Yin-Yang Demon Sect

In the palace hall, a terrifying silence enveloped the space, thick with the energy of fear. No one dared to make a sound or even move. The empress, who had witnessed everything, remained unfazed. Her eyes still gleamed with arrogance as she looked at the Dark Shadow Secret Unit standing around her before letting out a mocking laugh.

"Why don't you join me instead? I can make you stronger or grant you more power than this useless emperor ever could!"

The empress's words were filled with defiance, but suddenly, she coughed up blood. Her face turned to one of shock.

"You... you dare!"

She stammered in disbelief as one of the Dark Shadow Secret Unit members swiftly attacked her. A sharp blade pierced her body without hesitation. Another member grabbed her hair and dragged her cruelly, forcing her to kneel before Li Huang, who sat on the throne.

Even in that state, the empress refused to yield. She continued to shout, her voice filled with pride and confidence.

"Where are the people of the Yin-Yang Demon Sect? Come help me, now!"

But no one answered her call. The hall remained engulfed in silence, and everyone watched in fear. The atmosphere was cold and terrifying.

Li Huang smiled coldly. "Are you referring to them?"

As soon as Li Huang finished speaking, several heads were thrown down before the empress. Those heads belonged to members of the Yin-Yang Demon Sect. The empress's body trembled with shock. She tried to retreat, but as she attempted to flee, another Dark Shadow Secret Unit member stabbed her again. Her screams of agony echoed through the hall, and soon, she could no longer move. A notification rang in Li Huang's mind.

[ Congratulations, Host. You have killed a level 3 Spirit Sea cultivator and earned 3,000 kill points. ]

[ Congratulations, Host. You have killed a level 4 Spirit Sea cultivator and earned 4,000 kill points. ]

[ Congratulations, Host. You have killed a level 4 Spirit Sea cultivator and earned 4,000 kill points. ]

[ Congratulations, Host. You have killed a level 7 Spirit Sea cultivator and earned 7,000 kill points. ]

[ Congratulations, Host. You have killed a level 8 Spirit Sea cultivator and earned 8,000 kill points. ]

[ Congratulations, Host. You have killed a level 8 Spirit Sea cultivator and earned 8,000 kill points. ]

[ Congratulations, Host. You have killed a level 9 Spirit Sea cultivator and earned 9,000 kill points. ]

[ Total Kill Points: 43,230 ]

One of the Dark Shadow Secret Unit members approached Li Huang and handed him a scroll. Li Huang calmly took it and opened it, his glowing red eyes scanning the contents as if he could see through everything.

The hall was gripped in a deathly silence as all eyes remained fixed on Li Huang. Yet, no one dared to move. A noble standing in the corner of the room attempted to send a message using his internal voice, but before he could complete the transmission, a thud rang out as his head fell from his shoulders. The Dark Shadow Secret Unit had executed him mercilessly.

The person who had received the internal message was not spared either, as another shadowy figure ended his life in the same way. The other nobles glanced at the lifeless bodies scattered across the floor, but no one dared to make a sound or even shift in place.

Li Huang sat motionless, observing the scene with cold indifference before tossing the scroll in front of the empress, who was still kneeling. His voice was sharp as he asked, "Jing Yi, in the Yin-Yang Sect, what is the cultivation level of your strongest member?"

The empress, trembling with fear, didn't respond. Her body shook uncontrollably, but she remained silent. Her silence earned her no mercy. In an instant, a Dark Shadow Secret Unit member standing beside her drew his sword and swiftly severed one of her fingers. Her scream of agony echoed through the hall.

The Grandmaster, who still had several swords embedded in his body, struggled to move, trying to help her. But before he could act, another Dark Shadow member drove a blade into him again without hesitation, causing his body to collapse to the floor. Blood poured from his grievous wounds, but he could only look on in helpless pain.

Li Huang's gaze remained icy as he watched. Then, he glanced at the Dark Shadow Secret Unit and gave a simple command.

"Search their memories."

The Dark Shadow Secret Unit silently bowed and immediately began searching the minds of both the empress and the Grandmaster. As they proceeded with the search, Li Huang remained seated, contemplating the events that had transpired.

Previously, the Dark Shadow Secret Unit had captured individuals from the Yin-Yang Demon Sect and searched their souls for information. However, they had uncovered no significant details about the sect's plans. The only useful information was that the empress, named Jing Yi, was the daughter of the sect leader, and their mission was solely to assist her. Beyond that, no valuable insights were gained.

Sitting regally on the throne, Li Huang's gaze swept across the remaining officials, generals, princes, and nobles in the hall. Many of them were cultivators at the peak of Foundation, a respectable level, yet their strength was of no use to him.

Li Huang spoke in a cold, commanding tone, "What is the current state of the Heavenly Flame Dynasty?"

Though his voice was clear, no one dared to answer. The hall remained silent, and no one met his gaze, their eyes filled with fear.

Li Huang smiled coldly before starting a countdown, "Three... two…"

Suddenly, a minister shouted in panic, "Your Majesty! Our Heavenly Flame Dynasty is on the verge of collapse! Apart from the capital, the other cities are suffering from famine, corruption, and some are even preparing for rebellion. Meanwhile, neighboring dynasties and sects are getting ready to strike at any moment!"

He paused to catch his breath before continuing with a trembling voice, "Our treasury is empty. Not a single spirit stone remains. In the north, beasts from the Spirit Forest are preparing to attack us, and several generals stationed at the border are ready to betray us at any time, Your Majesty!"

The minister's words cast a heavy weight over the room. Fear spread through the remaining officials, not just because of the dire state of the empire but because Li Huang had begun to smile coldly.

"Good... What about the rest of you? Does anyone else have anything to report?"

The room remained deathly quiet, no one daring to speak. Li Huang nodded slightly in satisfaction.

"Good... In that case, since none of you have anything else to say, you are dismissed. Go, and make sure to donate your wealth to the dynasty."

His command left many stunned, but some were quick-witted. They bowed to Li Huang and hurried out of the hall, fearing that a delay might result in the same fate as those who had already been killed.

Before long, the palace hall was empty, save for the empress Jing Yi and the Grandmaster, both still undergoing memory searches by the Dark Shadow Secret Unit. Li Huang remained seated, watching the events unfold with a satisfied smile.

...

The scene shifted to the home of one of the nobles who had rushed back. He was frantically packing his belongings and called for his wife and children to gather.

"Husband, where are we going?" his wife asked, confused.

The noble, his voice trembling, replied, "We're fleeing... far away."

But before he could finish his sentence, his head was severed from his body, as if cut by an invisible blade. His body fell to the floor, and the scene was swallowed by darkness, with only the sound of his wife's terrified screams piercing the silence.

That scream wasn't isolated. It echoed from the homes of many other nobles who attempted to flee or disobey Li Huang's command. Yet even those who complied faced the same fate. Nobles, generals, and princes alike—all were mercilessly eliminated by the Dark Shadow Secret Unit lurking in the shadows throughout the empire.