Chapter 961: Purple and Blue

At this very moment, within the Imperial Capital, inside Ning Yan’s mansion, in the courtyard specially prepared for Zi Xuan, Zi Xuan was struggling.

She sat cross-legged, surrounded by intricate imprints on the ground that formed a seal, binding her body. Those imprints were composed of soul threads. These soul threads had erupted at the moment of the Human Emperor’s ancestral worship, making it impossible for Zi Xuan to leave.

Not far from this location, in a civilian residence, Er Niu was also sitting cross-legged and struggling, his face veined with bulging muscles and his eyes bloodshot! Around him, a seal also existed; however, it wasn't made of soul threads, but was a setup by Seventh Grandmaster.

“Old man, you old rogue, you actually schemed against me and sealed me here! I’m going to betray the sect!” Er Niu roared, struggling with all his might!

Meanwhile, outside, a wind from the Nine Netherworlds swept through the Human Imperial Capital! For a brief moment, the sky seemed to become murky. The opening of the Underworld Gate could no longer be concealed, revealing itself to Wanggu, and drawing the attention of all parties who had been focused on the Human Empress’s apotheosis. After all, it was the revival of an ancient nation, and the ceremony itself was exceptionally eerie, reaching an unparalleled peak. It was different from the Empress’s apotheosis!

Regarding everything happening in the Devouring Heavens Domain, at this moment, no race or deity went to interfere; all chose to turn a blind eye! It was as if that place was a forbidden zone. This was a sacrifice to the gods, and the Upper Wilderness was pleased!

In the Human Imperial Capital, the Empress raised her head. A flicker of complexity crossed her expression for a moment, but ultimately, it settled into calmness. Her transaction with that entity had now completely concluded. Both sides had obtained their desired outcomes. In the future, everything would revolve around the tribe!

As for the Human Race, having broken with the Holy Land and with the Great Emperor fallen, the future of the Wanggu Human Race—whether precarious or destined for complete ascendancy—rested entirely on her shoulders, to be carried eternally! Just as she had said before, she would bear all karma and consequences alone.

The Empress’s heart was calm. She withdrew her gaze and looked at the Human Race, sweeping her eyes over the common people of the Imperial Capital, feeling their excitement. She then swept her gaze over the assembled officials, perceiving their emotional stirrings! She also saw all the imperial princes and princesses, sensing their tension!

Finally, the Empress looked at Xu Qing!

“That one’s brother in this life, the sword-bearer chosen by the Great Emperor…”

In her gaze… at this moment, Xu Qing stood upon the Human Race’s war drum, with sadness still visible on his face. Sensing her gaze, he also looked back at her! He bowed to her!

The Empress nodded slightly, finally looking towards the rising sun on the horizon. Her majestic voice reverberated through heaven and earth!

“Issue an imperial decree to the east of Wanggu, to all great domains! Effective immediately, all members of our race within their cities are to be properly resettled. No human from other domains shall die a violent death! King Zhenyan, King Beihe, King Yunlan… a total of seventeen Heavenly Kings, commanding seventeen armies, shall proceed to the various domains of the foreign races in eastern Wanggu to bring our people… home!”

As soon as these words were uttered, emotions stirred in everyone’s hearts! Since the Era of Eastern Victory, far too many of our people have been scattered abroad. It’s not that successive Human Emperors didn't want to bring them back, but they were powerless to do so! Until this moment, until today, the apotheosized Empress, using the formidable power of the Divine Pedestal to issue her decree to the east of Wanggu, spoke with a voice that, on this day, was truly the sound of heaven!

King Zhenyan and the other Heavenly Kings instantly flew out, bowing to the Empress in mid-air, and humbly affirmed her command!

“As for the remaining officials, princes, and others among the thousand, in seven days, at the Imperial Palace’s Grand Hall, the imperial title will be changed, and the Grand Court will be elevated.”

The Empress’s voice echoed once more, and all the officials bowed!

“The ritual has ended. You may all disperse. Eleven, follow me!”

The Ancient Emperor Star rumbled, slowly sinking and returning to its original position. The sky curtain recovered, the Human Race’s destiny receded, and no longer stirred! The cultivators within the ancient star were also transported out, appearing in mid-air! This grand ceremony had now come to an end.

The assembled officials, seeing that the Empress and her son clearly had private matters to discuss, did not wish to disturb them. After bowing respectfully, they left the Imperial Palace silently, carrying countless thoughts about this ritual. Only Eleven was both excited and anxious, like a child who had done something wrong, walking towards the Empress with his head lowered! After standing beside the Empress, he opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately didn't know how to express himself!

Meanwhile, the Empress did not look at Eleven beside her, the Imperial Prince! She looked towards the sky, at Xu Qing, who still stood there after the Human Race’s war drum had disappeared and the officials had left!

“King Zhencang!” the Empress spoke calmly!

Xu Qing, in mid-air, bowed to the Empress!

“Your Majesty,” Xu Qing responded softly, “I am waiting for someone. I believe he will come!”

The Empress’s gaze was deep. She gazed at Xu Qing for a moment, then said no more, and turned to walk towards the Imperial Palace! Imperial Prince Eleven took a deep breath and nervously followed!

After a long while, the world became quiet! Compared to the grand ceremony earlier, the sudden silence now created an inexplicable… oppression! In this oppressive quiet, between heaven and earth, only Xu Qing stood in mid-air. No other figures appeared in any direction! Only he, gazing at the horizon, waited calmly! His patience was sufficient, for he had waited for this day for a long time! He believed the other party would come. This was a premonition brought by his intuition!

More precisely, when he first arrived at the Human Imperial Capital years ago, and first saw that figure, disguised as the Imperial Advisor, within the Imperial Palace, he knew the moment of confrontation was not far off!

Thus, time passed bit by bit! The rising sun in the sky slowly ascended, its light and heat spreading further across the world, until… it was high noon! The intense sunlight erased the darkness from the earth, melted away the dust, and shone into his eyes, so dazzling that it seemed to blur the sky!

Xu Qing had seen such a sun many times. One of them, in his memory, was etched into his soul, unforgettable for all eternity! That was Wushuang City, its final noon! The sunlight that day was also so intense, until within it, a figure appeared. Afterward, Wushuang City experienced a rain of blood…

And today, this figure, in Xu Qing’s sight, in the midday sun, once again revealed itself!

Purple invaded the light, isolated the heat, gathered from the sky, and came from the heavens, stepping towards the mortal world. Ultimately, it replaced the celestial light, replaced the heavens, landed in Xu Qing’s gaze, eclipsing his world and everything in his sight!

Crown Prince Ziqing.

His face was handsome, his smile gentle, his gaze peaceful, and his steps soft! He stood in mid-air, and spoke softly towards the Imperial Palace!

“Congratulations, Your Majesty, on finally achieving the Divine Pedestal!”

A calm voice echoed back from within the Imperial Palace!

“At this moment, you should be in your great domain, not within my race!”

Upon hearing this, Ziqing smiled slightly and nodded!

“The Empress is right. I will leave after I take the doll.” Having said that, Ziqing turned his head and looked at Xu Qing! His gaze was as gentle as ever, just as it had been in Wushuang City!

“Little brother, have you been waiting for me all this time?”

Xu Qing’s expression remained unchanged, and he nodded!

“It seems you’ve truly grown up!” Ziqing smiled, raised his right hand, and gently reached out towards Xu Qing! “Then let’s go, I’ll take you home!”

With that grasp, the heavens instantly reversed, the earth rumbled, and a terrifying power descended upon the world, severing time in all directions and severing the fate of this place from Wanggu! This made the area around Xu Qing a space-time independent of Wanggu, unstoppable and unresisting! This hand… was like fate. He even wondered if it was an illusion, but in the palm lines of this hand, Xu Qing seemed to see Wushuang City, saw the rain of blood, and saw himself, clutching a doll, crying helplessly!

But at this moment, a cold snort suddenly emanated from within the Imperial Palace! Moreover, five divine auras erupted within the Human Race’s destiny, descending upon heaven and earth, locking onto Ziqing! Immediately, the inverted cosmos was righted, and the rumbling earth was suppressed!

“Your Majesty… this is a family matter between my little brother and me!” Ziqing’s hand paused in mid-air. He looked towards the Imperial Palace and spoke softly!

“Xu Qing is my subject, King Zhencang of my race, and the Imperial Tutor to the Prince!” From within the Imperial Palace, the Empress’s voice was calm, carrying an unquestionable authority!

Ziqing seemed to have heard something amusing. His smile grew wider, and a glimmer of something beyond gentleness slowly appeared in his eyes. It seemed brilliant, yet revealed an ancient, weathered aura! Even his voice was like that!

“My little brother doesn’t seem to want Your Majesty to interfere either! However, since Your Majesty has spoken thus, then… how about we play a game of choice?”

Ziqing looked towards the Imperial Palace! The vortex above the Imperial Palace roared, and within it, the Empress’s form was briefly visible.

Three breaths later, the five divine corpses of Human Emperors surrounding Ziqing’s body suddenly rose into the sky, heading directly towards the Abyss Gate! And the vortex within the Imperial Palace also vanished in an instant! The Empress within it took a single step towards the abyss!

“She chose the race!”

Seeing this, Crown Prince Ziqing’s emotions stirred for the first time in this life, and he laughed! But as he laughed, reminiscence appeared in his eyes! He seemed to recall a time when someone else, facing such a choice, had also chosen the race! So he looked at Xu Qing!

Xu Qing’s expression remained unchanged from beginning to end, calmly observing everything.

“Little brother, the Empress has abandoned you. Even those around you… seem to have abandoned you. Everyone, at this moment, seems not to have chosen you! So, why not come home with me?”

Ziqing, gentle as ever, raised his hand and grasped. In the next instant, that hand of fate, without any hindrance, grabbed at Xu Qing’s body, bringing him before him!

The Emperor’s Sword hummed within Xu Qing’s body, but Xu Qing did not respond. He looked at Ziqing and spoke calmly!

“My brother, Crown Prince of the Ziqing Nation,”