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Translator: Fate
Translation Checker: Silavin
Below the main seat, Jun Fan, who had been paying attention to Empress Yao Xi’s actions, angrily clenched his fists tighter when he saw this scene. Gu Changge and Empress Yao Xi were acting too intimate in his opinion. [Just when did Yao Xi, the Empress of the Demon World, become someone who would give a man a toast?]
But still, he held himself back as he waited for the right time to act.
“No need to stand on ceremony.” Gu Changge smiled before asking in confusion when he noticed the flush on her cheeks. “But you don’t seem to handle alcohol well, Your Highness.”
“How can that be?” Empress Yao Xi shook her head as her eyes turned hazy. She couldn’t even sit properly at this point.
“Won’t you take a look at yourself? You are about to pass out.” Surprised, Gu Changge reached out to support her naturally and befittingly. He didn’t overstep any lines or take advantage of her.
Empress Yao Xi looked slightly out of it, but she finally sat still after being supported by Gu Changge. She was confused as to why she felt dizzy after only drinking one glass. Gradually, her hands and feet became weak, and even her vision was blurred.
[Something’s not right. It is not about how much I drank. How is this possible!?] Empress Yao Xi’s face fell suddenly. She pulled a frown when she felt that terrifying helplessness. However, she still looked fine to others as she stayed in her seat.
She felt a terrible chill run up her spine and to her limbs right then. Her first instinct was that she had been poisoned unknowingly. Gu Changge also noticed how she had turned ashen before he asked, confused. “What’s wrong?”
“I am fine.” She shook her head and forced herself to calm down. Despite her reassurance, her view was starting to get blurry, and her mind was already a confused mess. Not to mention, the level of her Qi at the moment was like a runaway wild horse that galloped through her meridians and organs. She might end up being torn to shred if she dared to use her Qi right now.
She couldn’t believe how someone as careful as herself would ever be poisoned.
[But why are the rest of the people who also drank the wine fine? Could it be that Demonic Fairy Wine was just a trigger? Then when did I get poisoned? Who would do something like this?] Empress Yao Xi’s heart turned cold when those questions filled her head. Someone actually managed to infiltrate this hall even though she had such tight control over the palace. [I never would have imagined this would happen.]
At this exact moment, waves of dizziness swept through her, and she seemed to have lost all her strength to even sit still. She was as white as chalk now as limpness she had never known before enveloped her. This was the first time she had felt this from the time she became the Empress of the Demon World 6000 years ago. She didn’t even know when she had come in contact with the poison.
This kind of helplessness that she hadn’t had the slightest clue about drowned her. [Could it be Jun Bufan had come to take revenge on me?]
However, Empress Yao Xi was still keeping her calm and composure by relying on her strong willpower.
Seeing this, Gu Changge frowned and asked again. “What’s wrong? Do you feel unwell?”
He ignored her struggling and grabbed her wrist in concern. It was then that he shockingly realised how her flawless, celestial jade-like wrist was ice cold.
Although he had expected that Empress Yao Xi would be poisoned and have an accident at the Banquet of Prodigies, he did not expect the poison to take effect so quickly. Empress Yao Xi was someone in the Sacred Emperor Realm, but still, she fell into a weak state in just a short moment. However, it wasn’t all bad for Gu Changge, who thought that this was a perfect chance that Jun Bufan had created for him.
“Gu Changge, let go of me.” Empress Yao Xi shook her head while she struggled out of his hold with an impassive expression. “I am alright.”
Gu Changge slowly let go of her wrist then. Shaking his head slightly, he observed, “You have been poisoned”
“I know,” Empress Yao Xi calmly replied.
Even though her vision was a blur, and she couldn’t exert any strength, she didn’t let a hint of unease or fear show. She had to have that unhurried mannerism as the Empress of the Demon World.
Gu Changge smiled when he heard her words. “Are you sure about putting on that tough act even now?”
Seemingly not having any intention to interfere just yet, he uncaringly poured himself another glass of wine.
“I can’t fall at a time like this.” Her voice remained solemn while she shook her head.
Contrary to her words, she couldn’t help but fall to the side the next moment, and Gu Changge swiftly caught her in his arms. “So this is your excuse for throwing yourself in my arms,” he smilingly hummed.
“Keep your hands to yourself.” Empress Yao Xi was fuming because of his attitude. Gu Changge even made sarcastic remarks at a time like this, but she couldn’t deny that having him by her side made her feel calmer than before.
And at this time, many people in the faraway mountains had already noticed Empress Yao Xi’s strange behaviour.
“Jun Bufan’s plan seem to be working. Will he succeed?” Bai Lian’er’s eyebrows were pulled into a tight frown in disbelief.
The Quelling Chaos King had the same frown as he stared at the top of the Sacred Mountain worriedly. “Is something wrong with Her Majesty? Why is she suddenly so pale?”
He had seen how Empress Yao Xi’s complexion changed, and she almost fell to the side when she was in the middle of an animated conversation with Gu Changge. She might have fallen if it wasn’t for Gu Changge holding her.
[But now, Empress Yao Xi is…] As an old man who had watched Empress Yao Xi all her life, the Grand Tutor, too, quickly noticed something was wrong. His expression changed as his voice grew solemn. “Her Majesty must have been poisoned… There is poison in the Demonic Fairy Wine!”
As soon as he said this, the faces of the surrounding officials went from puzzlement to shock and disbelief.
[She was fine earlier. But why would she suddenly be reacting to the poison while everyone else who drank is still fine?] The Grand Tutor was the first one to react as he howled, “Watch out for your surroundings! There might be assassins lurking!”
The moment he stepped forward, the majestic and terrifying pressure turned into billowing Demon Clouds that rolled in the air and covered all directions.
Holding a large purple-gold axe, he showed off his powerful cultivation in the Sacred King Realm, as he stood tall in the sky, his body tens of thousands of metres above the ground. He then glanced at his surroundings with disdainful eyes. All the Demonic Beings felt a buzzing in their heads as though a big wave had hit them when they heard the roar. Their minds went blank for a moment there.
“Assassins? Why would there be assassins?!” Someone finally reacted, albeit in disbelief. On the other hand, many others brandished their weapons as they grew vigilant. “Protect the Empress!”
The hall was in chaos in the blink of an eye.
The heads of many major clans of the Demon World also frowned, and they assigned their clansmen behind them to start patrolling and keep an eye out.
This wasn’t the first time an assassin was after Empress Yao Xi’s life, but today felt different than usual. The assassins and traitors in the past were like moths flying into a flame; they had no chance to strike, and would all die in vain.
In the palace of the Sacred Mountain, Qing Zhu, the female official behind Empress Yao Xi, was more than pleased as she threw Jun Fan knowing looks. Seeing this, Jun Fan nodded before he unhesitantly crushed the jade talisman he was holding.
[The time has come, Yao Xi. I will repay you in full for what you did to me 6000 years ago.] His eyes were cold as he thought that. However, he stayed seated after he was done with it. It was as if he was still refining the medicinal power of the Demonic Fairy Wine, oblivious to what was happening.
Empress Yao Xi might be weak now, but Jun Bufan knew his limits. He knew he couldn’t possibly hurt her. Therefore, he didn’t intend to show his face from the beginning to the end of this assassination. He was fine with planning and executing everything while staying hidden.
*Boom!* The moment Jun Fan crushed the jade talisman in his hand, there was a loud cheer, inciting everyone to kill. It was from the mountains, which covered all directions.
“Charge! Empress Yao Xi is cruel and commits all kinds of evil. Today, we will act for the heavens and overthrow her rule. Kill her! As long as we kill Empress Yao Xi, peace and stability will be restored to our Demon World!”
A lot of Demon World Masters with strong auras appeared then. They came from all over the world, and they had stayed hidden well before. They began to take out all kinds of bright heavenly weapons before they rushed towards the Sacred Mountain with the intention to kill Empress Yao Xi.
At the same time, one after another, divine patterns soared into the sky as they turned into majestic and turbulent beams of energy that swept in all directions. This was a terrifying energy that was comparable to countless exploding stars; it was so piercing that people couldn’t open their eyes. Its aftermath alone made the mountains crumble and crack, forming horrifying fissures.
All who came to watch the ceremony began to scurry away when all that happened. Many didn’t even have time to react when they exploded, turning into a cloud of bloodmist, having both their body and souls destroyed because of the fluctuation just now.
For a moment, this place was filled with wailing and screams, and it turned into hell. Among the many great clans of the Demon World, there were also Masters who rushed out. After staying in hiding for many years, they now showed a powerful and terrifying strength as they charged and killed in all directions.
Determined to kill Empress Yao Xi, some Elders with a murderous aura from the Black and White Academy had also rushed to the top of the Sacred Mountain. Over the years, the rebels from all over the place and the remnants of the Five Demon Overlords would definitely not let such an excellent opportunity slip by once they knew about it. As soon as the people behind the scenes stood up, they all showed up and came from all over the place to surround the Scared Mountain.
Even though Empress Yao Xi had been prepared for a long time, the Asura Guards she had prepared were completely useless as they were quickly defeated.
*Boom!*
There were terrifying and unpredictable fluctuations intertwined between heaven and earth, and the void looked like it was about to explode because the two Sacred King Realm Masters were fighting. The Quelling Chaos King who wielded a purple-gold axe was fighting a mysterious Sacred King Realm Master. Their power with each attack was unmatched. It was like a galaxy was falling into the world, destroying and overturning everywhere, leaving this place in ashes.
As the mountains collapsed, the void trembled, and terrible cracks appeared. Masters from the Sacred Realm, Sacred Noble Realm, Sacred Lord Realm, and even Sacred King Realm had also appeared to fight.
The whole place was in chaos, and the Demonic Energy covering the sky was enough to make everyone tremble.
On the top of the Sacred Mountain, Song Youwei and the others’ faces fell when they watched the scene. They couldn’t imagine that a banquet that started off like any other banquet would turn out like this in the end.
“Protect the Empress!”
Even many of the young prodigies around them, suddenly became violent and rushed towards her. They were trying to take out the forbidden artifacts to attack the now extremely weak Empress Yao Xi.
Jun Fan seemed to have just come back to his senses at this moment, and with a face full of shock, he too, whipped out his weapon and looked around vigilantly. “Assassins! Protect the Empress!”
At this time, the many armies dispatched by Empress Yao Xi were all fighting each other in a fearsome battle, and they were quickly being defeated. She didn’t expect such a huge commotion to take place.
Not only the remnants of the Five Demon Overlords, but even some rebels from the Demon World, who were suppressed by her all these years, were all charging in her direction. Poisoned and weak, Empress Yao Xi couldn’t display her original strength. Thus, this was the perfect chance to strike that they couldn’t miss.
“Don’t worry, Your Majesty! As long as we are here, no one will be allowed to step into this place,” yelled Jun Fan as his eyes swept in the main seat’s direction. As if to show his loyalty, he brandished a frightening sharp Heavenly Blade and stared ahead with watchful eyes.
Hearing that, the remaining young prodigies echoed their support and loyalty.
“Brother Jun Fan, I will leave this to you. I will go to the other side to have a look!” Song Youwei suggested. She was holding an ancient mirror as clear as jade in her hand as she exuded bursts of pressure of the Sacred Realm.
Jun Fan nodded when he heard that, and he added out of concern, “Be careful. There are too many assassins right now, but we will definitely have many experts come here in a while. If you can’t handle it, you have to at least protect yourself. Don’t push yourself too hard.”
Song Youwei was a little surprised that he would say that, but she could feel how sincere his worry was. She replied with a smile, “Alright. Don’t worry about me, Brother Jun Fan.”
Immediately after saying that, her figure moved, and her dress fluttered as she headed down the mountain to stop some assassins from rushing up the mountain.
Although she was a woman, her moves were extremely fierce. The ancient mirror she took out reflected a boundless divine splendour before it turned into Principle Chains that swung murderously.
More and more assassins were emerging from all over the place, and they were gushing towards the top of the Sacred Mountain like a tide. Those who contended against them were retreating steadily and collapsing rapidly. They might have an advantage in numbers, but their real strength was far inferior to the attackers. Furthermore, there were not that many Asura Guards who followed Empress Yao Xi to the Sacred Mountain this time.
As for the strength of the rest of the army, it was obviously much weaker. She didn’t have many experts follow her. The reason for that was because of how powerful she was on her own. She also had the Nirvana Grade Artifact the Lunar Demon Overlord had owned, which, once activated, was feared even by those in the Nirvana Realm.
Before this, she didn’t have to worry at all that someone in the Demon World could defeat her head-on or secretly assassinate her.
“It seems that you are in danger today, Your Majesty. I am afraid that the real experts have not shown up yet to protect you,” Gu Changge nonchalantly noted. He didn’t seem to care much about the rebellion that was taking place.
Many powerful men with terrifying auras swiftly appeared behind him. All of them were his subordinates who came to the Demon World with him this time. They were from various Races of the Celestial Ancient Continent and from the Chaos Star Territory. On the other hand, Jiang Luoshen and the Godly Illusion Clan Masters she brought did not appear.
Frowning, Empress Yao Xi sat cross-legged in the same spot with her eyes tightly closed. She intended to force out the poison in her body. Hearing Gu Changge’s remark, she calmly asked, “I was careless today. But, Young Master Changge, did you expect an assassination attempt on me today? Is that why you are not surprised at all? Or is your nonchalance an implication that you have other plans?”
When she was poisoned just now, she had a fleeting thought that Gu Changge was the culprit because of how everyone around her, other than Gu Changge, was reacting to the poison. But now that she listened to his indifferent words, the remaining uneasiness she had had dissipated.
Gu Changge responded by shaking his head and denying, “Of course not. I am not a know-it-all. And as for other plans… Your Majesty, you are in danger now. Doesn’t this make it the perfect time for me to be the hero that saves the beauty?”
Empress Yao Xi couldn’t help the curling at the corners of her lips when she heard that. Feeling more at ease, she half-joked, “Young Master Changge, could you be trying to fish in troubled waters by making me give myself to you at a time like this?”
“Hmm, that is exactly what I want.” He nodded without trying to hide anything. “It would be great if you would agree, Your Majesty. Because if you don’t, the people behind me might just make a move now.”
Empress Yao Xi was taken aback for a moment. “You are not a nice person at all, are you, Young Master Changge?” She didn’t know if he was serious or joking.
Jun Fan was now glum. He didn’t expect Empress Yao Xi to remain calm, and still be happily chit-chatting with Gu Changge when things had come to this point. He quietly urged for Uncle Ye to arrive soon.
Uncle Ye was a general with unparalleled strength under his father back then, who followed his father to fight everywhere. Fortunately, everyone was staring intently at the assassins coming from all sides, and no one was paying him any attention right now.
But at this moment, many experts from the great Clans of the Demon World were still watching from afar, their expressions changing rapidly. Even though they didn’t send anyone to be part of the assassination, they didn’t come to protect the Empress either. All they did was fight some rebels from where they were at.
Empress Yao Xi’s fall was a good thing for them. They had been miserably oppressed over the years, and they even handed over a lot of their cultivation techniques. What Empress Yao Xi had done was beneficial to the entire Demon World at the expense of their own benefits. Still, they were clever enough to not dispatch their men to join in the rebellion. They instead chose to remain still and uninvolved.
On the other side, the Sacred King Realm Masters, one of them being the Quelling Chaos King, were being surrounded by others. They were unable to take care of others when it was already difficult to get out of this entrapment themselves.
*Thump!* A terrifying fluctuation appeared in the distant sky right then.
As a divine sense that frightened everyone swept over this mountain range, everything trembled, and all souls almost froze and cracked.
[Someone in the Sacred Emperor Realm!] Everyone’s faces fell, and they couldn’t help dropping to their knees as they worshipped the terrifying aura.
