Chapter 494 - 298: Secrets of the Ascension Platform, The Song Dynasty Begs for Surrender, One Body, Two Souls

"And the Holy Netherworld is ruled by a group of Netherworld Evil Gods."

Hearing Yun Qinghe’s explanation, Lu Mingyuan couldn’t help but let his mind wander.

’Back then, Wei the Ninth stood alone before the Celestial Gate. What method did he use to pass through it?’

’I think it was because of the Ancient God’s origin.’

Lu Mingyuan recalled the events of that time.

...

The army returned east.

It took Lu Mingyuan three days to get back to Jiayu Pass.

After giving orders regarding the troop deployment, he raced toward the Capital City.

He had barely left Jiayu Pass when he received an extremely urgent letter.

"Report!"

"Your Majesty, the Song Dynasty has sent a secret envoy. He says this letter must be delivered to you, no matter what."

Lu Mingyuan took the letter from the Imperial Guard and frowned.

"What does the letter say?"

Yun Qinghe asked.

Lu Mingyuan lowered the letter and handed it to her, musing, "The Song Dynasty says their cities in the Northern Realm have insufficient troops. The Demon Race’s army is bearing down on them. They wish to surrender to Great Yan and beg for reinforcements, and they’re willing to agree to any condition."

"Oh?"

Yun Qinghe sounded quite surprised. "Are you saying that besides the Nanli Dynasty, the Demon Race also plans to move against the Song Dynasty?"

"The power of the entire Wilderness World has been consolidated. It seems the Desolate Demons are planning a war of unprecedented scale this time."

The fighting has been non-stop this year. The Great Yan Army obviously can’t handle such constant mobilization.

First came the war with the Seven Kingdoms, and now the Demon Race invasion.

Even men of iron couldn’t endure this.

In an era of peace, this might not have been such a severe crisis.

As long as Great Yan took the lead, the other dynasties would all dispatch their armies. It would be a fair fight: the Central Plains World against the Wilderness World.

But a great war has just ended. The Human Race Cultivators haven’t even had time to recover, and now they must defend against the Demon Race’s raids. They’re utterly exhausted, body and soul.

"The Wilderness World came prepared this time. They’ve been inactive ever since their disastrous defeat at the Wilderness Cave Heaven. Now, it seems they’re going all out."

Faced with the Song Dynasty’s request, Lu Mingyuan was hesitant.

If he agreed to help the Song Dynasty, Great Yan would have to send troops again.

In truth, it would be a tremendous test of Great Yan National Power.

Furthermore, the Song Dynasty was an enemy of Great Yan just recently.

Sending troops to help the Song Dynasty now...

No one would be able to accept it.

It would inevitably leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.

Lu Mingyuan might be able to overlook it, but the people of the world could not.

He figured the Song Dynasty was like a desperate patient trying any doctor they could find, hoping anyone at all would come to their rescue.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have sent a distress signal to Great Yan.

The Golden Crow Country and the Nanli Dynasty would never save the Song Dynasty, and Silver Frost and the Great Sui were too far away.

Besides them, the only country that was both close to and bordered the Song Dynasty was Great Yan.

’However, there are benefits to sending troops. I could use this opportunity to absorb the Song Dynasty’s Celestial Destiny and Fortune. That wouldn’t be a bad thing at all.’

But to his surprise, Yun Qinghe shook her head at Lu Mingyuan, clearly disagreeing with him.

"No, on the contrary, I don’t think the Demon Race’s goal is to attack the Human Dynasties, seize territory, or even something as simple as feeding on the Human Race. Their true target is this Ascension Platform."

"Both the Nanli Dynasty and the Song Dynasty have great Dao paths that pass through the Celestial Treasure Continent. It’s possible the army’s mobilization is just a feint, and their real objective lies at this border."

Lu Mingyuan frowned. "Besides the Dao Alliance, can the Demon Race also deduce the location of the Ascension Platform?"

Yun Qinghe said, "Saying that is undoubtedly underestimating the Demon Race’s strength. Even the Demon Race can deduce the Human Race’s plans and marching routes. That ability isn’t exclusive to our Taoist Sect."

"The Demon Race’s cultivation techniques are similar to those of the Human Race. Back in the Mythical Era, the Demon and Human Races were one. Martial Artists were called Body Refiners, and Qi Cultivators were still Qi Cultivators. There were Sword Cultivators and Blade Cultivators as well. The difference is that the bloodlines carried within the Demon Race are something the Human Race cannot compare to."

"Every one of the Demon Race’s Twelve Thrones is an existence comparable to a Saint Ancestor Master. Among them are many descendants of Divine Beasts left over from the Ancient Era, as well as colossal fiends of old."

"For example, the second of the thrones, Shou Liu, is a Great Demon who carries the bloodline of the Ancient Fierce Beast Qiongqi. He delights in eating the heads and brains of living creatures. For every head he consumes, he can grasp a new Divine Technique and make it his own."

"To date, Shou Liu has mastered ten thousand Divine Techniques."

Lu Mingyuan’s expression was one of astonishment upon hearing that the second throne was such a ruthless character. "Eating heads... ten thousand Divine Techniques..."

"Then there’s the Nine Thrones Snake Consort. Her true form is a hundred-meter-tall Heaven-Reaching Python. This demon excels at transforming into a beautiful woman to seduce monks. She loves to eat them and uses Refinement on their Golden Bodies, turning them into her own golden scales. She is also extremely difficult to deal with."

Yun Qinghe said nonchalantly, "And those are just two of them. Every one of the thrones has their own Lifebound Divine Techniques—ancient powers etched into their very bloodlines. As I was just saying, there are also Great Demons among the Demon Race who are skilled in divination."

"You should have seen this one. He made an appearance in the Wilderness Cave Heaven."

"Which one?"

Lu Mingyuan searched his memory but couldn’t recall.

Yun Qinghe said, "The Eight Thrones Dragon Halberd. He is the youngest of the Twelve Thrones, having only ascended to his throne in the last thousand years. His position is in the middle ranks of the thrones, and his strength is quite remarkable."

"He taught himself our Taoist Sect’s Qi Observation Skill and Divination Skill. After entering the Ascension Realm, he took one of the Six Ancestors’ Future Buddha Relics that he plundered from the Human Race, fused it with the True Dragon Race’s treasured Dragon Pearl, and through Refinement, created the Bright Candle Pearl."

"This pearl is in no way inferior to our Taoist Sect’s Immortal Grade Celestial Sphere. It can seal space, see into the future, and rivals the Taoist Sect in power."

"Why did the Taoist Sect have to expend so much effort to find the location of the Wilderness Cave Heaven last time? It’s because this person was obscuring the Celestial Secret and causing trouble from the shadows."

"Furthermore, he was the one who single-handedly intercepted the Wilderness Cave Heaven and transformed it into a world in his palm. In terms of Divine Techniques and abilities, I personally feel Dragon Halberd is far more than just the eighth throne."

After Yun Qinghe’s reminder,

Lu Mingyuan felt his memory return completely.

It was that man with dragon horns and a pair of innate, kingly, golden-amber Dragon Eyes, unlike any other of the Dragon Race.

"You mean to say that this Demon Race invasion is actually a scheme orchestrated by the Great Demon Dragon Halberd," Lu Mingyuan said gravely.

"It’s highly likely."

Yun Qinghe nodded slightly.

"When you return to the capital this time, you must begin war preparations. Be ready for a fight to the death."

...

「A month later.」

Lu Mingyuan finally led his army back to the Capital City.

He had made his final decision.

Great Yan would verbally support the Song Dynasty’s heroic stand against the Demon Race’s army but would not send troops for the time being.

It wasn’t that he was unwilling, but that he hoped the Song Dynasty could hold on for a while longer.

Right now, Great Yan was not ready to dispatch its forces.

However, the moment Lu Mingyuan returned to the Imperial Capital, he noticed something was wrong.

First, he saw people repairing the city gates.

The arrays were not in their original state either; Qi Cultivators from the Thunder Pool Daoist Academy were performing emergency maintenance.

It was obvious that the Capital City had been damaged.

"Chen Ke, what in the world happened here?"

Lu Mingyuan found Chen Ke, intending to ask for an explanation.

Chen Ke wore a guilty expression, as if he was still dwelling on what had happened a few days prior.

"This humble servant has failed to live up to Your Majesty’s expectations."

...

「Meanwhile, in a cold, damp dungeon.」

A mature woman with a cool and detached aura walked in.

If Lu Mingyuan had been there, he would have recognized her as Sui Yuqing.

But the Sui Yuqing of today had a somewhat dark complexion and an indescribably murderous and cold-blooded look in her eyes. Demon Patterns had appeared on her smooth, snow-white neck, making her seem like a completely different person from the original Sui Yuqing.

She arrived in the dungeon silently, the air around her muffling all sound, preventing even the slightest noise from escaping.

Even if someone had noticed Sui Yuqing’s presence, they treated her with great respect.

Basically, no one grew suspicious.

Sui Yuqing’s status in the Taoist Sect was, after all, very high.

"Do you really have a way to free me from this shell?"

"Sui Yuqing’s" voice had become cold and hoarse.

"Of course. If you want to become an independent entity, truly achieve two souls in one body, and even erase the original Sui Yuqing, you must help me take care of Lu Mingyuan. And if you could help me retrieve the Turtle Shell, that would be even better."

"This was always a transaction. It’s the reason I chose you."

Witch Palace Language’s gaze was just as cold as she spoke.

The words "independent entity" from Witch Palace Language’s mouth made "Sui Yuqing’s" eyes gleam. The condition seemed irresistible, utterly enticing.

Because she didn’t want to disappear from this world.

She, too, wanted to live on as a person.

...