Xiaomeng: You want me to swallow a string of pearls!?

Wails, pleas for mercy, and cries of agony rose and fell within the great hall, sounding like hundreds of ducks being throttled at once.

Yan Lingji leaned against the imperial throne, one hand propping up her chin, her peach-blossom eyes lowered as she looked down at the snot-nosed, tear-streaked nobles below with a face full of disdain.

Truly disgusting.

They were truly worthy of being called "nobles."

Whether in this world or the one she originally came from, these high-and-mighty fellows were all the same to the bone.

They did not view commoners as human beings.

They saw them only as materials, as chess pieces, as expendable consumables to be discarded at will.

A figure flashed through Yan Lingji's mind.

The Crown Prince of Baiyue, who had saved her from the charge of being a witch who burned down her village.

Back then, she had awakened her Fire Spirit Body and accidentally incinerated the entire village; everyone treated her as a witch and wanted her executed.

Only that man had stepped forward to save her.

But that was only because she was useful to him.

What difference was there between that Crown Prince of Baiyue and these nobles kneeling and begging for mercy before her?

They were the same, treating the common folk as chess pieces, as materials, as tools that could be sacrificed at any time.

As expected, her own master was the best.

He called himself a villain, but of all the things he had made her do, which one was truly evil?

Killing those who deserved to die, slaying the demons that needed to be cut down, and purging the parasites that clung to the commoners to suck their blood—was this called evil?

This was clearly acting on behalf of Heaven!

Yan Lingji pulled back her thoughts and swept a glance over the nobles still wailing below.

"Too noisy."

"Shut up."

Those nobles wanted to continue begging for mercy, only to find their mouths no longer obeyed them; their lips were stuck together as if by some substance, clamped shut tight.

They tried desperately to scream, but not a single sound could escape their throats.

The hall fell silent in an instant.

The guards and civil officials who were not being controlled watched this scene, their faces turning as pale as paper.

These nobles—no, everyone present—had long since been reduced to puppets.

Their bodies, their consciousness, their speech, all were controlled by the woman on the throne.

This was ten thousand times more terrifying than the imperial power of the Heaven Dou Emperor.

The Heaven Dou Emperor could only cut off your head, but this woman could make it so you couldn't even die if you wanted to.

She could even control your thoughts!

She could control your actions!

Yan Lingji spoke slowly, "You lot don't know you were wrong."

"You only know you are about to die."

The hall grew even quieter.

The eyes of those nobles widened into perfect circles, and fear surged from the depths of their pupils like a rising tide.

"Guards."

Yan Lingji raised a hand.

"Throw all these fellows into the death row."

"And detain their kin, all nine generations of their families, as well."

A squad of guards below sprang into action, hoisting the kneeling nobles up and dragging them out like dead dogs.

The nobles struggled desperately, wanting to beg for mercy, wanting to speak, wanting to kowtow—but their mouths would not open.

Their heads would not bow.

Their bodies were completely beyond their control.

They could only watch as they were dragged away, their eyes filled with despair.

Not only had they failed to earn mercy from the empire's new empress, but their families would also suffer.

"Pass down the order."

Yan Lingji spoke again.

"Confiscate all noble mansions. Assets to be seized by the state, personnel to be accounted for."

"Also, the female officials of the Heaven Dou Emperor's harem, come forward."

Several trembling female officials emerged from the crowd and knelt in the hall.

"Inventory the former imperial consorts and concubines, and register them. Those with children will reside with their children; those without will be settled in manors outside the city."

"All the maids in the palace are to be thoroughly screened. Those with issues are to be dealt with."

"All male attendants in the inner palace are to be moved to the outer court."

"Guards are only permitted to be stationed on the periphery of the harem, strictly forbidden from entering."

"In all other palaces, all guards, commanders, and nobles are to be thoroughly screened."

The orders fell one after another, like a barrage of firecrackers.

The ministers and guards in the hall, upon hearing this, felt as if they had been granted a great pardon, and they all knelt and kowtowed.

"Your orders! Thank you, Empress!"

"Long live the Empress!"

"Long live!"

Everyone hurriedly exited the hall, their footsteps so fast it was as if ghosts were chasing them.

The hall doors were closed from the outside.

Only Yan Lingji, Xiaomeng, and Na'er remained in the hall.

And, the faint scent of blood in the air.

Yan Lingji leaned on the imperial throne, her nine snow-white fox tails swaying gently behind her.

She let out a long sigh.

"Hoo--"

The domineering aura on her body instantly receded, leaving only the seductive and lazy charm of a bewitching enchantress.

"This seat is really not easy to sit on."

She tilted her head, her fingers tapping idly on the armrest.

"So many things to deal with, it's so annoying."

Xiaomeng, holding the Qiuli Sword, stood to the side and glanced at her.

"As the ruler of a nation, how can you think like this?"

"As a monarch, you must lead by example, otherwise how can you govern the world?"

Yan Lingji turned her head to look at her, her peach blossom eyes curving.

"Then fine, Sister Xiaomeng, you help me too."

Before she finished speaking, a snow-white fox tail had already wrapped around Xiaomeng's waist, and with a gentle pull, she was drawn from the side to lean beside her seat.

Xiaomeng stumbled as she was pulled, and after steadying herself, she glanced at Yan Lingji and ignored her.

Just then, a black palm of Venom pressed against Xiaomeng's chest and rubbed it.

"Xiaomeng, you have to contribute too."

"Hmm, it's grown again. Heh heh, you still have room to develop."

Jiang Ce's voice echoed in her mind.

Xiaomeng looked down at the black hand on her chest and pursed her lips slightly.

This scoundrel, always picking on her.

If she hadn't used her healing ability to repair it yesterday, there would still be rows of finger marks here.

"My King--you can't show favoritism."

Yan Lingji smiled charmingly as she watched Xiaomeng being tormented.

As soon as she finished speaking, a black hand also emerged from her own chest.

Her five fingers spread open, as if intending to crush it.

Yan Lingji's waist arched slightly, and the charm on her face deepened.

"Mmm~ My master, punish me well."

Her voice was so soft it could drip water.

Xiaomeng turned her head away, not wanting to look.

But the voice that reached her ears made her ear tips flush slightly.

Na'er stood to the side, her eyes blinking as she looked at Xiaomeng, then at Yan Lingji.

She didn't know where to look.

She just felt that her sisters were acting so strangely.

Suddenly, she felt the black silk bodysuit she was wearing tighten slightly.

Na'er's cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head.

"Sister... is there anything I can do?"

Her voice was soft, like freshly steamed rice cakes.

Yan Lingji reached out and pulled her closer, nuzzling her cheek.

"Of course, you can serve your brother well."

Na'er's face turned even redder.

But she didn't dodge.

She opened her mouth and bit onto a tentacle.

Yan Lingji also giggled and opened her mouth to bite onto one.

Only Xiaomeng was forcibly pushed forward.

Xiaomeng glared. But Jiang Ce completely ignored her.

"If you don't want to eat tentacles, then perform the iron ball swallowing."

Immediately after, the tentacles in front of Xiaomeng began to change.

A string of pitch-black, nine linked iron balls appeared.

Each one was about the size of an egg.

Xiaomeng's eyes flickered a few times.

"You..."

"...Mmph."

Xiaomeng was just about to demonstrate the iron ball swallowing, a supreme skill that could only be performed with the cooperation of Hard Qigong from Wuqiao Acrobatics!

Moreover, Jiang Ce had tied up all three women.

And began to showcase

Jiang Ce sighed--

The life of a tentacle monster is truly wonderful.

Just then, The Stone Bead he kept inside his body

was now slightly hot.

Jiang Ce's movements paused.

"Hmm?"

He took out the Stone Bead and looked at it.

Although its appearance hadn't changed, it was hot.

This feeling... was familiar.

The last time Yan Lingji obtained her sixth spirit ring and broke through to level 61, this bead had also been hot like this.

Then, Xiaomeng was teleported over.

So what was it this time?

Jiang Ce narrowed his eyes, his thoughts racing.

Was it because Yan Lingji had overthrown the Heaven Dou Emperor and ascended the throne?

Was it because of "National Fortune"?

If that was the case--then it would be very interesting.

Once the Heaven Dou Empire was completely conquered and occupied, he could gradually pull over those beauties one by one.

There were still so many beauties in The Legend of Qin.

Jiang Ce's lips slowly curved upwards, and he forcefully injected his spiritual power into the Stone Bead.

It shone brightly.

Crimson-gold light exploded from the Stone Bead, illuminating the entire grand hall.

The light converged in the hall, spun, and condensed--

Then, two graceful figures fell from the light.

"Bang--!"

"Ouch--!"

Two muffled groans, mixed with a delicate cry.