Embers of Sword

Chapter 583 Blood and Snow
The wound on the Empress's palm healed at an extremely fast pace.

Three or four breaths later.

The crimson blood stopped flowing, and the palm returned to being a flawless piece of white jade.

With her level of skill, this minor injury is nothing.

"...cannibalism?"

Qin Zu suddenly realized something.

He now knew why the flowering branches withered.

The Holy Empress nourished the Immortal Tree with her own blood... For the Holy Empress's level of cultivation, this was naturally an extremely good tonic.

As a result, the withered branches of the immortal tree that were fed the plant blossomed and sprouted in a short period of time.

The wound heals itself, and the blood is exhausted.

The branch will then naturally wither again.

"Yes."

The Holy Empress gazed up at the towering tree and said slowly, "Even without sacrificing the dragon vein's fortune, this 'immortal tree' can be revived. As long as enough Yuan energy, enough blood... enough nutrients are sent, this immortal tree can come back to life."

Hear this.

Yan Xin's expression turned ugly.

"What do you mean?"

He glanced behind him out of the corner of his eye.

The teleportation portal to the Moon Hidden Cave closed again after the two stepped inside.

The Empress Dowager controlled this grotto-heaven.

Is this a trap to lure someone into a snare?

"Mr. Yan is a pillar of the nation who has devoted his life to the country."

The Holy Empress gently stroked the withered tree and asked earnestly, word by word, "If this immortal tree needs your flesh and blood as nourishment... would you be willing to pour out your Dao source and sacrifice yourself?"

"?"

This sentence sent chills down Yan Xin's spine.

He wanted to back away and leave.

However, the entrance to [Moon Hidden Cave] is already closed.

Boom.

Yan Xin's aura surged, his sleeves fluttered, and countless golden threads of destiny shot out from his sleeves, heading towards the outer edge of the cave.

The Holy Empress did not intervene, turning a blind eye and allowing Yan Xin to release the "power of the Great Dao" to explore this cave.

Although the Moon-Hidden Cave is desolate, it is extremely vast.

The golden thread of destiny stretched for dozens of miles and still showed no end.

Yan Xin's expression turned ashen.

After all, I am merely a Celestial Watcher, primarily cultivating the divine soul—

Facing top-tier figures like Qin Zu and the Holy Empress, he had almost no power to resist.

If this invitation to [Moon Hidden Cave] is to send me on my way.

Then he could only await his execution.

only……

If things develop this way, it's simply too unreasonable!
Although those who observe the heavens cannot foresee their own fate, they are extremely sensitive to the great calamities that are about to occur.

Yan Xin was willing to travel with Qin Zu because he did not sense any killing intent from Qin Zu...

Apart from this, the [Hun Yuan Yi] did not issue any warnings regarding this trip to the [Moon Hidden Realm].

Logically speaking.

I am safe!

The thought had barely formed when a loud thud sounded beside me.

Clad in a black linen robe, Qin Zu casually threw a punch. This punch landed in the void of the [Moon Concealment Realm], and the martial energy surged and spread, directly tearing and shattering the void. Countless turbulent currents converged in the distance, forming a huge portal.

"..."

The Empress Dowager adjusted her sleeves and watched the scene unfold with composure.

"Mr. Yan was the most valued strategist of the late Emperor."

Qin Zufeng said calmly, "The blood of the Celestial Overseer is more precious than that of millions. If the Holy Empress really wants to choose a sacrifice to appease the Immortal Tree, it should not be him."

"Oh?"

The Empress smiled.

"I invited him to the Moon Hidden Cave today."

Qin Zu glanced at Yan Xin and said calmly, "He cannot be harmed in the slightest."

"Old Qin, what are you saying?"

The Empress smiled and shook her head: "Mr. Yan is the teacher of the nation... How could I let him get hurt or bleed? You are right, the blood of the Celestial Watcher is indeed precious. If we really have to choose someone to sacrifice to the tree, it shouldn't be Mr. Yan."

Some things don't need to be said too bluntly.

Click till.

It's good for everyone.

At this point in the conversation, both sides laid all their thoughts on the table.

Qin Zu stared expressionlessly at the immortal tree in the distance.

Disappointment welled up in his heart at that moment.

He had thought that the Empress had truly created a miracle.

Looking at it now...

The so-called "iron tree blooming" is nothing more than robbing Peter to pay Paul.

To feed the Immortal Tree with the blood of a Yang God? What an absurd idea… In the thousand years of turmoil that the Great Chu Dynasty has been in turmoil, how many Yang Gods have been born? The birth of each Yang God requires the participation of the Great Dynasty's fortune. In a sense, a Yang God is a walking embodiment of "earthly fortune," and the higher the cultivation level, the greater the fortune it carries. Invincible beings like Qin Zu, who have cultivated to the tenth level of Yang God, are even more inextricably bound to the Great Chu martial arts dragon vein's fortune; the two are almost fused into one.

"It seems that this 'immortal tree' will have a hard time blooming."

Qin Zu said this without any expression.

Having said that, he prepared to leave with Yan Xin.

However, the next moment, the foot that the guardian of the Great Chu Martial Fortune had raised suddenly stopped in mid-air.

"..."

Qin Zu stared expressionlessly at the void portal he had forcibly torn apart.

Yan Xin's previous attempt to probe with the Heavenly Fate Golden Thread failed, indicating that the [Moon Concealment Realm] had been refined by the Holy Empress. This grotto-heaven had been reinforced with several layers of great formations inside and out. However, at Qin Zu's level, no treasure or great formation in the world could stop the power of his fist.

However, at this moment, the sound of wind and thunder could be faintly heard gathering around that door.

Today, the [Moon Hidden Realm] has more than just these two guests.

"Old Qin, since you're here, please stay a little longer... don't be in such a hurry to leave."

A deep, authoritative voice called out from within the doorway.

A flowing, wide black robe traversed the void, traveling thousands of miles to arrive.

The three towering statues, almost reaching the heavens and earth, awe-inspiring and majestic, hung above the head of this black-robed master.

One qi transforms the three qing dynasties!

Besides.

There were also seven streams of light swirling around the Great Master's sleeves.

These seven streams of light symbolize the fortunes of the seven sacred mountains of Taoism... However, it seems that one of these sacred mountains has completely dimmed.

"A sacred shrine?"

Yan Xin's expression was gloomy, and his voice carried a hint of anger.

By this point, he understood exactly what had happened.

The invitation from the Hidden Moon Realm was indeed a trap.

However, the Holy Empress's true target was not herself... but Qin Zu, who suppressed the martial arts destiny!
Chongkan crossed the void and came. He used the One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones to create a divine avatar. The seven streams of light he carried were the most precious dragon vein fortune of the Taoist sect!

obviously.

The Holy Empress is preparing to restart "Moon Concealment".

The biggest and most troublesome problem is Qin Zu, who guards the martial destiny!
To revive the "Immortal Tree," you must either feed it with the blood of the Yang God or gather all four dragon veins!
If Qin Zu does not die, the martial arts dragon vein cannot return to its rightful place...

If Qin Zu were to die.

The blood of this peerless warrior will bring a great deal of life to the Immortal Tree.

Besides.

The Holy Empress can regain control of the martial arts fortune that Da Chu has accumulated over a thousand years!
……

……

Rumble, rumble!

A fierce wind howled, and the Moon Concealment Realm echoed with the roar of ocean tides. Indeed, tides surged at the horizon, and for the first time in ten years, this barren world welcomed so many top-tier experts.

Empress Qin Zu, the Holy Empress of the Tenth Heaven of the Yang God Realm.

And the sacred shrine of the Eighth Heaven of the Yang God.

Any one of these three possesses the strength to "protect the country".

only……

In a truly epic duel, even the slightest difference can be magnified infinitely.

"so……"

Qin Zu looked at the sacred niche blocking the portal in the void, and then at the Holy Empress not far away.

The martial artist, who had cultivated for nearly three hundred years, was filled with disappointment at this moment.

Qin Zu chuckled self-deprecatingly and said, "...You summoned me here to kill me?"

"..."

No one responded to the question.

The Empress chose to remain silent.

The same applies to the shrine.

But the thunderous sound of the tide in the Moon Concealment Realm at this moment explained everything.

The deadly trap has begun.

Today is a one-way trip.

"Chongkan, I watched you grow up... You've really disappointed me..."

Qin Zu sighed softly.

"Who gave you the audacity to stand in my way?!"

next moment.

The old man, dressed in a coarse linen shirt, suddenly looked up at the sky.

Those cloudy eyes suddenly became clear, all the dark clouds vanished, leaving only sharpness!
"boom!"

They merely made eye contact.

The Great Master Chongkan's heart was about to explode, and his soul felt an unprecedented horror. He had only ever felt and experienced this kind of fear when facing his senior brother!
The three Dharma images on the ceiling were all subdued.

However, the Earthly Dharma Form reacted the fastest, forcibly breaking free from the pressure of the Divine Sea. It suddenly took a step to the side, raising its arm to block in front of the Great True Man, thus "protecting its master" on its own.

The next moment, the Dharma image exploded!

The colossal Dharma body, hundreds of feet tall, was obliterated by Qin Zu's single glance!

This seemingly ordinary "gaze" was actually filled with martial arts killing intent... A martial artist at the peak of the Yang God realm, tenth level, doesn't even need to lift a finger to kill. A single word, a single sentence, even a glance is enough to annihilate!

The clouds overhead spread out like a waterfall, sweeping away the rolling haze!

Grand Master Chongkan was pale, blood trickling from the corner of his lips. The blow had forced him to lose control and stagger backward…

"You dare to stop me while you're injured?"

Qin Zu noticed that Chong Kan was injured, and he sneered, "Don't even mention you, even your senior brother wouldn't dare to be so disrespectful to me!"

"..."

Chongkan's expression immediately turned ugly.

He never imagined that the gap between himself and Qin Zu would be so vast!
The battle with Xuanzhi disrupted today's plans.

At this moment, his strength is no longer at its peak... Of course, even without the battle with Xuan Zhi, the outcome of that exchange of blows would not have changed.

It seems that even if he carries the Daoist sect's fortune and uses the One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones technique, he still cannot stop Qin Zu from leaving!
"Walk."

Qin Zu reached out and pressed down on Yan Xin's shoulder, speaking authoritatively: "I'll send you away from Yueyin, let's see who dares to stop me!"

These words... were meant for the Empress Dowager.

That attack was actually meant for the Empress Dowager's benefit.

Over the past decade, Emperor Qinzu and Empress Dowager have had very little contact.

He had witnessed the turmoil of the past decade.

However, the changes in the court and the ups and downs of the times were no longer relevant to him.

After the Emperor passed away, he did only one thing: suppress the Great Chu Martial Vein!
Qin Zu had almost completely severed his attachment to the mundane world, and he no longer cared about the fate of the Qin family members.

But today's matter concerning the Immortal Tree has crossed his bottom line.

If the Holy Empress wanted to take the blood of the Great Venerable of the Demon Kingdom to sacrifice to the Immortal Tree, he would not hesitate and would even personally go and fight the most powerful Great Venerables of the Demon Kingdom!
But if one is to speak of hardship, one must begin by cutting oneself open...

Then he would have no choice but to break the rules and restore order to the Great Chu court!

next moment.

The two transformed into streaks of light and were about to depart.

At that moment, the Empress, who had been silent for a long time, finally sighed softly.

"Mr. Qin..."

This sigh drowned out all the thunder and tides of the Moon Concealment Realm.

The sky darkened.

Qin Zu frowned, only to see the void portal he had personally torn open suddenly moved more than ten miles away.

The entire Moon Concealment Realm began to rotate and turn upside down.

"Today... you cannot leave."

The Holy Queen still stood before the Immortal Tree with her hands behind her back.

But as soon as she finished speaking, the radiance of the entire Moon Concealment Realm fell upon her alone.

Upside down.

Yan Xin's vision went black for a moment, and he hurriedly withdrew the scattered golden threads of destiny... An invisible pressure from the Great Dao descended upon this world.

The Empress has made her move.

Her Dao Domain enveloped and covered the entire Moon Concealment Realm.

With just one sentence, he suppressed Qin Zu's martial arts aura.

The shrine, which had been moved more than ten miles away, was now enduring the dizziness of the upside-down world, and forced itself to sit up straight.

He spent a great deal of energy to recreate a "Digger Image" that could support the seven sacred mountains.

Chongkan was on high alert, as if facing a formidable enemy.

He stared intently at Qin Zu's figure.

Under the influence of the Holy Empress's Dao Domain, the world of the Moon Concealment Realm tilted, but the black-robed martial artist remained unaffected. The two "pseudo-celestial beings" who had advanced to the Yang God Perfection stage were locked in a fierce confrontation at this moment, and the aura emanating from their bodies alone was enough to ignite the entire world.

Rumble, rumble.

The withered, immortal tree continued to sprout branches and buds amidst the raging winds.

"Do you want to fight me?"

Qin Zu was straightforward. Looking at the Empress Dowager and the shrine, he calmly said, "If you really want to kill me, then both of you come at me at once."

A battle at the tenth level of the Yang God realm is no child's play.

A great cultivator who has reached this stage has transcended the mortal realm and is equivalent to half a true immortal. If they were to fight with all their might, no one knows what unexpected events might occur.

Is war about to break out?
Chongkan's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

He gazed at the only source of light in the world with a complex expression.

The Empress remained with her hands behind her back, composed and calm even when facing Qin Zu...

He made many preparations for today's battle.

The Qi and Luck of the Seven Fasting Periods.

One qi transforms the three qings.

Thunder Pool, Talismans, Grand Array.

Everything is available.

The Empress told herself there was no need to worry; this battle would surely be a great victory. But Chongkan still had some doubts. He felt that the warrior in front of him might break this cave at any moment. The Empress was not flustered at the moment, as if she was waiting for something.

What is the Empress waiting for?
The world fell silent for a brief moment.

A moment later, a heavy, pale snow began to fall from the dome.

To be precise, it wasn't snow, but scraps of paper.

"...?"

Qin Zu frowned as he looked at the dome, a rare sense of unease rising in his heart.

Something is falling in the heavy snow.

It was heavy, very heavy, and very fast.

finally--

Boom!
Above the sky, a dried-up, burnt-out corpse fell down, crashing heavily into the muddy ground covered with paper snow, landing right in front of Qin Zu.

(End of this chapter)