Chapter Thirty-Six: The Empress's Fury

High above the Abyss, Liu Jianchen gazed at the peerless Empress atop the Heavenly Chasm, watching as she unleashed her divine might and trapped the nine demon gods within a single green lotus. He could not help but marvel inwardly, "I never imagined that the legendary Empress of Sky City would possess such terrifying power! But why is she helping me?"

Liu Jianchen was baffled. Everyone here regarded him as an enemy; not only did none offer aid, but many seemed eager to stab him in the back at the first opportunity. He was long accustomed to such treatment, yet it still surprised him when Yue Chan extended a helping hand from the darkness. With the Empress joining the fray, the tide of battle was instantly reversed. Liu Jianchen breathed a sigh of relief, standing alone with his sword, facing the remaining nine demon gods.

He spoke coldly, "Foul and filthy creatures of darkness, so long as I, Liu Jianchen, draw breath, you will never escape this place..."

A bizarre laugh echoed from the sky. The moment it sounded, Ye Qiu below froze.

"Damn, there really is someone who can laugh like that? They say, anyone who laughs 'keh keh keh' is ninety-nine percent a villain. No doubt about it! This is the villain boss for sure—the classic main character’s nemesis..."

Ye Qiu was thoroughly amused. He'd always thought those strange villainous laughs in novels were just a joke, but to hear such a thing in reality—how twisted must someone be to laugh like that? If you claim not to be a villain now, heaven itself would protest...

Above, one of the demon gods sneered, his voice cold and scornful. "Lowly, inferior creature, do you truly believe you are worthy to oppose our great God of Darkness? Surrender! Submit to the great God of Darkness. Embrace the darkness, and you shall gain eternal life and endless honor. Refuse, and only death awaits you..."

God of Darkness?

Liu Jianchen's heart sank. His face grew frosty as he retorted, "I care not whether you are a god of darkness or a god of light. As long as I stand here today, none of you will leave."

"Why persist in a hopeless struggle? Charging into certain death—how is that different from suicide?"

Liu Jianchen smiled faintly, recalling a master from years past who was a few years his senior but had taught him many things and bestowed upon him a peerless sword technique. Even now, Liu Jianchen had not forgotten his visage. In his heart, that man was his sole faith—no so-called god of darkness or light could compare.

"Once, a senior who saved my life told me that a true swordsman must always be ready to draw his blade against any foe, even if the odds are impossible—never give up your fighting spirit. Your so-called God of Darkness is nothing more than a frog in a well, boasting of invincibility without ever realizing... A true master always keeps the heart of an apprentice, remaining humble and eager to learn even after achieving unrivaled power. There is always a sky beyond the sky, a man beyond the man! For you never know if, somewhere unseen, there exists someone far greater than you..."

Thinking of that master, Liu Jianchen felt a deep reverence. It was this man's character and conduct that shaped him into who he was today.

His words left the entire audience stunned and deeply shaken.

"Who is this senior he speaks of? To utter such words, what kind of peerless master must he be?"

All present mulled over that line again and again—A true master always keeps the heart of an apprentice.

Meanwhile, inside the tavern, Ye Qiu suddenly shivered, something feeling off.

"Strange, why do I suddenly feel like I'm awesome again? Am I having side effects from too many good dreams lately?"

He couldn't figure it out, but the words sounded so familiar! It felt as if he himself had said them somewhere, though he couldn't recall when...

Over the years, Ye Qiu had boasted countless times—thousands, at least, if not tens of thousands. What exactly he'd said, he couldn't remember.

"Sigh, how could it have been me? I don't even know him..."

Ye Qiu shook his head. Someone so remarkable—how could he possibly know such a person?

"Boss, are you alright?" Cao He asked, puzzled.

Ye Qiu waved him off. "I'm fine. Maybe I've been boasting too much lately and it's gone to my head! I feel like I've got it in me again... But it's no big deal. Let's keep watching and see how this plays out. Liu Jianchen seems like a decent guy—if necessary, we can provide some support..."

After all, Ye Qiu had already pegged him as the protagonist. If he didn't build a good rapport now, wouldn't he be wasting the chance to get on the hero's good side? Opportunities are fleeting. As a transmigrator, Ye Qiu knew the protagonist's potential was limitless—as long as you curry favor with him, wealth and glory would surely follow.

"Understood!"

Cao He didn't know why Ye Qiu wanted to help Liu Jianchen, but he knew one thing: Ye Qiu's orders were to be followed without question.

The scene shifted back to the skies. Upon the Heavenly Chasm, Yue Chan alone battled nine demon gods without falling behind, subduing them with overwhelming force and trapping them within a barrier. Her unparalleled elegance left all onlookers awestruck.

She was truly the most legendary and youngest Empress of the age—such dazzling presence would shine across the annals of history, unmatched by any before.

After confining the nine demon gods, Yue Chan looked over at Liu Jianchen, noticing that they had yet to begin fighting, merely exchanging words. Her brow immediately furrowed—the Ice Empress had no patience for the demons’ pointless chatter.

"Cut them down..."

Her icy voice rang out. From the heights of the heavens, the green lotus stretched across the sky, transforming into a long blade that slashed mercilessly downward.

"Damn, what a temper!"

The Empress’s decisive and forceful nature stunned everyone—she didn't hesitate to attack at the slightest provocation. Who could stand against that?

"Formation!"

But alas, though the Empress’s attack was fierce, the nine demon gods were no easy prey. In an instant, they formed a battle array and blocked the blade.

Afterward, one of the demon gods sneered, "Ants remain ants. So what if you can trap us for a time? You cannot kill us, and thus your defeat is inevitable..."

"Enough talk—die!"

Yue Chan answered coldly, cleaving down once more and striking the very demon god who had spoken, splitting him clean in half.

"Whoa—she’s stealing my spotlight!" Liu Jianchen was inwardly shocked. Just as he’d been about to show his prowess, the Empress had swooped in and overshadowed him completely.

Damn it, director, is no one going to stop her from stealing the scene?

Yet, although the demon god had been cut in two, to everyone’s disbelief, his body swiftly reformed as if unharmed. The entire crowd was stunned—even Yue Chan herself froze for a moment. The rest of the demon gods remained trapped within the lotus barrier, so she could ignore them for now. But these nine below would not be so easily dealt with—it seemed ordinary weapons had little effect on them.