Let's see if the Heavenly Serpent Mansion dares to bare its teeth in front of me.

Hai Bodong looked down from above at the paralyzed Emperor of Chu Yun, his voice mocking: "The Myriad Scorpion Gate coalition didn't know its own limits.

They dared to offend the heavenly might of Lord Shen, and now their entire army has been wiped out, and Xie Bi Yan has been executed. All sects that participated in the coalition...

...must already be receiving 'visitors' right now.

Your Chu Yun Imperial Family was the most deeply involved with the Myriad Scorpion Gate.

Furthermore, you are guilty of attacking without declaring war, making your crime even worse!"

His tone suddenly sharpened, filled with murderous intent: "If you cannot produce enough 'compensation' to appease Lord Shen's wrath,

then your Izumo Empire has no reason to exist past today!"

The Emperor of Chu Yun suddenly looked up, staring intently at Hai Bodong's face, which held a sneering smile.

A name and image forgotten for many years suddenly aligned in his mind, and he cried out: "You... You are Ice Emperor Hai Bodong?! Didn't you already..."

Hai Bodong burst into laughter, stroking his beard, his pride evident: "I didn't expect Your Majesty to still remember this old man.

That's right, it is I!"

He glanced at Shen Wen, who was calm and composed beside him, and the thrill of 'borrowing the fox's might to intimidate the tiger' reached its peak in his heart.

This feeling of having a powerful backing and controlling the lives and deaths of others was truly intoxicating.

The Emperor of Chu Yun seemed to grasp at a last straw, his voice sharp with agitation: "Hai Bodong!

As a person of the Jia Ma Empire,

you actually colluded with outsiders... Could it be that the Three Empires have broken their alliance and are joining forces to destroy my Izumo Empire?!"

Hai Bodong looked at Shen Wen, as if asking if Shen Wen wanted to conceal his identity.

Shen Wen transmitted his voice via soul power: "There is no need to push the blame onto the Three Empires."

Only then did Hai Bodong turn back, saying coldly: "Idiot! This matter has nothing to do with the Three Empires.

The Snake-People Clan is now a force under Lord Shen's command. Xie Bi Yan sought death himself; he has no one else to blame."

He stopped wasting words and stated the price directly: "Enough nonsense. Open your Imperial Family Treasury and hand over 70 percent of its resources as compensation.

Otherwise, after today, the Chu Yun Imperial Family will be completely eradicated!"

"Seventy percent?!" The Emperor of Chu Yun's face was ashen, and his body swayed; he nearly fainted.

Seventy percent of the Imperial Family Treasury—that was the accumulated foundation of the empire over hundreds of years. If handed over, the Imperial Family would exist in name only!

The names of the great powerhouses of the Northwest Continent flashed quickly through his mind, but none corresponded to this mysterious "Lord Shen."

It was highly likely he was not a being from the Northwest.

He could only bring up his last resort, threatening with a trembling voice: "Your Excellency... With such tyranny, have you considered the Heavenly Serpent Mansion?

The Heavenly Serpent Mansion is a first-rate power in the Northwest. If Your Excellency acts too excessively here, and the Heavenly Serpent Mansion decides to investigate, I fear..."

"Heavenly Serpent Mansion?" Shen Wen, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke, his tone flat.

"You can have the Mansion Master of the Heavenly Serpent Mansion come personally. I'd like to see if he dares to bare his fangs before me."

The Heavenly Serpent Mansion is indeed a first-rate power in the Northwest Continent, but at most, it only possesses low-level Dou Venerates, equivalent to the Four Pavilions in Central Plains.

Even if they brought out all their resources, if the Protector had to be dispatched, ending this training session wouldn't be impossible.

Furthermore, if he were to reveal his identity, it would be hard to say which side the Heavenly Serpent Mansion would stand on.

As soon as these words were spoken, they exploded like thunder in the ears of the Emperor of Chu Yun.

He looked at Shen Wen in disbelief. He didn't even put the Heavenly Serpent Mansion in his eyes?

That was a true behemoth of the Northwest Continent, an existence possessing Dou Venerate powerhouses!

Who exactly was this person?!

His last shred of hope and psychological defense was completely shattered.

He collapsed completely onto the ground, as if his backbone had been removed, tears and snot streaming down his face: "We'll give... we'll give it... 70 percent of the treasury... This lowly one will immediately order it opened... Please spare my life, Lord Shen!

Please spare the lives of my Imperial Family Clan!"

Shen Wen patted her hand, his gaze sweeping over the ruined Imperial Palace below and the Emperor of Chu Yun, who was like mud. He said lightly: "Hai Bodong, you will supervise this matter.

After the inventory is complete, we will go 'visit' the Headquarters of the Myriad Scorpion Gate to see if there are any fish that slipped through the net, and also... traces of the Hall of Souls."

"Yes, Lord!"

Hai Bodong bowed to receive the order, looking at the Emperor of Chu Yun as if he were a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

"Of course, you can try some tricks, but if you fail, then I'm afraid your Izumo Empire will cease to exist."

"No, definitely not!"

The Emperor of Chu Yun had indeed entertained a thought just now, but then he remembered that even Xie Bi Yan had died.

According to Xie Bi Yan's claims, he could easily subdue Medusa, meaning that besides Medusa, there was likely a Dou Zong here.

A single Dou Zong could easily slaughter their entire Chu Yun Imperial Family.

Hai Bodong followed the crestfallen Emperor of Chu Yun to the Imperial Family Treasury with an expressionless face.

A moment later, he returned to Shen Wen's side, holding several storage rings.

"Lord, 70 percent of the treasury resources are here. Please take a look." Hai Bodong respectfully presented the storage rings. Being able to act this way in front of a former enemy gave him great satisfaction.

Shen Wen took the storage rings, and his powerful Soul Power instantly swept through them.

The mountain of Cultivation Scrolls, Rare Medicinal Ingredients, Divine Weapons, and massive amounts of Gold Coins inside became clear to him.

The exact contents would need to be tallied later, but for now, it appeared to be 70 percent of the Izumo Empire's treasury.

He nodded slightly and casually handed the storage rings to Cao Ying beside him: "Ying'er, you keep these for now."

Cao Ying took them with a charming smile, playing with the storage rings: "This is great. We won't have to worry about medicinal ingredients for a long time.

Husband, are we going to the Myriad Scorpion Gate's old lair next?"

A hint of eagerness flashed in her beautiful eyes. Having just refined the Green Lotus Core Flame, she was itching to test her abilities more.

Shen Wen nodded: "Let's go, and see what 'surprises' are waiting there."

Having said that, the Dou Qi Wings behind the four people flapped.

They flew away from the shattered hole, until the suffocating pressure completely disappeared.

Only then did the Emperor of Chu Yun collapse into the ruins as if exhausted, gasping for breath, his Dragon Robe already drenched in cold sweat.

However, the relief of surviving the catastrophe lasted only a short while before immense fear and deeper anxiety bit at his heart like venomous snakes.

His expression kept changing, and his fists were tightly clenched.

"It's over... everything is over..." he muttered, his voice hoarse.

The complete annihilation of Ancestor Xie Bi Yan, the Myriad Scorpion Gate, and the top forces of numerous sects—this news could not be hidden!

Originally, they had made a huge public display when sending out the troops to intimidate the surrounding area.

Now, after so long without any good news returning,

the Jia Ma, Mulan, and Luoyan Three Empires have probably already gotten wind of this and are watching covetously.

Having lost Xie Bi Yan and the Myriad Scorpion Gate, their main pillar of support,

the Izumo Empire was like a fat sheep whose fangs and claws had been removed, ready to be devoured by the surrounding hungry wolves!

"I must... I must immediately find a new backer!" The Emperor of Chu Yun frantically scanned his surroundings.

His gaze finally fixed in a certain direction, "Heavenly Serpent Mansion! Yes, only the Heavenly Serpent Mansion can save my Izumo Empire!"

Although that mysterious Shen Wen showed disdain for the Heavenly Serpent Mansion, that didn't mean the Three Empires weren't afraid of it!

As long as the Heavenly Serpent Mansion was willing to offer protection, it could at least deter those three greedy neighbors and buy the Imperial Family some breathing room.

As for whether this action would provoke Shen Wen... a trace of bitterness and resolve appeared on the Emperor of Chu Yun's face.

This incident had become so massive that it was impossible to hide it from the Heavenly Serpent Mansion.

Even if he didn't send a message, the Heavenly Serpent Mansion would find out sooner or later.

Rather than waiting passively, it was better to actively seek allegiance.

Perhaps by offering the crucial intelligence that "a mysterious powerhouse has appeared in the Northwest Continent," he could gain some favor from the Heavenly Serpent Mansion.

He struggled to his feet and roared fiercely at the eunuchs who had rushed over upon hearing the news and were nervously hiding in the distance: "Quick! Pass down my decree! Immediately activate the emergency Communication Formation leading to the Heavenly Serpent Mansion!

I have information of the utmost urgency that I must report personally!"

The eunuch scrambled away to follow the command.

The Emperor of Chu Yun watched the direction Shen Wen and the others had departed, his eyes complex, filled with both fear,

and the viciousness of 'luring wolves to drive away tigers': "Shen Wen... Heavenly Serpent Mansion... let the two of you fight! As long as I can survive..."