I, the Villain, Become Invincible the More Descendants I Have

Chapter 53 Ruyan’s DefectionOutside Luoyang, flags blocked the sun, and the aura of slaughter soared to the heavens.

Three hundred thousand Great Xuan Dragon Cavalry stood in neat formation, their blades and spears flashing with cold light in the sunlight. One hundred thousand elites from the Demon Clan had arrived from the Northern Territory. Fox Clan scouts, Bear Clan heavy infantry, and Eagle Clan air forces were lined up, a scene even more shocking than the Ten Thousand Demon Worship.

Emperor Cao Xukun stood with his hands behind his back in the clouds, wearing the golden crown of Emperor Xuan and draped in the Ten Thousand Demon Robe, with faint phantoms of dragons and phoenixes flickering around him. The pressure of his Late Deity Transformation Stage perfection realm blanketed the area. The three hundred thousand troops did not make a sound; only the flapping of flags in the wind could be heard.

”Long live Emperor Xuan! Long live Great Xuan!”

The mountain-shaking shouts resonated through the heavens and earth, startling the birds in the sky into scattering in all directions.

Li Tieniu carried his War God Axe, rubbing his hands excitedly: ”Emperor Xuan! We’re finally going to war! I’ve been bored to death waiting! I’ll be the vanguard this time, I guarantee I’ll be the first to charge into Gu City and chop off Gu King’s dog head to avenge the Crown Prince!”

”What’s the rush?” Emperor Cao Xukun said calmly, ”That brat Gu King is just a grasshopper after the frost; he won’t be jumping for long. This time, not only will we destroy him, we will completely incorporate the Southern Border into the Great Xuan territory, so there will never be another Witch Tribe rebellion.”

Just as he finished speaking, a white figure stepped through the air; it was Empress Liu Ruyan.

”Your Majesty, this concubine is willing to lead five hundred light cavalry ahead to infiltrate the Southern Border and incite the Witch Tribe clans to defect.”

Emperor Cao Xukun was stunned: ”Ruyan? Why are you here? Didn’t I tell you to stay in Luoyang to take care of Qingyue and the others?”

”Your Majesty, rest assured, there are imperial physicians and maids in the palace to take care of them, they will be fine.” Empress Liu Ruyan smiled slightly, ”When I was young, I traveled through the Southern Border with my master and once saved the life of the Black Witch Tribe chief, so I have some friendship with several Witch Tribe clans. Now that Gu King is cruel and tyrannical, extracting levies and taxes, there is already much resentment within the Witch Tribe. If I go to incite them to defect, it will surely be twice the result with half the effort.”

”But Gu King’s Gu techniques are too sinister; I’m afraid you’ll be in danger.” Emperor Cao Xukun frowned.

”Your Majesty, please rest assured.” Empress Liu Ruyan took out a jade pendant from her bosom, ”This is the token the Black Witch Tribe chief gave me back then. With this, they will not harm me. Besides, I am no longer that little girl from back then; my Late Nascent Soul Stage cultivation is more than enough to protect myself. If it really comes to it, I still have the transmission talisman you gave me; you can arrive in half an hour.”

Li Tieniu also chimed in from the side: ”Emperor Xuan, Empress Liu Ruyan is right! To subdue the enemy without fighting is the best of the best! If we can incite a few tribes to defect, we can save so many brothers from dying!”

Emperor Cao Xukun pondered for a moment and nodded: ”Fine, I agree. But you must be careful; always leave yourself a way out, and whatever you do, don’t fight head-on. I will leave ten thousand Eagle Clan scouts for you to command at any time. Once there is danger, send me a message immediately, and I will kill my way over at once.”

”Thank you, Your Majesty!” Empress Liu Ruyan bowed and accepted the order, a trace of gratitude flashing in her eyes.

”Remember,” Emperor Cao Xukun leaned closer to her and lowered his voice, ”Incite them if you can, but if you can’t, withdraw. Your safety is more important than anything else. I will take Gu King’s head myself.”

”Mm.” Empress Liu Ruyan nodded with a flushed face, turned around, and led five hundred light cavalry, turning into a stream of light as she galloped toward the Southern Border.

Watching Empress Liu Ruyan’s retreating back, Li Tieniu chuckled: ”Emperor Xuan, you are really good to Empress Liu Ruyan.”

”Nonsense.” Emperor Cao Xukun rolled his eyes at him, ”That is my wife; who else should I be good to if not her? Alright, enough nonsense. Pass the order down, the army sets off! Advance slowly to buy time for Empress Liu Ruyan.”

”Understood!”

Three hundred thousand troops broke camp and set off in a mighty force toward the Southern Border. Along the way, they did not commit a single offense, and the common people lined the roads to welcome them, offering water and food, a very lively scene.

Meanwhile, in the Southern Border, Empress Liu Ruyan had already led her men to infiltrate the Ten Thousand Mountains.

Relying on the token from back then, she successfully found the Black Witch Tribe.

When the Black Witch Tribe chief saw Empress Liu Ruyan, he was both shocked and delighted: ”Miss Ruyan! It really is you! I thought you were long dead!”

”Chief, I trust you have been well.” Empress Liu Ruyan smiled slightly, ”I have come this time under the order of His Majesty, the Emperor of Great Xuan, to save you from this sea of bitterness.”

Mentioning Gu King, the Black Witch Tribe chief’s face sank instantly: ”Sigh, don’t mention it. Ever since that demon Gu King came, we haven’t had a single good day. Every household has to hand over twenty Gu insects every year; if we don’t, we get fed to the Gu insects. My son refused to help him refine the Heart-Eating Gu and was taken away by him; now his life or death is unknown.”

”Chief, rest assured, Emperor Xuan has already led four hundred thousand troops south and will arrive in a few days.” Empress Liu Ruyan said sternly, ”As long as you are willing to submit to Great Xuan, Emperor Xuan promises to abolish all harsh laws, release all captured tribesmen, and the Witch Tribe clans will enjoy the same rights as the citizens of Great Xuan. From now on, no one will be able to force you to refine Gu, and no one will be able to slaughter your tribesmen at will.”

”Really?” The Black Witch Tribe chief’s eyes lit up, but then they dimmed again, ”But Gu King’s Gu techniques are too powerful. If we submit, he will definitely retaliate against us.”

”What is there to fear?” Empress Liu Ruyan said confidently, ”Emperor Xuan is the one ordained by Heaven. With his Late Deity Transformation Stage cultivation, even the Dragon Clan has been subdued by him. Gu King is merely at the Peak Nascent Soul stage; in front of Emperor Xuan, he is just an ant. Last time he sent assassins to Luoyang to assassinate the Crown Prince, they were backlashed by Emperor Xuan’s divine abilities and exploded on the spot, not even leaving any residue.”

”What?!” The Black Witch Tribe chief was shocked, ”He was actually killed by Emperor Xuan’s backlash?”

”That’s not false.” Empress Liu Ruyan nodded, ”Emperor Xuan possesses Invulnerability to All Laws; any Gu technique or evil art is just for show in front of him. As long as you submit, Emperor Xuan will send troops to protect you. If Gu King dares to come, it will be the perfect opportunity to make sure he never returns.”

The Black Witch Tribe chief pondered for a moment, then slapped his thigh: ”Good! I believe you! Our Black Witch Tribe is willing to submit to Great Xuan! Working for Emperor Xuan is better than dying with that demon Gu King!”

”That’s great!” Empress Liu Ruyan was overjoyed.

Just then, a commotion came from outside.

A tribesman ran in in a panic: ”Chief! It’s bad! The overseer sent by Gu King is here! He says we haven’t handed over enough Gu insects this month and wants to take ten tribesmen to be used as nutrients for the Gu insects!”

”They came at the right time!” Empress Liu Ruyan’s eyes turned cold, ”Chief, lend me one hundred warriors; I will help you deal with them, just in time to give Emperor Xuan a welcoming gift.”

”No problem!” The Black Witch Tribe chief immediately picked one hundred strong tribesmen.

Empress Liu Ruyan led the men out and dealt with those overseers in a few moves. Looking at the corpses on the ground, the Black Witch Tribe chief was completely relieved.

The news quickly spread to the surrounding tribes.

The Green Witch Tribe, White Witch Tribe, Flower Witch Tribe... five tribes that had long been dissatisfied with Gu King sent people to find Empress Liu Ruyan, expressing their willingness to submit to Great Xuan.

In less than three days, Empress Liu Ruyan had incited half of the Witch Tribe clans in the Southern Border to defect, cutting off Gu King’s food supply and figuring out the defense layout of Gu City.

She immediately sent a message to Emperor Cao Xukun: ”Your Majesty, the defection strategy was successful! Five tribes have surrendered! The defense layout of Gu City has been obtained, the army can accelerate its advance!”

Emperor Cao Xukun received the message and laughed loudly: ”Good! Empress Liu Ruyan is indeed capable! Pass the order down, the army accelerates its advance! Within three days, we will reach Gu City!”

”Understood!”

The three hundred thousand troops were greatly encouraged and accelerated their marching speed.

Meanwhile, in Gu City, Gu King was refining the King of Ten Thousand Gu in the Gu refining room.

When he learned that five tribes had rebelled and that Empress Liu Ruyan had already infiltrated the Southern Border, he was so angry that he smashed the Gu refining furnace on the spot.

”Empress Liu Ruyan! Emperor Cao Xukun! You have gone too far!”

Gu King’s eyes were sinister, and he said through gritted teeth: ”Good! Since you are looking for death, then I will grant your wish! When you arrive, I will make you taste the feeling of the Ten Thousand Gu Heart-Eating!”

He waved his hand and roared at his subordinates: ”Pass my order! All Gu masters assemble! Open the Cave of Ten Thousand Insects! Prepare for battle!”

”I will make Emperor Cao Xukun and his three hundred thousand troops all become nutrients for my Gu insects!”