The Dragon Robe of the Emperor of Great Yu billowed in the wind, rustling fiercely as the Array activated, and an invisible staircase appeared before Yin Weiyin.

Yin Weiyin stared in astonishment at the staircase, so reminiscent of the Ascension Path she had seen in the underground palace.

No wonder… her celestial mentor, Yu Zhen Yuanjun, had chosen to be part of this.

The long-cherished path to immortality was once again within reach. Yin Weiyin's eyes flickered with emotion as she was about to step forward but suddenly halted.

He had not yet returned…

Yin Weiyin gazed at the sprawling chaos.

"Still not ascending to immortality?"

The Emperor of Great Yu, noticing her pause, shouted urgently.

The air was saturated with radiant colors; lotuses of celestial blue bloomed. The Ascension Path exuded ethereal energy as Yin Weiyin prepared to lift her foot, but a thought flashed through her mind.

Was she about to leave?

He hadn't returned yet, and was she still going to leave?

The female crown stopped in her tracks, unable to understand her hesitation.

The Emperor of Great Yu's face darkened as she froze. For the Taichua Goddess, stepping onto the immortal path was of utmost importance to the Array; otherwise, Yin Weiyin would never have been chosen as its pivotal center.

And once she reached midway, and the dam of Huangquan River water burst forth, flooding everything—

She would be consumed by the race of the currents. Then he could seize the fruits of her labor, ascending the immortal path himself, crossing the transcendent threshold to join the celestial ranks.

Just as he replaced King Jing as Crown Prince once.

"Still not ascending to immortality?"

The self-proclaimed Emperor once again shouted loudly.

Almost the entire Ghost City swarmed with gathered souls amidst chaos. If she delayed any longer, the immortal path might lose its stability.

On the high stage, Yin Weiyin stood motionless, while beside her ear, the ritual song of "Return, O Souls" echoed repeatedly.

She knew that this sacrificial hymn was sung in honor of the Ghost City Yingdu.

But still, her thoughts lingered on him.

Were they truly about to part ways like this?

Was he really never coming back?

The female crown's robes billowed in the wind; the sharp gusts pricked at her nerves.

Suddenly, she uttered words that even she hadn't expected:

"Father King, I will not ascend to immortality."

The entirety of Ghost City Yingdu seemed to fall silent at these words.

The Emperor of Great Yu's expression froze abruptly, consumed by a heavy sense of unreality.

Centuries of planning—taking King Chujiang's title, seizing control of Ghost City Yingdu, releasing the chaos for the altar of heaven's will—had all led to this moment, only to be met with these words.

For a long while,

Beneath the twelve-tiered imperial crown, the Emperor's demeanor cooled into solemn detachment.

"Weiyin, your choice is no longer yours."

He let out what seemed to be a fatherly sigh.

Yet for a man who had slaughtered his mother and severed ties to ascend, what affection remained to show?

"Rise!"

The Emperor's figure ascended as if carried by the wind. The fierce gales surged forward, his words carrying the force of law, commanding the ghostly aura of the city to come alive.

Ink-black demonic Qi flooded the atmosphere, condensed from King Chujiang's blood, now controlled at the Emperor's whim. The female crown's eyes widened in shock as she glanced around, catching sight of Soul-Hooking Chains emerging from every direction.

Cold gleams of light reflected; the ghostly aura was brutal.

It turned out that he had prepared a fallback all along.

No matter how sweetly he proclaimed her as one of his own.

Soul-Hooking Chains instantly bound Yin Weiyin's limbs, piercing directly into her soul. She let out a muffled groan, attempting to move, but an intangible weight pressed on her with every effort.

Beneath the Emperor's icy expression, the chains dragged her inch by inch toward the immortal path.

But at this very moment,

A streak of radiant light burst through the skies!

Like a meteor streaking amidst shadows of demonic mists, cleansing the foul air as it passed.

"Master?!"

Yin Weiyin lifted her gaze and cried out in astonishment.

Boom!

In an instant, the radiant streak shattered the four chains with a buzzing sound; the demonic aura fractured, and a figure clad in celestial robes suddenly appeared, blocking the Emperor's path.

Cranes cried in chorus, swirling with gusting winds high above.

Yu Zhen Yuanjun.

Her hair was streaked with silver, yet her face retained youthful vigor. She held a horsetail whisk, glancing sidelong at Yin Weiyin with a faint smile before turning a reproachful look toward the Emperor of Great Yu.

The Emperor hovered in the wind, his palm slightly raised. Behind him, the reversed waters of Huangquan River surged, while the immortal path still stood firm.

He could not help but ask:

"Yu Zhen Yuanjun, why?"

Yu Zhen Yuanjun merely replied indifferently with a question of her own:

"You can deceive Weiyin, but do you think you could deceive a poor Daoist like me?"

The Emperor's expression shifted subtly as his Dragon Robe swayed, mirroring his thoughts.

"A few days ago, when you repeatedly questioned her about the matter of Nascent Soul, I grew suspicious. I never imagined you would truly rebel."

The Emperor heaved a long sigh, his tone carrying neither rage nor desperation—only deep lamentation.

Clad in his Dragon Robe, he still carried himself as the rightful ruler.

The female crown's hand gripped the hilt of the Peach Wood Sword, her forehead beading with cold sweat. At this point, how could she not understand the so-called "Father King's" true intentions?

Ancient rulers sought immortality—not merely for the sake of living forever.

Why consume forbidden elixirs and endure the bitter cultivation? Was it to serve as mere pawns for the heavens?

The man whose title was Holy Divine Emperor with virtues of enlightenment and filial piety merely sought to reign as an earthly immortal, ruling over Great Yu for eternity.

Yin Weiyin's trembling hand quivered uncontrollably.

The Emperor no longer looked at her. The love in his eyes had vanished, superseded by a cold gaze fixed upon Yu Zhen Yuanjun, who was encircled by celestial cranes.

Layer upon layer of demonic aura caused the cranes to screech piercingly.

"I see. You've only pretended to comply, gathering souls from Ghost City into the chaos. You've waited for me to be without recourse, and you've patient enough for this moment."

After his words fell, the Emperor said no more. His aura surged with rising power; the ghostly Qi drew closer in masses.

He raised his hand high.

Behind him, ten thousand lengths of spectral demonic Qi converged, imposing and fierce like both deity and demon, as a massive sword of dozens of feet slowly materialized.

With a sudden slash, the sword fell!

The surrounding wind shrieked with sharp intensity; flying sand and tumbling rocks erupted. The terrifying momentum paled Yin Weiyin's face as she stood behind her celestial mentor.

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