Chapter 486: Chapter 486

The Liu Family, one of the most ancient families in Looking-West City, had guarded the spatial wormhole for generations spanning two eras and possessed formidable power. Especially during the tide of Spiritual Energy, the current Clan Leader, Liu Zhanglong, successfully broke through to the Imperial Realm, elevating the Liu Family’s prestige to its zenith.

If it were any other family, they would have been ecstatic with such brilliant achievements.

However, Liu Zhanglong, the patriarch of the Liu Family, simply couldn’t bring himself to feel joyous.

His displeasure stemmed mainly from two reasons. First, the Saint’s Court of the Qin Dynasty had unified the East Border. Consequently, the Liu Family became subjects of the Qin Dynasty; their clan members were to be relocated, and taxes would be levied per person.

This was undoubtedly a fatal blow to the clan.

But the Saint’s Court of the Qin Dynasty was overwhelmingly powerful. Besides complying with imperial decrees, what else could he do?

The other reason was his eldest legitimate son, Liu Zifeng, a good-for-nothing who idled his days away causing trouble. Previously, Liu Zhanglong might not have cared much. But now, Looking-West City was under the Qin Dynasty’s rule, and Qin law was stringent. Considering Liu Zifeng’s past deeds, he could have been beheaded dozens of times over.

"Ah, what a headache!" Liu Zhanglong sighed.

Suddenly, his expression changed drastically, a hint of bewilderment appearing on his face.

He saw a red thread shoot from afar and entangle around his neck, imbued with a potent karmic power.

What is this? Liu Zhanglong muttered in confusion, and then he felt a bone-chilling murderous intent strike him along the red thread. It made the hair on his body stand on end, as if he had been plunged into an ice cavern.

In the next instant, he felt a sharp pain in his neck. His head flew into the air, spinning in a dizzying whirl before it crashed to the ground.

Those in the Imperial Realm possessed immense vitality; even after decapitation, he remained conscious.

Before death claimed him, he saw his own body explode. Flesh and blood splattered everywhere, dyeing the entire room red.

It was like a chain reaction; countless Liu Family members were decapitated, their bodies exploding.

In the blink of an eye, the once-glorious Liu Family had transformed into a human purgatory. The dense stench of blood soared into the Heavenly Universe, dyeing the sky red and drifting throughout Looking-West City.

And this was merely the beginning.

The Liu Family was Liu Zifeng’s paternal clan; this counted as only one clan.

Endless karmic power surged over a vast area spanning thousands of li. On the other side of the city stood the estate of a prominent noble family, the Qi Family—Liu Zifeng’s maternal family.

Following the annihilation of the Liu Family, an intense karmic power enveloped the several thousand members of the Qi Family.

A murderous force, intent on wiping out all existence, was fast approaching!

Thousands of Qi Family members were slaughtered, all severed at the waist. Their fresh blood flowed out, converging into a river.

The Qi Family was the second clan.

Just as the old woman prepared to kill the third clan—the prominent Wang Clan into which Liu Zifeng’s elder sister had married—Jade Snow Gentleman spoke softly, "Aunt Lan, stop."

Seeing the two mists of blood rising from the city, she knew what the old woman had done.

"Princess, this cur dared to be impudent towards you! According to the rules of Immortality Mountain, his nine clans should be exterminated. I have only destroyed two!" Aunt Lan paused, her voice laced with killing intent.

"This is not Immortality Mountain," Jade Snow Gentleman said, rolling her eyes with a smile. "Daddy sent me to the Saint’s Court of the Qin Dynasty. Wouldn’t it be rather inappropriate to start a slaughter the moment I arrive?"

The Saint’s Court of the Qin Dynasty? What could they possibly say? Aunt Lan grumbled to herself, yet she dared not defy Jade Snow Gentleman’s command. She tightened her grip, crushing Liu Zifeng’s head.

Casually tossing the corpse aside, Aunt Lan cupped her hands and asked, "Princess, shall we proceed directly to the Imperial Capital?"

"Let’s visit Qionghuazong first. After all, I lived there for some time. It’s just that..." Jade Snow Gentleman mused, a flicker of reminiscence and sorrow in her beautiful eyes.

On their way, she had heard about the war in the East Border. She had initially planned to use the name of Immortality Mountain to protect Qionghuazong. However, upon learning that Qionghuazong had allied with the Eternal Temple, she abandoned the idea.

Though kind-hearted, she was not foolish.

The Eternal Temple and Immortality Mountain were mortal enemies. Since Qionghuazong had sided with the Eternal Temple, they had become an enemy of Immortality Mountain.

That period of her life there would now just be a fragment of memory.

"Very well," Aunt Lan naturally had no objections.

Under the stunned gazes of the onlooking Martial Artists, the two women left Looking-West City.

Soon after, news of the annihilation of the Liu and Qi clans reached the others, causing them to break out in a cold sweat and shudder with lingering fear.

Annihilating two entire clans from ten thousand li away!

Such methods were truly terrifying!

A martial artist of the Primal Great Emperor Realm?

At the same time, far away in the State Preceptor’s Residence within the Imperial Capital, Gui Guzi gazed westwards, a hint of surprise in his profound eyes.

As he formed a series of hand seals, the power of Heavenly Destiny surfaced. A ripple in the Void materialized a clear mirror before him, displaying the events unfolding in Looking-West City.

Using karmic power to kill enemies—what a brilliant technique! Upon witnessing Aunt Lan slaughtering the two clans, Gui Guzi’s brow twitched in slight surprise.

Karmic power is a special force that only martial artists of the Primal Great Emperor Realm can sense. However, very few have comprehended the method of using karmic power to kill enemies.

Nevertheless, Gui Guzi merely sighed at this thought, not dwelling on it, and continued his divinations.

A few minutes later, his usually calm expression gradually turned inscrutable.

"No wonder the Emperor Emeritus attempted to select imperial consorts for His Majesty several times, only for His Majesty to refuse. It turns out to be a divinely ordained marriage!" Gui Guzi exclaimed in sudden realization.

When he glanced at Jade Snow Gentleman once more, he could see a thread of marriage connecting her to the Imperial Capital. A trace of respect couldn’t help but show on his face.

This woman... she will be the Empress of the Great Qin!

After discerning Jade Snow Gentleman’s identity, Gui Guzi ceased his divinations. With a flicker of his body, he vanished.

The warmth of spring gradually gave way to the scorching heat of summer. All the generals who had been away on military campaigns had returned.

「The seventh day of the seventh month.」

Within the Imperial Palace, nine resounding chimes from the bronze bells echoed throughout the Imperial Capital, generating ripples of Dao energy. From the Sea of Fortune, a boundless radiance cascaded down, stretching for ten thousand zhang.

Nine chimes signified a Great Court Meeting.

The gates of countless court officials’ residences swung open, and one carriage after another hastened towards the Imperial Palace.

Before long, the parade ground outside the Emperor’s Hall was filled with ministers. Judging by their court robes—blue, green, and cyan—they were all officials of the third rank or lower. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs novęlfire.net

As for officials of the third rank and above, they were all stationed inside the Emperor’s Hall. At a glance, there were over a thousand of them.

"His Majesty arrives!" a eunuch announced in a loud voice once all the court officials had assembled.

Under the watchful eyes of the assembly, Qin Wudao, clad in a nine-dragon imperial robe, wearing the Pingtian Imperial Crown, and with the Xuanyuan Sword at his waist, ascended the imperial throne. He looked down upon all his civil and military officials.

A potent imperial majesty swept through the Emperor’s Hall.

Imperial majesty, vast as the sea!

"We pay our respects to Your Majesty!" the civil and military officials bowed in salute.

"You may rise," Qin Wudao said, raising his hands.

After the ministers straightened up, none spoke out of turn to offer counsel. However, many cast envious glances towards the ranks of military officials.

Everyone understood that the main purpose of convening this Great Court Meeting was to reward meritorious officials.

Of course, it was also possible that other state affairs would be addressed after the bestowment of rewards.

After all, there was still a mountain of urgent matters to handle.

For instance, the resettlement of the foreign races...