Page 845

Am I... still alive?

Fei Jun felt a warm sensation throughout his body amidst the haze.

He had heard that after death, one traverses the path of Yin and Yang in a chilling coldness, after all, the aura from the Ghost Army of the Capital City was exactly like that chill.

So, why did he, who should have turned into a Yin Spirit, feel an intense heat all over? Could it be due to his own bloodline?

The feeling was indescribably comfortable, like the distant memory of embryonic bliss. Huh? How could he remember that? Which child can recall the sensations from within their mother’s womb?

Upon opening his eyes, he was utterly stupefied.

In the midst of those flames, the vast Vermilion Bird seemed to occupy the heavens, and below it, he lay enveloped, as if reborn and reconstructed.

Why?

Fei Jun didn’t need to question, he knew he had been chosen by the Vermilion Bird. But wasn’t it said that those who failed would be forsaken by the Four Spirits?

Once he regained his senses, he was back in reality, feeling an oppressive heaviness all over him, lifting even his eyelids was difficult, but internally he felt exceedingly well, as if absorbing something, that nourishing sensation of embryonic life persisted, and he instantly understood that he was being reconstructed.

Although his outward appearance may have remained the same, inside, his body was being restructured, a very complex technique was at work reshaping him, and he felt that once reconstructed, he would be reborn anew.

But unfortunately... during reconstruction, he seemed to be powerless to resist.

Without even looking, he knew that several formidable presences were approaching from afar, among them several auras that were all too familiar, the loathsome aura of the Ancient Demons.

Fei Jun became immediately frantic to move.

He had already shown his resolve to die, naturally, he wouldn’t be controlled by the Ancient Demons again, but this time it seemed not to depend on his will, no matter how fiercely he resisted, he remained immobile.

He knew the formidable nature of the Ancient Demons. Did it mean he would end up as before?

Weren’t the Spirits of the Four Holy beings sentient? Could they really just watch him be overtaken by an Ancient Demon?

In his anxious heart, he suddenly sensed another familiar presence, one that was entirely different from the cold chill of the Ancient Demons, making him feel as though it was from the same origin, a sense of kinship through blood.

He strained to lift his eyelids and immediately saw a radiant woman clad in military garb wrapped in golden flames in the distance.

Mother?

Fei Jun was momentarily stunned.

That demeanor, those features, and those golden flames...

Who was that?

-------------------

The chaotic scramble for supremacy commenced the moment the Four Holy Ritual concluded, with Emperor Siao’s twin sister taking the lead, bursting into the Imperial Palace.

Leading the elite of the Ghost Race, she headed straight for the Southern Vermilion Bird Palace without a hint of hesitation, an explicitly clear target with no intention of divvying up her forces.

The military formed battle arrays, a massive presence, sweeping everything along their path.

At the same time, with a series of roars, countless giant pythons also slithered into the Imperial Palace, amassing like a dark river, carrying a pungent scent, and headed directly toward the Northern Black Tortoise Palace.

Descendents of the Southern Sea trembled amidst this fray, worried they might be implicated. At that moment, a towering figure appeared before Chen Baifeng and the elders of several families, standing solid like a pillar calming the seas, stabilizing the minds of all.

"Your Majesty?"

Chen Baifeng and several family elders hurriedly paid their respects.

"My ministers, you have worked hard," the Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, smiling slightly. "Chen Qing, what do you think of the current situation?"

Chen Baifeng felt a surge of anxiety, knowing that it was time for him to take sides. As the weaker party, he knew that this moment was inevitable. Unable to stand alone, he must either cling to one side to survive or be crushed as an obstacle.

"The descent of the Four Spirits represents a wealth of treasure. Although we do not know how the Ancient Demon Clan managed to do this, as long as we seize these Four Spirits, we would have a chance to unlock their secrets. Moreover, in my humble opinion, the other side’s ritual of summoning must be a massive expenditure, and a second ritual is not impossible, but at least in the short term, it is unlikely.

Hence, the individuals chosen by the Four Spirits might very well be the only ones with the Ancient Spirit Bloodline for the years to come. "

"Then, Chen Qing, who do you think will win in the end?"

"I do not know..." Chen Baifeng said with an honest, bitter smile, "If this humble servant could foresee this, I would have pledged my allegiance long ago, wouldn’t I?"

"Ha ha ha, you are indeed forthright," the Emperor laughed, then gazed into the distance at the woman leading His Ghost Army into the charge.

"Your Majesty is wise. We have followed Your Majesty for many years, yet we did not know that the Siao Family had such an ace up their sleeve!"

Chen Baifeng looked at the formidable woman and sighed inwardly, knowing at first glance that she was no less powerful than the Emperor before him—not in strength nor in status.

Such an existence had gone unnoticed under their noses for so many years.

No wonder the Ancient Demon Clan’s plan went awry in the Capital City.

Comparing her to himself, with all his cards laid bare by others, how could he possibly turn the tables?

"This is the true Mingyue of our Siao Family!" The Emperor revealed a rarely seen fervent smile.

"So that’s how it is..." Chen Baifeng inhaled sharply and nodded, "Aren’t you going to follow her, Your Majesty?"

The Four Holy Palaces were scattered; seizing them all at once was impossible.

No force would foolishly divide its strength now, so the Northern Territory’s demons had headed straight for the Northern Black Tortoise Palace from the start—the snatching of Bai Su, which could be used immediately, ensued.

Fei Jun shared half of his bloodline with the Siao Family.

Although Siao Mingyue had rebelled, the Emperor had still given him a funeral befitting that of imperial kin.

Custom and sentiment considered, he owed nothing to the lineage of Siao Mingyue, and her son had no reason to side with any force against the Emperor.

Seizing Fei Jun now and with a bit of persuasion, there was a chance to recruit him for one’s cause—the most cost-effective option.

Even if the others were seized, they each had forces behind them, making forceful recruitment troublesome.

Of course, it was essential to prioritize the ones who could be readily utilized.

"Do you think I should go?" the Emperor asked Chen Baifeng with a half-smile.

Chen Baifeng was startled, then realized the Emperor’s intention and smiled bitterly to himself.

Indeed, the Emperor need not go.

The Ancient Demon Clan naturally wanted all Four Spirits for themselves, but plans cannot keep pace with change.

Now, with the armies of three forces approaching, thinking of swallowing everything alone was suicidal.

That’s why in such a situation, a few elite units might try their luck, while the main strength of the Four Holy Army headed towards the White Tiger Palace in the west.

"I trust her. She will certainly not lose Fei Jun. Therefore, I would like to ask Chen Qing, are you still loyal to the Imperial Court?"

Chen Baifeng: "....."

He understood the Emperor’s meaning. The Emperor’s grand army had already arrived, led by a master of the same caliber as himself.

They were bound to seize one of the Spirits, but one was not enough.

The Emperor aimed to take advantage of the moment to be voraciously greedy, having indeed the capital to be so, for among the four forces, one was clearly lagging.

Yes, it was none other than the Jiangnan force that Chen Qing belonged to!

Chen Baifeng looked toward where the Western Sea Army was positioned.

Tian Heng had charged too eagerly, becoming a priority target, resulting in Chen Qing’s uncertain fate and Tian Heng’s severe injuries.

Their forces were currently under the control of a mysterious figure, showing no intention to move.

The vacancy he left was a prize all three forces were rushing to seize first.

The Emperor had not immediately rushed there but sought him out to fully bind the Southern Sea force to the chariot of his Siao Family. This choice would signify the future.

What should he choose?