Upon hearing Lin Qian's words, the Yuheng Emperor actually began to laugh. "Even if you force me to kill myself with your hand, the blood curse will still attach itself to you. As long as my death is connected to anyone, the curse will attach to them."
Seeing the Yuheng Emperor's smug expression, Lin Qian remained unfazed, looking at him as if he were a fool. "So, you think that leaves me without any options?"
With that, Lin Qian suddenly produced a skill gem and handed it to Zhang Junchen beside him. "Master Zhang, take this before you act. I originally planned to help you remove the blood curse afterward. But since this Yuheng Emperor doesn't believe in it, let him experience the frustration of dying in despair."
Zhang Junchen looked down at the soft yet jade-like object in his hand, curiosity filling his eyes. Knowing Lin Qian would never harm him, he unhesitatingly popped the item into his mouth.
"Hmm, a very unique taste, quite sweet." After chewing the skill gem, Zhang Junchen's eyes lit up as he glanced at Lin Qian beside him. "Your Majesty, what exactly is this? The taste is exceptionally good, with a satisfying chewiness that makes it hard to stop."
"A watermelon-flavored skill gem. As for what a watermelon is, you'll understand in time, Master Zhang," Lin Qian said nonchalantly before turning to the Yuheng Emperor. "This skill gem contains a special soul technique called Curse Reversal, which can reflect curses like the blood curse you're so proud of, right back at you."
As Lin Qian finished speaking, Zhang Junchen swallowed the skill gem. Simultaneously, he felt a warm current surge through his body upon ingesting it, circulating rapidly before dissipating as if it had never existed.
Though Zhang Junchen felt no discernible change, when he caught sight of Lin Qian's golden eyes, he saw the emperor nodding in approval.
While Zhang Junchen couldn't sense any changes, Lin Qian, using his Imperial Vision, observed that Zhang Junchen was now surrounded by a subtle, skill-enhanced aura—the sign that the Curse Reversal had been activated.
Without hesitation, Zhang Junchen raised his hand toward the Yuheng Emperor. The sword energy restraining the emperor constricted, slicing into him with ruthless precision.
The Yuheng Emperor's eyes widened as he felt his life force rapidly draining away. Even after he had warned them about the blood curse's dangers, they still dared to attack? Curse Reversal, reflecting a blood curse? How could that be possible? He had never heard of such a thing.
As the Yuheng Emperor's life force ebbed away, he witnessed a blood-red formation suddenly manifest within him, surging toward Zhang Junchen's forehead.
Seeing this, the Yuheng Emperor grinned, his bloodstained teeth showing. "Hahaha, you're all doomed. My master will avenge me."
Buzz!
At that moment, a faint blue glow enveloped Zhang Junchen, resembling a barrier inscribed with unfamiliar, intricate symbols, both square and aesthetically pleasing.
As the blood curse formation rushed toward Zhang Junchen, it began to tremble violently upon contact with the blue barrier. Tiny blue ripples invaded the curse formation, disrupting its integrity.
Zhang Junchen, mesmerized by the profound changes within the formation, was completely absorbed by its intricate workings.
Pop!
With a soft sound, the blood curse formation, upon touching the blue barrier, was abruptly repelled, reversing course back into the Yuheng Emperor's forehead.
The Yuheng Emperor's eyes filled with disbelief as the curse, now reflected back at him, spread through his body in a web of blood-red lines, engulfing him in a thick, bloody aura.
Looking down at his body, the Yuheng Emperor couldn't believe what was happening. The blood curse had indeed been reflected. Such a bizarre and inexplicable occurrence—how could it be happening to him?
"You..." The Yuheng Emperor pointed a trembling finger at Lin Qian, too enraged to speak.
This turn of events meant that when his master learned of his death, it would seem as though he had killed himself.
Of course, the Yuheng Emperor knew that once his master came to the Southern Region and investigated, he would realize that Lin Qian was the true culprit. However, with the Jin Hua Merchant Association and the Demon Spirit Sect locked in battle, his master, no matter how much he cherished his disciple, would not risk his life to avenge him, nor would he go to such great lengths to travel all the way to the Southern Region.
Lin Qian was undoubtedly planning to head to the Central Region to reunite with his parents and maternal grandfather. Once they were together, avenging him would become nearly impossible for his master.
Moreover, without knowing who the true culprit was, even if Lin Qian were to roam under his master's nose, he wouldn't be in any danger.
The Yuheng Emperor was fully aware of Lin Qian's extraordinary talent. If his master remained unaware that Lin Qian was responsible, allowing him to grow in the Central Region, his death would be utterly meaningless.
His master might not come to the Southern Region to investigate the truth until after the Jin Hua Merchant Association and the Demon Spirit Sect finished their war. But by then, it would be too late.
"How... could it be like this!" With eyes full of unwillingness, the Yuheng Emperor collapsed onto the deck of the Righteous Emperor Warship, meeting his end in utter disbelief.
The Yuheng Emperor had fallen!
News of his demise spread like wildfire throughout the Yuheng Kingdom, rapidly reaching all corners of the land. In an instant, chaos erupted within the kingdom.
With the Yuheng Kingdom in disarray, the Hua Xia Empire's conquest became even easier. Coupled with the Hua Xia Army's overwhelming power, dismantling the Yuheng Kingdom was as effortless as toppling a rotting tree.
In the end, the Yuheng Kingdom crumbled before the might of the Hua Xia Empire, its hundred provinces completely overrun, sending shockwaves throughout the entire Southern Region.
The fall of the Yuheng Kingdom shattered the last remnants of resistance in the Southern Region. One by one, remaining factions disbanded and surrendered their territories, submitting to the Hua Xia Empire in a wave of capitulation.
The remaining lands in the Southern Region were thus conquered without further bloodshed.
Two years had passed since Lin Qian's Hua Xia Empire declared war on the entire Southern Region.
At just twenty-nine years old, Lin Qian had become the youngest ruler of the entire Southern Region.
The former leaders of the various factions that had survived swore oaths of loyalty to Lin Qian and the Hua Xia Empire, preserving their lives. They were summoned to the Hua Xia Palace.
For the Righteous Emperor Lin Qian, the young master of the Southern Region, was about to usher in an unprecedented era for the empire.