I Will Command All Armies Under Heaven

"Ninth Soul Skill, God-Demon Dual Slash!"

A surging crimson tide suddenly erupted around Chen Xin. His eyes were blood-red, and he looked like a god of slaughter who had emerged from hell.

"A breakthrough in the middle of battle?" Jiang Mian chuckled.

A massive phantom raised itself slowly behind Chen Xin, both hands braced upon its sword. Two connected streams of red and blue sword energy shot toward Yan with lightning speed, as though Chen Xin intended to drag him down even in death.

Scarlet King revealed his true form and reached Yan's side in the blink of an eye. With one stomp, he crushed the Level 58 Giant Rock Dragon Soul Master into pulp.

Then, all three heads spewed Hellfire at once, instantly swallowing the two streaks of sword light whole.

The final strike of a Level 97 Soul Master naturally posed no effective threat against a rested Level 99 expert.

"Uncle Sword?" Ning Fengzhi looked at Chen Xin, his eyes filled with confusion. "Why cut off your own path to survival?"

"Do you think they would spare us if we won?" Sword Douluo Chen Xin stood with his hair hanging loose, two trails of bloody tears slowly streaming down his face. He raised the Seven Kill Sword and pointed it at Jiang Mian above him. "This was nothing more than a ridiculous game of cat and mouse."

"Chen Xin is still clear-headed." Jiang Mian sighed. "Sword Douluo, why hang yourself from a single tree? With your strength, if you joined Spirit Hall, you would surely receive generous treatment. You would stand beneath one person and above ten thousand."

"A loyal subject would rather die than be dishonored. How could a true man serve two masters?"

"You no longer have the strength to fight." Jiang Mian tried to persuade him, somewhat unable to bear it.

"Enough nonsense. Come!" Sword Douluo Chen Xin's hand trembled even as he gripped his sword. He was truly at the end of his strength; the fact that he could still stand was already a miracle.

"Kill him." Jiang Mian turned his back.

"Magnificent!"

Scarlet King and Bear Lord attacked at the same time. Under the Sky Rend Claw, their heads were severed from their bodies.

Chen Xin slowly closed his eyes, and his body crashed to the ground. Thus ended the life of a great hero.

Scarlet King released hellfire and burned their bodies to ashes. It was a complete one-stop service, at least.

Ning Fengzhi and those Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples were hardly worth mourning, but Jiang Mian felt that Sword Douluo Chen Xin's death was a real pity.

"The Seven Kill Sword ends here."

After everything was dealt with, Scarlet King's face darkened. Looking at the stunned Yan behind him, he snapped, "You idiot! When he attacked, did you not react at all? Were you trying to be a living target for the enemy?"

"Even if you knew you couldn't dodge it, you should have tried with everything you had! Do you think an expert will always be around to protect you?"

"What you don't care about is your own life!"

"I will remember Master's lesson." Yan scratched his head guiltily. He did not know why, but the power of Sword Douluo's strike earlier had made him feel as though his soul had left his body. His legs had trembled uncontrollably, and he had been unable to move at all.

"It is not entirely his fault." Jiang Mian led the others in a leap before Scarlet King and smiled. "The killing intent of Chen Xin's Seven Kill Sword can shake one's soul. Yan lacks the strength, so naturally he was suppressed by that killing intent and unable to move."

"If he cannot even withstand this little killing intent, he is still trash." Scarlet King was furious, especially when he thought of Xie Yue's effort and talent. He grabbed Yan by the ear and said, "When we return tomorrow, I will give you some proper special training!"

"No!" Yan's miserable screams continued, leaving the others both amused and exasperated. Jiang Mian looked in the direction of the Heaven Dou Empire and murmured inwardly, It was time for the skies to change, wasn't it?

Jiang Mian had a faint feeling and said, "Xie Yue, take the others and follow Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo back to Spirit Hall to report. Scarlet King, Bear Lord, come with me to the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace!"

Late at night, within the imperial palace's inner perimeter.

Xue Qinghe strolled as though taking a leisurely walk in a garden. Snake Spear and Porcupine Douluo followed behind him, while the palace outside had long been heavily guarded, sealed so tightly that not even water could pass through.

"Qinghe, what are you trying to do?" Xue Ye sat on the dragon bed with his hair disheveled and his face pale. He was clearly deeply poisoned, yet he forced himself to sit upright and glared at Xue Qinghe with imposing authority.

"Father, let me call you that one last time." Xue Qinghe laughed loudly. "After tonight, the Heaven Dou Empire will be under my rule."

"You want to usurp the throne!" Xue Ye's lips trembled slightly as he demanded, "You are already the Crown Prince. Isn't that enough?"

"Not enough!" Xue Qinghe's expression twisted viciously. His face distorted as he sneered, "You have lived far too long, and I do not want to waste any more time."

"Even if you kill me, do you think the Heaven Dou Empire's troops and ministers will obey you?" Xue Ye roared. "You must understand that the Heaven Dou Empire is still my empire!"

"You old fool." Brilliant golden holy light bloomed around Xue Qinghe. A woman with jade-white skin slowly emerged from the radiance. Qian Renxue no longer needed to painstakingly maintain her disguise. She was free. "I infiltrated the Heaven Dou Empire from childhood. I have already sacrificed too much."

"You are not Qinghe!" Xue Ye's pupils contracted violently. Pointing at Qian Renxue, he stammered, "You... who exactly are you?"

"Qian Renxue of Spirit Hall!" Qian Renxue suddenly flew forward and seized Xue Ye by the throat. Those exquisitely beautiful jade-like hands had now become weapons of murder.

"Marshal Ge Long commands the army. Even if you succeed in seizing the throne, you will not be able to hold it!" Blood filled Xue Ye's eyes as he continued threatening Qian Renxue even at death's door.

"You old fool, take a look around." Qian Renxue decisively snapped Xue Ye's neck. "Is there anyone in the entire Heaven Dou Empire still willing to help you?"

"The ruler of an empire died so miserably." Porcupine Douluo said disdainfully, "The Heaven Dou Empire is truly useless."

"Porcupine, Snake Spear, go to the military camp immediately and take over command of the army. If anyone resists, kill without mercy," Qian Renxue ordered. "As for the members of the Heaven Dou royal family, I will handle them."

"Understood." The two Titled Douluo immediately headed for the army camp. Ge Long possessed immense prestige in the military, so it would clearly not be easy for the two of them to complete their task smoothly.

"Xue Beng, run!" Prince Xue Xing dragged the Fourth Prince Xue Beng along as they hid throughout the palace.

Qian Renxue walked slowly behind them. She had been embedded in the Heaven Dou Empire for nearly twenty years, and she had countless followers of her own. Otherwise, she would not have dared to kill Xue Ye so rashly today.

"Uncle, we cannot escape." Seeing Qian Renxue getting closer and closer, Xue Beng's legs gave way and he fell to his knees. His eyes rolled back as he already saw his own fate.

"No!"

"Marshal Ge Long, the two of us have been ordered to assume all command authority over the army. We hope for your cooperation." Inside the military camp, Snake Spear and Porcupine Douluo stood before Ge Long and spoke calmly.

"Where is His Majesty's imperial decree?" Ge Long sat high upon the marshal's seat in heavy armor and asked blandly.

"His Majesty gave a verbal order. There is no decree." Snake Spear Douluo She Long frowned. "Marshal, please hurry. If the task is delayed, neither of us can bear the responsibility."

"As far as I know, you are the Crown Prince's man." Ge Long rested his chin on his hand. "Without an imperial decree, even if His Highness the Crown Prince came here himself, I would not hand over military authority."

"You are courting death!" Porcupine Douluo had a fiery temper. Seeing Ge Long refuse to submit obediently, he immediately shouted, "You are merely a lowly Soul Douluo. Who gave you the courage to act like this?"

"You are merely an attendant of the Crown Prince's palace. How dare you speak to this marshal in such a manner?" Though Ge Long's level was not high, his presence completely overpowered the two Titled Douluo.

After all, he was a marshal who had fought countless battles on the battlefield. How could the murderous aura around him compare to that of Titled Douluo who only focused on cultivation?

"So you refuse to hand over military authority?" She Long raised a hand, and a snake spear appeared in his grasp. At the same time, two yellow, two purple, and five black soul rings appeared.

"Seize it by force?" Ge Long slammed his hand down and rose to his feet. The soldiers outside the tent shouted in unison, their momentum overwhelming.

"I knew there was something wrong with the Crown Prince. So this is a plot to seize the throne!" Ge Long kicked the brazier before him away and roared, "Rebellious traitors! If you dare act recklessly today, I will make sure neither of you dies with a body left to bury!"

"Bind these two and take them back for His Majesty's judgment!" Ge Long shouted. "If they resist, kill without mercy!"

She Long and Porcupine Douluo exchanged a glance and made up their minds. Even amid an army of thousands, they could still take Ge Long's head.

At that moment, Jiang Mian's unhurried voice suddenly came from outside the tent. "General Ge Long certainly has impressive authority."

"The Young Master's friend." She Long pulled Porcupine Douluo back and obediently made way for Jiang Mian. Jiang Mian entered the main tent alone and slowly. "The change of dynasty is already inevitable. If General Ge Long recognizes the times, perhaps you may retain your current post. But if you remain stubborn, only death awaits you."

"Big words." Ge Long laughed angrily. "There are a million soldiers outside. If you kill me, how will you leave unscathed?"

"What are a million soldiers worth?" Jiang Mian laughed mockingly. "Since I could walk in front of you, I naturally have the ability to walk back out."

"If you kill me, a million soldiers will never obey a rebellious traitor who usurped the throne!" Ge Long shouted. "The fine men of the Heaven Dou Empire are all men of iron and bone."

Jiang Mian seemed to have heard the greatest joke in the world. He clapped his hands, and Bear Lord's figure flashed past. Ge Long's eyes suddenly widened. He looked down at his neck, but his head slid straight off it.

"What a fast blade!"

"You two are far too slow." Jiang Mian stepped forward, picked up Ge Long's head, and complained, "Qian Renxue gave you such a trivial task, yet you had to struggle this much?"

Snake Spear and Porcupine Douluo stood frozen in place, staring at one another. Even with their strength as Titled Douluo, they had failed to see who had killed Ge Long.

Jiang Mian ignored these two Titled Douluo who had never seen the world. Carrying the bloody head, he walked out of the main tent and shouted, "Those who lay down their weapons will not be killed!"

"Marshal Ge Long is dead!"

The military camp instantly erupted. The million soldiers spread the news from one to ten and ten to a hundred, and before long, Jiang Mian had turned all million soldiers with nothing more than a single head.

"Listen carefully. Xue Ye is dead. The Heaven Dou Empire now answers to me." Jiang Mian stood high above the soldiers, shouting at those who still did not understand the situation. "Continue doing whatever you were doing. This has nothing to do with you, and your families will not be implicated."

As he spoke, Jiang Mian tossed Ge Long's head into the crowd like a ball. "You are still fine soldiers of Heaven Dou. If anyone refuses to accept this, you may come kill me. That is, if your head is harder than Marshal Ge Long's. I welcome all challengers."

"Long live!"

The million soldiers fell to their knees and shouted in unison. The sound shook heaven and earth, deafening all who heard it.

"Soldiers are all fence-sitters. In a situation like this, who would dare step forward to oppose him?" She Long chuckled. "This move by the Young Master's friend is truly impressive."

"No one dares to be the first bird to stick its head out." Porcupine nodded in agreement. "Handling things this way is indeed the most convenient."

"We worried about so much earlier. Thinking about it now, it really was a joke." Snake Spear shrugged helplessly.

"It is enough that the matter was completed perfectly." Porcupine said indifferently.

The night passed without incident. The next morning.

Within the Heaven Dou Empire's imperial court.

Qian Renxue looked at the ministers kneeling on the ground and said calmly, "Those who obey me shall prosper. Those who oppose me shall perish!"

Jiang Mian stood silently at Qian Renxue's side, staring at the ministers. Whoever dared show some backbone, he would break those bones piece by piece!

"You treacherous usurper, how dare you demand that we submit beneath your feet!" Among the ministers, a thin elderly man with graying whiskers rose and cursed angrily. "And you lapdogs at her side, you will die miserable deaths!"

"Old man, are you trying to earn yourself a righteous name through death?" Jiang Mian stood with his hands tucked into his sleeves and said calmly. "So history books for generations to come will record your unyielding backbone?"

"Rebellious traitor! Shameless wretch!" The old man pointed at Jiang Mian, spittle flying everywhere. "I, Yan Ting, was entrusted with important duties by His Majesty. I could never repay his grace even if I died ten thousand times. How could lapdogs like you understand such loyalty?"

"What a loyal subject." Jiang Mian chuckled. "Then how about sending you to accompany that old fool Xue Ye?"

"Hmph, why not?" Yan Ting shouted furiously. "Even as a ghost, I will never let you off!"

"Drag him away and behead him!" Qian Renxue reclined against the dragon bed and issued the order with regal authority. "Since you want to die, I will grant your wish."

"Heartless tyrant! You kill loyal ministers! In the history books for generations to come, your name will stink for ten thousand years!"

"I have never seen anyone so shameless!"

Qian Renxue raised an eyebrow slightly. "Use a few more cuts on that fine head of his. Save some effort."

As the old fool Yan Ting was dragged away, his mouth still would not stop chattering.

Jiang Mian found it irritating. If this were not such a dignified hall, he truly wanted to rip out that old fool's tongue.

"Are there any other loyal ministers seeking death?" Qian Renxue rested her left hand against her forehead and asked lazily. "Step forward, and I will fulfill all your wishes at once."

Yan Ting's screams continued to echo in everyone's ears, lingering for a long time.

The ministers knelt on the ground, all trembling in fear. They shouted together, "We are willing to follow Your Majesty's lead! Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live!"

"Good." Qian Renxue nodded in satisfaction. With a sweep of her hand, she exuded the bearing of a queen. "All serving officials shall be promoted by one rank. Grant amnesty throughout the realm, and let all under heaven celebrate together."

"Your Majesty is wise."

"Bestow upon Jiang Mian the titles of Grand Pillar and Regent King, ranking above the Three Excellencies. Grant him the noble title of Protector Duke."

"Thank you." Jiang Mian knelt on one knee, which was already the greatest respect he could offer this new ruler. "This subject has an unreasonable request and hopes Your Majesty will grant it."

"Speak."

"I want command over all armies under heaven."