"H-Heavenly King Realm?" The Heaven-suppressing Grand Marshal’s face was a mask of disbelief. I thought this was my chance to shine, only for it to become an opportunity for disgrace. He roared in denial, "No, no, no! I don’t believe it! This has to be fake!"
Clutching the Greedy Wolf Blade, his spirit crumbled. He had gone to great lengths to convince his family to lend him their ancestral blade, hoping for a glorious display of power. He never imagined he would encounter a situation like this!
"Heh." Floating in mid-air, the ten-meter boulder spoke with disdain. "You may possess the Greedy Wolf Blade, but before me, you are nothing more than an ant."
Instantly, the elements swirled around the boulder—a feat only someone at the Heavenly King Realm could accomplish. Layers of white mist, like swaths of fabric, wrapped around the stone. The mist was clearly not ordinary; it pulsed with a murderous aura.
Terrified, the Heaven-suppressing Grand Marshal instinctively stepped back.
"You—" As the white mist surged toward him, the Heaven-suppressing Grand Marshal swung the Greedy Wolf Blade in desperation. But the mist could not be cleaved. Fear bloomed in his heart, and the urge to kneel and beg for his life was overwhelming.
At that moment, a look of displeasure crossed Si’er’s delicate, lovely face. She said sharply, "Remember the dignity of the Human Clan."
The Heaven-suppressing Grand Marshal froze. Her words struck him like a blow to the soul, and his face turned pale as he swayed unsteadily. He wanted to beg for mercy, but Si’er had stopped him. She’s talking about the dignity of the Human Clan. For the dignity of the Human Clan, I can’t beg. For the dignity of the Human Clan, I must face death without fear.
But as the white mist began to envelop him, terror took hold. Crushed by the weight of fear and impending death, the Heaven-suppressing Grand Marshal’s resolve shattered. Dignity of the Human Clan? I don’t want it! I just want to live!
Finally, he collapsed to his knees. "Stone King, I was wrong! I was so wrong! Please, don’t kill me... As long as you spare my life... I’ll do anything... I can even become your Servant!"
Everyone present stared, their eyes wide with shock. They never imagined that the Heaven-suppressing Grand Marshal, who had been so full of bravado moments ago, would kneel like a pathetic dog and beg for his life without even putting up a fight.
"Hahahaha!" A booming laugh echoed from the floating boulder. I was going to kill someone to establish my authority. Who knew I wouldn’t even have to? Just by stirring the elements, I’ve scared this Heaven-suppressing Grand Marshal into submission like a pathetic mutt?
"Fine, I will not kill you," the mist-shrouded boulder chuckled. "But from this day forward, you are a Servant of my Stone Clan. Do you understand?"
He won’t kill me? I’m not going to die? The Heaven-suppressing Grand Marshal was overjoyed. He scrambled to say, "Thank you, Stone King! Thank you, my lord! I... I will never betray you. My loyalty to the Stone Clan is as clear as the sun and moon!"
Holy Empress Si’er’s civil and military officials were dumbfounded. They never expected the Heaven-suppressing Grand Marshal to be so utterly without shame. And this was the man they had recommended? Thinking of this, the officials felt a deeper shame wash over them.
The giant boulder in the sky, however, was not finished. Its voice turned cold again. "Human Clan, there’s still one person left, isn’t there? Then come forward."
"If no one is my match, you will all submit to me from now on. Defy me? You die!" The voice from the boulder had become ferocious and terrifying.
The faces of the civil and military officials changed drastically, their hearts seized with fear.
Si’er looked at General Wuwei. "The civil and military officials recommended you as the second person. It is your turn."
"I... I won’t go," General Wuwei stammered in fear. He was only at the Ninth Grade of the Foundation Establishment Realm. How could he possibly be a match for a master in the Heavenly King Realm? The so-called Foundation Establishment was merely the ability to consciously wield Spiritual Power. The Tongxuan Realm brought visions, but the Heavenly King commanded the very elements!
General Wuwei had no desire to throw his life away. His face was already pale, and his legs trembled with fear before a fight had even begun.
"Speak! Do you submit or not?" the great stone barked, its voice bone-chillingly cold and booming with infinite authority.
Immediately, one of the civil and military officials behind Si’er knelt. "He who understands the times is a Junjie... I... I am willing to submit."
Once the first person spoke, a second and a third quickly followed. They were all high-ranking First and Second Rank officials.
"That’s right! I haven’t forgotten the dignity of the Human Clan. It’s just as they say, ’He who understands the times is a Junjie.’"
"I am willing to submit."
"I am willing as well. ’A good bird chooses which tree to nest in.’ It’s not that I am rebellious by nature, but that you, my lord, are truly too outstanding."
Si’er never expected that so many of her high-ranking officials would be so afraid of death. In the blink of an eye, every one of them had betrayed her and submitted to the Stone King. The only ones left standing were some insignificant Seventh and Sixth Rank "sesame officials."
The great stone was overjoyed. A voice, filled with excitement, emanated from within as it addressed Si’er. "Do you see? These are the so-called pillars of your kingdom? Heh, they are nothing more than this. Your Human Clan is not what it once was. Among the hundred clans, humans no longer deserve to lead."
Rage consumed Si’er, but it was quickly overwhelmed by a profound sense of helplessness. What the Stone King said was correct. Who could have imagined that so many within the Human Clan would be so shameless, so willing to abandon their dignity?
The Stone King regarded the remaining Seventh and Sixth Rank sesame officials, surprised they had not yet submitted. Its voice grew cold. "You sesame officials, do you wish to die?"
These sesame officials were ordinary. In truth, whether they submitted or not was of no consequence. However, the great stone always sought perfection in its affairs.
The First Rank officials who had already submitted immediately turned on the others and shouted, "What are you dawdling for? If you don’t submit now, when will you?"
"Zang Feng, you are my student! I have already surrendered, what are you waiting for? Follow my lead!"
"Submit quickly! To refuse is a death sentence!"
This display left the lower-ranking officials staring in stunned contempt. What kind of fawning sycophants would say such things?
But these sesame officials had not yet been corrupted or blinded by power. They still held a heart dedicated to public service. In fact, they had long felt a pang of guilt over some of the things they’d done while following the high-ranking officials. Now, those same officials were demanding they abandon the dignity of the Human Clan—a line they would never cross.
They feared death too, but their legs felt as if they were filled with lead. They stood firmly rooted to the spot, unable to move even a single half-step.
"I am gratified that some have chosen to remain," Si’er said quietly.
She knew that, given the situation, she had already lost. All she had wanted was to find a Sacrificial Spirit for her kingdom. The Stone Clan had agreed so easily, while the Willow Clan agreed with reluctance. Indeed, the Stone Clan was treacherous! This Stone King... he has actually reached the Heavenly King Realm!
"Good. Good. Very good. In that case, you sesame officials and all others who refuse to submit can go die," the Stone King said, its voice dripping with cold malice. The smoke billowed, enveloping the great stone like a ravenous beast about to devour Si’er and her loyal followers.
However, at that very moment, a calm voice suddenly rang out. "Hey, have you forgotten about me?"
The speaker was, of course, Wu Tian.