Chapter 541: A Murderous Gaze
“Oh…” Yun Che stretched his neck. Even he hadn’t expected the Little Demon Empress to suddenly make such an “inopportune” move.
The great hall was dead silent for several breaths. A man slowly stood up from the eastern seating area—it was Huai Wang. He bowed and said, “Reporting to the Little Demon Empress, it was arranged by this king.”
“Hmph!” The Little Demon Empress glanced sideways, her voice icy cold. “The Twelve Guardian Clans have followed the founding Demon Emperor in conquering the realm for ten thousand years, and their seats in this Demon Emperor Grand Ceremony have remained unchanged for ten thousand years! Why have you moved the seats of the Twelve Guardian Clans? You must give me a sufficient explanation!”
His arrangement of the seats this time was precisely intended to give the Little Demon Empress a show of force, letting her know that the forces originally belonging to the Demon Emperor’s bloodline had largely sided with him. He never expected her to suddenly confront him in such a public setting. He said calmly, “Reporting to the Little Demon Empress, this king participated in the preparations for this grand ceremony and dared not be careless. I inquired in advance about the seating preferences of the various clan heads and commandery princes. Unexpectedly, the majority were willing to sit in the eastern seats. Thus, this king took the liberty of changing the seats of the Twelve Guardian Clans and the various princely mansions. I beg the Little Demon Empress’s forgiveness.”
To those outside the Demon Emperor City, Huai Commandery Prince’s words might not have seemed unusual, though it would be a bit strange that he would ask each clan their preferred seating during the preparation. But the powers within the Demon Emperor City understood perfectly well… The phrase “the majority were willing to sit in the eastern seats” clearly meant “the majority are willing to pledge allegiance to this king’s command!”
“Took the liberty?” The Little Demon Empress narrowed her eyes. This slight change in expression instantly made the air in the entire hall turn frigid. “Who gave you the authority to take such liberties? The Twelve Guardian Clans and the princely mansions have equal status. Only I have the power to change their seating arrangements! When did it become your place to arrange the seats of the Twelve Guardian Clans? At the next grand ceremony, will you also change my seat?!”
“This king dares not!” Huai Commandery Prince quickly bowed his head, his face filled with fear and unease, but inwardly he gritted his teeth… Before the eyes of the assembled heroes, being scolded like this by the Little Demon Empress, he naturally couldn’t retort and had to bear it obediently.
The Little Demon Empress shifted her gaze to the Guardian Clans and princely mansions in the eastern seats. Her tender lips parted, and she uttered words that were extremely calm: “So… all of you prefer… to sit in the eastern seats?”
In the eastern seats were seven Guardian Clans and sixty princely mansions. Under the Little Demon Empress’s gaze, their hearts tightened and their hands and feet turned cold. It felt as if an extremely cold blade was pressed against their throats. With guilty consciences, they dared not even lift their heads, let alone speak. They held their breath, not daring to take a deep breath.
Even Yun Che, sitting in the western seats, felt a heavy oppressive pressure. He couldn’t help but be secretly shocked… This Little Demon Empress’s presence was truly terrifying. It seemed unsurprising, really… A hundred years ago, her father died first, and soon after, her newly married husband—and younger brother—also died. As the last person with the Demon Emperor’s bloodline, she had no choice but to shoulder the burden… And in recent years, some people tried to seize her ancestors’ legacy of ten thousand years at such a time…
The phrase “hatred filling the universe” was not enough to describe her heart and soul.
Moreover, she was so petite and delicate, with a beauty that surpassed all others. Without enough presence, how could she suppress the heroes of the world?
The great hall fell into a deathly silence. None of the seven Guardian Clans and sixty princely mansions dared to respond. Their leaning toward Huai Wang was because he was growing stronger by the day. If they didn’t choose this path, when the Little Demon Empress abdicated, even if they weren’t annihilated, they would have no good days ahead. But their siding with Huai Wang by no means meant they weren’t afraid of the Little Demon Empress.
“Helian Clan Head, you answer me. Why did you choose to sit in these eastern seats?”
Helian Kuang, as the clan head of the Helian Clan, possessed strength and status that could look down upon the entire Huan Yao Realm. His personality was as his name suggested—wild and unbridled. But when the Little Demon Empress suddenly called his name, this Helian Clan head jolted violently. He stood up, cupped his hands, and was about to speak when he met the Little Demon Empress’s dark and cold gaze. His heart turned icy, his entire body went cold, and his mouth opened and closed several times, but he couldn’t utter a single word.
No one had expected that the atmosphere would become so tense right at the start of the grand ceremony.
Just then, Yun Qinghong stood up and said respectfully, “Little Demon Empress, please calm your anger. Yun has something to say.”
The Little Demon Empress did not turn her head and said flatly, “Speak.”
Yun Qinghong said, “Yes… Today marks the hundredth year of the Little Demon Empress’s reign. This grand ceremony is the focus of the world’s attention, and the heroes of the world have traveled far to share this day with you. Although the change in seating is somewhat inappropriate, seats are ultimately just seats. In Yun’s opinion, it is not a major matter. If the Little Demon Empress is displeased with Huai Wang’s unauthorized arrangement, you can order him to change it back after the grand ceremony. There is no need to spoil the mood over such a trivial matter.”
Yun Qinghong half-persuaded the Little Demon Empress to calm down, and half-sarcastically remarked. As for him, such a small matter was not worth the Little Demon Empress’s serious attention. “Yun Clan Head, please take your seat. Helian Kuang, you may also withdraw.”
With a “please take your seat” and a “you may withdraw,” one addressing “Yun Clan Head” and the other directly calling “Helian Kuang,” it was clear to even a fool who held a heavier position in the Little Demon Empress’s heart. The Helian Clan had been suppressed by the Yun Clan for ten thousand years. In history, they had never taken the leading seat. Now that they were proudly seated in that position, they had been constantly shooting provocative glances at the Yun Clan. But now, they had been slapped in the face by the Little Demon Empress… in front of the world’s heroes, losing all face.
As for Huai Wang, who was still standing there bowing, the Little Demon Empress seemed to have forgotten his existence and ignored him outright. Huai Wang smiled awkwardly and sat down on his own.
Yun Che thought to himself, “This Little Demon Empress’s temperament is truly tough and domineering. Huai Wang used the seat arrangement to give her a show of force, but she used this matter to slap him twice in return… This woman is absolutely not someone to provoke!”
Just as Yun Che was thinking this, he suddenly saw the Little Demon Empress’s gaze turn toward him. Startled, he hurriedly shrank his head back, silently praying… Don’t see me… Don’t see me… Don’t see me…
The Little Demon Empress nodded faintly at Yun Qinghong, but suddenly, her gaze flashed sharply, fixing directly on the person beside Yun Qinghong.
The sudden change in the Little Demon Empress’s gaze startled Yun Qinghong, but he immediately realized that the person she was looking at was not himself, but Yun Che. He was about to stand up and ask proactively when he heard the Little Demon Empress open her lips and ask, “Yun Clan Head, I heard that you recently took in an adopted son. Is it this person beside you?”
Yun Che: (!!#$%^… I was found out after all!)
Yun Qinghong stood up and said, “Reporting to the Little Demon Empress, it is indeed so. My adopted son’s original surname is also Yun, with the single name Che. He is very fated with my family. Three months ago, he saved my son’s life and even became sworn brothers with him. I followed the natural course and adopted him as my son… Che’er, rise and pay respects to the Little Demon Empress.”
Yun Che stood up reluctantly and even gave a “simple and honest” smile. “Yun Che of the Yun Clan… pays respects to the Little Demon Empress.”
Although Yun Che lowered his head, he could still clearly feel a murderous gaze piercing straight at him, as if wanting to bore through his five viscera and six bowels… Yun Che had always believed that a gaze could kill. For example, this Little Demon Empress’s gaze could definitely frighten a cowardly person into splitting their heart and gallbladder and dying on the spot.
Fortunately, this murderous gaze lasted only a moment. Then, the Little Demon Empress’s cold voice sounded, only three words: “Sit down.”
Yun Che plopped down, secretly sighing in relief.
Mu Yurou gently tugged at Yun Qinghong’s sleeve and whispered, “Did our son… meet the Little Demon Empress before?”
“I’m afraid it’s more than just meeting,” Yun Qinghong said with a wry smile.
“But Che’er rarely leaves the residence these days, and the Little Demon Empress is not someone ordinary people can see. How could that be?” Mu Yurou asked, puzzled.
Yun Qinghong was silent for a moment, then slowly said, “Three days ago, late at night, I sensed Che’er concealing his aura, wandering around the residence for a bit, and then heading north. His aura concealment was nearly perfect—I wouldn’t have noticed if I hadn’t happened to catch a glimpse of a black shadow. Shortly after, from the north of the city came the aura of Golden Crow Flames. Judging by the purity, it likely came from the Little Demon Empress. Soon after that, Che’er returned home… I didn’t think much of it at the time, but now, it seems something ‘big’ happened that night. That Golden Crow Flame might well have been directed at Che’er.”
“This…” Mu Yurou looked astonished.
The Little Demon Empress returned to her throne. The emperor’s might, like a mountain, enveloped the entire Demon Emperor Great Hall, pressing the air to a standstill. Her every word struck the heart.
Having been discovered by the Little Demon Empress that he was not dead and was right here in this hall, even Yun Che, with his extraordinary experience, felt somewhat terrified. Among all the people he had met in his two lifetimes, none could compare to her in terms of sheer pressure, awe-inspiring presence, and sharpness of gaze—of course, excluding that freak Mo Li. The emperor of the Shenhuang Empire, Feng Hengkong, paled in comparison in terms of imperial pressure.
What? Oh, nothing. Instead, Yun Che slightly closed his eyes and carefully organized the history of the Twelve Guardian Clans he had looked up over the past month, thinking about how to deal with the situation ahead… Although this Little Demon Empress almost cost him his life, as a member of the Yun Clan, he still had to repay evil with good in the end…
I, Yun Che, actually have to repay evil with good one day?! Ahhh!
“…Then, let’s begin with the Northern Sea Domain.” The Little Demon Empress’s gaze fell to the back of the hall. “Where is the Northern Sea Domain Lord?”
A tall man in blue robes stood up and said with extreme respect and caution, “Reporting to the Little Demon Empress, I am Kong Jingcang, the current domain lord of the Northern Sea Domain. The Northern Sea Domain currently has a population of seventy-three million, with ninety-one races, of which humans make up forty percent and demon beasts sixty percent… Seventy-four years ago, the Wild Wolf Clan rebelled, and the rebellion was quelled four years later… Fifty-three years ago, a natural disaster struck suddenly, and the Northern Hao Mountain erupted. Fortunately, the Little Demon Empress sent aid, preventing a major catastrophe… The Northern Sea Domain is now peaceful, with no disasters or chaos…”
“…I am Feng Dousong, the City Lord of Xuan Yao City. Xuan Yao City and its surrounding territory currently have a population of fifty-three million, with two hundred and twenty-seven races. The core industries remain mysterious formations and forging. Currently, three of the top ten strongest mysterious formation masters in the Huan Yao Realm are in my Xuan Yao City…”
“I am Lan Tengwu, the Domain Lord of the Five Elements Domain… For a hundred years, I have guarded the border without a single day of slack. I will never allow those Heavenly Xuan villains to step in again…”
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The various domain lords began reporting the major events of their respective territories over the past hundred years. In the center of the eastern seats, Huai Commandery Prince wore a leisurely expression, but his gaze was not so calm. He kept glancing toward the Yun Clan’s position. Finally, at one point, his eyes met Yun Qinghong’s. Both narrowed their eyes simultaneously. Huai Commandery Prince smiled faintly… Yun Qinghong also smiled slightly, but his smile carried an unmistakable contempt.
Huai Commandery Prince’s brows furrowed sharply.
Although their exchange was only a brief meeting of eyes and expressions, it was nonetheless a communication that could be called an “ultimatum.” Huai Commandery Prince was asking: Have you thought it over and decided to stand on my side? This is your last chance—and the Yun Clan’s.
And Yun Qinghong’s reply consisted of just two succinct words:
Heh-heh.
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