Chapter 1033: Chapter 1032: Secret Imperial Decree

In their line of sight, a golden dragon-shaped flying battleship slowly emerged, carrying an aura of supreme dignity. At the very front of that dragon-shaped warship stood several figures, and among them was a young woman in a golden court dress. She was young in years, yet possessed an unmistakable kingly bearing, a commanding presence that could rule the world.

This woman was none other than the Supreme of the Central Dynasty, Empress Yunyao.

Behind her stood a man and a woman. The woman had a head of fiery red hair and stunning beauty; she was Ling Chen’s elder cousin, the Liu Family’s super prodigy, Liu Mengru. On the other side stood a middle-aged man with a cold, stern face and an air of authority that made others feel his might even without anger.

This man was the Family Head of the Liu Family, Liu Chengyuan.

On that Dragon Boat, ranks of imposing Royal Guard Army soldiers stood in formation, making for an extraordinarily grand sight.

"Empress Yunyao actually came in person."

Everyone in the Ling Family felt a jolt in their hearts. Empress Yunyao rarely left the Divine Capital; unless something that affected the entire Central Dynasty occurred, she would not appear outside the Divine Capital. Yet today’s incident had actually alarmed her enough to personally come to this boundless East Sea.

"Could it be that the Empress has come to help us slay demons and exterminate Evil Spirits?"

Some of the younger members of the Ling Family spoke excitedly. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"What is she here for?"

Ling Yi instead had a bad premonition in his heart. He did not believe that this Empress would travel thousands of miles to help them fight; that did not fit her style. Not to mention, the Ling Family and Empress Yunyao were not on the same side at all. According to the current world’s classifications and evaluations, his Ling Family was categorized as the conservative faction, aligned with the conservative forces within the royal family, while Empress Yunyao and the Liu Family were the emerging faction. As opposing camps, Empress Yunyao would only rack her brains to weaken the Ling Family—how could she possibly lend a hand?

Still, whatever the case, Empress Yunyao was, on the surface, the co-lord of the Nine Provinces. No matter what, she should not be shielding a sect like the Witch Fiend Sect, which was made up of Evil Cultivators. Even if his Ling Family did not support Empress Yunyao, at least in name, they stood on the same side.

On Spirit Snake Island, the members of the Witch Fiend Sect were all starting to panic. A single Ling Family had already beaten them into this miserable state, and now even a figure on the level of Empress Yunyao had personally mobilized. Wouldn’t that mean they were doomed this time?

Ling Chen, however, did not show much worry on his face. If this Empress Yunyao had really come to crusade against the Witch Fiend Sect, she likely would not have brought the Liu Family along. Moreover, if Empress Yunyao killed him at this point, all the "investment" she had put into him before would go down the drain.

"We respectfully welcome Your Majesty!"

Everyone in the Ling Family bowed and saluted, shouting in unison.

"Rise."

Empress Yunyao’s voice was not loud, yet it was exceptionally clear, spreading through the air and distinctly entering the ears of every person present.

"Your Majesty, have you come this time to aid my Ling Family in slaying demons and exterminating Evil Spirits, to annihilate the Witch Fiend Sect?"

Ling Yi narrowed his eyes, probing carefully.

"Mm, I did indeed come this time to help the Ling Family."

Empress Yunyao inclined her head slightly, causing a spark of secret joy to rise in Ling Yi’s heart. This little lass was actually really here to help? It seemed he had wronged her.

"I am here to help the Ling Family and the Witch Fiend Sect make peace."

Empress Yunyao said with a lilting smile.

"What, make peace?"

Ling Yi’s expression changed drastically, the joy in his heart instantly vanishing without a trace.

"That’s right. This battle no longer has any need to continue."

Empress Yunyao’s face was indifferent. "The Witch Fiend Sect has already surrendered to the Imperial Court. If you keep fighting, whichever side is destroyed will be a tremendous loss to the Imperial Court. I cannot sit idly by and watch you slaughter each other."

"Surrendered to the Imperial Court? When did the Witch Fiend Sect surrender to the Imperial Court?"

Ling Yi’s face was filled with shock.

Not only him—even Ling Chen was somewhat stunned. When had the Witch Fiend Sect surrendered to the Imperial Court? How come he had no idea?

"This is all thanks to my beloved subject Ling Chen."

Empress Yunyao’s tone remained even, her face not flushing nor her breath quickening. Then she let out a light sigh and said, "Now that matters have come to this, I won’t hide it from you anymore. In truth, everything Ling Chen has done before was under my imperial command."

"As early as half a year ago, I summoned Ling Chen. He proposed to me a strategy for pacifying the Witch Fiend Sect. At the time, I felt his method was indeed extremely risky and radical, but in the end, in consideration of the greater situation, I still agreed."

"The reason Ling Chen infiltrated the Ling Family, stole the Saint’s Soul Niche, resurrected the Witch God, and carried out this entire series of actions was actually to seize control of the entire Witch Fiend Sect."

"And all of this was by secret decree that I issued to Ling Chen. Now that his task can be considered complete, and the Witch Fiend Sect has submitted to the Imperial Court, that is why I say there is no need for this battle to go on."

Empress Yunyao spoke faintly.

Hearing this speech from Empress Yunyao, Ling Chen’s eyes couldn’t help but light up. Without a doubt, she was spouting serious nonsense with a straight face. What secret decree? He himself knew nothing about it. As for why Empress Yunyao would tell such a lie, there was no question that this Empress had decided to protect him with all her might. Moreover, not only that—she clearly intended to go with the flow and take this chance to bring the entire Witch Fiend Sect under her control, thereby expanding her own power.

Ling Chen had to admit his admiration. Empress Yunyao was truly bold; she dared to want anyone.

This one move, killing two birds with one stone, was indeed remarkably brilliant.

"When did Your Majesty issue this secret decree to Ling Chen?"

Ling Yi’s face grew as ugly as it could get. If things were really as Empress Yunyao said, then not only was Ling Chen completely innocent, he had actually rendered great service. With this single move, he had taken in the entire Witch Fiend Sect—that was nothing short of a world-shaking achievement.

One had to know that the Ling Family had fought the Witch Fiend Sect for so many years and had never been able to wipe them out, even suffering casualties instead. Yet Ling Chen had easily resolved the threat posed by the Witch Fiend Sect and even managed to bring them over to their side.

What the Ling Family had failed to accomplish in hundreds of years, Ling Chen had done in a few short months.

In this way, not only was Ling Chen free of any crime, he had in fact transformed into the great meritorious subject who subdued the Witch Fiend Sect.

He very much doubted whether this so-called secret decree even existed.

"Elder Ling Yi, you are overstepping. Since I have said it was a secret decree, how could I possibly let outsiders know of it so easily? What, are you doubting me?"

Empress Yunyao’s voice suddenly turned cold.

"This subject would not dare."

Ling Yi took a deep breath. There was a blaze of anger bottled up in his heart. Nine times out of ten, that so-called secret decree simply did not exist at all; it was entirely fabricated by Empress Yunyao. But what could he do now? It was obvious that she intended to shield Ling Chen by force. Could he say that the secret decree was fake? Even if it was fake, did he have any proof?

Besides, given his current condition, he had absolutely no standing to refute Empress Yunyao.