Chapter 3068: The Rules of Chi Yan State

He Lingchuan stroked his chin and laughed: "Trying to steal the Crimson Azure Golden Hall and ending up losing a huge amount of rice—Lingxu Holy Venerable will vomit blood again this time."

""

"Being able to make Lingxu Holy Venerable suffer a major loss again before the descent of the Heavenly Demon makes all the effort he and the Red General have put in these past days worthwhile."

"Just as He Lingchuan said before, his confrontation with Lingxu Holy Venerable is multidimensional, multilayered, and all-encompassing—not limited to frontal warfare."

"At this time, Du Shan also stepped forward to report the losses Ju City suffered in the Heavenly Fire Burning City."

"A meteorite falling from the sky to the ground is a mountain pressing down on ordinary people."

"Ju City is too vast; even if only a few meteorites fell through the cracks, it remains an unbearable burden for the civilians in that area."

"He Lingchuan listened while giving instructions, and afterward Du Shan rushed to the scene to comfort the disaster victims."

"War cannot avoid casualties. Cang Yan raising the banner against the Heavenly Demon makes sacrifice, bloodshed, and pain inevitable—both the state and the people must bear them together."

"The Heavenly Demon descends tonight—what a pity I'm not at the Between Between Between Beijia front line." The Red General sounded somewhat wistful. Charging across battlefields and beheading enemy commanders is what she loves most.

"Aren't the troubles around Cang Yan enough to keep you busy?"

The Red General snorted, her face displeased.

He Lingchuan quickly changed the subject: "Yingchen Heaven isn't easy to fight—you changed your tactics this time; how does it feel?"

"In battle, the Red General used to prefer direct approaches. In her past campaigns in history and the Panlong World, she rarely used spatial or large-scale scene-type divine abilities. But this time she actually deployed the Kaleidoscope Labyrinth—quite unexpected to He Lingchuan."

"While he himself advanced bravely, the Red General still ran ahead of him all the way."

"I initially just wanted to separate these two brothers and defeat them individually." Bringing up the matter, the Red General's slight displeasure indeed vanished like smoke. "But when using deathly power against them, I also gained a small insight."

"What insight?"

"Whether it's the Three Holy Gods of Heaven, or you, me, and Lingxu Holy Venerable, to truly unleash our power, there is only one external condition we cannot avoid."

"Time."

"Life must grow, aging must continue, fate must unfold—all rely on the passage of time."

"The Kaleidoscope Labyrinth and the Death Flower essentially just accelerate the aging process of Yingchen Heaven." The Red General continued, "Mi Tian already understood this, but I only began to grasp his insight after returning to the human realm with the Great Square Vessel."

He Lingchuan nodded: "Bai Zhan Tian seems to have some understanding as well."

The Red General smiled, pressed her hand against the mirror surface: "Tonight the Heavenly Demon will descend in large numbers—you must be extra careful."

He Lingchuan also extended his hand; their palms faced each other, yet they were separated by ten thousand li.

"You too."

After putting away the mirror image, the Red General walked leisurely toward the garden, heading toward the eastern dawn.

The Crimson Azure Golden Hall passed through the perilous night safely, but the true test for humanity will come tonight.

"Tomorrow's sun will still rise, but on the Between Between Between Beijia battlefield, how many will still be able to see it?"

She exhaled softly.

At this time, Ju City also lifted its curfew; people took to the streets to help clear debris and rescue disaster victims.

During the Dragon God War, this had once been the daily routine of the Shining Gold People; now they have picked up this skill again.

They were also discussing last night's strange phenomenon.

"But before rumors spread, Ju City sent people to post notices outside the palace walls, at every bustling street corner and market, accompanied by dedicated explainers:"

"The Heavenly Demon launched a large-scale invasion of the Crimson Azure Golden Hall last night; the Red General led Ju City's officials and soldiers in immediate counterattack!"

"After a night of fierce fighting, our army annihilated the Great Heavenly Demon Ying Tian, the Great Heavenly Demon Neng Tian, and one hundred twenty-one Heavenly Demons, successfully defending Cang Yan's capital."

"Wherever the notices were posted, there were resounding cheers, and civilians praised the Red General's name."

"People don't know how intense or dangerous the inner palace battle last night was, nor do they need to—they only understand one thing:"

"Lingxu Holy Venerable's plot against Cang Yan has suffered another major setback."

"No matter how powerful the Great Heavenly Demon, if it dares to attack Ju City, it will meet the same fate as a broken spear sinking into sand!"

"The Heavenly Demon is treacherous, but under the protection of the Dragon God and the Red General's mighty guard, Cang Yan remains stronger, safer, and more protective of its people than other nations in the world."

"Last night's Heavenly Fire Burning City made everyone realize: as long as all unite as one, Cang Yan is unstoppable!"

Husband husband husband husband husband at the hour of Chen.

"The capital of Chi Yan State, Death Prison."

"Today a batch of death row inmates will be executed; the jailer, as per custom, made his final rounds before execution."

"This area is deep in the prison, where light is dimmest and air most stagnant, with a faint smell of steamed buns drifting about—but now it is not deathly still."

"As he made his rounds, he heard some death row inmates muttering to themselves, others wailing in sorrow."

"'Why, why didn't the gods descend earlier?'"

"Tonight is the time of divine descent; humanity is about to fall into great chaos, yet they still have to be executed."

"Is there still heavenly justice?"

The jailer snorted coldly: "What does the descent of the gods have to do with you? You deserve to die, so you will die."

"Another death row inmate grabbed the bars and shouted at him: 'We're about to die—why can't we even get a last meal? It's been over ten hours, not a drop of water or grain to rinse our mouths. I heard death row inmates in Bao Xiang State, Bao Shu State, and Xu Luo State get a good meal and drink before execution!'"

The jailer glanced at him sideways: "Then why don't you go commit crimes in Bao Shu State? Why don't you go kill in Bao Xiang State? You could enjoy another good meal before death."

"But we haven't mistreated you—we've washed you clean and spotless, so you're fit to go on your way, aren't we?"

"Indeed, Chi Yan State's execution process is unique. In other demon states, death row inmates can eat a last meal before execution;"

"but in Chi Yan State, death row inmates are forbidden food for twelve hours before execution, allowed only water, and must bathe thoroughly before execution."

"But who the hell wants to bathe before dying? Not even given a meal—so stingy!"

The jailer ignored their curses and walked on by himself.

"After passing three or four more cells, he stopped and looked toward a single cell."

"This solitary cell held a middle-aged man, his hair still dripping, yet he knelt by the small window, murmuring words."

"In the entire death prison, only this single cell had a palm-sized window open. Golden sunlight streamed in from outside, shining upon him."

The jailers on either side glanced around, then lightly tapped the railing.

Hearing the movement, the condemned prisoner turned his head, saw it, and then rose and walked over.

The jailer passed something through the gap in the railing, lowering his voice at the same time: "Take it, stuff it into your mouth."

The condemned prisoner took it in his hand and looked at it—it was a round bead the size of a quail's egg.

He hesitated for a few breaths, saying nothing.

"What are you hesitating for?" the jailer said, "Whether you do this or not, you'll die anyway!"

The fate of this condemned prisoner is already sealed; it cannot be changed.