Chapter 8: The Vermilion Bird Ascends! Forget It! Betraying the New Emperor

"Don't kill me!"
"I've spent over half my life cultivating; I don't want to die like this."
"Please, spare me!"
"I will give you anything... just please, let me live!"

Li Muchen ignored the pleas of the Green Wood Mountain Sect Leader, standing motionless in place. At that moment, the Vermilion Bird swooped down, its mouth agape, releasing a torrent of flames that instantly cremated the Sect Leader, refining his entire cultivation into a single inner core.

Once the Sect Leader’s physical body had melted away into the core, the Vermilion Bird dived again, catching it in its beak and swallowing it whole.

Moments after consuming the core—
The Vermilion Bird’s originally dull red feathers began to change, turning into a brilliant, crystalline scarlet. Its wings grew twice as large, radiating far more power than before.

[System Notification: Your contracted divine beast, the Vermilion Bird, has advanced to a Level 2 divine beast.]
[Congratulations, Host, for completing a special side quest.]
[Quest reward issued: Ten Immortal Bone Pills have been placed in your inventory.]

Li Muchen received the pills but had no time to study them. He turned his gaze toward the two Green Wood Mountain elders and communicated with the system through his thoughts.

"System, if I let the Vermilion Bird eat these two elders, can it level up the four divine beasts again?"
[No.]
"What? Why?"
[Their cultivation is only of moderate value, unlike the top-tier cultivation of the Sect Leader.]
"Isn't that a waste?"

He still had three other contracted divine beasts, all currently only at Level 1. If he could find another cultivator with top-tier strength, that would be perfect. But where was he supposed to find more people of that caliber?

Just then, the system’s voice rang out again.
[Although these two elders have lower cultivation, the Vermilion Bird can still gain a small boost if it consumes them. However, the effect will certainly not be as powerful as consuming that top-tier master.]
"Fine!"
"If it has an effect, then let it eat them. Even if it can't trigger another level-up, it’s good for the Vermilion Bird's health."

The Vermilion Bird shared a psychic link with Li Muchen. The moment the words left his mind, its fiery eyes lit up as it stared at the two elders.
"Master is so kind! I love you so much, Master!"

"Nourishment, I need nourishment!"
The Vermilion Bird swooped down from the sky again, charging directly at the two elders, its crimson wings flapping fiercely. It was as fast as the combatants Li Muchen had seen in his previous life in the modern world.

The two elders’ eyes widened in terror; they wanted to flee, but they found themselves frozen, unable to move a muscle. They could only watch helplessly as the giant firebird bore down on them. Within moments, their bodies followed the path of their Sect Leader, dissolving into two inner cores.

The Vermilion Bird hooked its massive beak and swallowed both cores in one gulp. After absorbing them, only a slight ripple of change occurred in its dantian. The bird curled its beak in dissatisfaction and grumbled, "The cultivation is truly pathetic; not even enough to get stuck between my teeth."

Still, it was better than nothing—it would just treat them as small snacks. The Vermilion Bird folded its fiery wings and stood obediently before Li Muchen, fawning over him with a red, bird-like face full of adoration.

Li Muchen stroked the bird’s red crest. "Next time, I’ll find you another top-tier cultivator to eat."

Clack, clack—the Vermilion Bird’s eyes sparkled as it stared at Li Muchen.
"Master, Master, Little Bird loves you the most!"

With the Sect Leader and the two elders dealt with, the only thing remaining was to handle Wu Shanggui and the five thousand elite soldiers he had brought. Li Muchen turned and slowly walked toward Wu Shanggui and his men on the other side of the city wall.

By now, Wu Shanggui and his five thousand soldiers were paralyzed with fear by the preceding events. Some of the less stout-hearted had even wet their pants. Apart from the citizens of the Great Tang Empire, everyone who had entered the barrier was held fast by the immobilization spell, unable to budge.

As Li Muchen’s footsteps drew closer—only fifty meters away—Wu Shanggui finally broke, his pleas spilling out:
"No... don't kill me..."
"Please... I beg you!"

Wu Shanggui swallowed hard, biting his lip, and stuttering his desperate pleas.
"I... I was wrong..."
"Deposed Emperor... no... Your Majesty..."
"I was forced by them! I didn't want to rebel!"
"Please, Your Majesty! Don't kill me!"

Li Muchen curled his lips into a sneer. "Hmph—"
He continued his slow, powerful approach. When he finally reached Wu Shanggui, he reached out and grabbed him by the head, spitting directly into his face.

"Weren't you arrogant before?"
"Calling me a 'deposed emperor' at every turn, and even wanted me to crawl through your crotch?"
"No—I was wrong!"
"Please, Your Majesty, show mercy! Spare me!"

"Mercy? Spare you?" Li Muchen’s fingers shifted from Wu Shanggui’s head to the corner of his eye, rubbing against the skin as he smiled wickedly. "Why should I?"

With that, Li Muchen pressed his fingers down with sudden, sharp force. Terrified to his core, Wu Shanggui lost control of his bladder right there and then. An acrid, pungent scent of urine flooded Li Muchen’s nose. He frowned, his face twisted in disgust as he shoved Wu Shanggui away.

"Filthy thing!"
"I haven't even gouged your eyes out yet, and you're already scared to this point?"
"Truly a useless wretch!"
"And you? You think you’re fit to be a Great General of the Great Zhao Kingdom?"
"The new emperor’s coup wouldn't have succeeded without your help, would it, Wu Shanggui?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Shanggui realized the deposed emperor was settling the score for the rebellion. He couldn't die! If he died, everything would be gone.

"Your Majesty!"
"I... I will expose the new emperor! He is not the former emperor’s son at all! He is a fraud..."
To save his life, Wu Shanggui no longer held back. Without hesitation, he betrayed the newly enthroned emperor of the Great Zhao Kingdom.

Li Muchen narrowed his eyes, watching Wu Shanggui’s expression intently. He knew that what Wu Shanggui said was true. So, that man really wasn't the former emperor's illegitimate son, lost among the commoners after all.

Who could have been behind this, plotting such a massive conspiracy for two years right under the nose of an emperor? Li Muchen’s gaze hardened as he stared into Wu Shanggui’s eyes. "Who is the master behind you?"