For the past ten years, only Ying has silently stayed by his side. Ever since he saved her life, ever since she fell in love with him, she has remained by his side. Even though she is of such high status, and even so as not to implicate him, she is willing to be his shadow, never seeing the sunlight, never appearing in front of others.
It was all for him. But he selfishly enjoyed Ying's love, never considering how hard Ying had suffered. At that time, all he cared about was the world and the throne of Li Kingdom. But now, having truly lost Ying, he realized that perhaps the world wasn't so important after all.
Initially, it was to conquer the world and gain power. Later, perhaps it was for the sake of Shadow. Because only by becoming powerful enough to contend with that force could he bring Shadow into the light. However, he stubbornly refused to admit it, stubbornly believing that an ambitious overlord should not have love.
So he buried his feelings for Ying, mistaking that intense emotion for dependence on a friend. He deceived himself, telling himself that he didn't conquer the world for Ying, that he wanted to gain the world and give Ying freedom, but only to repay Ying for her companionship over the years.
So be it. Nothing matters anymore. A cruel and malicious smile curled at the corner of Nalan Rong's lips as she looked at Situ Jingyan and Shen Qianmo, laughing, "Hehehe! Perhaps you've calculated everything, but you overlooked one thing, and that one thing is enough to bring you utter ruin!"
Seeing Nalan Rong's desolate and resentful appearance, Situ Jingyan and Shen Qianmo both frowned slightly.
Nalan Rong gently stroked Ying's cheek, a tender smile blooming on her lips, and softly said, "Ying, I'll be with you. In the underworld, we'll be a respectable couple."
With that, the software slashed across his neck, blood splattering out and drawing a bloody arc in the air. The strong smell of blood filled the air. Nalan Rong had died, embracing Ying.
Looking at Nalan Rong's corpse, Shen Qianmo's face remained devoid of any smile. Her gaze was fixed on the eerie peach blossom on Ying's cheek. Situ Jingyan's eyes were also fixed on that peach blossom.
Yan Xiuling stared blankly at the peach blossom. He had initially thought it was just an ordinary peach blossom, but then he thought of Nalan Rong's curse before his death, and the words he spoke as he gently stroked Ying's cheek. Considering Ying's extremely strange movements, a hint of seriousness flashed across Yan Xiuling's eyes.
The hall was deathly silent. No one dared to speak; it all seemed like a dream. Their emperor had died before their very eyes, as if it were all a nightmare.
"Those who obey me prosper, those who defy me perish." Situ Jingyan withdrew his gaze and said coldly. However, a trace of sorrow still lingered in his dark eyes.
At this moment, none of the ministers dared to utter a sound, and they all silently watched Situ Jingyan.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." Yao Yuanshan knelt on one knee, which undoubtedly showed his attitude. Seeing that Yao Yuanshan, who held a large army, had already surrendered, the ministers dared not continue the stalemate. They all rushed to express their loyalty. Situ Jingyan did not react to those sycophantic faces, but just watched coldly.
King Li died suddenly. All the ministers of Li surrendered to Tianmo. Tianmo's army attacked, sweeping through everything in its path, and several cities surrendered. The entire Li kingdom was without a ruler, all its forces surrendered, and Tianmo took complete control of Li. Thus, the Li kingdom was destroyed.
"Kill Nalan Rong to intimidate everyone. Make Yao Yuanshan surrender, and then make all the ministers surrender. Then, relying on the military deployment map, attack the Li Kingdom, and make the cities that had already been captured surrender, shaking the morale of the army. You swallowed up the Li Kingdom with almost no soldiers. Jingyan is really good at this." Yan Xiuling said with a smile.
Situ Jingyan's face showed no joy. His dark eyes were deep and unfathomable, and his tone was indifferent. "Save your breath. I don't believe you don't recognize that peach blossom mark."
Upon hearing this, Yan Xiuling's face also turned serious. Shen Qianmo's brows furrowed deeply.
"The mark of the Holy Maiden of Southern Frontier," Yan Xiuling said slowly, glancing at Situ Jingyan.
Shen Qianmo frowned slightly and said with a hint of seriousness, "I've seen her kung fu before. Her movements are extremely strange, like the kung fu of the Southern Frontier."
Situ Jingyan nodded in agreement with Shen Qianmo and Yan Xiuling.
Southern Xinjiang is a mysterious tribe at the southernmost tip of the continent. Its territory is vast, almost the size of the ancient Tianmo Kingdom. The people of Southern Xinjiang are shrouded in mystery, never interacting with other countries, content to live peacefully in their southern desert. Because Southern Xinjiang is not wealthy, and because its people have always remained isolated, the countries of the continent have never had any contact with it.
Although Yan Xiuling and Situ Jingyan desired to contend for the throne, they did not include the Southern Frontier within its sphere of influence. Firstly, the Southern Frontier was extremely remote, impoverished, and isolated from the outside world, making it difficult to govern. Secondly, the Southern Frontier was shrouded in mystery, especially the Southern Frontier Holy Clan, which possessed numerous experts with unpredictable movements and martial arts styles completely different from those of the Central Plains, and were skilled in using Gu poison.
The Holy Maiden of Southern Xinjiang. She is the spiritual icon of the Southern Xinjiang Holy Clan. Although the Holy Maiden's power is not great, her status is extremely important. This woman in black named Ying should be the Holy Maiden Naya who disappeared from Southern Xinjiang ten years ago. Because she fears that the people of Southern Xinjiang will find her, she has been hiding her whereabouts and not showing herself in public.
Furthermore, the Southern Frontier Holy Maiden possesses a unique Gu poison within her. Once she dies, the Southern Frontier will know and choose a successor. Now that Naya has died at their hands, the Southern Frontier likely already knows. The Southern Frontier Holy Maiden's importance to the Southern Frontier is self-evident; the Southern Frontier Holy Clan will certainly not let Tianmo go.
"Jingyan, you're in real trouble this time." Yan Xiuling shook his head helplessly. Southern Frontier was a terrifying and mysterious force. If they really faced it, the odds would be against them.
A wild, arrogant smile played on Situ Jingyan's lips. The Southern Frontier was indeed terrifying, but it couldn't frighten him. A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and Situ Jingyan slowly said, "Is Xiu Ling afraid?!"
Yan Xiuling understood Situ Jingyan's meaning after hearing his words. "If they don't move, I won't move." If Southern Xinjiang truly intended to confront them, then they might as well seize this opportunity to bring Southern Xinjiang into their territory. They wanted a complete and unified world!
Chapter Two: The Southern Frontier Takes Action
He wore a long, azure robe. Haoyue's eyes still held a hazy mist. He possessed an air of otherworldly refinement, while beside him stood Xuanlou, who shared the same refined air and gentle eyes. The only difference was that Xuanlou wore pure white robes.
Despite their captivating and gentle demeanor, the two appeared inferior in front of that alluring and unrestrained red figure.
Situ Jingyan wore a fiery red robe with intricate golden dragon patterns embroidered on the cuffs. He casually leaned back in his chair, and his seemingly casual movements exuded a natural domineering aura and charm, as if they possessed an irresistible magic and an indescribable nobility.
Even with her ethereal and otherworldly temperament, as pure as the moon reflected in a tower, she was still completely overshadowed by Situ Jingyan's imposing presence when standing before him.
Situ Jingyan leaned back lazily in his chair, his dark eyes slightly raised, a wicked smile playing on his lips, and asked in his uniquely seductive voice, "What is it?"
Xuanlou and Haoyue came to see him at the same time; something must have happened. Otherwise, they wouldn't have come to the palace to find him.
"The plague in the southern city." Haoyue's tone was calm, but it carried a hint of seriousness. Situ Jingyan raised an eyebrow and looked at Haoyue. Haoyue would never be so cautious about a plague.
A few thoughts flashed quickly in his dark eyes. Situ Jingyan pursed his lips slightly, and said slowly with a mixture of allure and seriousness, "Is it something done by the Southern Frontier?"
South City is the city closest to the south, so if Southern Frontier were to make a move, it would inevitably target South City first. The fact that Haoyue is paying such close attention to the plague in South City must have a reason; the only possibility is that Southern Frontier has begun its attack on Tianmo.
"It's the Flowing Wind Gu. It causes people to have plague-like symptoms and spreads like a plague," Xuanlou explained, picking up where Haoyue left off.
The affairs of Seven Absolutes Manor were temporarily left to Xuanming to manage, while he chose to stay in Tianmo. Firstly, he hadn't yet delivered the 100,000 weapons he promised Situ Jingyan, and Situ Jingyan had asked him to stay in Tianmo to help him. Secondly, it was his own selfish desire to see Shen Qianmo settle down and find happiness.
"Damn it!" A fierce glint flashed in Situ Jingyan's eyes. Was the Southern Frontier Holy Clan declaring war on him with the lives of his people?! If it was truly because he had accidentally killed the Southern Frontier Holy Maiden, and the Southern Frontier wanted revenge, he had no objection; a fair and square contest would suffice! But the Southern Frontier actually used Gu poison against his defenseless Tianmo people—it was truly infuriating and hateful!
"If it's not contained, I'm afraid it will spread." Haoyue frowned slightly, a trace of worry flashing in her misty eyes. The Gu poison in the Southern Frontier is somewhat different from that in the Central Plains, making it very difficult to cure. What should we do?
"Hmph! A mere Flowing Wind Gu, does the Southern Frontier really think the Central Plains has no one left?!" Just as Haoyue finished speaking, Shen Qianmo's clear and melodious voice rang out from behind.
Shen Qianmo was holding lotus seed soup, clearly bringing it as a snack to Situ Jingyan, when she overheard Haoyue and Situ Jingyan's conversation.
Situ Jingyan raised his eyes to look at Shen Qianmo. The Demon Palace was skilled in using poisons and medicines, especially Gu poison. As the Palace Master of the Demon Palace, Shen Qianmo was naturally also an expert. That day in Qi Yue, Shen Qianmo had only glanced at Shangguan Che before recognizing the Tong Sheng Gu poison. Thinking of this, Situ Jingyan smiled wickedly and asked, "Mo'er, can you cure this Gu poison?"
“Of course!” A hint of confidence flashed in Shen Qianmo’s dark eyes, and a flamboyant smile appeared on her lips. Her fiery red clothes accentuated her fiery temperament. Unlike her previous noble white clothes, Shen Qianmo now exuded the charm of a married woman and a bewitching aura of murderous intent.
Reaching out to embrace Shen Qianmo, Situ Jingyan affectionately stroked her hair and smiled, "Mo'er is truly my lucky star."
Shen Qianmo returned a faint smile. She knew that Situ Jingyan said this only to fulfill her little wish. She had always stubbornly refused to live under Situ Jingyan's protection, not wanting to be a burden to him, but rather wanting to help him and stand by his side. After noticing her little wish, Situ Jingyan made sure she felt important in every way, all to make her happy. Although she didn't say it outright, she understood this affection very well.
Xuan Lou saw Shen Qianmo and Situ Jingyan's intertwined hands and their red robes blending together, and a trace of disappointment flashed in his eyes. Since returning to Tianmo, Shen Qianmo had changed her usual white attire and, like Situ Jingyan, had always worn bright red.
It must be said that Shen Qianmo is actually more suited to this red color, just like her—bright and dazzling, flamboyant and eerie, with a captivating charm.