The Emperor panted heavily, staring at Jarvis in shock. He finally realised the problem. His attacks not only failed to harm Jarvis but greatly amplified his power!
Only the ancestral god bloodline could control this strength, yet Ye Chui’s summoned heroic spirit achieved it too! How was this possible!
“Who exactly are you? Are you from the Tidal Empire? Could you be Father’s illegitimate son? Otherwise, you could not wield the ancestral emperor phantom beast’s power!” the Emperor roared.
“Heh heh, I have no Tidal Empire blood in me. It’s just that the Puppet Graveyard was originally my power. Your Tidal Empire has merely been borrowing it all along.” Ye Chui said calmly. He pointed at Jarvis and told the Emperor, “What is buried in the Puppet Graveyard is precisely his body!”
These words struck like thunder, instantly shattering the Emperor’s defences. Zask and the other two clan leaders also showed astonished, incredulous expressions.
Jarvis was still waiting for the Emperor to continue attacking him. But seeing the Emperor gasping for breath, his puppet face revealed disappointment. He walked towards the Emperor, speaking contemptuously. “You fundamentally do not know how to use my power. And you still want my body?”
The Emperor’s face filled with alarm. Hazy light orbs spread from his hands again. He shouted loudly, slamming both palms onto the ground. Boom! The entire dungeon seemed to shake violently. A white light flashed. The Emperor vanished from everyone’s sight.
“There is a teleportation array in the dungeon for the Emperor’s emergency escape. He has fled!” Zask shouted urgently.
Jarvis seemed somewhat regretful, but he did not pursue. Though now freely summonable by Ye Chui, he still could not stray far from him. He quickly approached a nearby wall, punching it with his right fist. Boom boom boom. The dungeon shook again. The magic runes on the wall flickered, yet remained undamaged.
“This Ancestral God Execution Array was painstakingly built by generations of Emperors. It cannot be easily destroyed. But I know how to break it!” Zask gripped the cell bars, struggling to stand. “The array’s only weakness is the magic conduction hub. If we destroy that…”
Before he finished, Jarvis’s right arm emitted rattling sounds. It began transforming. His palm fused together, extending into a white lightsword. The lightsword looked almost identical to Jiji’s, only larger and more powerful.
This lightsword was likely an exclusive weapon of the gods clan in the divine realm.
Jarvis swung his right arm, aiming at the dungeon wall. Sparks scattered everywhere. The seemingly invincible magic array instantly disintegrated. A thin slash mark appeared on the wall. The Ancestral God Execution Array was broken. Ye Chui and the others, oppressed by the magic, suddenly felt their bodies lighten.
Jarvis retracted the lightsword. His right hand returned to normal. He smiled at Zask. “I prefer simpler methods.”
Zask: “…”
The instant the array lifted, Ye Chui hurriedly opened the magic guide book’s map function. It clearly showed the dungeon’s interior and exterior. He saw a red dot appear outside the dungeon. That dot was likely the Emperor. He seemed to be preparing something outside.
The red-haired woman in the cell suddenly recalled something. She gripped the bars urgently. “Hurry and stop the Emperor. There is a mechanism at the dungeon entrance. If he activates it, the ‘Volcano Heart’ beneath the Zenith Palace will erupt. Lava will instantly flood the entire dungeon!”
“No way. Is your Tidal Empire dungeon designed so intricately? All sorts of mechanisms everywhere!” Green could not help complaining.
“This dungeon was built to imprison those Church fanatics long ago. Those fellows were truly terrifying, nearly immortal bodies and immense strength. So various mechanisms were added to contain them.” Zask explained.
“Fanatics?” Green had not heard the term.
“The Church’s Holy Army. Hundreds of years ago, they were called fanatics.” Leisha explained, then asked, “Little brother, should we chase the Emperor?”
“Wait a moment…”
A somewhat sly smile appeared on Ye Chui’s face. On the map, the Emperor’s figure moved at the dungeon entrance. The warden also stood nearby, seemingly speaking to the Emperor. Suddenly, the warden’s white dot vanished. The Emperor had apparently killed him to silence him.
Activating the volcano trigger array in the dungeon would inevitably kill Zask and the others inside. With Zask’s prestige, he could be imprisoned, but direct killing by the Emperor would surely incite public outrage. The warden had evidently tried to stop him.
“This guy is truly ruthless.” Ye Chui shook his head, then detonated the bomb he had placed earlier at the dungeon entrance.
Boom! The dungeon shook once more. Dust and stones fell from above. Some bricks even crashed down. On the map, the Emperor’s red dot was flung aside. Unfortunately, it did not kill him. The red dot persisted.
“Wha, what happened!?” Zask and the three exclaimed in shock, instinctively thinking the volcano had activated. But the shaking soon stopped, restoring calm.
“Relax. I just gave the Emperor a small gift. He is now gravely injured and fleeing.” Ye Chui smiled, walking to the cell doors and looking at the three clan leaders.
The three clan leaders relaxed. But seeing Ye Chui smiling outside the doors, they suddenly grew tense again.
Ye Chui had originally come to rescue them. But circumstances changed. The Emperor was the rebellion’s cause. The twelve clans swore loyalty to the Emperor. Though imprisoned by him, and he had just tried to kill them too, lord-vassal bonds demanded unwavering loyalty. Ye Chui was now unsure whether to free them.
Given Ye Chui’s personality, since the Emperor caused the issue, the solution was simply to eliminate him. Teaching him not to court death was too troublesome. Installing a new Emperor was easier.
He smiled at the three. “The Tidal Empire’s safety, or the Emperor’s life. Which do you choose?”
“Which side? We choose both, of course. We swore loyalty to the Emperor…” The short-haired girl, who had never spoken, immediately said. She was likely the Falcon Beast clan leader.
“Neil, he means… to kill the Emperor.” The red-haired woman knew the short-haired girl—Neil—had not grasped Ye Chui’s implication, so she explained.
Neil’s eyes widened instantly, face filling with anger. “From their establishment, the twelve clans swore loyalty to the imperial Emperor. This is our blood oath. We absolutely cannot violate it. Even if the Emperor… did those terrible things, we will not betray him. The Tidal Empire people have integrity!” The girl declared righteously, seeking support from her two cellmates. “Grandpa Zask, Sister Meidu, am I right!?”
She stared directly at Ye Chui, awaiting their response. The red-haired woman’s name was Meidu.
But seconds later, Neil sensed something wrong. They did not reply.
She turned puzzled to them.
Zask coughed. “Neil, you are still young…”
“Some things require compromise.” Meidu continued. “What we protect is not the Emperor, but the Tidal Empire he represents… The Emperor has gone mad, resorting to any means for the Puppet Graveyard. But the Church will not let him succeed. For over a thousand years, the Church has coveted what lies in the Puppet Graveyard. If they obtain it, the Tidal Empire will be destroyed…”
“But His Majesty…” Neil tried to retort.
Ye Chui interrupted. “A new Emperor can be appointed.”
“Only the ancestral god clan bloodline can become Emperor. But the current Majesty has left no bloodline!” Neil glared at Ye Chui.
“No need for his bloodline.” Jarvis said coldly. “Your so-called ancestral god merely borrows my power. Once I reclaim my body, I can continue letting you use it. But the power’s owner will be designated by me.”
Ye Chui glanced at Jarvis, smiling as he continued to Neil. “In other words, whoever I say becomes Emperor, becomes Emperor!”
Neil stared shocked at Jarvis.
The recent battle had fully proven Jarvis’s identity. This puppet war god was actually the source of the Tidal Empire’s ancestral god power… His words carried the greatest authority.
In truth, regarding loyalty, Zask and Meidu were far more devoted than Neil. Otherwise, they would not have been imprisoned. But they saw clearer. With Jarvis, the ancestral god power source, saying no—what did the Emperor’s stance matter?
Thus, Ye Chui happily reached a regicide agreement with the Tidal Empire’s three most loyal ministers.
He waved his hand, destroying the three cell doors and their shackles.
The three had been imprisoned over a month. Their clothes were somewhat tattered. So Ye Chui took out spares for them to change into. Zask got Green’s clothes. Meidu got Celty’s. Then Neil…
“?” Neil looked at the black short skirt and leather outfit in her hands, angrily asking Ye Chui.
“This outfit suits your name perfectly…” Ye Chui said sincerely.
“Mr Ye Chui, if we are to kill the current Emperor, we must plan carefully. Otherwise, the Tidal Empire citizens will hate you to the bone…” Zask said while changing, addressing Ye Chui. Tidal Empire people lacked Church faith. They worshipped ancestral gods and witches. The Emperor was faith’s embodiment. Killing him would provoke empire-wide fury.
“Heh heh…” Ye Chui was prepared for this. He immediately disguised as Bishop Xis. “Framing others is my specialty. Rest assured, Clan Leader Zask.”
Zask: “…”
