Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

Jiang Ding followed Chenshan King, step by step toward the Imperial Palace, as if entering into the gaping maw of a desolate ancient beast.

This Imperial Palace, though called a palace, is in fact an incredibly vast and majestic cluster of palaces, where many high-ranking lords of the Flame Stone Family and numerous members of the Great Emperor’s bloodline reside.

Here lies the highest concentration of Spiritual Energy in the Flame Stone Star Domain, and the best location for Body Refinement and cultivation. Many of the strong youths from the Flame Stone Star Domain spent their early years here.

As for the Great Emperor, he does not reside here. The Minor Thousand World is too cramped for him, and although bearable, it is not a suitable dwelling.

The Great Emperor’s true abode is amongst the Starry Sky.

After walking for a moment, Jiang Ding revealed a hint of surprise.

”This direction, it doesn’t seem to be leading to the Yanliu Imperial Child’s Crown Prince’s Palace?”

He remarked unexpectedly.

”You should refer to the Emperor’s Descendant as ’Your Majesty’,” said Demon Mountain King, who arrived out of nowhere, indifferently: ”The Emperor’s Descendant currently does not wish to see you. You have been arranged to stay in the Household Palace, awaiting the time when the Emperor’s Descendant wishes to summon you.”

”As for when, that depends on the Emperor’s Descendant mood.”

”Is that so?”

Blood River King revealed a slight smile.

A few lords moved swiftly. In just a moment, they arrived at a cramped and decrepit palace—an establishment so unworthy that it was effectively a three-story building, pitiful in every aspect.

This was the Household Palace of the Flame Stone Family, an institution managing financial and tax affairs of over ten Minor Thousand Worlds, possessing great authority yet a low status, deliberately suppressed to maintain a certain balance.

The key personnel of the Household Palace were composed of seventh, eighth, and ninth-class members of the Slave Clan. Members of the Flame Stone Family simply supervised without any real responsibilities.

This was a change implemented during Blood River King’s management of the Household Palace, claiming that only slaves would be absolutely loyal to the Great Emperor, Emperor’s Descendants, and Emperor’s Daughters, without the risk of corruption or embezzlement, creating the most revenue for the Great Emperor.

And indeed, the result was as he expected.

The slaves had slave brands and could be killed at any time, unlike the members of the Flame Stone Family who held themselves as direct relatives of the Great Emperor, displaying arrogance and causing inefficiency and waste.

During Blood River King’s governance, the entire Flame Stone Family’s industries flourished, and taxes surged by thirty percent.

This was an increase of thirty percent from eleven Minor Thousand Worlds!

A colossal wealth, from which Blood River King rose to prominence, advancing to Divinity Transformation, even reaching the Peak of Hua Shen.

The price, however, was offending all the lords of the Horned Demon Imperial Clan and the lords of the Slave Clan, becoming a truly solitary official.

Back then, Blood River King’s faux death, apart from his desire to peep into the Imperial Realm, was also a major factor due to the frenzied schemes of the Horned Demon Imperial Clan and the lords of the Slave Clan. He was indeed an enemy to many.

Now, to place a Blood River King in the cramped Household Palace was appropriate.

But for an invincible lord within the Flame Stone Star Domain to be assigned here, this was a blatant insult, hardly fitting his status.

”Household Palace...”

Jiang Ding showed a nostalgic expression, his Divine Sense sweeping through to notice that many of the working officials inside had been replaced by members of the Horned Demon Emperor Clan. The Slave Clan now merely served, no longer participating in the taxation work—a resurgence of old powers, he couldn’t help but smile faintly: ”Has my reform been abolished?”

”Prioritizing and nurturing one’s own blood relatives, that’s the proper path,” said Chenshan King with a sneer. ”You heretic, have you gotten away with your cunning tricks for a while, and now you aim to keep misleading the Emperor’s Descendant?”

”Ha, indeed.”

Jiang Ding laughed heartily: ”However, in my view, this is likely just a temporary compromise from Emperor Yanliu, a pacification, until he has secured his footing. I reckon he will probably restart my reforms. Your set of righteous and grand empty talks are futile.”

”No matter how righteous and grandiose it is, it pales in comparison to the crisp and refreshing Spirit Stones.”

”Moreover, you are weak, utterly incapable of stopping it.”

The so-called bureaucratic obstruction is useless against a powerful individual who has consolidated power; if a group resists, eliminate them. The naive thought of using seniority and righteousness to suppress others is foolish.

It wasn’t without reason that Blood River King was able to reform smoothly previously.

”You, a mere servant, short-sighted, how can you possibly have the ability to speculate on the Emperor’s Descendant’s thoughts?”

Chenshan King’s expression darkened as he rebuked sharply.

At some point after entering this palace, he had grown increasingly bold, daring to challenge Blood River King, even though he had always been cautious outside the palace.

”Ha ha! Interesting!”

Jiang Ding’s laughter grew louder.

”Blood River King.”

”Cangkong Imperial Child orders you to surrender him, do it now!”

Chenshan King lost his patience, his face grew grim as he commanded in an imperious tone, no longer polite, without any pretense of civility.

Cangkong Imperial Child remains captive to Blood River King to this day, it’s impossible for him to be dead, for he has the protective measures of Ancient Emperor Cangyan on him, making it impossible for him to be killed by any being other than an Emperor’s Descendant.

Blood River King can seal, humiliate, defeat, and even cut off the arms of Cangkong Imperial Child, none of which matter. To the eyes of the Great Emperors, these are all necessary trials, they wouldn’t care about such things.

But this does not include the life of Cangkong Imperial Child.

Only an Emperor’s Descendant can kill another Emperor’s Descendant.

Cangkong Imperial Child is only sealed now, not dead, which means the Emperor’s Descendant’s battle is not over yet, and Yanliu Imperial Child cannot truly claim the crown of an Emperor’s Descendant.

”What if I choose not to hand him over?”

Jiang Ding asked.

Threads of killing intent surfaced imperceptibly.

Chenshan King and Demon Mountain King shivered subconsciously, their hearts wrapped in fear and towering bloody waves, as if facing a ferocious tiger, seemingly about to perish the next moment, without any power to resist.

The gap between them was so terrifying!

Only when they truly faced an invincible ruler comparable to a King-level Emperor’s Descendant, did they understand how those dozens of Horned Demon Emperor Clan rulers died.

”You can try.”

Chenshan King’s tone was icy, speaking deliberately, word by word.

Even in such circumstances, he still dared to threaten, such audacity.

”...Is that so?”

Jiang Ding fell silent, understanding something.

During the battle of the Emperor’s Descendants, the Great Emperors would not intervene, nor would various Emperor Level Formation Methods appear; these were the rules of the Horned Demon Emperor Clan.

However, there are no rules in the world that are absolute, that can never be shaken.

The enforcement of all rules and laws must be supported by force; otherwise, they are just words on paper, meaningless.

The battle of the Emperor’s Descendants is the same.

The fact that the battle of Emperor’s Descendants can proceed smoothly relies entirely on Ancient Emperor Cangyan, Flame Stone Great Emperor, the traditions of the Horned Demon Emperor Clan, political correctness, and their mutual standoff and balance, ensuring the fairness of the battle.

They are the rule-makers, the leaders, not the followers.

Under such circumstances, a servant, trying to rely on so-called rules to confront and restrain a Great Emperor?

What a joke.

To have a Great Emperor abide by rules, you yourself must be supported by a Great Emperor!

And now, Ancient Emperor Cangyan, who stands behind Cangkong Imperial Child, would never support Blood River King, thus the so-called rules are no longer rules.

This is not a procedure where you can take advantage of loopholes.

”Take it.”

Jiang Ding smiled, handing over a man-high blood cocoon to the two kings.

The only lifeline of Blood River King from beginning to end is his own value, possibly becoming a Slave Emperor for the Flame Stone Family.

Nothing more than that, nothing less.