https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-259-The-Empress-Xiao-Clan-s-Annihilation-and-the-Holy-Land-s-Chess-Game-Part-1-/12964604/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-260-The-List-I-Have-a-Plan-Bright-Moon-Sect-You-re-Up-Part-1-/12964608/
Chapter 259: The Empress, Xiao Clan's Annihilation, and the Holy Land's Chess Game (Part 2)
Chapter 259: The Empress, Xiao Clan's Annihilation, and the Holy Land's Chess Game (Part 2)
"
"According to the new empress's methods, the Xiao Clan should have been executed to the last person. Why is it that the Xiao Clan has survived until now, even after the purge?"
"
"..."
The outside world was filled with curiosity and speculation, but the situation within the Xiao Clan was even more unbearable.
The clan leader, Xiao Zhan, and the elders held meetings day after day, but they couldn't seem to come up with a solution.
On this particular day, they were still in the midst of their discussions.
"Does anyone know what His Majesty is planning to do?"
Xiao Zhan had lost his former vigor and enthusiasm. Ever since his son, Xiao Jie, was killed by Xiao Ling'er, he had fallen into a deep state of despair. Now, he was utterly disheartened and hunched.
However, the weight of the entire clan rested on his shoulders, forcing him to remain steadfast.
But it seemed like he was truly struggling to hold on.
"We don't know either."
The elders smiled bitterly, unable to find the words.
"If you don't know anything, what's the point of asking? Why don't you all just go and die?" Xiao Zhan roared in anger. "These days, every member of the Xiao Clan lives in fear, constantly worried about being exterminated. We're all exhausted..."
"We're just asking you to find some clues, to understand what His Majesty is planning against our clan. Is it really that difficult?"
During this period, the Xiao Clan had been through a lot.
Due to certain reasons, their previously friendly allies had distanced themselves, and some even took action against them.
This made their situation extremely challenging.
The most difficult part was the new emperor's ambiguous attitude.
It was like a sword hanging over their heads, ready to drop at any moment, keeping them on edge and unable to sleep peacefully.
Despite their efforts to gather information, they couldn't find out anything.
The most crucial issue was their inability to act recklessly.
They didn't even dare to secretly send out their seeds, fearing that the new emperor might notice and retaliate.
After all, no one knew the new emperor's intentions, and such an action would undoubtedly catch his attention and that of others with ill intentions. If they angered the new emperor, the Xiao Clan's fate would be sealed.
This torment was driving them all insane.
"Clan leader, you shouldn't worry too much..."
"What nonsense are you spouting?!"
"How can I not worry? Third Elder, have you lost your mind?!"
The Third Elder's attempt at consolation was met with a furious outburst.
But at this moment, the Third Elder lacked the energy to be angry. He sighed and said, "Clan leader, what good will it do to get so worked up?"
"Who dares to act without the emperor's command?"
"Without the emperor's stance, who knows what fate awaits our clan?"
"In my opinion, we should just eat and sleep, waiting for the outcome."
"Indeed, let's wait for the results."
"After all, if we're on the wrong side, standing against the new emperor, even if he exterminates our clan, we can't complain."
"But if there's a change in fortune, wouldn't that be a pleasant surprise?"
"In that case, why worry so much?"
"Might as well relax. The worst that can happen is extermination, right?"
As these words were spoken...
Everyone froze for a moment.
Then, they became surprisingly calm.
Indeed, it made perfect sense.
The First Elder couldn't help but ask, "If there's a pleasant surprise, Elder Three, what do you think it might be?"
"A pleasant surprise?"
The Third Elder spoke softly, "I've heard that on this trip, Long Ao Jiao has brought along some powerful individuals. They are all women, but their strength is astonishing. It is with their help that the new emperor has swept through all obstacles and ascended to the top."
"Among them is one named Xiao Ling'er."
The elders' faces paled.
"Xiao Ling'er?!"
"Yes, the direct disciple of Moon Embrace Sect, Xiao Ling'er."
The Third Elder spoke with a hint of mystery.
The elders' expressions shifted, unable to remain calm.
Over the years, they hadn't been idle.
Previously, they had been deceived, thinking that their Xiao Ling'er had joined Bright Moon Sect. But now, they had discovered the truth—Xiao Ling'er was the direct disciple of Moon Embrace Sect!
And she had already established a fearsome reputation.
She was an opponent they couldn't match.
It was precisely because of this that the Xiao Clan had remained inactive all these years...
Not that they didn't want to, but they dared not.
But now, they suddenly heard that this matter seemed to be related to Xiao Ling'er?
"Impossible!!!"
The First Elder's face lit up with joy, "Xiao Ling'er still has some affection for her bloodline, pleading with the emperor to spare the Xiao Clan?"
"Otherwise, how could our Xiao Clan have survived until now?"
"It must be so!"
The elders nodded in agreement, except for the Third Elder, who couldn't help but chuckle.
Xiao Ling'er...
Pleading?
You're truly naive.
To speak of bloodline affection, how can you even say such things?
Although she is from a branch of the Xiao Clan, it's an insignificant one, and her parents were forced to their deaths by the Xiao Clan. How can you speak of bloodline affection? Moreover, judging from Xiao Ling'er's experiences over the years, she doesn't seem like someone who would repay kindness with kindness.
Ah...
The Third Elder shook his head, remaining silent.
He couldn't help but find the situation amusing as the elders' discussions became more excited and their smiles more evident.
...
Meanwhile, within the imperial palace.
Qian Yuan Wenqing rewarded the ministers for their contributions. Many received honors and titles.
"I bestow upon you the title of Guardian Saintess, with the treatment of the First Qin King..."
Qian Yuan Wenqing continued to bestow titles, resources, and prestige, leaving almost nothing untouched.
However, Long Ao Jiao showed little interest, her face devoid of any smile.
Noticing this, Qian Yuan Wenqing assumed she didn't care about these rewards. After a brief hesitation, he continued without further concern.
Next were Xiao Ling'er and the others.
"As for you all."
"I don't think you'll be staying in our dynasty for long, so I won't give you titles. It would be meaningless and insincere."
"As for medicinal pills, I believe you won't be lacking in that regard."
"Therefore, I shall bestow upon you resources."
"Within the national treasury, each of you may choose ten items. What do you say?"
Empress Qianyuan Wenqing's smile was warm and inviting.
In the past, such rewards would have pained her heart.
But not anymore.
The national treasury was even more abundant than she had imagined, especially after the recent wave of executions that had resulted in the annihilation of numerous princes and their supporting factions, including the extermination of their nine familial generations and the confiscation of their properties...
This had only added to her already substantial wealth.
Seeing this, Xiao Ling'er and the others did not refuse.
Although Long Ao Jiao had promised to grant her a favor, why refuse when the offer was made sincerely?
In the pursuit of cultivation...
The most lacking resource is often resources themselves!
Upon seeing their acceptance, Qianyuan Wenqing continued, "Xiao Ling'er."
"We have had a few encounters, after all."
"I have a small surprise for you."
"Until now, the Xiao Clan has remained intact."
"The decision on how to handle it is yours to make."
She was extending an olive branch.
As the Empress, there were naturally many more considerations.
For instance, winning over certain factions...
And the rapidly developing, rising-like-the-sun 'Third-Rank Sect' Moon Embrace Sect was undoubtedly one of the best choices, given their sufficient strength, past cooperation, and Long Ao Jiao's presence as a 'lubricant' within their ranks.
"The Xiao Clan?"
Xiao Ling'er's eyes flickered with a momentary daze.
...
Not long after, at the Xiao Clan.
Xiao Ling'er arrived at their doorstep.
The news of her visit spread like wildfire, and the entire Xiao Clan was overjoyed.
The Grand Elder burst into laughter, "Hahaha! As I thought, we were right not to doubt!"
"Clan Leader, don't keep a straight face. Although your son died at her hands, our entire Xiao Clan still has to rely on her!"
"Yes, Clan Leader, give us a smile."
"Don't put on a show of deep-seated grudges and bitter hatred. If you provoke her, we might not be able to protect you."
Xiao Zhan: "..."
Xiao Ling'er's first time entering the Xiao Clan.
Looking at the members of the Xiao Clan.
Looking at the faces of the elders, each resembling a blooming chrysanthemum.
Xiao Ling'er had thought she would be filled with anger, unable to control her emotions, and would unleash a killing spree.
But...
When she actually stepped foot into the clan and witnessed everything with her own eyes, she realized that her heart was filled only with indifference.
Anger?
Hatred?
It was there.
But it wasn't uncontrollable.
She even felt...
A sense of resignation.
"Ling'er," the Grand Elder approached with a beaming smile, "We knew it! You must have spoken well of us to Her Majesty, which is why our Xiao Clan..."
"You've misunderstood," Xiao Ling'er interrupted with a wave of her hand, "First, I haven't spoken on behalf of the Xiao Clan to anyone."
"Second, I have no relation to you, nor do I know you. Don't address me so intimately; it's nauseating."
"Third, I'm here on behalf of the Empress to deliver a message."
"The Xiao Clan..."
"The Ancestral Clan's plot to rebel is a grave crime. They shall be exterminated, along with their nine familial generations!"
Xiao Ling'er spoke, her expression and tone calm and detached.
But her words were more chilling than the scythe of death, causing the temperature of the Xiao Clan members to drop by several degrees with each sentence!
"The Xiao Clan's rules are despicable, and the branch clans have aided and abetted. They shall all be exterminated."
"Considering the Xiao Clan's branches are all victims..."
"Except for the guilty branch clans, the rest shall be allowed to remain in this world."
The smiling faces, resembling chrysanthemums, froze.
Their aged faces were filled with shock and anger.
Then...
They could no longer hold back, and roared out loud.
"Xiao Ling'er, you're so ruthless!"
"Don't forget, you're also a member of the Xiao Clan! You carry the blood of the Xiao Clan in your veins!"
"If you won't help us, that's one thing, but you're kicking us while we're down?"
"Hahaha, how magnanimous of you! You won't punish the branch clans that didn't violate the rules? Hehehe, do you know that without the Ancestral Clan and branch clans' suppression, those villains will devour the branch clans until nothing remains?"
"With your actions, the Xiao Clan is finished! It's finished in the hands of one of its own!"
"If I had known... If I had known this, I would have sacrificed the entire Xiao Clan to ensure your demise before you fled the Northern Region! I would have made sure you perished, never to reincarnate!"
"I curse you, I curse you..."
They roared.
They cursed and swore.
But Xiao Ling'er remained unmoved, not even bothering to spare them a glance.
She had come to see for herself, to witness the corrupt Ancestral Clan, the evil clan that had caused her family's destruction, and now she saw it for what it truly was.
But all she felt was disappointment.
It was nauseating.
...
The Xiao Clan.
It was over.
Even without Xiao Ling'er's direct involvement, the well-prepared forces of the Immortal Dynasty had already annihilated the clan. The next morning, everything seized from the Ancestral Clan and the branch clans' treasuries was presented before Xiao Ling'er.
"..."
"I'll be leaving for a while."
On this day, Xiao Ling'er bid farewell.
"Second Elder, Ya Ya, please wait for me for three days. After three days, I'll return, and we'll go back to the sect together."
"Go."
The Second Elder nodded.
She could guess where Xiao Ling'er was going.
But Ya Ya expressed concern, "Senior Sister, why don't I accompany you?"
"No need."
Xiao Ling'er forced a smile, "This trip won't be dangerous. You wait for me here."
"Alright."
Huo Yun'er also had an idea of what was happening, and as her best friend, she expressed her support.
Xiao Ling'er left.
Long Ao Jiao, alone, sought out Qianyuan Wenqing and requested the dismissal of the attendants.
"Ao Jiao."
Qianyuan Wenqing, now the Empress, obliged, and with a warm gesture, took Long Ao Jiao's hand, "Although my brother and I are not formally married, we are still family."
”
“Since that’s the case, we are one family.”
“Whatever it is, just say it without hesitation.”
“...”
Long Ao Jiao only gave her a cold glance.
“You have achieved your goal.”
“Satisfied?”
“What?” Qianyuan Wenqing was taken aback and immediately asked in confusion, “What do you mean?”
“Do you take me for a fool?”
Long Ao Jiao looked at her coldly, her eyes piercing as if they could see through one’s heart at that moment.
Qianyuan Wenqing put away her puzzled expression and fell silent.
“If my... cousin finds out, he will kill you with his own hands!”
Long Ao Jiao spoke again.
Qianyuan Wenqing trembled, her face instantly turning as pale as paper.
“I, I...”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“I didn’t think it would...”
“But you, you were gambling with his child, and the child is gone!”
Qianyuan Wenqing collapsed onto the dragon throne, drenched in sweat.
Then, she said weakly, “I can still bear children.”
“As long as he is willing, I can give him two, three, ten children, as many as he wants, I...”
“You should take better care of yourself.”
Long Ao Jiao shook her head and walked away.
You can still bear children?
Damn it, I might not be able to! But... she did not want to reveal her identity or pursue the matter further at this moment.
After all, it was her own whim that led to the person being brought here and filled to the brim...
Later, due to her lack of attention, these things happened.
Strictly speaking, the one who started all this was herself.
What right did she have to blame her?
As for her...
She was just a woman with ambitions far greater than her abilities, who was determined to seize the throne.
Humph.
Long Ao Jiao did not want to think about it anymore and left alone.
Leaving Qianyuan Wenqing sitting alone on the dragon throne for a long, long time.
...
Outside the Blackwater City Ruins.
Xiao Ling Er, relying on her memory, found her parents' memorial tomb. She lit three incense sticks for them, knelt before their grave, and spoke to them for a whole day and night.
From her experiences over the years, to the development of the Moon Embrace Sect and the revival of Grandmother Medicine...
To the fall of the Xiao Clan, and how the evil Xiao Clan rules would now become history...
“Father, Mother.”
“Rest in peace.”
“In the future, Ling Er will come to visit you every so often.”
“As for Ling Er herself...”
“I want to see the scenery at the higher places.”
“And I want to try...”
“Whether I can truly become the Flame Emperor as my master said.”
“...”
...
Three Days Later.
Xiao Ling Er and her companions set off on their return journey.
This trip could be considered relatively smooth.
Meanwhile, within the Holy Land of the White-Black Academy in the Northeast Domain, the senior members gathered to discuss important matters.
“Everyone.”
The person in the long robe, half black and half white, even his face was half black and half white!
More astonishingly, his face simultaneously displayed two expressions.
One side seemed to be smiling.
The other side seemed to be crying!
“Lord of the Academy.”
The people on both sides spoke in succession.
“The preparations for the spread of the Ethereal Realm across the Immortal Martial Continent are ready, but the other seven regions and central state holy lands and top forces are quite dissatisfied.”
“Yes, Lord of the Academy, they have many complaints and have been resisting.”
“The resistance is growing. If we proceed without considering their concerns, it might...”
They smiled bitterly.
“This matter still requires the Lord of the Academy to make a decision.”
“Oh?”
The Lord of the Academy smiled, “I suppose it’s about the benefits?”
“The Lord of the Academy is wise.”
They explained in detail, “Entering the Ethereal Realm requires purchasing our credentials, which is a profitable business.”
“Constructing the Ethereal Realm involves setting up numerous formations, which also brings considerable profits...”
“If we can easily and smoothly spread the Ethereal Realm across the entire Immortal Martial Continent, the resources of our White-Black Academy will skyrocket, and continue to rise.”
“It is foreseeable that after some time, the resources of our White-Black Academy will be on par with, or even surpass, those of the central state holy lands.”
“So, most of those holy lands also have objections.”
“Quite reasonable, quite reasonable.” The Lord of the Academy smiled freely.
“All under heaven, people come for profit, and all under heaven, people go for profit.”
“It’s just about profit.”
“Eating alone indeed makes others dislike us.”
“Since that’s the case, we will share the benefits.”
The crowd became anxious.
“But if we just compromise and share the benefits, won’t it undermine our own prestige?”
“Yes, Lord of the Academy, and not only that, sharing the benefits with them won’t they just get a windfall for free?”
“We do all the hard work, but they reap the benefits, this...”
“It might be a bit inappropriate.”
“Don’t worry, don’t worry.”
The Lord of the Academy’s half-crying, half-smiling face became even more 'odd': “The world is like a chessboard, within an inch.”
“In a chess game, temporary gains and losses don’t matter.”
“At the end of the day, they just don’t want our White-Black Academy to surpass them.”
“Since that’s the case...”
“We won’t surpass them.”
“But, if they want to benefit so easily, it’s just a dream.”
“Prepare a list for me.”
“May I ask, what kind of list, Lord of the Academy?”
“A list of all the ‘first-class forces’ in the other seven regions and central state that are worth considering and have potential.”
“Not a single one should be left out.”
“I want to see...”
“Whether they will still have anything to say after this.”
(End of Chapter)
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