Son-in-law Heaven Emperor Xiao Yi

The imperial capital.

The gloomy weather left people sticky, unable to distinguish whether it was sweat or moisture clinging to their bodies.

The atmosphere was also incredibly oppressive.

In the vast imperial capital.

The common people held hoes, kitchen knives, and axes, their chests bound with black pots, heads adorned with iron pans. The hands clutching their "weapons" were slightly pale, some people's nervous sweat pouring down, but not a single one retreated.

Atop the city walls.

The defending soldiers were ready for battle, eyeing the surroundings with vigilance.

There was no wind in the air, the heaviness and dampness causing the battle flags to hang listlessly.

Yang Ling stood on the city tower above the Vermilion Bird Gate, with the Shadow Demon, Fu Yuan, Ye Heng, and others standing to his left and right, staring intently at the mighty army approaching from the horizon.

Five million allied troops!

With the number of Nirvana Realm experts exceeding three digits, one could only imagine how terrifying the strength of this allied army was.

In front of the five million allied troops, over a million refugees were being herded like sheep.

In front of the military formation.

Yang Yuhuan, stripped naked and bloodied, wore a face of despair and self-blame as he was tied atop a war chariot. He still wore the sign that bore the humiliating words: "Great Qian Dynasty War God Yang Yuhuan."

"Great Uncle…"

Yang Ling spotted Yang Yuhuan at a glance, his eyes nearly splitting with rage, his heart bleeding.

His hands clenched the bricks of the city walls to death.

Crunch, crunch, crunch! The sound of bricks being crushed to powder by his grip continued incessantly.

Wuuu wuuu wuuu!

A dull sound of horns signaled that the five million-strong army stopped thirty li outside the city, the million refugees being forced to kneel before the military formation by the army's control.

Whoosh!

A million refugees knelt down in unison.

Among them were old and weak women, orphans, and widows, huddled together in terror, weeping inconsolably.

"What in the world are they planning to do?"

"His Highness has already commanded the cities to put up no resistance, why must they still proceed this way?"

"These beasts…"

The soldiers looked on with furious eyes, filled with hatred.

The power of the allied forces was entirely capable of overwhelming the Great Qian Dynasty, and Yang Ling had ordered the cities along the way not to resist, yet they had still captured a million refugees to bring over, enraging everyone in the Great Qian Dynasty to the extreme.

Swoosh!

From within that military formation, a figure flew through the air.

It was the King of the Yunjiang Kingdom who had previously proposed that Yang Yuhuan surrender himself.

The King of the Yunjiang Kingdom stood suspended in the air, full of vigor.

His Yunjiang Kingdom was just a small country, but several times his suggestions had greatly pleased Ye Xiaofeng to the point there seemed a trend of him becoming the number one favored person by Ye's side, even promising to hand over the control of the Sword Dynasty to his Yunjiang Kingdom.

"People of the Great Qian Dynasty, listen to me, I am the King of the Yunjiang Kingdom. By the command of the Nantian Dynasty's Minister Ye, I give you your final ultimatum…"

The King of the Yunjiang Kingdom was radiantly smug, his ruddy face slightly lifted at the corners with a smug cold smile as he declared loudly, "Surrender all members of the Great Qian Dynasty's royal family and Xiao Yi. Starting from this moment, every ten breaths that pass without you handing them over, ten thousand people will be killed, until there is none left. If you persist in your delusions and resist to the end, my allied forces will trample your Great Qian Dynasty to dust, without sparing a single soul…"

Boom!

Within the imperial capital, both the military and civilians were enraged.

"Damn it, these common folk are innocent, how can they bring themselves to do this?"

"Your Highness, we absolutely must not submit to them!"

"Even if we actually do as they say, they will surely not spare us…"

Seeing Yang Ling show a hint of hesitation, the ministers persuaded him one after another.

This became clear from the fact that Yang Ling had already ordered those cities to surrender without resistance, yet they still insisted on slaughtering them, indicating that Ye Xiaofeng had no intention of sparing them.

He was planning to completely annihilate the Great Qian Dynasty.

After ten breaths.

The King of the Yunjiang Kingdom snorted coldly, raised his hand, and with a fierce wave,

Clang clang clang!

Suddenly, within the allied forces, a hundred thousand warriors stepped forward, each one carrying a refugee and walked forth. With swift moves of their hands, blades fell, and heads rolled—blood pooled into rivers.

The King of Yunjiang Country indifferently said, "Tsk tsk, isn't the royal family of the Great Qian Dynasty known for loving their people as their own children? How can they just watch them being killed, showing no concern whatsoever?"

Boom!

Above the city walls, the brick in Yang Ling's hand was crushed to pieces.

He took a deep breath of turbid air, his eyes filled with resolve. He took off his helmet, intending to fly down the watchtower but was immediately held back by Shadow Demon beside him. Ye Heng and others also stepped forward to stop him, "Your Highness, you can't go!"

"Even if you went, it would just be a senseless death. Look at the War God; isn't he the perfect example?"

"They won't let us off..."

The crowd urged him earnestly.

Yang Ling's eyes were blood-red as he pointed to the dead hundred thousand refugees and roared, "If I don't go, their death is certain. If I go, perhaps they still have a slim chance of survival..."

"Your Highness, this is their poisonous scheme, you must not fall for it!"

"We still have a chance... as long as we hold on, wait for Xiao Zhenguo to return, we still have a chance..."

"Yes, just wait for Xiao Zhenguo to come back..."

The group of officials said one after another.

Ye Heng said solemnly, "Your Highness, please believe in my master!"

"But..."

Yang Ling had just begun to speak.

The King of Yunjiang Country indifferently said, "Another ten breaths have passed by. Ah, it seems that the royal family of the Great Qian Dynasty's love for their people is nothing more than lip service after all, they still don't take the lives of these civilians seriously!"

Another hundred thousand refugees were dragged out.

"No..."

"Stop..."

Yang Ling's hysterical roar echoed.

Clang clang clang!

The cold war blades fell once again, and a hundred thousand heads tumbled into the bloodstained soil.

The King of Yunjiang Country said with a smile, "Don't rush; you can take your time to think, there are still seven hundred thousand people left!"

"Let me go, I have to get out..." Yang Ling, with bloodshot eyes, roared furiously.

Shadow Demon and others held onto him tightly, refusing to let go.

At that moment...

Suddenly, a voice emerged within the imperial city, "I am the Emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty; if anyone should go, it should be me. Since when is it your turn?"

"Hm?"

Everyone was stunned.

They saw Emperor Qian, dressed in a purple-gold dragon robe, stepping into the void, closely followed by Yang Zun and two others.

All four had very grave expressions on their faces.

Emperor Qian landed next to Yang Ling, and Shadow Demon and the others immediately let go of Yang Ling.

Yang Ling kneeled in front of Emperor Qian with a thud, "Father Emperor, your son is incompetent..."

"Hahaha, you are my most outstanding son, how could you be incompetent? Even if it had been me handling everything, I might not have done as well as you!"

Emperor Qian clearly knew of the strategies and responses Yang Ling had employed over the past few days and was extremely satisfied. He gently rubbed Yang Ling's head and calmly said, "Ling'er, the Great Qian Dynasty is in your hands; I and the three old ancestors are all very reassured!"

Yang Zun and the others nodded with smiles.

Yang Ling's heart skipped a beat, a bad premonition arising, "Father Emperor, you..."

Emperor Qian smiled while straightening Yang Ling's disheveled hair and the crown on his head, patting his shoulder firmly, "At least for now, I am the Emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty. Some matters naturally require my attention!"

"Father Emperor, you can't go..." Yang Ling's face changed, trying to stop him.

Emperor Qian shook his head with a smile, "To wear the crown, one must bear its weight. This is my duty. However, this burden will fall on your shoulders from now on..." He cast a thoughtful glance at Yang Zun and the others behind him, "Old ancestors, shall we leave the city with me?"

"Your Majesty, please!"

Yang Zun and the three others gave a carefree smile, following right behind.

Four beings of the Nine Nirvana Rebirth Realm soared into the sky, flying out of the city...