224: Sanctuary Civil War

In the Saint Domain, a three-way battle for imperial power ignited, and the flames of war sang a tragic song.

The Empress Nalan Mingyue, in order to consolidate her imperial power, spared no effort to mobilize all the forces of the Immortal Dynasty, launching a blanket campaign to hunt down Nalan Shu.

Under such pressure from Nalan Mingyue, Nalan Shu was forced to play his trump cards, organizing the death squads he had privately recruited over the years into an army to fight Nalan Mingyue to the death.

The two armies clashed, and blood flowed like a river.

The once vibrant and prosperous Saint Domain was reduced to ruins in this struggle for power that shocked the nine regions.

Before a village in the Saint Domain, a large group of Immortal Dynasty soldiers surrounded the villagers, forcing them to kneel at the village entrance to await judgment.

"By Imperial Decree: The villagers of Nan'an have colluded with the rebel Prince Jing, Nalan Shu. All involved are to be executed without mercy!"

"Kill!"

At the order of the decree-announcing official, the surrounding Immortal Dynasty troops drew their weapons in unison.

"We are innocent!"

"Your Majesty, have mercy! We are innocent!"

A chorus of cries immediately erupted from the crowd.

Regardless of age or gender, everyone wept uncontrollably.

The deputy general, unable to bear the sight, immediately approached the official and said, "Sir, these villagers do not look like people who would collude with rebels. It would be better to investigate clearly first."

"Do you dare to defy the imperial decree?"

Unexpectedly, the response he received was the official's cold gaze.

The deputy general was speechless. Before he could argue, the official drew his sword and slashed across his throat, killing him on the spot.

"This man colluded with the rebels and has been executed by me. Does anyone else wish to speak for them!"

The official scanned his surroundings, and instantly, no one dared to make a sound.

"Kill!"

At the second order, the Immortal Dynasty army hesitated no longer and raised their butcher knives to slaughter the villagers of Nan'an.

In an instant, wails filled the air, and blood splattered three feet high.

Under the massacre of the Immortal Dynasty army, these innocent villagers fell into pools of blood in the blink of an eye.

"Burn the village!"

The official threw out the order expressionlessly, and soon the entire village was engulfed in raging flames.

Similar scenes played out across the Saint Domain.

Whether it was Nalan Mingyue or Nalan Shu, in their struggle for imperial power, the ones who suffered the most were always the common people...

On Wuji Mountain, Nalan Shu, covered in wounds, fled in haste.

Suddenly, a steady imperial roar sounded from behind.

"Nalan Shu, meet your doom!"

As the voice fell, a surging palm strike tore through the Void Realm and whistled toward Nalan Shu's back.

"Qi-Governing Wind Walk."

Nalan Shu paused his feet, and in the instant he turned, a contrary gale stirred, blocking the incoming palm strike.

But the next moment, a silver spear closed in, aiming straight for the center of his brow.

"Qi-Governing Martial Ascent!"

Nalan Shu pressed his palms together, and just as the spear tip was about to touch his vital point, he caught the incoming silver spear with his bare hands.

"Hmph!"

With a deep shout, the attacking Nalan Mingyue was forced back several steps.

Nalan Mingyue steadied herself, retracted the silver spear, and sneered, "Nalan Shu, do you wish to leave the Saint Domain? Unfortunately, I will not grant your wish. This Wuji Mountain will be your burial ground today!"

As she spoke, the ground beneath her feet erupted with a deafening roar, and the sweeping Dao Rhyme shattered the surrounding gravel and rocks.

"Imperial Elder Sister, why must you push me so hard?" Nalan Shu clutched his chest, looking pained, "Do you truly have no regard for our sibling bond?"

Nalan Mingyue waved her hand and turned her back, "Do you still intend to use this ridiculous rhetoric now? Nalan Shu, in these past few months, I have eradicated twenty-three of your strongholds in the Saint Domain. If you truly only wanted to be a carefree prince, why did you secretly cultivate so many forces behind my back?"

Nalan Shu clenched his fists, "Imperial Elder Sister, are you truly unwilling to leave any room for mercy?"

"Do you still have room for mercy?" Nalan Mingyue turned and sneered, "We have reached this point, and you still attempt to use these laughable words to stir my compassion? You are truly too naive."

As she finished speaking, multiple figures appeared around Wuji Mountain, all of them Cultivators of the Immortal Realm from the Immortal Dynasty.

"Nalan Shu, you have nowhere left to run. Commit suicide, and I will leave your body intact."

"Hahahaha..."

Nalan Shu heard this and laughed bitterly.

"Imperial Elder Sister, I never expected that you had already set a trap here on Wuji Mountain. It seems I have no chance of survival."

Nalan Mingyue: "My good younger brother, you are as cunning as a fox. If you were to escape, the future consequences would be endless."

Nalan Shu let out a long sigh and slowly closed his eyes.

The next moment, a slight curve appeared on the corner of his mouth, "If Imperial Elder Sister thinks this is your killing blow, then I can only say that you do not understand me deeply enough."

"Hmm?"

Just as Nalan Mingyue was confused, a sound of cicadas suddenly echoed across Wuji Mountain.

Puchi, puchi—

With two ripping sounds, the heads of two Immortal Realm experts were instantly severed.

Clang—

Just as the cicada wings struck toward Nalan Mingyue, she decisively manifested the Sacred Verdict and swung her spear to block.

"Cicada Wing Flying Shuttle, it is Sima Jinghan!"

As the Empress spoke, a piercing finger force struck, shooting through the forehead of another expert.

Nalan Mingyue frowned, "Formless Six-Pole Finger, it is Lin Qianqiu! The Haoyang Sect dares to betray me!"

With a deep shout, Wuji Mountain shook slightly.

In the next moment, two figures descended from the Void Realm, landing slowly on either side behind Nalan Shu.

Looking at Nalan Shu again, Nalan Mingyue's eyes were sharp, "So, you intentionally lured me to Wuji Mountain?"

Nalan Shu: "Since it has come to this, I will not hide it from you, Imperial Elder Sister. I intentionally exposed those twenty-three strongholds to you, just to create the illusion that everything was under your control. Only then would you lower your guard against me, and only then could I find your flaw and slay you in one stroke."

Nalan Mingyue sneered, "So, I did not wrong you. Nalan Shu, you have the heart of a wolf, and you have long harbored the intention of usurpation. I just did not expect you to be so ruthless; to set up such a trap, you were willing to sacrifice all the forces you had cultivated for years!"

Nalan Shu: "The combined forces of those twenty-three strongholds could not shake your Foundation at all. Therefore, from the beginning, my purpose in cultivating them was to deceive you. As long as I eliminate you, there will be no obstacles left on my path to the throne."

"Nalan Shu, do you think I have no preparations?"

Nalan Mingyue swept her silver spear, and her Aura Pressure roared.

"Do not forget, my state-guarding army is right at the foot of Wuji Mountain."

Nalan Shu shook his head, "Imperial Elder Sister, you are wrong again. Your state-guarding army has already been lured away by the people of the Haoyang Sect. Otherwise, how could I have spent so much time here reminiscing about our sibling bond with you? From the moment you stepped onto Wuji Mountain, all initiative was already in my hands. Now, I return your words to you: Nalan Mingyue, this is your burial ground!"

"Hahahaha!"

Upon hearing this, Nalan Mingyue looked up and laughed loudly.

"Nalan Shu, I still underestimated you. But you overlooked one last point: do you think my cultivation after these thousands of years is still just at the Peak of the Immortal Realm?"

"Hmm?"

Just as Nalan Shu was confused, the flow of Qi around Nalan Mingyue suddenly exploded.

As a vast Dao Rhyme swept out, Nalan Mingyue's cultivation actually stepped into the sixth level of the Limit-Breaking Realm.

"Now, Nalan Shu, in the face of absolute strength, how will you turn the tables?"

Nalan Shu frowned, then stepped forward.

"Since you can suppress your own cultivation, Imperial Elder Sister, what makes you think I would remain stagnant?"

As the vortex of Qi spun, Nalan Shu's cultivation also reached the sixth level of the Limit-Breaking Realm.