When death approached, Golomann, already sucked dry to the point of being little more than a living skeletal frame, let out a rasping roar.

Inside the command module of the small white-winged warship, a fist-sized, black, translucent crystal suddenly spewed forth a beam of intense black light. The massive energy instantly flooded the vessel's power system. The once deep and dazzling black crystal turned a sickly pale, like ceramic, before dissolving into fine ash moments later. Every bit of energy contained within the minuscule Divine Crystal was instantaneously drained, manifesting as an energy shield ten meters thick enveloping the entire warship.

A blinding flash, a deafening boom—the landmass beneath the warship was shattered over an area spanning more than three hundred kilometers. Within the massive resulting crater, only the sight of countless crimson lavas boiling and churning, spewing vast plumes of purplish-black smoke and sparks.

The Cai Shui Yin Thunder blasted the land apart, utterly obliterating the warship's energy shield. The sleek hull of the vessel flashed with a dazzling brilliance, accompanied by a heart-stopping sound of fragmentation, as the ship disintegrated entirely in the void.

The crew controlling the ship shrieked in terror. Instantly sucked into the Cai Shui Yin Thunder, they were reduced to ashes. Within the ceaselessly erupting Kui Shui Yin Thunder, a faint, hazy streak of blood-light flashed and vanished. By the time Gu Xiechen teleported over, both Yanwu Asura and Golomann had disappeared without a trace.

He reached out, sweeping a thin trace of crimson from the air, then brought it to his nose. Gu Xiechen’s expression immediately darkened.

The Little Heavenly Demon Blood Draining Escape Technique—this was one of the most profound and exquisite escape methods from the ancient demonic path. Using one's own essence and blood as a guide, even a cultivator merely at the ordinary Golden Core stage could deploy a divine ability nearly equivalent to the Great Star Shift, shooting tens of thousands of miles in an instant. Yanwu Asura's cultivation had already surpassed the Void Realm; at this moment, taking Golomann with her, she had likely already flown clear out of the (Wolsum) Starfield.

"You got lucky this time!"

Gu Xiechen let out a cruel, cold laugh. He slowly drew out a remote control and pressed the buttons one by one.

Nuclear bombs and thermonuclear warheads of super-high yield detonated one after another beneath the surface of Planet Wolsum. Continents crumbled, oceans trembled, forests turned to dust, and all life struggled in agonizing screams. Several hundred private vessels, luckier than the rest, barely managed to lift off from the surface and surge into the high atmosphere, only to be immediately subjected to a relentless, fierce assault by the newly arrived Ducat.

When every layer of rock on Wolsum had been utterly destroyed, the planet transformed into a world of lava covered by dense smoke and raging fire.

Gu Xiechen gazed at the core of Planet Wolsum, shrouded in smoke, and slowly raised his hand to coalesce a bolt of Kui Shui Divine Thunder. This time, the Cai Shui Divine Thunder he condensed consumed all the Taiyin Qi within his body, even drawing out every trace of Taiyin Qi from the Taiyin Profound Pearl. A gray-white thunderball, soaring over a hundred zhang high, slowly took shape above Gu Xiechen’s head. He drew a deep breath, cupped this thunderball emitting boundless coldness in his hands, and hurled it fiercely toward Planet Wolsum.

With a colossal boom, the thunderball exploded on the surface of Planet Wolsum, instantly pulverizing a tenth of the planet. Planet Wolsum, whose rotational speed was constantly accelerating due to the incessant nuclear detonations, violently lost such a massive chunk of its mass. Its dynamic balance was instantly shattered. Accompanied by deep, resonant groans, massive plumes of red, brilliant light erupted continuously from the planet’s depths. The rapidly spinning Planet Wolsum gradually fractured into seven or eight celestial bodies of unequal size, slowly dispersing outward.

Immediately following, a terrifying massive explosion erupted. The entire Planet Wolsum blew apart completely. The shockwave generated by the explosion swept across the void for hundreds of millions of kilometers, completely annihilating all facilities such as spaceports, space stations, and space weapon platforms near Wolsum. The destruction of Wolsum immediately affected the gravitational changes of the entire planetary system. Several nearby administrative planets noticeably shuddered; the distances between them shifted considerably, and widespread, high-density earthquakes suddenly struck those planets as well.

Gu Xiechen smiled, watching with satisfaction as Planet Wolsum continued to blow apart into ashes. He assigned the next tasks to the others: Penghua, Han Kui, and Gu Xiechen himself would proceed to destroy the other planets. Ducat would remain in this planetary system, casually sniping any target he fancied.

Ducat nodded, accepting his mission. Three minutes prior, he and Xiao had jointly breached the primary super-brain controlling the Wolsum Starfield's automated defense system. If he wished, not a single private warship could escape the planet's surface. Those powerful white-winged warships possessed the capability to flee this defensive net, but they would have to do so early, quickly, and by deploying their maximum strength.

The Stellar Domain, Capital Starfield of the Polestar Empire.

Here lay a star of extremely high activity. Endless light and heat poured out in every direction ceaselessly; the overly vigorous energy resulted in tropical rainforests carpeting the surrounding planets, yielding extraordinarily vibrant life for flora and fauna. Orbiting this gigantic star—fully ten thousand times the diameter of the Solar System—were six concentric layers of giant planets, six in each layer, revolving in precisely ordered, concentric orbits.

Starlight One through Starlight Thirty-Six—this was the capital starfield of the Polestar Empire.

This starfield contained thirty-six administrative planets, hosting fifty billion permanent imperial nobles and upper-class citizens. Five hundred and seventy billion slaves, and over ten billion foreign merchants and travelers stationed in the Stellar Domain.

Starlight One was the exclusive planet of the Polestar Imperial Family; the entire world belonged solely to them. The headquarters of the Polestar Empire’s supreme governing body were also stationed on Starlight One. Here, one could find representatives of all core families and highly influential figures within the Polestar Empire, such as the Daoist of Wood (Mu Dao Ren).

The Daoist of Wood was walking upon the clouds. Clad in a slim-fitting, light silver trench coat, a badge composed of a silver short arrow and three lightning bolts was pinned to his left chest. Bearing the Polestar Empire’s highest rank of Six-Star Field Marshal on his shoulders, he walked slowly forward with his hands clasped behind his back, following a small path among the clouds. Beneath his feet lay an altitude of tens of thousands of meters. As his steps moved, patches of hazy white water vapor condensed beneath him into a solid pathway, steadily supporting his forward movement.

A thumb-sized, transparent crystal sphere hovered near the Daoist of Wood’s ear, through which a clear, crisp female voice was reporting:

“Nineteen administrative planets in the Wolsum Starfield have been utterly destroyed. Two planetary systems have suffered catastrophic structural collapse due to gravitational instability between their planets, resulting in two planets being engulfed by their star, causing a massive solar storm disaster. This electromagnetic burst has swept across a large portion of the Wolsum Starfield, temporarily isolating it from the outside world. Thus, whether additional planets have been destroyed is unknown, as are the specific casualty figures.

"However, current intelligence confirms that not a single imperial citizen escaped from the planets confirmed as completely destroyed; all escape vessels were intercepted and destroyed at the edge of the atmosphere. Massive panic has erupted among the populace in the Wolsum Starfield; almost all imperial citizens chose to flee early.

"But, according to the orders issued by the Daoist of Wood, the Wolsum military and forces from adjacent starfields have blockaded the Wolsum Starfield, completely sealing off this panicked news. Imperial citizens desperately attempting to escape have even clashed with the military; private fleets belonging to several powerful noble families have proactively attacked the imperial blockade fleet."

The Daoist of Wood continued walking forward with an impassive expression. He coolly issued another directive: "Regardless of who it is, what background they possess, or what family power they wield, absolutely no one is permitted to leave Wolsum until the Wolsum incident is completely resolved, nor are they allowed any contact with the outside. If any noble family dares to attack the imperial forces again, the military is authorized to destroy them immediately."

Having finished his orders, the Daoist of Wood saw a thick wall of cloud ahead. Hundreds of Polestar Imperial Palace Guards stood watch, treading upon solidified cloud masses condensed by high-frequency energy. These guards, gripping slender, light pure-silver lances, were positioned before him. The captain of the guard, standing at the forefront, shouted an admonishment: "By the Empress’s decree, Field Marshal Mu Shaoduoer Te Luowei is forbidden entry to the palace today. Please return!"

The Daoist of Wood let out a low chuckle. He shook his head: "Forbidding me entry? That is not a wise choice! Are you certain?"

The guard captain glared sternly at the Daoist of Wood and barked: "Retreat! According to imperial law, those who dare trespass into the Imperial Palace shall be executed!"

The Daoist of Wood sighed lightly: "Then kill them!"

At least thirty pure-silver lances, no thicker than a thumb and looking more like ornaments than combat weapons, pierced the guard captain’s body with a piercing whistle. Fine blue electric light erupted from the lances, instantly burning the guard captain’s tall, robust body and his pure-silver armor to ash.

Looking with disgust at the black dust being swept away by the high-altitude gale, the Daoist of Wood muttered: "Fool. I have paid you generous special stipends for years. Did you think relying on a new master gave you the right to defy me?"

Hundreds of palace guards respectfully knelt on one knee upon the cloud masses, clearing a passage toward the cloud wall.

Behind the cloud wall lay a wide staircase paved with pure white, light flagstones. Thick clouds lay beneath the flagstones. These clouds had been solidified by high-frequency energy into a mass. Although essentially thin water vapor, their actual strength surpassed that of alloy steel.

This staircase had three hundred and sixty levels, each level consisting of thirty-six steps. The staircase was a full ten kilometers wide on either side. Walking alone on this massive structure appeared exceptionally desolate and lonely. The enormous white palace at the end of the stairs loomed like a celestial palace high above, radiating immense oppressive force.

The Daoist of Wood walked slowly up the steps, hands behind his back, head held high, his gaze seemingly empty of anything external. With this supreme arrogance—as if he alone ruled heaven and earth—he reached the end of the staircase. The palace guards stationed at both ends of the steps immediately knelt on one knee as he passed; not a single one dared to meet his arrogant figure with their eyes.

Ahead stood a massive metal gateway; passing through this portal led to the palace where the Emperor and Empress of the Polestar Empire resided.

More than forty handsome young men, clad in long black robes and possessing a somber temperament like vampires, stood outside the gate. When they saw the Daoist of Wood, they simultaneously gasped in surprise. Immediately, a young man holding a blood-red longsword stepped forward and extended his hand to block the Daoist of Wood, who was walking straight toward the main gate of the imperial palace.

"The Empress commands that no one is to be received today."

The Daoist of Wood glanced sideways at these youths. He stated calmly, "I am an exception."

The young man forced out a cold smile: "No one is an exception!"

Nearly a thousand guards materialized silently from all directions, holding long, slender pure-silver lances, closing in on the young men without a sound. Wisps of killing intent, sharp as solid objects, enveloped the youths. The killing intent emanating from nearly a hundred guard commanders was like a tsunami, crashing toward them and making it hard for them to breathe.

The Daoist of Wood shook his head: "I am the exception. Kill them!"

Nearly a thousand pure-silver lances simultaneously shot out thin, intensely bright blue beams. The blue light instantly pierced the bodies of these youths, shattering their souls along with their flesh. With several sizzling sounds, only dozens of piles of black ash remained in the distance. A sudden high-altitude gust of wind then blew this black ash away, and the ground was clean once more. The Daoist of Wood snorted coldly: "Lackeys of the Supreme Council. Killing any number of them is never satisfying enough. Are those five old things inside?"

A guard commander bowed deeply and respectfully toward the Daoist of Wood: "They are! They have been here since the court session concluded this morning."

The Daoist of Wood’s expression turned even uglier. He strode toward the main palace gate. Twelve guards rushed forward and forcefully pushed open the massive, two-meter-thick portal for him.

Behind the door was a vast flower garden, where dozens of beautiful serving maids were picking flowers and playing merrily. Several maids suddenly spotted the Daoist of Wood; their expressions instantly changed, and using their movements as cover, they began running toward the inner palace. The Daoist of Wood’s gaze turned frigid. He casually pointed toward these maids, and hundreds of guards rushed forward silently, mercilessly piercing their tender bodies with silver lances. Blood sprayed onto the delicate flowers, but it was instantly and completely absorbed by these blossoms, which resembled poppies on Earth.

The bodies were quickly removed by the guards, and the blood was absorbed by the flowers. The garden returned to its old tranquility and beauty, as if those dozens of maids had never existed.

Escorted by nearly a thousand guards, the Daoist of Wood charged straight toward the deepest part of the palace along a wide avenue. All maids and eunuchs along the way who attempted to send messages were silently dealt with by the guards. The corpses were dragged out of the palace and discarded. As for any residual blood on the ground, there was none; colorful, unnaturally vibrant flowers grew everywhere in the palace. When they sensed the scent of blood, slender vines emerged from their stamens, slowly crawling across the ground to the bloodstains, drawing all the blood into themselves along the vines.

The flowers became even more dazzling and enchanting, simply possessing an added note of sanguinity.

The Daoist of Wood gazed at these flowers with obsession, sighed softly, and abruptly quickened his pace.

In the deepest part of the palace, within a hemispherical structure built from massive black stones, the Empress of the Polestar Empire, Melin, sat high upon her throne, coldly observing the five clumps of black mist suspended in the air before her. Five sets of bizarre black armor were enveloped by the mist, with only two faint glints of light visible near the eye openings. In the vast hall, nothing existed besides Melin’s throne. Countless crystals of varying sizes were embedded in the pitch-black dome, forming a complex star chart; the floor, made of pale blue, completely transparent material, was carved from a single piece of natural crystal, allowing one to look directly through this thick crystal at the white clouds drifting below, seeing the green mountains, clear waters, and villages.

Melin, clad in a light silver robe, leaned against the armrest of her throne, her narrow, half-closed eyes flashing with cold light. Her slender fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, as if playing music.

The suffocating silence lasted for an unknown duration. Finally, a dull, hoarse voice emerged from one of the sets of armor: "Empress, you must give the imperial subjects an explanation."

Melin glanced at them coldly and mocked, "An explanation for what?"

The voice replied coldly, "Nineteen administrative planets in the Wolsum sector have been destroyed."

Melin haughtily raised her head: "I have already ordered the Imperial Intelligence Bureau to investigate the matter and have dispatched reinforcements from the starfields surrounding Wolsum."

A burst of red light suddenly surged forth from within one set of armor, rolling out a thick circle of fire on the ground. The voice roared, "That is not the explanation we want!"

Melin's beautiful features grew even icier. She glared fiercely at the armor spewing flames and coldly demanded, "What explanation do you want?"

The voice demanded, "The entire cause and effect of everything!"

Melin stated calmly, "There is no cause and effect."

The anger in the voice grew more intense. He stamped his foot heavily: "There isn't? Why was Golomann suddenly promoted to Governor-General of Wolsum? And why, not long after he became Governor-General, did these events occur? Furthermore, why is the Intelligence Bureau carrying out widespread destruction in the Wolsum Starfield? Is Field Marshal Mu Shaoduoer Te Luowei attempting rebellion and civil war?"

Melin yielded not an inch, coldly sneering: "Golomann possessed the capability to become Governor-General of Wolsum; that is my prerogative, and I do not need to explain it to you! Why nineteen planets were destroyed? That is an attack launched by our Polestar Empire’s enemies against us, which is why I have issued a secret war mobilization order to concentrate the entire military might of the Polestar Empire to respond!"

Glancing indifferently at the five clumps of black mist, Melin exhaled softly, and with a tone utterly resolute and irrefutable, stated: "As for Mu Shaoduoer Te Luowei’s actions in Wolsum, everything is supported by irrefutable evidence. Everyone killed has been confirmed to have colluded with the Empire’s enemies; they were executed for treason!"

The five sets of armor stepped forward simultaneously, five voices roaring together: "Lies!"

Melin suddenly stood up, and a massive, suffocating pressure spread out from within her. The five sets of armor had only taken one step forward before they were forced backward by this immense pressure, retreating repeatedly. The set of armor that had initially spewed flames stumbled and fell to the ground, pushed by the immense force right up to the main entrance of the hall. Melin looked down upon these five figures struggling awkwardly and sneered continuously: "I lied? I lied to you? What do you think you are, that I would bother lying to you?"

The five sets of armor struggled violently, attempting to rise, but they could not move an inch. The power Melin possessed far exceeded the limits imaginable to ordinary beings; the spiritual pressure she intentionally released was completely irresistible. As these five sets of armor struggled, the fluctuating energy waves they emitted even surpassed the energy limits rumored to be possessed by Seven-Star Great Venerables in lower-level civilizations of the Star Alliance, yet they could not even manage to stand upright.

With a dull thud, the semi-circular door of the great hall was pushed open, and the Daoist of Wood walked in with his hands clasped behind his back.

Melin paused for a moment, then abruptly withdrew the immense pressure emanating from her body.

The five sets of armor leaped up from the ground. The set spewing flames roared, transforming into a streak of red light that rushed toward Melin with the sound of thunder tearing through the air. Its right fist struck Melin’s exquisite face like a cannonball fired from a barrel. "Melin, even if you are the Empress..."

The roar abruptly ceased. Melin’s delicate, soft fingers crushed the massive fist, penetrating the thick crimson flames, and grasped the armor’s throat. With a series of crisp clanking sounds, the entire set of armor suddenly disintegrated into fragments no larger than mung beans. An old man with long red hair and a lion’s nose and bearded features was tightly held in Melin’s hand.

Looking disdainfully at the old man whose eyes were rolling back, Melin commanded coldly and mercilessly: "I am the Empress; I hold the great power of the Empire. What do you intend to do?"

She violently slammed the old man onto the ground. After a dull thud, the old man sputtered white foam and fainted.

Melin lightly sat back onto her throne and lazily waved her hand: "Your Excellencies, the Five Grand Chancellors of State, you may withdraw. The unrest in Wolsum will soon be quelled."

After a brief pause, Melin's tone became softer. She smiled gently at the five Grand Chancellors: "I have always valued the opinions of the five of you regarding the Empire's various affairs. I always respect your..."

After a moment of silence, Melin's tone turned incomparably cold: "I ask that the five of you show me the same respect. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind completely eradicating the five oldest great clans in the Empire."

The Daoist of Wood walked slowly into the hall. He walked past the four Chancellors whose bodies were still trembling violently, and went to the side of the Chancellor Melin had knocked unconscious. He gave the stunned Chancellor a heavy kick, sending him tumbling out of the hall. The Daoist of Wood said with a chilling tone: "Her Majesty the Empress might respect you, but I will not! Either get out, or die!"

Nearly a hundred palace guards strode silently into the grand hall, their silver spears leveled at the Prime Minister, who stood inside trembling violently with rage. After trembling for a full quarter of an hour, the four Prime Ministers finally gritted their teeth and walked out of the hall without a word. One of them picked up his companion, who had been knocked unconscious and kicked aside, and the four left the Imperial Palace shoulder to shoulder.

Watching the retreating backs of the Prime Ministers, Daoist Mu sneered mockingly, "Your Majesty, my Empress. Why the sudden courtesy toward these fragile, insignificant beings?"

Merlin sat motionless on the throne, her hands resting quietly on her lower abdomen, her gaze chillingly fixed on Daoist Mu. After a long silence, she finally waved her hand, "Get out, or I won't mind eradicating every creature connected to your genes, biologically speaking."

The complexions of nearly a hundred palace guards changed drastically, and over sixty of them instinctively staggered back two steps in terror.

Daoist Mu spun around sharply. With a sweep of his wide sleeves, two torrents of emerald light shot forth. They instantly executed those sixty-odd retreating guards. The sword-light sliced past their waists, grinding their internal organs and meridians to dust, and the unparalleled sharpness of the sword energy annihilated their very souls.

He coldly observed the remaining thirty-odd guards standing rooted to the spot, nodding with satisfaction. "Retreat, all of you. Everyone’s rank is promoted by two levels, and proceed to the Special Operations Department of the Military Intelligence Bureau to collect an additional special allowance." All the imperial guards withdrew from the hall, taking the corpses with them. Immediately afterward, the great doors of the hall closed, plunging the interior into sudden darkness, save for the faint celestial light emanating from the blue crystals beneath their feet.

Daoist Mu and Merlin faced each other, locked in mutual gaze. After a protracted silence, Daoist Mu slowly walked up to Merlin and suddenly delivered a vicious slap across her face.

Merlin managed only a brief grunt before collapsing to the floor. Daoist Mu, his face grim, unleashed a torrent of blows and kicks upon her, as ferocious as a squall. Every punch and kick landed precisely on her vital points, each impact sinking deeply into her muscles. Merlin let out soft moans that gradually grew louder and higher pitched, until finally, her cries were almost hysterical screams. The pale silver robe was shredded to tatters by the sheer force of Daoist Mu’s strikes, exposing Merlin’s naked body.

Merlin, a maddened smile fixed on her face, fiercely bit her lip, writhing and crawling on the floor, panting and shrieking, punctuated by fits of deranged laughter.

A thumb-thick, verdant vine emerged from Daoist Mu’s sleeve. He slowly tightened his grip on the vine, then suddenly swung it in a wide arc, whipping it against Merlin’s body with all his might. The crisp snap, snap, snap of the impact caused the great hall itself to subtly tremble. Long, purple welts appeared on Merlin’s fair, tender body, but in the blink of an eye, these marks vanished without a trace. No matter how hard Daoist Mu struck or how fast he whipped the vine, Merlin bore no more than three bloodstains simultaneously.

The frenzied whipping continued for a full hour. Finally, Merlin began to convulse violently, rolling her eyes up to look at Daoist Mu, her voice trembling through gritted teeth, "You base bastard!"

Daoist Mu walked slowly to Merlin's side and brutally stamped his foot onto her head. "I’m a bastard? And what are you? Merlin, do not forget who put you on that throne!"

He pointed scornfully at Merlin's throne and roared furiously, "I warned you not to lay a hand on Jin!"

Merlin's convulsions gradually subsided. She forcefully knocked Daoist Mu's foot away and rose with the regal grace of an inviolable saintess. A burst of violet qi rose from beneath her feet, gradually condensing around her into a magnificent, luxurious purple gown. She slowly and deliberately sat back upon the throne, gazing down at Daoist Mu with the haughty air of a female deity and sneering, "So what? She was obstructing me!"

"She wouldn't obstruct you!" Daoist Mu stated dryly. "No one knows of her existence except you and me."

Merlin looked at Daoist Mu with derision, then sighed softly. "But someone other than you and me knows of her existence! Unless you can kill those two bitches competing with me for the position of Empress Dowager and the bastards they birthed, I must choose to kill Jin! An impure Empress cannot become the Empress Dowager of the Polaris Empire!"

Daoist Mu stared coldly at Merlin, remaining silent for half a day.

Merlin smiled, then suddenly proposed, "How about this: you kill Jin, and once my baby becomes the new Emperor of the Empire, we can have another? Since I’m the one who conceives and gives birth, you just enjoy yourself to the fullest!"

Daoist Mu looked at Merlin with a strange expression. After a long pause, he mockingly said, "Do you think I would allow a woman who has been touched by another man to bear my offspring?"

He let out a few cold laughs, then declared proudly, "My descendants must be born from one pure, untouched by any dust—the current you. You are not worthy of bearing my children!"

Merlin leaped up like an enraged lioness, lunging at Daoist Mu, claws extended towards his eyes. "You bastard, you low-life from the Dortro family, what did you say? I'm not worthy to bear your children? I'm not worthy? You bastard, who have you hooked up with now?"

Daoist Mu, disgusted, seized Merlin by the throat and violently flung her back onto the throne. He sneered, "You know I like clean things! I told you this before you entered the palace to become his woman! Stop going mad. I came this time only to warn you: do not touch Jin again. I will handle the trouble with Aunt Wolso..."

Merlin looked at Daoist Mu mockingly and burst into unrestrained laughter. "Resolve it for me? Based on what? All the people you sent have been killed! The secret power you accumulated over so many years has been wiped out, and you even implicated several of your old friends!"

She tiptoed in front of Daoist Mu and deliberately spat a mouthful of saliva onto his face. She laughed loudly, "Their power is greater than yours, and you still think you can quell the unrest stirred up by Aunt Wolso? Who do you think you are? Who do you think you are?"

Daoist Mu grabbed Merlin by the throat, slammed her to the ground, and savagely ripped off her purple court dress. He roared, "Who am I? I am your master!"

Urgent moans and gasps filled the hall, gradually becoming more melodic, thick with carnal desire.

After an unknown length of time, Daoist Mu suddenly let out a sharp gasp, his body shaking violently.

A purple light flashed in Merlin’s eyes. She suddenly twisted around sharply, unleashing a strike from her right palm: an Ruyi scepter inlaid with seven jewels of purple jade, radiating ten thousand rays of divine light, slammed brutally into Daoist Mu's chest.

A burst of emerald light surged from Daoist Mu’s chest. A green Zhi mushroom, floating with three-colored rosy clouds, hovered precisely before his sternum, blocking the thunderous blow of the Purple Jade Seven-Jewel Ruyi. Daoist Mu’s hand shot out, and a crackling bolt of clear lightning erupted from his palm, hammering viciously into Merlin’s chest.

A flash of lightning, a massive explosion—the sound cracked countless fissures across the hall floor. Daoist Mu laughed wildly as he rapidly retreated, looking at Merlin, who was spewing blood from all seven orifices. He roared with laughter, "Be obedient, and you remain the Empress. If you aren't compliant, what’s wrong with replacing you? If you dare touch Jin again, I will slaughter your entire clan!"

A flash of emerald Daoist robe materialized on Daoist Mu’s body with lightning speed. As he rapidly backed away, he laughed, "Merlin, my Merlin, you are becoming increasingly disobedient! This is a small warning. How does it feel to be knocked back from the threshold of Planetary-level power to Meteor-level power? Hahahaha, take your time to regulate your Yuan Qi!"

With a flicker of movement, Daoist Mu vanished from the hall into thin air.

Merlin, spitting blood from all seven orifices, shrieked hoarsely, "Mu Sha!" before collapsing limply to the ground.

After an indeterminate time, Merlin’s fair body lying on the floor began to writhe faintly, slowly transforming into thousands of bloodthirsty flowers planted in the garden outside.

The throne in the grand hall abruptly split open to the left and right. Merlin, clad in a purple robe and wearing a crown, walked slowly out of the secret chamber beneath the throne. She looked quietly at the pile of bloodthirsty flowers and suddenly smiled enchantingly, "My Mu Sha Dortro, how is my Outer Manifestation Dharma Body? It even managed to fool you!"

Taking a deep breath, Merlin smiled sweetly, "I finally have enough power to control the Empire! Anyone who dares to impede my ascension to the supreme ruler of the Empire will..."

A hand, pure white and jade-like, shimmering with a faint golden glow, gently tore open the void behind Merlin and gently grasped her neck. This hand carried terrifying power, a force descending like Mount Tai itself, while the power Merlin possessed was merely the equivalent of a tiny bean. The immortal energy Merlin had partially transformed was completely sealed; she couldn't even muster the strength to breathe.

A warm, magnetic voice, smooth as polished jade, sounded next to the ashen-faced Merlin. "My Empress, anyone who dares to impede your ascension to the supreme ruler of the Empire will die? Then, what about this Emperor?"

Merlin shrieked in terror, trembling violently as she roared, "Your Majesty, didn't you say you were going into seclusion for a hundred years?"

The smooth voice feigned surprise. "Oh, did I? But if I truly went into seclusion for a century, I fear the Polaris Empire would become the private property of the Dortro family, wouldn't it? Of course, such a thing is impossible, but being deceived... it feels very unpleasant."

The golden, glowing hand gently caressed Merlin's now ashen-white face. The warm voice exclaimed in feigned surprise, "I never expected my Empress to already possess Planetary-level power! Having stepped into the Realm of the Grand Imperial Heavenly Ancestor! However, I am two full realms higher than you. What difference is there between you and an ant before me?"

Merlin resignedly knelt on the ground, prostrating herself deeply, and lamented pitifully, "Your Majesty..."

The voice laughed. "No, I will not kill you! I am quite satisfied with you. An Empress who is decisive and ruthless, possessing a certain level of strength, aligns with my interests."

After a slight pause, the voice chuckled. "This is a small warning: do not harbor any more stray thoughts! Manage the state affairs well for me. I still have one final hurdle to break through and need to continue cultivating for some time. But I can monitor every movement within the country at any moment. Act accordingly, and do not continue to overestimate my tolerance."

After a moment of silence, the voice said coldly, "First mission: eliminate whoever dares to cause trouble in the Wolsum Starfield. Second mission: eliminate the Dortro family."

"If you fail, I will slaughter your entire clan, and a Queen will suddenly become a slave. Do you think that would be a pleasing sight?"

Merlin’s body trembled violently. She swore an oath to comply with the Emperor's decree.

The hand retracted, and the voice disappeared. Merlin waited a long time before daring to raise her head. She screamed almost maniacally, "You all must die! You all must die!"

Deep within the Imperial Palace, in a secret chamber heavily shielded by energy barriers, a dark figure suddenly trembled and spat out three mouthfuls of vital essence blood.

"Hopefully, that frightened her..."

The warm voice murmured to itself, "Give me some time... If I have enough time... I hope I have indeed frightened her!"

The figure shook, and the dark shadow spat out another dozen mouthfuls of pale golden blood, losing almost all strength to remain sitting upright.

Faint golden radiance emanated from the dark figure, instantly filling the secret chamber.