Refining the Mountains and Rivers

All of the arrangements had been completed beforehand. If no one was obstructing them then there should be no mistakes. As soon as Ji Yunyue thought of this possibility his heart began to sink.

As expected, the cultivator he sent out didn’t return. And there was no change in the army’s direction.

Ji Yunyue couldn’t care about raising a commotion. He mounted a horse and rushed over. When he saw the unfamiliar Far East Cavalry troops coming, he roared out, “Who are you!? What are you doing!?”

One of the riders bowed, “High Prince, we are merely following orders.”

With this, there was no other explanation.

Ji Yunyue clenched his teeth and shouted, “I don’t care who you are but immediately turn back and leave! Otherwise, I will…” Before he finished speaking the troop turned around the corner. The grand Imperial Palace was already in sight – there was no more time.

Outside the eastern gate of the Imperial Palace, a number of Yan people dressed up as cultivators stood there with solemn expressions. A thin-faced and white-haired old man had a severe expression as he stared at the troops coming his way.

Behind him, a Yan cultivator walked forward, “The statues of the previous Yan Emperors are here. Demonic Path visitors, stop here and pay your respects!”

With the support of a powerful cultivation this voice billowed through the air, instantly spreading out through the troops. Even a good half of Thistle Capital could hear this voice. After a brief quiet, the Yan people slowly walked out of their dwellings. They arrived in the long street, looking at the Demonic Path troops with ice cold gazes.

“All of you stop and get off your horses! Pay your respects to the previous emperors of the Great Yan Empire!”

“These Demonic Path people, they should pay their respects to the first sovereign of our Great Yan!”

“Demon Sovereign, come out and bow to my Yan Emperor!”

Deep roars were mixed with hatred. As more and more voices gathered together they evolved into a vast flood.

The Far East Cavalry started to stir. The black leopards roared out loud, ready to break into the enemy lines upon their masters’ commands. The situation rapidly worsened, seeming as if it would spin out of control at any moment.

9000 True Demon Guards and 5000 Holy Nether Guards immediately responded. The supreme imperial marching formation switched into an offensive one and a wild aura erupted, as if a demon dragon was awakening.

In front of the Imperial Palace, the atmosphere suddenly fell silent. But then a loud clamor erupted. The countless Yan people looked upon the fearless Demonic Path troops and became even angrier.

The Demon Envoy’s expression darkened and he glared at the Imperial Palace with cold eyes. You want to besiege the Demonic Path’s Holy Monarch? Do you understand that you are playing with fire right now? He lifted his hand and the 9000 True Demon Guards and 5000 Holy Nether Guards immediately unsheathed their weapons. His ice cold voice sounded out, “If anyone dares to attack the Holy Monarch’s imperial carriage, kill them without mercy!”

“Kill! Kill! Kill!”

The True Demon Guards and Holy Nether Guards began to roar out.

Ji Yunyue’s eyes turned red. “What do you plan on doing? Are you revolting!?” His eyes fell upon those Yan people standing in front of the eastern gate and he walked forward, quickly saying, “Sovereign Uncle, what do you plan on doing? If you don’t stop now you will provoke a war between Great Yan and the Demonic Path!”

“Shut up!” The Sovereign Uncle Ji Changkong’s face was icy cold. “As a direct descendant of Great Yan’s royal family you actually don’t care about the national humiliation we have experienced in the past and welcomed the Demon Sovereign! I am ashamed by your actions!”

Ji Yunyue almost fainted from anger. He had come here upon orders from the emperor, so if he wanted to look for someone to scold then go look for the emperor!

Taking a deep breath, Ji Yunyue said, “Sovereign Uncle, now is not the time to create a mess. Please lead these people away and don’t cause an incident!”

They were both Calamity Immortals. The only reason he called this person Sovereign Uncle was because of the difference in rank as well as the fact that he was an Elder of the Immortal Sect. But even so, he still had to handle affairs discreetly. These last words served as a final warning.

But who would have thought that Ji Changkong would laugh up at the skies, simply not paying any attention to him. He stepped forward and shouted, “Demon Sovereign, you are in front of my Yan Empire’s Imperial Palace, so how dare you be so rampant!”

…

Within the imperial carriage, You Qi’s smile vanished. “I think that the entire Yan Empire doesn’t want to live.”

Qin Yu shook his head. “There is no need to pay attention to him – he is nothing but a rabid dog. The Yan Emperor isn’t senile; he won’t let him act too unreasonably.”

You Qi earnestly said, “But that old dog is already causing a mess.”

Qin Yu was startled. For a time, he wasn’t able to fully adapt to the transformation in his status. As the Demonic Path’s Holy Monarch, he represented the dignity of the entire Demonic Path. As he thought about the actions of these Yan people, they had indeed overstepped their limits. To be more serious, this was enough to trigger a turbulent situation.

The sound of rapid hoofbeats came from the other side of the Imperial Palace’s eastern gate. Several riders raced out and came to a halting stop. The one in front flipped onto the ground and unfurled a golden imperial decree.

“This is a decree from His Majesty the Emperor. The Demon Sovereign’s status is precious and he need not follow the rituals of Great Yan. Please come straight into the Imperial Palace and attend the banquet!” After putting away the imperial decree, the man smiled and bowed, “Our nation’s emperor is feeling restless that these careless mistakes occurred. He has asked me to convey a message to you and apologize in his stead. I ask that Your Majesty the Demon Monarch pay no heed to these people.”

The Demon Envoy was expressionless but he sneered inwardly as he heard these words. But, since this was a message conveyed from the Great Yan Emperor, it wasn’t his place to respond.

A light voice suddenly resounded from the imperial carriage. “I understand the Yan Emperor’s good intentions but I must decline. Since the Yan people do not welcome me, then the Demonic Path will not enter the Imperial Palace. I ask that the Yan Emperor open the entrance.”

You Qi revealed a surprised look.

Qin Yu blinked his eyes. “Our Demonic Path doesn’t fear the Yan Empire. Since there is no need to accommodate them, I won’t bother giving them any face.”

The Yan Emperor was holding a banquet but his offer had been directly refused. This was no different from a ringing slap to the face.

If it was another empire, Qin Yu might hesitate. But Great Yan…they already had a death grudge between them anyways, so he didn’t care about adding some additional grievances.

The messenger's face had turned blue, but since the Demon Sovereign had spoken there was no room for him to argue back. He hurriedly bowed and rushed back into the Imperial Palace.

Within the Imperial Palace’s Sky Lifting Temple, the Yan Emperor Ji Huagu gently sighed. His eyebrows wrinkled together. Although his expression remained calm, his Empress that had accompanied him for many years could immediately see the pent up anger in him.

“Your Majesty, what is it?”

The Yan Emperor patted her hand. “It’s nothing. The Demon Sovereign won’t enter the Imperial Palace so I will go and welcome him.”

The Empress had a worried expression, “Your Majesty…”

The Yan Emperor smiled. “I’m fine. With the Demon Sovereign’s status, looking at the seven great empires, besides the Chu Emperor we all need to lower our heads. I’m alright.”

He stood up and stepped out. The Yan Emperor disappeared from the Sky Lifting Temple. When he next appeared he emerged from nothing to stand right outside the eastern gate.

His expression was calm and there was a gentle smile on his lips. But, the aura of a ruler erupted and blotted out the skies, as if a great sun had arrived, facing the imperial carriage from far away.

“We greet Your Majesty the Emperor!”

Rumble rumble –

The Yan people standing outside the Imperial Palace began to fall to their knees.

When the angry Ji Changkong saw the smiling Yan Emperor his complexion changed and he bowed together with the rest.

In front, all of the Demonic Path cultivators remained as silent and still as they were before. They maintained their battle-ready positions, their momentum not diminishing in the least.

The Yan Emperor smiled and cupped his hands together. “The Demon Sovereign has arrived yet I didn’t come out to welcome you, resulting in some minor mishaps occurring. I ask that the Demon Sovereign be broad-minded about this.”

The maids serving the imperial carriage lifted the thick curtains that blocked the windows to reveal Qin Yu sitting within. Qin Yu said, “Yan Emperor, there is no need to be so courteous. I don’t have much time left so open the entrance to the Immortal Sect.”

The Yan Emperor nodded. “Very well.”

He lifted his hand and spread out his palm, drawing a circle in the air. Then, spatial ripples erupted and a great golden door appeared.

“Demon Sovereign, please!”

Qin Yu nodded and the maids lowered the curtains once more. The Demon Envoy lifted his hand and gestured ahead. The eight demon phantoms that spun around the black vortex suddenly opened their eyes. 16 substantial gazes fell upon the golden door. As this happened, fine black lines began to appear atop the golden door, slowly spreading out like blooming flowers.

The Demon Envoy checked the door, not concealing his distrust of the Yan people. After several breaths of time he nodded and said, “Your Majesty Holy Monarch, please issue an order.”

“Enter the Immortal Sect.”

Bang –