Unlike Jiang Ke’er’s overwhelming stress, the research and development work led by Sun Shizhang was a series of continuous triumphs!
This was thanks to the massive amount of materials the Taiming Sect had purchased before sealing their gates.
Once Jiang Ke’er handed over that batch of emergency supplies to Sun Shizhang, he was no longer limited by a lack of resources.
Combined with his many assistants, the research progress flew forward.
Ultimately, there was strength in numbers. With a clear division of labor, the group quickly finalized more than ten solutions and began working from multiple directions.
The second day was a peaceful and reassuring day. It seemed that the various rebel forces had not anticipated the ferocity of the Demon Race, as they temporarily halted their advance.
A calm settled over the Great Sima Nation.
Furthermore, news of the constant successes from Sun Shizhang’s research reached the public.
For a moment, the people of the Great Sima Nation, who had been trapped under a dark cloud, breathed a long sigh of relief and began to harbor hope for the future.
However, Li Lao’er felt that something was not quite right.
Logically speaking, this was already the second day of the epidemic poison response.
By this time, the Medical Cultivators in various regions should have received the supplies supported by the Taiming Sect.
“The Protective Suits have been fully distributed to the Medical Cultivators in all regions!” a messenger reported.
“See? I told you there was no need to worry,” Yu Wenhua Ji said with a smile.
“No, I haven’t received any confirmation of the distribution,” Li Lao’er said, his brow furrowed.
“The information I just received says the Medical Cultivator generals in various regions are still fighting the epidemic poison in a completely unprotected state.”
“There is likely a delay in the messages. General Li can rest easy,” Yu Wenhua Ji comforted him.
‘Is that really the case?’
As long as he did not receive a message from his own people, Li Lao’er could not relax.
He decided to contact Changsun Wuji and Changsun Qingyue, who were far away at the front lines, immediately.
One of these two was his best friend, and the other was his fiancée.
They were currently on the front lines of the battles against the rebels and the epidemic poison, respectively.
Only news from them would be truly reliable.
However, as he held his Communication Stone and looked at the dim, signal-less display, Li Lao’er’s heart began to sink.
This was Jiangdu City, the second Imperial Capital of the Great Sima Nation.
The surrounding terrain was open and the climate was pleasant. There were no Spiritual Power storms that would interfere with communication.
It was impossible for a signal interruption to occur.
No matter how much he tried to call, the Communication Stone remained unresponsive as if it were broken.
It was the same when he tried to call the other Demon Race generals fighting on the front lines.
He was suddenly completely in the dark, knowing nothing about the situation of the Demon Race in the outside world.
Worse still… he had sent out all his capable subordinates.
Only a few ordinary Demon Race guards with low Cultivation Bases remained by his side.
Looking at the smiling Yu Wenhua Ji, Li Lao’er understood that whether it was the Demon Race, Shenzhou, or himself, they had all reached a critical moment of life and death.
Clearly, this guy was behind it.
The communication signals between Jiangdu City and the outside world had been blocked.
“It seems I misjudged you after all,” Li Lao’er sighed softly, his eyes already searching for an escape route.
His Cultivation Base was only at the Five Elements Realm.
Even if he wanted to suppress Yu Wenhua Ji to regain control, he couldn’t.
Furthermore, if the communication was cut, it meant the livestream signal was also gone.
In this state of total secrecy, Yu Wenhua Ji could kill him without any hesitation.
“Tell me, wouldn’t it have been better to just be a fool? Why did you have to keep asking questions…” Yu Wenhua Ji pulled out a knife with an air of helplessness.
However, he did not look at Li Lao’er. Instead, he pointed it toward the palace courtyard and gave a light shout. “Do it.”
The Imperial Guard, appearing out of nowhere, surrounded the entire city of Jiangdu in an instant.
It seemed there was nowhere left to run.
Li Lao’er smiled bitterly. He had been sending people everywhere to suppress rebellions, never imagining that the greatest rebel leader was right by his side, having even reached a position akin to the backbone of Shenzhou.
What made Li Lao’er feel even more despair was — these Imperial Guards surrounding Jiangdu City were all heavily protected, each wearing a set of the highest-quality Protective Suits.
It was obvious that these bastards were wearing the supplies sent by the Taiming Sect.
The moment the Imperial Guard appeared, they immediately began to eliminate dissenters, massacring the few remaining defense forces in Jiangdu City.
In an instant, Jiangdu City was strewn with corpses.
Li Lao’er also became their target.
Although his guards fought with all their might, they were soon wiped out, leaving him all alone as a leader without an army.
“Tie him up. He is still useful.”
Yu Wenhua Ji did not kill Li Lao’er. Instead, he captured him alive, gagged him, bound his hands and feet, and hid him in a black box.
“Clean up the bodies.”
The rebels skillfully gathered the corpses, placed them into Storage Bags, and then washed the ground. They were clearly well-trained and prepared.
Jiangdu City soon returned to its peaceful state, as if nothing had happened.
Aside from the fact that there were fewer people, there was almost no difference from before.
When Emperor Jing woke up, he saw only an empty Great Hall. There were no court officials or guards around him.
There was only a beautiful figure lazily leaning back on the dragon throne, looking down at him with a smile.
That was the spot where he usually looked down upon his officials every day.
He scrambled up from the cold floor of the Great Hall in a hurry, flying into a rage.
“Where did this traitor come from? Guards! Protect the Emperor!”
“No need to shout. They’re all dead,” Qiao Xiaoxian said lazily.
“Who are you?” Emperor Jing retreated a few steps in terror.
Even though he was an Honored One with great strength, he was currently infected with a lethal poison.
He did not dare use his Spiritual Power; otherwise, the poison would flare up in seconds.
“You’ve been looking for me for a long time, yet you don’t recognize me. How boring.”
“Blue… Shadow?” Emperor Jing asked tentatively.
“Mm-hmm,” Qiao Xiaoxian hummed softly.
Emperor Jing stopped retreating.
He knew that once this legendary killer appeared here, it was too late for everything.
She had countless opportunities to kill him while he was unconscious, but she hadn’t.
That is to say — she still had the confidence to kill him easily now.
“Thanks to you, you’ve made a mess of the entire world, including your own palace inner courts. That’s why I was able to easily swap your medicine for mine.”
After Qiao Xiaoxian finished speaking, she patted the armrest of the dragon throne and muttered, ‘It’s too big, it needs to be changed to a smaller one… No, if it’s small, I won’t be able to hold her. Forget it, let it stay this way.’
Emperor Jing calmed down. “Whatever you want, I will give you. You are a killer, and you only care about money. Whatever the person behind you paid, I can give you 100 times that amount! The thing I lack least is money. In all the world, no one is wealthier than me!”
“Don’t worry, I won’t kill you now. You’ve made her very angry, so she has to be the one to take your head.”
“Who?” Emperor Jing was confused.
Qiao Xiaoxian didn’t explain.
She simply picked up the paper and brush from the table and threw them at Emperor Jing. “If you want to live, write what I dictate.”
A written decree flew from the palace to all parts of Shenzhou.
“Emperor Jing is critically ill, passing the throne to his nephew, Prince Hao of Qin, and appointing Yu Wenhua Ji as the Grand Chancellor.”