Dongguo Lie suddenly understood. “I see what you mean, Father.”
Dongguo Wuji said slowly, “However, His Majesty’s intent to protect him is clear, or he wouldn’t have delayed the matter. But the impact of this incident is severe. Even if Lin Yun doesn’t die, he must be crippled, or it won’t be justified and will shake military morale!”
“Father speaks wisely,” Dongguo Lie said, nodding eagerly with a smile.
“He, Lin Yun, dared to oppose our Dongguo faction. I once said, ‘Don’t let me catch him slipping, or he’s finished!’” A sinister smile spread across Dongguo Wuji’s face.
…
Meanwhile.
Emperor Fire Cloud returned to his usual haunt, the Tongshen Hall.
When he received the news yesterday, he was somewhat angry, but now he had calmed considerably.
“Master, Lin Yun’s dereliction of duty has caused a terrible impact. Protecting him might be difficult to manage,” the red-furred cat said.
“This matter isn’t so simple,” Emperor Fire Cloud said, settling slowly onto his throne.
“Oh? What do you mean, Master?” the red-furred cat asked, puzzled.
“Lin Yun went to the Xingwu Empire for revenge. If the demon clan hadn’t suddenly attacked, he could’ve returned after settling his vendetta, and all would’ve been fine,” Emperor Fire Cloud said.
Then, his tone shifted. “But the demon clan’s sudden attack during his absence is highly suspicious.”
“Your Majesty, perhaps the demon clan deliberately chose the moment of Lin Yun’s absence, when East Yuan Prefecture’s defenses were weak, to launch their attack. That seems plausible,” the red-furred cat said.
Emperor Fire Cloud shook his head with a smile. “It seems reasonable, but there’s a big flaw.”
“Oh? What flaw?” The red-furred cat was intrigued.
“This attack didn’t come from the Demon Beast Mountain Range. It was demon beasts hiding within East Yuan Prefecture suddenly mobilizing en masse. What tangible benefit could they gain from this attack?” Emperor Fire Cloud asked.
“Benefit? This attack came quickly and ended just as fast. Even though they captured a county city, they abandoned it soon after. They gained no real advantage. If you stretch it, the only ‘benefit’ was killing some humans,” the red-furred cat said.
Emperor Fire Cloud continued, “Killing civilians offers no real benefit to the demon clan. On the contrary, this operation cost them significant losses under the city guards’ resistance and risks exposing many hidden demon beasts in the future.”
“Indeed, it seems the demon clan gained nothing from this attack—a thankless effort,” the red-furred cat nodded in agreement.
“The demon clan wouldn’t engage in a thankless endeavor. There must be a purpose behind this attack!” Emperor Fire Cloud’s gaze was resolute.
“Master, you mean… Lin Yun!” the red-furred cat exclaimed.
“Exactly. Their target is Lin Yun! From what I know, in the year and a half since Lin Yun took charge of East Yuan Prefecture, the demon clan has attempted to assassinate him twice, showing their determination to eliminate him. Both attempts failed,” Emperor Fire Cloud said.
His tone turned cold. “This attack’s only benefit is to use us as a tool. The demon clan wants to exploit Lin Yun’s dereliction of duty to have us execute him! Will I let them succeed? My blade is not for the demon clan to wield!”
“Master, now that you put it that way, it does seem likely!” the red-furred cat said, shocked.
…
Meanwhile.
Xingwu Empire, Soul Refining Sect.
Lin Yun and Huo Zhen landed on the sect’s grounds.
The sect’s tens of thousands of disciples, along with its protectors, deacons, and elders, had been almost entirely wiped out!
“Big Brother, I’ve scanned with my divine sense, and there doesn’t seem to be anything unusual,” Huo Zhen said.
Though Huo Zhen’s divine sense wasn’t as strong as Lin Yun’s, it was more than sufficient for scouting.
Just as Huo Zhen spoke, a flying vessel approached from the sky.
“Who’s there!”
Everyone looked up at the vessel.
The Xingwu Empire’s Imperial Guard commander emerged from it.
“It’s the Imperial Guard commander again? Why’s he back?” Huo Zhen said, surprised.
“Let’s go up!”
Lin Yun immediately soared into the air, reaching mid-sky.
“Commander, why are you here again? It’s too late. I’ve already destroyed the ancient clan and all eleven prominent sects!” Lin Yun said, looking at the commander.
“This time, I’m here under orders to apprehend you! You defied His Majesty’s decree—a crime punishable by death!” the commander declared, pointing at Lin Yun.
“Apprehend me? You don’t have the strength,” Lin Yun said calmly.
“And what about me?” a cold voice rang out.
At the same time, a figure descended from the vessel, landing before Lin Yun.
Boom!
A terrifying aura radiated from this figure.
“An Eternal Being!” Huo Zhen and the others’ faces changed drastically.
Lin Yun’s pupils also twitched slightly.
But he wasn’t surprised.
From the moment he defied Emperor Xingwu’s decree, Lin Yun had anticipated this outcome.
As he’d said, no one could stop his path of revenge!
Not even Emperor Xingwu!
However, the ancient clan and the eleven prominent sects had now been eradicated.
Only a few elites, tipped off in advance, had escaped, such as a few elders from the Soul Refining Sect who fled after being warned by the ancient clan.
And the ancient clan leader, among others, remained at large.
“Lin Yun, you’re outrageously bold, daring to defy the Emperor’s decree and oppose the empire!”
As the Eternal Being spoke, he raised his hand.
Boom!
Lin Yun instantly felt the space around him compressing, as if it were wrapping and restraining him.
In an instant, he found himself barely able to move.
“Big Brother!”
Huo Zhen and the others grew frantic.
They knew this Eternal Being had the power to kill Lin Yun—and all of them!
“He’s a second-rank governor of the Xingwu Empire. You can’t kill him!” Huo Zhen shouted at the Eternal Being.
“His status is known to His Majesty, but it’s no shield. Defying His Majesty’s decree demands severe punishment! I’m here today to capture him and deliver him to His Majesty for judgment!” the Eternal Being said icily.
At the same time, Lin Yun felt the spatial restraint around him intensify.
Eternal Beings were indeed too powerful!
With a mere wave of his hand, he could impose such immense spatial pressure and restraint on Lin Yun!
“Emperor Xingwu is just a man—a human with a high enough realm. Why should his word be treated as divine? Why must his will be obeyed? Why should all beings be pawns for him to manipulate? Is defying his control a crime? Nonsense!” Lin Yun questioned sharply, each word cutting to the core.
