Chapter 5: Two Signatures in a Row, Your Majesty, I Want Your Life!
However, after Ning Ye descended Siguo Cliff, his first stop wasn't his Cold Palace. Instead, he was led by imperial guards to the Yanyun Imperial Palace, outside the Emperor of Yan Yun's sleeping quarters.
The eunuch in charge outside the palace saw Ning Ye approaching and quickly bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Highness, please wait!"
"This old servant will go inform Your Majesty!"
With that, the eunuch leader unhurriedly entered the sleeping quarters.
Soon, a powerful and incredibly majestic voice echoed from within the sleeping quarters. "Three days of reflection."
"Have you thought it through?"
"If you accept this marriage, then all will be well!"
"If you don't accept it, then go to the Southern Border yourself and never return to the Yan Capital for all eternity!"
Indeed!
Ning Ye shook his head.
According to his memories of Against the Nine Heavens, he would rather die than accept this marriage, even if it meant being banished to the Southern Border.
In the Southern Border, he would encounter Xiao Tu, one of the nine worldline Heavenly Mandate Protagonists of Against the Nine Heavens. So, going to the Southern Border wasn't entirely out of the question, but he had a better plan now!
"Imperial Father!"
"This son has thought it over!"
"This marriage, this son accepts!"
Ning Ye replied in a deep voice.
As his voice fell, there was a moment of silence within the Emperor's sleeping quarters; clearly, the Emperor of Yan Yun hadn't expected Ning Ye's attitude to change so quickly.
"Good!"
"You've finally grown up!"
"Although your cultivation is ruined..."
"And your eyes are blind..."
"You still have some use, after all."
"Unlike your useless mother!"
Upon hearing these words, Ning Ye's face instantly turned cold, as if it were about to freeze over.
His mother passed away ten years ago. On the surface, it was due to illness, but Ning Ye, after awakening his past life memories, knew that ten years ago, the Emperor of Yan Yun suffered a Qi Deviation during his cultivation, developing demonic poison within his body.
He then used a cultivation technique to transfer the demonic poison to his mother. Not long after, his mother left this world.
Therefore, his mother didn't die of illness; she was murdered!
The murderer was the Imperial Father he had called for over a decade—the Emperor of Yan Yun, Yan Xiaoyao!
Moreover, if he hadn't shown promise and displayed powerful cultivation talent at that time, he and his younger sister, Ning Xue'er, would likely have been cast into the Cold Palace ten years ago, enduring endless torment, and wouldn't have survived until now!
"Enough!"
"It's getting late!"
"Remember!"
"Within seven days, depart for Junlin!"
"Now get out!"
The Emperor of Yan Yun's cold voice rang out.
Hearing this, Ning Ye turned and left without a word. Just as he was about to step out of the Yanyun Imperial Palace, he suddenly glanced back, looking coldly at the extremely luxurious imperial sleeping quarters, and murmured in a voice only he could hear.
"Three years?"
"Old thing, you'd better live a little longer!"
"Your life!"
"I'll take it!"
With that, he no longer hesitated and turned towards the Cold Palace.
In the Against the Nine Heavens storyline, Luo Jia would overthrow the Yanyun imperial power on a night three years later, and also chop off the head of the Emperor of Yan Yun, Yan Xiaoyao.
But Ning Ye didn't want to leave Yan Xiaoyao's life to Luo Jia, because some grievances needed to be settled by his own hands!
Even if Luo Jia's target in three years wasn't just the Emperor of Yan Yun, but also himself!
Just then, a System sound once again echoed in his ears.
[Ding! Based on the situation, the Host's hidden mission has been activated.]
[Mission Name: Regicide.]
[Mission Description: Kill the Emperor of Yan Yun, Yan Xiaoyao.]
[Mission Duration: Three years.]
[Mission Reward: 100,000 Heavenly Mandate Essence + one Divine Rank lottery draw.]
Hearing this, Ning Ye was stunned, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"So that's it!"
"The hidden mission is... regicide!"
"Things seem to be getting interesting!"
At this moment, his thoughts gradually became clear:
First, marry the villainous Great BOSS, then slay Yan Xiaoyao, and finally settle accounts with Luo Jia!
And before that, he had to increase his strength as much as possible!
In short, first, sign in!
...A secluded palace within the Yanyun Imperial Palace—Changye Palace.
This place seemed like a corner forgotten by time.
Unlike the extremely luxurious imperial palace, every brick and tile of Changye Palace exuded sorrow and desolation.
The palace gate was dilapidated, the red bricks of the palace walls were exposed, and the two stone lions at the entrance had one missing an ear and the other an eye, looking very desolate and comical.
Weeds grew rampant in the courtyard; the once blooming flowers were now just withered branches and leaves. Only a large banyan tree stood alone in the small courtyard, with a few fallen leaves occasionally drifting down.
Pushing open the dilapidated palace gate, Ning Ye entered the Cold Palace, then spoke in a deep voice, "System!"
"Sign in!"
[Ding! Congratulations on successfully signing in at the Cold Palace! Reward obtained—Cultivation Technique: Eight Steps of the Heavenly Demon!]
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for comprehending the profound truth of the Eight Steps of the Heavenly Demon, reaching the Entry Realm!]
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for comprehending the profound truth of the Eight Steps of the Heavenly Demon, reaching the Subtle Realm!]
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for comprehending the profound truth of the Eight Steps of the Heavenly Demon, reaching the Major Achievement Realm!]
"Eight Steps of the Heavenly Demon!"
"A Demonic Path forbidden martial art!"
"In terms of speed alone, it can rank among the top three movement techniques!"
"This is a top-tier movement technique that only true Demonic Path inheritors can obtain!"
"And he only took a few breaths... to comprehend it to Major Achievement?"
"Is this the power of Divine Rank Comprehension Ability!"
Ning Ye took a deep breath and muttered, his gloomy mood improving significantly.
At this moment, he could feel the profound truth of the Eight Steps of the Heavenly Demon etched into his mind as if carved by a knife and axe. The profoundness and insights within it felt as if they had been condensed over a hundred years of cultivation, extremely deep and wondrous.
However, if he wanted to go further and cultivate the Eight Steps of the Heavenly Demon to the Great Perfection Realm, relying solely on comprehension ability wouldn't be enough. He would need actual combat experience to achieve it.
"The next step is to sign in at Yan Jue Palace!"
Ning Ye stroked his chin and said.