Volume 9, Chapter 605 – Massacre Unleashed (Part 1)

Elder Zuo’s ambitions were lofty, but reality proved brutally harsh.

By the very next day, the Yin energy across the entire Huangtian County had already thinned significantly. As the temperature rose, the clouds and mist in the sky gradually dispersed, and even the sun, long hidden by the yin miasma, finally revealed itself. Over the next several days, the weather continued improving.

The common folk were now completely convinced of the Honghua Sect’s strength. Every household beat drums and gongs in celebration; the atmosphere was even livelier than during major festivals. Many people even came personally to offer their thanks.

Qi Huang, however, was not swayed by the waves of praise and flattery. She knew well that the Yin energy at the Pingshan Mass Burial Ground had not truly vanished. She had merely subdued its source temporarily. If anyone were to trespass into the heart of the burial grounds and provoke that Zhen Feiyan, it could jeopardize her entire plan.

With that in mind, Qi Huang immediately ordered Qin Quan to issue a public proclamation, declaring the central area of the Pingshan Mass Burial Ground a restricted zone and strictly forbidding commoners from entering. She also instructed the mundane authorities to assist in spreading the message.

Thus, the burial ground’s central region was officially sealed off. At the same time, Qi Huang had Yaoyao relocate her kin and Liu Yingyue’s father into that area. After all, the Yin energy along the periphery had diminished too much for them to continue living there.

Meanwhile, within the imperial palace, Lin Ran had been quietly observing events unfold for some time. After days of careful monitoring, she finally found the answer she had been seeking.

That evening, in his study, Emperor Lin Tu was reviewing memorials.

“These useless fools! Another defeat! Because of them, We have lost another swath of land!” Lin Tu roared in fury. “When they return, execute them all!”

“Your Majesty,” Chief Steward Zhong spoke cautiously, “our national treasury is already strained. Supplies can’t keep up, and we are fighting three nations at once. At this rate, we cannot endure much longer. Perhaps we should send envoys to negotiate peace?”

“If we sue for peace now, they’ll demand outrageous reparations!” Lin Tu snapped back. “Tell me, Chief Steward Zhong, how are We supposed to meet such demands?”

“But… but this is Your Majesty’s realm,” Steward Zhong hesitated, his voice trembling. “Every inch of our land is being devoured by enemy states. This old servant cannot bear to see such loss!”

Lin Tu suddenly straightened, his gaze cold. “Chief Steward Zhong, do you know why We repeatedly order our border generals to provoke conflicts?”

Rеаⅾ oո ΚatRеαⅾіnɡСafе

‘So it really was you who started these wars!’

Hidden nearby, Lin Ran trembled with rage. It wasn’t just anger for the soldiers who had died needlessly, it was also the unbearable realization that her father, the emperor, had been hiding this truth from her.

“You once said, Your Majesty, it was to seize the fertility resources of other nations… their women,” Steward Zhong recalled after a moment’s thought.

“That was nothing but a lie We fed the generals to keep them motivated,” Lin Tu sneered bitterly. “Do you think We don’t know Our country’s true strength?”

“Then… what is Your Majesty’s real intention?” Steward Zhong asked hesitantly.

“My true goal,” Lin Tu said, his voice lowering, “is to use these wars to cull the surplus men within the Western Radiance Dynasty’s mortal realm.”

“What?” Steward Zhong blurted, stunned.

Even Lin Ran, listening through her surveillance, froze completely, unable to comprehend what she had just heard.

“In the Western Radiance Dynasty, turmoil brews from both within and without. Do you know, Chief Steward Zhong, that nine out of ten domestic ‘unrest incidents’ are caused by unmarried, frustrated men who can’t find wives? If they aren’t considered surplus, then who is? Our goal is simple: use war to whittle down this excess male population, balance the ratio between men and women among the common folk, and thereby eliminate countless troubles. When peace talks eventually follow, both internal strife and external threats will be resolved at once! Losing a few tracts of land is a small price to pay.”

Lin Tu finally revealed his chilling plan.

“You… Your Majesty…!” Steward Zhong’s face went pale as death.

On the other side, Lin Ran collapsed weakly into a chair, utterly devastated. She could scarcely believe her father, the man she had once respected, was capable of such cruelty.

“As an emperor, isn’t it your duty to solve problems, not slaughter your own people?”

Her eyes reddened, tears streaming silently down her face. Two earth-shattering revelations in quick succession had utterly shattered the image she once held of her father.

Rеad оո KаtRеаԁiոɡCafe

After cleaning up the aftermath of recent events, Qi Huang immediately moved forward with her own plans. Her first target was the Huxiao Sect, those damned people had debts to pay. But before she could even set out, Sixth Princess Lin Ran arrived, returning the Shadow-Retaining Mirror.

“Did you find the answer?” Qi Huang asked cautiously.

“No… but thank you,” Lin Ran replied absently before hurriedly leaving Honghua Sect.

“Do you believe her?” Cheng Hongling asked quietly from the side.

“It doesn’t matter,” Qi Huang replied with a faint smile. “I can always replay it.”

With that, she activated the Shadow-Retaining Mirror to review the recorded scenes. Soon enough, she discovered Lin Tu’s “confession”.

Qi Huang’s smile froze, her expression darkening. Her features twisted with anger. She had never imagined that an emperor could commit such heinous atrocities. Sending men to awaken the vengeful spirits at Pingshan to torment Huangtian Prefecture, and using war itself as a weapon to slaughter countless innocent men.

“He… truly deserves to die.”

Cheng Hongling ground her teeth so hard she nearly cracked them.

“Indeed. It seems I need to add a few more names to my kill list,” Qi Huang said coldly, pulling out a slip of paper and writing down every single target.

The next day, unable to restrain herself any longer, Qi Huang departed. Her first destination, the Huxiao Sect headquarters in the prefectural capital. Everyone involved in awakening Jiang Feng’s wrathful spirit would pay.

Her speed was now monstrous. Covering five to six hundred li took her no more than a few dozen breaths.

Arriving near the Huxiao Sect compound, Qi Huang extended her Divine Sense. Within moments, she located Elder Zhou Ming, who was leisurely sipping tea inside his room.

Qi Huang’s figure blurred, and the next instant she was standing before him. She sneered, “Elder Zhou certainly seems relaxed, sipping tea in broad daylight.”

Rеаԁ οո ΚatRеαⅾiոɡСafe

Clatter!

Startled, Zhou Ming jolted violently, his teacup shattering on the floor. He stammered, “You… it’s you! What do you want?”

“Oh, nothing much. I just wanted to ask Elder Zhou. Two years ago, when you went to Pingshan Mass Burial Ground to awaken the vengeful spirit, who else went with you?”

Qi Huang’s smile remained fixed.

“Awaken the spirit? I… I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Zhou Ming’s expression shifted instantly, though he tried to feign composure.

“Don’t bother lying. The spirit itself told me everything. Everyone in Yongning Prefecture knows Elder Zhou’s reputation.”

Qi Huang’s tone dripped with mockery.

Zhou Ming’s face turned ashen. Realizing the situation was dire, he summoned his sword and lunged straight at her.

“Overestimating yourself,” Qi Huang said flatly.

With a mere thought, her Divine Sense locked him in place. Against her power, restraining an Incarnation Realm cultivator was as easy as crushing an ant.

“Speak. Who else participated? Was it your own idea, or did someone order you?”

She walked forward casually, voice cool.

Zhou Ming strained with all his might, but discovered he could only move his mouth. Yet, he still sneered defiantly, “I… I don’t… know… what you’re talking about…! You wouldn’t dare harm me!”

Qi Huang’s smile widened dangerously. With another thought, Zhou Ming’s head twisted a full three hundred and sixty degrees, collapsing limply against his shoulder like wet noodles.

He had never imagined that a mere disciple of Honghua Sect would dare kill him. Even in death, shock remained frozen on his face.

Reаԁ oո ΚatRеaⅾіnɡСafе

His Life Soul drifted free, but Qi Huang’s Divine Sense bore down like a mountain, crushing his resistance. Unable to escape, he wailed desperately, “Mercy! Please, spare me! I was wrong! I was wrong!”

“I’ll ask one last time,” Qi Huang’s voice turned icy, “who else was involved?”

“I’ll talk! I’ll talk! Three other elders took part, it was all on Sect Master Guo’s orders! If you want vengeance, go after him, not me!”

Now utterly broken, Zhou Ming confessed everything.

“Good. Then you’ll pay for your life, with treasure,” Qi Huang said softly, lips curling faintly.

In his desperation to live, Zhou Ming revealed every hidden stash he had. After stripping him clean, Qi Huang bound his Life Soul and vanished.

Before long, she hunted down the remaining three elders and executed them as well, taking their souls with her to confront Sect Master Guo.

As the saying goes: even ants cling to life. Faced with death, the three elders instantly betrayed Sect Master Guo to save themselves.

“Raising vipers in one’s sleeve, such ingratitude! I should have crushed you little wenches at the root!” Sect Master Guo snarled, face contorting in rage.

“Too late for regrets now,” Qi Huang replied coldly.

Her Divine Sense surged outward, overwhelming him instantly. With a single burst, Sect Master Guo dropped dead, his soul trapped by her conjured spectral hand.

“Steward Cai is my in-law, and yet you dare slaughter us! Do you think the Immortal Alliance will let you live?!” Sect Master Guo’s Life Soul shrieked hysterically.

“Maybe,” Qi Huang said mockingly. “But if none of you survive, who will ever know I did it?”

With that, her spectral hand clenched tightly, crushing the souls into nothingness.

After sweeping the battlefield clean, Qi Huang wasted no time and headed straight for the imperial capital. She still wasn’t finished, none of those who deserved death would escape her wrath.