Qin Yu’s expression was grave, as the Ruins Rift above continuously devoured the surrounding light; shadows flickered, and it was impossible to imagine what horrors lay on the other side.
"Let me see just what kind of abomination dares to lay a hand upon the land of my Great Yan!"
The Empress’ eyes narrowed slightly; the Thunder Dragon rapidly shrank, transforming into a streak of silver light that fell into her palm.
"Boom!"
Almost at the instant the Thunder Dragon vanished, a strange fluctuation surged from the Ruins Rift, and a violent aura erupted from within.
The next moment, a Ruins Beast five or six zhang tall tore through the barriers and appeared in this world. It resembled a hound, but had four eyes, each gleaming with an eerie red light.
"Hmph!"
The Empress snorted coldly, flicking her finger—the silver light in her hand shot out like lightning.
"Bang!"
Before the Ruins Beast could even roar, the silver light pierced it in a flash; thunderlight surged, utterly obliterating the colossal body without leaving even a speck of dust behind.
Only the lingering savage aura in the air proved that such a beast had ever existed.
Seeing this, Qin Yu couldn’t help but gulp hard.
From the aura that beast gave off, it was at least a fifth-level Ruins Beast, equal to someone in the Foundation Establishment Realm. Yet the moment it stepped into this world—it hadn’t even savored this new realm—Instant Erasure.
The Empress’ strength—astonishing beyond belief.
Qin Yu recalled that, last time, he’d actually dared to ask the Empress to escort him home; a belated chill ran down his spine.
He really had no idea what he’d been thinking; if he’d dared provoke the imperial might, the Empress could have flattened him with a single gesture.
But killing one Ruins Beast barely rattled those waiting on the other side of the rift.
Then again, it might be the Empress had deliberately restrained her Dao Rhyme, intending to lure out more Ruins Beasts.
Soon, shadows flickered deep within the rift—a host of Ruins Beasts broke through space and charged into this world.
Yet, no matter whether they were fourth-level, fifth-level, or even mightier than the last, the instant they entered, the Empress wiped them out with a wave of her hand—no chance to struggle at all.
However, these Ruins Beasts clearly possessed some degree of intelligence.
After more than ten in succession were obliterated, the previously agitated shadows inside the rift grew suddenly quiet; gradually, no more Ruins Beasts ventured forth.
"Let Yan Ruo escort you back to Mountain Miao Hall. I’ll be back soon."
The Empress cast a glance at Qin Yu, speaking calmly.
She could not let the Ruins Rift continue to widen. To eliminate this hidden peril, she would have to step inside herself and slay every last Ruins Beast coveting this world.
"Your Majesty, let me accompany you."
Qin Yu responded without hesitation.
He had experienced it before—slaying Ruins Beasts provided him with Flame Points; he did not wish to miss such a good opportunity.
"You?"
The Empress frowned slightly.
She had no idea what lay beyond that rift, but Qin Yu was far too valuable—she did not wish to risk him.
"Your Majesty, I will act within my means."
Qin Yu was confident enough in his ability to protect himself.
This fellow—worrying about Me?
Something strange flickered through the Empress’ heart, yet her face remained stone-cold, betraying nothing.
"I truly do not know how perilous it may be on the other side. Are you sure you want to come with Me?"
The Empress asked coolly.
"I cannot let Your Majesty go in alone."
Qin Yu answered.
The Empress couldn’t help giving Qin Yu another look.
This fellow’s audacity was growing—he actually dared say such words right before her.
If she hadn’t known him so well, she might indeed have been moved by his so-called loyalty and courage.
That said, she understood his character: Qin Yu was not reckless. On the contrary, he valued his own skin dearly and would never take unnecessary risks.
Just like when the Flower Fairy tried to strike at him, he’d spun around and immediately hid behind her.
In the Ruins Rift, if danger emerged, this guy would surely hide the first chance he got—there was no need to worry about him.
The situation within the rift was unknown. Maybe, just maybe, Qin Yu really could be of help.
With that thought, the Empress nodded ever so slightly, indicating consent.
At once, silver light shimmered around her—she stepped into the Ruins Rift without hesitation.
Seeing this, Qin Yu did not pause for an instant but followed right behind.
After a bout of vertigo, once Qin Yu steadied himself, a sharp tension gripped him.
It was still that same familiar world of black and white—the heavens swirling a murky gray-white, the earth cracked and torn, yet permeated with rich Spiritual Qi.
The air carried an almost suffocating sense of oppression—as if this space itself was rejecting intruders.
"Whoosh!"
No sooner had the two of them arrived than countless black shadows exploded forth with dreadful momentum, like a tide intent on tearing these two outsiders limb from limb.
"Abominations, how dare you defy imperial majesty!"
Qin Yu’s voice thundered, his palm tight about his Lifebound Divine Sword. In the next instant, Sword Aura screamed out, slicing toward several fourth-level Ruins Beasts radiating power.
"???"
A flicker of anger flashed in the Empress’ gaze.
This scoundrel!
Why phrase it that way—what was he implying?
Qin Yu was utterly oblivious to the Empress’ reaction; all his focus was on the Ruins Beasts before him.
Just recently, he’d stepped into the Lotus Platform realm—but a Nascent Soul already sat atop his Lotus Platform!
Now, his power was about equal to someone more than twenty steps into Foundation Establishment, plus both his Lifebound Divine Sword and Technique had advanced. Fourth-level Ruins Beasts were no longer the untouchable threats they’d been back in Lin Xian City.
Fourth-level Ruins Beasts? One sword, one corpse—easy pickings!
[Purifying Fear Spirit +100]
[Purifying Fear Spirit +1000]
[...]
In the span of two quick breaths, and relying on the might of his Divine Sword, Qin Yu effortlessly felled seven Ruins Beasts.
Of these, four were third-level; the other three, fourth-level—about as strong as a Lotus Platform master.
"So third-level Ruins Beasts add a hundred points, fourth-level ones a thousand..."
Scanning the field, Qin Yu soon locked eyes on a fifth-level Ruins Beast.
If he could fell it, would it be worth ten thousand Flame Points?
Yet, staring at the mighty, raging flames of the beast, Qin Yu wisely abandoned that thought.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t try—just not necessary!
All around, beastly shadows surged like a sea.
Rather than waste his effort on a single fifth-level beast, it was faster to mow down more fourth-level ones instead.
"Eh?"
A glint of surprise flickered in the Empress’ eyes.
This fellow—even aside from his other shenanigans—it seemed he had a bit of skill after all.
Come to think of it, this was her first time seeing him in action; to her surprise, the sword in his grasp was shockingly sharp.
Could it be...a top-grade Dao Artifact?
Even in the Imperial Capital—let alone the Royal Household—such artifacts could be counted on one hand.
Where had Qin Yu gotten his?
The Ruins Beasts’ mighty scale armor was as good as nothing beneath his Sword Aura.
Even stranger—the True Essence he channeled seemed to utterly suppress these creatures; with every Sword Aura launched, a beast fell in a blink.
The Empress did not dwell on it further.
After all, it was a good thing.
Ruins Beasts fed on terror.
Qin Yu exhibited no fear—on the contrary, he killed swiftly and decisively. That alone made him worthy of his post as Royal Court Tributor of Great Yan.
The Empress swept her gaze across the field, locking onto several powerful Ruins Beasts, and with a flick of her fingers, bolts of thunderlight shot out—blasting through the skulls of each one almost instantaneously.
Those mighty fifth-level Ruins Beasts fell with a crash, never even getting to scream.
As if spurred by the scent of the living, ever more Ruins Beasts emerged—a tide of black shadows pouring in from land and sky, in every imaginable and hideous form.
"Your Majesty, leave everything below fifth-level to me!"
Qin Yu’s peripheral vision swept the field, and his heart pounded with disbelief.
The Empress was aglow with golden light, as if about to massacre every beast in one thunderous strike.
That won’t do!
Wouldn’t that make his whole trip pointless?
"This fellow—does he mean to show off before Me?"
The Empress frowned, but thought no more of it.
She had originally intended to act, but now only bothered to pick off the most powerful fifth-level Ruins Beasts, lazily dispatching them.
As for the lower-level beasts, she didn’t care one bit.
Qin Yu knew this world still hid untold dangers—a sixth-level Ruins Beast could appear at any time.
So he held nothing back; every Sword Aura he launched was infused with True Essence, intent on instant kill.
Ruins Beasts?
In his eyes, they were nothing but Flame Points!
If power alone sufficed, he’d even snatch the fifth-level beasts right from under the Empress’ nose.
...
At the very same moment when Qin Yu entered the gray-white world—
A woman in plain robes strolled barefoot, steps light, neither hurried nor slack. She seemed tireless, almost aimless, as she wandered at ease through the world.
All at once—
The robed woman paused, as if a gentle breeze had rippled across the still surface of a lake.
Some subtle resonance drew her gaze across vast distances, settling in a definite direction.
In the depths of those seemingly vacant eyes, faint stars quietly flared into existence.
"You’ve arrived."
Before the last word faded, she tapped her toe—the silhouette dissolving into a pale afterimage, vanishing in a blink, reappearing a thousand zhang away.
Now, she seemed at last to have found her bearing; her steps grew steady and resolved.
Though separated by a boundless gulf, she had finally sensed that familiar aura once more.
...
This carnage—
No,
It would be more apt to call it a one-sided massacre, which lasted for about half an hour.
Qin Yu had lost count of how many Ruins Beasts he’d slain. Although much True Essence had been spent, thanks to Elixirs, his breathing remained steady; only a sheen of fine sweat beaded his brow.
The Empress, in contrast, had dispatched more than twenty fifth-level Ruins Beasts with ease—never showing a trace of fatigue. Every strike was effortless and domineering; not a single beast ever forced her to strike twice.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, Qin Yu felt the ground quiver violently, as if the gray-white firmament was about to collapse.
The Empress frowned and looked toward a certain direction.
Qin Yu waved his hand; twin swords of shimmering light cut down two pouncing Ruins Beasts with ease. He cast a glance aside—and realized a ’mountain’ was moving.
But in the blink of an eye, Qin Yu’s face blanched.
That was no mountain at all, but a giant Ruins Beast, colossal enough to rival a city!