The next day.
In the court, dark clouds loomed.
Kong Qi, the Minister of Rites, clad in deep attire, tall and handsome, usually dignified, now wore a face full of anger: "Prime Minister, for three consecutive days, why have the Dragon War Army, Black Flag Army, and Liaodong Army openly entered the capital? Could it be...you are planning a rebellion?"
The court was silent.
Except for a few officials, most were utterly obedient to Sima Ting.
Now, the entry of the three armies was what they had been eagerly awaiting.
The Southern Qian Kingdom had long needed a change.
Of course, they didn't know that these troops entering the capital were not for a coup but rather...they were merely sacrificial lambs.
And they themselves were also sacrificial lambs, no different from those soldiers and common people.
Sima Ting, walking with the bearing of a dragon and tiger, responded to the Minister of Rites, "The entry of the three armies is in accordance with the Ministry of War's orders, compliant with the laws of Southern Qian. Minister, your groundless speculation and attack on me, disregarding the court's laws, is what is truly absurd!"
The other officials burst into laughter.
Great Sage Kong Qi, known for his gentle temperament and upright character, always hailed as a sage.
But at this moment, he was also enraged by Sima Ting.
"Sima Ting's intentions are known to everyone!" Great Sage Kong Qi said, suddenly bursting into tears, "The entire court, and yet, not a single person... Southern Qian is doomed!"
The other officials looked at Kong Qi with mocking expressions.
Kong Qi was a competent sage, but certainly not a mature official.
At this moment, Duke Yu, who had remained silent, spoke up, "Prime Minister, does His Majesty know the purpose behind gathering the three armies into the city?"
Sima Ting glanced at Duke Yu, not expecting this old turtle to speak up for Jin Li.
However, none of this mattered anymore.
"Isn't His Majesty already aware now?" Sima Ting looked at Jin Li, seated on the throne, his eyes smiling, showing no respect at all.
The former emperor had been his puppet.
Jin Li had been placed on the throne by him personally.
It could be said that the entire court was filled with his people.
He continued, "Recently, there have been demons causing trouble in the capital. To ensure His Majesty's safety, I have assembled the three armies in the capital. During this period, a curfew will be imposed in the capital, allowing entry but not exit! After half a month, once the demons are eradicated, the three armies will leave the capital, so there is no need for panic!"
After speaking, Sima Ting turned and left without even pretending.
The other officials also left one after another.
Many officials discreetly saluted Jin Li before hastily departing.
In the large palace, only a few officials remained, along with a troubled Jin Li.
When Jin Li, exhausted, returned to her bedchamber, she glanced at the exquisite jade in her hand.
If the kingdom perished and she died, could the promise made back then still be fulfilled?
She looked up at the towering ancient Catalpa tree, lost in thought.
At this moment, Aunt Qin entered, her face full of fatigue and a hint of anger, "Your Majesty, the three armies have already entered, and the city gates are sealed. If Sima Ting reveals his true intentions, I will risk my life to take Your Majesty out of here!"
The commander of the imperial guards, Hua Xian, knelt on one knee, "I am willing to die for Your Majesty!"
Jin Li looked at those loyal to her and slowly said, "I'm sorry...for you all."
She had never been a competent empress.
Even her cultivation had been secretly sabotaged by Sima Ting's people, progressing slowly.
"Sima Ting is ambitious and will probably act within half a month. I...cannot leave the capital. But you...still have a chance. Leave the capital and go to Xuanyuan Forbidden Land; you can escape this disaster," Jin Li arranged an escape route for Aunt Qin and her other confidants.
At this moment, Aunt Qin's eyes turned deep, "Your Majesty, Sima Ting's ambitions may not be just about usurping the throne. In the Prime Minister's mansion, I detected several extremely obscure and powerful auras, including those of the demon clan!"
"Demon clan?" Jin Li was stunned.
"And the demonic auras outside the city seem even stronger, with no less than three royal-level experts!""What?" Jin Li was completely shocked.
She didn't know what Sima Ting was planning!
...
Under the moonlight, Qi Yuan, clad in blood-red armor, exerted his combat power to the fullest.
He was like a giant, raging dinosaur; with a single charge, several clothed monsters were slain.
The experience bar surged!
Suddenly, Qi Yuan shouted, "Level ninety!"
He finally reached level ninety!
Level ninety, according to the classifications of Wangyue Continent, was a god-level expert above the Heavenly Domain.
There was a qualitative difference from level eighty-nine!
Qi Yuan could feel his strength, speed, physique, and other aspects all skyrocketing.
If previously he feared being besieged by clothed monsters and only dared to appear at night, now he had no fear.
He could now hunt monsters during the day, killing as many clothed monsters as came his way!
"Two new skills!"
Upon reaching level ninety, he gained two new skills.
He thought Little Bride was truly the best clothed monster ever.
Wearing it not only increased his level by five but also gave him two free skills.
He began to examine his skills.
"Stabilize Soul?"
The first small skill was called Stabilize Soul, which could fix his soul, enabling him to maintain clarity when facing illusions and fantasies.
"Death's Radiance?"
The major skill was Death's Radiance.
Looking at this major skill, Qi Yuan couldn't help but click his tongue.
This skill was about dancing on the edge of death.
At the brink of death, on the verge of dying, it could unleash the most dazzling light, the most powerful combat force.
Moreover, this was not only a battle-enhancing skill but also a self-healing skill.
Injuring the enemy could absorb their life force to heal his own wounds.
Simply put, the lower his health, the stronger he became, and it also had life-stealing and mana-stealing abilities.
"Why not give me a Serpent's Fangs? I would be invincible!"
Qi Yuan felt that this skill was somewhat dangerous and needed to be paired with Serpent's Fangs.
That way, he might even be able to carry the enemy's crystal.
"However, it’s already pretty good. At full health, using Death's Radiance can still exert twice the combat power."
Holding the blood-red greatsword, Qi Yuan's gaze penetrated the Forbidden Land of the Clothed, looking to the deepest part.
"Ugly-Clothed Emperor..."
"No, Clothed Emperor, here I come."
At the deepest part of the Forbidden Land of the Clothed, the Clothed Emperor, who had been watching Qi Yuan, swiftly approached him.
In an instant, the two rushed toward each other and clashed fiercely!
"Ah!"
The red aura on Qi Yuan's blood-colored armor seemed about to overflow. He raised his sword, and the sword, originally only a few meters long, suddenly extended to over a thousand meters in the red aura.
"Take my sword!"
With Death's Radiance, Qi Yuan's fighting style completely changed.
He pursued the strongest attack and the widest range of destruction.
Although the residual waves couldn't hurt the Clothed Emperor, they could kill other clothed monsters.
These provided experience points and enemies for life-stealing.
More importantly, he didn't have to worry about running out of mana, so he could unleash his full power!
"Today, I will slay you!"