Chapter 257

Night.

Translation: "Night." (Keep period.)

Shadowless Palace.

Translation: "Shadowless Palace."

Countless Shadow Guards surrounded the Lord of Radiance's bedchamber.

The sentence "Countless Shadow Guards surrounded the Lord of Radiance's bedchamber." translates the Chinese: "Countless Shadow Guards" means "Countless Shadow Guards", "surrounded" means "surrounded", and "Lord of Radiance's bedchamber" means "Lord of Radiance's bedchamber". So the translation is: "Countless Shadow Guards surrounded the Lord of Radiance's bedchamber."

No one spoke, no one attacked, but almost every Shadow Guard already knew the situation.

Translation: "No one spoke, no one attacked, but nearly every Shadow Guard already knew the situation."

Their master hastily fled into the underground palace, and at the very moment the doors closed, Empress Zhuo Ya and the unidentified powerful assassin followed him inside.

Translation: "Their lord fled hastily into the Underground Palace, and at the very moment the doors closed, Empress Zhuo Ya and a powerful assassin of unknown identity chased after him."

Note: The name "Zhuo Ya Empress" should be rendered as "Empress Zhuo Ya". According to the glossary, Zhuo Ya is Zhuo Ya and Empress is Empress, so we keep the order as Empress Zhuo Ya.

That assassin is incredibly formidable.

Translation: "That assassin was incredibly fierce."

From appearance to pursuit into the underground palace, in less than two minutes, three legendary powerhouses who usually loomed above with eyes on top of their heads became corpses.

Translation: "From appearance to chasing into the Underground Palace, in less than two minutes, three legendary powerhouses who usually loomed above, with eyes on top of their heads, became corpses."

Legendary powerhouses who usually towered above, with eyes on top of their heads.

It's easy to imagine that, sharing the same place with such a powerful warrior, the master had little chance of escape.

Translation: "It's easy to imagine that, sharing the same space with such a mighty warrior, their lord had little chance of escape."

The First Shadow Guard numbers thirty thousand, and at this time they have mostly gathered in the Shadowless Palace, with all three Shadow Guard generals present.

Translation: "The First Shadow Guard numbered thirty thousand, most of whom had gathered at the Shadowless Palace, and all three great generals of the Shadow Guard were present."

These three generals consist of two women and one man.

Translation: "These three great generals consisted of two women and one man."

Two of them wield seven‑ring magic, the strongest wields eight‑ring magic, and all are direct bloodline of the Radiant family.

Translation: "Two wielded Seven Rings power, the strongest wielded Eight Rings, and all were direct bloodline of the Radiant Family."

The three of them stood at the underground palace entrance, looking at each other, their faces full of shock and bewilderment.

Translation: "The three stood at the Underground Palace gate, looking at each other, faces full of shock and bewilderment."

"It's obvious that Zhuo Ya betrayed her father."

Translation: "\"It's obvious, Zhuo Ya betrayed her father. \""

The speaker is a woman named Lamil, an eight‑ring mage.

Translation: "The speaker was a woman named La Mi'er, an Eight Rings Mage."

By blood relation, she is Zhuo Ya's aunt and also the youngest daughter of the Lord of Radiance.

Translation: "By blood, she was Zhuo Ya's aunt and also the youngest daughter of the Lord of Radiance."

She is also the highest‑ranking general of the First Shadow Guard, the most trusted by the Lord of Radiance, commanding the Shadow Guard's most elite legion.

Translation: "She was also the highest-ranking general of the First Shadow Guard, the most trusted by the Lord of Radiance, commanding the elite legion of the Shadow Guard."

"Now it's not about betrayal; the biggest problem is, if grandfather dies, what should we do?"

Translation: "\"Now it's not about betrayal; the biggest problem is, if grandfather dies, what should we do? \""

The male mage spoke up; his name is Seralakal, a seven‑ring mage, and he is Zhuo Ya's cousin.

Translation: "The male mage spoke; he was Se La Ka Er, a Seven Rings Mage, and Zhuo Ya's cousin."

He is the second‑ranked general, his status considerably lower than Lamil's.

Translation: "He held the rank of second general, his status far below La Mi'er's."

The last female mage let out a soft sigh: "Wait, let's see what Zhuo Ya says."

Translation: "The last female mage sighed softly: \"Wait, let's see what Zhuo Ya says. \""

She is also a seven‑ring mage, named Zelayra, and she is Zhuo Ya's cousin.

Translation: "She too was a Seven Rings Mage, named Ze La Ya, Zhuo Ya's younger cousin."

She commands the Third Legion, which is a recently formed unit.

Translation: "She commanded the Third Legion, a recently organized legion."

Lamil is dissatisfied with both of them: "Zhuo Ya is just a rebel; what we should do now is storm the underground palace!"

Translation: "La Mi'er was dissatisfied with both of them: \"Zhuo Ya is just a rebel; what we should do now is storm the Underground Palace! \""

"Either we rescue them, or we seek revenge!"

Translation: "\"Either rescue them, or take revenge! \""

Seralakal spread his hands and said nothing.

Translation: "Se La Ka Er spread his hands, saying nothing."

Zelayra, however, objected: "Aunt, if grandfather dies, there is no longer any rebellion; there would only be a new Lord of Radiance, because the empire must have a ruler."

Translation: "Ze La Ya objected: \"Aunt, if grandfather dies, there is no rebellion. Only a new Lord of Radiance remains, for the empire must have a ruler. \""

"You and I both know that."

Translation: "\"You and I both know this. \""

"Moreover, I believe grandfather is surely dead, after all that assassin is so powerful."

Translation: "\"Moreover, I believe grandfather is surely dead, after all that assassin is so powerful. \""

Lamil was extremely dissatisfied with this and was about to rebuke when the underground palace door made a "kakak" sound and slowly cracked open a twenty‑centimeter gap.

Translation: "La Mi'er was extremely dissatisfied with this, about to rebuke, when the Underground Palace doors made a 'kakak' sound and slowly split open a twenty-centimeter gap."

kakak

"Whoosh~~~"

Translation: "'Whoosh~~~'"

A nearly naked corpse slid out of the gap, dragging a long trail of blood across the ground, then fell in an extremely undignified prone position.

Translation: "A nearly naked corpse slid out of the gap, dragging a long bloodstain across the ground before collapsing in an utterly undignified heap."

This was the Lord of Radiance, Messiah.

Translation: "It was none other than the Lord of Radiance, Mi Sai."

Fortunately, the three Shadow Guard generals had already cleared everyone out, so no one outside the Radiant family saw this embarrassing scene.

Translation: "Fortunately, the three great Shadow Guard generals had already cleared everyone out, so no one outside the Radiant Family saw this embarrassing scene."

Zhuo Ya's indifferent voice came from the crack in the underground palace door.

Translation: "Zhuo Ya's indifferent voice came from the crack in the Underground Palace doors."

"Grandfather is dead, and I killed him. The reason is that he had fallen, becoming a puppet of demons and elves, attempting to destroy the mortal world!"

Translation: "\"Grandfather is dead; I killed him. The reason is that he fell into depravity, becoming a puppet of demons and elves, seeking to destroy the mortal world! \""

As the Lord of Radiance's most beloved daughter, Lamil immediately ran forward, took off her cloak, and wrapped her father's corpse.

Translation: "As Mi Sai's most beloved daughter, La Mi'er rushed forward, took off her cloak, and wrapped her father's corpse."

She shouted at the underground palace door: "Even so, you have no right to judge him!"

Translation: "She shouted at the Underground Palace doors: \"Even so, you have no right to judge him! \""

Everyone saw the demons and elves, and the full‑scale war against the Natural Alliance was also being prepared, so she had no doubt about Zhuo Ya's words.

Translation: "Demons and elves were seen by all, and a full-scale war with the Natural Alliance was being prepared, so she had no doubt about Zhuo Ya's words."

But even so, she remained extremely angry.

Translation: "But even so, she was still furious."

Inside the underground palace, Zhuo Ya countered: "Then who should judge him? You?"

Translation: "Inside the Underground Palace, Zhuo Ya countered: \"Then who should judge him? You? \""

Lamil was instantly speechless.

Translation: "La Mi'er fell silent at once."

Zhuo Ya added: "From today onward, I will fully control this empire; if you support me as you supported grandfather, I will also employ you as he did."

Translation: "Zhuo Ya added: \"From today on, I will fully control this empire; if you support me as you did grandfather, I will employ you as he did. \""

"If you insist on opposing me, then I can only apologize."

Translation: "\"If you insist on opposing me, then I can only apologize. \""

The three generals exchanged a glance.

Translation: "The three great generals exchanged a glance."

Lamil, face flushed with anger, shouted: "You wish!"

Translation: "La Mi'er's face burned with fury: \"You wish! \""

But Seralakal and Zelayra's faces showed little hostility.

Translation: "But Se La Ka Er and Ze La Ya showed little hostility on their faces."

Because they are the second and third generals.

Translation: "Because they were the second and third generals."

Especially Zelayra, who had only recently been promoted, felt little loyalty to the Lord of Radiance and instead strongly agreed with her cousin's abilities.

Translation: "Especially Ze La Ya, who had only recently been promoted, felt little loyalty to the Lord of Radiance and instead greatly admired her older cousin's abilities."

As for Seralakal,

Translation: "As for Se La Ka Er,"

He has long been suppressed by his aunt Lamil, serving as her deputy; his loyalty to grandfather is far less than hers, and naturally he is not as angry as she is.

Translation: "He had long been suppressed by his aunt La Mi'er, serving as her deputy; his loyalty to grandfather was far less than hers, and naturally his anger was far less as well."

Zhuo Ya immediately noticed the division among the three generals and thus directed her focus toward Lamil.

Translation: "Zhuo Ya immediately sensed the division among the three great generals, and thus turned her focus onto La Mi'er."

She sneered: "Aunt, even if grandfather led the entire empire into the abyss, would you still follow him without hesitation?"

Translation: "She snorted: \"Aunt, even if grandfather led the whole empire into the abyss, would you still follow him without hesitation? \""

Lamil tightly embraced her father's corpse, her face ashen, gazing with extreme hatred at the underground palace door: "Zhuo Ya, you who murdered your ancestor, how dare you still enjoy the glory bestowed upon you by your ancestor?"

Translation: "La Mi'er clutched her father's corpse, her face ashen, gazing with utter hatred at the Underground Palace doors: \"Zhuo Ya, you who murdered the ancestor, how dare you still enjoy the glory he bestowed upon you? \""

Zhuo Ya immediately retorted: "My glory is something I built myself."

Translation: "Zhuo Ya immediately retorted: \"My glory is something I forged myself. \""

"Forty years ago, the Radiant Empire's national strength was only one‑tenth of what it is now, and its population was less than sixty percent of today's."

Translation: "\"Forty years ago, the Radiant Empire had only a tenth of its current national strength, and its population was less than sixty percent of today's. \""

"Back then, the Radiant realms were still fighting each other, and the empire's economy was on the brink of collapse!"

Translation: "\"Back then, the Radiant Nations were still fighting each other, and the empire's economy teetered on the brink of collapse! \""

"It was I who changed all of this; it was I who made the Radiant Empire rise to become the great nation it is today!"

Translation: "\"It was I who changed all this, I who made the Radiant Empire rise to become the great nation it is today! \""

Lamil was again speechless, because Zhuo Ya's statements were factual.

Translation: "La Mi'er fell silent again, because Zhuo Ya's words were factual."

Forty years ago, no one imagined the Radiant Empire could achieve such great glory as it has now.

Translation: "Forty years ago, no one imagined the Radiant Empire could possess such present great glory."

But her soul was enveloped by anger and unwillingness, so she retorted: "But no matter what, everything, everything, originates from the Lord of Radiance!"

Zhuo Ya sneered:

"Very well, since you so like to uphold the origin, the magical implements you now use and the equipment you wear all come from the efforts of the empire's citizens; shouldn't you consider their fate?"

Lamil retorted: "Hmph, that's what they ought to do!"

"There has never been anything in the world that one 'should' do; there is no eternal loyalty, only eternal contracts."

"Protect the people, and the people will serve you; if you regard them as dirt, they will spit on you and abandon you."

"Fallacious! Absurd! Evil!"

Lamil screamed hysterically, then turned her head to look at the other two generals.

"Seralakal, Zelayra, look—this is Zhuo Ya, she has gone completely mad!"

Seralakal showed hesitation, saying nothing.

Zelayra, however, furrowed her brows and spoke in opposition.

"Aunt, if grandfather truly is as your sister says, intending to ally with elves and demons, then he is wrong, and gravely so!"

Lamil stared, her face showing incomprehension: "You actually want to judge your own ancestor?"

Zelayra lowered her eyes, gave no reply, but also did not deny.

Evidently, she tacitly accepted Lamil's words.

Lamil grew ever more furious: "You are all a bunch of unworthy descendants; the Radiant bloodline has completely degenerated."

Having said that, she again shouted at the underground palace door.

"Zhuo Ya, I will never serve a regicide! My legion will absolutely not serve you!"

"If you dare step even one foot out of the underground palace, my people will tear you to pieces!" Saying this, she lifted the Lord of Radiance's corpse and prepared to leave the underground passage.

Zhuo Ya sighed softly, about to speak, when the ever‑silent Seralakal appeared behind Lamil.

He suddenly raised his handgun, aimed at the back of Lamil's head, and without hesitation pulled the trigger.

"Bang! Bang!"

Two dull booms sounded in succession.

The first blast shattered Lamil's protective magical device, and the second directly crushed her skull.

Her head was blown away, leaving only a headless body with a half‑severed neck still spurting blood.

This turn of events was truly sudden; both Zhuo Ya and Zelayra were shaken.

Zelayra gasped in shock: "Seralakal, what exactly did you do?"

Seralakal took out a handkerchief to wipe the splattered white tofu‑brain from his face, then put away the still‑smoking single‑hand gun.

"Since aunt said that, it shows she wishes to follow grandfather, so I fulfilled her wish."

Having said that, Seralakal covertly glanced at the underground palace door.

He had originally intended to feign ignorance and just watch the spectacle, but an inner voice told him that if he wanted to continue serving the Radiant Empire rather than retire as an insignificant figure, he would have to do something for the new Lord of Radiance that she could not conveniently do, or even speak of.

He is still young, does not want to retire, and deep down he also does not agree with grandfather's actions.

Because he has personally witnessed the empire's rise under Zhuo Ya's governance, and their equipment has been rapidly updated thanks to that rise.

Whereas, according to grandfather's ways, the empire would surely quickly revert to that former lifeless state.

Thus, he followed the advice of that mysterious voice.

After doing that, he went "plop" and knelt on one knee.

"Cousin, in terms of governing a nation, I am far inferior to

Now, I am willing to follow you and serve you as the new Radiant Lord.

Inside the underground palace, Zhuo Ya finally snapped back to reality.

Although she felt a bit reluctant, Seralakal's actions did indeed solve her biggest problem, but this guy is really ruthless.

He can still be employed, but not as a trusted confidant.

She then took a deep breath to steady herself, nodded, and said, "Seralakal, excellent—I welcome your allegiance."

So, Zelayya, what about you?

Zelayya immediately knelt on one knee and said, "Cousin, I too wish to follow you!"

Good; then help me rally the First Shadow Guard, especially to keep Aunt Lamil's First Legion under control.

Yes, Radiant Lord.

The two Shadow Guard generals turned and left the underground palace.

Moments later, battle sounds started echoing outside the underground palace.

There were "bang bang pop pop" gunfire sounds, along with various bursts of magical energy.

After the chaos continued for roughly two and a half hours, Seralakal and Zelayya returned, trailed by a large contingent of Shadow Guard warriors.

These warriors also escorted a large group of blood-soaked officers—about thirty or more—who were die-hard loyalists of Lamil.

Radiant Lord, all the fallen's followers have been purged.

Good.

kakak~kakak~kakak~~

The heavy underground palace gate slowly swung open.

Clad in black leather armor, Zhuo Ya appeared behind the door, with a tall male mage standing behind her—his expression indifferent and his features unremarkable.

Obviously, this male mage is the powerful assassin we encountered earlier.

He withstood numerous Shadow Guard attacks, unleashing thunderous force to slay three legendary powerhouses head‑on, and then turned the onslaught of Shadow Guard strikes into nothing, bodily shielding Zhuo Ya.

His mana is vast, his spells immensely powerful—simply beyond belief.

Seeing him stand behind Zhuo Ya, Seralakal, Zelayya, and the other Shadow Guards all instinctively tensed up, daring not to entertain any extraneous thoughts.

Zhuo Ya clearly sensed this; she secretly marveled at Luo Sen's tremendous deterrent power, yet also felt a secret worry, unable to stop thinking: "This guy is so formidable, with new tactics constantly emerging—how can my Radiant Empire possibly contend with the Natural Empire?"

She wasn't worried about the other side's assassination, after all the other side had countless opportunities to kill her and plunge the empire into turmoil.

But he didn't act, showing that his words about prioritizing the mortal world's greater good were sincere.

However, this worry circulated in Zhuo Ya's mind for a moment before fading, because she had figured it out.

"The Radiant Empire hasn't always been strong; it's merely a mortal nation. The relative standings between nations naturally rise and fall."

"If we can't compete, then we can't; struggling like Grandfather did is useless."

"The Natural Empire being a bit stronger isn't entirely bad."

If the Natural Empire were too weak, then when facing the returning Lord of Truth, the Radiant Empire would lack a powerful ally, making the situation even worse.

Thinking this way, Zhuo Ya felt completely at ease.

Then she gathered her focus and issued orders.

"Starting now, the original First Shadow Guard First Legion is disbanded on the spot, all officers relieved of duty, all soldiers confined to the barracks, awaiting further handling."

"Se La Ka Er, your Second Legion is promoted to First Legion, you replace La Mi Er's position and become the General of the First Legion."

Se La Ka Er felt a surge of joy: "Yes, Lord of Radiance."

"Now, you will inter the corpses of the Mi Sai mage and the La Mi Er mage, then thoroughly reorganize the original First Legion and take charge of the entire palace's security."

"Your First Legion will receive the finest magical equipment and treatment."

"Yes, Lord of Radiance."

"Ze La Ya, your Third Legion moves up to Second Legion; your main task is to ensure my safety."

"Yes, Lord of Radiance."

Ze La Ya was also very pleased.

"Now, take your people and escort me back to the Radiant Garden."

The Radiant Garden is divided into two parts: the rear is her sleeping quarters, the front is the empire's governmental hub.

The previous Lord of Radiance died, the new Lord of Radiance ascended the throne, and naturally there are many affairs to handle.

Moreover, it must be handled overnight, to get through this turbulent period as quickly as possible.

Ze La Ya immediately waved her hand, a large number of elite shadow guards followed Zhuo Ya, tightly protecting her from behind.

Throughout the process, Luosen remained silent behind Zhuo Ya, serving as a silent ballast.

Meanwhile, Weilan, far away over three thousand li.

The main body responsible for controlling Luosen in battle also let out a long sigh:

"This trip wasn't in vain, but my task is only half done."

The Empress has basically taken control of the situation, becoming the supreme ruler of the Radiant Empire.

Once she firmly establishes her footing and loses the Lord of Radiance as a check, Luosen will completely lose the ability to restrain her.

It's obvious that in governance talent, Zhuo Ya far surpasses the Lord of Radiance! So, although tonight she killed a mad tiger, she also unleashed an even more fearsome tiger.

So he still needs to take a second step: putting a new shackle on that tiger.

A shackle belonging to him.

This thing may not be used, but it must exist! (End of chapter)