Chapter 1035: Chapter 1034: Forced Withdrawal

"Ling Chen, why did you recklessly kill innocents? I don’t recall giving you such a command."

Empress Yunyao glanced at Ling Chen, her tone carrying a hint of reprimand, "I clearly instructed you that unless someone threatens your life to the point where you must kill, you should never act against the Ling Family members. Did you take my words as mere wind passing by?"

"Your Majesty’s words are firmly remembered in my heart, how dare I forget."

Ling Chen perceived the hidden meaning in Empress Yunyao’s words and secretly laughed inwardly. This Empress Yunyao was protective to the extreme; it seemed that his initial decision to ally with her was indeed very wise.

"These people pushed me to a desperate situation; if I hadn’t fought back, I would surely be dead. To complete the task Your Majesty assigned, I had no choice but to kill them to save myself."

"If it weren’t absolutely necessary, considering we both bear the Ling surname and come from the same family, I would have shown mercy and spared their lives."

Ling Chen adopted a look of helplessness and deep self-blame.

"Then there’s no choice. You did the right thing. You carry my secret command, and until you complete the task I assigned, you cannot die; if you die, it would be a disgrace to me and the entire Imperial Court."

Empress Yunyao lectured Ling Chen earnestly, but witnessing this scene, Ling Yi was almost furious enough to cough up blood. He initially thought Empress Yunyao truly intended to deal with Ling Chen, but never anticipated she had no such intentions; evidently, she planned to shelter Ling Chen yet again.

"I know the Ling Family suffered heavy losses this time and were greatly aggrieved,"

Empress Yunyao gazed at Ling Yi, as if greatly understanding his sentiments, "The Ling Family made significant sacrifices to cooperate with Ling Chen this time, and this matter, I will remember."

Upon hearing this, Ling Yi nearly vomited on the spot. Just remembering it is enough? No substantive measures?

"As for Ling Chen, I will naturally punish him heavily."

Empress Yunyao finally looked towards Ling Chen, "Ling Chen, I hereby announce the stripping of your title and demotion to commoner status; furthermore, withdraw the Heavenly Dragon Order from you, and reflect on your actions thoroughly."

"Yes, I accept the decree."

Ling Chen promptly nodded to accept the command. This punishment was akin to a mere scratch, hardly qualifying as punishment at all; he had no interest in titles to begin with, and as for the Heavenly Dragon Order, which supposedly allowed the mobilization of the Heavenly Dragon Guards, though influential, Ling Chen scarcely had any use for it, so if it’s taken back, so be it—it’s a harmless punishment.

"Alright, I’ve severely punished Ling Chen, so Elder Ling Yi shouldn’t have any issues now."

Empress Yunyao spoke calmly, in a tone that brooked no argument.

"Minister... no issues."

Ling Yi suppressed his intense displeasure, yet he was helpless; the situation was not in his favor, and faced with Empress Yunyao’s ostensible handling of Ling Chen, he was powerless.

"Elder Ling Yi, you can’t let this kid off so easily!"

Ling Tianzun couldn’t help but roar.

If it weren’t for Ling Chen, how could their Ling Family suffer such huge losses and gain nothing from their efforts? To just let Ling Chen off the hook like that, he was truly unwilling.

"Silence!"

Ling Yi glared at Ling Tianzun, a trace of frustration at his incompetence; at this critical junction, saying more was futile. Empress Yunyao’s word was absolute right now, and no one could refute her; besides, even if they argued, Empress Yunyao wouldn’t heed them.

She was eager to weaken their Ling Family as an opposing force.

Elevating the Witch Fiend Sect to The Tenth Great Family was likely largely to contain the Ling Family, and on the other hand, the scales shifted, naturally increasing the Empress’s own forces.

They had to swallow this loss today.

"However, I have a request."

Ling Yi’s eyes sparkled slightly, "Though Ling Chen is no longer one of us, he carries many of the Ling Family’s Secret Techniques, and these must absolutely not be transmitted to outsiders."

"I can agree to this request."

Ling Chen nodded, simply refraining from passing them on, not eradicating; this was acceptable.

The family’s secret techniques are crucial for a Saint Family; if transmitted, it’d mean losing their foundational capital because once these techniques spread, they cannot be considered secret arts any longer, significantly impacting the Ling Family.

"Alright, since Ling Chen has agreed not to transmit the Ling Family’s Secret Techniques, the feud between your Ling Family and Ling Chen can be written off."

Empress Yunyao nodded, yet she knew, even if the Ling Family temporarily compromised today, they absolutely wouldn’t let Ling Chen go so easily afterwards, but she couldn’t intervene beyond this. However, having suffered significant losses this time, the Ling Family should weigh carefully whether or not to provoke Ling Chen again.

This sentiment was apparent just from Ling Yi and Ling Tianzun’s expressions—this matter was far from over.

Unable to do anything against Ling Chen and the Witch Fiend Sect, after bidding farewell to Empress Yunyao, Ling Yi began retreating with the Ling Family forces, returning to the Ling Family.

Watching the Ling Family Army gradually become distant from view, Ling Chen also let out a breath of relief; had Empress Yunyao not arrived in time, this situation would have been perilous.

With this thought, Ling Chen expressed his gratitude, looking at Empress Yunyao with an appreciative expression, cupping his hands towards her, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your lifesaving grace."

"You recognized it was I who saved your life."

Empress Yunyao glanced at Ling Chen indifferently, "You asked for a life-saving item precisely for this moment; if I had foreseen you’d stir such trouble, I wouldn’t have given you the Nine Heavens Emperor Thunder Talisman."

"Without Your Majesty’s Nine Heavens Emperor Thunder Talisman, I would probably have lost my life."

Ling Chen chuckled bitterly, feeling genuinely grateful for this matter, "For troubling Your Majesty so greatly, I deeply apologize, but fortunately, thanks to Your Majesty’s wise and formidable actions, the situation was handled so perfectly."

Honestly, he hadn’t initially counted on Empress Yunyao personally appearing to save him; after all, they’d only met twice, and he was neither a significant figure nor considered one of Empress Yunyao’s confidants. He hadn’t expected her to go to such lengths to rescue him. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"If it weren’t for investing so much in you, I wouldn’t bother with you."

Empress Yunyao’s voice was calm, revealing no emotional fluctuations, "To subdue the entire Witch Fiend Sect this time, I wasn’t without reservations; if the Witch Fiend Sect cannot assure absolute loyalty to me, then the Royal Guard Army and Liu Family Army behind me could sweep away the Witch Fiend Sect now."

Upon hearing these words, Ling Chen directed his gaze towards the rear of the Dragon Boat, and indeed, he could see gigantic flying warships, loaded with ranks of powerful troops; there were the imposing Royal Guard Army and the densely packed Liu Family Army, such a force could easily obliterate the Witch Fiend Sect at present.