Jiang Chen finally spoke amid Hei Yexiao's sarcasm: "Hou Qing, you are too presumptuous."

As Jiang Chen spoke, his feet sank slightly into the ground. Zheng Ning Terrace seemed unable to withstand the pressure from Jiang Chen's feet and trembled violently. Boulders rolled down the mountain continuously, and the deafening roar echoed for a long time.

Hei Yexiao remained unmoved by Jiang Chen's pressure, and with his hands behind his back, he stared directly at Jiang Chen: "Jiang Chen, I can give you one last chance. It's still not too late to turn back and welcome the Emperor's return."

Jiang Chen sneered: "You say you're giving me a chance?"

"Do you have the qualifications?"

Hei Yexiao didn't speak, but a red light like a blade flashed across his chest.

Ying Gou exclaimed: "The Zhu Ni (Rebellion-Slaying) Mark! You activated the mark with your heart's blood?"

Hei Yexiao said: "I am originally a disciple of the Wu Clan. Among the Hou Tu Eight Guards, I am the only one who can erase the mark, and I am also the only one who can reactivate it."

In just a few seconds, the Zhu Ni Marks on everyone's bodies gradually became apparent.

However, the blood color on the marks varied in intensity.

Some people only had a faint bloodstain on their bodies, while others had Zhu Ni Marks that were so red they seemed about to drip blood.

Jiang Chen took a step forward and faced Hei Yexiao: "Are you the enforcer left behind by the Emperor in those years?"

"No!" Hei Yexiao shook his head, "I am only keeping my original intention, preparing to welcome the Emperor's return."

"If I were the enforcer, based on this gathering alone, we would all have been beheaded and displayed to the public."

Ying Gou's expression changed slightly: "Do enforcers really exist?"

"They exist!" Jiang Chen said, "Don't forget the Emperor's methods."

Every emperor in history had a force that was loyal to him, yet hidden in the shadows. The Emperor of the Art Dao was no exception.

Hei Yexiao stared at Jiang Chen: "Jiang Chen, stop! You are no match for the Emperor, come back with me and plead guilty to the Emperor."

Jiang Chen's eyes narrowed slightly: "Hou Qing, I will give you one last chance to choose as well."

"My Jiang Chen's self-proclamation as king is a foregone conclusion. No one can stop it."

"Even if the Emperor arrives in person, he won't be able to!"

Hei Yexiao slowly shook his head: "I cannot betray the Emperor. Between you and me, we sever our friendship today, and tomorrow..."

Before Hei Yexiao could finish speaking, he saw the Zhu Ni Mark on Jiang Chen's chest, like fuel evaporated by an external force, turning into wisps of bloody mist and dissipating into the air.

Jiang Chen said with icy eyes: "Hou Qing, you were ranked last among the Right Four Guards in those years. Who gave you the courage to defy this king?"

Hei Yexiao flashed in front of Lao Liu: "Shifu, you go quickly!"

As Hei Yexiao faced Jiang Chen, Ying Gou also appeared behind them: "None of you can leave!"

"This Liu Bao is not bad, why not leave him to assist the King?"

As Ying Gou spoke, his aura soared, like a fierce tiger blocking their path.

Lao Liu slowly waved his fan and said: "Jiang Chen, if you kill us, aren't you afraid that the Empress will settle accounts with you?"

Jiang Chen, who had been calm and collected in the face of the Zhu Ni Mark, instantly erupted with power when he heard the words "Empress".

The overwhelming pressure swept across several meters, and Hei Yexiao and Lao Liu retreated several steps at the same time, with blood seeping from the corner of Lao Liu's mouth.

Seeing this, my heart sank:

Jiang Chen suppressed Hei Yexiao with mere aura. Once they fought, Lao Liu and the others would not have the slightest chance of winning.

Unfortunately, I couldn't see Xiang Kai's reaction in the video. If they didn't even have someone to lend a hand, how would they break this situation?

Jiang Chen said coldly: "No one is allowed to joke about the Empress."

Lao Liu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said with an unchanged smile: "Jiang Chen, haven't you ever wondered why the Emperor has never been able to find the Empress with all his power?"

Jiang Chen raised his right hand slightly, then slowly lowered it again: "Continue."

Lao Liu said: "Everyone thinks that the Emperor is lost in reincarnation because the Empress deliberately avoids him, and even the gods of the underworld are concealing it."

"However, with your understanding of the Emperor, would he be easily obstructed?"

Jiang Chen's face was still as gloomy as water, but his tone softened a little: "What do you want to say?"

Lao Liu smiled: "What I want to say is that the Empress never entered reincarnation at all. The Nie Xiaochun you met is the Empress."

The aura on Jiang Chen's body surged again. This time, the pressure that Jiang Chen unleashed was even more violent. Although Hei Yexiao managed to protect Lao Liu in time, the two of them were blown away by Jiang Chen.

As the two landed, Ying Gou stepped forward and reached out to grab the fallen Lao Liu: "You two are courting death!"

"Stop!" Jiang Chen's stern shout made Ying Gou's palm, reaching towards Lao Liu, stop.

Ying Gou looked at Jiang Chen in confusion: "Your Majesty, do you really believe his nonsense?"

Jiang Chen stared at Lao Liu intently: "Give me a reason not to kill you?"

Lao Liu sat up, patted the dust off his body with his fan: "Jiang Chen, have you seen the Empress's qin spirit?"

Jiang Chen shook his head slightly.

Lao Liu asked again: "Nie Xiaochun was originally the qin spirit of the White Bone Demonic Qin, so let me ask you again, is the yaoqin used by the Empress the White Bone Demonic Qin that slaughtered the martial world and was stained with blood countless times?"

Jiang Chen didn't speak, but Ying Gou snorted coldly: "How could the Empress use such an ominous thing?"

Ying Gou paused here, stunned.