Chapter 144: Don’t Underestimate Me

The atmosphere suddenly turned grim, and a chill spread throughout the assembly.

Many of the monsters began whispering among themselves.

“Lingyuan, are you determined to oppose me?” Ghost Shura narrowed her eyes, utterly indifferent to the murmurs around them.

Her sister’s words had formally torn away the last veil between them. When Shura had imprisoned Lingyuan at the beginning, she had spared her life. That had been the final line she had preserved in her heart.

She had never imagined that, on the most crucial of days, this very restraint would lead to such an unexpected complication.

It seemed that neither side could avoid a life-and-death struggle after all. If circumstances allowed, Ghost Shura would still rather not kill her own sister with her hands.

But now, for the sake of claiming the throne, that might no longer be possible.

Ghost Lingyuan stated her position succinctly. “I will never let you have your way.”

Suppressing her anger, Ghost Shura said coldly, “Why don’t you think this through? Even if I lose the election, do you really believe you are capable of taking on this throne?”

Since matters had come this far, she might as well lay everything bare before the public.

“What do you mean?” Ghost Lingyuan slowly lowered the city lord’s token and questioned her calmly.

“What do you think I mean?”

Ghost Shura gave a cold laugh. “You are completely unfit to govern. What future or prospects could Red Moon City possibly have under your leadership? The same logic applies here: if I ascend the throne, everything will be different.”

As she spoke, Ghost Shura spread her arms like an orator at the center of a stage and declared with imposing conviction, “Only my becoming city lord would truly fulfill the people’s wishes.

“I will lead the army to expand Red Moon City’s territory, trample the human world beneath our feet, and bring boundless glory to the future of the monster kingdom. Can you do any of that?”

“For the future of the kingdom? How grandly you put it.”

A chill entered Ghost Lingyuan’s eyes. “When all is said and done, it is nothing but your own ambition. It was precisely because of your vicious nature that the Empress refused to name you as her successor.”

“My nature is vicious? Heh… Hahaha!”

Ghost Shura seemed to have heard the greatest joke in the world and burst into uninhibited laughter. “Lingyuan, you really are too innocent!”

She spoke with immense pride. “Do you think I am the only one who wishes to invade the lands beyond our borders? You have no idea how many supporters I have among the monsters of this city.

“The Empress forbade Red Moon City from attacking the human nations ten years ago only because of the pact she made with several Abyssal Ones. Otherwise, she would have been no different from me.”

“Lingyuan, only you… only you, with your kind heart…”

Ghost Shura pointed at her furiously. “You are the true anomaly among monsters!”

Ten years ago, Tamamo Yukihime had entered into a pact with several other Abyssal Ones, forbidding them from invading human territory before the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons began.

Otherwise, Tamamo Yukihime would likely have destroyed the human nations long ago, rather than remaining in Red Moon City.

Ghost Lingyuan naturally understood the reason behind it all, but she still refused to yield. “Even so, I will not let you claim the throne.”

She spoke with righteous conviction. “Red Moon City is the century-old foundation left behind by the Empress. The humans are far stronger than you imagine.

“If we are defeated, the collapse will be unstoppable. Your actions would doom the entire monster kingdom. I will never allow that to happen!”

“Very well… There is nothing more to say. Since it has come to this, there is no point in talking further.”

A ruthless light flashed in Ghost Shura’s eyes. Resolving herself, she shouted coldly, “White Tiger, Black Tortoise… seize her!”

Since matters had reached this point, there was nothing left to discuss. It would be better to strike first and gain the advantage.

Ghost Lingyuan had to die.

Once she was dead, Shura alone would possess the right of succession, and no one would be able to challenge her for the position of city lord.

“Yes!” the two answered in unison.

The gazes of Ghost White Tiger and Ghost Black Tortoise instantly locked onto Ghost Lingyuan. Their demonic power surged to its full extent, and in an instant, a terrifying, overwhelming presence erupted from them.

“So in the end, this dispute still has to be settled by force.”

Cheng Feng had silently watched the entire proceedings. He let out a faint sigh, then a fierce battle spirit rose in his eyes. Blue-white lightning crackled across the blade of his Thunder Severing Sword.

He raised the spirit blade and pointed it toward the opposing side.

Like a knight, he stood guard beside Ghost Lingyuan, his gaze carrying a trace of coldness. “If anyone wants to lay a hand on the princess, they will have to get past me first.”

If they failed to win today, or if they could not protect the Ghost Princess, a war between humans and monsters would await Winterfall City.

No matter what, Ghost Shura had to be defeated today.

“You brat, how dare you be so arrogant?”

Hearing Cheng Feng’s words, Ghost White Tiger could not help but sneer. “Though I have no idea how you survived, you nearly died at my hands last night. What makes you think you have the right to boast now?”

Cheng Feng looked at him and provoked him. “Whether I have the right or not, why don’t you come over and find out?”

Ghost Lingyuan’s delicate brows drew together slightly. “Do the two of you truly intend to disregard the city lord’s token in my hand?”

She warned them, “If you attack me, you will be openly defying the authority of the former city lord. That is a capital offense.”

Ghost White Tiger laughed coldly, completely unafraid. “So what? As long as Lord Shura ascends the throne in the end, our actions cannot be considered defiance of the city lord.”

Ghost Black Tortoise was no reckless brute. He remained comparatively courteous, his tone calm, though the killing intent radiating from him was not restrained in the slightest. “My apologies, Your Highness. We obey only Lord Shura. You would do well to surrender peacefully.”

“You…”

Hearing their answer, Ghost Lingyuan clenched her teeth.

When the Empress still ruled, the two generals had been utterly loyal and had rendered countless meritorious services to Red Moon City. She had never imagined that, with the changing of the age, they would go so far for Ghost Shura.

Ghost Vermilion Bird, the third general, had no intention of joining Ghost White Tiger and Ghost Black Tortoise.

Her figure moved, and in an instant she vanished from the high platform, reappearing beside Ghost Lingyuan. She bowed respectfully. “Your Highness, allow me to lend you my strength.”

Cheng Feng glanced at Ghost Vermilion Bird, surprised that, with Ghost Lingyuan having become the target of everyone’s hostility, this monster was still willing to stand on her side.

He had previously worried that Ghost Vermilion Bird had already betrayed the Ghost Princess, which was why he had never thought to seek her assistance. Now it seemed that he had simply been overthinking things.

This worked out perfectly. With another general-level monster at their side, much of the pressure could be shared.

Ghost Lingyuan nodded slightly. “Thank you, General Vermilion Bird.”

“There is no need to thank me, Your Highness.”

Ghost Lingyuan turned to Cheng Feng. “I will deal with Shura. The two generals are yours to handle.”

Cheng Feng blinked in disbelief. He almost wanted to ask why she was taking the starring role. Ghost Shura was clearly the strongest enemy. Could Lingyuan truly deal with her?

“Do not underestimate me.”

Ghost Lingyuan smiled faintly. A moonlike radiance began to coil around her entire body. Six snow-white fox tails drifted out behind her, while a slender demonic blade materialized in her hand.

“Brother Shen!”

“Yes!”

Shen Changqing walked along the road, greeting familiar faces with a word or a nod whenever he encountered them.

But no matter who they were, none of them wore any unnecessary expression. They seemed indifferent to everything.

Shen Changqing had long since grown accustomed to it.

This was the Demon Suppression Division, an institution responsible for maintaining the stability of the Great Qin Empire. Its primary duty was to slay demons, monsters, and supernatural creatures, though it also handled several other subsidiary tasks.

It could be said that everyone in the Demon Suppression Division had blood on their hands.

Once a person had witnessed enough life and death, many things would begin to seem insignificant.

When Shen Changqing had first arrived in this world, he had found it difficult to adjust. With time, however, he had grown used to it.

The Demon Suppression Division was enormous.

Those who could remain there were all powerful experts, or people with the potential to become powerful experts.

Shen Changqing belonged to the latter group.

The Demon Suppression Division was divided into two professions: Guardians and Exorcists.

Everyone who entered the Demon Suppression Division began at the lowest level as an Exorcist. From there, they rose step by step, with the hope of eventually becoming a Guardian.

Shen Changqing’s predecessor had been a probationary Exorcist in the Demon Suppression Division, the lowest rank among Exorcists.

Having inherited his predecessor’s memories, Shen Changqing was thoroughly familiar with the environment of the Demon Suppression Division.

Before long, he stopped in front of a pavilion.

Unlike the other places in the Demon Suppression Division, where a solemn, murderous air prevailed, this pavilion seemed to stand apart from the rest. Amid the bloodshed of the division, it possessed an entirely different kind of tranquility.

The pavilion doors stood open, and people occasionally entered or left.

After only a moment’s hesitation, Shen Changqing stepped inside.

The instant he entered the pavilion, the atmosphere changed completely.

A scent of ink mixed with a faint trace of blood rushed toward him, causing his brows to crease instinctively before quickly relaxing again.

The bloody odor clinging to everyone in the Demon Suppression Division was nearly impossible to wash away.