At the mountain peak.
Bo Saixi watched as the flames gradually rolled into a spherical mass.
She took a sharp breath.
Never could she have imagined.
Ye Tian's words were actually true.
The scent of charred remains wafted over from the Blood Valley several kilometers away.
Bo Saixi turned back in disbelief, staring at Ye Tian.
"The power of this thing… I'm afraid even a Hyper Douluo wouldn't be able to match it, right?"
Ye Tian chuckled lightly. "If it were used against a Hyper Douluo, it might not be enough."
"But below the Hyper Douluo level, no one could possibly survive!"
It wasn't that the rocket's explosive power couldn't threaten the flesh and blood of a Hyper Douluo.
Rather, the preemptive sensing ability and movement speed of a Hyper Douluo already surpassed the speed of the explosion.
Thus, to a Hyper Douluo, the rocket was practically useless.
But this was already enough to shock Bo Saixi.
"So, does this mean there are probably no more evil soul masters left in the Blood Valley?"
"Isn't that obvious?" Ye Tian replied calmly, turning and waving his hand. "We can head back now with peace of mind. I wonder if Qian Renxue has managed to resolve the beast tide over there."
Hearing this, a trace of solemnity returned to Bo Saixi's eyes.
She said gravely, "Once spirit beasts gather in large numbers, the innate ferocity in their bones is awakened."
"It won't be easy to eradicate them in a short time."
"Which is exactly why we need to return as soon as possible," Ye Tian sighed softly.
"But before we go back, we need to make a trip to the Blood Valley."
"To the Blood Valley?" Bo Saixi was slightly surprised.
"Wasn't it already destroyed by your bomb?"
"What, are you worried the Slaughter King might not have died on the spot?"
Bo Saixi didn't use the name "Tang Chen."
Because in her heart, the former master of the Clear Sky Sect was not an embodiment of evil.
Ye Tian smiled faintly. "Haven't you forgotten? The Slaughter King's true form is a Nine-Headed Bat."
"Our Douluo Continent doesn't have spirit beasts like the Nine-Headed Bat."
"So, I suspect he might actually be a demonic beast from another world."
At this, Bo Saixi's pupils brightened, and her delicate eyebrows lifted slightly. "Are you thinking of searching for an ancient demonic beast's inner core?"
"Exactly. I really can't hide anything from you, Sister Bo," Ye Tian chuckled.
Bo Saixi, however, gave him a somewhat odd look. "You're quite concerned about Xiao Wu, aren't you?"
Ye Tian replied matter-of-factly, "Consider it repaying a favor. It's also to settle past grievances."
"I don't like owing people things."
"That's the way it should be. I support you, little brother." Standing at a higher vantage point, Bo Saixi looked down at Ye Tian strategically and patted his shoulder.
...
Blood Valley.
No trace of vegetation could be seen in the surroundings.
The ground was scorched black everywhere.
The towering altar had also crumbled into ruins.
"Hey, there's a pile of gold soul coins!"
Bo Saixi's eyes lit up as she pointed ahead.
Ye Tian glanced over and indeed spotted a heap of gold soul coins.
There were probably over ten thousand of them.
True gold fears no fire.
The gold soul coins hadn't turned to charred waste from the explosion.
Instead, they gleamed brilliantly against the surrounding blackened environment.
Judging by the way the coins were scattered,
Ye Tian could roughly guess that this was the result of a spatial ring being crushed by the explosion's force, causing all its stored contents to spill out.
After walking a few more steps,
Ye Tian came across another pile of gold soul coins, among which were some precious jade stones.
"The evil soul masters have committed countless atrocities over the years, and the Slaughter City has existed for over a century."
"It seems they've amassed quite a fortune."
Bo Saixi smiled gracefully. "Consider this our reward for eliminating a scourge for the people."
"If Sister wants them, take them," Ye Tian said, waving his hand dismissively.
"What, you don't want any?" Bo Saixi was slightly surprised, muttering under her breath, "You… you don't manage a household, so you don't know how precious money is."
"The wealth scattered across this valley would make even a Title Douluo-level expert's heart race."
"What, Sister, are you tempted?" Ye Tian looked up, puzzled.
Bo Saixi wouldn't stoop to chasing after money, would she?
Hearing this, Bo Saixi remained composed.
"Do I look like someone who lacks money?"
"Leaving this wealth here would just let it rot."
"Might as well use it to aid the poor. Consider it doing a good deed."
"Sister is so thoughtful," Ye Tian smiled faintly. He hadn't actually considered this angle.
Or rather, he didn't believe this alone could truly help the poor.
After all, money was an extension of power.
Without systemic change, no matter how much money was given to the poor, they would remain poor.
Not in the mood to gather other treasures,
Ye Tian strode across the valley, searching for Tang Chen's corpse.
"No need to look," Bo Saixi said, somewhat exasperated, as she caught up to Ye Tian. Tilting her head, she added, "Trying to do everything yourself isn't necessarily a good thing. Can't you ask me for help?"
Bo Saixi placed a hand on her chest and pointed at the ruins ahead with her right hand. "If you search on your own, it'll take forever."
"Then, Sister, could you lend a hand?" Ye Tian asked tentatively.
"That's more like it." Bo Saixi clasped her hands behind her back and said calmly, "Although my spiritual power can't directly detect the demonic core's location,"
"It can scan for treasures like gold soul coins."
"As the leader of the evil soul masters, the Slaughter King would naturally possess the most treasures."
After saying this, Bo Saixi pressed her right index and middle fingers to her temples and closed her eyes.
A vast, boundless spiritual power rippled outward from her like waves.
After just a moment,
Bo Saixi opened her starry, radiant eyes.
She extended a finger, revealing her pearly white teeth in a smile. "Found it."
Following Bo Saixi's lead, Ye Tian arrived at a section of the ruined altar.
"It's right below. Step back, and I'll blast it open."
Bo Saixi waved her hand lightly.
After Ye Tian took a few steps back,
Bo Saixi took a deep breath and pressed her slender, snow-white palm gently against the ground.
Boom!
A low, muffled sound erupted.
The surrounding ruins of the altar were instantly reduced to dust.
A three-meter-deep crater appeared before them.
Bo Saixi paid no mind to the dust and debris.
She floated gracefully into the crater.
After rummaging for a moment,
A pitch-black demonic core appeared in her hand.
"Here it is!"
Bo Saixi's face broke into a smile.
At the edge of the crater,
Seeing the demonic core in Bo Saixi's hand,
Ye Tian also smiled.
He had guessed correctly—the creature parasitizing Tang Chen was indeed an ancient demonic beast.
Now, the materials needed to revive Xiao Wu's mother were complete.
Bo Saixi leaped out of the crater and waved the demonic core in front of Ye Tian before dusting off her black skirt.
"You owe me big for this!"
"Of course," Ye Tian said gratefully as he took the ancient demonic core from Bo Saixi.
He then pulled out an empty jade vial from his storage space and placed the core inside.
Bo Saixi beamed. "My request isn't too much. When you have time, you must personally cook me a delicious meal."
At this, her tone carried a hint of complaint.
"You're always talking about how many good foods there are in East Sea City, but I've never seen you cook any yourself."
Ye Tian shrugged helplessly. "It's just that life in Heaven Dou City has been too busy."
"But since Sister has asked, I won't go back on my word."
Bo Saixi glanced contentedly at the sky. "It's getting late. Let's hurry back to Heaven Dou City."
"Alright."
...
On the walls of Heaven Dou City.
The empire's most elite imperial guards stood at the ready, weapons in hand.
Dressed in military attire, Qian Renxue stood atop the city wall.
Her gaze was fixed on the countless spirit beast corpses floating densely on the moat.
Her expression grew increasingly grave.
She turned to the imperial guard commander, General Huwei Luo Feng, and asked, "How many waves of attacks have the spirit beasts launched?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, this is the seventh!"
"What are our casualties?" Qian Renxue lifted her eyes.
"Fewer than two thousand soldiers, but the civilians outside the city… all perished."
After saying this, Luo Feng lowered his head.
As a general, it was his duty to report the truth to Qian Renxue.
With the towering city walls as protection, military losses were indeed minimal.
But civilian casualties were devastating.
Especially those who had gathered at the base of the walls seeking refuge before the city gates closed.
They had almost all been wiped out.
In total, at least fifty to sixty thousand had died!
Hearing Luo Feng's report, Qian Renxue remained expressionless, silent for a long time.
She clenched the hilt of the sword at her waist tightly, her eyes burning with fury.
"Your Majesty, Lord Ning Cheng, the head of the Senate, requests an audience."
An attendant stepped forward and bowed.
"Ning Cheng? He's a civil official. Shouldn't he be staying home at a time like this? What's he doing at the city walls?"
Qian Renxue frowned.
The Senate was a largely redundant institution in the Heaven Dou Empire.
It was a relic of the era when nobles jointly participated in governance.
But ever since imperial authority was strengthened, the Senate had declined.
The title of "Senator" had become purely honorary.
Though the Senate had waned in influence,
The position of Senate Head was not a hollow one.
It held supervisory authority over the empire, responsible for impeaching officials.
Ning Cheng, who held this position, came from an aristocratic family and had served as an official for seventy years. A veteran of three reigns, he held considerable prestige in the Heaven Dou Empire.
"Let him come," Qian Renxue waved dismissively, still frowning.
As a three-reign veteran, Ning Cheng deserved some respect.
Soon, An old man hobbled forward on a peachwood cane, stopping before Qian Renxue.
"Your subject, Ning Cheng, pays respects to Your Majesty!"
As he spoke, Ning Cheng began to bow.
"Lord Ning, given your poor health, there's no need for formalities," Qian Renxue said imperiously, raising a hand.
Then she asked:
"With the beast tide upon us, why has Lord Ning not stayed home? What brings you here?"
"This old subject has come precisely because of the beast tide."
Ning Cheng remained composed as he tremblingly retrieved a gilded memorial from his robes and presented it with both hands.
"Lord Ning, what is the meaning of this?" Qian Renxue asked, puzzled as she accepted the memorial. He was already here—couldn't he just speak directly?
Ning Cheng leaned on his cane and insisted on bowing. "This is a joint petition from thirteen court officials and nobles in the capital, requesting the dismissal of Imperial Preceptor Ye Tian."
At this point, Ning Cheng grew agitated.
"Your Majesty! The empire passed down by the late emperor cannot be left to the reckless whims of a brat like Ye Tian!"
"This beast tide is proof!"
"It shows the gods above can no longer tolerate Ye Tian's misdeeds!"
"I beg Your Majesty to dismiss Ye Tian!"
Ning Cheng knelt on the cold ground.
"This subject also humbly requests Ye Tian's dismissal!"
At that moment, a middle-aged official pushed past the guards and rushed forward.
Seeing the man, Qian Renxue was stunned.
This was Lu Hai, the Minister of Revenue, who had been leading soldiers on the walls to resist the beast tide all day.
Lu Hai was someone she had promoted to his position not long ago!
Qian Renxue took a step back.
She hadn't expected Lu Hai to betray her like this.
After a moment of silence,
Qian Renxue gripped the memorial and asked, "The names of all the officials who jointly submitted this are listed here, correct?"
"Correct!" Ning Cheng declared righteously. "The brat Ye Tian is leading the nation to ruin—it's an outrage to both man and heaven!"
"If Your Majesty continues to let Ye Tian serve as Imperial Preceptor, the Heaven Dou Empire will surely face destruction!"
"Good, very good!" Qian Renxue's chest heaved violently.
She raised her eyes to General Huwei Luo Feng. "General Luo, do you think I should dismiss State Preceptor Ye?"
Luo Feng stood firm and saluted. "This subject is ignorant and dares not comment on state affairs! I beg Your Majesty to decide!"
Qian Renxue didn't even glance at the memorial's contents before tossing it to Luo Feng.
Then she enunciated each word:
"Everyone whose name appears on that memorial is to be dismissed and banished from Heaven Dou City!"
"Your subject obeys!"
Luo Feng caught the memorial firmly, his tone solemn.
"Your Majesty, you are dooming the empire! Your Majesty!"
"Since Ye Tian became Imperial Preceptor, he has persecuted many loyal subjects of Heaven Dou!"
"Now there are even rumors of an alliance with the Spirit Hall!"
"If this plan proceeds, the empire's thousand-year foundation will be irreparably destroyed!!!"
As he spoke, Ning Cheng, leaning on his cane, prostrated himself on the ground, weeping and wailing on the city walls.
Having served in Heaven Dou City for seventy years, he couldn't bear the thought of the day when the Spirit Hall's armies would reduce the prosperous capital to ashes!
"Stubborn and incorrigible!" Qian Renxue turned her back and raised a hand. "Drag him away!"
"Lord Ning, please," Luo Feng said quietly.
Out of respect for the three-reign veteran, Luo Feng refrained from using force.
"Heavens, open your eyes! Save the Heaven Dou Empire!"
Ning Cheng looked up at the night sky, his voice hoarse and his expression despairing.
The spectacle drew the attention of many soldiers.
Luo Feng barked, "Disperse!"
At once, the soldiers fell silent and returned to their posts.
Minister of Revenue Lu Hai also cried out in anguish:
"Your Majesty! Even if it costs this subject his position—no, even his head—I must beg you to dismiss Ye Tian!"
"That man has no talent for governance!"
"If Ye Tian remains in power, the Heaven Dou Empire will inevitably become the Spirit Hall's puppet!"
"Lord Lu, that's enough!"
Luo Feng sighed inwardly but spoke sternly.
"Your Majesty's decisions are not for you to question!"
"Guards, remove Lord Lu!"
Clearly, Luo Feng was trying to protect Lu Hai.
If the emperor's anger flared, mere dismissal would be the least of his worries.
His head might roll!
(End of Chapter)