Was it all worth it?

A mysterious and profound Aura descended upon Kun Ye.

Watching from high above, Kun Wu nodded at this sight.

He wasn't completely foolish after all.

Anyone who had been officially conferred a title by him...

...could mobilize the power of the Kunxu Celestial Dynasty's Luck.

Even if it wasn't much, it was enough to suppress Tuoba Bufan.

Tuoba Bufan felt this powerful Aura.

However, he showed no fear.

A demon refining pot appeared in his hand.

"Suppress."

The demon refining pot radiated an intense light.

Kun Ye's expression changed drastically.

The power of the Kunxu Celestial Dynasty's Luck within him was instantly suppressed.

Even Kun Wu's expression shifted.

*Squelch.*

On the arena stage.

Tuoba Bufan struck Kun Ye's head with a single palm.

*Squelch.*

Kun Ye's eyes were filled with horror.

His spirit had already shattered.

How could this be?

He was unwilling to accept this.

He was a dignified Prince of the Kunxu Celestial Dynasty.

A person of noble status, a favored child of heaven.

To think he would die on an arena stage.

And at the hands of someone younger than him.

If he could do it all over again...

...he would never have saved Leng Shuangshuang.

The Prime Minister in the spectator stands saw this, and his expression flickered.

Beside him, Leng Shuangshuang turned pale.

Leng Shuangshuang looked toward Chu Xinghe.

He was too ruthless.

But he was also too strong.

After Tuoba Bufan killed Kun Ye...

...his body soared into the air.

Moving in a series of flashes...

...he appeared before Kun Jian.

"I concede."

Third Brother could still be suppressed even after mobilizing the power of Luck.

Moreover, with so many people backing Third Brother, they must have left some methods on him.

None of those powers had even been unleashed.

They must have been suppressed by that mysterious pot.

He didn't want to follow in his third brother's footsteps.

Tuoba Bufan glanced at him.

"If you concede, then get lost."

Kun Jian hurriedly left the arena.

Kun Wu looked at Kun Jian, his eyes filled with killing intent.

His gaze inadvertently drifted toward the Heavenly Consort.

The Heavenly Consort's heart tightened.

It had been a long time since she had seen the Emperor this angry.

But if he hadn't conceded, he would have died on the stage.

The Heavenly Consort's gaze shifted repeatedly.

Instead of blaming them, he would be better off considering how to eliminate Chu Xinghe's hostility.

At that moment.

A sudden cry of sorrow rang out from the distant battlefield.

Kun Wu stood up abruptly.

He stared toward the distant battlefield.

On the battlefield...

...a black Phoenix was directly strangled to death.

This was Cheng Ce's military Formation.

The meaning of the black Phoenix being strangled was self-evident.

The army had been wiped out, or the general had fallen.

Seeing that Cheng Ce was fine...

...it meant the army had been annihilated.

How could this happen?

How could it be so fast?

How much time had passed?

They couldn't even hold out for this long?

Chu Xinghe, in the spectator stands...

...withdrew his gaze.

The Black Hand also looked toward the battlefield.

"Those four actually have some skill."

"Even in other Celestial Dynasties, they would be top-tier generals that few could surpass."

Chu Xinghe nodded in agreement. "What about controlling the four of them?"

The Black Hand shook his head.

"That kind of rough man has the toughest temper; they'd rather die in battle than surrender."

Chu Xinghe didn't quite agree. "That's because the benefits aren't big enough. Those four aren't fools. Being named Pillars of the State seems like an honor, but in reality, their path has reached its end. Take a close look inside their bodies."

The Black Hand observed closely. "Huh? How can this be?"

At this point, Qing Lian stopped snacking on melon seeds.

"There are toxins in their bodies preventing them from making a Breakthrough. At Supreme Perfection, their path can only go this far."

The Black Hand suddenly thought of something and glanced toward Kun Wu in the distance.

"I think I understand why many Imperial Dynasties and even Celestial Dynasties don't make it very far. These monarchs are too suspicious. When they feel they lack the ability to suppress others, they start thinking of ways to make these people fight amongst themselves."

"Even if they know these generals are loyal to the core, they still scheme against them time and again."

Chu Xinghe only smiled.

Kun Wu stood in the high spectator stands.

He looked toward the battlefield.

His expression was not good.

A wave of regret surged in his heart.

If he hadn't schemed against them, if he hadn't suppressed them...

...would they have been able to achieve a Breakthrough long ago?

But after they broke through, would they still follow his orders?

Plus, each of them held heavy military power.

Those soldiers were loyal only to them.

No, he didn't regret doing it.

If he hadn't done this...

...perhaps the Kunxu Celestial Dynasty wouldn't have survived until now.

Kun Wu sat down, his face pale.

Currently, on the battlefield.

As the Nine Dragons Heaven-Breaking Formation absorbed the opponent's Evil Qi, it grew stronger and stronger.

Cheng Ce spat out a mouthful of blood.

His face was ashen.

Bai Tu supported Cheng Ce.

"Old man, are you alright?"

Gongsun Ji and Qin Zheng also came over.

They arrived at Cheng Ce's side.

"Old brothers, I'm fine."

Cheng Ce wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

"Sigh, if it weren't for... how did it come to this."

The expressions of the other three also shifted.

None of them spoke.

Bai Tu looked at the battlefield.

"Sigh, after campaigning for hundreds of years, this battle might be our last. We four have fought among ourselves for so many years, acting for him; I'm tired."

Bai Tu's Aura had already declined.

His heart was weary.

The man was also tired.

Back then, when they had joined the military alone, they didn't have so many complicated thoughts.

As their military achievements grew and their strength increased...

...the Emperor's suspicion toward them became more and more severe.

Later, they began to relinquish their power.

They even stopped asking about court affairs.

The Four Great Pillars of the State.

They were no different from four great turtles.

"Are you satisfied?"

Just then, a voice suddenly appeared in the minds of the four.

The four of them had eyes filled with shock.

Wasn't this the voice of that mysterious Young Master?

"How about following me?"

The four of them didn't speak.

"You have campaigned your whole lives, only to die at the hands of the one you were loyal to. Is it worth it?"

"Ask yourselves, were you protecting his Kunxu, or the Kunxu of the world's people?"

"The Kunxu Celestial Dynasty seems powerful, but it can't even dominate Kun Province. There are still forces that dare to outwardly obey while inwardly defying, and the Kunxu Celestial Dynasty can't do anything about them. Yet even before achieving that, he's afraid of you breaking through and seizing imperial power. Are you willing to die on the battlefield like this?"

"Look at who is dying on the battlefield—your brothers. Why are they dying? Is it because you aren't strong enough?"

"Is it because your military capability isn't high enough?"

"It's neither. It's because of suspicion."

"He wanted to suppress your growth. You even know there's something wrong inside your bodies, that you can't break through to Quasi-Emperor. You all know this, yet you haven't resisted, even acting like shrinking turtles."

"Look at the eyes of your brothers; that is unwillingness. They have followed you in battle for many years, an invincible army, and now they are easily defeated."

"Even I, an outsider, can see that this invincible army has been broken up and reorganized many times. Otherwise, the Ten Thousand Demon Palace's Formation couldn't have won so quickly."

"In the arena battles, my disciple will also win. The Kunxu Celestial Dynasty will still be destroyed."

"Follow me, and I will give you the chance to break through, a chance to campaign once more."

"Instead of hiding at home like turtles, only able to reminisce about the past."

The four of them fell silent.

They exchanged glances, then simultaneously looked at Bai Tu.

Bai Tu was considered the eldest brother among the four of them.

Bai Tu looked at the battlefield, then turned his head to look at the prosperity behind him.

Even with so many people dying in battle...

...some people were still comfortably enjoying themselves.

It was as if all of this had nothing to do with them.

They lived frugally to provide for the families of their fallen brothers.

Yet they were still met with suspicion.

Was it worth it?