National Guardian's Gone and We're Done

Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Put Down Your Pride as a Queen and Go Beg Chu He to Come Back

On the other end of the phone, Gao Yimin’s voice was rushed and tense.

Her tone betrayed a deep anxiety about the impending crisis. ”Dai Ju, Ji Shengyue is determined to make a real move this time.

She has mobilized over twenty King-level experts, and many of them are top masters from within the palace.

Several cities within the Empire have already descended into chaos after losing the King-level experts stationed there. That just shows how determined Ji Shengyue is.

Ji Shengyue can no longer tolerate what we did in Agarwood City.

It’s a good thing we evacuated all our families in advance, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable.”

Gao Yimin’s voice was filled with lingering fear.

”I understand. I’ll inform Xiao Cangqing right away.”

Dai Ju hung up the phone, her heart pounding in panic.

She was just about to open the car door to get out when she heard a voice from outside.

”No need to inform me. I already know.”

The voice was like a bolt of lightning in the dead of night, sending a shiver down Dai Ju’s spine.

She turned her head and saw Xiao Cangqing standing outside the car, smiling at her. She had no idea when he’d gotten there.

”You... When did you get out?”

Dai Ju asked, her voice a mix of shock and suspicion.

”Just as you answered the phone. I heard everything from inside.”

Xiao Cangqing opened the car door, sat down elegantly inside, and then gently closed the door. ”Alright, let’s go,” he said. ”Let’s see what kind of surprise Her Majesty the Queen has prepared for us.”

Dai Ju tried to calm herself, started the car, and stepped on the gas. The car sped toward the command center in Agarwood City.

’I’m past the point of no return now.’

Outside Agarwood City, cars filled a vast, open field, all arranged in neat rows.

Hundreds of Martial Artists stepped out of them, each one exuding a murderous aura.

Their gazes were firm and cold, ready to jump into battle at any moment.

At the very front of this contingent stood three middle-aged Martial Artists.

Even the weakest among them was a Ninth Grade Martial Artist.

In a battle between Martial Artists, numbers are rarely the deciding factor. Strength is what matters most.

Leading the charge this time was a veteran King-level expert from the Great Jing Empire. His face was etched with the marks of time, but his eyes were still sharp and full of spirit.

He took a few steps forward, scanned the people on the city walls, and said in a deep voice, ”I know some of you were coerced by Xiao Cangqing. Open the city gates now,

and no matter what you’ve done in Agarwood City, all will be forgiven.

This isn’t just my decision; it is the decree of Her Majesty the Queen.

Some of you should recognize me. When Evil Spirits were running rampant throughout the Great Jing Empire, I was a marshal who led an elite battalion to suppress them.

Therefore, I would never deceive you.”

It had to be said, Kuang Liangxi’s words were incredibly persuasive.

The moment he finished speaking, many Martial Artists leaped from the high city walls without hesitation. A height like that was nothing more than an easy jump for them.

Meanwhile, the slightly weaker Martial Artists had already started sprinting toward the city gates.

Their eyes shone with the determination to surrender.

Amidst this tide of surrender, a figure quietly appeared.

It was Xiao Cangqing. He had returned without anyone noticing and now stood silently at the city gate, his gaze as cold as ice.

As the two heavy gates slowly swung open, the Martial Artists preparing to rush out froze. Their faces were etched with astonishment and disbelief.

They clearly hadn’t expected Xiao Cangqing to return so suddenly at this moment. This abrupt turn of events caught them completely off guard.

”Kuang Liangxi, you’re quite skilled at bewitching people’s minds.”

Xiao Cangqing’s voice was cold and mocking. ”I went to great lengths to conquer Agarwood City, and you think you can just take it away in the blink of an eye.”

His gaze swept over the Martial Artists who were about to surrender, a flicker of disdain in his eyes.

”Her Majesty the Queen has treated you well, yet you commit such a treacherous act.”

Kuang Liangxi said coldly, his eyes revealing his deep dissatisfaction with Xiao Cangqing.

Even though his opponent was a phenomenally talented and powerful King-level expert, Kuang Liangxi showed no fear.

The ones who came this time were the elite of the elite. As long as they joined forces, they would be more than enough to deal with Xiao Cangqing.

”The Lighthouse Empire is the number one empire on all of Blue Star in terms of overall strength. They’ve made new breakthroughs in their research of human Martial Arts, and a new realm has appeared above the King-level.”

Xiao Cangqing’s voice was calm. ”Kuang Liangxi, you should get out more and see how the world has changed.

Do you know why Chu He is so powerful?

It’s because he has already reached the Emperor Realm, which is above the King-level.

So, take a guess. What realm do you think I’m in now?”

Kuang Liangxi’s heart sank. He knew Xiao Cangqing wouldn’t make empty boasts. To ask such a question at a time like this, he must be implying something.

He couldn’t help but scrutinize Xiao Cangqing, trying to discern some clue from him.

But Xiao Cangqing was like an unfathomable abyss, making it impossible to gauge his true strength.

An extremely bold guess surfaced in Kuang Liangxi’s mind. ”Could it be... your power...”

Before he could finish his sentence, Xiao Cangqing had already provided the answer with his actions.

Xiao Cangqing’s figure blurred, and in an instant, he crossed several dozen meters to appear directly in front of Kuang Liangxi.

He threw a light punch, as if just striking empty air.

But in that same instant, a dull thud echoed from Kuang Liangxi’s chest, and his sternum caved in.

A putrid energy rapidly spread from the wound, corroding his body.

Kuang Liangxi’s face twisted in agony as chunks of rotten flesh sloughed off his body, which then dissolved into a foul-smelling puddle of filth on the ground.

This scene left everyone present stunned. They couldn’t believe their eyes.

A King-level expert was so utterly defenseless against Xiao Cangqing?

How was that possible?!

But the truth was right in front of them, leaving no room for disbelief.

...

In the heart of the Great Jing Empire, Ji Shengyue sat alone in her office.

Her eyes were fixed on the intelligence files on her desk, though she had no mind for official business.

She was waiting with bated breath for the latest intelligence from Agarwood City,

news about the elite troops she had dispatched there.

Before long, the sound of hurried footsteps outside the door shattered the quiet afternoon.

Ji Shengyue’s gaze shot to the door like a sharp sword as the head of intelligence burst in, panting for breath.

His face was pale, his forehead and cheeks covered in beads of sweat, as if he had just escaped a terrible battle.

”Your Majesty the Queen, something terrible has happened!”

The intelligence chief gasped, his voice filled with panic. ”Our elite forces sent to Agarwood City have suffered a devastating blow. Our losses are catastrophic.

Half of them were killed outright, and the other half, fearing Xiao Cangqing’s power, chose to surrender. They have now become his followers.

Worse still, some of his new followers have begun advancing on other cities, using cruel methods and killing indiscriminately.

The entire Royal City has descended into chaos, with citizens taking to the streets in protest.”

Ji Shengyue’s eyes widened, unable to believe what she was hearing.

She shook her head, trying to dispel the sudden shock. ”How is this possible?

I mobilized nearly half of the Great Jing Empire’s military strength. Can Xiao Cangqing alone stand against the entire Empire?”

The intelligence chief nodded with a bitter smile and gave an answer that struck fear into Ji Shengyue’s heart. ”Your Majesty, Xiao Cangqing’s power has broken through to the Emperor Realm.”

In that instant, it was as if the weight of the entire world had fallen upon Ji Shengyue’s shoulders.

She felt all the strength drain from her body as she collapsed limply into her chair, her eyes staring blankly ahead.

Just then, a middle-aged woman walked in through the door. It was Ji Shengyue’s mother, the Queen Mother.

She gave a slight nod to the intelligence chief, who hastily bowed and retreated.

When only the mother and daughter were left in the office, the older woman walked to the other side of the desk and stared at Ji Shengyue.

”Do you now realize how terribly mistaken you were?”

The older woman’s voice was filled with reproach and helplessness. ”I told you back then that Chu He was the person your father trusted most.

Do you know why?

Because Chu He has an easy-going nature and is free of desire. A person like that would never pose a threat to the Great Jing Empire.

But you just had to be clever and think you could control everything.”

”The reason the Lighthouse Empire can dominate the globe,”

the older woman continued, ”is because they have an Emperor Realm expert in their ranks.

They can plunder the resources of this planet without fear, creating a virtuous cycle for themselves.

Barring a miracle, there is likely no power on all of Blue Star that can keep them in check anymore.”

”There is only one path left for you now.”

The older woman said in a low voice, ”Swallow your pride as Queen and go beg Chu He to come back.”

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