Meanwhile, the dimly lit sleeping quarters were in disarray, cabinets, tea tables, and small pieces of jade and glass shattered into fragments…
Various items were strewn across the floor, presenting a scene of rampant destruction.
"Divine Emperor, that Qihuang formation… do you still wish to go?" the Fourth Elder tiptoed, carefully stepping on the debris-free floor, and looked towards the person on the couch.
The formation had been set up all day, yet the Divine Emperor had not gone to it until now…
On the couch, a slender figure was wrapped tightly in a velvet blanket, covering half of their face, revealing only their eyes.
Mo Ze’s gaze was lowered, his dark pupils devoid of any light, appearing exceptionally hollow and lifeless.
"I am the Divine Emperor…"
"If I want to go, I will. If not, it is not your place to rush me…"
A muffled voice emanated from the couch. Upon hearing this, the Fourth Elder’s entire old face contorted, unsure of what to do.
The Qihuang formation was an ancient formation that exchanged immense power for emotions and desires. But how could emotions be severed cleanly?
It had been a long time since the formation was last activated. Those emotions should have grown back by now, and likely the Divine Emperor’s strength was also gradually waning…
"Divine Emperor! Divine Emperor—!" A servant rushed in, flustered and hurried, disregarding all etiquette.
"What is this haste?" the Fourth Elder glared at the servant.
"Yes! It’s outside!" The servant pointed in the direction outside the palace, their face filled with urgency: "The red flare has appeared!"
A red signal! The Fourth Elder’s expression instantly turned stern, and he turned to look at Mo Ze on the couch.
Red flares were only in the hands of the Holy Lord. They would never appear unless faced with a crisis that could lead to complete annihilation.
Upon hearing this, Mo Ze finally showed some movement. He slowly rose, a flicker of an unreadable dark glint in his eyes.
They found traces of the demoness's bloodline, yet encountered something difficult to resolve…
Mo Ze raised his eyes and looked at the Fourth Elder: "Summon the elders and provide full support immediately."
"Yes!"
The Fourth Elder and the servant hastily left the sleeping quarters, and the dim space fell silent.
Mo Ze turned and retrieved a painting from a cluttered corner. The scroll was housed in a box made of glazed stones, appearing to be very carefully preserved.
He slowly unrolled the scroll. It depicted a happy family of four frolicking by a field of flowers.
The faces and smiles of the four were incredibly lifelike. Just by looking, one could feel the joy conveyed through the brushstrokes.
Mo Ze’s pupils trembled slightly, and a strange feeling gradually welled up from the depths of his heart. In the words of ordinary people,
This was called longing…
"Bai Ze, are you slowly devouring me, aren't you…"
Mo Ze reached out, his slender fingers lightly caressing the smiling little figure in the painting.
"You want to see them…"
"But I do not wish to…"
His tone was gentle yet indifferent. After half an incense stick’s time, he put away the painting and returned it to its place.
"Someone—"
Mo Ze turned and walked towards the outside of the sleeping quarters, a murderous intent appearing in his dark eyes: "Bring me my sword—"
…
Half an hour earlier, in a corner of the Divine Realm, an exclamation rang out.
"How could his childhood be so miserable?" After hearing Bai Li Xiao's narration, the Second Elder’s heart was filled with guilt.
Huan Yan died, Mo Cheng Ze possessed Mo Huai An’s body, Bai Ze changed his name to Mo Ze. In the more than ten years after all these events transpired.
Mo Ze had experienced much more, hardships that the fifth layer of seal could not encompass…
"Listening to this, he had no choice…" Zhong Yi Chuan frowned, a look of difficulty appearing in his eyes.
Mo Ze, only five years old, was isolated and helpless, bullied and insulted, and had lost his seven emotions and six desires…
No one could remain kind under such circumstances…
Bai Li Xiao lowered his gaze, his voice deepening: "Moreover, Mo Ze only contracted one Xuan beast."
Previously, he was the heir to the throne. Now, he was also the Divine Emperor. He could clearly seek out all the precious divine beasts in the world to be his contracted beasts…
But he didn't. He only contracted a weak Xuan beast…
"Why?" Zhong Yi Chuan looked at Bai Li Xiao, and after his words, he also became puzzled.
Bai Li Xiao sighed softly, his brow furrowed, a look of pained reluctance on his face: "Do you still remember that deceased cat?"
It was snow-white, very intelligent, and had sacrificed itself to save him, that little cat…
"That sable resembles it greatly, both in temperament and appearance."
This was also a secret that Mo Ze had never revealed, but today it was brought into the open.
As the words fell, Zhong Yi Chuan and the Second Elder were both taken aback. They were going mad…
If this Mo Ze were even more thoroughly wicked, they wouldn't feel this much guilt…
"Perhaps we shouldn't fight for this Divine Realm anymore…?"
"You brat, what are you talking about!" The Second Elder instantly regained his senses and struck Zhong Yi Chuan’s head.
"No matter how miserable Mo Ze's childhood was, the evil deeds he committed are concrete facts!"
Zhong Yi Chuan averted his gaze, his fists on either side of his body gradually clenching. Yes…
If he wasn't killed, how could the deceased Qing Feng and the other four be accounted for?
While Zhong Yi Chuan was still hesitating, the Second Elder beside him suddenly looked up, his expression grave: "Something has happened."
The two immediately looked up, gazing towards the sky. They saw a fiery red fireworks rocket swiftly ascending, exploding in the dark night sky with an extremely dazzling light.
Bai Li Xiao's sapphire blue eyes widened in shock: "A red flare?"
The Second Elder squinted his eyes, looking in the direction the flare had risen, and said heavily: "The heavenly soldiers are gathering."
And this barrier that had descended at some unknown time… The Second Elder turned his head, looking at the barrier in the air: "Kid, is the Demon Lord of the Demon Realm here?"
Zhong Yi Chuan blinked. The Lord had no external engagements today… But then he suddenly seemed to recall something, his eyes widening.
"The Madam is here! The Lord might be here too!"
No wonder a red flare was fired… The Second Elder pursed his lips, and the spiritual energy around him began to gather.
"You two stay here. I'll be back soon."
Having said that, before the two could respond, the Second Elder disappeared.
Bai Li Xiao tightened his grip on the outer robe on his shoulder and said with a solemn expression: "Once a red flare appears, all capable individuals in the Divine Realm will participate in the battle."
"But weren't the Divine Realm's forces suffering heavy losses?" There shouldn't be many left who can fight, right?
In response to Zhong Yi Chuan's question, Bai Li Xiao frowned and shook his head slightly.
"No, if the forbidden area to the west is not destroyed, their military strength will be inexhaustible…"