World's First Traitor System (431)

Chapter 431 - Victory and Defeat Have Their Reasons

A sudden, unexpected betrayal.

Sage Ruler Jin De was injured, her Confucian treasure, the Nü De (Virtues of Women), destroyed!

Sage Ruler Miaoyin was injured, the strings of her Heavenly Demon Zither snapped!

Xue Susu was indeed worthy of being the Painting Sage Ruler. Taking advantage of the two Sage Rulers' lack of preparation, she succeeded in one strike, severely injuring them both!

But immediately after, she had to face Empress Yao Guang's furious attack, and it was already too late to dodge or parry.

Thud!

A muffled sound!

The Empress's right palm struck Xue Susu, leaving a terrifying, visibly concave palm print!

Xue Susu's protective spiritual energy instantly shattered and dissipated under the Empress's attack.

She even felt as if her physical body and soul had both been shattered by the Empress's palm!?

Blood flowed from all seven orifices!

But in the next instant, a tidal surge of immense power rescued Xue Susu, even preventing the Empress from pursuing.

The only one in the world capable of snatching someone from Yao Guang's grasp was Emperor Jiajing.

"Your... cough... Your Majesty..."

She lay weakly in Jiajing's embrace, a blissful smile on her face.

"Your subject... did it."

Emperor Jiajing gently comforted Xue Susu.

"Beloved Consort, you have endured much. Heal your wounds first. Leave the rest to me."

"Lu Lun, protect Consort Rou."

Lu Lun was still in shock.

He stammered, "Yes, men, protect the Painting Sage Ruler, ah no, protect the Noble Consort!"

Dozens of the most powerful among the three thousand six hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards, including Lu Lun himself, quickly formed a new formation with Xue Susu at its center.

"Traitor!"

Empress Yao Guang was unwilling to believe it, but the facts were before her.

Her gaze, filled with malice, fixed on Xue Susu, as if she wished to tear her to pieces!

Behind the Empress, Sage Ruler Miaoyin and Sage Ruler Jin De were severely injured. Most critically, their natal magic treasures had also been destroyed, unable to be repaired in the short term, their combat power greatly diminished!

"Elder Sister..."

Sage Ruler Jin De's face was ashen, terrified and at a loss.

Sage Ruler Miaoyin was not much better off.

The Empress waved her hand. "You two, heal your wounds quickly. Do not hinder me!"

Upon hearing this, the two Sage Rulers' expressions grew even more unsightly.

Heal their wounds?

Would retreating now be a better choice?

Unfortunately, seeing the Empress in such a rage, neither of the Sage Rulers dared to offer counsel.

"Jiajing! Before we begin, let me ask you something!"

Yao Guang was unwilling to accept this!

Years of planning, finally gathering an overwhelming advantage, all ruined by a traitor?

Emperor Jiajing smiled calmly. "Ask whatever you wish."

"Xue Susu! When have I ever wronged you? When has the Pure Land ever been unfair to you? You were heartbroken by a man, and I took you in. Yet you betray me?"

Xue Susu took a pill, and the pallor of her face slightly regained some color. She looked up at the Empress, her eyes surprisingly revealing a hint of pity.

"Elder Sister, have you ever loved someone?"

Empress Yao Guang was slightly taken aback. Her face darkened, and she remained silent, as if disdaining to answer such a question.

The pity in Xue Susu's eyes deepened.

"Or, have you ever been loved by someone?"

Empress Yao Guang said annoyedly, "Beating around the bush, what exactly do you mean?!"

Xue Susu shook her head sadly.

"Nothing."

"Elder Sister, Susu only wants to say, in this life, to be favored by Your Majesty, Susu is willing to give everything for Your Majesty."

Empress Yao Guang's expression became extremely unsightly!

Everything that was happening was being faithfully displayed to the world by the Sky Mirror.

The Brahma Sound Pure Land claimed to save the women of the world from the sea of bitterness.

The Pure Land Sage Rulers were powerful, intelligent, and independent, role models for all women in the world!

But the dignified Painting Sage Ruler had actually fallen for love?

She was willing to betray the entire Pure Land, to betray Empress Yao Guang, for a man?

This was the greatest blasphemy against the Pure Land's faith!

After the initial surge of fury, the Empress gradually regained her composure.

Her face no longer showed any trace of emotion, but when she spoke, her voice was chillingly cold.

"Xue Susu. No matter the outcome today, I will kill you!"

As her voice fell, countless strands of white light suddenly surged from all directions.

This was the destiny of the land!

Strand by strand, endless, they all converged on Empress Yao Guang.

It turned out that, at some point, she had quietly used the [Xirang].

"Jiajing, you are indeed my opponent! I have schemed for many years, and you have managed to unravel my plans one by one. You truly amaze me!"

Between the sky and the sea, Empress Yao Guang's voice echoed, growing louder and louder.

Her body continued to expand, resembling the Pangu Giant God who had created the heavens and the earth!

"But!"

"I once discovered the Nuwa Secret Realm, and I hold the last of the [Xirang] in this world. In the end, I am still one step ahead of you!"

"We are both at the ninth rank of the Great Vehicle realm!"

"I am using a divine ability against a mortal. How can you possibly win?!"

"Hahahaha!"

Yao Guang laughed wildly.

Yet, her laughter also carried a hint of helplessness.

After all, in her original plan, Cao, Liu, and Sun, the three Emperors, should have been the first to use the [Xirang].

Although the three Emperors were at the Great Vehicle realm, their ranks were ultimately inferior to her own and Jiajing's.

In the decisive battle, the pressure Jiajing would exert on the three Emperors would definitely force them to use the [Xirang].

Yao Guang herself could then keep the [Xirang] until the very end, and in one fell swoop, kill Jiajing, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan!

All her plans had fallen through!

Even if she won this battle, how would she fight Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan, who held a portion of [Xirang] each, in the future?

Hateful!

The traitor was hateful!

And Jiajing, who had seen through her scheme, was even more hateful!

"Nuwa Secret Realm?"

Emperor Jiajing suddenly spoke, a contemptuous smile on his face.

"There is no Nuwa Secret Realm in this world."

Yao Guang, who had already transformed into a giant, suddenly froze, lowering her head to stare at the ant-like Jiajing.

"What do you mean!?"

She had just finished speaking when she saw Jiajing holding a handful of soil.

Soil?

It looked familiar, like Xirang?

"Exactly what I said. There is no Nuwa Secret Realm in this world."

"But ten thousand years ago, during the Xia Dynasty, the Xia Emperor's bloodline originated from the Wāhuáng clan

"I spent some effort, and in a place called Nanchao, I found the tomb of the last Xia Emperor."

"The soil in the tomb, through the passage of time, was soaked and absorbed the blood and flesh of the Xia Emperor's remains, nurturing a trace of Nuwa's divine power..."

As he spoke, countless strands of destiny surged from all directions, merging into Jiajing's body.

His body also continued to grow, and in just a few breaths, he reached the same height as Empress Yao Guang!

No!

The destiny of Great Ming was even greater than that of Great Ci!

Jiajing's figure grew even taller, faintly surpassing Yao Guang!

"Yao Guang. When you were plotting against me, did you know that I was also plotting against you?"

"The Xirang is fake. It is merely something I refined using the soil from the Xia Emperor's tomb! The Nuwa Secret Realm is also fake. It is the bait I prepared for you."

"The Five Kingdoms Alliance is a good idea. I indeed did not have the confidence to face five Emperors simultaneously."

"Therefore, when you attempted to lure me away from the territory of Great Ming, did you know that I also wanted to lure you away from Great Ci?"

Jiajing's voice echoed between heaven and earth.

Under the projection of the Sky Mirror, the people of the world seemed to see Empress Yao Guang's body trembling slightly?

Could this be possible?

Was Yao Guang afraid?

The people of the world were shocked by Jiajing's scheme, their minds unable to process it.

But the people of the world still had eyes, they could see!

Thus, the entire mortal realm saw Emperor Jiajing reveal the smile of a victor.

"You once challenged me on the border of Great Ming. That time, I was worried you would escape, so I held back. Now, this remote corner of the world, you chose it yourself. Yao Guang, your defeat is not unjust."

As his voice fell, the Empress screamed!

Her gigantic body, almost like a wild beast, pounced towards Jiajing.

The vast and majestic spiritual power of the ninth rank of the Great Vehicle realm also surged towards Jiajing like a flood, as if to drown him?

But Jiajing's towering, pillar-like body remained firm and unshaken.

A deep sense of powerlessness arose in the hearts of the people of the world.

They couldn't help but wonder, in this world today, who could shake Emperor Jiajing of Great Ming?

Who?

Who!?

WHO!!!!!!

In the gaps of the earth-shaking, intense battle, two ant-like, insignificant figures were fleeing towards the direction of the mainland.

They were two women, women with Great Vehicle realm cultivation.

They had fled.

Abandoning Empress Yao Guang, they fled only for themselves.

…

Severely injured, but not dead.

A woman, covered in blood, with burn marks on her wounds, walked with determination towards the direction of the Great Ci Dynasty.

She was Ah Chang, the Archery Sage Ruler.

Ah Chang was severely injured, but she was not returning to Great Ci to save her life.

She was the Archery Sage Ruler.

Without a bow and arrow in hand, her combat power was greatly diminished.

"Elder Sister, wait for me. The spare Heaven-grade treasure bow... once I retrieve it, I will definitely shoot Jiajing dead."

Ah Chang walked westward with determination.

However, she vaguely felt she was losing her sense of direction?

Was this possible?

Even if she was severely injured, she was still a Great Vehicle realm expert. How could she not even distinguish between east, south, west, and north?

Unless someone had set up a formation to disrupt directions and influence her perception?

"Who!?"

Ah Chang was suddenly startled!

She realized that, without realizing it, she had stepped into a formation trap set up in advance by someone!

The questioning voice echoed through the forest, but no one responded.

Ah Chang thought, could she have accidentally intruded upon the cultivation grounds of some formation master, triggering their protective mountain formation?

"This is the Archery Sage Ruler of Great Ci. I ask that you quickly remove the formation to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings!"

After waiting for a moment, there was still no response.

"Hmph!"

"Ignorant fool!"

Ah Chang made a drawing motion with both hands, as if pulling a bowstring and nocking an arrow. Two streams of silver spiritual energy quickly formed the shape of a bow and arrow.

She shot an arrow at the ground!

Most common formations were drawn on the ground. This arrow was enough to destroy the foundation of the formation.

Indeed!

The earth trembled, as if a layer of spiritual energy had dissipated.

A trace of contempt flashed in Ah Chang's eyes.

Such a shallow formation, and they dared to show off in front of her?

She was just thinking this, when she discovered that the earth's tremors had not stopped, but instead, the earth and rocks were gradually rising.

"What!?"

Ah Chang was incredulous. A mound of earth and stone rose from the flat ground, forming an altar, without any trace of artificial carving, as if it were a natural creation of heaven and earth!

Could it be that the previous formation had not truly been activated?

Instead, it was her rashly shooting an arrow that had activated the formation?

On the altar was placed a spirit tablet, with several large characters written on it:

"The Spirit Tablet of the Great Confucian Yan Yuan!"

Yan Yuan?

A familiar name.

Ah Chang repeated the name several times, then her eyes suddenly widened!

She remembered!

Years ago, when she was ordered to abduct Lu Bu, she had encountered a Confucian scholar whose cultivation was inferior to hers, but who was unexpectedly difficult to deal with.

In the end, she had severely injured the Confucian scholar, but ordered Lu Bu to personally kill him to prove his loyalty.

That Confucian scholar, who had given her a headache, seemed to be named Yan Yuan?

A white banner suddenly fell from the sky, planting itself in the soil before Ah Chang.

On the white banner, several characters, written with strokes as sharp as knives, in black ink:

"Archery Sage Ruler Ah Chang, will die here today!"