Chapter 169 - Long Live the Empress!

"Our Empress!!" When crimson lightning obscured the sun, countless cultivators of the Heavenly Realm cried out, overwhelmed with emotion.

Dark clouds pressed down, transforming instantly into blood-red bolts that dominated the world! This endless surge of scarlet lightning made the entire Heavenly Realm appear as an inflamed eyeball, livid with rage.

"Your Majesty!" Zhao Xuanjian's anxious demeanor vanished, replaced by a look of joy and relief. His faith in the Divine Dawn Empress was evident.

Yun Xiao had once been a sovereign too! But the moment he first beheld Chen Xi descending in the grandeur of an Empress, he truly grasped that a mortal monarch and the Empress of the Immortal Empire were in entirely different leagues.

Lightning roared across the Heavenly Realm, its bloody hues reaching for miles. The fluttering golden-red imperial robe, the dazzling nine-pearled crown, and those striking eyes flashing like lightning and flames—all exuded raw power and dominance.

A single utterance, "Who dares?" paralleled Yun Xiao's sentiments.

At her words, a tremor coursed through everyone.

"The Empress is furious!"

"Does this mean...?"

Just as anxiety permeated the air, the whole Heavenly Realm quaked!

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

A blazing array of lightning and fire suddenly emerged, sprawling across millions of miles, instantaneously dividing the spherical Heavenly Realm into two!

Below lay the streets of the Heavenly Realm, majestic palaces, and innumerable cultivators. Above were clouds, open sky, and both the Eternal Joy Demon Emperor and the Divine Dawn Empress.

HUM!

Many layers of the lightning flame array appeared, entirely separating the Eternal Joy Demon Emperor from the streets of the Heavenly Realm. Of course, it didn't touch a single hair on Yun Xiao.

"The Heavenly Realm's Primordial Array!" Another round of astounded shouts echoed, sweeping the capital of the Immortal Empire like a tempest.

Born from the Primordial Bell, the Heavenly Realm's Primordial Array was an ancient defensive formation, which only the current Divine Dawn Empress could activate.

The tradition in the Immortal Empire, that ringing the Primordial Bell of the Heavenly Realm granted one the throne, was tied to the crucial strategic significance of this array. With this array at one's command, the Heavenly Realm was invincible.

"Has she truly activated it?" Yun Xiao's eyes blazed, "She's truly seizing the moment to assert her dominance, isn't she?" He wasn't the only one thinking along those lines. Under the protection of this lightning-fire array, all cultivators of the Heavenly Realm felt their skin tingle with apprehension.

BOOM!

The moment the Primordial Array activated, a deafening roar echoed as the endless crimson thunderbolts charged violently towards the dark, crescent-shaped veil.

"Divine Dawn! Are you serious?" A chilling black peacock, bathed in dark smoke, stared intently at the approaching net of crimson lightning with its blood-red eyes.

CRASH CRASH CRASH!

Before its words even settled, myriad thunder dragons of crimson hue plunged into the black mist. The collision of blood-hued electricity and dark smoke produced explosive shocks of black and red. The deafening thunderclap swept across the Heavenly Realm!

Standing beneath the turbulent matrix of lightning, the view was obscured. All one could see were electric serpents flashing in the sky and the roars of thunder dragons shaking the heavens.

BOOM!

The endless crimson electrical net suddenly condensed into a thunderous orb with a diameter of several hundred feet. It exploded instantly, reducing strands of black mist to powder.

"Ignorant girl! Try your insolence again!" The black peacock screeched sharply. Transformed to its original form, its vast wings, which blocked out the sky, were unfurled, casting a black flame across the heavens.

"It was you who was insolent first!" A thunderous roar once again shook the Heavenly Realm.

BOOM!

In the distance above, a figure in a flowing dragon robe pointed her finger. A thousand-foot-long bolt of thunder, entwined with burning blood fire, descended with a brilliance that illuminated the entire Heavenly Realm threefold.

BOOM!

Such a massive thunder strike shattered several layers of the black peacock's dark magical mist and struck its back. Billions of crimson currents instantly flowed across the peacock, seeping into its flesh through the gaps in its feathers.

CRASH CRASH CRASH!

Blood exploded from the black peacock, and where the thunderous flames passed, its flesh charred and burst. What was once an intact body now resembled charred coal, emitting thick, black smoke, filling the air with the smell of burnt flesh.

HUM!

The massive bird's body crashed from the sky, landing on the Primordial Array of the Heavenly Realm, causing continuous tremors and resounding booms. With the array activated, countless lightning flames surged again, heading straight for the Eternal Joy Demon Emperor.

"You!" The black peacock, its eyes emanating a malevolent, blood-red glow, could only soar up, escaping the range of the Primordial Array. Anyone could see it was wounded. And not just a minor wound. The key was, it had been constantly on the receiving end of blows.

"Her Majesty is so powerful!"

Under that spectacle, every cultivator in the Heavenly Realm lost their minds! It had been over a year since she'd taken action! Many recalled the days when she ascended the throne of the Immortal Empire, merely a little girl back then. And now? A radiant young maiden stood before them.

That once little girl had defeated the former Emperor, Ye Qingtian, before the awestruck masses. The visual impact of that moment had set the world ablaze, driving countless cultivators mad with admiration.

Everyone speculated that after her year-long hiatus, she'd be even mightier. But who could've imagined she'd suppress even the Eternal Joy Demon Emperor with such dominance?

From that moment, the hearts of countless cultivators ignited with renewed faith and confidence.

"Long live the Empress!" In an instant, myriad people knelt in unison, fervor lighting their eyes, their spirits set ablaze with passion.

"This is one of the five great Demon Emperors of the Demon Continent!" Zhao Xuanjian remarked, his beard quivering. Why would an outsider like Drunkard serve her? The answer became clear.

"Blue Star, she's still hiding some of her power, isn't she?" Yun Xiao remarked, likely the only one unsurprised by all this. Upon their first meeting, Blue Star had mentioned this fearsome woman had sealed away a terrifying force. Today's display was, to him, rather expected. During their joint cultivation, Yun Xiao had glimpsed her incredible internal power and saw its depths clearly.

"Yes," Blue Star nodded.

"Looking at it now, she's steadier than I am. If I had her capabilities, I'd have stormed the Demon Continent ages ago," Yun Xiao said.

"Your path is different from hers. She's an Empress, needing to oversee the bigger picture. You're a lone wolf, your edge needs sharpening. Nurture that killing intent," Blue Star chuckled.

Different paths, but... what a pairing!

Different journeys, same destination.

"The moment the War of Immortals kicks off and you two monsters enter, those prodigious demons can check in, but they won't be checking out," Blue Star teased.

The Demon Continent couldn't handle the humiliation of a Demon Prince's death? What tears would they shed during the War of Immortals?

With the Divine Dawn Empress now taking action, it was a clear statement. Yun Xiao knew, under her lead, he could go all out.

Exciting! Pure, unadulterated exhilaration! Unfortunately, some folks just loved being party poopers. Witnessing the joy of the human race was more painful to them than if someone had murdered their parents. And so entered new players!

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!

Suddenly, a flurry of figures stormed out from the Heavenly Realm's protective barrier, positioning themselves defiantly in front of the Divine Dawn Empress.

"Your Majesty, please halt!" A heart-wrenching cry interrupted the ongoing battle.

The crowd was taken aback, eyes transfixed. Among the interlopers were dozens of Demon Saints, numerous high-ranking officials from the Immortal Empire, including the Minister of Rites Han Jingli, the Grand Temple Sage, and the previous emperor from the Ancestral Temple, Ye Qingtian...

It appeared that the majority of the Immortal Empire's influential figures had arrived!

With these dignitaries forming a protective barrier, the Demon Saints fell in line before the sinister black peacock. Taking a momentary breather, the black peacock lifted its elongated neck, its eyes burning with resentment and fixed on the Divine Dawn Empress.

It had been humiliated! Not only physically but also in its reputation! A young girl had beaten it senseless in front of a massive audience. Every demon in the Heavenly Realm was simultaneously furious and humiliated, their eyes burning crimson, teeth bared. How could this affront be resolved to the demons' satisfaction?

"Your Majesty!" the most respected and elderly Grand Temple Sage pleaded with a face full of distress. "Please, stop this! If this continues, we're headed for a catastrophe!"

"A catastrophe?" The young woman in the dragon robe floated in the air, surrounded by thunder, her face obscured.

All that the crowd could sense was her overwhelming presence.

"The Five Great Demon Emperors, the 108 Demon Saints, and the millions of demons from the Demon Continent will not let this go," the Grand Temple Sage whispered, casting a fearful glance at the black peacock. His words sent a chill down the spines of many who knew the power of the demons. A hush descended upon the realm.

Suddenly, the black peacock let out a piercing, eerie laugh, sending shivers down spines. "The Grand Temple Sage is exaggerating..." he said as mysterious flames healed its wounds at a visibly rapid rate.

It looked up at the Divine Dawn Empress. "I've long admired your unparalleled talent. At just fifteen, you're unmatched. I've yearned to discuss our arts. Today presented the perfect opportunity for a friendly exchange. As they say, seeing is believing. Divine Dawn Empress, you truly are the greatest prodigy the human race has ever seen."

The crowd exchanged incredulous looks. Wasn't it obvious that the Eternal Joy Demon Emperor, aiming for unbridled dominance and seeking vengeance for its slain son, had tried to stir the pot in the Heavenly Realm, only to get a thrashing from the Empress?

The Grand Temple Sage, visibly flustered, exclaimed, "Of course, my oversight!" He quickly gave a respectful bow to the Divine Dawn Empress and the Eternal Joy Demon Emperor.

People were left wondering, was the Eternal Joy Demon Emperor genuinely conceding? Not quite! He was merely saving face for the moment. Other Demon Emperors were soon to arrive, along with the entirety of the 108 Demon Saints. If he didn’t speak up now, who could predict what this fiery fifteen-year-old would do next? The current humiliation, the current rage, the Eternal Joy Demon Emperor would remember it all.

All eyes inevitably turned to the Divine Dawn Empress. Would she let it go after this display of power? The entire Heavenly Realm was holding its breath.

"Your Majesty..." The Grand Temple Sage looked at her with hope.

"Indeed, it was a friendly spar," the Divine Dawn Empress replied with a smirk. But then, with a sudden laugh and a twinkle in her eyes that resembled lightning, she said, "However, the mighty Eternal Joy Demon Emperor doesn't seem so impressive."

Hearing the first part of her statement, the Grand Temple Sage and officials from the Immortal Empire sighed in relief. But the latter part contorted their faces. It was a public slap in the face. Sharp and spicy!

The Heavenly Realm was silent. Everyone exchanged glances, secretly relishing the moment. They had been oppressed by these demons for a lifetime; how satisfying was today's retaliation! The only word to describe the feeling was exhilarating!

However, the Grand Temple Sage and Ye Qingtian, among others, couldn't seem to enjoy it. They wore expressions of deep concern. Though Ye Qingtian remained silent, as the former Emperor, he was the true backbone of the group. His gaze was weighty throughout the event.

After the deafening silence, the Grand Temple Sage sheepishly chuckled. "If that's the case and the sparring is over, I shall resume hosting our demon guests."

"Ensure they are treated well on my behalf," the Divine Dawn Empress instructed.

"As you wish!" The Grand Temple Sage replied, then turned to the black peacock, "Eternal Joy Demon Emperor, after you." All he wanted was to put an end to this chaos.

The Divine Dawn Empress achieved her goal, significantly boosting the Empire's morale. A collective sigh of relief echoed among the masses.

"So, Yun Xiao remains unscathed!" Eyes locked onto the young man, disbelief evident in every gaze.

"Could he have foreseen that the Empress would seize the moment to assert her dominance over the Eternal Joy Demon Emperor, shielding him from harm?"

"It’s mere coincidence! He's all brawn and no brains!" someone muttered under their breath, careful not to speak too loudly for fear of retribution.

The united will of the Empire was undeniable and overwhelming.

"This chapter concludes here. Next up, the War of Immortals," Yun Xiao resolved internally. However, even he couldn't predict the sudden twist that lay ahead.

"Halt!" A voice, filled with boundless rage, echoed in the distance. The cultivators on the Heavenly Realm's streets were taken aback, all eyes darting to the source.

A woman clad in blue official robes, transformed into a beam of light, speeding downward. With eyes filled with tears and vengeance, she knelt before the Divine Dawn Empress. "Your Majesty, please uphold justice for the millions of souls!" The kneeling figure was the Minister of War Qi Lan.

"What's happened?" The Divine Dawn Empress's voice was gravely low.