186: Chapter 185 Destroying the Northern Region Imperial Palace

The Elder knelt on the ground, and as he looked at Dugu Jue in this state, an uncontrollable wave of sorrow surged in his heart.

The Imperial Sovereign who once suppressed the entire Northern Region single-handedly, making the Dugū Clan the hegemon of the North, had actually become like this.

Tens of thousands of years of Legacy, tens of thousands of years of glory, had collapsed just like that.

Just then, a low rumble echoed from outside as the city's defensive formation buzzed under the pressure of Immortal Xuanming's aura.

The entire Imperial Palace was trembling slightly.

The Elder jerked his head up, almost in tears.

"Imperial Sovereign! Look outside! The Immortal from the Taixuan Sect is waiting outside the city for your reply right now!"

"The lives of tens of thousands of Dugū Clan members rest solely on your shoulders!"

"Imperial Sovereign, if you do not pull yourself together, the tens of thousands of years of the Dugū Clan's Legacy will be severed today!"

Dugu Jue's hand stopped.

He kept his head lowered, his expression unreadable.

After a long time, so long that the rumble outside the hall sounded once more, he slowly stood up from his seat, his movements as sluggish as an old man with one foot in the grave.

Though reeking of alcohol, he eventually stood up and walked out of the hall door.

The Elder watched him stand, a flicker of excitement flashing in his eyes.

Wonderful, the Imperial Sovereign had not completely lost his mind after all.

The walls of the Imperial City were already crowded with people.

The Elders of the Dugū Clan, the deacons of various halls, the city guard Disciples, and all the remaining Cultivators under the Northern Region Imperial Palace had gathered atop the walls.

The light of the city's defensive formation had already brightened to its limit; everyone was as if facing a formidable foe.

A True Immortal—after living for so many years, this was the first time they were directly facing such a legendary existence.

No one knew how long this formation could hold, but no one took a step back.

The Dugū Clan's foundation of tens of thousands of years was behind them; to retreat was to face clan extermination.

Just as everyone was filled with anxiety, Dugu Jue's figure appeared in the air above the city gate.

The city wall went silent for a moment, followed by an explosion of commotion.

"It's the Imperial Sovereign!"

"The Imperial Sovereign is here!"

Although the Imperial Sovereign looked somewhat disheveled at the moment, he had come after all.

As long as the Imperial Sovereign was here, the Dugū Clan still had its pillar of support.

Dugu Jue did not look back, nor did he spare a glance at the clansmen behind him.

He stood above the city gate, looking up at the fleet of Warships blotting out the sky outside the city, and saw Immortal Xuanming.

Then he saw the Xuelan Imperial Lord standing at the front of the Warships.

His gaze froze.

He thought of Princess Xue Ziyan.

It was all because of that little slut, Princess Xue Ziyan.

Dugu Jue stared fixedly at the Xuelan Imperial Lord, this single thought churning repeatedly in his mind.

If not for her, how could Ao'er have been angry with him, how could he have been placed in solitary confinement, and how could he have run off outside?

If Ao'er were still alive, how could the Dugū Clan have come to this? How could he, Dugu Jue, have come to this?

Immortal Xuanming was already growing a bit impatient.

His voice spread through the entire Imperial City like thunder:

"Are you Dugu Jue? This seat will give you only three breaths of time. Submit, or die."

Dugu Jue slowly turned his head, stared at Immortal Xuanming for a moment, and spoke:

"The Northern Region can submit to the Taixuan Sect."

As soon as these words were spoken.

Everyone in the Imperial City breathed a sigh of relief in that instant; the hearts that had been hanging for half a day finally settled down a bit.

The Imperial Sovereign had finally relented; the Dugū Clan was saved.

But Dugu Jue was not finished.

He stared at the Xuelan Imperial Lord, a dismal smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"But Princess Xue Ziyan must be handed over. Furthermore, the entire Xuelan Imperial Dynasty must be buried along with my son."

"As a dignified Great Emperor Peak, I will serve your Taixuan Sect like an ox or a horse in the future in exchange for one Xuelan Imperial Dynasty. How about it?"

The air on the city wall froze.

The expressions on the faces of the Cultivators who had just breathed a sigh of relief stiffened before they could even retract them.

The Elder who had gone to invite Dugu Jue earlier was stunned in place. He looked at Dugu Jue's back, his lips trembling slightly.

It was over. The Dugū Clan's foundation of tens of thousands of years was going to be destroyed by this single sentence.

The moment the Xuelan Imperial Lord heard this, his heart tightened suddenly, and his palms were already slick with sweat.

This madman Dugu Jue actually wanted the lives of his entire Xuelan clan as compensation.

"Damn it, I didn't kill your son!"

"He's a lunatic!"

But on second thought, he steadied his nerves slightly.

Based on his understanding of the Main Sect, it was impossible for the Taixuan Sect to agree to such a condition.

After hearing these words, Immortal Xuanming was instantly enraged.

An ant-like being actually dared to negotiate terms with him.

"Courting death."

Immortal Xuanming raised his hand and struck down with a palm.

The moment that palm fell, the threat of death made Dugu Jue snap awake.

He erupted with the full power of his Great Emperor Peak cultivation, attempting to block the palm.

However, it was completely useless.

As the giant palm descended, Dugu Jue's figure was crushed in mid-air.

A Great Emperor Peak had fallen just like that.

Immortal Xuanming retracted his palm, his expression cold as he swept his gaze over the members of the Dugū Clan on the city wall, who were already pale with fright.

His tone was like ten-thousand-year-old ice: "Kill them. Leave none alive."

After a deathly silence on the city wall, several Elders of the Dugū Clan were the first to react.

They scrambled to kneel and prostrate themselves, their voices trembling:

"Exalted Immortal, have mercy! Exalted Immortal, have mercy! We are willing to submit to the Taixuan Sect! We surrender!"

Immortal Xuanming looked down at these people, his eyes showing not the slightest ripple.

He understood the principle of pulling up grass by the roots.

"Kill them, leave none alive," he spoke coldly.

As his voice fell, Empress Danxia and Huo Qianfeng were the first to charge into the city.

The auras of two Great Emperor Peaks swept across the entire Imperial City. Behind them, the army of Buddhist Cultivators from the various Temples of the Western Region followed closely, with Buddha-light and killing intent interwoven.

The Xuelan Imperial Lord killed with the most gusto.

He had waited for this day for far too long.

For as many years as the Dugū Clan had acted tyrannically in the Northern Region, his Xuelan Imperial Dynasty had lived in fear under the nose of the Northern Region Imperial Palace.

When Dugude Ao was alive, he bullied men and women and committed all sorts of evils. Not only did Dugu Jue not restrain him, but he shielded his shortcomings at every turn. The entire Northern Region had been tormented miserably by this father and son.

Today was the day of reckoning.

With every rise and fall of his sword, he struck fast and hard, showing no mercy.

Behind him, even Huo Qianfeng was startled by this ruthlessness, then laughed aloud as raging flames swept through, and the Imperial City was engulfed in a conflagration.

The remaining Cultivators of the Dugū Clan had no power to resist, and the pleas for mercy on the city walls soon fell into silence.

The Northern Region Imperial Palace was thus annihilated.

Immortal Xuanming stood amidst the clouds, his voice carrying through the entire Northern Region:

"The Northern Region Imperial Palace did not respect Taixuan and has been destroyed. Dugu Jue is dead. All forces within the Northern Region must submit immediately. For those who do not comply, the Northern Region Imperial Palace is your fate."

The various provinces of the entire Northern Region instantly exploded in an uproar.

"Dugu Jue is dead? The Northern Region Imperial Palace is gone?"

"The Taixuan Sect is going to unify the Desolate Ancient World. Even Dugu Jue couldn't stop them; what do we have to stop them with?"

"Stop them my ass, hurry up and prepare the Surrender Documents!"

"Right, right, Surrender Documents! Surrender Documents! Who has the format for a Surrender Document? Let me copy one!"

Immortal Xuanming retracted his gaze and looked at the crowd behind him.

"Each of you pick a province to take over. If anyone refuses to comply, just kill them; there is no need to report back."

Everyone accepted the command and headed off in different directions with their people.

Tens of thousands of Warships split into several routes, spreading out toward the various provinces of the Northern Region.