The Enlightenment Tea Has Ripened!
"The Emperor's child… is he even human?"
The voice echoed across the field.
It was Su Kuangren, Sect Master of Bawang Sect.
As Granny Xi ascended, he, Ji Cunye, the Emperor of Jinghong, and others had retreated to a distance.
They'd witnessed everything, their shock beyond measure, and Su Kuangren's inner thoughts slipped out.
The moment the words left his mouth, he realized his mistake.
Ji Cunye beside him nearly leapt three zhang high, ready to tear him apart!
What are you saying at a time like this?!
The Frost Emperor and Saint Ancestor Wu Xu are in high spirits.
If they're feeling generous and spare us, wouldn't that be perfect?!
Why not just stay quiet like a turtle?
You open your mouth and ruin the mood!
Aren't you asking for trouble?
Are you an idiot?
In an instant, Ji Cunye's mind raced, his heart sinking.
Sure enough!
Su Kuangren's words brought a chill to the air.
All eyes snapped toward them.
Moments ago, everyone had been beaming with excitement.
Now their faces darkened, looking ready to devour someone.
Especially the Emperor's child—his little face lost its smile, replaced by a menacing glare, brimming with killing intent!
"You've been silent for ages—I almost forgot about you dogs!"
Jiang Yuqiong pointed at them, shouting furiously.
Ji Cunye, helpless, forced an awkward smile.
But that only fueled the little one's rage.
"You old dog, you've still got the nerve to smile?"
"Even if the King of Heaven came today, you wouldn't escape death!"
Jiang Yuqiong bared his teeth, itching to charge over and rip Ji Cunye's old face apart.
Daring to scheme against my mom!
Without a blood price, how could I quench this fury?
Ji Cunye, the Emperor of Jinghong, and Su Kuangren trembled, terror-stricken.
Silence had been their best bet.
But now, they had no choice but to speak again.
"Congratulations, Frost Emperor! Congratulations, Saint Ancestor Wu Xu!"
"The Emperor's child descends, a new saint rises—double blessings indeed!"
"A fortune for the Desolate Realm, a boon for humanity, worthy of worldwide celebration!"
Ji Cunye forced a smile, speaking through gritted teeth.
But Jiang Wu Xu and the others didn't respond, merely staring at him with cold eyes.
Su Qingshuang stood impassively, speaking slowly.
"The crimes you committed today—even if I wiped out your entire clans, it wouldn't be excessive!"
Ji Cunye, the Emperor of Jinghong, and the others broke into cold sweats, gripped by dread.
They knew the Frost Emperor wouldn't let them off easily.
But then, her tone shifted abruptly.
"However…"
"Considering your ancestors shed blood and laid down their lives for the Three Thousand Dao Domains, this Emperor will show leniency and spare your lives!"
Her words left everyone stunned.
The warriors from Hidden Sword Mountain, Jade Cauldron Holy Land, and Xianwen Sect erupted in protest.
"No, Frost Emperor!"
"These villains dared the unthinkable—they can't be spared lightly!"
"How will we explain this to the world?"
"How can the saints who fell today rest in peace?"
Their shouts rang out, their fury blazing, unwilling to forgive so easily.
But Ji Cunye, the Emperor of Jinghong, Su Kuangren, and the others stood frozen, dumbfounded.
They'd never expected the Frost Emperor to actually spare them!
A certain death sentence had flipped.
An unbelievable twist!
They realized their lives were saved!
The Frost Emperor's word was iron—once spoken, it wouldn't be undone!
But before their joy could spread, that clear, crisp female voice rang out again.
"However…"
Su Qingshuang's voice was cold as she raised a hand, silencing Jian Lingtian and the others.
Her gaze swept over the crowd.
Finally, it landed on Ji Cunye.
"Ji Cunye, as the ringleader, you schemed against this Emperor!"
"You twisted words, trying to muddy the waters and coerce us with talk of humanity's greater good!"
"With this Emperor's authority before you, there's no reason to let you live!"
At those words, Ji Cunye's expression froze.
He plummeted into despair!
In an instant, he dropped to his knees in the void, kowtowing relentlessly.
"Spare me, Frost Emperor!"
"If you grant me a chance at life, I, Ji Cunye, will serve Xuanshuang Grotto-Heaven like a loyal dog, even unto death!"
He wailed, tears and snot smearing his face.
But Su Qingshuang remained stone-faced, unmoved!
"Those who commit great wrongs meet their own ruin—cleverness undone by cleverness!"
"Pay the price for your actions!"
As her words fell, a ferocious aura surged through the void.
It was as if a world-grinding divine millstone appeared, turning slowly.
"Buzz buzz buzz…"
Amid a teeth-gritting rumble,
His wails cut off abruptly!
Ji Cunye's figure was like a soybean caught in the millstone.
In a flash, he was ground to dust, turning into wisps of smoke!
A breeze blew, and he vanished into the heavens and earth, body and soul extinguished!
"Patriarch!"
The Longevity Ji Family members wanted to cry out.
But only hoarse, dry sounds escaped.
The Emperor of Jinghong, Longevity Mu Family, and Bawang Sect members watched in abject terror.
The Frost Emperor's methods were domineering and decisive, her strength chilling!
A Saint Ancestor Ninth Layer powerhouse, obliterated without a trace—no body left behind!
Then, Su Qingshuang's gaze shifted back to the rest of them.
"For the rest of you, the death penalty may be spared, but punishment is inescapable!"
"Within three days, surrender your clan-suppressing sacred artifacts. All Saint Ancestors from your families are barred from the mortal world for three hundred years!"
"Any hint of defiance, and this Emperor will show no mercy!"
Su Qingshuang declared coldly.
As she finished, she flicked a finger through the void.
"Crack!"
Items emerged from a spatial rift—Ji Cunye's leftover sacred artifacts and treasures.
Among them was the Longevity Ji Family's clan-suppressing sacred artifact—the Thousand Mechanism Tower!
Su Qingshuang reached out, and the dark little tower spun, shimmering with light, landing in her palm.
She collected the remaining sacred artifacts and holy medicines as well.
The Emperor of Jinghong, Su Kuangren, and the others felt their hearts turn to ash.
Surrender their clan-suppressing sacred artifacts, and all Saint Ancestors confined for three hundred years.
In other words, they'd lose their greatest trump cards.
For three centuries, without Saint Ancestors abroad, they'd miss out on the Desolate Realm's major opportunities.
Their gifted descendants, lacking Saint Ancestor protection, would face untold dangers!
This punishment… it was brutal!
Worse than death!
But who dared utter a single word of protest now?
The Heavenly Emperor's authority was inviolable!
"Thank you, Frost Emperor, for your mercy beyond the law!"
"We… will obey the Emperor's decree!"
They gave bitter smiles, bowing in unison.
Jiang Yuqiong watched them, letting out a cold snort.
"You dogs got off easy!"
"But this isn't over!"
"When I roam the Three Thousand Dao Domains in the future, I'll pay your families a nice visit."
He said with a chilling glare.
For this outcome, the members of Hidden Sword Mountain, Huangchu Holy Land, and Fu Long Divine Dynasty were reluctantly satisfied.
They said no more.
As the Emperor of Jinghong, Su Kuangren, and the Mu and Ji Family members turned to leave,
Suddenly, a wave of verdant divine light flared, treasures glowing, a fragrant aroma wafting forth, intoxicating all who smelled it!
Jiang Yuqiong noticed it instantly.
He beamed with delight.
"Perfect!"
"The Enlightenment Tea is ripe!"