The moment the system bound itself to Ye Chen, a blazing surge of life force erupted from his dantian.
It was like a volcano awakening.
Pure, overwhelming vitality rushed through his meridians, repairing torn muscles, strengthening bone, and reforging every inch of his body.
The dying emperor who had stood moments ago was vanishing.
Something far stronger was being born.
A cold mechanical voice echoed within his mind.
[Host has received a Newbie Gift Pack.]
[Open now?]
Ye Chen's heart thundered in his chest.
This… was his only chance.
Whether he lived or died today depended entirely on what the system had given him.
He inhaled slowly.
Then gave the command.
Open it.
The system responded instantly.
[Congratulations, Host.]
[You have obtained: Nine Dragons Emperor Body.]
[You have obtained: Son of Heaven's Fate-Sword.]
[You have obtained: 1,000 Jinyiwei (1st Rank) — Awaiting Summons.]
[You have obtained: 1 Jinyiwei Commander (Peak Houtian Realm) — Awaiting Summons.]
[You have obtained: Qi-Gazing Art.]
[You have obtained: One Spirit Qi Infusion.]
As the rewards appeared, a terrifying transformation began.
A mysterious force flooded Ye Chen's body.
Deep within his bloodline, something ancient awakened.
Low, distant dragon roars echoed in his mind.
His bones trembled.
His meridians expanded.
His flesh hardened like forged steel.
The Nine Dragons Emperor Body was taking form.
An overwhelming imperial aura erupted from him.
Majestic.
Domineering.
Unquestionable.
It was the aura of a ruler born to command the world.
In this world, martial strength ruled above all.
The foundation of cultivation began with three ranks of martial warriors.
Above them stood the realms of Houtian, Xiantian, Grandmaster, and the legendary Heavenly Human.
And now—
Ye Chen possessed one thousand First-Rank Jinyiwei.
Each one comparable to an Imperial Guard commander.
More importantly—
He had a Peak Houtian expert to lead them.
But before everything else—
He needed power.
His own power.
Ye Chen focused his mind.
"Use the Spirit Qi Infusion."
Instantly—
A tidal wave of spiritual energy crashed into his body.
Spirit qi flooded every meridian like a raging river.
His cultivation exploded upward.
Third Rank.
Second Rank.
First Rank.
The bottleneck shattered.
His power surged straight into the Houtian Realm.
And it did not stop.
The energy continued to rise until—
Peak Houtian.
In just a few breaths.
The transformation ended.
Everything had happened so quickly that no one noticed.
No one except the trembling eunuch beside him.
Zhao Zhong stared at Ye Chen in shock.
Something had changed.
The emperor before him felt… terrifying.
Ye Chen slowly opened his eyes.
Cold light flashed within them.
His gaze fell upon the traitors surrounding him.
Wan Yunshan.
The defected guards.
The Imperial Guards waiting to kill him.
A faint smile appeared on Ye Chen's lips.
"Good."
His voice was calm.
But beneath it lay killing intent as vast as the ocean.
"It's time to settle accounts."
He slowly drew the sword at his waist.
Steel sang as it left the scabbard.
The sound cut through the battlefield like thunder.
At that moment—
The system spoke again.
[New System Mission Triggered.]
[Mission: Slay all invading assassins.]
[Reward: Top-Tier Talent Summoning Card.]
Ye Chen's eyes brightened.
A summoning card.
That meant another powerful subordinate.
Perfect.
Then let this battlefield become the first step of his rise.
"Summon the Jinyiwei Commander."
Shua!
A figure suddenly appeared before him.
Clad in a flying-fish robe, a decorated spring saber hanging at his waist.
His presence was sharp as a blade.
Without hesitation, the man dropped to one knee.
"I, Shen Qinglong, Commander of the Jinyiwei, greet Your Majesty!"
Wan Yunshan's pupils shrank.
"Who are you?!"
He had not sensed this man's arrival at all.
It was as if he had appeared from thin air.
Ye Chen ignored him.
His gaze rested coldly on the kneeling commander.
"Shen Qinglong."
His voice carried imperial authority.
"Are you confident you can eliminate these enemies?"
Shen Qinglong raised his head.
His eyes were filled with murderous intent.
"Your Majesty."
"My blade has long awaited such work."
Ye Chen nodded slowly.
"Good."
Then his voice turned ice-cold.
"I command you."
"Kill them."
"Leave no one alive."
The hatred in those words was suffocating.
Wan Yunshan's betrayal had crossed the emperor's bottom line.
If they had chosen treason—
Then they would die for it.
Shen Qinglong rose instantly.
"As you command!"
Beside Ye Chen, Zhao Zhong trembled.
"Y-Your Majesty…"
His voice shook.
"Where did this guard come from…?"
Ye Chen's brow furrowed slightly.
"Hmph."
The sound was soft.
Yet it carried terrifying pressure.
Zhao Zhong instantly felt as if a mountain had slammed onto his shoulders.
His legs gave out.
He collapsed to his knees.
Cold sweat poured down his back.
"This slave deserves death!"
"How dare I question Your Majesty!"
Ye Chen waved his hand dismissively.
"You remained loyal."
"I will spare you this once."
Then his gaze turned to the forest surrounding the mausoleum.
His lips curled slightly.
"Summon the Jinyiwei."
The next moment—
The forest exploded with movement.
Shadowy figures emerged from every direction.
One.
Ten.
Hundreds.
A thousand figures stepped out from the trees.
All wearing flying-fish robes.
All carrying decorated spring sabers.
Their footsteps were silent.
Their killing intent suffocating.
In an instant—
The entire battlefield was surrounded.
Wan Yunshan's expression changed drastically.
"Where did these soldiers come from?!"
His face turned pale.
He had never seen such an elite force.
Each of them radiated the aura of a First-Rank martial warrior.
Even his Imperial Guards could not suppress them.
For the first time—
Fear appeared in Wan Yunshan's heart.
He looked toward Shen Qinglong and forced a smile.
"Friend."
"I am Wan Yunshan, Grand Commander of the Sky-Supervising Pavilion."
"I serve Prince Ming."
"This emperor is finished."
"Why follow a dead man?"
"If you join us, I will personally recommend you to Prince Ming."
"You can become the Second Commander of the Pavilion."
"Once Prince Ming takes the throne…"
"You will enjoy endless glory and wealth."
But Shen Qinglong did not even look at him.
Instead—
He slowly drew his saber.
The blade flashed like cold lightning.
Then his voice thundered across the battlefield.
"JINYIWEI!"
"THESE TRAITORS HAVE OFFENDED HIS MAJESTY!"
"WHAT IS THEIR PUNISHMENT?!"
One thousand voices roared at once.
"DEATH!!!"
The sound shook the forest.
The defected guards trembled in fear.
Shen Qinglong raised his blade.
"Then let His Majesty witness—"
"Whether the sabers of the Jinyiwei are sharp enough!"
His eyes flashed with killing intent.
"KILL THEM ALL!"
The next second—
Shen Qinglong vanished.
He shot forward like a bolt of lightning.
His blade descended with terrifying force.
A blinding arc of saber light tore through the air.
BOOM!
The sound of clashing steel exploded across the mausoleum.
The slaughter had begun.
And this battlefield—
Would become the first river of blood beneath Ye Chen's rising throne.