"Li Zhiyi can already slay the mightiest Ancient God Beasts." Chen Liu narrowed his eyes.
"Only if my three incarnations unite can I kill Li Zhiyi."
Chen Liu fell into thought, weighing whether to obey Chen Yan's orders.
But in the next moment,
Chen Liu frowned and looked toward a distant stretch of sea.
At the same time,
within Qi Prefecture,
Empress Ji wore a grim expression. She could feel the Ancient God's rise.
"Th-that one... has appeared. Why now?"
Empress Ji could barely breathe.
Beside her, Zhao Zhugui said calmly,
"Are you afraid?"
Empress Ji's expression darkened.
"Are you not?"
Zhao Zhugui shook his head slightly.
"I just think you shouldn't be afraid. If you're afraid, you shouldn't keep plotting for the future.
"Your foolishness..."
Zhao Zhugui fixed his gaze on Empress Ji.
"Will only bring ruin to you—and to the Human World."
A chill entered Empress Ji's eyes.
"Was I wrong to restore my Ji Prefecture's fortunes?"
Zhao Zhugui walked toward Empress Ji.
Empress Ji's eyes narrowed. For some reason, she felt a chill from Zhao Zhugui, who had always been mild-mannered.
It was as if this were the real Zhao Zhugui.
She didn't want to believe that Zhao Zhugui had always disliked her.
She didn't want to believe that he would reject her, too.
But the cloaked man spoke in an even voice.
"Ji Ling, you were wrong. You've always been wrong.
"Everything that happened to you was of your own making."
A trace of anger flashed in Empress Ji's eyes, but in the next instant, she hurriedly looked into the distance.
There,
a blood-red pillar of light pierced the heavens, revealing itself to the Human World.
Ji Ling stared in shock.
"That's... Li Zhiyi?"
Jin Prefecture.
State Ruler Mansion.
Xia Long hurried inside and came