Alternate Dimension Game: Happiness is all that matters!
Chapter 522 - 333 The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind

Chapter 522: Chapter 333 The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind

Xun Xiang had been the chief counselor for over twenty years, with at least half of the court officials standing by his side, and a large number of his loyalists arranged within the military. Local governments were even more so filled with officials from the "Xun Party."

Now, Xun Xiang was absent from the court assembly—could something unexpected have happened?

The volume of the discussions grew louder and louder.

As these people waited, left and right, another period of time, as long as it takes an incense stick to burn, passed by. They suddenly realized that Zhao Tian, who controlled the army, had not appeared at court either. Moreover, more than a dozen military generals who were responsible for guarding Guangdu City were also nowhere to be seen.

As for the Emperor, not even a shadow showed up; the faces of the eunuchs who conveyed messages turned green and purple as they stumbled over their words, unable to speak.

"The Emperor isn’t attending the court either?"

At this point, the civil and military officials panicked, their minds racing with a terrifying possibility!

But this possibility was something they dared not even consider, let alone speak of!

"The number of Imperial Guards in the palace has decreased significantly; surely something must have happened?"

A military general angrily grabbed an official from the "Xun Party" faction and shouted, "Where is the Emperor?! Where is Xun Xiang?!"

"We have no idea, General! If we knew, we would not be waiting here either," the official trembled.

The military general then leaped up, seized the chief eunuch, and demanded loudly, "Are you the one causing trouble behind the scenes? Where is the Emperor?!"

Faced with such a serious accusation, the eunuch was overwhelmed by pressure and trembled all over as he said, "They are all at the West King Mansion, early in the morning, they all went to the West King Mansion..."

"His Majesty, His Majesty also ordered us to capture nine pairs of young boys and girls overnight."

"What...what?"

When the crowd heard this news, they felt a chilling dread as if they had fallen into an ice pit.

Because today was the Vernal Equinox, an auspicious time for offerings and sacrifices.

At Kunlun Mountain, worshiping deities as a major religious ceremony also required an appropriate time slot; it was not something that could be done whenever one wished to do so.

Generally speaking, the Vernal Equinox, Summer Solstice, Autumnal Equinox, and Winter Solstice were all suitable times.

Even today’s court assembly was only for discussing the rituals of worship, with the civil and military officials going together to the Jianmu Ruins for the ceremony, usually completing the entire process by the hour of wei.

But thinking of the West King’s current state, and considering the Emperor and others had left early, taking along eight pairs of boys and girls—the terrifying fact could become an actual possibility.

They were preparing to use human lives for a Blood Sacrifice to the deities!

The West King would become an Evil God who consumed humans!

Whoever pleased the West King would become the next Emperor!

Although many people had considered this possibility and felt this situation could not last, when terror became reality, people vaguely felt suffocated; a few of the older courtiers simply collapsed to the ground.

Everyone reacted differently.

A few older officials cried hysterically, gasping for breath, nearly ceasing to think. For them, the collapse of their faith was more agonizing than death, and they had lost their sense of direction.

There were also some who thought, even if the West King began to consume humans, eating a hundred a day would amount to just over thirty thousand a year—wasn’t that less than the millions who starved to death at Kunlun Mountain every year? Chaos was a ladder to climb, and maybe they could take advantage of the turmoil.

Others were contemplating how to face the new Emperor.

Victory belonged to the successful; but who would come out on top?

Xun Xiang, General Zhao, the Emperor... how should they face the victor among them?

One question after another surfaced in their minds, pressing down like boulders, leaving them breathless.

Yet, there were a few brash men who roared in fury, "Who dares to bewitch the West King into cannibalism? It matters not if they’re nobles or officials... it won’t do!"

"Where is the lineage of Kunlun?!"

No one answered; the Heavenly Master Fu Tianyuan also did not attend the court.

A thunderous boom resounded with the sound of artillery fire coming from the distant skies.

"Quickly, to the Jianmu Ruins!"

The civil and military officials hurriedly rushed out of the Golden Throne Hall.

...

...

Upon Kunlun Mountain, the Jianmu Ruins, the weighty dark clouds seemed to relentlessly crush the entire sky.

"Diting" was running swiftly up the hillside, a small City God Temple in its mouth, clambering over peak after peak.

It was intent on delivering this City God Temple to the peak of Kunlun!

Meanwhile, at the foot of the mountain, in the plaza before the West King Mansion, a multi-faceted battle erupted with ferocious fighting. Cannons, crossbow arrows, and catapults launched in a barrage.

Mixed with the evil intentions of the West King, it even affected the consciousness of all those present.

"Kill!"

The soldiers fought fearlessly, almost losing their sanity amidst the battle.

What was once a sacred and majestic temple mansion had, in a mere moment, turned into a mortal Hell.

Above the dark clouds in the sky, there lurked a terror-inducing malice, countless pairs of eyes gazing down upon the land.

This malice exuded a sinister chill, intent on tearing apart this space and directly entering this last sacred land in the Mortal World—compared to the twelve Floating Mountains beyond, Kunlun Mountain was the most serene, housing the largest population. The Great Qian Dynasty, though gradually declining, ruled over a full one billion people. That was a whole one billion people!

...

Diting ran swiftly, a hint of Compassion and mockery in its eyes.

Its running speed increased, its goal was simple: to deliver the City God Temple in its mouth to its destination.

...

"Kill!"

The melee continued unabated, with the Rune Puppets colliding brutally and the soldiers forming squares wielding their swords against each other. This cold-weapon warfare had reached a fever pitch.

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