[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons":3,"chapter-immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-chapter-784":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Immortality Begins with Slaying Demons",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2318672,4533,"Chapter 784: Even the Imperial Family Has No Grain Left","immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-chapter-784",784,"\u003Cp>Imperial City, Immortal Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a direct agency under the Emperor’s jurisdiction, the Eight Bureaus oversee the nation’s clouds and rains; the Demon-Slaying Bureau, stationed across the Four Continents, holds life-and-death authority, commanding countless powerful experts—truly wielding immense influence over the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet such a force is tucked away in an obscure corner of this vast city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s hard to imagine that in the deeper shadows of the bureau, within that small study, the slender middle-aged man seated there is Lin Shuya, head of the Immortal Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…“\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the other’s gesture, Feng Xi sat down at the desk, skipped all pleasantries, and directly pulled out the pre-prepared memorial, handing it over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you come alone? Where are the others?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Shuya lifted his eyes, sighed softly, reached out, and took the memorial, flipping through it casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The secret letter sent earlier was not in vain after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These veteran generals, who have fought for the Divine Dynasty for years with unwavering duty, should not die uselessly outside because of some man’s whim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Save one if we can.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“General Yang and General Yan remain stationed in Nanzhou and did not come together,” Feng Xi replied softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…“\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Lin Shuya fell silent for a moment, then slowly furrowed his brow, saying nothing more, his gaze fixed on the memorial in his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the neat characters came into view, his eyelids twitched slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This report was less a summary of Nanzhou’s situation than a personal ledger of achievements—almost every two lines, that unfamiliar name appeared again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Jade Pool demon plagued three prefectures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immortal sects, sent to gather imperial qi, dispatched disciples with magic treasures to disrupt the common folk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All cultivation sects evacuated Shenzhou, took away the sacred relics left by the True Gods, and allowed the Demon-Imprisoning Pagoda to collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Bodhi Sect ambushed and killed Nanzhou’s titled generals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eight fourth-rank demons led hordes of demons to assault Songfeng Prefecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The great demon, led by the Southern Emperor, joined forces with several third-rank demon lords to break Nanzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each incident grew more horrifying than the last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the one constant was this phrase appended after every event:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slain by General Nanyang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Merely from the words on the page, one could sense a chilling, deadly aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire study fell silent except for the rustling of pages; when even that ceased, the room plunged into deathly stillness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…“\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Shuya read the entire memorial carefully, arriving at an answer that made his breath freeze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nanzhou… had held!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Xi had not returned merely to evacuate—she came solely to report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the reason for all this lay in the man called General Nanyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes—the very same Nanyang who had once displeased him, the one he’d sent word to abandon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Shuya took a deep breath and carefully closed the memorial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with his status, his face now burned with shame—he, head of the Immortal Department, had made such a grave misjudgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Every word is true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Xi slowly rose to her feet: “Please, Lord Lin, report this to His Majesty immediately and summon General Nanyang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Naturally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Lin Shuya pressed his lips together, eyes brightening—amidst this world of slaughtered lives, such good news was utterly unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reached to collect the memorial: “I will present it to His Majesty at once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Feng Xi placed her hand on the memorial, calmly saying: “No need, Lord Lin. I wish to present it to His Majesty myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…“\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Shuya froze for an instant—her action made her distrust unmistakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His lips twitched; a faint, almost invisible sadness flickered in his eyes as he murmured: “May I ask why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Xi looked at the slender middle-aged man, paused, then said: “If the court lacks the strength to aid Nanzhou, we understand—it need not be given. But the rewards due to General Nanyang—where have they gone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His Majesty has not yet decided on rewards,” Lin Shuya shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Xi, having served as a Southern Garrison General for years, was not fooled by such words—she let out a cold laugh: “Are you saying every reward in the past was personally drafted by His Majesty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If so, what use is the head of the Immortal Department?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing this sharp question, Lin Shuya exhaled, closing his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he opened them again, his gaze was equally calm: “The court’s imperial qi is scarce. The same amount of qi, spent elsewhere, could save countless lives.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You acted without authorization, killing Bodhi Sect and Three Immortals Sect’s Bodhisattvas and Immortal Lords—escalating the crisis, extinguishing hope for Nanzhou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I cannot let other civilians pay the price for your recklessness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, Nanzhou’s survival was beyond my expectations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But even if I could relive it, I would not redirect that imperial qi to Nanzhou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…“\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Xi stared at the stubborn face before her, and suddenly recalled the figure towering above the Southern Emperor—his mouth crimson, nearly spent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was no assured victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any misstep could have killed Nanyang—in such a situation, even the slightest boost in reserves was vital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While that young man, newly joined to the Demon-Slaying Bureau, fought desperately for the Divine Dynasty,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lord Lin, here in the Imperial City, had casually chosen to abandon him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, hearing those lofty words now, Feng Xi felt only coldness in her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Escalated the crisis… if not forced, who would deliberately anger the Three Immortals Sect and the Bodhi Sect?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They sit high above as dragon-subduing, tiger-taming Bodhisattvas, waiting to feast on your dynasty’s imperial qi—how comfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shook her head, losing interest in further argument, yanked the memorial free, and turned to leave the study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Shuya watched her retreating back in silence, then stared at his empty hand. After a long while, he gave a helpless smile and clenched his fingers tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep night, outside the innermost courtyard of the Imperial City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Xi waited with Shen Yi in place, turned to him apologetically: “You didn’t have to wait until now—probably His Majesty just woke from his drunkenness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even she felt a touch of irritation saying this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thank heaven immortals live long—most joined the Demon-Slaying Bureau long ago, when the Emperor was still a revitalizing sovereign, and they’d witnessed firsthand how diligent he once was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without that reputation to sustain him, the current drunkard’s behavior would have driven every Demon-Slaying Bureau expert away long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi shook his head—he was eager to escape, but a day or two didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, though the Imperial City couldn’t rival the Buddha’s Mount Sumeru, it was still among the safest places in the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellencies, this way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, a maid emerged with a lantern, guiding them toward the wine pool in the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi walked quietly; compared to his last visit, now that he had many suspicions, his perception of the surroundings had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the thick scent of wine reached his nose, he halted, finally seeing again the silhouette slumped beside the wine pool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him lay the memorial Feng Xi had just sent in—clearly, he had already read it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No court officials were present—not even Lin Shuya, who had been here last time. Aside from the retreating maid, only three remained by the pool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sign of respect for a great hero of the Divine Dynasty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You may leave. I wish to speak alone with General Nanyang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man in the wine pool waved his hand, dismissing Feng Xi as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…“\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi didn’t care much for formalities, but this was too hasty—nothing like what he’d imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Xi gave him a glance—reassuring, yet warning him not to speak rashly—then turned and left the wine pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come, sit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor patted a nearby pebble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone else would have hesitated—such a bizarre imperial meeting… even if granted a seat, one might at least expect a chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Shen Yi, though he had lived under a human dynasty, had never truly engaged with its court, let alone learned its customs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the Emperor spoke, he paused a moment, then walked straight over and sat cross-legged beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve read the memorial.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor spoke softly, finally turning his head—his face flushed and aged, unremarkable, just an ordinary old man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression was complex, devoid of joy, then he tossed out an odd question: “Do you think… if they’ve never witnessed slaughter, will they ever believe those sect masters again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just those words sent a chilling frost through Shen Yi’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of his reasons for entering the Imperial City was to confirm his suspicions—but he never expected the answer to come so fast, so abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just this one sentence proved the Emperor had foreseen the Divine Dynasty’s ruin—and possibly even helped bring it about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We've only met twice before; tonight’s just a casual chat, a little joke—don’t take it to heart.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man waved his hand and burst into a wide grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi’s gaze instantly locked onto the gap in the man’s front teeth: \"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor seized the opportunity to sidestep the previous topic, picked up the memorial, and casually tapped it: \"Given your achievements, you’ve given me quite a headache—what should I reward you with?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Feng Xi left, the Emperor had dropped the imperial \"I,\" and coincidentally, Shen Yi also disliked such formalities; moreover, after that last question, his tone had grown noticeably stiff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Logically, you ought to be promoted and ennobled, but the several Guardian Generals are all mortals, relying solely on imperial qi to attain cultivation levels comparable to second-rank.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man scratched his head: \"They’re all ordinary humans with fixed lifespans—that’s why I trust them with imperial qi. But you’re different; judging by your trajectory, immortality is inevitable. Besides, imperial qi is limited. If I give it to you, I must make room for them. Hmph.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, he slapped his forehead: \"How about this—I appoint you as a First-Rank Divine Dynasty General... without imperial qi. What do you say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi had finally figured it out: this so-called Emperor had no intention of discussing serious matters—he was still acting like a jester.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He fell silent for a moment, then stood up again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the Emperor finally dropped his smile, clicked his tongue, and called out to Shen Yi. His cloudy eyes gradually cleared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised the memorial again and sighed: \"Look at you, always so impatient... Forget that. What should we talk about? Your bizarre resume?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor traced his index finger across the paper: \"It doesn’t mention it here, but look at this—Bodhi Sect ambushed the General of the Forbidden Mount. The report only names one fourth-rank practitioner and one fourth-rank wolf demon. That’s not how those monks operate. If this fourth-rank wolf demon serves the Bodhi Sect, where’s the Bodhisattva he pledged allegiance to?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You just rescued him like that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And here—during the scripture protection mission, you slew sixteen fourth-rank prodigies from major sects. Did those Bodhisattvas and Immortal Lords just watch you kill them? Clearly, you weren’t acting under the Divine Dynasty’s authority.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, and this too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor turned to another trivial matter: \"The White Cloud Cave was granted a horse by the Immortal Court, and an Immortal Official arrived. You discovered the cave was harming lives and wiped it out—what happened to the Immortal Official? Did he just watch you kill them and leave?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Clearly, you’re not just my Southern Garrison General.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor set down the memorial and spread his hands casually: \"Under these circumstances, how can I dare reward you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi raised an eyebrow and sat back down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a man with such clear judgment deserved the title of reviver of the dynasty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then why, if so, had he turned his back on heaven and earth, even pushing them into the fire himself?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Shen Yi’s action, the Emperor suddenly smiled: \"Of course I dare—no matter who you are, you saved Nanzhou. As long as your heart leans toward the people, I don’t care what methods you used.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, his tone shifted, his face filled with helplessness: \"The problem is, I can’t afford to reward you. I have imperial qi—but I can’t give it to you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor pointed to the massive stone pillar in the pool: \"These things—I have great use for them. How about this: you help yourself to the wine. Drink as much as you can.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi followed his finger and, in an instant, the tranquil wine pool transformed completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if his eyes had pressed against the Crimson Sun—golden light so dense it nearly blinded his pupils filled his entire vision. In a single flash, Shen Yi’s spirit trembled violently, his Dao Fruit and Position shaking as if about to shatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, it lasted only an instant—everything vanished like a moon reflected in water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Yi sat rigid by the pool’s edge, not regaining his senses for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was imperial qi—an unimaginable, overwhelming quantity of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly turned to look at the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man grinned with his mouth wide open, revealing the missing front tooth—like a child proudly showing off his most treasured toy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his eyes held profound meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed these things... for great purposes!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, not a single drop could be spared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So after all that, you’re just trying to weasel out of it,\" Shen Yi said, regaining his composure and rolling his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t even noticed: though this was their second meeting and the man was the sovereign of the mortal realm, under his silent guidance, Shen Yi had lost all sense of distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s negotiate—give me something else instead,\" the man rubbed his palms, sighing. \"Even the imperial household is running low on grain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2296,"2026-06-20T15:00:39.179Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","5f7fcb2556910be97632c8e581a3b7329ae13e81c1f750f49c656578075a3db3","immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-chapter-785","immortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-chapter-783",840,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fimmortality-begins-with-slaying-demons-cover.jpg"]