Chapter 420: Xu Aotian: Why Is This Happening?
"Who is calling us?"
From within the immortal palace, an ancient, sacred, and majestic voice resounded like a great bell, echoing throughout the barrier of the palace.
Just that single voice shook the souls of all cultivators present.
Even Bing Yan broke into a cold sweat on her forehead. The existence within the palace was far too terrifying.
"Reporting to lord, I am the most loyal servant of the Celestial Empress. Now someone dares to offend the immortal palace—may lord dispatch the Dark Moon Legion to suppress these petty intruders," Xu Aotian said, his face filled with devotion, though the look he cast at Qin Qin and the others was full of pity and regret.
He could only summon those dreadful beings, not command them. But once these women died, he could seize their fortune.
"As you wish."
With that solemn response, a blinding light burst from the immortal palace.
When the light faded, the entire sky within the barrier was filled with overwhelming shadows.
Everyone instinctively looked up to see an army clad in black robes hovering in the heavens, each robe embroidered with a bright moon.
The most despairing sight of all—every soldier radiated the aura of the Great Scholar Realm, while their leader was a being at the Saint Realm.
The Dark Moon Legion's commander turned his gaze upon Xu Aotian and said coldly, "Where is the one who provoked us?"
Xu Aotian raised his hand and pointed toward the disciples of Wendao Academy. "It is them."
The commander slowly shifted his gaze toward the crowd, but the moment he saw Chu Caiyi standing among them, his body froze.
Sensing his stare, Chu Caiyi's aura also transformed.
"Moon Demon, how dare you look directly at me?"
At these words, fear flooded the Moon Demon's eyes, and the legion behind him trembled uncontrollably.
Xu Aotian failed to notice the change in the Dark Moon Legion. Still sneering, he said coldly, "Woman, how dare you show such disrespect to these lords at a time like this!"
Slap!
A crisp sound rang out.
Before Xu Aotian could react, he was struck flying, smashing heavily into the immortal palace's barrier before crashing to the ground.
This sudden scene left everyone stunned.
Before they could recover, the Dark Moon Legion descended from the sky.
One after another, they dropped to one knee and shouted in unison, "We pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress!"
Xu Aotian, just regaining his senses, was dumbfounded. His mind held only one thought: Who can tell me what is going on?
"Rise."
Chu Caiyi's tone remained calm, like still water.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
The Moon Demon led the legion back to their feet. His gaze turned toward Xu Aotian as he respectfully asked, "Your Majesty, this man dared to offend you. How shall we deal with him?"
"Erase his soul completely. Let him never be reborn for all eternity."
Chu Caiyi's voice was icy, devoid of emotion. All the cultivators present felt their hair stand on end.
This side of Chu Caiyi was something they had never seen before—so terrifying, so unfathomable.
What in the world had happened to her?
As the crowd stood in confusion, the Moon Demon raised a massive hand, seized Xu Aotian's soul from his body, and casually crushed it to pieces.
Xu Aotian died without ever understanding what had happened. He was clearly the heir of that supreme existence, so it was one thing that the Dark Moon Legion did not obey his orders—but why had they chosen to suppress him instead?
The Moon Demon and his soldiers bowed respectfully. "We welcome Your Majesty back to the immortal palace."
Surrounded by the army, Chu Caiyi walked into the immortal palace. As their figures disappeared inside, the palace gates closed once more, slowly sinking back into the ground and returning to its previous appearance.
A long time passed before Qin Qin and the others recovered from the shock.
Chen Zun looked at the palace before them and muttered, "Gentlemen, do you think Miss Caiyi will be all right?"
Qin Qin spoke calmly. "Do not worry. Junior Sister Caiyi will be fine. For now, let us deal with Xu Aotian's corpse."
"Understood."
Chen Zun responded and began stripping Xu Aotian's body of all treasures before setting it ablaze.
Thus, one destined child perished before he could ever rise.
Qin Qin divided Xu Aotian's possessions among those present, then sat cross-legged to cultivate, showing no concern for Chu Caiyi inside the palace.
The others followed her example. None of them wished to become the prey of hunters in the future.
Inside the immortal palace, Chu Caiyi was escorted by the Dark Moon Legion to a grand hall.
The Moon Demon bowed. "Your Majesty, you once said that if you revived and returned to this palace, we were to bring you here to recover your past-life memories. Only…"
"Speak."
Chu Caiyi's demeanor was no different from usual. Yet in that instant earlier, a flood of unfamiliar memories had poured into her mind.
In her past life, she had been the invincible Empress above the Nine Heavens.
But betrayal had brought her to ruin. This immortal palace was one of the contingencies she had left behind.
The memories left her confused. Was she the exalted Empress of her past life, or the Wendao Academy disciple Chu Caiyi?
Now her heart was lost, unsure which path to follow.
"You once said you would come here only after stepping into the Saint Realm, but now…"
The Moon Demon dared not continue. He knew this was not for him, the commander of the Dark Moon Legion, to question.
"Leave me."
Chu Caiyi did not wish to pursue the topic further. Since she was here, she would see for herself what awaited.
"Yes."
The Moon Demon bowed and withdrew.
Chu Caiyi slowly pushed open the door and stepped into the grand hall.
What met her eyes was a vast, empty chamber. At its center stood a statue identical to her in every detail, yet it radiated an oppressive aura of unimaginable might.
It was a pressure unlike anything she had ever experienced.
If not for the way it resonated with her memories, she would have been crushed beneath it.
When she tried to move forward, her legs felt nailed to the ground, utterly immovable.
At that moment, immortal light shone from the statue, and a figure emerged from within it.
The instant that figure saw Chu Caiyi, its brows furrowed in displeasure.
"Why are you here? At this time, you should not be here."
But Chu Caiyi showed no fear. After a brief moment of reflection, her heart became firm. Whether she had once been the Empress reigning above all, or merely an ordinary disciple of Wendao Academy, none of it mattered.
Now, she was Chu Caiyi. No one could shake her Dao heart.
She said slowly, "But I am already here."
At those words, the atmosphere within the hall changed instantly…
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