Refining the Mountains and Rivers

By the time Qin Yu saw the corpse, two hours had passed. The corpse had been cleaned up and a new set of clothing placed upon it. But, its distorted expression couldn't be concealed.

It was Shang Yuntai.

Qin Yu fell silent. In a daze, he recalled the past and how Shang Yuntai had been struggling to survive as he slowly died from poison. The reason Qin Yu had helped him out was because Qin Yu also shared a similar experience in his own past.

But now, Shang Yuntai had died.

Shang Yuntai had experienced endless tribulations and had barely managed to survive after struggling on the precipice of death. Shang Yuntai was supposed to have obtained a new life, but in the end he couldn't escape his pitiful destiny and had died like this…all of his hard work and effort were now for nothing.

In truth, Qin Yu and Shang Yuntai didn't have much of a friendship. But when Qin Yu saw his corpse, for some reason he couldn't help but feel an intense sense of restlessness in his heart.

As the Demon Envoy felt the increasingly terrifying aura coming from Qin Yu's body, his complexion changed. He hesitated repeatedly and finally said, "Your Majesty Holy Monarch, the Mu Family indeed does have a crime-pardoning imperial edict. I ask that you consider these things before you mete out your punishment."

Qin Yu said without expression, "No matter their status, I want three generations of the Mu Family, including all a.d.u.l.t men and women, to be summarily executed! Babies, children, old women, I want them exiled to the border and their cultivations to be abolished. None of them are allowed to cultivate ever again!"

The Demon Envoy's eyes widened, "Your Majesty!"

Throughout the years, the Mu Family had become deeply ingrained within the Demonic Path. Due to generations of marriage into other families, their network of influence was complex. Even if only three generations were implicated, this was a dreadfully large scope. It would surely shake up the Demonic Path.

Qin Yu calmly said, "Didn't Mu Yunli kill Shang Yuntai to enrage me? Then, I will fulfill his wish."

He lifted a hand, his expression ice cold. "There is no need for further discussion. Go and carry out my order."

The Demon Envoy took a deep breath. He bowed and drew back. He had fulfilled his responsibility of giving advice. Since His Majesty the Holy Monarch insisted on this, he could only comply.

To use the entire Mu Family to create trouble for the Holy Monarch, Mu Yunli that old bastard, he was a truly vicious and ruthless dog!

Within the chamber, only Qin Yu was left. When he looked at the ice cold corpse of Shang Yuntai, he slowly said, "The entire Mu Family will be buried with you. If you can hear me in the underworld, I hope you can find peace."

With a flick of his sleeves, space disintegrated and submerged Shang Yuntai's body, turning the corpse into ashes. Then, Qin Yu turned and walked away, an introspective look in his eyes.

They had both struggled to move forward and reverse their destinies. But, Qin Yu would not allow himself to suffer the same fate that befell Shang Yuntai.

He could not!

Within two days, three generations of Mu Family a.d.u.l.ts were slain in cold blood. So much blood flowed out that the color lit up the skies, nearly dyeing the heavens red.

To kill one person was simple. To kill ten wasn't hard. But what about a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, or even more? With just a thought from one person, tens of thousands of heads rolled.

For a time, those within the Demonic Path's Holy Land small world were left in a bewildered panic. They felt infinite fear and trepidation towards the actions of the new Holy Monarch.

Luckily, it seemed that His Majesty the Holy Monarch had slaked his blood thirst with the extermination of the Mu Family; he didn't do anything else shocking. Things seemed to calm down on the surface, but a storm of blood and thunder still surged in the darkness.

Of course, all of these things occurred in secret. The Demonic Path was preparing to welcome a joyous grand ceremony to pay respects to His Majesty the new Holy Monarch.

A long time had passed since the last Holy Monarch perished. Now, the Demonic Path welcomed a new peak character who could summon winds and clouds, who stood upon the pinnacle of the world. It was something worth celebrating.

On the day of celebration, the Dark Night Demon Region's Supreme Seat and the Blue Skies Yellow Springs' Yama gathered together. With this, the three heads of the Demonic Path reunited once more. When the countless cultivators of the Demonic Path saw this, they were so excited that they began to cry.

During the celebrations, the three heads of the Demonic Path only made a brief appearance at the start. After that, they headed into the Holy Palace where they began their first meeting.

Besides them, no one knew what they spoke about. But a day after the celebration, news spread out from the Demonic Path. Like a meteor crashing into the sea it immediately set off a torrential wave throughout the entire Land of Divinity and Demons.

Ten days from now, the Demonic Path's Holy Monarch would personally go to pay a visit to the Immortal Sect!

Countless cultivators were left dumbfounded. When they first heard this news their first thought was that it was some nonsensical talk. The Immortal Sect and Demonic Path might seem to have a cordial relationship on the surface, but the truth was that they were mortal enemies who had fought against each other for countless years. They both wished that their opponent would die.

The Demon Sovereign visiting the Immortal Sect?

Please tell me, who was the one that wrote this brainless script? What kind of joke was this!?

But soon, everyone determined that this news wasn't fake!

The Demonic Path announced to the world that this was the decision of the Demonic Path's new Holy Monarch. Now, all they waited for was the response of the Immortal Sect.

All cultivators who knew of this matter waited with bated breath and pale faces. Fear surged in their hearts. Was another great war going to erupt between the Immortal Sect and Demonic Path?

The entire Land of Divinity and Demons fell into a state of deep oppression because of the contact between these two titans.

A day later, the Immortal Sect announced that they would welcome the arrival of His Majesty the Holy Monarch. When this news spread out, it also caused another fierce earthquake.

But in fact, this was something normal. The Demonic Path had already made a move and the Immortal Sect wouldn't retreat.

Moreover, this was the Demon Sovereign visiting the Immortal Sect. The Immortal Sect had nothing to fear!

Everything would be decided in ten days when the Demon Sovereign visited the Immortal Sect. The attention of the world was completely gathered here.

…

Immortal Sect, Nineheaven Mirrormoon Palace.

Shen Yuanyin was frozen within a giant block of ice. She closed her eyes, her aura violently fluctuating within her.

Suddenly, she fiercely opened her eyes. There seemed to be a galaxy spinning around in the depths of her eyes as countless fragmented images passed.

Bang -

The thick ice didn't seem as if it could withstand the strength that arrived. It was directly blasted apart.

Shen Yuanyin stuffily coughed and the sea of stars within her eyes rapidly faded away. Blood trickled down from the corners of her lips.

"Shen Yuanyin…Ning Ling…Shen Yuanyin…Ning Ling…"

A bitter voice echoed through the hall.

…

The night was dark like water, concealing all. One couldn't even see their fingers in front of their face. In a barren wilderness, a wild wolf was enjoying the flesh and blood of the prey it just brought down. It gobbled up its meal in great gulps while carefully sweeping its eyes around.

Suddenly, the wild wolf stiffened. Then, its head rolled over.

But no blood flowed out from the corpse. Even the bits and pieces of fragmented flesh began to wither away and lose all l.u.s.ter.

A figure with a hunched back appeared beside the wolf corpse. Its mouth seemed to be swallowing something. Then, it let out a comfortable sigh.

"You even eat such weak blood energy. Old Hunchback, it seems your condition isn't so great. If you can't endure it any longer and are going to die soon, you might as well give me your cultivation rather than waste it."

A hoarse voice came from afar. A foggy figure floated in.

The hunchbacked figure grinned, "Old Ghost Head, even if you die I can still live well!"

A third voice rose up, "Old Hunchback is right." This new arrival was silent for a moment, approaching closer before speaking again, "None of us can outlive him."

The foggy figure laughed but didn't say anything else.

"Stop struggling. If you really wanted to be freed, remember to give me the benefits. Hah…I'm really tired of living!" A hatchet emerged from thin air, cutting open a door. A thin figure walked out. Wrinkles covered his face and weariness filled his eyes.

"Tsk tsk. Woodchopper you are unexpectedly still alive. I heard that Solitary Westgate personally hunted you down. It seems your luck is as good as ever!"

Woodchopper Fu humphed. He absolutely didn't want to remember the past. It was just a little bit…just a little bit, and he would have died.

"That's enough. We gathered here today for an important matter."

The atmosphere fell silent.

Old Ghost Head's voice became even hoarser, like two rusty iron sheets rubbing against each other, "Woodchopper, we all understand your meaning. But something like this…hehe, just the smallest mistake and we are all done for."

Woodchopper Fu coldly sneered. "Even if it wasn't for this, how long can you all keep on lasting for? The ceremony has been prepared for many years and now we are just missing a qualified sacrifice. This is the best chance for us. We will never have another like it!"

The quiet one said, "I approve."

The first old man looked up, "How strange. This dumb mute is usually the quietest and most cautious yet he agrees so quickly."

The mute said, "It's a rare chance!"

Woodchopper Fu grinned, causing waves on his face's wrinkles. "It's not easy for any of us to live. Stop delaying. Let's vote."

The four all agreed.

"We only have one chance."

"We will bet our lives."

"We must be careful."

"We will do our best!"

The four voices spoke up together. Then, they slowly faded away, like the hum of flies, gradually disappearing.