Chapter 431: Chapter 430: The Reason
Chapter 430: The Reason
Bai Xiaoyao glanced at her best friend, who was holding a wooden sword and muttering to herself while making strange little gestures.
Considering how red her best friend’s face is, she couldn’t help but feel that the girl was doing something rather embarrassing...
Still, Bai Xiaoyao didn’t dwell on it. Her gaze soon drifted away.
With her keen instincts, the little Netherkiness could clearly sense many spiritual awarenesses focusing on her.
It couldn’t be helped—after all, in today’s Human Immortal List, she was undeniably the brightest star of them all.
Throughout the day, every opponent she encountered had been one of the so-called top contenders for first place. Yet, no matter who it was, not a single one had forced her to make a second move.
Now, nearly everyone present believed that this Holy Maiden of the Demon Sect was about to recreate the Holy Saint’s legendary feat—claiming the top rank with overwhelming dominance.
’If I had to say, that Daoist Sect Little Thunder King might have actually been capable of exchanging a few blows with me...’
Bai Xiaoyao thought idly.
After all, back then her spiritual energy had only barely recovered through the forceful use of pills—it had been fragile to the extreme.
Unfortunately, her opponent had noticed only that weakness. Thinking he could exhaust her strength with patience, he chose to keep his distance and fight cautiously—only to fall neatly into her trap.
Had he instead fought her head-on, unleashing the full might of the Daoist Sect’s thunder techniques, he might not have been defeated so swiftly.
But there was no point talking about that now.
Feeling the fully restored, dense flow of spiritual energy within her, Bai Xiaoyao knew clearly that among the remaining participants, there was only one person who could survive even a single move from her.
And at present, no one else on the stage was aware of how terrifying that person truly was.
Thinking of this, the young Netherkiness’s delicate face twitched involuntarily.
Lu Yuliu had experienced a completely different kind of day in the list battles—both of her opponents were merely late stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, someone who’s here to make up numbers, and in one of the rounds, she had even advanced by default without a fight. She had simply taken a leisurely stroll across the Trial of Ascension Platform, reaped a pile of benefits, and stepped down.
Though she too had defeated her foes with a single move, the impression she left was far less about strength—and far more about her beauty and absurdly good luck.
It could only be explained as luck, really.
Before the Human Immortal List began, every participant had to infuse a trace of spiritual awareness into the Trial of Ascension Platform to verify their qualification. This connection also allowed them to draw blessings from the platform itself—and based on that connection, the platform directly decided the matchups for each round.
That was why some contestants appeared by manifesting through clouds of radiant light.
Bai Xiaoyao let out a slow breath.
’If I knew where Senior Brother was, I wouldn’t be sitting here pretending to cultivate...’
Her bright, beautiful eyes dropped to her pale wrist, pausing briefly on the mark tied like a knotted string.
The connection of the Red String of Causality told her that her senior brother was safe—the predestined effect between them showed no signs of turbulence.
’So, Senior Brother must be carrying out some secret plan. Still... there are things about this that feel strange.’
’According to what he admitted before, the Netherkin Uprising was most likely to occur during the Human Immortal List. Though the Human Immortal List was held earlier than scheduled, that doesn’t necessarily change the timing of the uprising—otherwise, he would have directly confirmed the date beforehand.’
’And his sudden disappearance only reinforces that idea... My guess is, because of the event being moved up, Senior Brother had to hurry to complete certain preparations and therefore cut off contact. Or perhaps it’s all under Master’s arrangement.’
A cold smile tugged at the Netherkiness’s lips as her gaze subtly shifted toward one of the mountains encircling the Trial of Ascension Platform.
That particular peak hosted the various great powers of the Immortal Nation. At its summit stood a grand, multi-tiered viewing pavilion—within which sat the true upper echelon of the realm.
Including the peerless and breathtaking Empress who had ruled for three years.
’If my understanding is correct, the Netherkin race will surely stir up chaos during the list battle... But what exactly links the uprising to this event? Is it merely to sow confusion? No—that doesn’t make sense. Unless the Netherkins plan to strike at all the human geniuses gathered here, but that would only push the neutral experts toward the Immortal Nation’s side, a move that would cost them more than it gains.’
’Aside from that—what about the Immortal Nation’s own plans? When Senior Brother entered the palace that time, he must have passed on plenty of intelligence to them. There’s no way they aren’t aware that the Netherkin race might make a move at this moment... yet they’re far too quiet. Even that Empress herself still sits calmly atop her grand viewing pavilion. If the Netherkins suddenly appeared in the city and began slaughtering mortals, would she even have time to protect her people?’
Bai Xiaoyao was a clever girl.
Even with several key pieces of information missing, she could still infer quite a lot.
’The Daoist Sect’s seats... that chief disciple of theirs isn’t there.’
’And those dozen Nascent Soul cultivators from Sword Province—those whom Senior Brother rescued back in Qifeng City—are also absent. Though they came uninvited, cultivators of that level shouldn’t have been left without an invitation...’
’If I were in the Empress’s position, knowing that the Netherkin race planned to launch an attack, I would never allow them to massacre civilians unchecked. Which means what she must be protecting—or waiting for—is... the Human Emperor Sword?’
’But something’s still missing. I don’t yet understand what the Netherkin race truly wants...’
Just then, a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"By the decree of Her Majesty, the Holy Maiden of the Demon Sect, Bai Xiaoyao, and the Sword Sect disciple, Lu Yuli, are summoned to the Prime Peak’s Viewing Hall."
A Six Gate Bureau Golden Ranked member—wearing a mask patterned with withered leaves—slowly stepped forth from the void.
. . .
Inside the hall built of red sandalwood, a young woman in imperial robes and crown stood before a curtain of pearls.
Beyond that curtain lay the grand viewing platform built for her, through which one could faintly glimpse the boundless scenery outside.
"Elder Yun," the Empress spoke softly, "what did the Daoist Sect Master say?"
As her words fell, a hazy old woman’s figure—woven entirely of mist—appeared silently behind her.
"The Daoist Sect Master says... he is aware."
The young Empress frowned slightly, then regained her cool and composed demeanor. "I see."
"Your Majesty need not worry," Elder Yun said comfortingly. "After all, you are... well, should the moment of crisis truly arrive, the Daoist Sect Master will surely intervene."
The Empress merely shook her head and changed the subject.
"Elder Yun, do you know why the Netherkin race insists on starting their uprising at this particular time?"
The mist-formed elder gave a respectful bow.
"According to Your Majesty’s earlier words—because the Netherqueen has returned, the position of the new Netherking is threatened, and thus he must create chaos to secure his rule. Is that not the reason?"
"It is... and yet, it isn’t."
The Empress’s expression remained cold and unreadable. "Even if the Netherqueen still lies sealed beneath Ascending Immortality Lake, this uprising was bound to happen sooner or later."
She paused. "It’s because they need to reveal their hand. The appearance of that Netherkin rat—the one who could transform into blood mist—was nothing more than a distraction to draw the Immortal Nation’s attention."
Elder Yun said nothing, as though waiting for the young ruler to continue.
"The new Netherking’s goal," the Empress said quietly, "is to attempt the Ascension Path that man failed to complete."
A faint, mocking smile appeared on her face.
"The Netherkin race has schemed for three years, yet they chose neither sooner nor later—only now to act. Simply because now is the only time they can act."
"In the first year of my reign, after that man’s disappearance, the Immortal Nation was in turmoil. Even with the Daoist Sect’s support, my throne was unstable. I was unqualified—unfit to gather the nation’s fortune into myself as the Netherqueen once did in her suppression."
"In the second year, I quelled the chaos and finally secured the throne—but still, I lacked that qualification."
"And now, in my third year upon the throne, the Immortal Nation’s dragon fortune has fused with my Imperial Alter Ego. I’ve been recognized by the Human Emperor Sword, capable of calling upon the strength of the nation’s people. At last, I possess some qualification... but it is still not enough."
"To achieve what was done in the Netherqueen’s suppression—to truly stabilize and anchor a nation’s fate—either I must reign unchallenged for ten full years, or I must one day break through to the Divine Transformation Realm."
"But the Netherkin race..."
Her voice grew colder.
"...does not dare to wait for either."
In just three years, the newly crowned Empress had already pacified the storms that once shook the Immortal Nation.
If she were given another ten years—or if she were to ascend to the Divine Transformation Realm—would the Netherkin race still have any chance of catching the royal capital off guard?
At this point, even their Nether Formations were nearly all dismantled.
"That’s why," the Empress murmured, "the Netherkin race has found a substitute method."
Her calm gaze drifted beyond the beaded curtain, falling upon the Trial of Ascension Platform—a structure built entirely from sacred jade.
Her voice was distant, almost as if she were speaking in a trance.
"The Immortal Soul summoned for the Human Immortal List... if it were to be bestowed upon me, perhaps that would be enough..."
Her manner of self-address subtly shifted—from imperial detachment to something far more personal.
Behind her, Elder Yun’s misty features flickered with dawning realization.
"I see... so that’s why the Netherkin race must act during the list battle..."
But just then, the Empress spoke again, her tone light and almost casual—yet it struck like a sudden thunderclap.
"So, you’re not at all surprised by the Netherking’s true goal—to ascend in a single step."
The faint words made Elder Yun jolt in shock; the cloudy eyes of her mist-formed visage widened instantly.
"What does Your Majesty mean by that?"
The Empress did not answer right away.
Even as she felt the immense fluctuation of emotion from the Divine Transformation expert behind her, she remained utterly calm.
Her slender, jade-white hands reached out, gently brushing against the bead curtain.
Her lips parted softly.
"All who face tribulation in this world... are merely waiting for one man to ascend."
This time, silence lingered for a long while.
At last, a weary sigh escaped from behind her.
"From where did Your Majesty learn of this matter?"
"From the Holy Saint of the Demon Sect."
At the mention of those four words, the young Empress’s tone suddenly lightened.
A faint smile appeared upon her flawless face—along with, curiously, a touch of rosy color upon her cheeks.
It’s him... he even knows secrets of this depth...
The mist-formed elder failed to notice the subtle change in the Empress’s mood.
Her aged features, usually composed, now bore an expression of absent disbelief.
She knew the Demon Sect’s Holy Saint had rendered great aid to the Immortal Nation regarding the coming Netherkin Uprising—but she had never known just how much that youth truly understood.
Yet... how could such knowledge even be possible?
At that very moment, the Empress released her grip on the curtain.
The strings of pearls cascaded down with a series of crisp, chiming sounds.
"The one I’ve been waiting for has arrived."
A serene smile lit up the Empress’s stunning face—bright and girlish for a fleeting instant—before it quickly vanished, replaced once more by her usual cool and distant composure.
"Elder Yun," she said, a faint gleam of azure flickering in her eyes, "would you care to observe how I prepare for cultivators below the Nascent Soul Realm?"
This time, Elder Yun remained silent for much longer.
Her old, misty eyes lingered on the familiar figure before her.
Finally, she bowed deeply.
"This old servant takes her leave."
The mist dispersed—and, almost simultaneously, a voice rang from outside the pavilion.
"Your Majesty, the guests have arrived," announced Wutong.
Inside the now-empty chamber, the Empress allowed herself a brief, radiant smile—one as pure and gentle as that of any ordinary young woman.
Then, she smoothed her expression, returning to her cold and regal composure.
"Mm. Let them in."
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Note: Link to the character Illustration:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lkIcPnCxeyuyZA4Kkb621dPC05UvWjhD
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