Death Radiance

The next day.

Dark clouds hung over the imperial court.

Minister of Rites Kong Qi wore a formal dark robe. Tall and beautiful-featured, he had always carried himself with impeccable poise, yet now his face was filled with fury. "Prime Minister, for three days straight, why have the Dragon Battle Army, Black Flag Army, and Liaodong Army marched openly into the imperial capital?

Could it be... that you intend to rebel?"

Silence fell across the court.

It could be said that, aside from a small number of officials, the vast majority obeyed Sima Ting's every command.

Now that the three armies had entered the capital, this was precisely what they had been waiting for.

It was long past time for Nanqian Kingdom to see the heavens change.

Of course, they did not know that these armies had entered the imperial capital not to rebel, but to become... sacrifices.

And they too were sacrifices, no different from those soldiers or common folk.

Sima Ting strode with the bearing of a dragon and tiger and said to the Minister of Rites, "The three armies entered the capital under orders from the Ministry of War, entirely in accordance with Nanqian law.

Your Excellency the Minister makes groundless speculations and attacks this old man, treating the court's laws as though they were nothing. That is what is truly ridiculous!"

The other officials all burst into laughter.

The great sage Kong Qi was mild-tempered and upright, long renowned as a virtuous man.

Yet at this moment, even he had been driven half-mad with rage by Sima Ting.

"Sima Ting's heart is known to all!" Great Sage Kong Qi said, suddenly breaking down in tears. "Among the civil and military officials of this entire court, there is actually, actually not one... Nanqian... is doomed!"

The other officials looked at Kong Qi with mocking expressions.

Kong Qi was a qualified great sage, but certainly not a mature official.

Just then, Duke Yu, who had remained silent all this while, spoke. "Prime Minister, has Her Majesty been informed of the reason for summoning the three armies into the city?"

Sima Ting glanced at Duke Yu. He had not expected this old turtle to speak up for Jin Li as well.

But none of that mattered anymore.

"Doesn't Her Majesty know already?" Sima Ting looked at Jin Li, seated upright upon the throne, amusement in his eyes and not the slightest trace of respect.

Even the late emperor had been a puppet in his hands.

And Jin Li herself had been personally placed upon the throne by him.

It could be said that every civil and military official in the court was his man.

He continued, "Recently, demons have been causing trouble within the imperial city. To ensure Her Majesty's safety, I summoned the three armies into the capital.

During this period, a prohibition will be imposed upon the capital. Entry will be permitted, but exit forbidden!

Once the demons have been eradicated half a month from now, the three armies will naturally withdraw from the capital. There is no need for you all to panic!"

Having said that, Sima Ting directly turned, flicked his sleeve, and left without even putting on a show.

The other officials also followed him out one after another.

Quite a few officials secretly bowed to Jin Li before hurrying away.

Before long, only several officials and a sorrowful Jin Li remained in the vast palace hall.

When Jin Li returned to her bedchamber, exhausted, she looked at the Exquisite Jade Tide in her hand.

If the nation fell and she died, could the agreement from back then... still be fulfilled?

She raised her head to look at the towering Ancient Qixun Camphor Tree, her thoughts unknown.

At that moment, Aunt Qin entered. Her face was heavy with exhaustion, along with a trace of anger. "Your Majesty, the three armies have all entered, and the city gates have been sealed.

If Sima Ting bares his dagger when the map is exhausted, this old woman will stake her life on taking Your Majesty out!"

At the side, Imperial Guard Commander Hua Xian also dropped to one knee. "I am willing to die for Your Majesty!"

Jin Li looked at those loyal to her and slowly said, "I'm sorry... all of you."

She had never been a qualified Empress.

Even her cultivation had been secretly tampered with by Sima Ting's people, leaving her progress painfully slow.

"Sima Ting is wildly ambitious. He will likely make his move within half a month.

I... cannot possibly leave the imperial city.

But you... still have a chance.

Leave the imperial city and go to the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area. You may yet escape this calamity." Jin Li arranged a path of retreat for Aunt Qin and her other trusted followers.

At this, Aunt Qin's gaze darkened. "Your Majesty, that old bastard Sima Ting likely intends far more than simply usurping the throne.

At the Prime Minister's Residence, I sensed several extremely obscure yet powerful auras. Among them were even members of the Demon Race!"

"The Demon Race?" Jin Li froze.

"And the Demon Race's aura outside the city seems even stronger. There are no fewer than three emperor-level experts...!"

"What?" Jin Li was utterly stunned.

She had no idea what Sima Ting was trying to do!

The moonlight was just right. Qi Yuan wore blood-red armor, his combat power pushed to its limit.

Like a gigantic mad dinosaur, every charge he made slew several clothing monsters.

His experience bar soared!

Suddenly, Qi Yuan let out a roar.

"Level ninety!"

He had finally reached level ninety!

Level ninety—according to Moon Gazing Continent's classification—meant a powerhouse above the Heavenly Domain, at the Divine Domain level.

There was a qualitative gulf between this and level eighty-nine!

Qi Yuan could feel his strength, speed, physique, and every other aspect of himself surging wildly.

If he had once feared being surrounded by clothing monsters and only dared to emerge at night, then now, he was utterly unafraid.

He could grind monsters in broad daylight—however many attire monsters came, he would kill them all!

"Two skills!"

Upon breaking through to level 90, he had gained two more skills.

Thinking of this, he felt that Little Bride truly was the best clothing monster under heaven.

Wearing her not only added five levels, but also let him freeload two skills.

He began examining his skills.

"Stabilize Spirit?"

The first minor skill was called Stabilize Spirit. It could anchor the soul; when faced with illusions and phantasms, it allowed one to hold fast to one's true heart.

"Death Radiance?"

The major skill was Death Radiance.

Looking at this major skill, Qi Yuan could not help clicking his tongue.

This skill was dancing on the wire of death.

Only when one's life hung by a thread, with one foot on death's threshold, could it unleash its most dazzling radiance and greatest combat power.

Moreover, it was not merely a major skill that boosted combat power—it could also heal him.

By injuring enemies, he could draw upon their life force and heal his own wounds.

Put simply, the lower his health, the stronger he became—and it even came with life steal and mana steal.

"Why didn't it give me a Life-Stealing Blade? Wouldn't that make me invincible?"

Qi Yuan felt that this skill was a little dangerous and needed to be paired with a Life-Stealing Blade.

That way, perhaps he could even carry off the enemy's crystal.

"Still, it's already pretty good. Even at full health, using Death Radiance can double my combat power."

Gripping the blood-red Great Treasure Sword, Qi Yuan gazed through the Attire Forbidden Area toward its deepest reaches.

"Little clown monster..."

"No, Ugly Clothing Monster Emperor, I'm coming."

And deep within the Attire Forbidden Area, the Ugly Clothing Monster Emperor, which had been staring at Qi Yuan all this time, now sped toward him as well.

In an instant, the two charged at each other from opposite directions, then collided with the fiercest impact!

"Ah!"

The red blood essence on Qi Yuan's scarlet armor seemed ready to spill over. He raised his sword; the blade, originally only a few meters long, swelled beneath the crimson blood essence until it stretched over a thousand meters.

"Take my sword!"

With Death Radiance, Qi Yuan's fighting style had completely changed.

He pursued the strongest attack power and the widest range of destruction.

Though the aftermath could not harm the Ugly Clothing Monster Emperor, it could kill the other clothing monsters.

They were experience for his bar, and enemy add-ons that supplied life steal.

More importantly, he no longer had to worry about lacking mana. He could unleash his ultimate without restraint!

"Today, I will slay you!"