CHAPTER 47: DANGER IN THE CAPITAL

Qi Yuan kept the invitation letter in mind.

A so-called "Demon-Slaying Assembly" that is going to happen three hundred years later? How the hell am I supposed to wait that long? And three hundred years? Even the Qing Dynasty would've collapsed by then!

He tossed the thought aside and logged off at lightspeed.

When that annoying cat puppet started meowing again, Qi Yuan didn't bother tossing it another dried fish snack. He got up, patted its wooden head, and stared at the bright morning sunlight outside. "A good day begins in the morning!"

With renewed spirit, he checked his storage pouch. The moment he saw the mountain-like pile of books and jade slips stuffed inside, his face fell flat. "I still have to grind even after transmigrating?!"

He had gone all out and stripped the Black Mountain Sect's Hidden Library bare, snatching every single jade slip he could find. Cultivation manuals were priceless, especially when he was incompatible with most techniques in this world. He had to study, cross-reference, and use his unique eyes to gather insights from them. After that, he also had to refine his own techniques step by step.

Last time, it'd taken him two full days just to browse through Jiang Lingsu's six hundred cultivation slips.

Now? He had way more than six hundred, plus countless actual books, which were way harder to digest than jade slips. Moreover, besides glancing at Qi Refinement manuals, he also had to carefully analyze Foundation Establishment techniques, line by line. A month wouldn't even be enough to finish.

Qi Yuan buried himself in the pile, studying with the grim focus of a college student tackling advanced calculus. It was boring, yes, but such was the foundation of building his own path. The only problem was that he was reading at snail speed, so a single manual took him ages.

"If only I could reach Foundation Establishment sooner and project my divine sense. Then reading would be a breeze..."

Unfortunately, divine sense could only be projected after Foundation Establishment. Until then, it was all raw effort.

...

Several days passed in this manner. Qi Yuan studied books by day, then logged into the game at night. With Little Bride's blessing, he could practically strut around the Garment Tomb Forbidden Zone without fear.

He still couldn't kill the Tattered-Cloth Emperor outright, but his strength had grown enough to wound it. Even that terrifying thing could do nothing to stop Qi Yuan's slaughter.

"Cranial Split!"

"I don't even have a head. How're you gonna split my skull?"

As usual, Qi Yuan did silly voiceovers for the monsters, entertaining himself during the grind. Farming would be unbearable otherwise. His XP bar shot up, and he was now at level 89. Level 90 was right within reach.

Then, Qi Yuan spotted the Tattered-Cloth Emperor approaching from afar. "Not today! I'm out."

He wasn't about to waste time fighting. Once he hit level 90, he'd return with confidence. Logging off, he sighed in relief. He had farmed enough for one night, his brain couldn't take more.

After unmerging from Little Bride, Qi Yuan dug his usual pit. Suddenly, he noticed a crooked tree in the graveyard. It had a few purple, grape-like fruits hanging from its branches, looking like a cross between grapes and apples.

He plucked some and took a bite. A sour flavor exploded on his tongue, like biting into a sour plum.

Qi Yuan held it out to Little Bride. "Not bad. Do you want one?"

She didn't answer.

Qi Yuan sighed, "No mouth, can't eat... can't do anything else either. Guess we'll still need a divorce, huh?"

Seemingly aggrieved, Little Bride slipped out a little wooden plaque that read "Stick Close."

Qi Yuan chuckled, pulled her into his arms, and dove into the pit. He lay there like a salted fish on a comfy bed, cuddling the ice-cold Little Bride. Then, he pulled up his messaging interface to chat with Jin Li. But after glancing down at the quiet, obedient Little Bride in his arms, he froze.

... Wait. I have a wife now. Isn't chatting with another girl basically cheating? If we get a divorce, wouldn't the court order me to pay compensation?

One giant sword was all that he had...

He shook off the thought and started chatting with Jin Li anyway.

Jin Li's words felt like a cool river breeze at night. Gentle and refreshing, like a drizzle soaking through the heart.

Qi Yuan: Any movement from Sima Ting?

Qi Yuan: Be careful. I've almost cleared the Garment Tomb Forbidden Zone. Maybe I can help soon.

Qi Yuan: Good night, I'm too tired. Can't grind anymore, I've got books to read tomorrow.

***

Jin Li, who was dressed in thin silk robes, read the messages.

Jin Li: Good night.

However, worry clouded her face.

A few days ago, one of the grand chancellor's Emperor realm experts died a bizarre, violent death. Normally, that would be good news, but she couldn't feel relieved. Her delicate balance with Sima Ting was about to shatter.

Now that an Emperor realm powerhouse was gone, Sima Ting might drop all pretense and directly force a palace coup. In recent days, troop movements across Southern Qian had been unusually frequent. Jin Li could already feel the military's killing intent pressing down over the capital.

At best, she could only rely on a thousand palace guards. Imperial power had been nothing but decoration for twenty years. How could she turn the tide now? Exhausted, Jin Li drifted into troubled sleep.

Unbeknownst to her, a deadly conspiracy was underway in the grand chancellor's residence.

***

The once-arrogant Sima Ting was now hunched like a dog, bowing low.

At his side stood two figures, one fat, one thin. The fat one was a great demon, the last person Sima Ting wanted to see. Years ago, Sima Ting had borrowed his strength to rise in power, leaving himself shackled to a debt. The thin one was an Emperor realm expert from the Heaven-Fate Sect. He hadn't expected the two to be working together.

Now, the two strongest forces in this world had set their sights on Southern Qian, and all the pressure fell squarely on his shoulders.

The thin man narrowed his eyes. "Sima Ting, they're just mortal soldiers. What's there to grieve? This time, you'll earn great merit. When our Holy Master's plan succeeds in three years, you can have any kingdom you desire."

The demon roared with laughter. "Those who achieve greatness don't sweat small sacrifices!"

Not long ago, the demon race had joined hands with the Holy Master's substitute to slay the real Heaven-Fate Holy Master. As part of the deal, Southern Qian was ceded to the demon race. Hence, the demon had come to spearhead the first phase.

That first phase was simple. Bleed Southern Qian's armies dry and forge a Peak Emperor's artifact: the Bloodless Scepter. The forging conditions were cruelly demanding, hence the reason why they allied with the Heaven-Fate Sect, pressuring Sima Ting into mobilizing his troops.

They stationed the armies within the capital, weaving their killing intent into a grand formation. Then, they'd massacre a whole city to saturate it in blood, birthing the Bloodless Scepter. The cost would be Sima Ting's foundation itself—his soldiers, his nation, everything.

Sima Ting desperately wanted to resist, yet he had no choice but to bow against the two greatest powers in the world. His very life was in their hands.

Hearing the so-called 'benefits' dangled before him, Sima Ting could only grit his teeth and swallow the bitter pill. "Everything will proceed as you command, my lords. The troops have begun to move into the capital."

He'd long since stationed his forces outside the imperial city. Now, it was merely a matter of marching them through the gates, which would be accomplished in no time.

The scrawny, Emperor realm cultivator patted Sima Ting approvingly on the shoulder. "Very good. Ambitious and pragmatic. You know when to advance or retreat. The Heaven-Fate Sect won't treat you poorly. Once this is done, the hall elder's position will be yours. Your standing within the sect will be no less than mine."

Sima Ting's heart surged with excitement. That was what he'd longed for! As a hall elder, he could finally stand above the chessboard, commanding the pieces across a dozen nations. Unlike now, where despite all his strength, he was nothing but a pawn moving at others' whims.

"Many thanks, my lord!" he said, bowing deeply.

The hulking, Emperor realm demon bared his jagged teeth in a grotesque grin. "I hear your Southern Qian Empire's empress is a peerless beauty."

His voice was thick with amusement.

"I've always had a hobby of collecting wine goblets. When the capital falls, leave her head for me. A beauty's skull, and a reigning empress at that... Aah. That'd make the most exquisite goblet. The wine will taste all the smoother!"

A chill ran down Sima Ting's spine, revulsion coiling in his gut. Yet, he forced his expression still and nodded stiffly.

"As you wish."