Beastmaster of the Ages

Empress Xia still managed to chuckle at hearing Tianming’s intention to fight the entire Eightpart Pantheons. She looked at him pitifully and said, ”I admit that you are incredibly capable and won today’s battle. But do you think you would really be able to take over the universe if you only managed to win after pulling out all your tricks? Snap out of it! This is only a small expeditionary force. Don’t think you can conquer the universe with these measly forces of yours.”

Tianming was rather surprised at how she was still confident in the Eightpart Pantheons after all this. Her mind had been poisoned far too deeply. Not only did she still hold her head high, her spirit was just as passionate as before. ”It’s too bad... With your willpower, you would’ve achieved much had you been on the right path.”

”All you did was make some ripples in a powerful stream. You have no right to judge my path.” Empress Xia crossed her arms and continued to look at him with discontent. Her faith had shifted to the wonderians in Wondrium Imperius. As long as the Eightpart Pantheons existed, she would hold strong even as many tens of millions of Grand Xia imperials were falling in battle. She had no real power left, but Tianming knew that she wouldn’t bend no matter what and insisted on telling him that her initial decision was right all along.

”You have the makings of a genius bootlicker.” Tianming lost his patience and turned to Lord Yue. ”Why don’t you suggest how we should deal with her?”

Lord Yue was surprised and didn’t think Tianming would leave Empress Xia’s fate to him. She looked at him as well. She wasn’t a suicidal fanatic, so she didn’t want to die if she didn’t have to. Though she didn’t speak, her gaze was enough to convey that. Lord Yue met her gaze and fell silent, probably recalling their recent clash.

Seeing that Lord Yue had nothing to say, Tianming suggested, ”Here’s a thought. Why don’t we keep her alive in her essence form and let her watch as we wipe out the invaders? Then, she’ll watch as we destroy the Eightpart Pantheons themselves before giving her the death sentence then?”

”Hehe, a cruel fate awaits me,” Empress Xia said, though she wasn’t afraid. She had hoped that Tianming would keep her around. That way, there was a chance she could be rescued, since there was no way Tianming would win. She turned to Lord Yue said in a manner a master ordered a servant, ”Yue Xiao, don’t hold back. Do what he says.”

Lord Yue breathed in deeply and looked earnestly at Tianming. ”How should I address you?”

”Emperor,” Tianming said firmly.

”Yikes.” Empress Xia rolled her eyes.

However, Lord Yue still seemed calm. ”Emperor, I believe that your suggestion isn’t ideal.”

”What would be ideal then?” Tianming asked.

Empress Xia interjected and said, ”Yue Xiao, don’t do this. He wants to prove himself to me, so let him do it--”

”You misunderstand. I am suggesting we put her to death now.” He turned coldly to Empress Xia and continued, ”I believe that the likes of her doesn’t deserve to see the day come.”

”Yue Xiao, you!” Hate and frustration filled her eyes. ”We had a hundred thousand years together, and yet...”

”Emperor, please put her to death!” Lord Yue growled.

”I’ll grant it!” Tianming broke out in laughter. He turned to Empress Xia, who still seemed to be in disbelief. ”You’re still so certain about yourself, huh? Why did you think that men would still do your bidding after your soul has been so thoroughly trampled? Your soul is far more disgusting than your face, do you get it?”

”Just die,” Lord Yue said, adding salt to the wound.

”How dare... you...” She had only been so confident because she was sure she wouldn’t die. Only now did she start feeling fear.

”Come here, Little Fish!” Tianming called.

Fifty lights in the distance fused into one and came over with Mi Shen’s essences. Her gigantic form parted the sea of flames and stopped beside Tianming, radiating with immense beauty and poise that few in the Primordial Sands could rival. Empress Xia was stunned to see a much younger, more impressive goddess appear before her. Moments ago, she had still been confident in her own attractiveness.

”What do you say to this?” Tianming chided. Empress Xia’s mouth was open, but no words came out. ”Show her a live demonstration of you gulping down a wonderian marshal.”

Moran had wanted to absorb the nineworld heavenly wonders long ago. However, she looked at him with annoyance. ”Gulping... don’t make it sound so crude...”

”No, no, no!” The three brothers howled nonstop at the moment of their deaths. Moran simply cut up the essences into eight pieces before turning them into black ash, swallowing the parts that contained the divine wonders and caeli. It was an esoteric yet beautifully poignant scene. Yet, it was nothing short of a nightmare for Empress Huang.

”Aaah! Aaaah! Aaaaaah!” She cried as her expression fell apart. Pointing at Moran, she howled, ”Tian Jiu! Tian Jiu!”

”You’re finally aware? Tell me, what does Tian Jiu do?” Tianming asked.

”Ugh...” She shuddered as she choked up.

”Do you believe I can wreck your precious wonderians now?”

”Nonono...” She knelt and howled uncontrollably. ”I... I’m willing to get the whole of Grand Xia to serve you! I’m willing!”

Lord Yue witnessed the scene as well and was just as moved, though he no longer cared about Empress Xia.

”It’s too late,” Tianming said. She was completely floored to hear those words.