This Is What a Villain Is Like

Fortunately, the Array Patterns inscribed within the Void instantly revived, emitting a boundless light. Rune after Rune emerged, each containing a different profound essence, conjuring images of myriad races being born and the ever-changing tapestry of mortal life, all working to continuously nullify the terrifying impact.

The moment they sensed something was wrong, many of the ministers and Immortal Sect Elders quickly evacuated, taking their disciples and young clan members with them.

Jiang Lintian’s expression was calm. With a sweep of his wide sleeve, he took all the Tributors and retainers of the Prime Minister’s Mansion who were by his side and moved them far away, just as the Qianyuan Cave Realm exploded.

"Prime Minister..."

"The Young Master..."

Many people stared at the space that had been blown to smithereens, where almost nothing remained visible. Their hearts pounded with lingering fear, but they were also deeply worried.

Jiang Lintian’s gaze was profound. He shook his head and said, "Lan’Er has plenty of life-saving items on him. At most, he’ll be injured. It won’t be fatal."

"The Qianyuan Cave Realm had Array Patterns laid down by numerous Array Masters inside. They would have nullified much of the aftershock. Once the turmoil subsides, we can send people to find him..."

When he had sensed the intention of the Barbarian God’s phantom, he had planned to find Jiang Lan and bring him out of the Qianyuan Cave Realm.

But then he remembered what Jiang Lan had told him: no matter what happened in the Qianyuan Cave Realm, he was not to interfere. He just needed to follow the plan they had already arranged.

That was why Jiang Lintian suppressed the urge and only brought out the Tributors who were with him.

The Qianyuan Cave Realm shattered, and the aftershocks were still terrifying. The erupting, raging energy was like an exploding star, sweeping in all directions like a hurricane.

In the back-mountain clearing outside the Imperial Capital, mountain ranges and ancient trees for thousands of miles around all collapsed and splintered. Many figures, covered in blood, fell from the wreckage.

Fortunately, the Qianyuan Cave Realm was only a Secret Treasure, not a true Little World.

If a true Little World were to self-destruct, the power would be enough to flatten an area of millions of miles. The vast majority of the energy had already been nullified by the numerous Array Patterns inscribed inside the Qianyuan Cave Realm.

Billowing smoke shot into the sky, accompanied by the flying wreckage of broken weapons. Those who had managed to escape the Qianyuan Cave Realm at the first possible moment all felt their hearts pound with lingering fear.

"Who knows how long the Barbarian Race prepared for this sacrifice."

"But this is definitely a show of force. I wonder how the Barbarian Race will respond to Emperor Xia’s upcoming Southern Hunting."

"This act has surely enraged Great Xia..."

Many of the Immortal Sect Elders were only hit by some of the aftershocks and were largely unharmed.

They were all shrewd individuals and weren’t about to risk their lives for the Great Xia Dynasty. The moment they sensed trouble, they had retreated.

Even the civil ministers had experts protecting them.

The self-destruction of the Barbarian God’s phantom had, at most, left them disheveled and covered in dust, without causing any substantial harm.

But at this moment, everyone’s expression was grim. Many of the generals wished they could immediately lead their armies straight into the heartland of the Barbarian Race and slaughter them all.

This act by the Barbarian Race was an undeniable provocation against Great Xia.

"Lock down the Void! Secure the four directions! Forbid anyone from leaving this area!"

A general immediately began issuing orders. Squads of soldiers, already stationed outside the Imperial Capital, received their commands and swiftly advanced on the location.

At the same time, the War Fortresses hanging high in the Void slowly advanced, sealing off all surrounding escape routes.

Meanwhile, just as the Qianyuan Cave Realm self-destructed and unleashed its massive shockwave...

...deep within the Imperial Palace, the terrifying tribulation clouds that had enveloped the sky also began to slowly dissipate.

Emperor Xia’s skin was as fair as jade. Her dark hair fell loosely to her shoulders, and her curvaceous figure was hidden beneath a wide Dragon Robe, her entire form shrouded in a hazy light.

She stood there, majestic.

Endless Dragon Energy surged and converged around her, forming one solid, lifelike Celestial Dragon after another. They circled about her, raising their heads and crying out.

She now radiated a vast and solemn majesty. Her gaze swept over the land like an Emperor on an inspection tour, and anyone who met it would feel their spirit tremble under the immense pressure.

’I’ve broken through to the Tribulation Bridge Realm...’

She could feel the clear Dao Rhyme permeating the world, and she possessed a newfound understanding of all of creation, of every living being, of nature itself.

She was no longer the person she had been before.

As her gaze swept across the land, even within the Imperial Clan Court, the few elders who had previously been so disrespectful to her could only snort coldly and avert their eyes, not daring to meet her stare.

As for the common folk of the Imperial Capital, they were too numerous to count, all prostrating themselves in worship.

Of course, even more people were shocked and stunned by Emperor Xia’s true identity.

This was the first time she had appeared before the public as a woman, openly and without concealment. In the past, there had been rumors in the Imperial Capital that Emperor Xia was actually a woman, which sparked much discussion, but they had soon vanished, suppressed by an unknown party.

Now, with Emperor Xia reigning from above the Imperial Palace and gazing down upon the world, those old rumors and speculations were all but confirmed.

The massive uproar this caused was no less than the one from her just having broken through to the Eighth Realm.

Emperor Xia gently closed her eyes, and her figure vanished from above the Imperial Palace. She reappeared inside Changsheng Hall, her expression calm but her eyes ice-cold as she stared at the empty high platform in the hall’s depths.

’You had another move up your sleeve? I truly underestimated you.’

She stared at the spot where the National Treasure Dragon-Suppressing Seal had disappeared, clenching her fist so tightly her knuckles cracked.

In fact, while she was undergoing her tribulation, she had vaguely sensed a strange disturbance coming from the Dragon-Suppressing Seal.

Unfortunately, at that critical moment in her tribulation, she could not spare any attention and had no mental energy to deal with the situation.

She had a faint suspicion even then...

And now, it was clear: the Dragon-Suppressing Seal had indeed been spirited away from a distance by the Blood Immortal Sect, using some Secret Technique she didn’t know.

’It must be because of that tainted blood. Otherwise, how could they have silently stolen the Dragon-Suppressing Seal from deep within the Imperial Palace, a place protected by countless Restrictions and inscribed with so many Array Patterns?’

Emperor Xia stood silently in Changsheng Hall, her face devoid of expression.

Then, with a wave of her sleeve, any remaining traces or auras in the hall completely vanished. Now, aside from herself, no one knew that the National Treasure had been lost.

The outside world would assume her breakthrough to the Eighth Realm Tribulation Bridge Realm was due to the power of the National Treasure and the Dragon Fortune.

Since she had already broken ties with the Imperial Clan Court, she no longer needed to abide by their pedantic rules. As long as she said nothing, no one would know the National Treasure was missing. The elders of the Imperial Clan Court would simply assume she had it on her person.

Her only real concern was the Blood Immortal Sect using this incident to their advantage.

Soon, Emperor Xia left Changsheng Hall and appeared in the main hall of the Imperial Palace.

Many ministers and generals came at once to report and handle the aftermath. Emperor Xia already knew what had happened with the Qianyuan Cave Realm, but now was not the time to settle scores with the Barbarian Race.

The fact that a traitor had appeared in her inner circle, allowing the National Treasure to be corrupted by tainted blood and stolen, filled her heart with ice. This required a thorough investigation.

「Half a day later.」

Outside the Imperial Palace, many ministers had arrived. They all knelt in unison outside the main hall, kowtowing and waiting in anxious silence.

Outside the four Forbidden Halls, soldiers patrolled back and forth, cleaning up the battlefield. Near the shattered remains of the Qianyuan Cave Realm, many remnants of the Blood Immortal Sect who had failed to escape, along with several experts from the Barbarian Race, had been captured and were awaiting judgment.

Emperor Xia stood before the Imperial Palace with her hands clasped behind her back, looking down upon the scene below.

With the help of her maids, she had changed into crimson and black robes. They were embroidered with gold thread and thousand-year Cold Silkworm Silk, depicting draconic and phoenix-like Holy Beasts with their heads meeting their tails. Her hair was tied up simply. Her entire appearance was completely different from that of any previous Emperor of Great Xia.

She radiated a valiant aura mixed with imposing majesty, wreathed in attendant Dragon Energy. Her gaze was profound, and a single sweep of her eyes was enough to make the ministers’ spirits tremble.

Many felt that the current Emperor Xia was completely different from before. From the inside out, her every gesture exuded the dignity of an Emperor, making it impossible to look at her directly.