Sage Monarch

When Yang Qi proposed a meeting later that evening, Exalted Celestial Silver-Dagger and the White-Haired Boxer King exchanged surprised glances, then they both smiled.

"So, you have a sense of propriety after all, boy," said Exalted Celestial Silver-Dagger. "I'm very curious to see what gifts you might offer that could calm our anger."

"Ah, that's easy," Yang Qi said, a faint smile on his face. "Now that I'm a law enforcement disciple, you two are direct superiors, which means you'll have plenty of ways to keep me in line. That's why I'd prefer to turn weapons of war into gifts of jade and silk. It's a given that I'll provide some amazing treasures to settle our little dispute."

"Then I suppose we'll wait and see what treasures you offer," said the White-Haired Boxer King, a vicious smile playing out on his face. "If they aren't satisfactory, we'll be sending you on plenty of dangerous missions to suffer all sorts of humiliations."

"Of course, I wouldn't expect anything else."

With that, he turned and left. Meanwhile, a look of pity could be seen on Crimson-Maiden Inferno's face. She knew full well that the White-Haired Boxer King and Exalted Celestial Silver-Dagger were next on Yang Qi's list of targets, and that they would fall under his control this very evening.

Later that night....

Outside of the god kingdom, far out in the desolate mountains, Yang Qi sat on a barren peak, surrounded by cold winds. Of course, it was pitch black, and the cries of various wild animals echoed out in the night.

WHOOSH!

A stream of silver light appeared, which was none other than Exalted Celestial Silver-Dagger, who held a small silver dagger in his hand. "Where's the treasure, boy?"

"What happened to the White-Haired Boxer King?" Yang Qi replied. "You see, I have half of an Unbounded medicinal pill that I found in the Pill-King's temple ruins. But I'm not sure how to split it between the two of you. I just hope that after you get it, you won't cause any more problems for me."

Even as the words left his mouth, he held out his hand, upon which rested a medicinal pill, surrounded by a medicinal aroma so strong that it would cause one's hair to stand on end.

"An Unbounded medicinal pill?" Exalted Celestial Silver-Dagger said. "Give it to me!"

"Hold on!" someone said. It was the White-Haired Boxer King. Unexpectedly, he had actually arrived earlier and was waiting in the shadows to see what Yang Qi was truly planning to do. Now that he saw half of an Unbounded medicinal pill, he stepped out into the open to prevent Exalted Celestial Silver-Dagger from taking it.

"I'll be taking that half pill, Exalted Celestial Silver-Dagger," the White-Haired Boxer King said. "You can take one of his other treasures."

"Wrong. I'll be taking the pill," Exalted Celestial Silver-Dagger said, obviously not willing to back down.

All of a sudden, they heard the sound of someone clicking their tongue in disapproval as Crimson-Maiden Inferno stepped out. "Even in the face of imminent catastrophe, the two of you are still haggling over a medicinal pill?"

"Don't tell me you want in on the action as well, Crimson-Maiden Inferno," the White-Haired Boxer King said, his expression flickering.

"No, I'm just here to see how exactly Yang Qi subjugates the two of you. How so very tragic. He really fooled you, didn't he? But that's just what happens when you're so set on personal gain. Now that you're out in the open, you're damned no matter what you do. If you'd stayed in the god kingdom, Yang Qi wouldn't have been able to do much."

"What?!" the White-Haired Boxer King said, suddenly coming to the realization that something was off.

Exalted Celestial Silver-Dagger was having similar qualms. Glaring at Yang Qi, he said, "What's going on here, boy? Don't tell me you think you're in a position to fight us. Is that why you asked us out here? I doubt you're that stupid. So spit it out. What do you want?"

"It's just as Crimson-Maiden Inferno said: you're facing imminent catastrophe. Do you think I'm braindead or something? Did you really think I joined the Law-Enforcement God-Palace so I could place myself as your subordinate to plot and scheme against at will? No, I joined the Law-Enforcement God-Palace to take it over. And I already have Crimson-Maiden Inferno on my side."

"Is he telling the truth, Crimson-Maiden Inferno?" asked Exalted Celestial Silver-Dagger, looking over at her through narrowed eyes.

"I had no choice in the matter," she spat. "I actually want to kill him, but unfortunately, I can't defy his will. And in short order, you'll be just like me."

"Who are you, brat?!" the White-Haired Boxer King said, his voice cold. Despite the circumstances, he was keeping his cool and was already scrambling to come up with a way to deal with the situation.

"Me? I'm an Ascendant from the impure lands. And I'm not inclined to go into more detail. The time has come for both you to be put in your place!"

RUMBLE!

The Many Heavens God Seal appeared, hovering above their heads for a brief moment before sinking down into them.

Next, Yang Qi said, "Eternal Suppression of Rivers and Mountains!"

In the blink of an eye, a rift opened up and numerous golden chains spread out of it.

The White-Haired Boxer King screamed and dropped to his knees, his flesh splitting apart in many places and his meridians shattering.

"Silver-Dagger Surefire-Slaughter Skill!" A tremor passed through Exalted Celestial Silver-Dagger as his acupoints opened and immense power flowed into the small silver dagger he held. Then the dagger shot forth with indescribable speed, piercing through space to appear right in front of Yang Qi.

This was the skill he would use when he absolutely needed to kill someone. It contained all of his quintessence energy, and was an invincible attack that could slaughter anything in its path. In fact, it could even be used to take down Consummate Gods.

This flying dagger move was a surefire way to slaughter his enemies.

Sadly, it turned out to be disappointing; as it closed in on Yang Qi, he simply reached out and grasped the blade between two fingers, stopping it in place.

"Impossible! How could he just grab my flying dagger?" Exalted Celestial Silver-Dagger looked completely crestfallen. "My Silver-Dagger Surefire-Slaughter Skill is impossible to stop. Even a Consummate God who faced it would end up dead, guaranteed!"

"He's only a Lesser God, but he has monarch godhood," Crimson-Maiden Inferno explained. "I said you two had fallen for his trap. But you think a bit too much of yourselves. Don't worry, I'll weep for you after you've been beaten."

"She's right," Yang Qi said. "The time has come to sacrifice your hearts and minds to the God Legion Seal. You new gods are going to be just like the ancient gods. New thrones are about to appear in the god legion hall."

RUMBLE!

Golden light erupted from within Yang Qi, sweeping over Exalted Celestial Silver-Dagger and the White-Haired Boxer King with mountain-toppling, sea-draining force.

They screamed until their voices went hoarse. An hour later, they lay limp on the ground, surrounded by golden light.

"You... Yang Qi, you're...." They couldn't say anything more than that, much less move or take any action.

"Our thoughts... all of them, they're being audited?" Exalted Celestial Silver-Dagger said, his voice dripping with terror.

"That's right. From now on, your destiny is tied up with the God Legion Seal. I'm your lord, and your minds and bodies are mine. I control them. I'm privy to all your thoughts, and I decide what you can think and do."

C-C-CRACK!

Exalted Celestial Silver-Dagger lost control of his dagger, which fell to the ground.

Now that Yang Qi had monarch godhood, he could deal with Greater Gods as easily as drinking water or eating a snack. He would only need to worry about a protracted fight if he were to face a Consummate God.

Two new golden thrones appeared within the God Legion Seal, representing the seals placed on the White-Haired Boxer King and Exalted Celestial Silver-Dagger. Yang Qi was now in complete control of them. That said, considering how many thoughts were flitting about in the minds of the three gods, it wasn't necessarily easy to keep track and control all of them.

Yet, even with just the thoughts of those three gods in his mind, Yang Qi felt as though he could sense anything and everything. As he improved and continued on this path, he would eventually be able to oversee the thoughts of all living beings. He would be reincarnation. He would be the dao of heaven.

In fact, he would surpass the dao of heaven. After all, he would control the thoughts of the legion of gods, and it was the legion of gods who created all living beings.

"Yang Qi... I can't believe this is what you are," the White-Haired Boxer King said. "I really misjudged you. I thought you worked for Jadefall. How could I possibly have guessed that it was actually the other way around? She's your subordinate." He suddenly chuckled miserably. "How ridiculous. I really bit off more than I could chew in trying to take you on."

"What a tragedy," Exalted Celestial Silver-Dagger said with a bitter smile. "Why did I have to be so unlucky? Of all the people in the god world, why did I have to be the one to run into you? I can't believe that all of this is happening all because of one measly disciple...."

"You think you're unlucky?" Yang Qi said, clasping his hands behind his back. "There's nothing unlucky about it. You should feel honored! Follow me, and you'll have boundless prospects for the future. For instance, given your constitution, you'll never break through to the Consummate God level. But if you sacrifice your heart to the God Legion Seal, there will be no end to the breakthroughs you can achieve."

"What are you planning to do now, Yang Qi?" Crimson-Maiden Inferno asked. "Are you really going to try to take over the entire House of God Ordainment? You're only a Lesser God. You might have powerful godhood, but your level is still low. You definitely can't take on a Consummate God, much less control one."

"You're right. For now, I can't handle a Consummate God. My current limit is Greater Gods. And it would be meaningless for me to take control of Lesser and Common Gods. You Greater Gods need to serve me well. If you do, you'll be rewarded. If you don't, I'll kill you with a thought."

1. The Many Heavens God Seal originally appeared in . For anyone interested in checking past references, it was also mentioned in the following chapters: , , , , , , , , , , and .