Journey to the End of the Night-Chapter 1365 - 873: Xu, Xing, Yao, Jing

He gathered the power of countless cultivators and the ministers of Central Netherworld, exhausting all means, to barely reach the second step.

Only to be effortlessly surpassed by someone else.

Watching the carefree figure ahead, moving as casually as if entering his own chamber, Ying Xiu suddenly felt as if he had been slapped hard on the face, burning with pain.

Furious, he trembled, attempting to chase after that figure. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

But the third step instantly sensed the outside intrusion and erupted with an unparalleled force of backlash.

Ying Xiu couldn’t even steady his current steps, the overwhelming force pressing against him, flattening his facial features and chest, breaking his nose, and sending him tumbling heavily from the high steps.

Meanwhile, the lantern holder on the emperor’s step had already arrived in front of that seat.

Turning around, he gazed down from the high seat, his eyes calm and bright, quietly observing the prostrate Ying Xiu struggling to rise.

At that moment, under the clear gaze that held no contempt or disdain, Ying Xiu felt as if he had been kicked from the clouds back into the mire.

Even though Qiao Yu very much didn’t want Ying Xiu to succeed in seizing the throne, he couldn’t help the shock coursing through him as he watched the figure standing before the emperor’s seat.

Since ancient times, only Empress Ying Ji, bearing the holy blood of Taiyin’s Purple Source, had ever achieved such a feat as crossing the nine-stepped emperor’s platform in one breath.

How could this unfamiliar youth possibly compare to the Empress of the past?

Suppressing the shock in his eyes, Qiao Yu couldn’t help but ask, "Who are you?"

On the platform, the person placed the green lamp by his feet and casually draped his hand over the armrest of the throne, saying nothing.

Seeing his audacious actions, desecrating the holy seat, Ying Xiu’s eyes filled with rage: "Stop it now, or I’ll chop off that insolent paw of yours!"

Baili An chuckled lightly, and true to his word, withdrew his hand, but before Ying Xiu could react, he leaned back and effortlessly sat on that chair, coveted by countless people.

He sat casually, the lamp by his boot, legs crossed, head resting on his arm, lashes fluttering beneath the mask, eyes glinting like stardust.

He lifted his head, the three thousand candles in the hall, blown out by the night wind, reignited, hiding the starlight in his eyes.

In the brightly lit hall, the unfamiliar youth sat high on the throne, overlooking the crowd.

"It’s quite lively this night."

Ying Xiu clenched his teeth tightly, veins bulging on his forehead, eyes bloodshot, as though he had suffered the greatest humiliation: "Reckless fool! Get down here to meet your end!"

That seat was not for others to covet so brazenly!

Inside the Royal Hall, Shen Tu remained calm, squinting as he observed Baili An from afar, knowing that anyone who could ascend the nine steps effortlessly could not be of a mere mortal kind.

He couldn’t decipher the identity of the youth on the throne for a time, but seeing the green lamp, he knew that this must be the youth who had entered the Empress Palace for months now, soothing the Empress’s emotions.

It was said this youth came from the Nine Nethers, belonging to the Taiyin Emperor.

With this realization, Shen Tu had to show a measure of respect, bowing slightly towards the Emperor, and said: "You must be the emissary from the Nine Nethers, correct?"

In the past, before the Empress married into Tianxi, the relationship between Central Netherworld and the Nine Nethers wasn’t as strained as it is now.

Untouched by mortal affairs, the Central Netherworld and Nine Nethers were of the same origin.

Although occupying separate realms, emissaries from the Nine Nethers often traversed between them, mysterious and protective of Central Netherworld.

Thus, even after centuries of severed connections, people of Central Netherworld still held respect for emissaries from the Nine Nethers.

At this, Ying Xiu’s heart sank to the bottom.

Why would someone from the Nine Nethers appear so coincidentally at a time like this?

Baili An did not answer Shen Tu’s question. His gaze lowered, the green lamp by his boots suddenly flared bright, the lamp’s flame transforming into a dim light hovering above.

The Green Fire danced ceaselessly at his fingertips; Baili An flicked his fingers, sending the Green Fire shooting into some space.

The space, torn by Shen Tu’s profound light, abruptly broke open, and the youth who had spoken against Ying Xiu earlier tumbled out.

Sweating profusely, though frightened out of his wits, overwhelmingly terrified, he was unscathed, without a scratch.

The crowd was shocked.

So this emissary from the Nine Nethers had been present all along, observing in secret, and had even stepped in early to protect this youth who defended the Empress.

His stance was clear at a glance.

Baili An withdrew his finger, looked up at the deepening night sky, saying calmly: "It’s late, and this grand play has sung on long enough."

Shen Tu was left speechless, silently recalculating his plans.

Reaching the final step, Ying Xiu naturally didn’t want to see his imperial throne slip away; today was his last chance, and he had to put it all on the line!

Glaring at Baili An with a frosty expression, Ying Xiu said coldly, "The Nine Nethers must not interfere with mortal matters; Central Netherworld is now under Mortal World jurisdiction. Even if you are an emissary, you cannot meddle in our imperial succession!"

Baili An laughed: "Don’t worry, I won’t interfere, I’m just sitting here."

Inside the hall, all the faces of Central Netherworld paled, and the atmosphere grew chaotic.

Ying Xiu’s face twisted: "What? Do you intend to contest for the Central Netherworld throne after passing the nine emperor steps?"