Even compared to the forr Gu Xuanji, I fear he might not be much weaker. Emperors also have distinctions in strength. Among the Emperors Shen Changqing had seen, the fallen Gu Xuanji was the strongest. Next was Mu Shentong. And a notch below that was the Liang Emperor, Yang Yi. The current Emperor Yue, in his perception, seed no weaker than the erstwhile Mu Shentong.
「In the various kingdoms.」
It is well known that Dayue Country's power is waning. This Emperor Yue has also always acted with restraint, lacking notable achievents as well as oppressive policies, appearing particularly moderate. But now it seems the one before him had hidden very deeply.
"Defender Shen has truly surprised Us. The Great Qin Defender lives up to his reputation."
Emperor Yue's expression was indifferent. He picked up the teacup in front of him and took a small sip. "Defender Shen, please speak frankly!"
"It's quite simple. Dayue currently has two options. The first is to rge with Great Qin, and the previous assault on Fallen Saint Pass will be erased. The second option is for to exterminate the entire Dayue Imperial Family and then have Dayue rge into Great Qin. Emperor Yue may choose either option," Shen Changqing spoke calmly.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Yue laughed. "You are the first to dare speak such words before Us. We are very curious as to where your confidence truly cos from. We do not deny your strength, but this is the Capital City of Dayue Country. Even a Demon Saint has no right to be presumptuous here," he said.
Although his face was smiling, there was a chilly look in his eyes. This was no longer a matter of composure. As an Emperor, dignity is inviolable. If he weren't wary of Shen Changqing's strength, Emperor Yue would have already made his move.
"Before coming to Dayue, I first visited Great Liang. The Liang Emperor has agreed for Great Liang to rge into Great Qin. Now, only Dayue remains," Shen Changqing gazed deeply at the other party. "I hope Emperor Yue won't make a regrettable error. It's best to think things through carefully."
"Yang Yi!" Emperor Yue's icy gaze wavered slightly. "That Yang Yi may seem unambitious, but his ambition is imnse. How could he agree to Great Liang rging into Great Qin? It's truly laughable." He knew the Liang Emperor quite well. The idea of Great Liang rging into Dayue was, in his mind, simply out of the question.
Upon hearing this, Shen Changqing shook his head. "Nothing is impossible. In the face of absolute power, all else is re illusion. The Liang Emperor was defeated by , so Great Liang naturally rged into Great Qin. If Emperor Yue refuses to accept this, he is free to make his move. But once he does, his fate will be left to the heavens."
Silence. Emperor Yue did not speak.
The idea of the Liang Emperor being defeated seed like a fantasy. But—what if it were true? Although confident in his own strength, he understood that there wasn't much difference between himself and the Liang Emperor. If the Liang Emperor was defeated, his own chances of victory were also slim. Moreover, Shen Changqing had co here alone, so boldly. It was impossible that he lacked confidence.
After a while, Emperor Yue looked towards the other party.
"We wish to see for Ourselves the strength that the renowned Great Qin Defender truly possesses."
"Simple!" Shen Changqing didn't move, but the Holy Slaying Saber at his waist suddenly unsheathed.
Astonishing saber light burst forth, causing the void before him to tear apart abruptly. In the next mont, the pavilion vanished quietly. The saber light shot straight into the Firmant, revealing an endless abyss that swallowed all light. A great darkness descended upon the vast Capital City of Dayue Country, if only briefly.
Soon, the darkness receded. The Myriad Thousands Clouds split apart. The Heaven and Earth Gang Wind appeared before everyone's eyes. This was the Heaven and Earth Gang Wind existing within Qingming. With this one slash, Shen Changqing had directly cleaved through the cloud layers of the nine heavens, torn open the Qingming Firmant, and brought the Heaven and Earth Gang Wind before everyone to witness.
Clouds churned non-stop. As the shattered space strove to nd itself, the indelible intent of the blade lingered, preventing the space from fully healing.
As monts ticked by, there was utter silence throughout the Capital City. All eyes were drawn to the sky, seemingly captivated by the marvelous spectacle. It could have been a quarter of an hour, or it could have been two hours.
The blade's intent gradually faded, the broken space healed, the sundered clouds reford, and the Heaven and Earth Gang Wind disappeared from the sight of the people.
「In the Imperial Garden.」
Shen Changqing had already sheathed his saber, his gaze landing on the person before him. "Is this one slash enough for Dayue to rge into Great Qin?"
At this mont, the two eunuchs serving by Emperor Yue's side were trembling, their calves shaking, having felt a premonition of death in that fleeting second. Even now, they had yet to recover from the shock.
On his seat, Emperor Yue's eyes were no longer calm but filled with horror instead. What kind of power could slash through Qingming to such a degree? The Heaven and Earth Gang Wind... He had only heard of it in legends; this was the first ti he had witnessed it. It could be said that if that blade's target hadn't been Qingming but himself, he would have already fallen. Even with Dayue's Destiny Enhancent, facing that slash, even if he didn't perish, he would be gravely injured. Such power simply cannot be countered by human strength.
At this mont, Emperor Yue knew the other party hadn't lied. With such power, the Liang Emperor's defeat was only to be expected. Similarly, facing such force, Great Liang being annexed by Great Qin was no longer a fantastical notion. In the face of absolute power, all pride and ambition beca laughably trivial. He couldn't stop it, and there was no one in Dayue who could stop it either.
Just then, a figure arrived, treading on air. "Your Majesty, what exactly happened?"
The newcor was Pei Feng. The Dominator of the Dayue Demon-Subduing Division was no longer composed as before, his face showing signs of panic and confusion. Just recently, he had seen that blade that split Qingming from within the Demon-Subduing Division, which is why he rushed over imdiately.
"Defender Pei, you need not worry. We are unhard." Emperor Yue, his shock fading, shook his head.
Hearing this, Pei Feng then noticed another presence beside Emperor Yue. "Defender Shen?"
Upon seeing Shen Changqing, his expression clearly startled. In an instant, Pei Feng seed to think of sothing terrifying, yet he also felt it was utterly absurd. He had witnessed Shen Changqing's strength. The man was indeed powerful, but to say he could unleash a slash that could cleave Qingming was utterly impossible. Such power as displayed earlier—not even a Demon Saint level powerhouse could have achieved it. Of this, Pei Feng was certain.
"Could Emperor Yue provide an answer now?" Shen Changqing disregarded the others, waiting for Emperor Yue's response.
Hearing this, Emperor Yue fell silent for a mont, finally sighed, and said, "If my Dayue is to be incorporated into Great Qin, what would be the consequences?"
"I can assure you that the citizens of Dayue will not suffer any harm. As for the Imperial Family, as long as they don't commit any transgressions, I am confident that Great Qin will not take any action against them," Shen Changqing stated.
Pei Feng, standing to the side, couldn't help but look startled upon hearing those words. Dayue rging into Great Qin? What in the world had happened? He wanted to ask, but Emperor Yue was already speaking again.
"With Defender Shen's promise, I naturally trust it. In that case, Dayue can be integrated into Great Qin." He then looked at Shen Changqing, his expression complex, and comnted, "Great Qin is fortunate to have you. This is truly Great Qin's greatest blessing in more than three hundred years."
If it weren't for this man, Great Qin might not have been able to withstand the combined forces of Dayue and Great Liang. In that case, the downfall of Great Qin would have been inevitable. But unfortunately, with the variable that was Shen Changqing, Great Qin not only avoided destruction but instead directly absorbed Dayue and Great Liang, achieving a true unification for the first ti in thousands of years. For this, Emperor Yue also harbored so jealousy.
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