Strongest War Emperor

When Shen Lang casually linked the Nine-Star Linked Pearls to the appearance of Black Impermanence from Blood Evil Island, Shangguan Feiyue, Shark’s Kiss, and the others were stunned.

The way they all looked at him changed yet again.

Seeing them staring at him strangely, Shen Lang gave a helpless smile and said, "It’s not some huge secret. Is it really so strange that I’ve heard rumors like this? I just picked it up here and there."

Shark’s Kiss and the others wore expressions that clearly said, ’Like we’d believe that.’

’Picked it up here and there? It’s true that plenty of people know about this now, but they’re all high-ranking members of Major Sects. Even if an ordinary Martial Artist heard a snippet, they wouldn’t be able to make heads or tails of it. The people of Evil Wind Valley would know, of course, but they weren’t on the best of terms with him before...’

Although Shark’s Kiss and the others had their doubts, they didn’t press the issue.

Shen Lang walked to the edge of the deep crater from his intense battle with Yuwen Huaji. He reached out, and with a WHOOSH, a flash of blood-red light shot out from the rubble. A small, crimson circle flew straight into his hand.

It was the Ten Thousand Beasts Circle, the very treasure Yuwen Huaji had used to collect Beast Souls on the Tala Prairie!

This artifact was the ultimate treasure of the Divine Dragon Valley, a Spirit Copper Level Sect from Yunfeng Country. It seemed unassuming, but its power was absolutely astounding.

Once activated, it could unleash the colossal force of ten thousand stampeding beasts, a power nearly impossible to resist.

Moreover, the more Beast Souls it contained, the greater its power became, making it a rare Magical Treasure capable of upgrading itself over time.

During his earlier battle with Yuwen Huaji, Yuwen Huaji had swallowed an Elixir Pill, forcibly gathered a sliver of Spiritual Power, and activated this very Ten Thousand Beasts Circle.

That single blow had nearly shattered Shen Lang’s physical body, even after he had unleashed his Celestial Demon Power!

It was a testament to the artifact’s terrifying power!

BZZZZ!

The moment Shen Lang gripped the Ten Thousand Beasts Circle, it began to vibrate violently, as if trying to wrench free from his hand.

Faint roars of beasts echoed from within it, and a bloody aura rushed out, catching Yi Hongchen and the others behind Shen Lang off guard. They covered their faces and scrambled back.

"Careful!"

Shark’s Kiss and Shangguan Feiyue stepped forward in unison, flanking him. They each sent a beam of divine light into the Ten Thousand Beasts Circle, weaving in several Restrictions that finally caused it to settle down.

"Amitabha!"

Master Kong Jing wore an expression of pity and sighed repeatedly.

The Ten Thousand Beasts Circle had collected thousands upon thousands of Beast Souls, an act that, in the eyes of a Buddhist Sect member, was a grievous violation of natural harmony.

However, Shen Lang had gone to great lengths to slay Yuwen Huaji and obtain this treasure. He had personally witnessed Yuwen Huaji collecting those innumerable Beast Souls, so how could he possibly abandon it just because Master Kong Jing found it distasteful?

Sensing the restless turmoil of the thousands of Beast Souls within the circle, Shen Lang pricked his finger and dripped a single drop of fresh blood onto it.

Then, Shen Lang touched his index finger to his forehead, then placed it upon the Ten Thousand Beasts Circle. Focusing his mind, he declared, "Stay obediently within. Aid me for one hundred years, and after that, I will set you free. If I break this vow, may the heavens strike me down and the earth swallow me whole!"

The still-trembling Ten Thousand Beasts Circle immediately fell quiet, and a flood of countless joyous thoughts surged into Shen Lang’s mind!

In that instant, a faint but tangible connection formed between the Ten Thousand Beasts Circle and Shen Lang!

The Beast Souls within the circle had finally relented at Shen Lang’s words...

To these Beast Souls, who had already cultivated for so many years, a hundred years was merely the blink of an eye. What was a century to them?

Even the people of Divine Dragon Valley had only ever used special Restrictions and the circle’s unique properties to forcibly suppress the Beast Souls within, making them obey commands.

Who would ever make such a solemn vow, promising them a path to true freedom?

And for only a hundred years at that!

"Amitabha. Brother Shen, your heart is kind and benevolent. It is no wonder the Star Moon Bodhi Prayer Beads chose you as its master. This Chaos has been humbled," Chaos said, pressing his palms together as he descended from the sky.

Shen Lang gave a slight nod, then turned and asked, "Brother Yi, where is Ye Xiao Zheng?"

Yi Hongchen, who had retreated from the bloody aura, was overjoyed at being addressed so cordially. He called out, "They’re all here! The entire Ye Family is under our control. They’re trapped with no hope of escape!"

"Guards!" Yi Hongchen bellowed. "Bring Ye Xiao Zheng and his daughter forward!"

A pair of Iron Guards immediately carried forward the barely breathing Ye Xiao Zheng.

Ye Xiao Zheng’s breathing was faint, his body was drenched in blood, and he looked as though he would not last much longer.

Pushed along by the Iron Guards, Ye Xue was pale and expressionless, devoid of her former spirit. She moved like a soulless puppet.

From within the crowd, Chu Qingcheng’s expression showed a hint of pity. He sighed silently to himself but said nothing.

Yi Hongchen stepped forward and said in a low voice, "After you left the Martial Arts Arena and Yuwen Huaji pursued you, Ye Xiao Zheng took advantage of the Imperial Dragon Sect masters’ distraction. He led the Ye Family experts in a forced assault on the Xu Family. He killed Patriarch Xu Jing and several elders on the spot... Afterward, he was severely wounded by the Imperial Dragon Sect disciples Long Fong and Yun Qing. At the critical moment, Yan Congyun and his two companions stepped in and drove them back, which is the only reason he’s still alive."

Even though Yi Hongchen’s account was brief, Shen Lang knew that a bloodbath must have erupted at the Martial Arts Arena after he left.

While Ye Xiao Zheng was no saint, to dare lead an attack on the Xu Family under those circumstances—especially with Yuwen Huaji on the scene—he could, in all fairness, be called a formidable figure in his own right.

One had to remember that with Yuwen Huaji hunting Shen Lang, their Cultivation levels were not even in the same league.

Most people assumed it wouldn’t take Yuwen Huaji long to kill Shen Lang.

Especially since no one else in Celestial Phoenix City was capable of stopping him.

For Ye Xiao Zheng to take advantage of Yuwen Huaji’s brief absence to go on a killing spree meant that once Yuwen Huaji returned, the entire Ye Family would inevitably be slaughtered to the last man!

To make such a move showed not only his bone-deep hatred for Xu Daolin, but also his utter fearlessness and his character of repaying every grudge, no matter the cost.

"Shen... Shen Lang... I, Ye Xiao Zheng, may not be a good man, but I truly never meant to be your enemy. I never schemed to harm your father or the Shen Family... COUGH, COUGH!"

The dying Ye Xiao Zheng struggled to open his eyes, coughing up fresh blood as he spoke.

Shen Lang stood before him, watching everything in silence.

Ye Xiao Zheng struggled to get up, a movement that finally roused Ye Xue. With a horrified cry, she knelt and held him steady.

"I colluded with the Demon Dao only for the Nine Immortals Lingzhi. I never intended to hurt anyone... although many were indeed harmed. That is my sin to bear, and for my fate today... I have no defense."

"But it was only a few days ago that I learned Xue’er was connected to your father being poisoned back then. Three years ago, Xue’er was just a child. It was only because Chu Qingcheng liked your sister that her own affection turned to hate, and she schemed to kill by another’s hand... I know no excuse can absolve her of her crime... but... if you can, let me take the blame for it all. I don’t have much time left..."

"Heap all the punishment upon me. I only hope that you can spare Xue’er, spare the Ye Family, and spare my subordinates... My collusion with the Demon Dao was my affair alone; it truly had nothing to do with anyone else. I can swear it on my soul!"

"My Lord!" a large number of the City Lord’s Mansion subordinates in the crowd cried out, falling to their knees.

Among them were those who had followed Ye Xiao Zheng to the very end, never surrendering to the Xu Family.

There were also those who had been forced to submit by the Xu Family, with the backing of the Imperial Dragon Sect, during their assault on the City Lord’s Mansion.

"Father!"

Ye Xue’s mournful shriek suddenly rang out as she threw her arms around Ye Xiao Zheng and began to sob.

"Don’t beg him! Why are you begging him? What did I do wrong?" Ye Xue shrieked, seemingly on the verge of madness. "How am I any worse than Shen Moran? Why does Brother Chu only have eyes for Shen Moran? On what grounds does she get to have everything? I was jealous of her! So come on, kill me!"

No one made a sound. In the quiet of the night, only Ye Xue’s frenzied screams remained.

Shen Moran’s lips parted and closed a few times, but no words came out.

Just then, Chu Qingcheng slowly walked out. He let out a soft sigh and said, "So in the end, Uncle Tian was poisoned all because of me..."

He casually reached out and gently pressed a spot on the hysterical Ye Xue’s neck...

Ye Xue’s piercing screams stopped abruptly, and she slumped into his arms.

"Uncle Tian is safe and sound, which is the one blessing in this whole affair. Although Ye Xue was wrong, her crime doesn’t warrant death. Let her go." Chu Qingcheng handed the unconscious Ye Xue over to the Ye Family members.

Shen Lang glanced at Ye Xiao Zheng and said coolly, "Since the matter of Ji Chengwu had nothing to do with the Ye Family or the people of the City Lord’s Mansion, I will not make things difficult for them. I hope Ye Xue never appears before me again... As for the other matters, the people from the Imperial Dragon Sect are here, so there’s no need for me to involve myself."

Lying on the ground and holding on by a thread, Ye Xiao Zheng had been watching him with pleading eyes. Now, a faint flush appeared on his face. He tried to cup his hands toward Shen Lang, his mouth moving as if to say something, but no sound came out. A moment later, his head lolled to one side. He collapsed back onto the stretcher, all signs of life gone.

"Amitabha!"

Master Kong Jing pressed his palms together and walked over to Ye Xiao Zheng’s corpse to perform the last rites.

Shen Lang watched it all, remaining silent.

His father had nearly been murdered, then had been afflicted with corpse poison and endured more than three years of agony. It had made Shen Lang hate the City Lord’s Mansion to his very core.

Furthermore, Ji Chengwu, the Demon Martial Artist that Ye Xiao Zheng had colluded with, had killed numerous people near Celestial Phoenix City and refined them into Demon Corpses.

By all rights, Ye Xiao Zheng’s death should have brought immense satisfaction to Shen Lang and the people of Celestial Phoenix City.

But for some reason, Shen Lang felt no joy in his heart.

In this world where the strong were revered, power was the only thing that mattered to the powerful. With enough power, one could do as they pleased.

Many of the strong wouldn’t even bat an eye at the sight of a million corpses.

What were the deaths of a few commoners in Celestial Phoenix City in comparison?

Now, Ye Xiao Zheng had met his end, but did things like karma and retribution truly exist in this world?

’If good and evil go unrequited, then the universe itself must be unjust!’

Shen Lang had said it with such confidence, but what was the reality?

When he killed Ji Chengwu, Shen Lang hadn’t hesitated, ending his life with a single strike.

But as he watched Ye Xiao Zheng die with his own eyes, a strange sense of sorrow inexplicably rose in his heart.

In truth, if Ye Xiao Zheng hadn’t seized the opportunity of Yuwen Huaji’s pursuit of Shen Lang to attack the Xu Family, he might not have died...

But he had done it anyway.

In a sense, the man was truly one of fierce passion.

Clarifying that he alone had colluded with the Demon Dao to protect his subordinates and the Ye Family, and being willing to shoulder the blame for Ye Xue’s crimes—it showed he was a man of loyalty and honor.

Although he had colluded with the Demon Martial Artist Ji Chengwu to find the Nine Immortals Lingzhi, and Ji Chengwu had harmed many, Ye Xiao Zheng himself had not directly hurt that many people.

Ultimately, it was hard to say whether the man was good or evil, or just how great his sins truly were...

Death extinguishes all, like a lamp going out. Whatever hatred had existed was now resolved.

The only thing that still unsettled Shen Lang was the appearance of Black Impermanence from Blood Evil Island, who had taken away the grievously wounded and dying Xu Daolin!

’Blood Evil Island... Black Impermanence...’

A flicker of killing intent flashed in Shen Lang’s eyes as he gazed at the distant sky.