Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Great Yan Empire, Thistle Capital.

The cold chill that came from the south of the northern border mixed together with the rich humidity blowing in from the sea to form thick layers of clouds above the ancient capital city.

Light drops of rain pierced through the layers of clouds and fell down. They brought together with them a piercing cold that caused the dim rainy days to feel a little more constrained.

The nine city gates had been opened up wide. Contingents of cavalry and soldiers stood outside the towering walls of the capital city, each one standing as still as a stone statue in the cold rain. No matter how their iron armor was soaked, none of them moved in the least.

The war riders sat atop vigorous black leopards. Their green and shining eyes were dim and quiet. Looking from afar, these troops formed a dense wave that had no end in sight.

The Yan Empire's Far East Cavalry was only inferior to the Qin Empire's Tomb Armor Cavalry and the Chu Empire's Deer Driving Cavalry. They were said to be amongst the world's strongest killing forces. They were like a torrential wave, unstoppable in their advance, capable of destroying the hardest defenses!

Suddenly, the thick clouds above Thistle Capital began to melt away like snow beneath the hot sun. Sunlight blazed down, sparkling through the clear skies.

They had come!

Throughout Thistle Capital, the hearts of countless people began to race. A trillion eyes looked up at the skies as a pitch black vortex of demonic power appeared.

Eight massive demon phantoms circled around the vortex. Although their eyes were closed, they still emitted a terrifying aura.

Then, True Demon Guards wearing black armor and riding atop nightmare demon horses flooded out from the vortex like a raging tide.

The leading True Demon Guards had ice cold gazes beneath their armor. As their eyes bumped into those of the motionless Far East Cavalry before them, the air suddenly seemed to thicken!

True Demon Guards gushed out endlessly, forming a slanted pattern as they scattered to the sides like a pair of unfolding wings. When the first trace of blood red appeared, the Far East Cavalry down below suddenly took a deep breath.

The Holy Nether Guard was the personal army of the Demonic Path's Holy Monarch. Although there weren't many of them, they were known as the world's greatest fighting force.

Since ancient times, there had been several wars that swept up the whole world. The Holy Nether Guard had only taken action a limited number of times, but each time they did it was an earthshaking event, and they had yet to be defeated.

The Far East Cavalry had an excellent record of success. The only reason they were ranked behind the Tomb Armor Cavalry was because the Far East Cavalry had once gone up against the Holy Nether Guard and had been directly routed, ending in them suffering disastrous casualties.

That defeat led to Thistle Capital being broken into and the royal family being slaughtered. Their line of inheritance had nearly been severed. This was a bitter hatred that everyone within the Yan Empire remembered. As for the Far East Cavalry, this was a shame that was firmly kept in mind and was reinforced as the very first lesson for newcomers.

Feeling the killing intent coming from the riders on their backs, the vicious black leopards roared out loud. But as the riders tensed their bodies they quickly calmed down. The only difference was that their eyes became even more cruel and dark.

5000 red-armored Holy Nether Guards formed the central position. Then, another large number of black-armored True Demon Guards appeared, 9000 in total, forming the tail end of the formation.

This was the formation of the supreme emperor. A dreadful aura impacted into the highest heavens. Then, in the next moment, the 9000 True Demon Guards and the 5000 Holy Nether Guards all fell to their knees, "We greet His Majesty the Holy Monarch!"

Nine massive and fierce flood dragons howled as they flew out from the vortex. They pulled behind them a giant imperial carriage emblazoned in black, purple, and gold. It was like a divine mountain had arrived from the highest heavens. At this moment, it occupied the sight of everyone, causing a feeling of infinite awe to swell forth from their souls.

Halos of light circulated around the imperial carriage. It was like burning flames and also like a million troops marching forth together. One figure was particularly clear. Although he sat there motionless, he seemed to stand higher than the sun in the skies. His momentum was so great that those below couldn't look at him directly.

"Line up!"

The Far East Cavalry shouted out. They struck their armored chests with their fists and the black leopards they rode reared back their heads and roared. A vast slaughter intent soared into the heavens!

Within the imperial carriage, there was another person that hadn't been noticed by anyone. She turned her head and smiled, "Your Majesty, do you think that the Immortal Sect is deliberately trying to make you unhappy? There are so many entrances to choose from and yet they chose Thistle Capital. Who in this world doesn't know that Great Yan is the most hostile nation towards our Holy Palace?"

Qin Yu lightly smiled. "Even if the Yan people are angry…so what?"

A brilliant light erupted in the depths of You Qi's eyes. But she lowered her head in the next moment and composed herself. She intentionally teased, "That is indeed an action worthy of our Demonic Path's Holy Monarch. This aggressiveness is praiseworthy!"

Qin Yu shook his head. After learning that he was going to visit the Immortal Sect, You Qi said she had to follow him no matter what. Since they were meeting old acquaintances, she couldn't be absent.

Outside Thistle Capital, great figures from the Yan Empire came out to welcome these arrivals. His Majesty Emperor Yan was currently in the palace holding a banquet, waiting for the Holy Monarch to attend. As for the one dealing with these matters, that would all be through the Demon Envoy. These people were unqualified for the new Holy Monarch Qin Yu to care about them.

"The Great Yan Empire's High Prince Ji Yunyue is here upon orders of our nation's emperor to welcome Your Majesty the Demon Sovereign. I ask that Your Majesty please be at peace." The High Prince was a middle-aged man in elegant long robes. He bowed without hesitation, his voice respectful.

He was well aware that the person within that imperial carriage was one of the most powerful and influential existences in the world, someone far more formidable than the Yan Empire. As the High Prince, his status compared to the Demon Sovereign was as different as the clouds and mud. There was no problem in him bowing.

Still, as he thought about the intense reactions the imperial family had when they learned that the newly crowned Demon Sovereign was going to arrive at Thistle Capital, High Prince Ji Yunyue felt a headache coming on. Although this bow today was completely within reason, he feared he would welcome their wild attacks and curses in the future.

But His Majesty the Emperor had personally ordered him to be responsible for coming out to greet the Demon Sovereign. There was simply no room for him to refuse.

The Demon Envoy took a step forward. The aura of a Calamity Immortal seemed to lift up the skies. "High Prince need not be so courteous. His Majesty the Holy Monarch is fully anticipating meeting the Yan Emperor."

Words spoken publicly still had to be polite.

Even if the Demon Envoy knew that the Yan people wished they could tear the Demonic Path into shreds.

Ji Yunyue smiled and stood up. "I ask His Majesty the Demon Sovereign to enter Thistle Capital."

The 9000 True Demon Guards and 5000 Holy Nether Guards crowded around the massive imperial carriage. Beneath the burning eyes of the Far East Cavalry, they entered Thistle Capital.

The long streets had been cleared and not a single Yan citizen could be seen. But from behind closed windows and doors, one could see eyes filled with hatred.

Qin Yu furrowed his eyebrows. "You Qi, I only have a general idea of what happened in the past. What is the exact reason that the Yan people hate the Demonic Path so much?"

You Qi smiled, "I just happen to know a little more about this because I've perused the ancient texts in the Holy Palace." She had a charming expression as she said, "Around 20 million some years ago, a great war erupted between the Immortal Sect and Demonic Path. It was a war that drew in the entire world, and the seven empires were all involved. That era's Holy Monarch was named Qi. He had a dao companion who was implicated and murdered by an assassin. It was unknown how he verified it, but His Majesty Emperor Qi led an army of 10,000 Holy Nether Guards to descend upon Thistle Capital. They tore through the Far East Cavalry on the battlefield and by himself he slaughtered his way into Great Yan's Imperial Palace.

"That great catastrophe almost caused the bloodline of the Great Yan royal family to go extinct. Blood dyed the entire Thistle Capital red and countless people died…at that time, the Yan Emperor mobilized the destiny of the nation to confront Emperor Qi. However, they were cut apart by a single slash from Emperor Qi and the national destiny true dragon collapsed with them. With that, the enemy's head was sliced off. Emperor Qi's actions helped my Demonic Path gain resounding fame, but this also caused the Yan Empire to regard my Demonic Path as mortal enemies ever since.

"Even though over 20 million years have passed, this hatred has never been resolved. With this, the Yan Empire became the nation within the Land of Divinity and Demons where the Demonic Path has the weakest influence. As for the spies that helped develop the influence of the Demonic Path there as well as the vast amounts of demonic path cultivators, they forever disappeared in this land."

Qin Yu slowly nodded. Since he had become the new Holy Monarch, while he could enjoy the honor and status his position brought, he also needed to shoulder the pressure.

The line of troops moved along the streets of Thistle Capital. Ji Yunyue's eyes slowly revealed an angered look. He glanced over at the expressionless Demon Envoy and cupped his hands together, saying, "Demon Envoy, I will bid my farewells here first."

The Demon Envoy nodded. Then, Ji Yunyue turned around, his complexion clouding over as he barked out, "Go and immediately find out why the troops are headed towards the eastern gate of the Imperial Palace!"