Chapter 511 512: I Won't Keep This Glory to Myself
Chapter 512: This Glory I Shall Not Keep to Myself
"Boom!"
A brilliant white radiance illuminated heaven and earth at this moment, yet beneath its glow, Empress Xiao's face was frozen in terror.
Everything had happened too quickly.
From Lü Yang summoning [Heavenly Dominion Over All Phenomena] and striking with lightning speed, catching her off guard with techniques beyond her expectations—
To her regaining her senses.
Before she could recover from the shock and confusion, her vision was already filled with the glint of a blade—Lü Yang charging at her with [Tribulation Wave] in hand.
What could she do in such a situation?
What could she possibly do?
'[With the World]!'
In that split second, Empress Xiao endured the discomfort of her soul being shaken and, unable to think further, immediately deployed her strongest defensive trump card.
Instantly, spiderweb-like patterns spread from the halo behind her head, connecting heaven and earth, shielding her entire body at their center. At this moment, no matter how powerful the attack that landed on her, the only outcome would be the heavens bearing it in her stead—followed by divine retribution upon her attacker.
Yet what came was not the sword light she had anticipated.
Instead, Lü Yang's palm—bright and resplendent with [Sage-King Governance]—brushed effortlessly against [With the World].
Divestment!
Under Empress Xiao's horrified gaze, her trump card [With the World] was stripped away by Lü Yang, as if willingly surrendering itself to him.
"Rustle, rustle!"
The fragrance of flowers thickened once more as a sea of blossoms surged forth, threatening to engulf Empress Xiao's figure and aid her escape from calamity, fleeing Lü Yang's grasp.
But it was already too late. Provoked by Lü Yang's sword light earlier, Empress Xiao had nearly exhausted her strength in activating [With the World]. Though the shift in divine abilities took only an infinitesimal fraction of a moment, it was still half a beat too slow—and Lü Yang's [Sage-King Governance] was right before her eyes, impossible to evade!
The next instant, Lü Yang's [Sage-King Governance] struck her body.
[Hundred Flowers Palace]? Divested!
[Ten-Thousand Treasures Embrace]? Divested!
As for the other divine abilities from the Seven Luminaries Heaven, her protective spiritual treasures, her phoenix crown and robe—all were divested! Not a single item remained for Empress Xiao.
In the blink of an eye, Empress Xiao—once lofty and aloof, a Perfected Great True Person at the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment with ten divine abilities—was reduced to nothing more than a delicate, alluring noblewoman.
"You—"
For a moment, Empress Xiao's bare body lay bathed in the twilight glow, her fair and exquisite face flushed crimson with rage—only to be pinned beneath Lü Yang's hand.
"...Mmph—!"
Lü Yang had long coveted Empress Xiao's cultivation depth. Now that he had finally seized the opportunity, he showed not the slightest restraint, immediately activating the Mending Heaven True Classic—
"Ah!"
Instantly, Empress Xiao's heartrending cries echoed through the surroundings.
Outside Kunming Palace, Crown Prince Longxing sensed something amiss.
"Has Her Majesty still not emerged from seclusion?"
Hearing this, the Five Armies Commanders guarding the entrance shook their heads in unison: "Reporting to Your Highness, we do not know. Perhaps it will still take some time..."
"Still more time?"
"The entire capital is in chaos! The officials, the Imperial City Bureau, and the Five Armies are locked in conflict—precisely when Her Majesty's leadership is needed most!"
Crown Prince Longxing's face twisted with displeasure: "First it was 'some time,' and now it's still 'some time'—when will this 'time' finally arrive? Has Her Majesty lost her senses?"
Despite his words, he dared not force his way into Kunming Palace. He could only watch as the palace trembled with increasing intensity, faint sounds occasionally leaking out—though their exact meaning remained unclear. In the end, he could only flick his sleeves in frustration and depart, leaving behind a Kunming Palace that continued to sway faintly.
Within the dimly lit great hall.
The divine brilliance that had once filled the space had long faded, and the fierce clashes had ceased. Only the heavy breathing of two individuals now reverberated through the hall.
Empress Xiao lay with her eyes tightly shut, her body covered in fresh crimson marks, her protective robes torn to shreds. Her exquisite jade-like face was etched with bewilderment, her thoughts seemingly still wandering afar. Only after a long while did she suddenly startle back to awareness, her expression indescribable.
"You..." Empress Xiao turned her gaze to Lü Yang beside her, her eyes intoxicated.
She was Emperor Jiayou's empress, the mother of the Dao Court.
Yet moments ago, Lü Yang had crushed her without mercy—ignoring her pleas until she was utterly overwhelmed.
This sensation of having both dignity and body violated was something she had never experienced before.
It was truly... impossible to resist. No—!
The next instant, Empress Xiao bit down hard on her red lips: 'The Mending Heaven True Classic! One of the Demon Sect's supreme demonic arts... He's refined me into a cultivation cauldron!'
With this realization, Empress Xiao immediately severed the distracting thoughts in her mind. Her flawless countenance once more assumed the noble and dignified bearing of an empress—though such poise clashed starkly with her current posture of clinging tightly to Lü Yang, a fact she herself failed to notice.
"What do you truly want?"
Empress Xiao lowered her voice, gritting her teeth: "The Mending Heaven True Classic... You're a True Person of the Demon Sect? Seeking to steal my cultivation depth and knowledge through such means?"
"Hmm..."
Only then did Lü Yang finally speak: "Such vast reserves... It seems Her Majesty's claim of having mastered the entire Four Treasuries was no exaggeration."
Empress Xiao's cultivation depth was truly profound.
So profound that the Mending Heaven True Classic couldn't harvest it all at once—the first time Lü Yang had encountered such a situation, prompting his sincere admiration.
'Though it's been hard on me.'
Lü Yang shook his head inwardly with a sigh:
'Though I've never been one for carnal pleasures, for the sake of cultivation, I've had to steel myself and press on... Several times over now. Truly, such hardship!'
With that, he embraced Empress Xiao once more.
"Villain!"
Empress Xiao was stunned: Again!?
Yet with all her divine abilities, magic power, and treasures divested by Lü Yang's [Sage-King Governance], she was powerless to stop him.
All she could do was raise her delicate fists and pound weakly against Lü Yang's chest.
Lü Yang chuckled softly at this: "Your Majesty... In truth, you've greatly misunderstood this subject. If examined carefully, you and I are actually allies."
Empress Xiao's tears flowed freely:
Allies indeed—now practically fused into one!
Unperturbed, Lü Yang continued: "Everything Your Majesty has done was ultimately for the pursuit of the Golden Core—a goal this subject can also assist you with."
"Naturally, the prerequisite is your voluntary entry into this humble subject's magical treasure."
With that, Lü Yang produced the Myriad Spirits Banner. The flag unfurled, billowing black mist surging forth, exuding an aura that sent shivers down Empress Xiao's spine.
'What manner of treasure is this?'
As she pondered, Empress Xiao grasped Lü Yang's intent and immediately shook her head: "You wish for me to join your faction and rebel alongside you?"
Lü Yang shook his head solemnly: "It's only rebellion if we fail. If we succeed, it's righteous rectification. Is that not so?"
At these words, Empress Xiao unconsciously held her breath, her delicate frame tensing.
Yet Lü Yang pressed on:
"Moreover, Your Majesty, given your cultivation depth and achievements, you must hold considerable status within the Dao Court. But can you advance further?"
"Do you have hope of attaining the Golden Core?"
"Compare that to your son—the 'incompetent crown prince' you spoke of—who will one day rightfully ascend the throne and become a Golden Core True Lord."
"Does this not aggrieve you?"
The fire in Lü Yang's eyes compelled Empress Xiao to lower her gaze.
Yet the next moment, Lü Yang's hand grasped her chin, forcibly turning her face back to meet his piercing stare.
"Look at me!"
Lü Yang's voice resonated like the most seductive demonic whisper: "Your Majesty, I once heard these words, and now I gift them to you."
"Though the night of pursuing the Golden Core may be brief, its glory shall endure long... And this glory, I shall not keep to myself."
As these words fell, the Myriad Spirits Banner trembled.
Faintly, the External Dao Fruition [Seven Luminaries Heaven] that Lü Yang had brought from his previous life—now utterly perfected—revealed a wisp of its aura.
"...!?"
Empress Xiao's eyes widened instantly.
Simultaneously, Lü Yang lowered his gaze slightly. The two locked eyes, their breathing growing heavier, the temperature around them gradually rising.
The next moment, Empress Xiao ceased resisting and embraced Lü Yang of her own accord.