First Give Ziyao Ten Slaps

Looking at the submissive Empress before him, her murderous aura completely vanished, a fleeting hint of imperceptible joy flashed through Ye Xuan's eyes.

Finally... he had managed to handle this crazy Empress.

If he had met her head-on, his ashes would be cold by now. Only by attacking her mind, by exploiting her love and fear, could he carve out a path of survival in this desperate situation.

To consolidate this hard-won victory, Ye Xuan decided to add fuel to the fire.

He rose slightly, ignoring the pain of his injuries, and drew close to Wu Lingxiao.

Did you really... understand?

Ye Xuan's voice was right by her ear, carrying a warm breath.

Wu Lingxiao stiffened all over, and before she could react, Ye Xuan had already kissed her lips.

This kiss was very light, very gentle.

There was no lustful plundering, only a sense of comfort and reward.

Wu Lingxiao's mind instantly went blank.

Immediately after, an overwhelming sense of happiness and excitement instantly washed away her rationality.

Her eyes widened as she felt the touch on her lips in disbelief.

Initiated... he initiated it!

Eight hundred years! This was the first time in eight hundred years that he had kissed me on his own accord!

When Ye Xuan parted his lips, Wu Lingxiao had gone completely mad. Her face was flushed, her breathing ragged, and her eyes sparkled with extreme excitement; even her hands were trembling.

Husband... Consort Xuan...

She cried out incoherently, wanting to pounce on him to deepen the kiss, wanting more.

You... how many years has it been since you were this gentle to me!

I want more... I want more...

But Ye Xuan extended a finger and gently pressed it against her lips, blocking her demanding advance.

He looked at her, his eyes still gentle, but his tone carried an unquestionable firmness.

You must be obedient.

As long as you are obedient, I will continue to be this gentle.

Ye Xuan's hand slid down her cheek and gently stroked her head, as if comforting an irritable lioness.

But, if you are disobedient, if you go crazy again...

His eyes turned slightly cold, and his tone instantly became chilling.

Otherwise, my Dragon Slaying Sword will still fall.

If it cannot kill you, it will kill me.

This splash of cold water was timed perfectly.

Wu Lingxiao, who was about to pounce on him just a moment ago, instantly became like a duck grabbed by the neck; the feverish heat all over her body cooled down in a flash.

The fear of losing him struck again, snapping her instantly awake.

No! No!

Wu Lingxiao hurriedly shook her head, tightly gripping Ye Xuan's hand, her eyes full of panic.

I will be obedient! I will be obedient! I will never go crazy again!

As long as you live... as long as you treat me a little better... I will listen to whatever you say!

Seeing that the Empress was completely terrified and utterly subdued, Ye Xuan knew the time was ripe.

Since you promised to be obedient, we must set some rules.

Ye Xuan leaned back against the headboard, his expression returning to calm as he began to list out his unequal treaty item by item.

Three conditions.

First, you cannot restrict my freedom. I will go wherever I want; you cannot send people to monitor me, nor can you lock onto me with your divine sense.

Wu Lingxiao bit her lip, a trace of struggle flashing in her eyes, but she still nodded. Okay... I will withdraw all the imperial guards.

Second.

Ye Xuan looked into her eyes and spoke emphasizing every word.

No physical intimacy.

What? Wu Lingxiao abruptly raised her head, her face full of unacceptability. How... how can that be? We are husband and wife! And you clearly just kissed me...

That was a reward. Ye Xuan's expression was indifferent. I said it before, I am remaining chaste for Bai Qianqiu. Just now was an exception, and also the bottom line.

If you force yourself on me, you are forcing me to die.

Wu Lingxiao was so aggrieved that her face turned red. Guarding such a huge piece of meat but being unable to eat it, and having to watch him remain chaste for another woman—this was simply worse than killing her.

This... this is too...

Third.

Ye Xuan gave her absolutely no chance to bargain, directly throwing out the last and most ruthless condition.

You must acknowledge Bai Qianqiu's status as the official wife.

Furthermore, when she arrives, you must treat her with the etiquette of a concubine, and you cannot harbor any hostility toward her.

Impossible!

Wu Lingxiao truly exploded this time.

She could endure the first two conditions, but this one was simply trampling her imperial dignity into the dirt.

Make me perform concubine etiquette for that greenhorn girl? I am the Empress of the Great Xia!

Not killing her is already my limit! You want me to respect her? In your dreams!

Wu Lingxiao was trembling with anger, looking as if she was about to go berserk again.

But Ye Xuan did not waste any words.

Cough, cough...

He suddenly began to cough violently.

Immediately after, a mouthful of golden blood violently sprayed from his mouth, staining the white bedding red.

His originally stabilized aura instantly became sluggish, and the barely healed crack between his eyebrows actually showed signs of splitting open again.

Forget it...

Ye Xuan leaned weakly against the headboard, blood trailing from the corner of his mouth, his eyes dim to the extreme.

It seems... you still do not understand.

Since that is the case... I might as well let my soul scatter and perish.

As he spoke, a trace of origin spiritual energy within his body began to grow restless again; it was an extremely resolute signal of seeking death.

As for you and your dynasty...

Ye Xuan closed his eyes, his voice growing fainter and fainter, as if he would drift away with the wind at any moment.

Just go face the Sword Sovereign on your own...

When that sword descending from the heavens strikes down... you will understand my earnest intentions...

This combination of a self-injury ploy and a threat completely shattered Wu Lingxiao's final psychological defenses.

Seeing Ye Xuan vomit blood and the crack between his eyebrows split open again, Wu Lingxiao felt as if her heart was about to stop.

To hell with dignity!

To hell with being the official wife!

If Ye Xuan died, what use would it be for her to control the entire world?

Don't!

Wu Lingxiao let out a scream, abruptly throwing herself over to hug Ye Xuan. She frantically transferred spiritual energy to him, tears pouring out like a burst dam.

I agree! I agree to it!

I agree to everything!! If you want freedom, I will give you freedom! If you will not let me touch you, I will not touch you! Bai Qianqiu is the senior sister! She is the official wife! I am the concubine! Is that enough!

Please do not die... stop vomiting blood... I am truly terrified...

At this moment, the imperious Empress of the Great Xia finally and utterly lowered her noble head.

In this crazy gamble of love, she had lost completely and miserably.

Ye Xuan leaned in her embrace, feeling the continuous stream of pure spiritual energy repairing his body, listening to her tearful compromise.

He slowly opened his eyes.

In those deep eyes, there was not the slightest hint of weakness, only a touch of coldness and profundity after having his way.

The border of the Great Xia, the Godfall Abyss.

This was the junction between the Human Race and the Demon Realm. Baleful aura lingered here all year round, and not a single blade of grass grew. The black earth had been soaked purple by countless years of blood, and sickening blood clouds churned in the sky.

At this moment, on the other side of the Godfall Abyss, a dense army of demonic cultivators spread out like a tide, stretching as far as the eye could see. Demonic energy soared to the heavens, and banners blotted out the sun.

At the very forefront of the army, a throne constructed from piled white bones hovered in the air.

Upon the throne reclined an exquisitely alluring figure.

Demon Venerable, Zi Yao.

She wore a light purple gauze dress that revealed large swathes of her snow-white skin. She was barefoot, with eerie red bells tied around her slender ankles.

Her face was breathtakingly beautiful, yet it carried an innate, wicked charm. Those purple eyes of hers, in particular, could draw out the deepest desires hidden within a person's heart.

"Why isn't Wu Lingxiao here yet?"

Zi Yao toyed with a cluster of demonic fire at her fingertips out of sheer boredom, her brows furrowing slightly.

"Didn't we agree to meet up today to attack the Sword God Palace together? That bitch Wu Lingxiao has always been punctual. Could it be that she chickened out?"

Right at that moment, a massive rift suddenly tore open in the distant sky.

Golden light burst forth.

There was no sign of the Great Xia's iron cavalry as expected, nor was there the thunderous beating of war drums.

Only a single streak of light tore through the firmament, landing instantly at the forefront of the two armies.

As the light dissipated, the figures of two people were revealed.

One was Wu Lingxiao, clad in a tattered imperial robe. Though she looked haggard, she still exuded a terrifying aura.

And the one being carefully supported by her was a pale-faced mortal man with absolutely no fluctuation of spiritual energy.

Because Ye Xuan had self-destructed his Nascent Soul, his cultivation was currently completely gone.

The entire battlefield fell dead silent.

A million demonic cultivators exchanged bewildered glances, completely failing to understand what kind of play this was.

Was the Empress of Great Xia bringing a boy toy to sightsee at the front lines?

Only Zi Yao, seated upon her throne, had her pupils violently shrink the moment she saw that man.

Whoosh!

She stood up abruptly, her face utterly blank with shock.

"Hus... Husband?"

Zi Yao's voice trembled, filled with unbelievable ecstasy.

She transformed into a purple afterimage, instantly rushing to stand before the two of them.

"It's really you... Wu Lingxiao actually managed to capture you..."

Looking at Ye Xuan's familiar face, Zi Yao's eyes instantly turned red. She reached out her hand, wanting to touch him, but as if suddenly remembering something, her fingers froze in midair.

She glanced at Wu Lingxiao beside him, her brows shooting up in anger as she snapped:

"Wu Lingxiao, what is the meaning of this? Where is our grand army? Didn't we agree to flatten the Sword God Palace? Coming here alone with him, are you trying to hog him for yourself, or are you just looking to die?"

Wu Lingxiao gave Zi Yao a cold look, her eyes carrying a hint of mockery.

She didn't speak. She merely sighed, silently let go of Ye Xuan's arm, and stepped aside.

"You..."

Zi Yao had not yet processed what Wu Lingxiao's attitude meant.

The next moment.

Ye Xuan moved.

Expressionless, he stepped forward. Under the gazes of a million demonic cultivators and shrouded in monstrous demonic pressure, he walked up to this terrifying Demon Venerable as casually as a man taking a leisurely stroll.

Zi Yao stared at him blankly, subconsciously calling out, "Husband..."

Slap!

An extremely crisp slap suddenly rang out, echoing across the entire battlefield.

Zi Yao's breathtakingly beautiful face was viciously struck to the side.

The million demonic cultivators instantly petrified.

Their Lord... their invincible Demon Venerable, was actually slapped in public by a mortal with no cultivation whatsoever?

But this was only the beginning.

Ye Xuan's expression remained indifferent. Without the slightest pause, he backhanded her with another slap.

Slap!

Slap!

Slap!

Striking left and right.

A full ten slaps.

Each one heavier than the last, each one more ruthless than the last.

There were no fancy movements; it was pure venting, pure humiliation.

Zi Yao was beaten until her hair was in disarray, blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, and her cheeks swelled high.

With her cultivation, all she needed was a single thought, and her protective demonic aura would shatter Ye Xuan into fine dust.

However.

She did not dare to move a muscle.

She just stood there stiffly, letting Ye Xuan strike her, even forcibly suppressing her natural instinct to dodge.

After delivering the tenth slap.

Ye Xuan stopped.

He shook his somewhat stinging hand, his expression as indifferent as if he had merely swatted a few flies.

He reached out and grabbed Zi Yao's long purple hair, a symbol of her majesty as the Demon Venerable, forcing her to raise her head and look at him.

"Are you awake now?"

Ye Xuan's voice was not loud, yet it was clearly audible across the dead-silent battlefield.

Zi Yao looked at the man before her.

He was once a True Immortal who suppressed everything.

Now, he had become a mortal with no cultivation.

But the domineering arrogance in his eyes, the absolute deterrence that completely suppressed her, was even stronger than it had been back then.

"Husband... it doesn't hurt..."

Zi Yao spoke with a trembling voice, tears swirling in her eyes, yet she still tried to curry favor in a masochistic manner:

"As long as it's you hitting me... none of it hurts."

"Did I tell you to speak?"

Ye Xuan coldly interrupted. He yanked his wrist hard, causing Zi Yao to frown in pain.

"Tell that garbage behind you to get lost."

Ye Xuan pointed at the million demonic cultivators, his tone filled with disgust:

"They are an eyesore."

"Also, you are coming back with me."

Zi Yao bit her lip. She glanced at the grand army behind her, then at the expressionless Wu Lingxiao beside them, and seemed to understand something.

This war was not going to happen.

"Okay."

Zi Yao lowered her head, her voice as quiet as a mosquito.

Then, she abruptly turned around and unleashed a heaven-shaking roar at the million demonic cultivators:

"All of you, get lost! Scram back to the Demon Realm! Without my orders, anyone who dares to take a single step out will be killed without mercy!"

The million demonic cultivators felt as if they had been granted a grand pardon. Although filled with doubts, under the despotic might of the Demon Venerable, they instantly retreated like a receding tide, running faster than rabbits.

A moment later.

The Godfall Abyss returned to deathly silence.

"Let's go."

Ye Xuan released Zi Yao's hair. Too lazy to even spare her another glance, he turned and walked in the direction of the Great Xia Imperial Palace.

Wu Lingxiao hurriedly followed, matching his every step.

Cupping her swollen cheek, Zi Yao gazed at that lean back. The possessiveness and affection in her eyes intertwined madly, ultimately transforming into a helpless sigh before she, too, followed him.