence
7, Land Immortal
Note: Link to the character Illustration:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lkIcPnCxeyuyZA4Kkb621dPC05UvWjhD
<+>
<+>
<+>
<+>
<+>
<+>
Tn: I updated the story daily, but if you want to see more chapter of this story ahead of time, please go to my Patreon.
Latest Chapter: Chapter 571: To See or Not to See?[1]
Link: https://www.patreon.com/u93297024/posts/chapter-571-to-163855664[2]
[1] https://www.patreon.com/u93297024/posts/chapter-571-to-163855664
[2] https://www.patreon.com/u93297024/posts/chapter-571-to-163855664