The Empress's voice echoed through the heavens and earth.
She transformed into a fleeting silhouette amidst the ice and snow, soaring into the sky to confront the vast demon army advancing from the north.
The cultivators of the Snow Kingdom erupted in deafening roars of battle.
Their eyes were resolute.
With hearts prepared for death, they followed the Empress.
Even if they were to die today,
They would defend their homeland.
This was not just their homeland.
It was also the northern gate of the human realm!
Dense formations of figures flew above Ling Yanran.
Like moths drawn to a flame.
Though insignificant,
Their courage shook the heavens and earth.
For a time,
The sounds of slaughter resonated through the world.
The northern sky became like a spread of red ink, blooming instantly on white paper.
It was a sight so striking.
Ling Yanran's heart ached.
She knew.
That was the blood of the Snow Kingdom's subjects.
They were using their lives to halt the advance of the demon powerhouses,
All to buy time for reinforcements to arrive.
"It's all my fault."
"If I had told my brother-in-law about my sister's pregnancy."
"If I had begged him to come to our aid, things wouldn't have become like this."
Ling Yanran was overwhelmed with self-reproach,
Believing she was the cause of it all.
Even if her sister had sent a message to Prime Minister Du Qingqiu, asking her to inform everyone of the Snow Kingdom's fall.
Even if experts from the Gan Kingdom and Yan Kingdom, and even her brother-in-law, might have come.
But the Gan Kingdom was thirteen thousand li away from the Snow Kingdom.
Even with a teleportation array, it would take an hour.
By the time they arrived, it might be too late.
And now,
The only thing she could do was protect the Snow Kingdom's gate,
And fight to the death to keep the demons outside the city walls.
------
On the battlefield.
The Empress wielded her long sword, cutting a swathe through the enemy.
Her sword was named Buhui (No Regrets).
It was a top-tier immortal artifact from the previous Empress, her mother.
And the most powerful divine weapon of the Snow Kingdom.
But this sword had also harmed her.
For since childhood, her mother had instilled in her the belief that one should not regret their actions.
She had believed,
That she could inherit Buhui's spirit.
But...
It wasn't until she met Chen Nan that she realized the depth of her sins.
She should not have treated him that way in the Land of Fortune.
She should not have trampled his dignity underfoot.
And she certainly should not have disregarded his feelings for a fleeting desire.
Though she had tried to make amends,
How could her actions possibly heal the harm she had inflicted upon Chen Nan?
A surge of anger turned her eyes crimson.
She transformed into a death god, reaping the lives of the demon powerhouses.
Deep crimson blood melted the snow on the ground, and a pungent smell of gore filled the air.
She cut through the demon army like a hot knife through butter, killing countless enemies.
She carved a bloody path.
And plunged three hundred li deep into enemy territory.
However,
The bloody path she had carved was quickly filled by the demon powerhouses.
To the extent that,
She found herself alone in the heart of the enemy ranks.
Looking around.
There were only ferocious and terrifying demon creatures everywhere.
They snarled and bared their fangs,
Their eyes glinting with cold light,
Yearning to devour the Empress whole.
But the Empress's gaze was indifferent.
With a raise of her hand, her long sword flew into the air.
*Weng!*
Accompanied by a sword's hum.
Ten thousand sword energies erupted from the sword.
They densely covered the sky.
And then descended with a roar.
Although the demon powerhouses around her were strong,
They were utterly incapable of withstanding the Empress's strike.
Their bodies were instantly pierced by sword energy.
Screams of agony filled the air.
Countless died or were wounded.
The ground was littered with severed limbs and torn bodies.
A scene too horrific to behold.
Like a descent into hell.
*Whoosh!*
Buhui returned to the Empress's right hand.
She held the sword with one hand and walked step by step towards the north.
Her expression was as indifferent as ever.
But,
A flicker of anger appeared in her eyes.
A monstrous killing intent surged from within her, and she spoke with fury, "The demons are as insidious and despicable as ever."
"They will stop at nothing to achieve their goals."
"They would even watch their own kin die tragically."
"They would even let them be cannon fodder."
"Do you know."
"That the cannon fodder in your eyes are beings that we, human powerhouses, are willing to defend with our lives?"
"Do you know."
"This is the greatest difference between humans and demons?"
"Do you know."
"This is the key to why humans can become the rulers of all races?"
As she spoke, a mocking smile graced her lips. "You demons constantly claim you will replace humans and become the rulers of all races."
"Do you even qualify?"
"Reveal yourself!"
"Killing ordinary demon soldiers brings me no sense of accomplishment."
"The demons truly do not understand people's hearts, but how can you humans know my demon heart?" With a playful laugh, a middle-aged man in a black robe, with an afro, blood-red eyes.
Black horns sprouted from his head, exuding a monstrous aura, slowly descended from the sky.
His name was Gu Jin.
A ninth-level Demon Emperor.
Gu Jin sized up the Empress, his eyes shining with greed. "I have long heard that the Human Empress is peerless, unmatched in history, the most beautiful woman in the Immortal Realm."
"Seeing you today truly is a sight for sore eyes!"
"I hear you have recently severed your cultivation and given birth to a daughter?"
"I wonder if she will grow up to possess your world-shattering beauty and unparalleled allure."
He paused, then said, "I am one of the eighteen Demon Emperors of the Demon Realm."
"Considering your peerless beauty and unmatched allure."
"I can grant you a chance to live."
"As long as you pledge allegiance to this Demon Emperor,"
"And become my bed warmer, this Demon Emperor will spare your lives, mother and daughter!"
The surrounding demon powerhouses also let out lewd laughter.
Their mouths spewed filthy words.
"Our Demon Emperor is very powerful, even if you two mother and daughter came at him, you couldn't handle it."
"Empress, I advise you not to be ungrateful. It is your fortune that our Demon Emperor fancies you. After all, not all humans can receive our Demon Emperor's favor."
"You court death!"
With a raise of her hand, the Empress's sword slashed towards Gu Jin.
Ribbons of sword energy tore through the sky, destructive and world-ending.
With lightning speed, they descended upon Gu Jin's head.
But they were repelled by his horns.
Gu Jin's eyes flickered with disdain. "If you were a ninth-level Immortal Emperor, this Demon Emperor would fear you somewhat."
"But now."
"In my eyes, you are merely an ant."
"Even an ant can shake the heavens." The Empress clenched her fist in mid-air, and a chain formed from the law of extreme Yin pierced through the heavens.
Her cultivation had plummeted.
She could only wield such law power now.
"Die!"
She waved her hand.
The law chain whistled out, instantly killing thousands.
This move,
No one could resist.
The law chain, like a divine chain, instantly wrapped around Gu Jin.
But he stood there serenely.
The disdain in his eyes intensified.
He shook his body.
A monstrous demonic aura surged out, instantly shattering the law chain.
*Puff!*
The Empress coughed up a mouthful of crimson blood.
The breaking of the law chain exacerbated her already critical condition.
"Since you are unwilling to be this Emperor's servant, then die!"
Gu Jin unleashed a palm strike.
The monstrous demonic energy transformed into a demon blade.
Exuding a power of destruction, it roared towards the Empress.
The Empress's eyes calmly watched the demon blade approach.
She wanted to dodge, but she couldn't.
However,
She had already prepared to welcome death, hadn't she?
She slowly closed her eyes, awaiting the arrival of death.
And at that very moment.
A furious roar echoed from the sky: "If you kill her, who will my daughter breastfeed from?"