Son-in-law Heaven Emperor Xiao Yi

Within the territory of the Tianqing Kingdom.

A steed after steed galloped from Heiya City and sped away toward every corner of the Tianqing Kingdom.

At present, the Tianqing Kingdom was besieged on all sides, facing enemies everywhere. The morale within the country was low and the populace was in a state of panic.

And because of this…

The Tianqing Kingdom needed a grand victory to boost spirits more than ever before.

Zhang Baisheng well understood this concept, and as soon as he had triumphed over the million-strong army of the Tianlan Kingdom, he dispatched no less than eight hundred scouts, each with two horses, to quickly spread the news of this great victory throughout the Tianqing Kingdom.

"Victory! Victory!"

"The Martial King of the Nation, with his divine might, led his troops to completely annihilate the million-strong army of the Tianlan Kingdom, creating a pit of ten thousand corpses with forty thousand captives' heads, deterring the world!"

"The Martial King of the Nation, with his divine might..."

Such news spread throughout the Tianqing Kingdom.

At first, everyone was incredulous.

But as one report followed another, Xiao Yi's fame had soared to its peak.

The dilapidated Mingjian Manor.

Since Xiao Yi had destroyed the Royal Martial Arts Academy, the elite of Mingjian Manor had all perished there. The once-glorious and renowned Mingjian Manor had gradually fallen into decline, becoming nothing more than a large forge base providing military equipment for the kingdom, with all the once-formidable warriors of the manor reduced to blacksmiths.

When news of Xiao Yi's major victory reached Mingjian Manor, any lingering hopes were thoroughly extinguished: "Our leader was so foolish, why provoke Xiao Yi?"

"The Third Elder is the criminal of Mingjian Manor. Even our ancestors won't forgive him in the afterlife..."

The Nine Profound Sect.

Nowadays, the Nine Profound Sect had already crumbled, with its disciples dispersing and fleeing, leaving behind only a few loyalists.

They had hoped to find a new master to follow once the Tianqing Kingdom was destroyed.

But at this moment...

Upon learning that Xiao Yi had led his troops to wipe out the million-strong army of the Tianlan Kingdom, tearing apart the wind with his bare hands, and repelling the Tao Tribulation with his sword, they were utterly intimidated: "Let's go... Our hope for revenge is completely extinguished!"

"Let's sell off all of the Nine Profound Sect's property. Didn't the Treasure Pavilion offer to pay five hundred million silver? Let's sell these assets to them and return to our hometown to live as wealthy landowners..."

The same news also reached the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple.

Inside the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple.

A young monk named Dao Yun was sitting in front of an old monk, his face twisted with ferocity: "Abbot, I beg you to pass on the Buddha-Demon Scripture to me. I vow to catch up with Xiao Yi and use the Buddhist Law to convert him!"

"Why pursue him?"

The old monk, who was the current abbot of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple and whose cultivation had also reached the peak of the Golden Core Realm, just one step away from entering the Tao Tribulation Realm, clasped his hands together in prayer, his expression solemn as he spoke, "Foolish child, you must let go of your obsession..."

"Abbot, are you truly unwilling to give it to me?" Dao Yun's expression turned savage.

Amitabha!

The abbot chanted the Buddha's name and shook his head with a wry smile: "Dao Yun, you have fallen into the demonic way... from today, you are... pfft..."

In the midst of speaking, the abbot spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

He wore a look of disbelief on his face, staring at Dao Yun who stood before him, his hands stained red with blood, clutching the abbot's Golden Core.

He never imagined...

Dao Yun, whom he had raised from a young age, would actually turn on him.

Dao Yun's face contorted with rage as he said, "You old fool, I asked you for the Buddha-Demon Scripture, and you should have just given it to me. Why waste words? I, Dao Yun, as a monk, held in high regard, was forced by Xiao Yi to kneel before his rule—this grudge is irreconcilable."

"You, you…" The abbot opened his mouth, but could not stem the tide of blood rushing forth.

As his Golden Core was lost, his life force rapidly drained away.

Meanwhile, Dao Yun leaped onto a Buddha statue, reached beneath the Lotus Platform, and extracted a scroll. He howled to the heavens: "The Buddha-Demon Scripture... finally in my hands!"

Gurgle!

He actually took the bloodstained Golden Core into his mouth and chewed it before swallowing it down,

Huff! Huff! Huff!

Two Golden Cores burst out of his body, revolving around him ceaselessly.

One of the Golden Cores was replenished with Buddha patterns, holy and precious; the other was shrouded in black energy, emitting an eerie ghostly aura.

Dao Yun was surrounded by a brilliant glow.

He instantaneously reached the peak of the Golden Core Realm.

At times his face was engulfed in dark energy, fierce and ferocious, and at other times his visage was solemn, akin to that of a Buddha.

"Hahaha, Xiao Yi, once I master this Buddha-Demon Scripture, it will be the time for your demise!" Dao Yun rose into the sky, flipping over the massive scripture with sheer force.

In an instant...

Screams of agony echoed throughout the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple.

After Dao Yun departed, the once peaceful Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple was left as a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

......

In the Tianqing Kingdom, at the Royal Capital, on Vermilion Bird Avenue.

"Victory announcement! Victory announcement!"

"The Martial King of the Nation, with overwhelming divine might, led the army to annihilate the entire million-strong army of the Tianlan Kingdom. With four hundred thousand enemy heads, he built the Pit of Ten Thousand Corpses, deterring the whole world!"

The messenger soldier charged through recklessly, but the people along the way had not a hint of complaint; instead, they celebrated jubilantly, and the oppressive air in the Royal Capital was swept away, plunging everyone into ecstatic joy. The whole city's populace was shouting, "The Martial King of the Nation, with divine might..."

In the midst of the celebration, there were also those who worried, "His Highness the Martial King's meritorious achievements surpass the king's, could it be that he will become the target of His Majesty's jealousy?"

"This might not necessarily be a good thing!"

But such concerns were quickly dispelled.

All because Jiang Tianchen issued a royal decree, proclaiming to all, "The Martial King of the Nation, Xiao Yi, with peerless contributions, is hereby bestowed the title of Guardian Martial God of the Tianqing Kingdom. Orders are given for temples to be built and statues cast in his likeness throughout the cities in the nation..."

Guardian Martial God!

Building temples, casting statues!

This was to worship Xiao Yi as a god!

A man, can have achievements that overshadow the monarch!

But what about a god?

Rising above all things, transcending royal authority!

In other words...

Even if Xiao Yi commanded them to change the emperor, the royal family would have absolutely no complaints!

This decree shattered the rumors that Xiao Yi's achievements were too great and that his life would soon be in jeopardy.

At the same time.

Within the royal palace.

Jiang Tianchen, who had already entered the Tao Tribulation Realm, looked at Jiang Tai with a full measure of satisfaction in his eyes. However, upon seeing Jiang Tai's severed arm, a hint of sorrow flashed across his eyes, and he said solemnly, "Tai, I had planned for the ancestor to guard the Royal Capital, but now that Elder Gu has broken through to the Tao Tribulation Realm, he will be the guardian. I will lead an army alongside Xia, the Great General, and the ancestor to meet the enemy at the frontier. I leave the Royal Capital in your care!"

Jiang Tai's eyes reddened and he nodded fervently, "Father King, please take care!"

"Hahaha, why such concern? Now that the Guardian Martial God has annihilated a million soldiers of the Tianlan Kingdom, they are no longer a threat. Other nations will surely get the news, and our Tianqing Kingdom will certainly triumph in this great war!" Jiang Tianchen laughed heartily.

Jiang Tai nodded emphatically.

Jiang Tianchen stood up, patted his shoulder, and spoke firmly, "Tai, if something does happen to me, you shall open this edict and ascend the throne..."

"Father King..." Jiang Tai gasped, looking incredulously at Jiang Tianchen. Your next read awaits at empire

Jiang Tianchen waved his hand dismissively and laughed heartily, "As long as the Guardian Martial God is here, our Tianqing Kingdom shall not fall! You must remember, even if our Jiang family is reduced to a single soldier, we must never betray the Guardian Martial God. With him, Tianqing shall never perish!"