Ye Liuyun transfigured into Mu Lianshi’s image and entered the city along Mu Lianqing and Ye Tiandao.

The atmosphere was particularly tense.

Many of the martial practitioners that had witnessed the battle earlier, knew that the regalty was definitely untenable.

The Dark Legion clearly showed mercy earlier, just to wait for the Emperor to retreat and surrender.

Everyone in the city was waiting him to announce his decision.

As soon as Ye Liuyun and Mu Lianqing arrived at the palace, they rushed straight to the Emperor.

He seemed to have aged overnight, sitting dejectedly in the courtyard drinking tea.

"Father!"

Ye Liuyun and Mu Lianqing greeted him together.

"You’re back?" Mu Changtian came back to his senses and greeted them.

"There was a robbery on the way. Your bodyguards died in the fight!" Mu Lianqing reported.

Mu Changtian sighed, "They’ve been with me for a long time. I’ll arrange someone to send some compensation to their families."

"Father, we also saw the battle outside just now, we..." Ye Liuyun was about to ask what the Emperor was planning to do.

However, Mu Changtian shut him off with a wave of hand. "Shut down the palace, and both of you go collect all the treasures in the treasury and Library Pavilion. I’ll get the manpower, we shall prepare to retreat!"

"Yes!"

The two responded and opened a formation outside to shut the palace down.

Then, Ye Liuyun and Ye Tiandao’s men rushed to the treasury, while Mu Lianqing went to the Library Pavilion.

The palace indeed did not lack resources, enough for the Emperor to recruit another troop. Only after Ye Liuyun successfully kept away these resources did he feel a sense of relief.

Subsequently, he arrived outside the treasury and examine the palace defense with Divine Sense and Golden Phantom Eyes.

Mu Changtian’s residence had gathered ten martial practitioners of the fifth and sixth realm, all the strongest ones in the mansion.

Additionally, there were 3,000 soldiers, along with nearly 2,000 other martial practitioners and servants.

Ye Liuyun immediately informed Mu Lianqing.

"Bring your people and guard the center of the formation, and don’t let anyone open it."

Then, he rushed ahead to Mu Changtian’s residence, revealed his true face, began to besiege Mu Changtian after releasing the Blade Legion.

"Who are you? How did you get in?" Mu Changtian was also taken aback.

"I’m the leader of the Dark Legion, Ye Liuyun. Mu Lianshi has become my slave, you can’t run away!"

In just a wave of his hand, the Vermilion Bird and devil beasts launched their attack.

Ye Tiandao also ordered the strongest of the Blade Legion to get into a formation and target at the martial practitioners around Mu Changtian.

She, on the other hand, split half of the soldiers to stop the reinforcements. Wu Qingcheng and the others also released their beasts to join the battle.

The whole palace was immediately in chaos, full of rumbling sounds of explosions from genuine energy.

Mu Changtian’s guards collapsed one after another. The reinforcements could not even get close.

Looking at the fight, Ye Liuyun remained indifferent until Mu Changtian was the only one left. He called a halt.

"Do you still want to continue fighting?" Ye Liuyun asked indifferently.

Tilting his head up proudly, Mu Changtian countered, "What do you want?"

Ye Liuyun chuckled as he looked at him, speaking slowly, "Two of your sons are under my control. Even your life is in my hands.

With just one order, I can wipe out every single one from your army. The Devil Clan will cooperate with me to eliminate your southern troops, too.

I have all your resources in your treasury now. You don’t even have anything to rebound. What makes you think you can be arrogant?”

"Hmmph! I’m still the Emperor of the south here! And you, you’re nothing but a rebel!" Mu Changtian retorted contemptuously.

He realized that he had met a dead end; if worst came to worst, he would die.

Ye Liuyun just laughed, letting Vermilion Bird and the beasts continue their attack. Mu Changtian’s defence was broken, with blood spattering from his mouth.

His Interspatial Ring, armor, and defense jewellery were all taken away.

He even found his royal seal from the ring.

Ye Liuyun tossed the seal onto the table by the side after taking a quick look at it, "Can we talk properly now?"

Mu Changtian held his breath, ignoring Ye Liuyun.

"Kill everyone in the palace!" Ye Liuyun commanded Ye Tiandao.

"Yes!" Ye Tiandao went from defense to offense.

Before long, Mu Changtian heard the horrific screams of countless people.

Even some concubines and maids were not spared by the Blade Legion.

Listening to the cries, Mu Changtian was overwhelmed with turmoil.

The palace guards, although more powerful than the forbidden army outside, hadn’t fought in a long time and weren’t accustomed in this short time. Let alone facing against the Blade Legion with soldiers trained from countless killings on the battlefield, they had no chance to fight back.

They wanted to run, but they were trapped by the formation and simply couldn’t escape.

When the clamor gradually ceased, Ye Liuyun ordered Ye Tiandao: "Bring Mu Lianqing here, and execute him right before his eyes!"

"Yes!" Ye Tiandao agreed and promptly went to get Mu Lianqing.

"What else do you want?" Mu Changtian could no longer hold back at this point.

Ye Liuyun only gave him a gentle smile, "You seem unconvinced! I will do whatever I want, because now, I have the final say."

"You..." Mu Changtian was left speechless with rage, but suddenly, he launched a divine soul attack against Ye Liuyun.

However, Ye Liuyun was still wearing Mu Lianshi’s defense pendant, so his attack was futile.

Ye Liuyun intentionally did not place a Slaving Seal on Mu Changtian.

He knew that there were a lot of strong men in the central. Once the seal on Mu Changtian was reversed, he would very likely expose Ye Liuyun before coming back and reverse for his sons. He would be in a big trouble by then.

He only let the Vermilion Bird also release its divine soul to split off a part of his and devour it, thereby weakening his strength.

With a puff, Mu Changtian spat out blood.

Already being critically wounded, and now having lost half of his divine soul, he was on the verge of fainting.

"Father!"

Mu Lianqing witnessed the scene.

Although he was putting on a show with Ye Liuyun, his concern for his father’s injury was genuine.

Seeing Mu Lianqing and thinking of Mu Lianshi who was held hostage, Mu Changtian completely lost his temper.

His tone softened completely, "Don’t hurt my son. Name your terms, I’ll agree to anything!"

"Wouldn’t it have been much easier to start with that? Why the fuss?" Ye Liuyun finally nodded in satisfaction.

He turned to him and said, "Sign a soul contract with me, hand over your throne to Mu Lianqing so he can be my puppet king, and let Mu Lianshi guard the border for me while you go to the central region to collect information for me.

All three of you can live if you agree, or else you will die together!"