And now, with so many cultivators gathered in the Ten Thousand Mountains, if in the end it turns out to be Black Soul Hall’s conspiracy...
Qin Yu simply could not imagine how severe the consequences would be.
"When I returned from the Bai Race’s territory, I too was ambushed by members of the Black Soul Hall."
Qin Yu hesitated for a moment, then spoke.
Hearing this, the Empress’s body stiffened slightly, a chill of dread faintly rising from her figure.
"Your Majesty is worried about me?"
Qin Yu was taken aback, somewhat surprised.
He had never seen the Empress lose her composure like this—even when the Ten Thousand Mountains had been in upheaval, she had never shown such fierce killing intent.
"Hmph!"
The Empress snorted coldly, her aura returning to normal.
With the great fox present, unless the Hall Master of the Black Soul Hall himself made a move, a few rats like those would never be a match for Tu Yaoyao.
It was for this very reason she could allow Qin Yu to journey alone to the Bai Race’s land without worries.
In the Empress’s majestic eyes, a rare trace of gentleness flickered by.
Even though Qin Yu had not stated it outright, the Empress could see clearly that Black Soul Hall’s target was far from being just Qin Yu alone.
From the sudden shift in the Ten Thousand Mountains’ situation, it wasn’t hard to deduce: back then, Black Soul Hall had sought to lure her out of the Great Yan Immortal Country by ambushing Qin Yu.
Could it be, this fellow said nothing for fear of affecting her?
If she had not been overseeing things herself, and disaster struck in the Ten Thousand Mountains...
At this thought, the Empress’s hand in her sleeve tightened ever so slightly.
Black Soul Hall—must be exterminated!
With the Empress traveling at full speed, in less than a day, they had already entered Mountain Miao Hall’s domain.
Soon, Qin Yu too sensed something amiss below.
Among the various Immortal Sects in the region, all had activated their Sect Protection Arrays. Through the shielded light, the once-bustling mountain gates were now sparsely populated, with only a handful of weaker disciples left to guard the entrances.
Clearly, Mountain Miao Hall must have issued an emergency order—all the sects’ powerful cultivators had rushed to the Ten Thousand Mountains.
Sure enough, in barely a quarter of an hour, the Ten Thousand Mountains had already come into view.
As far as the eye could see, the undulating expanse of the Ten Thousand Mountains was almost completely surrounded by cultivators.
These formidable cultivators regarded the mountains like facing a deadly enemy, their gazes full of dread and apprehension whenever they looked into the depths of the mountains.
The Empress did not pause, cutting swiftly through the sky. She disturbed no one—not even the Shield Array sensed anything amiss.
Qin Yu’s gaze also turned toward the depths of the Ten Thousand Mountains—and soon, when he saw that black mist as though severing heaven and earth, his expression changed abruptly.
The dusk was as crimson as blood.
Throughout the domain of the Ten Thousand Mountains, all seemed like the end of days—exceedingly deep and terrifying.
More frightening still, the horizon ahead appeared blocked by a black curtain. The black mist churned, exuding an indescribable strangeness.
The Empress stopped a thousand yards from the black mist, her dragon robe snapping in the gale, golden dragon embroidery glinting with regal light beneath the dying sun.
She fixed her gaze on the mist ahead, frowning slightly.
"Shua! Shua!"
Soon, two figures hurried over at high speed.
Their auras both bore the mark of Foundation Establishment Realm. Clearly, it was Wang Liweng and a guest minister of Mountain Miao Hall.
"Your Majesty!"
Wang Liweng, as though seeing the very pillar of his heart, looked fervently excited, his eyes flooded with passionate devotion.
The Empress nodded faintly without turning her head, her gaze piercing the gloomy daylight, falling upon the black mist writhing like a living thing.
"This black mist appeared about ten hours ago, and compared to when it first emerged, it’s already expanded by some five li,"
Wang Liweng hurriedly explained.
"This is Death Qi."
At last, the Empress turned around, her dignified face tinged with an undeniable chill.
Hearing this, Wang Liweng’s face went deathly pale. Though he had suspected as much, confirmation from the Empress still filled him with terror.
Death Qi—rumored to devour all things in existence!
Moreover, Death Qi bears a resemblance to Resentment Qi: even the strongest of Foundation Establishment can, at best, temporarily subdue it with Power of Dao Rhyme, but never purify nor drive it out.
Back then, Yan Yu became tainted by even a wisp of Death Qi, her inner condition worsening drastically. Had the Empress Dowager not been present, she would swiftly have been corroded—and even the Empress Dowager’s Moonlight Power couldn’t dispel the Death Qi from her body.
From this, one could see just how tenacious Death Qi was.
The black mist before them blanketed the sky, the Death Qi within reaching an astoundingly extreme intensity.
The Empress tucked a few stray azure strands behind her ear, her gaze sharp as a blade. She could scarcely imagine—how long had these Black Soul Hall rats been scheming in the shadows?
Noticing this unintentional gesture from the Empress, Qin Yu’s eyes paused ever so slightly, then quickly returned to normal.
"Your Majesty, this Death Qi is too dangerous. May I be the one to..."
"You need only do your duty."
The Empress cut him off, golden light flickering in her beautiful eyes.
"As you command."
Wang Liweng fell silent for a moment, then responded respectfully.
Soon after, Wang Liweng and his companion retreated at speed.
The Empress cast Qin Yu a sideways glance—this fellow was getting bolder by the day. Even with outsiders present, he dared use that sort of look on her.
Still, Wang Liweng and the rest never once raised their heads in her presence, so they noticed nothing out of the ordinary.
"Your Majesty, be careful. This Death Qi is... strange,"
Qin Yu’s brow furrowed tightly; he couldn’t help but step half a pace forward, drawing nearer still.
The air was thick with a foul, rotten stench, sickening to the senses. Near the black mist, plants and trees seemed as if stripped of all vitality by some eerie force—leaving only withered yellow remnants behind.
"Buzz..."
Qin Yu’s heart stirred; True Essence billowed forth, enveloping the pair within.
The Empress had meant to rebuke him, but as True Essence closed around her, the discomfort brought by Death Qi instantly vanished.
The Empress glanced over at Qin Yu, only to see the latter dutifully turn his profile, presenting just a sidelong silhouette.
At this distance, he could almost catch the unique fragrance only the Empress carried—yet dared not betray the slightest oddness.
Except when gripped by the Seven Emotions Tribulation, the Empress exuded a sacred majesty that admitted not a hint of disrespect from others.
"Buzz...!"
The Empress didn’t mind Qin Yu drawing close. Her hand tightened, and silver lightning blossomed forth.
Terror-inspiring Power of Dao Rhyme filled the world—as if, with a single thought, she could bring down a world-ending Thunder Tribulation!
"Break!"
The Empress raised her arm, pointing at the black mist ahead. In an instant, lightning erupted—a Thunder Sword materialized out of thin air, a dazzling bolt crashing down with annihilative might.
"Boom!"
The black mist twisted and writhed as if sentient, trying to dissolve the attack—yet the next instant, lightning split the gloom, and the terrifying Thunder Attribute Dao Rhyme Power tore open the mist ahead.
To Wang Liweng and the others, this untouchable wall of black mist was torn open by the Empress’s casual strike.
Through the rift, the Ten Thousand Mountains within had already lost their former appearance—only desolation met the eye.
"Come!"
The Empress intoned, her body flashing through the gap in a blink.
Behind her, the black mist squirmed. The residual Thunder Attribute Dao Rhyme Power was being steadily devoured by a dreadful force—likely, in less than a quarter hour, this fissure would close completely.
But the Empress paid it no mind.
Before absolute strength, this black mist array was nothing that could block her.
Qin Yu hastened to follow, utterly unafraid of the mist.
Indeed, were it not for the Empress’s urgency in investigating matters and rescuing Yan Ruo, he would have stayed behind to purify the Death Qi here. With Death Qi shrouding the heavens, purifying it would surely yield a great harvest of Flame Point.
Just stepping into this region, the Empress could not help but frown slightly.
She sensed it keenly—the entire space was suffused with a bizarre devouring power, seeking to strip her strength away.
With the Empress’s cultivation, she was unhindered—but the sensation still left her vexed.
Noticing her reaction, Qin Yu immediately moved closer, True Essence flowing to encompass her form.
"When the time comes, just stay behind me,"
the Empress said, golden light gleaming in her eyes, as if nothing within illusions could escape her sight.
In the next breath, the Empress darted forward. After only a few heartbeats, she suddenly halted.
When Qin Yu caught sight of what lay ahead, his pupils shrank—a hideous, pitch-black fissure, like the maw of some vast abyss, stretched across the sky as if to swallow all creation.
The once verdant forests were stained a sooty grey-black—be it plants or beasts, no sign of life remained. Only withered timber and shriveled bones drained of all life force lay upon the ground.
Through the gloom of the ash-black miasma, a faintly glowing barrier could just be made out—flickering, as if it were the last hope, barely holding on.
All around, countless Black Qi surged, seemingly about to drown this feeble ward at any moment.
"Hmph!"
Seeing the light barrier, the Empress finally let out a breath, gave a cold snort, and in the next instant, lightning burst with supreme might, driving back all the surrounding black mist.
"Your Majesty!"
Silver radiance fell upon the people inside the barrier. At the sight of that peerless and commanding figure, Yan Ruo and the others were overtaken by fiery fervor in their eyes.
Her Majesty had finally arrived.
"Come out,"
the Empress declared, her voice calm but resonant.
Even in this land of apocalypse, no one dared question her in the slightest. It was as though, with this supreme Great Yan Empress present, no harm could befall them.
Soon Yan Ruo’s four Flame Guards dissolved the barrier wrought by Power of Dao Rhyme, revealing their faces—pale in the silver light.
Where tens of thousands of cultivators had once gathered inside the Ten Thousand Mountains, now fewer than a hundred remained!
At this moment, their vitality was flagging—like a breeze might topple them at any moment.