C14 The Demon Emperor Is Coming!

Seeing the earnest look in Soong Lin's eyes, Su Lang's expression lit up with excitement.

"Your Highness, you may not be aware, but the State Preceptor has personally verified this matter. And with His Majesty's confirmation, it's beyond doubt!"

"I see!" Soong Lin had an epiphany.

A chuckle almost escaped him.

"The credit for King the Benevolent's cultivation technique was originally mine. Alas, since I've chosen to meditate in peace at the imperial mausoleum, I have no desire to engage in the struggle for the throne. Being misunderstood might just be a blessing in disguise."

"Poor King the Benevolent, from now on, you'll be the one to shoulder the blame. Take care!"

A secret smile played on Soong Lin's lips.

He turned his attention back to Su Lang.

"Is there any other news that should bring joy?"

"Haha, Your Highness, you could never guess that the most delightful news is King the Benevolent's successful breakthrough to the Nascent Infant Stage."

Su Lang announced this triumphantly, lifting his cup and downing it in one go.

His robust spirit as a soldier of the Vrabouton Empire shone through in that moment.

"King the Benevolent has emerged from years of secluded cultivation. Recently, he's been seen in the capital, first slaying Yao Tiankui, avenging our people. Then, achieving a breakthrough to the Nascent Infant Stage. The Vrabouton Empire now has a formidable cultivator to safeguard our century-old foundation. Isn't that cause for celebration?"

Su Lang was brimming with joy, drinking merrily as he spoke.

Before Soong Lin had a chance to savor a few cups, Su Lang had already polished off more than half the wine.

"Er... Indeed, this is cause for celebration. But how can you be so sure it was King the Benevolent who reached the Nascent Infant Stage, and not someone else?"

Soong Lin gave an embarrassed smile.

Despite his inebriation, Su Lang's mind was sharp.

Without hesitation, he replied, "Your Highness, being secluded in the imperial mausoleum has left you a bit out of the loop. Just so you know, shortly after King the Benevolent's breakthrough, Soong Wang himself prepared a hundred low-grade pills and conferred the title of Duke of the Realm as a gesture of congratulations to King the Benevolent."

"Did His Royal Father meet with King the Benevolent?"

Soong Lin's heart was filled with trepidation.

If Soong Wang had indeed met with King the Benevolent and realized that the king lacked the power to slay Yao Tiankui or advance to the Nascent Infant Stage, Soong Lin wondered what his father would think.

"Ha, Your Highness, you may not be aware that after a cultivator achieves a breakthrough to the Nascent Infant Stage, it's crucial to focus on solidifying their newfound level. Soong Wang, despite bringing generous gifts, didn't even get an audience with King the Benevolent."

Soong Lin allowed himself a wry smile at this news.

"King the Benevolent's refusal to meet with my father must mean the congratulatory gifts were deemed insufficient. I myself would hesitate to meet someone for a mere hundred low-grade pills."

"Ah, well... His Majesty has been absent from the Imperial Court for quite some time and is understandably out of touch with the current state of the Vrabouton Empire. To us, a hundred low-grade pills represent a significant wealth."

Su Lang offered an embarrassed smile.

He hesitated before adding in a hushed tone, "Your Highness, unbeknownst to you, if His Majesty had no favors to ask of King the Benevolent, he would have offered no more than fifty low-grade pills as a celebratory gift."

"It's alarming how much Vrabouton's power has waned. This information must be kept secret. If word got out, the neighboring Wildlings and Evilkind might seize the chance to strike at Vrabouton."

Worry etched Soong Lin's features.

Being in the imperial mausoleum of Vrabouton, he knew he wouldn't find peace if the Wildlings and Evilkind launched an attack.

"One can't simply detach oneself from worldly affairs, can they?" Soong Lin lamented.

The conversation dwindled, and after a day of engaging talks, Soong Lin bid farewell to Su Lang and his daughter. Alone once more, he resumed his meditation and cultivation.

"My cultivation has only just advanced. To push further now would risk instability. Perhaps I should seize this moment to delve into the Sunflower Compendium. It's time I practiced the Evil-Dispelling Swordsmanship that accompanies it."

Soong Lin mused quietly to himself.

Then, an inexplicable chill crept into his soul.

A sense of inexplicable panic unsettled him.

"Cough, cough. This is the Sunflower Compendium, not the Sunflower Compendium. There's no need for self-castration to practice Evil-Dispelling Swordsmanship. What exactly am I afraid of?"

Soong Lin tried to reassure himself while striving to regain his inner peace.

Yet, the harder he tried, the more restless he became.

It felt as though an unnameable sense of danger was stealthily drawing near.

"Something's off. As a Nascent Infant cultivator, my perception of danger far exceeds that of ordinary people. Could it be that a significant event is about to unfold in Newcliff City, causing my disquiet?"

Soong Lin was alarmed.

He swiftly rose to his feet and extended his divine sense to sweep the area.

Whoosh!

With the potency of his Nascent Infant divine sense, he enveloped a vast expanse of the capital.

Shortly after, Soong Lin was astonished to detect a fearsome aura hurtling from the north of the city.

Before he could discern the identity of the newcomer, an intense malice and overwhelming intent to kill bore down on the capital.

"This person is shrouded in malice; they must have been through a bloodbath. And with such thick murderous intent and daunting pressure, could it be the Demon Emperor himself coming for vengeance?"

This thought alone was enough to unsettle Soong Lin.

The Demon Emperor!

Not the mightiest among the Evilkind, but certainly the most revered.

Countless ordinary members of the Evilkind bowed to his authority.

His arrival could only mean one thing: he was here for retribution.

Sure enough!

A moment later, the Demon Emperor's chilling voice echoed throughout the city.

"Who has slain my son Tiankui? Show yourself and meet your end!"

His rage-filled cry reverberated as his formidable presence swiftly shrouded the entire capital.

Almost instantly, a horrific explosion rocked the northern city gate.

The Imperial Guards, tasked with its defense, suffered a brutal assault by the Demon Emperor.

Casualties were immediate and numerous.

The scene did not escape the notice of Soong Wang.

In the Vrabouton Empire's Imperial Palace, Soong Wang sat seething on the Dragon Throne, his authoritative gaze sweeping over the assembled officials.

"The Demon Emperor has crossed the line, brazenly storming into Newcliff City of our Vrabouton Empire. Today, if we don't put the Demon Emperor in his place, how will we stand in this world? Whoever dares to challenge the Demon Emperor will be handsomely rewarded by me."

Every official and courtier hung their heads in shame, their usual proclamations of national pride forgotten in the face of true danger. They lacked even the courage to confront the Demon Emperor. A heavy silence fell over the court, only to be broken moments later when the State Preceptor stepped forward, unable to contain himself any longer.

"Your Majesty, I am ready to confront the Demon Emperor."

"State Preceptor, you..." Soong Wang began, his brow creased with worry, a flicker of concern flashing in his eyes. "You've been gravely wounded by Yao Tiankui, and your injuries have not yet healed. To face the Demon Emperor now would be a near-certain death. How could I possibly send you to such a fate?"

"Your Majesty, for thousands of years, the Vrabouton Empire has stood strong. Our State Preceptors have never shied away from death," the State Preceptor declared, his voice filled with passion. His stern gaze swept over the assembly, causing the already bowed heads of the officials and courtiers to dip even lower.

"Three thousand years ago, the seventy-second State Preceptor of our Vrabouton Empire and the Second Elder of the Divine Clan met their end together at the city's southern gate. Two thousand eight hundred years ago, the ninety-fifth State Preceptor battled the Barbarian God on the southwestern front. In his final moments, he fell alongside the seven Great Elders of the Wildlings, his name echoing through the ages. And a mere thousand years ago, the one hundred and fifty-eighth State Preceptor, with only an early Nascent Infant stage cultivation, repelled the three Great Elders of the Evilkind..."

The State Preceptor's resonant voice filled the court, the shame of the officials and courtiers palpable. "Your Majesty, I implore you to let me fight for the Vrabouton Empire. Even in death, I shall not fear!" he implored once more.

Before King Tang could respond, a fearsome aura erupted from within Newcliff, surging into the heavens.

"Demon Emperor? You have the audacity to wreak havoc in my Newcliff? Such gall! Withdraw now, and I will spare your life. But if you refuse, be prepared to face the consequences!"