Chapter 114: Overthrowing the Imperial Throne

After the chaos within the Nine Nether Sacred Land was quelled, Chen Mu led the Nightshade troops to the imperial capital of the Bright Moon Empire, intent on assassinating Li Yuanfen and eradicating the entire royal family.

Though the Nightshade troops were few in number—not numbering in the thousands—their members were elite warriors of equal rank, all masters of stealth and assassination. They remained a formidable force not to be underestimated.

To avoid detection, the Nightshade troops split into several small units, infiltrating the imperial capital separately before regrouping. Thus, they slipped into the city silently and unnoticed.

The imperial capital was bleak and desolate. After the recent fierce battle between two Nascent Soul practitioners, the city was still under reconstruction. Its population was sparse, for many had perished, and few dared to settle in a city stained with so much blood.

At night, Chen Mu and his Nightshade troops moved like shadows, silently weaving through the dark recesses of the capital. One by one, they gathered outside the royal palace.

The guards stationed outside were eliminated without a sound. The Nightshade shadows slipped effortlessly into the palace. Wherever they passed, death followed—eunuchs, palace maids, imperial guards—none survived the silent purge.

Chen Mu led the charge, with his trusted lieutenant by his side, while the other Nightshade members followed closely, ensuring no one escaped.

The peaceful night transformed into a river of blood; the royal palace was once again soaked in crimson.

Reaching the palace’s inner chambers, Chen Mu ordered his men to slaughter the concubines and the princes and grandsons of the royal bloodline. If possible, they were to kill that wretched emperor as well.

As for himself, Chen Mu planned to confront the two ancient patriarchs of the royal family. Those old men were surely gravely injured; even alone, Chen Mu was confident he could handle them.

Splitting from his group, Chen Mu headed to the palace’s forbidden grounds—the ancestral shrine and the patriarchs’ secluded retreat.

Through Rou’er’s divine sense, they discovered that Li Yuanfen and the other patriarch were recuperating in seclusion, recovering from their wounds. Knowing their exact location gave Chen Mu the assurance that he could eliminate them both.

However, such a move would undoubtedly cause a great uproar, plunging the palace and the entire capital into chaos. Yet, that was no longer his concern.

Employing the Phantom Concealment Technique, Chen Mu masked his aura skillfully, wandering through the palace as if he were invisible. No one perceived his presence.

Though the forbidden grounds were sparsely guarded, palace attendants and guards remained stationed there. Chen Mu’s ability to traverse their watchful eyes owed entirely to the Phantom Concealment Technique.

Currently alone, Chen Mu refrained from striking these attendants, avoiding alerting the injured patriarchs who were resting. Once Li Yuanfen and the other patriarch were dead, the Nightshade troops could enter and deal with the rest.

Soon, Chen Mu drifted like a ghost into the heart of the forbidden grounds. Within a grand hall, the two patriarchs lay in separate chambers, meditating and healing.

This hall was protected by a defensive formation and a Qi-Gathering Array. Chen Mu dismissed the defensive array as ineffective, but the Qi-Gathering Array piqued his interest.

Such an array could concentrate energy, greatly accelerating cultivation. If his own forces could set up similar arrays in places like Starwatch Valley and the Nine Nether Sacred Land, their elite cultivators would rise far faster than those of other factions.

Once this matter concluded, Chen Mu resolved to ask Rou’er if such Qi-Gathering Arrays could be established in their domains to further strengthen their power.

Though disdainful of the defensive array, Chen Mu knew that to enter, he had to shatter it—inevitably alerting Li Yuanfen and the other patriarch.

Sighing, he had no choice but to launch a frontal assault. After releasing Rou’er and the other demon tribes to encircle the hall, Chen Mu gathered all his strength, unleashing a strike akin to a Nascent Soul master’s perfected blow, aiming to break the turtle-shell-like defense.

As Chen Mu’s yang elemental energy surged around his fists, Li Yuanfen and the other patriarch sensed the unusual energy fluctuations.

Moreover, the presence of Rou’er, Chihuo, Zongyu, and Qing—the four demon tribes—dispersed an eerie aura throughout the palace grounds. Could anyone fail to notice such an anomaly in the forbidden zone?

Realizing intruders had quietly penetrated the palace, Li Yuanfen warned the other patriarch to prepare for a swift escape.

Yet, before they could act, Chen Mu’s devastating yang elemental strike smashed the defensive array to pieces, causing a tremendous explosion that roused the entire palace and capital.

The blast was deafening, accompanied by a blinding flash that reduced the forbidden grounds to scorched earth.

The citizens of the capital, though mostly newcomers, sensed ill omens. They knew well the city’s history—how a cataclysmic battle had once wiped out every last inhabitant.

Now, with unrest stirring again, they feared another such disaster. The already sparse population hurriedly packed their belongings, rousing their families and loved ones to flee the city at all costs.

The palace explosion marked the battle’s opening salvo. The Nightshade members abandoned stealth and openly began their slaughter.

Their hatred for the royal family had reached a boiling point. Once, they harbored no animosity toward the empire and considered themselves part of it.

But over time, the empire began to ostracize the Nine Nether Sacred Land, repeatedly provoking and persecuting its followers.

Had Li Yuanfen not led the army to assault the Nine Nether Sacred Land, their leader Xu Changye would not have died for them.

The Nine Nether Sacred Land bore no ill will toward the empire, yet the empire’s relentless targeting stemmed from the Sacred Land’s rapid expansion and the swelling number of believers—followers of the demonic cult within.

The empire sought to annihilate the Nine Nether Sacred Land, restoring the royal family’s prestige.

Such oppressive and unreasonable motives could not be tolerated. The Nine Nether Sacred Land’s resistance was justified. The royal family’s downfall was their own doing—no one else to blame.

With the defensive array destroyed and the hall reduced to ruins, Chen Mu strode boldly before Li Yuanfen and the other patriarch.

Their eyes blazed with fury, astonished that Chen Mu would brazenly storm their doorstep. Were the imperial guards and military fools? How had no one warned them while the enemy penetrated deep into the palace, even the forbidden grounds?

They had expected the Nine Nether Sacred Land to regroup before launching an assault, anticipating a battle against the military before breaching the palace.

By then, the royal family would have fled. Yet, Chen Mu arrived swiftly and silently, reaching the forbidden grounds unchallenged, leaving Li Yuanfen’s face dark with despair.

The two patriarchs attempted to flee in separate directions, only to be struck down by the four demon tribes guarding the area. Already wounded, their bodies suffered further grievous blows.

Li Yuanfen’s face was ashen, yet he tried to reason with Chen Mu.

“Chen Mu, I know you are from the Great Xia. You need not involve yourself in the Bright Moon Empire’s conflicts. Tell me, what has the Nine Nether Sacred Land given you? Whatever gifts they offer, we can match them—double even!”

Chen Mu shook his head.

“I aid the Nine Nether Sacred Land not for rewards, but because they owe me a debt. I did not intend to annihilate you entirely. The Sacred Land never wished to be your enemy. But you repeatedly persecuted them—first attempting to kidnap Sister Lin’er to threaten Gongsun Qing, then killing Uncle Xu Changye, who always cared for me.

Therefore, I come not only for the Sacred Land’s sake but because you have killed my friends and threatened my comrades. There is no need for further words. Prepare to die.”

Before Li Yuanfen could respond, Chen Mu struck. A dazzling surge of energy descended. Li Yuanfen perished without even a chance to self-destruct. The Soul-Calming Tower absorbed his soul, and Chen Mu handed his unconscious Nascent Soul to Qing as a reward for their recent battles.

Previously, Chen Mu had already claimed the souls and Nascent Souls of two imperial generals, so he would not waste such resources. After all, who would not welcome tools to strengthen themselves?

Li Yuanfen’s death was followed by the other patriarch’s demise at Chen Mu’s hands. His soul was captured, and his Nascent Soul given to Zongyu for devouring and refinement.

With the two patriarchs dead, the Bright Moon Empire’s royal family posed no further threat. Once the wretched emperor was slain, the Nine Nether Sacred Land could overthrow the empire and seize true power.

Chen Mu sat quietly amidst the ruins, overseeing the two demons’ cultivation and empowerment. The royal palace echoed with screams as the imperial bloodline was swiftly purged.

The wretched emperor was captured, his powers stripped, and brought before Chen Mu. Without a glance, Chen Mu ordered his execution and had his severed head hung at the city gates as a warning.

With all tasks complete, the two demons completed their ascension. Zongyu became a level-three perfected demon beast, and Qing advanced to the late stage of level three. The outcome pleased all.

At that moment, dawn broke over the horizon.