Chapter 513
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 513
Chapter Title: I Won't Enjoy This Glory Alone
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“Boom!”
A brilliant white radiance lit up the heavens and earth in that instant. Yet, under the glow's reflection, Empress Xiao's face twisted in utter terror.
Everything had happened too quickly.
From the moment Lu Yang summoned [Dry Heaven Total Grasp of Myriad Phenomena] and struck with thunderous speed, catching her off guard with a move beyond her expectations.
To the time she regained her senses.
Before she could recover from the shock and confusion, her vision was filled with sword light. Lu Yang, wielding [Calamity Wave], had closed in right before her eyes.
In this situation, what could she do?
What was there to do?
‘[With the World as One]!’
In a flash, Empress Xiao endured the discomfort of her soul being shaken. With no time for deeper thought, she could only pull out her strongest trump card for protection.
In an instant, web-like patterns spread from the halo behind her head, linking heaven and earth, shielding her entirely at the center. At this moment, no matter how powerful an attack struck her, the sole outcome would be the heavens bearing it in her stead, while the enemy suffered heavenly punishment.
But what met her was not the anticipated sword gleam.
It was Lu Yang's palm. In its center, the dazzling, radiant [Illustrious Sovereign Command] brushed against [With the World as One] without the slightest obstruction.
Stripping!
Under Empress Xiao's horrified gaze, her trump card [With the World as One] was peeled away by Lu Yang, throwing itself into his arms.
“Whoosh!”
The pervasive floral scent thickened once more as the sea of flowers surged forward, poised to engulf Empress Xiao's figure and help her evade the calamity, escaping from Lu Yang's grasp.
Yet it was too late. Moments ago, startled by Lu Yang's sword light, she had activated [With the World as One] at near full power. Switching divine abilities now, even if only by a billionth of an instant, was still half a beat too slow. Lu Yang's [Illustrious Sovereign Command] was right before her eyes—impossible to dodge!
The next second, Lu Yang's [Illustrious Sovereign Command] slapped onto her body.
[Hundred Flowers Palace]? Stripped!
[Containing Myriad Treasures]? Stripped!
As for the other divine abilities from Seven Luminaries Heaven, her protective spirit treasures, and her phoenix crown and embroidered robes— all stripped! Not a single one left for Empress Xiao!
In the blink of an eye, Empress Xiao plummeted from her lofty status as a peak Foundation Establishment grand cultivator wielding ten divine abilities to a delicate, alluring noblewoman.
“You—”
For a moment, Empress Xiao's bare form fell amid the rosy glow. Her fair, exquisite face flushed crimson with rage, but Lu Yang's hand pressed her down directly.
“. . . Wuu wuu wuu!”
Lu Yang had long coveted Empress Xiao's cultivation. Now that the chance had come, he wasted no time. He immediately circulated the Heaven Mending True Scripture—
“Ah!”
In an instant, Empress Xiao's凄惨 yet alluring cries echoed around them.
Outside Kun Ning Palace, Crown Prince Longxing sensed something amiss.
“Has Mother not emerged from seclusion yet?”
At his words, the Five Armies Commanders guarding the door shook their heads in unison.
“In reply to Your Highness, we do not know. Perhaps it will take a little more time.”
“More time?”
“The chaos has already erupted inside and outside Tianwu City! The officials and Imperial City Division are clashing with the Five Armies Camp. This is precisely when Mother needs to take charge!”
Crown Prince Longxing's face was full of dissatisfaction.
“She said it would take time before, and now more time? When will this 'time' ever be up? Has Mother lost her wits!”
Though he said this, he dared not force his way into Kun Ning Palace. He could only frown at the increasingly violent tremors from within, faint sounds leaking out—indistinct and unclear. In the end, he flicked his sleeve and turned to leave, abandoning the faintly quaking Kun Ning Palace.
In the dim grand hall.
The earlier blaze of divine radiance had faded, the fierce clashes concluded. Only two sets of heavy breaths echoed through the hall.
Empress Xiao's eyes were tightly shut, her body marked with fresh crimson traces. The robes she had used for protection lay in tatters. Her refined jade visage was etched with bewilderment, her thoughts seemingly adrift in the ether. Only after a long while did she jolt awake, her expression defying description.
“You.” Empress Xiao turned to Lu Yang beside her, her gaze intoxicated.
She was Emperor Jiayou's empress, the Dao Court's mother of the nation.
Yet just moments ago, Lu Yang had suppressed her without mercy. No matter how she begged, he ignored her until he had thoroughly knocked her unconscious.
This sensation of her dignity and body being violated together—it was her first time experiencing it.
It was utterly addictive. No!
The next instant, Empress Xiao bit her red lips fiercely. ‘It's the Heaven Mending True Scripture! One of the Demon Sect's supreme demonic arts. I've been refined into his cultivation cauldron!’
With that realization, Empress Xiao severed her stray thoughts. Her flawless features regained the empress's noble poise and grace—though it clashed entirely with her current posture of clinging tightly to Lu Yang. Even she failed to notice.
“What exactly do you want?”
Empress Xiao lowered her voice, gritting her teeth.
“Heaven Mending True Scripture. . . You're a real person of the Demon Sect? Trying to seize my cultivation and knowledge through this method?”
“Mm.”
Only then did Lu Yang make a sound.
“Such vast abundance. It seems what you said earlier about having read through the Four Libraries Dao Repository was no empty boast.”
Empress Xiao's cultivation was truly profound.
So profound that even the Heaven Mending True Scripture couldn't harvest it all at once. This was Lu Yang's first encounter, prompting his involuntary praise.
‘It's just hard on me.’
Lu Yang shook his head, sighing inwardly.
‘Though I'm not one for women, for the sake of cultivation, I have no choice but to grit my teeth and push on. A few more times. . . What a burden on me!’
With that, he embraced Empress Xiao once more.
“You fiend!”
Empress Xiao was stunned. You're coming again!?
Helplessly, all her divine abilities, magic power, and treasures had been stripped by Lu Yang's [Illustrious Sovereign Command]. She was powerless to stop him.
Thus, she could only raise her tender white fists and pound at Lu Yang's chest.
Seeing this, Lu Yang chuckled lightly.
“Your Majesty. . . Actually, you have a great misunderstanding about me. If you compare carefully, I'm on your side.”
Empress Xiao's clear tears flowed with fury.
Weren't we on the same side now? We'd become one!
Lu Yang paid it no mind and continued.
“Your Majesty, all you've done is to seek the Golden Core. I can actually help you with that.”
“Of course, provided you willingly enter this treasure of mine.”
With that, Lu Yang produced the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner. The flag fluttered, billowing black qi surging forth, emanating an aura that sent chills through Empress Xiao's heart.
‘What treasure is this?’
Empress Xiao pondered, grasping Lu Yang's intent. She shook her head at once.
“You want me to join your camp and rebel with you?”
Lu Yang shook his head in response, his tone grave.
“Failure makes it rebellion. Success makes it pacifying the realm! Isn't that right?”
As his words landed, Empress Xiao involuntarily held her breath, her delicate frame tensing.
Yet Lu Yang pressed on.
“Moreover, Your Majesty, with your cultivation and realm, you're already in a high position in the Dao Court, aren't you? But can you advance further?”
“Do you have hope of forming a Golden Core?”
“In contrast, that incompetent crown prince of yours—the one you spoke of—can ascend the throne as a matter of course and become a Golden Core True Lord.”
“Don't you feel aggrieved?”
Lu Yang's fiery gaze made Empress Xiao lower her head unconsciously.
But the next second, his palm gripped her chin, forcing her face back up to meet his eyes.
“Look at me with eyes wide open!”
Lu Yang's voice rang like the most seductive demonic chant, echoing softly.
“Your Majesty, I've heard a saying before. Today, I return it to you verbatim.”
“Though the night of seeking the Golden Core is brief, that glory endures long. . . And this glory, I will not enjoy alone.”
As his words fell, the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner stirred.
Faintly, the External Dao Fruit Position [Seven Luminaries Heaven] that Lu Yang had brought back from his previous life—now fully consummated—revealed a subtle aura.
“. . . !?”
Empress Xiao's eyes widened in an instant.
At the same time, Lu Yang lowered his eyelids. The two gazed at each other, breaths growing heavier, the surrounding temperature steadily rising.
The next second, Empress Xiao no longer resisted. She proactively embraced Lu Yang.
(End of chapter)