Chapter 1673: Being Served on a Platter

Qingyang slowly squatted down, kindly enlightening him. "You have already chosen a path to destruction. The Emperor, being benevolent, couldn't bear to see the State of Yao bleed rivers of blood, which is why he sent me to set things right and guide you. And the result—"

Her voice was full of helplessness. "I asked you to aid Bixia, and you claimed insufficient troops and provisions. As a result, troubles arose all around Yao. When I helped you combat corruption, it was a painful but necessary cleansing to get to the root of the problems. Yet you listened to He Xiao's deceitful words, built the Grand Youhu Villa, and openly solicited bribes from your officials. Ha, you yourself are the biggest source of corruption, rotten to the core!"

"He Xiao is capable and speaks so pleasingly, but in truth, every word he spoke was poison wrapped in honey, and every suggestion pushed you deeper into the abyss. As for me, I genuinely tried to help you. Unfortunately, good advice is often hard to hear, and good medicine tastes bitter. If you had listened to me then, would your family and nation have fallen to such a state?"

Beijia's unprecedented move of sending a regent to Yao already indicated the gods' deep displeasure with Yao!

But at that time, Yao still had one last chance. As long as Yao returned to the right path under Qingyang's supervision, it could still prolong its existence and continue to enjoy peace and prosperity.

Yet, this old man wasn't ignorant of what the gods desired. Instead, his mind was filled with his own petty schemes. He even won over officials to his side, desperately suppressing the regent sent by Beijia!

The more he acted out, the more he pushed himself and Yao towards destruction.

Qingyang saw it clearly, He Xiao saw it clearly, and Bai Tan also saw it clearly. Only this old man remained deluded until his dying breath.

The King of Yao was barely breathing, exhaling more than inhaling. Each cough brought up a mouthful of blood. But he remained defiant. "I... I cherish my soldiers, I cherish Yao. What wrong have I done?!"

What Qingyang called "genuine sincerity" was merely her doing her duty to help Yao. How could the King of Yao not know this?

But he no longer wanted to be a pawn.

The gods desired 'Nightmare Qi', but war consumed lives and strength. Yao's traditional method was to stir up conflicts among other powers in Blazegold. This not only balanced the situation in Blazegold and consolidated Yao's own position, but also generated Nightmare Qi to satisfy the gods' demands.

However, this method hadn't been effective recently. The battles between the Allied Forces and Bixia were not intense, and there weren't many disturbances in other parts of Blazegold. As a result, the Nightmare Qi produced in the Blazegold Plains was far from sufficient, leading to the gods' dissatisfaction.

Was this Yao's fault, though? What was wrong with the King of Yao not wanting his people to fight on the front lines or the national treasury to be overdrawn because of it?

"You?" Qingyang sneered. "Who do you think 'you' are?"

"Yao has only existed for two hundred years. Do you think that gives you the right to disobey?" She leaned down with difficulty and whispered into the King of Yao's ear, "If a dog wants to get on the table, there's only one way: to be served there!"

When she said this, her tone was merely one of lament and clarity, not really mockery. But at that moment, the King of Yao was blinded by hatred; how could he discern that?

Bai Tan took two steps closer from behind and said to the King of Yao, "You're almost dead. What's the point of arguing about right and wrong? This matter has only one outcome—"

A grin spread across his lips. "Yao will perish with you."

The great mountain that had weighed down the Bai family had finally toppled.

The King of Yao glared at the two, panting heavily, his eyes filled with venom. He suddenly roared, "You old hag, may you die a terrible death! Bai Tan, you, you traitorous dog, I curse you to be abandoned by all and die without a burial place..."

"Noisy." Without waiting for him to finish, Bai Tan plunged a knife into his throat.

The King of Yao instantly stopped breathing.

All the officials shuddered, and You Rongzhi wept.

"Lord You, I'll give you two choices." Blood dripped from Bai Tan's blade, falling one by one onto the King of Yao's body. "With him, or with me?"

You Rongzhi slowly raised his head, looking at Bai Tan and Qingyang, his eyes filled with despair.

Yao was doomed.

He suddenly bowed three times to the King of Yao's corpse. Then he stood up and charged headfirst into a broken wall!

"Thud," the impact was fierce. You Rongzhi's head burst open, and the damaged wall also collapsed.

The remaining officials cried out in alarm.

Then, Bai Tan's gaze fell upon them.

Everyone looked as if they had lost their parents. Yuwen Xu clutched the wound on his forehead, blood gushing between his fingers. At that moment, he felt no pain. "General Bai, we... we will follow you."

A wise person adapts to circumstances. What difference did it make whose official they were?

"You?" Bai Tan said with contempt. "A bunch of parasites, what good are you?"

He waved his hand. "Kill them, leave no one alive!"

They had brought these people into the palace tonight to net them all in one go. The Tianshui East Expansion project encompassed almost all of Yao's upper-class officials and nobles. These individuals controlled Yao's economic lifelines, held two-thirds of the nation's wealth, and, backed by the King of Yao, had woven a nationwide web of corruption.

This was the path to their downfall!

Bai Tan's subordinates drew their swords and charged forward.

The officials shrieked and begged for mercy.

Bai Tan and Qingyang turned and walked out, deaf to the sounds of slaughter behind them.

"During the chaos at Frost Immortal Hall earlier, Tu Han and Dan Zechong seized the opportunity to escape."

Tu Han and Dan Zechong had previously retreated on orders, thus preserving most of their forces. Seeing the battle of immortals at Frost Immortal Hall conclude with the immortal figures fleeing, they knew the tide had turned. The two brothers conferred and decided they should preserve their strength to avenge their nation another day!

With the main task accomplished, the gods and Qingyang no longer paid attention to them. Bai Tan, on the other hand, had no energy to specifically hunt down this one contingent.

"The King of Yao is dead, but there are still remnants in the palace to be killed, and rioters in the city to be dealt with." Bai Tan rubbed his hands together, his murderous aura not decreasing but intensifying.

For him, the night had just begun.

"The gods are very pleased with your performance." Qingyang smiled, her face pale, swaying after a couple of steps, unable to stand steadily. Yuan Xuan quickly reached out to steady her. "Now that the dust has settled, I need to return to Youhu Cottage to recover. The battle just now truly drained my vital energy."

The battle just now was earth-shattering, and Bai Tan could barely get involved. He finally realized that the former Beijia Imperial Advisor truly lived up to her reputation, and his tone carried a deeper respect.

"I'll send someone to escort the regent back."

The King of Yao had come to this end precisely because he was disrespectful to Qingyang and the gods. How could Bai Tan dare to follow in his footsteps?

Besides, his heart had already flown out of the palace; he had no time for further pleasantries with Qingyang.

"No need, you attend to your affairs." Qingyang, seeing through everything, turned and left. "See you tomorrow morning."

The snow had stopped at some unknown point.

She sat in her sedan chair and was being carried out. Just before leaving Jade Spring Palace, she called out, "Stop."

Jade Spring Palace had been razed in the battle of immortals, and its icy aura had weakened, making it look no different from an ordinary palace. But the cold spring still emitted white mist, and anyone who approached felt an icy chill penetrate to their bones.

"This truly is a natural cold spring," Qingyang mused. "That giant python could only survive in this world by drawing sustenance from this underground cold spring and the tree spirits on the surface."

The True Immortal of a Thousand Illusions' Dharma form also faced the problem of spiritual energy depletion if it were to exist long in the world. This giant python, having been dormant/sealed underground for years, had very low spiritual energy requirements and could sustain itself through this unique geographical advantage.

Yuan Xuan also said, "It was truly well-hidden; not a trace of demonic energy was leaked."

"How do you think the nickname 'Thousand Illusions' came about?" Qingyang smiled. "Its clones, of course, are also skilled in the art of concealment. Furthermore, whether the King of Yao designated it as a guardian beast for the nation or a guardian beast for the palace, the 'elemental power' also helped conceal its form."

Even she, having frequented Jade Spring Palace for over half a year, hadn't sensed any unusual demonic energy.

If there had been even a trace, she would have previously thought it belonged to the old pear blossom tree.

The cold energy from Jade Spring Palace would continue to emanate outwards; later, another formation would need to be set up, otherwise the entire royal palace would be frozen.

Outside the palace, the city was still in chaos. There were cries and shouts, chases and beatings everywhere, raging fires, and panicked citizens. Even with Yuan Xuan and others clearing the way, Qingyang's carriage took two hours to return to Youhu Cottage.

On the way, they passed the main entrance of the Tianshui East Expansion project; the large crater on the ground was still there. Yet, Qingyang's state of mind was entirely different.

The main task was accomplished, the people were killed, her anger was vented, and the mission assigned by the gods was largely complete.

She felt an unprecedented sense of ease.

It seemed her old blade was still sharp.

She glanced again in the direction of Yongquan Villa. He Xiao had not shown up all night; he must have escaped.

This person's sense for danger was truly keen.

Yao was about to fall, just as he wished.

So, what else would this fellow do next?

Just as He Lingchuan had predicted, Tianshui City endured the most chaotic, bloody, and brutal night since the founding of Yao!

The moment the King of Yao died, Bai Tan, with lightning speed, hunted down all royal descendants, including in-laws and relatives, executing every single one, not even sparing infants in cradles.

Over two thousand heads rolled.

In the matter of rooting out trouble, he was more ruthless and decisive than the old King Yuan of yesteryear.

While dispatching men to guard the national treasury and granaries to prevent looting during the chaos, he also proclaimed to the entire city:

The Yao royal family was corrupt and inept, their perverse actions angered the gods, and they had now suffered divine retribution.

The gods take pity on the world; this upheaval has nothing to do with commoners, and it will end after dawn.

The people of Tianshui should live in peace and not panic.

This served both to exonerate himself through the gods and to pacify the citizens of Tianshui.

As soon as he exited the palace gates, Bai Tan began consolidating the city's armed forces.

That night, with rioting vagrants, most of the city's patrol and imperial guards were still suppressing disturbances and maintaining stability within Tianshui City. Qingyang and Bai Tan acted too quickly; in less than two hours, the King of Yao was dead, and the Yao royal family's rule overthrown. As soon as the news spread, all military and civilian personnel in Tianshui City were in a state of bewilderment, unsure how to react.

Bai Tan, while sending people to organize the city's patrol forces and constables in various districts, he himself drew up a list. Any officials or nobles on it, along with their descendants, were to be executed, and their property confiscated!

The list had been prepared by him long in advance, basically covering the former King of Yao's faction. He had memorized this little notebook for years, almost to the point of reciting it backward, ensuring not a single family would be missed!

Bai Tan had already completed one round of killings in the palace; now that he was out, he had to fill in the gaps.

Without this grand purge, he wouldn't be able to firmly control the regime later.

Besides, he needed money.

He also justified himself: "Yao has reached this point entirely because of these useless, incompetent, self-serving individuals! With Yao gone, how can they still have the face to live?"