Chapter 36: The Outrageous Su Wan, Eternal Agony, and the Bleeding Great Saint of the Xiyue Holy Land

Piles of corpses lay scattered, the air thick with the stench of blood and the sharp, metallic tang of rust. One after another, the disciples of the Xiyue Sacred Land fell to the ground.

They lay decapitated, yet expressions of joy and anticipation still lingered on their faces. They had been sensing that the Xiyue Sacred Land was safe, looking forward to hearing the Great Emperor preach, and dreaming of the day they too might ascend to the throne of an Emperor.

On Duxiu Peak, the survivors stood in a daze, their faces drained of all color, staring at the fallen.

Dead? All of them dead! Not a single one remained. Every pride and disciple of the Xiyue Sacred Land had been slaughtered. Not one survived. The piles of bodies, the severed heads, and the rivers of blood coalesced into a grim, grey scene beneath the sunlight and the purple aura.

Shivering to their very bones, they turned mechanically to face the executioner who had slaughtered their kin.

The Great Emperor, Li Xuan!

The Su family members, including Su Wan, Leng Yanshuang, and Mo Yao, stared with terror in their eyes. The Holy Master of the Xiyue Sacred Land stood paralyzed, head tilted back, eyes hollow and dead. They could not comprehend it. How could the Great Emperor just slaughter the disciples of the Xiyue Sacred Land like that?

With a casual sweep of his palm, he treated human lives like blades of grass? Like grass! Especially when they looked up to see that the Great Emperor actually wore a faint smile on his face!

"Pfft!"

The surviving Sage of the Xiyue Sacred Land trembled, his eyes splitting in agony and his hair standing on end at the sight.

[You have terrified the Son of Destiny, Ye Bufan. Obtained 66,666 Villain Points. Lifespan increased by 66 years.]

Li Xuan lowered his hand, quite satisfied with his strike.

"No need to thank me; I am doing this for your own good," Li Xuan explained kindly. Usually, he wouldn't say anything. Why say anything? Why explain? When the Great Emperor acts, does he need to explain to anyone? He attained the rank of Great Emperor to be invincible and comfortable; why should he explain his actions? After becoming a Great Emperor, it is others who should be explaining to him!

"No need to thank you?"

Xu Geng was incensed, his hair standing on end. The heartbreak and sorrow were so piercing that his heart felt as if it were tearing apart, causing blood to trickle from the corners of his mouth. Tears of an old man streamed down his face. Those were the disciples of their Xiyue Sacred Land! And this was the Great Emperor! How could the Great Emperor be like this?

Hong Wei died—that was his own fault for provoking the Great Emperor with insolent words; Xu Geng accepted that. Ye Bufan was crippled—his cultivation ruined, his body broken; Xu Geng accepted that, for who told him to try and snatch the Great Emperor’s bride? Even if the Holy Master and Su Wan were to die, he would not utter a word of complaint.

However, the Great Emperor had killed the disciples of their Xiyue Sacred Land! That, Xu Geng could not accept! Even if those disciples had committed faults, they did not deserve death!

"The Great Emperor is doing this for our own good?!" Xu Geng stood up, consumed by grief and a desire for death, staring at the Emperor. "Great Emperor! My Xiyue Sacred Land disciples may have been guilty, but not of crimes punishable by death! You kill them for our own good?!"

"Is killing us also for our own good?!" Xu Geng’s voice was low. He petitioned, "Is the Great Emperor going to kill us now as well?! First, you kill my disciples, and now you want to kill us too!"

"I dare to ask the Great Emperor, how will you answer to your dear friend, Chen Xiyue?"

Li Xuan sneered. "Chen Xiyue? He won't have that chance. Answer to him? He should be the one answering to me!"

Disappointment washed over Xu Geng—profound, overwhelming disappointment. He had never imagined the Great Emperor would have such a personality. Previously, he had felt nothing but admiration, shock, and awe toward the Emperor. After all, the current Emperor had attained his rank during that chaotic era, and while everyone else considered him the weakest Emperor, he had disagreed. He believed that to become an Emperor during such turmoil was a feat of great power.

Now, meeting him in person was far less impressive than the legend. Their first-generation Holy Master had placed his trust in the wrong person!

"Haha, so that’s how it is. So that is how it is. Our first-generation Holy Master’s true feelings were misplaced!" Xu Geng said in anguish, bowing his head. "Since the Great Emperor is like this, then kill us too. Kill us all. If the Great Emperor is afraid of others finding out, then kill them too. But if you think no one will ever know, you are mistaken."

Li Xuan, having sat down on a chair at some point, toyed with a chess piece. He looked vaguely toward Xu Geng, hearing his words. This guy, with his shattered idol look—was he a fan? It was... actually quite interesting. But was he lecturing him? Did he get it wrong? He killed them because he felt like it; why should he care about anyone’s questioning?

At that moment, voices began to rise.

"The Great Emperor killed us for no reason! Are you really the Great Emperor?"

"You killed us but left us alive, heads separated from bodies. With such methods, are you really the Great Emperor? Even the Supremes of the Dark Forbidden Zones are not as cruel as you!"

"Can the Great Emperor kill people for no reason?"

"Even in death, we will have righteous people spread the truth to the world and expose the true face of this Great Emperor!"

A barrage of condemnation erupted from behind the Sages of the Xiyue Sacred Land. The severed heads of the disciples, now lying on the ground, opened their eyes, glaring at Li Xuan with venomous, malicious intent. The Sages and Su Wan were horrified.

They believed it instantly. Because the Su family members had been sent by Li Xuan in this exact same state!

The Sages looked at Li Xuan, their eyes dull. As the disciples had said, was the person before them truly the Great Emperor? Had the current Emperor already passed away, and some evil spirit possessed his corpse? A chill ran through everyone.

Xu Geng suddenly looked resolute. An evil spirit occupying the Emperor’s corpse? If so, he would sacrifice his old life to reclaim the Emperor’s body! If it was the real Emperor, he would spill his own blood right there to seek justice for the disciples!

However, at that moment, Su Wan suddenly stood up, trembling, and looked at Li Xuan with a manic expression. "Enough, Li Xuan! Enough! Whether you are the Great Emperor or some... thing possessing his body!"

"Isn't it me you want? I'm telling you now, you’ve got your wish! You can have me!"

As Su Wan spoke, the madness vanished from her face, replaced by a look of confidence. She stood with her hands on her hips, looking at Li Xuan with supreme self-assurance.

Everyone nearby was stunned! Even the severed heads of the disciples turned in unison to look at Su Wan, surprise flashing in their eyes. The Holy Master, Leng Yanshuang, and Mo Yao were catatonic. Had Su Wan gone insane?!

[You have made the Son of Destiny, Ye Bufan, jealous. Obtained 99,999 Villain Points. Lifespan increased by 99 years.]

Su Wan pointed a finger, hand on her hip, and looked at Li Xuan. "I can marry you and become your Dao companion, but first, you must give me an Emperor-grade weapon as a betrothal gift."

"Second, you must raise my cultivation to the level of a Great Emperor as a guarantee!"

"Third, you must give me ten Undying Medicines for the sake of the future!"

"You can do that, right? You are the Great Emperor—or the evil spirit possessing the Emperor’s body, whatever you are—you must do it, and then I will marry you."

Watching Su Wan and hearing her words, everyone felt as if they were in a dream. If not, how could they witness such... ignorant and stupid behavior in such a cruel, life-and-death situation? It left them completely speechless!

An Emperor-grade weapon as a gift? Raising her cultivation to Emperor level as a guarantee? Ten Undying Medicines for the future?! Everyone was dumbstruck!

Li Xuan snapped out of his focus on the disciples' heads and turned his gaze toward Su Wan. She was disheveled, covered in filth, her face pale, yet her expression remained confident.

"Boring, sick, disgusting."

People under extreme fear often perform inexplicable, illogical, and irrational actions. Su Wan clearly fit the bill, but...

Li Xuan flicked his finger. A beam of light instantly pierced Su Wan’s body, carrying her through the air and pinning her to a cliffside.

Su Wan’s eyes widened. "No! Li Xuan! What are you doing!"

Li Xuan’s gaze was cold. He hadn't expected Su Wan to be so shameless and despicable. "Whether this is your true intent or you are playing the fool, do you think I would spare your life?"

Dammit! Li Xuan almost cursed aloud. It was hellish! He should have erased Su Wan the very first moment she opened her mouth! He couldn't let her ruin his reputation! Was the name "Emperor Xuan" even usable anymore?

Damn it! Truly damn it! Li Xuan muttered to himself, calculating. The name "Emperor Xuan" really couldn't be used anymore. Fortunately, he still had a thousand years! In these thousand years, he would suppress everyone. Otherwise, he would truly become the "Weak Emperor." After a thousand years, he’d just start a new persona! His judgment hadn't been bad; it was just that this woman, Su Wan, was too unexpected! She had managed to backstab him even in this situation!

Truly damnable!

On the cliffside, a scent began to diffuse from Su Wan’s body. *Pfft, pfft, rustle, rustle*—countless vultures were drawn by the smell.

Su Wan looked at the vultures and was consumed by terror. "No! Li Xuan! Great Emperor! I was wrong! I was wrong! Please, spare my life! Please, spare my life!"

"Ah! Get away! Ah! Get away! Great Emperor! I was wrong! I was wrong! Spare me!"

"I am shameless! It was my ignorance! I was wrong!"

"Great Emperor!"

"It was this lowly slave's ignorance! This lowly slave's ignorance! Ah!"

"Ah! Poison vultures! Get away from me! Get away!"

"No! Don't eat my flesh, don't eat my eyes! Ah!"

Su Wan screamed. She was wrong, truly wrong! She didn't want this!

"I was wrong! Great Emperor! I really was wrong! You can make me do anything! I am your dog! I will be your dog!"

Su Wan let out a sudden, sharp cry of agony. A poison vulture tore a piece of flesh from her body, and the toxin entered her system.

[You have caused Su Wan boundless pain. Obtained 100,000 Villain Points. Lifespan increased by 100 years.]

Li Xuan felt only disgust. Su Wan disgusted him! What kind of creature was she? He actually felt a bit of relief at this moment! A murderous intent surged in Li Xuan’s heart—the murderous intent of a Great Emperor! He had never loathed someone so much. Su Wan would not die; he had said so! She would suffer for eternity!

Su Wan clearly recognized what those were—poison vultures, a nearly extinct species that Li Xuan had acquired by chance. Their toxin inflicted despairing pain on cultivators—physical agony combined with mental torment. But physical pain was nothing compared to the psychological torment, for the toxin forced Su Wan to constantly relive the most painful moments of her life! All of which generated massive amounts of Villain Points for Li Xuan.

Li Xuan watched Su Wan coldly and said faintly, "You don't know you were wrong; you are just mentally ill."

Li Xuan’s gaze swept over the Sages of the Xiyue Sacred Land, the Holy Master, and... the Su family.

The Su Ancestor looked on in terror. "Great Emperor! Su Wan has gone insane herself! She is sick! It has nothing to do with us! Nothing to do with us!"

Damn it, Su Wan was truly damnable! Even the Su Ancestor hadn't expected Su Wan to say such things! An Emperor-grade weapon, Emperor-level cultivation, ten Undying Medicines! Who on earth would make such demands? Who could say such things?! If that wasn't mental illness, what was? She was crazy! Even the Su Ancestor felt like he was going insane! Was Su Wan really a member of their Su family? How could their family produce someone so stupid?!

Li Xuan shook his head. "Why did you people give birth to someone like Su Wan?"

Li Xuan flicked his finger. In an instant, the remaining heads of the Su family exploded. Before dying, the Su Ancestor looked at the mangled Su Wan with hatred. His Su family’s destruction was not unjust! Heaven was unfair—why let the Su family give birth to this person! If he had known, he would have let Su Xiao...

The Holy Master, Leng Yanshuang, and Mo Yao remained unmoved. They looked at Su Wan’s state; within moments, all her flesh was gone, leaving only white bone! They weren't even surprised. Su Wan was just too absurd! She had dared to say such ridiculous things and make such outrageous demands! She was facing a Great Emperor! She had truly lost her mind!

Li Xuan, expressionless, blew up the heads of the Su family and turned his gaze back to the Sages and the severed heads of the disciples.

"Hahaha, Great Emperor, is this the Great Emperor! Are you going to kill us too?"

"Ancestors! Rise up! Let’s fight the Great Emperor to the death!"

"What Great Emperor! The weakest Great Emperor?!"

"Ancestors! Please avenge us! He is not the Great Emperor! He is a corpse! The Great Emperor died long ago!"

Listening to the chatter of the disciples' heads, Xu Geng knelt, back turned to them, unyielding, looking at the Great Emperor. "Great Emperor, are you going to kill us too?!"

"Even if you kill us, someone will eventually know what you have done. In this world, no one will willingly let the Great Emperor kill them."

*Whoosh.*

A powerful force arrived. Two mangled, bloody figures flew in and landed on Duxiu Peak. The two figures took one look at the scene, and *thump*, they knelt before Li Xuan. Blood immediately soaked the ground—it was gold. It was Sage blood!

"Pfft, *cough, cough*, Great Emperor, we were incompetent. The Xiyue Sacred Land deserves to be destroyed today! It is good that it is destroyed! Please, Great Emperor, kill us, erase everything related to the Xiyue Sacred Land, slaughter everyone connected to the Xiyue Sacred Land! Destroy everyone who entered our demon cave! Leave quickly!"

"The list is here."

"Please, Great Emperor, take care of your imperial body! It is the Xiyue Sacred Land that has failed the Great Emperor!"

*Thud.*

As the words fell, the two figures, covered in blood and trembling, their expressions shifting, bowed their heads fiercely to Li Xuan. Their foreheads were stripped of skin and flesh, exposing the Sage bones! Their foreheads struck the ground with a heavy sound.

The two were severely wounded, causing their bodies to tremble. Yet, their hands—though stripped to golden bones, with not a shred of flesh left—remained perfectly steady, each holding a jade slip.

Xu Geng was stunned. He had just finished speaking, and now he was being slapped in the face. He had to see who these two were; otherwise, he could not die in peace. He looked at the two mangled figures.

His body shook, and he shrieked.

"Ancestor Ji Chun!"

"Ancestor Wu Xian!"