Chapter 618.1: Never Backing Down (1/2)

Hum!

Somewhere within Dusk City, a golden pillar of light shot into the sky before transforming into an imperial edict.

A deafening, majestic voice rolled through the province like a surging wave. “By the order of this emperor, Lu Yun of Dusk Province is to present himself in Yellow Springs Capital for an imperial audience within three days!”

Aloof, indifferent, and highly superior, this voice belonged to none other than the emperor of Yellow Springs Land. Against all expectations, a decree from the monster spirit ruler of one of the ten lands had come as soon as Lu Yun’s dao-establishing tribulation had ended.

Afflicted by an adverse environment and thin levels of natural qi, Yellow Springs Land boasted of few powerhouses beyond their emperor.

But while it ranked dead last among the ten lands in terms of strength, the emperor himself was without a doubt the strongest existence in all ten monster courts. If not for the poor conditions hampering his dynasty’s development and the close ties between the ten courts, he likely would’ve gone on a rampage long ago and unified the ten lands with his power alone.

Of course, titles such as “monster courts” or “monster emperors” were what outsiders called them. Locals knew them as celestial courts and celestial emperors, just like in the nine majors.

While no one had expected the Yellow Springs emperor to be so openly confrontational, it wasn’t so shocking a turn of events, either. After all, Yellow Springs monster king Zou Longxiu had publicly defected to Lu Yun’s side, even becoming the young man’s disciple later down the road, so it wasn’t all that strange for someone as high-handed as the Yellow Springs emperor to act this way.

Although it was a mere edict, it nevertheless demonstrated the supreme, unassailable authority of an emperor. At the same time, it was a slap at Lu Yun’s face.

True, the young man’s attempt to establish a sacred land had attracted the projection of the Dao Flower, but his efforts had nearly failed. And while he was being hailed as the master of a future sacred land, Dusk Province wasn’t one yet. Such an imperial edict was nothing more than a parade of bluster and prowess.

……

“He’s forcing my hand,” Lu Yun murmured as he stood atop the city walls and gazed at Dusk City five hundred kilometers away.

Since this emperor had detained Zou Longxiu, Lu Yun had no choice but to go and get to the bottom of the matter. His second disciple was very important, and he’d already shared the legacy of the tomb raiders with him.

“We might as well go and find out what this emperor is up to. At worst, we’ll turn his place upside down and into a right mess.” Aware of the Zou Longxiu matter, Qing Yu glanced at the edict with displeasure.

“It’s not that simple.” Lu Yun shook his head gently. “There is indeed a place called the Yellow Springs in hell. Meanwhile, Yellow Springs Land is named after the Yellow Springs River that runs through it. I suspect some sort of connection between the two.”

“Lu Yun.” The Azure Dragon King fidgeted uncomfortably beside the youth. What the two humans were discussing obviously touched upon Lu Yun’s deepest secrets, secrets he wanted no part of.

He was currently in Lu Yun’s camp simply to witness the birth of a sacred land, but being privy to any secrets would tie him to the young man for good. It was the very position that Empress Myrtlestar now found herself in.

Though she’d obtained sustenance for her damaged soul and begun to heal, she relied on Lu Yun to truly come back to life. It was why she’d displayed the true force of an empress at the border between Dusk Province and the North Sea, even shattering space itself to deter Primus Major.

At this stage, she was firmly in the same boat as Lu Yun and Qing Yu.

“A few days ago, I saw azure dragons roaming near the province’s borders. Some of my tribe must have survived the war a hundred thousand years ago, so I’m going to head to the ancestral lands and take a look.” Without further ado, the Azure Dragon King departed in a stream of light.

“What a shrewd old fellow.” Lu Yun grinned as Qing Yu poked his side.

Hum!

Another pillar of golden light shot into the sky from Dusk City. A second edict!

“By the order of this emperor, Lu Yun of Dusk Province is to proceed immediately to Exalted Major Palace for an audience!” With the boundless voice came an oppressive power that spread throughout the province.

Yet another simple, plain declaration reinforced by a tyrannical, imperial aura that one couldn’t avoid. For these figures, Lu Yun was a gnat of no importance, a mere edict sufficient to command his abject obedience.

Hum!

Shortly after, the third, fourth, and fifth edicts followed suit. With the same authoritative tone, they likewise summoned Lu Yun to an audience. In next to no time, a full nine edicts filled the sky, their aureate hue bathing the province’s forty thousand kilometers in gold.