Chapter 998: The Heavenly Emperor Returns

The Heavenly Emperor returns. “I wonder what the Heavenly Clan wants with me?”

The Shadow Robe Heavenly King saw that No-End Divine General and felt a hint of confusion—why had the Heavenly Clan specifically come seeking him? He had no connection whatsoever with them.

“By order of Taiyi, I come to pay respects to the Shadow Robe Heavenly King. May I ask how you stand with the Blue Orchid Heavenly King?” said the No-End Divine General calmly.

The Shadow Robe Heavenly King replied, “Why ask that?”

“Our Heavenly Clan intends to kill this one,” said the No-End Divine General.

The Shadow Robe Heavenly King paused, then said seriously, “Though I once had ties with the Blue Orchid Heavenly King—I was once Commander of the Imperial City Guard—we have long since parted ways. If the Heavenly Clan wishes to kill the Blue Orchid Heavenly King, I will not interfere, and I will keep this matter secret, not revealing a single word.”

He declared this without hesitation.

Though he did not know how the Blue Orchid Heavenly King had angered the Heavenly Clan, if they truly meant to kill her, he had no objection to secretly aiding them—he hated this woman as well.

“Thank you for your insight, my lord. I take my leave,” said the No-End Divine General, bowed, and turned away.

“Wait.”

The Shadow Robe Heavenly King hesitated, then added, “If the Heavenly Clan truly plans to act, be cautious. The Blue Orchid Heavenly King is the consort of the Flame-Distant Heavenly King—they are closely allied, and she has secretly formed alliances with several other Heavenly Kings. Their power is considerable. Even if your Heavenly Clan is formidable, you must proceed with care.”

He hesitated again, then revealed some crucial information.

For he sensed that the desire to kill the Blue Orchid Heavenly King was genuine—not a ruse to extract information from him. Moreover, the Heavenly Clan had already slain one Feathered Heavenly King; killing another was entirely plausible.

This fit the modus operandi of the powerful clans of the Heavenly Realm.

Upon hearing this, the No-End Divine General swiftly departed with this vital intelligence.

After he left, the Shadow Robe Heavenly King began to ponder—what did this unusual behavior mean? Soon after, the No-End Divine General sought out the Barbarian Stone Heavenly King and asked him the same question.

Though a Heavenly King need not heed a Divine General, the Heavenly Clan was too powerful and camped nearby; as long as their demands weren’t excessive, any sensible person would grant them face.

Quickly,

the No-End Divine General returned with the news and reported the two Heavenly Kings’ responses to Li Yi.

“So both the Shadow Robe Heavenly King and the Barbarian Stone Heavenly King wish the Blue Orchid Heavenly King dead?” Li Yi laughed. “Whether true or not, the fact that the Shadow Robe Heavenly King revealed so much about her suggests they have deep grievances.”

“Hua Qing, after your death, your subordinates split into factions: the Empress faction, who seized ninety palaces; the rebel faction, led by the Blue Orchid and Flame-Distant Heavenly Kings; and the neutral faction—Barbarian Stone and Shadow Robe Heavenly Kings. At least these two can be approached. Perhaps your title as Emperor Hua Qing can still stir up a final bit of influence.”

Hua Qing remained silent.

He had seen it clearly: the Shadow Robe and Blue Orchid Heavenly Kings had divided the Imperial City Guard; the Barbarian Stone fellow had gathered a portion of his former troops and carved out territory within the Imperial City; as for other former Heavenly Kings who had pledged allegiance, they had vanished entirely.

As for the loyalists—none remained.

Or perhaps they had already perished in the purges and rebellions. At least, none of his Imperial faction had surfaced.

Had he really been so weak in life?

Why, upon death, had everyone turned against him? In mortal worlds, when a nation fell, loyal ministers still died for it; later, revivalists would lie low for decades. Why did he have nothing?

Seeing Hua Qing’s silence, Li Yi did not press him further.

After all, anyone returning to find such a scene would be shaken—especially one who had been so certain that merely appearing in the Imperial City would bring him a triumphant homecoming, with loyal Heavenly Kings bowing at his feet.

Indeed, one must not dwell too long in fantasy—it blurs reality.

As time passed,

the last of the Imperial Palaces changed once more. The Heavenly Emperor’s power around it began to fade, for the Heavenly Kings had set up great arrays to sever its spiritual energy, depriving the Heavenly Emperor’s power of sustenance, while their Heavenly King weapons bombarded it day and night.

These final lines of defense were finally worn away.

“The Heavenly Emperor’s power beyond the Imperial Palace has vanished. We can now approach it.”

“At last, success. Not a waste of three years of my sitting here.”

“Move. Attempt to enter the Imperial Palace. See what treasures Hua Qing Emperor left behind.”

The Heavenly Kings who had been guarding nearby grew excited.

They led their elite Divine Generals and surged forward together, unwilling to miss this opportunity, eager to be first and claim its rewards.

“The Imperial Palace fell too soon—it’s only been ten days. General Shenwei’s reinforcements haven’t arrived yet.” Li Yi appeared instantly in the sky, gazing left and right, frowning.

“Taiyi, even if Shenwei hasn’t arrived, we cannot miss the opening of the Imperial Palace. The Heavenly Emperor’s weapons must be seized,” said Han Shan Heavenly King seriously.

Li Yi nodded. “Since we can’t wait for reinforcements, we’ll join these others. But Han Shan Heavenly King, be careful. There are over twenty Heavenly Kings here. Though their strengths vary, if they fixate on you, it won’t be good. But if true mortal danger arises, I will not hesitate to unleash the Heavenly Emperor’s power and sweep them all away.”

He had already prepared for a fight to the death.

Han Shan Heavenly King nodded. “That’s right. Though the Heavenly Emperor’s power is precious, your life matters more.”

Had Li Yi not held such a trump card, she would never have dared such a risk.

“Go.”

Li Yi shouted, leading eight Divine Generals, a Dragon Maiden, and Han Shan Heavenly King toward the Imperial Palace.

As he drew near, more and more Heavenly King figures emerged around the palace. He did not recognize them—he had only seen the Blue Orchid Heavenly King.

In mere moments,

twenty-two Heavenly Kings and hundreds of Divine Generals had gathered beside the Imperial Palace.

The palace gates stood tightly shut, shimmering with flowing light, steeped in Imperial aura. Though no killing array remained, the gates still barred the Heavenly Kings’ advance.

For they sensed danger.

“Li Yi, don’t approach the gate. It holds a fragment of the Heavenly Emperor’s will. Though centuries have passed and spiritual energy is cut off, that will may be nearly erased—but it still could awaken. It’s useless to a Heavenly Emperor, but it can obliterate a Heavenly King.”

Hua Qing was jolted awake. Seeing Li Yi move, he immediately warned him.

“Are there secret passages, back roads?” Li Yi asked.

Hua Qing said, “Yes. But dare you take a back road with all these eyes watching? If you dare, I’ll guide you. But I advise you to blend in here for now. Wait until the palace gates open, then follow my correct route to retrieve the Emperor’s Hourglass Furnace and the Celestial Lord’s Token.”

“The Imperial Palace contains its own space. These people, upon entering, will be briefly disoriented. That’s your best chance to act. Now I’ll give you the palace’s map. Don’t stray—some spaces are deadly; even a Heavenly King who enters the wrong one will die.”

“Alright, that’s settled.” Li Yi nodded, and a star-map instantly appeared in his mind.

On this star-map, two routes were marked: one leading to the Emperor’s Hourglass Furnace, the other to the Celestial Lord’s Token.

As time passed, Hua Qing kept adding more markings to the map—danger zones, valuable storage sites.

For instance: one hundred thousand jin of Nine Heaven Divine Water—his accumulated treasure since becoming Emperor—or special vaults holding Heavenly King-level puppets, granting temporary power boosts.

Some places were absurd: one chamber sealed a fragment of Celestial Lord’s killing intent. Though faint, even a Heavenly Emperor entering it would face disaster. He couldn’t fathom why Hua Qing had collected such a thing.

As he absorbed more information, Li Yi gradually gained confidence.

But just then,

a Heavenly King unleashed a Heavenly King weapon, striking the palace gate with a Shitanxingyiji .

The next instant,

a cold, terrifying will briefly revived. The heavens and earth churned. A suffocating, dreadful power coalesced upon the gate.

“Worse—it’s Hua Qing’s lingering will reviving! It seeks instinctively to kill intruders!” The Shadow Robe Heavenly King recognized the aura and instantly panicked, retreating with his Divine Generals, unwilling to be targeted.

“Damn it!” The Blue Orchid Heavenly King paled, terrified of being locked onto by Hua Qing’s lingering will.

Other Heavenly Kings scattered like birds and beasts, unwilling to bear the backlash.

But the revived will, the lingering Heavenly Emperor’s power, had to be discharged. A flawless Imperial light surged instantly across ten thousand li, straight toward Li Yi.

“Hua Green, I fucking curse you, you damn old bastard—your lingering will is targeting me?” Li Yi’s hair stood on end. He cursed aloud.

The speed was too fast—he couldn’t react. Was he about to be killed again by this old bastard? “Nonsense! It’s targeting me! It sensed my Primordial Spirit’s return—this lingering will, carrying an Imperial light, seeks to reunite with me!” Hua Qing instantly understood.

“Taiyi!” Han Shan Heavenly King was also shocked.

So many here—hundreds of Divine Generals—why did the lingering will revive and lock onto Taiyi? This was too unlucky.

She could not block that Imperial light. Nor could she.

And under these circumstances, Li Yi had no chance to use the Heavenly Emperor’s power.

Was this newly returned scion of the Heavenly Clan, merely due to bad luck, to die here?

The other Heavenly Kings far away saw this too. They had been startled, but now secretly rejoiced.

The Heavenly Clan’s prince had stepped in dog shit—targeted by the Heavenly Emperor’s lingering will. He was dead. That Imperial light could not even be touched by a Heavenly King, let alone a mere Divine General.

“Indeed, arrogance invites disaster. Even Hua Qing Emperor’s lingering will despises the Heavenly Clan’s arrogance within the Imperial City,” muttered several Heavenly Kings inwardly.

Using the Emperor’s lingering will to repel the Heavenly Clan benefited everyone here.

As all hoped to see Taiyi, the Heavenly Clan prince, perish—

Within the imperial light, Li Yi did not perish but remained unharmed; he bathed in it, his entire body radiating a thread of Heavenly Emperor’s aura, as if the Heavenly Emperor had been reborn—now the boy had returned.

Li Yi, within the Imperial light, was unharmed. He stood bathed in it, his body radiating a thread of Heavenly Emperor’s aura—as if a Heavenly Emperor had been reborn, the young lord returned.

This sight left every Heavenly King utterly stunned.

[86] (End of Chapter)