Three days later…
The Grand Demon Imperial Hall, which had been nearly destroyed, had undergone just enough repairs to be usable again.
The Little Demon Empress immediately summoned a "meeting" attended only by the traitors.
The Helian Clan, which had managed to retain its position as a chief clan… led by Helian Kuang, every single one of its top members was kneeling in the center of the hall. They weren't even granted seats. All the experts who had defected to Duke Huai's Palace (whether from Guardian Families, Duke Palaces, other powers, or unmatched individual experts) were obediently kneeling there, trembling in fear under the frigid might of the Little Demon Empress who had summoned them…
Without even stating the reason for the summons, not one of them dared make a sound; not even a fart escaped them. They were like criminals awaiting sentencing… no, they were exactly that: criminals!
At this moment, the Little Demon Empress's gaze turned toward them. Her originally calm eyes turned ice-cold in a fraction of a second.
Though none of the kneeling people dared raise their heads, the pressure radiating from the Little Demon Empress felt like the coldest blade pressed against their throats, causing their entire bodies to shudder uncontrollably.
That pressure forced them to lower their heads even further, not daring to take a deep breath.
"This empress ordered you to exterminate the nine clans of Duke Huai within ten days! Seven days have passed; how far have you progressed?"
The tone the Little Demon Empress used was so degrading it nearly suffocated them.
She didn't direct the question at anyone in particular, and the patriarchs kneeling at the front scrambled to be the first to answer:
"R-reporting to the Little Demon Empress! Of the four clans under Duke Huai's father, the three clans under his mother, and the two clans under his wife; all of them have been wiped out, not a single soul remains…"
"Those stationed outside the capital have all been eliminated. May the Little Demon Empress rest assured."
"The corpses, as the Little Demon Empress instructed, were publicly burned in front of the city gates… not even a blade of grass was left behind."
"We would naturally never dare delay the Little Demon Empress's orders…"
Helian Kuang frantically pulled out a bundle of jade strips and raised them with both hands.
"Below Duke Huai's palace there was still a secret chamber that had yet to be destroyed. This jade strip was found inside… It records the 'Fallen Flame Demonic Art'… The Little Demon Empress wields divine power, so naturally this Fallen Flame Demonic Art is not worthy of entering your eyes. However, it does record a certain blood-escape technique… Most likely, Duke Ming used it in an attempt to flee that day."
The Little Demon Empress's brows twitched. She extended her hand, and the jade strip in Helian Kuang's grasp flew straight into hers.
She immediately opened it. Sure enough, a strange blood-escape technique was displayed within. She scanned through it indifferently, then closed it.
"Little Demon Empress, this Bai made a discovery while eliminating some surviving members of Duke Huai's Palace."
Bai Yi hurriedly stepped forward, raising an even larger jade strip with both hands…
"This jade strip was retrieved from a secret chamber beneath Duke Huai's palace. Engraved upon it are… all… all…" At this point, Bai Yi forcefully swallowed, then continued, "All the names of those who defected to Duke Huai's Palace. May the Little Demon Empress please take a look."
The hearts of many present violently shuddered; cold sweat poured from their entire bodies.
"There is no need for this empress to look!" Yet the Little Demon Empress didn't even glance at the jade strip and spoke in a low voice, "Deliver this name list to Duke Xing Palace. Then issue a command: within three days, everyone whose name appears on the list must write a confession of guilt in their own blood and hang it on the northernmost city wall for public display for three years! In doing so, this empress will pardon them this once and will not pursue the matter further. However, if after three days any name on the list has not displayed their blood confession on the city wall, they will be treated the same as Duke Huai's kin… exterminated without mercy!"
Another blood-drenched decree, like that of a death god, issued from the Little Demon Empress's mouth, instantly turning the entire grand hall ice-cold.
This was because her order was brilliantly ruthless. Aside from Bai Yi, no one else should have seen whose names were actually on the list. Even though the jade strip was large, it could not possibly be complete. Yet the decree of "exterminate without mercy" crushed any fanciful hope that anyone who had colluded with Duke Huai's Palace might still harbor. They would obediently confess, using their own blood to expose themselves on the city walls.
In this way, every defector whose betrayal had remained hidden would be clearly revealed.
Yet the members of the Guardian Families and Duke Palaces all breathed huge sighs of relief. To be forgiven with only a blood-written confession was nothing short of a joyous turn of events. But just as they let out that massive breath of relief, the Little Demon Empress's next words made their hearts leap into their throats.
"As for those from the Guardian Families and Duke Palaces on the list, forget about writing a blood confession." The Little Demon Empress's tone suddenly turned severe. "Others following Duke Huai's orders can be seen as merely going with the flow. But for you, the pillars and beams of the Illusory Demon Realm, to rebel against the Demon Emperor lineage is nothing less than treacherous! It is an unforgivable crime! If you were pardoned so easily, how could this empress face the citizens of the Illusory Demon Realm?! How could she face the ancestors who brought peace to the Illusory Demon Realm we enjoy today?!"
It was as if icy water from a frozen purgatory had been poured over them; the seven patriarchs and dukes turned cold from head to toe. An elderly monarch cried out through tears, "Little Demon Empress, this humble duke knows his sins, but the accumulated crimes of Duke Huai's Palace; this duke truly had no knowledge—"
"There is no need to say more." The Little Demon Empress coldly cut him off, stood up, and slammed her hand onto her imperial throne. With a loud boom, the imperial throne shifted to the right, and a hidden stone door slowly opened. Behind the stone door lay a spacious yet dark chamber.
This rarely opened stone chamber was used only occasionally when discussing top-secret matters.
This time, she would use it to deal with the traitors; just as she had spoken privately with Old Ancestor Ren earlier…
"All of you remain here and await this empress's orders."
The Little Demon Empress's voice rang out cold and emotionless, carrying absolute authority. None of the patriarchs or dukes dared raise their heads; the uniform sound of dozens of suppressed breaths was the only reply.
Without another word, she stepped forward and vanished into the stone chamber.
Though the stone chamber was open, a thick, opaque barrier had been erected by the Little Demon Empress the instant she entered.
Not only did the barrier prevent anyone from clearly seeing inside, it completely isolated all sound. Yet from behind it emanated a distinct, chilling murderous aura that would make even a Monarch tremble in fear.
It wasn't long before her deep voice pierced through the barrier and resounded throughout the Demon Imperial Hall:
"Duke Xuan, come see this empress!"
The Little Demon Empress's icy voice echoed through the hall, turning every face deathly pale. She had called only Duke Xuan… which also meant she would not deal with all these kneeling criminals at once. Instead, she would speak to each of them privately.
Everyone present felt their hearts pound violently. Facing the Little Demon Empress together had given them a slight sense of camaraderie, but a private summons… they would do anything to lessen their crimes and reveal everything they knew about the others' sins. To survive, they would sell out anyone, swear anything…
And no one except the Little Demon Empress would ever know what another had said or promised, so they wouldn't even know who had betrayed whom.
Moreover, if anyone held anything back or failed to prove their loyalty sufficiently, it was highly likely they would be made an example of by the Little Demon Empress.
Given her current power, killing any one of them would be as easy as crushing an insect.
In that instant, those already drenched in sweat began sweating even more profusely as they frantically tried to think of what they should say. In that brief span of time, any plan they had made to present a united front and cover for one another quietly collapsed amid the terrifying, desolate atmosphere.
Duke Xuan, the first to be summoned, trembled in fear as he stood. Under the gazes of everyone present, he walked step by step toward the stone chamber. In the short distance of less than two hundred steps, he nearly collapsed to the ground at least three separate times. Each step felt like he was approaching an endless abyss.
Duke Xuan was a short, plump man with a sincere smile. But in just these four short days, he had visibly withered. The moment he entered the stone chamber, he collapsed to his knees, his entire body shaking like a leaf.
"This insignificant duke… gr-greets the Little Demon Empress… This insignificant duke knows he has sinned… but it was only this insignificant duke who erred… even my wife advised me never to get involved with Duke Huai. Yet this insignificant duke lost his mind… the rest of my Duke Palace truly had no part in it."
"I beg the Little Demon Empress to kill only this insignificant duke. The others in my Duke Palace truly know nothing. They were merely dragged into this by this insignificant duke… I beg the Little Demon Empress to show mercy and spare my family… after this insignificant duke is executed, I will be eternally grateful… I only beg the Little Demon Empress to show mercy…"
Duke Xuan's entire body continued to tremble as he wailed violently, his face filled with a mixture of extreme regret and terror. While desperately pleading with the Little Demon Empress, he had already performed countless kowtows, slamming his forehead against the floor so hard that it was now covered in blood.
"Did this empress say she wanted to kill you? Do you desire death that badly?" the Little Demon Empress asked coldly.
Duke Xuan raised his head, his expression blank; he could scarcely believe the words he had just heard.
"Hmph!" The Little Demon Empress gave a cold snort and continued in a solemn voice, "Although your Duke Xuan Palace has made no significant contributions in the past hundred years, you have also committed no grave errors. What was truly rare was that when this empress's power had weakened and the majority of the Duke Palaces secretly defected to Duke Huai, your Duke Xuan Palace never betrayed or abandoned this empress. Even if you did join forces with Duke Huai, it was only because you believed this empress had died and it was the only way to ensure your palace's safety."
"Duke Xuan, you bear guilt. But this empress also bears guilt. My guilt lies in having been too weak; so weak that those loyal to this empress were subjected to continuous abuse and humiliation by those traitors and renegades. Moreover, during the hundred years of this empress's decline, you never once thought to betray or abandon me. Instead, you remained loyal; and that alone is enough to offset more than four months of transgression… so you may rise."
Duke Xuan's expression was dazed, tears filling his eyes; he dared not believe a single word he had just heard. Ever since the Little Demon Empress returned, every glance from her felt like being thrown into an icy abyss. Every word carried bone-chilling killing intent, every order seemed to make rivers of blood flow through the Demon Imperial City streets… As a sinner, he had not slept for seven whole days. Each day was filled with fear and dread, and he had already prepared his own coffin. His greatest wish was to preserve his wife and his Duke Palace… Yet who would have thought that when his turn came to be judged by the Little Demon Empress, not only was there not a trace of killing intent, he was not even condemned; instead, he was praised.
It was as if he had been instantly lifted from the depths of hell straight into heaven. Duke Xuan's eyes overflowed with tears, and he did not stand. Instead, he collapsed to the floor and prostrated himself. He wept loudly as he spoke, "This insignificant duke… thanks the Little Demon Empress for her divine mercy! This insignificant duke received royal favor yet repaid it with treachery. Just this alone is enough for me to die a thousand times… but the Little Demon Empress's divine mercy is as vast as the heavens. This insignificant duke has no way to repay it. The only thing this insignificant duke can do is swear eternal loyalty and devotion to you; constant even in death… should I ever show even the slightest hint of betrayal again, may the heavens strike me down…"
"There is no need for further words. Rise." The Little Demon Empress casually waved her hand. "Your wife and children are surely dying of worry in your palace. Return quickly to them and ease their fears. You are dismissed."
"I thank the Little Demon Empress for her divine mercy… I thank the Little Demon Empress for her divine mercy…" Duke Xuan rose trembling… but this time, he trembled from gratitude. He remained bowed as he backed away, unable to stop thanking her. Even after his feet had stepped beyond the barrier, he still did not cease.
"I thank the Little Demon Empress for her divine mercy… I thank the Little Demon Empress for her divine mercy…"
The people kneeling in the grand hall watched Duke Xuan hurry out, not a single wound on his body, his face flushed with excitement and gratitude, his mouth still uttering endless thanks.
"Duke Xuan…"
Some tried to speak to him, but Duke Xuan paid no one any attention. Instead, he turned and swiftly left the hall. Yet everyone could clearly see that while his expression was one of relief… there was also hidden joy.
"This…"
"Could the Little Demon Empress have actually pardoned him?"
Everyone exchanged bewildered glances, but Duke Xuan had emerged unscathed, his face full of joy and disbelief; this eased the pressure on their hearts many times over. The miserable fate of Duke Huai's Palace had left them so anxious they could barely function. Moreover, every moment spent in the Little Demon Empress's presence filled them with overwhelming terror, and their minds could not help but conjure countless horrific scenarios. Yet Duke Xuan had been inside for only a few moments and had clearly been forgiven in the end.
They began to feel that perhaps their sheer terror had been overblown… That's right; after all, they all belonged to Guardian Families and Duke Palaces; they were the pillars supporting the Illusory Demon Realm! The Illusory Demon Realm had just undergone such a massive upheaval, so its foundations and supports were even more untouchable at this time!
Among all the Duke Palaces, Duke Xuan's was already among the weakest, and his palace couldn't even compare to the Guardian Families, yet he was safe and sound… As long as they exerted every effort to repent and prove their loyalty, the Little Demon Empress would surely go with the flow and absolve them. At most, they would receive a warning…
With that thought, everyone's hearts immediately calmed considerably, and even the atmosphere in the grand hall no longer felt so suffocating and oppressive.
"Helian Kuang, enter."
The Little Demon Empress's voice pierced through the barrier and rang out from the stone chamber; this time, it summoned the patriarch of the Helian Family, Helian Kuang.
"Patriarch…" Several core elders of the Helian Family looked at Helian Kuang with worried expressions.
"Do not worry. After all, I am the patriarch of a Guardian Family; nothing will happen to me." Helian Kuang took a deep breath and walked toward the stone chamber.
The moment he entered, a bone-piercing chill assaulted him, sending shivers through his entire body; he involuntarily trembled. Helian Kuang did not dare meet the Little Demon Empress's eyes. Instead, he hurriedly knelt and said,
"This sinner Helian Kuang greets the Little Demon Empress."
"You may rise." The Little Demon Empress's voice was incomparably calm, without the slightest fluctuation in emotion. She glanced at the stone seat to her right and said, "Sit."
There was no killing intent, no anger, not even a trace of oppression, and he didn't even need to kneel. All of this calmed Helian Kuang's heart. He slowly stood and cautiously moved to the stone seat.
The Little Demon Empress extended her hand, and a pristine white jade teacup appeared in her palm. With a flick of her wrist, the teacup rose into the air as if carried by a gentle breeze, floated over, and landed on the stone table in front of Helian Kuang.
"Patriarch Helian, please have some tea."
The white jade cup was flawless, but its contents were empty; not a single drop of tea was inside. Yet how would Helian Kuang dare show even the slightest hint of disagreement? Even if the Little Demon Empress declared right now that he was a dog, he would bark a few times in response. He lifted the cup with both hands, brought it to his lips, carefully tilted his head back, and pretended to slowly savor the tea. Only after a long moment did he lower the cup with utmost care.
"Have you finished drinking?" The Little Demon Empress's eyes narrowed slightly, but her words were gentle.
Helian Kuang hurriedly cupped his fists and said, "Yes… the rich and mellow fragrance of this tea belongs only to the heavens… I thank the Little Demon Empress for this drink."
"Since the tea has been savored," the Little Demon Empress's eyes flashed faintly, "then you may depart on your journey with a peaceful mind!"
As her words fell, the Little Demon Empress had already stepped through space and appeared suddenly before Helian Kuang like a demon from hell. A delicate hand, fair as snow jade, carrying flames that seemed to pour from the infernal cracks of hell itself, struck heavily into Helian Kuang's chest. Wild, violent Golden Crow flames erupted madly throughout his body; in a single instant, all his internal organs were completely incinerated.
"Urgh…" Helian Kuang's eyes widened rigidly as the world spun around him.
BOOM!!
A deafening explosion rang out, and Helian Kuang's body was hurled out of the stone chamber, crashing violently into the crowd of kneeling people. When he landed on the floor, his eyes stared wide at the ceiling. No sound came from him. Moreover, on his chest was a horrific black burn mark.
"Patriarch… Patriarch!!" The core elders of the Helian Family who were gathered cried out in alarm and rushed forward, but not even a sliver of life remained in Helian Kuang's body. A pungent, acrid smell of charred flesh wafted from his corpse; his death could not have been more complete.
"Patriarch…" Staring at the body before them, the Helian Family's core elders were scared senseless and could only stand there trembling. At that moment, the Little Demon Empress's low, cold voice rang out from the stone chamber:
"Though he was the patriarch of a Guardian Family, Helian Kuang colluded with Duke Huai and plotted rebellion against the throne; his death was richly deserved. Furthermore, this punishment was originally meant to extend to the entire Helian Family. However, because the Helian Clan has faithfully served and protected the Demon Emperor Clan for the past ten thousand years, this empress has decided to grant you a chance and give the Helian Family an opportunity to start anew… Helian Tu!"
The Helian Family's Second Elder, whose name had just been called, spasmed violently as he frantically turned and fell to his knees.
"From this day forward, you shall be the new patriarch of the Helian Family! This empress orders you to drag Helian Kuang's carcass to the Northern Gate within two hours and hang it there! Let it be displayed publicly for seven days, and during those seven days, if anyone dares retrieve his body, plead for mercy, or publicly mourn him, execute that person on the spot!"
"Furthermore, if anyone in your Helian Family shows even the slightest hint of dissent, if this empress learns of it, I will kill that person! If any of you dare place your clan above my orders or show even the tiniest sign of disloyalty again, this empress will ensure that the name Helian no longer exists in this world!"
Every word the Little Demon Empress uttered caused the terror in the hearts of the Helian Family's core elders to skyrocket. But if one person's death could be exchanged for the safety of the entire Helian Family, no one would be foolish enough to feel indignation over his death. Helian Tu said in a trembling voice, "We will obey the Little Demon Empress's commands… We thank the Little Demon Empress for her mercy. From this day forward, the Helian Family will remain steadfastly loyal to the Little Demon Empress and gladly give our lives for you…"
"Also, do not forget the Purple Veined Divine Crystals you owe the Yun Family."
"Y-yes… Yes…" Helian Tu dragged Helian Kuang's corpse away while his head bobbed frantically up and down. He hurriedly left, his steps faltering as if walking on the edge of a blade.
Terror spread through the Demon Imperial Hall like a plague. The slight relief they had felt after seeing Duke Xuan emerge unscathed vanished completely in an instant, and every face turned so pale it was as if all the blood had been drained from them… For ten thousand years, the Helian Family's status as a Guardian Family had been second only to the Yun Family, yet Patriarch Helian, Helian Kuang, had been personally executed by the Little Demon Empress… If that could happen to him, what fate awaited the other Guardian Families and Duke Palaces?!
"Jiufang Kui, enter."
All eyes turned toward the Jiufang Family. Jiufang Kui rose shakily, but the moment he managed to stand, his legs gave out and he fell to his knees once more. His bulging, wide eyes revealed the immense terror that had erupted in his heart. Helian Kuang's horrific death had planted a demon in his soul… because he was painfully aware that among the Twelve Guardian Families, while the Helian Family may have been the first to switch allegiance to Duke Huai's Palace, his Jiufang Family had been the second! Moreover, the Jiufang Clan and Helian Clan had originally been close due to their shared bloodline. They had intermarried across generations…
She had just killed Helian Kuang and then called for him, Jiufang Kui… How could he not be terrified?
________________________
(A/N: Consider supporting me on Patreon and reading up to twenty advanced chapters of each story.
For just $5.99 USD, you get access to all my content, including:
Over 30 chapters of Patreon-exclusive stories
Plus early access to future updates.
My Patreon: patreon.com/Adam_Kadmon
Thank you so much for your support — you make all of this worthwhile.)