Chapter 168: with translation of chapter title

"Your Majesty!" Jin Wu was about to die of anxiety! He really worried himself sick.

Shen Qingli, however, still said, "Not bad, she really deserves to die, and she ought to be killed openly and honorably."

Jin Wu was about to cry, what a mother-daughter pair! Their thoughts are equally stubborn…

"Let her go." Shen Kuo spoke.

Jin Wu really started to cry, what a good person!

Zhong Minglan was angry, "What did you say?"

"Let her go." Shen Qingli also said.

Zhong Minglan was taken aback, "Little beauty, you—"

Shen Qingli, however, embraced her arm and softly said, "Mother, let me handle this myself, okay?"

Zhong Minglan glanced at her sideways, seeing in her clear, limpid eyes a rippling steadfastness and persistence.

"Okay?" Shen Qingli asked again, her head still resting on Zhong Minglan's shoulder.

Zhong Minglan's heart softened; she couldn't refuse any request from the little beauty, even if it didn't match her usual way of doing things.

"Are you afraid I can't bear it?" Zhong Minglan countered, "You don't need to be afraid; I acknowledge you as my own, not to make you bear any responsibility—I just want you to follow your heart and soar freely."

"Mother can also guarantee you, I will never come to harm. I've been the empress for so many years—what grasshopper haven't I seen? Nothing can defeat me."

As the empress!

Zhong Minglan's words were not meant to comfort Shen Qingli.

She truly has confidence!

And she is willing to lift Shen Qingli up with all her confidence, holding nothing back.

Such a Zhong Minglan not only warmed Shen Qingli's heart to the point of tears, but also made Shen Kuo glance sideways—he actually…

"I know, Mother is the number one war god of the Divine Court!" Shen Qingli looked up at her mother, confident, strong, and warm like the sun, yet she does not allow clouds to obscure the sunshine.

"Leave it to me first; if Mother thinks I'm handling it poorly, then step in." Shen Qingli said seriously.

Zhong Minglan saw the determination in her eyes and finally nodded, "Alright."

Qin Bilian heard this and secretly breathed a sigh of relief!

She was truly afraid of dying at Zhong Minglan's hands!

After all, she had personally witnessed how Qin Su Nu died!

And having received permission, Shen Qingli looked at Jin Wu, "Uncle Jin, release her."

"As Your Highness commands!" Jin Wu hurriedly untied Qin Bilian, fearing the Her Majesty the Empress might change her mind.

Jiu Li was a bit anxious, constantly looking at Di Jin, his round eyes spinning around~

Di Jin, however, said nothing, merely standing beside Shen Qingli, as if he truly were a useless husband who couldn't lift a shoulder or bear a load, obeying his wife's every command.

Upon leaving the prison.

Qin Bilian felt completely relieved!

Zhong Minglan also instantly withdrew the divine power she had been shielding Shen Kuo with.

"Zhong Minglan—"

Shaoguan Wu received no response, roared again, but was interrupted.

"What's the dog barking for?"

Zhong Minglan was already displeased, so naturally she wouldn't give Shaoguan Wu any pleasant words.

Shaoguan Wu: …dog?

"You—"

"Divine Emperor, don't lower yourself to her level; after all, your spirit is unsettled."

Lou Guansnow blocked Shaoguan Wu's impassioned speech and looked toward the vermilion bird god palace's fiery gold gate.

The Vermilion Bird Palace immortals already deployed outside the gate clashed spear‑to‑spear with the Black Torture Palace elite troops led by Shaoguan Wu!

As soon as Zhong Minglan appeared, the Vermilion Bird Palace immortals grew sharper! Like a bundle of straight spears suddenly converging into a sky‑piercing lance that nothing can resist!

Even the Black Torture Palace immortals arrayed behind Shaoguan Wu felt a faint sting! They instinctively scattered protective power—war was about to break out at a moment's notice.

"Father!" Qin Bilian cried out as soon as she appeared, "Lou Immortal!"

"Bilian." Shaoguan Wu saw his daughter in relatively good condition, and his anger eased somewhat,

Lou Guansnow stared fixedly at Zhong Minglan, "Empress Zhong,"

"We're releasing the person." Shen Qingli interrupted Lou Guansnow's words and shoved Qin Bilian outward.

Lou Guansnow was stunned, immediately looking at Shen Qingli, "You—are you the Empress Zhong's daughter? Not bad, it seems you still know right from wrong, understanding to advise your father not to oppose the Dao Palace."

Zhong Minglan's gaze instantly turned cold!

Shen Qingli, however, smiled—indeed! They never really intended to let her mother release the person; they just wanted to use Qin Bilian to make things difficult for her mother. On this point, Qin Bilian really spoke the truth.

Lou Guansnow even added, "It seems you are an adopted daughter recognized by Empress Zhong? This immortal originally thought the Empress had truly given birth to a biological daughter."

Even the Vermilion Bird Palace's "brawny" immortals heard the subtext! It was nothing more than a veiled mockery that Shen Qingli lacked her mother's charm. What a so‑called little emperor—nothing more than that!

Qin Bilian naturally also sensed something was off, and hurriedly flew toward Shaoguan Wu, "Father, father—"

Before she could finish calling "father," she could no longer speak.

The Taiyi Divine Sword pierced her heart, devouring all her divine power and vitality.

Shaoguan Wu's face changed, "Bilian!"

Lou Guansnow raised her eyebrows, glaring at Shen Qingli!

"Seize her! The Vermilion Bird Little Emperor defies the pardon order—take her down!"

"I—" Zhong Minglan was about to step forward, but Shen Kuo grabbed her around the waist and held her back!

Shen Qingli had already leapt into the air, "Take me down? On what grounds do you seize me? My Vermilion Bird Palace has already complied with the pardon and released the person—where is the defiance?"

"Clever words and pleasing colors!" Lou Guanxue sneered!

Di Jin then spoke, unhurriedly, "Article 250 of Shen Ting: between gods and immortals, those with irreconcilable enmity may settle their grudges themselves; the victor is blameless, the deceased is done with, enmities are cleared, and neither side may stir up trouble again."

Di Jin's voice wasn't loud either, yet it could ensure every word reached each person's ears.

As Di Jin's voice fell, Shen Qingli drew the Taiyi Divine Sword.

Tan Bilian looked at her own gaping chest, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"How could this be…"

She had clearly been pardoned!

Her father was right before her eyes!

The Xuanwu army also arrived!

She had clearly been released…

"Bilian!"

Shao Guanwu strode forward, intending to catch Tan Bilian.

Shao Guanwu couldn't catch her, and Shen Qingli wouldn't give that chance.

Seeing Tan Bilian again, she had no intention of letting the opponent live, and moreover wanted to exterminate them!

"Jiu Ying."

Shen Qingli released Jiu Ying with one hand, letting it indulge in meat.

She was closer to Tan Bilian than Shao Guanwu was.

Jiu Ying was delighted to have human meat to eat, so excited it took flight!

In a flash, all nine heads bit Tan Bilian, tearing her apart and devouring her outright!

"Shut up!" Shao Guanwu roared in anger! The great axe had already been swung.

"Ah ya!" Jiu Li instantly grew huge! The berserk iron-eating beast emerged like a demon god, covering the sky and earth.

Its pair of small, round fists, after growing huge, became like iron shields, smashing heavenward! A Taiji Diagram surged skyward!

Jiu Ying looked up to its elder, hurriedly sped up, and in a few bites devoured Tan Bilian—body and soul, not a trace left.

You're joking!

It is a super ferocious Jiu Ying!

The Jiu Ying that loves eating human flesh the most! It's rare that the master lets it out to do its old trade; of course it wants to do it splendidly!

Otherwise, if the master dislikes how it eats, it won't be given meat again in the future—what then?

"Damn it!" Shao Guanwu's eyes nearly burst as the great axe came down with tremendous force.

But it was useless; Shen Qingli raised her hand and said, "Little Star."

The Star Phenomenon Mountain instantly appeared in her palm, and the world's very foundations trembled.

Shen Qingli's gaze was cold as a deep pool, yet a Vermilion Bird Divine Seal shone clearly on her forehead.

"Shao Shen Emperor, are you sure you want to fight me? If so, sign a life-and-death contract—life or death, we make no distinctions!"

Shen Qingli's voice, accompanied by the Vermilion Bird Divine Cry, echoed above the Vermilion Bird Divine Palace, destined to be recorded in the annals of Shen Ting.