Chapter 6: Sweeping In

At this moment, Li Gao gazed at Ye Jiuyao’s face, suspicion written all over him. His eyes, sharp and restless like a rodent’s, kept darting about, searching for any clue upon Ye Jiuyao. Yet, it was clear he was destined for disappointment.

The hall buzzed with heated discussion when suddenly, a dust-covered scout rushed in from outside, clearly bearing urgent matters of state. “What is it?” With Luo Qingyu absent, Li Gao wielded the greatest authority—discounting Ye Jiuyao, of course, for Luo Qingyu had entrusted him with power rivaling anyone’s. Once the scout caught his breath, Li Gao questioned him.

“The Prince of Equal Standing has sent me with a message concerning the peril of Great Zhou. The Eastern Emperor’s royal clan has allied with the Hall of Yellow Springs and is marching upon Great Zhou. Within five days, their armies will press against our borders!”

The words caused an uproar; terror etched itself onto every face. Ye Jiuyao looked at the ministers, who now seemed as ludicrous as jesters, his expression full of disdain.

“Ha… How sleepy…” Ye Jiuyao suddenly yawned, feeling drowsy. He sat upon the imperial throne and quickly fell into a deep sleep, his snores soon drowning out the clamor of the hall.

“Outrageous!” All eyes turned; Ye Jiuyao sprawled across the throne like a street ruffian, legs crossed, sleeping soundly. His snoring stifled the ministers’ voices, igniting their fury.

Luo Yuanhuang was especially enraged; had it not been for deliberate restraint in Ye Hanzhou’s presence, he might have stepped forward to teach Ye Jiuyao a lesson. Li Gao strode over, his face flush with anger, eyes blazing. He grabbed Ye Jiuyao and tossed him out.

The ministers immediately closed their eyes, unwilling to witness a bloody scene, yet disappointment awaited them again.

Ye Jiuyao’s body hovered in the air, his right hand propping up his head, left leg bent gracefully—like a sleeping arhat. The ministers were startled, as if witnessing the impossible.

“Trickery and illusion!” Li Gao stepped down from the throne, his power fierce. He reached out with a violent palm from the void, aiming to strike Ye Jiuyao.

“Enough!” Luo Yuanhuang’s voice thundered like lightning, dissolving the force of Li Gao’s palm. He caught Ye Jiuyao, standing before him.

“The enemy is at our gates, and you still bicker among yourselves! If Ye Hanzhou knew, who among you would survive? Tell me!”

Luo Yuanhuang glared at Li Gao, then swept his eyes across the ministers. His roaring words struck deep into their hearts.

“Uncle… Allow me to speak.” Luo Qingyu entered from outside, her youthful face resolute. Not a single minister truly respected her; most only mocked her.

“The enemy threatens Great Zhou. If you do not wish to share its fate, you may leave, but henceforth you are forbidden from ever setting foot in the Central Heaven Realm!”

“Otherwise, so long as Great Zhou endures, the pursuit shall never cease!”

In that moment, Luo Qingyu’s murderous intent shone forth, her gaze cold as frost, sweeping over everyone.

“It’s over. Great Zhou has exhausted its tricks, come to a dead end. We have fulfilled our duty and shown all possible benevolence. From today, I sever all ties with Great Zhou!”

Abruptly, someone stepped forward—a civil official, whose cultivation was only at the Breaking Qi Realm, yet his vast knowledge and mastery of many elemental arts had secured him his position. Now, he was the first to renounce Great Zhou.

With him as precedent, others soon followed. Luo Qingyu’s expression betrayed no emotion, and though Luo Yuanhuang clenched his teeth in hatred, he said nothing.

“Is there anyone else who wishes to leave Great Zhou?” Luo Qingyu asked again when no more stepped forward. At her words, a few more came forth, all wearing apologetic faces.

“Uncle, let them go!” Seeing no one else, Luo Qingyu issued the order of expulsion. Luo Yuanhuang, carrying Ye Jiuyao, approached Li Gao.

“Prime Minister, do you wish me to escort you out?”

Li Gao glanced warily at Luo Yuanhuang, snorted coldly, and strode out of the Imperial Sovereign Hall, cursing as he went.

“The Luo clan is doomed, still believing themselves the glory of Great Zhou!”

…

Now, only a scant dozen remained in the Imperial Sovereign Hall.

“The strongest cultivators number only seventy-seven now, with the Prince of Equal Standing, seventy-eight in total…”

“No matter. From this day forth, Great Zhou shall rise anew. To those who remain, I promise: each shall have a city within the borders of Great Zhou, and your task is to guard the four corners, ensuring our realm endures for ten thousand generations!”

At that moment, those who stayed sensed the commanding will emanating from Luo Qingyu—perhaps now, she truly embodied the spirit of an empress.

When Ye Jiuyao awoke, it was already the next day. Only then did he learn, belatedly, all that had transpired while he slept.

Within Great Zhou, Luo Qingyu prayed to the heavens. As news spread of the alliance between the Eastern Emperor’s clan and the Hall of Yellow Springs, more and more people left, removing themselves from Great Zhou’s jurisdiction.

Great Zhou’s territory was vast, comparable to a modern province, with countless cities and a population in the tens of thousands. Yet within just three days, seventy percent of its people had departed.

The exodus slowed; by the fourth day, no one else left. Now, only twenty percent of the population remained. Luo Qingyu then issued a decree:

“Those who leave the borders of Great Zhou shall never again set foot within, or face death without mercy!”

The decree fused with the laws of heaven, forming a terrifying power that shrouded Great Zhou like a curse. Those who left felt a weight settle in their hearts.

“Jiuyao, do you think I can defend Great Zhou? It’s all my fault—my cultivation is too low, my talent too lacking…”

Luo Qingyu’s talent was exceptional, but she lacked a proper place to cultivate. All the elemental crystal mines had long been divided among the ministers by Luo Zhouwu. The remaining ones were of inferior quality. Years spent caring for Ye Jiuyao had kept her cultivation at the early Qi Refining Realm.

Otherwise, she would have broken through to the Breaking Qi Realm by now.

“Qingyu, what if I offered to take charge, let you leave me and go out to cultivate? Would you be willing, and return once you’re strong enough?”

Luo Qingyu hesitated—on one hand, the legacy of her ancestors; on the other, the lover with whom she shared her days. For a moment, she could not choose.

“The Newborn World harbors many secret sects. I want you to go to one of them: the Heavenly Jade Sect. There, you will find a cultivation method called the Linglong Jade Heart Technique, perfectly suited to your constitution. Your progress will be swift, and when you return, we’ll hold our wedding!”

Still, reluctance lingered on Luo Qingyu’s face. Ye Jiuyao reasoned with her, appealing both emotionally and logically, and finally convinced her—but only after this battle was over.

The fifth day arrived quietly.

In just a single morning, dozens of cities within Great Zhou fell. The Eastern Emperor’s clan and the Hall of Yellow Springs swept through like a crushing machine.

Ye Hanzhou, under the combined assault of these two powers, retreated step by step. In less than three hours, he would withdraw to the imperial capital.

Yet, fortunately, none of Great Zhou’s remaining defenders perished. Ye Hanzhou had long prepared everyone for a retreat to the imperial city.

The imperial city was to be the place of their final stand.

They would defend Great Zhou to the death, even if it meant shedding the very last drop of blood.