Chapter 246: Sacrifice Ritual Preparations

In the throne room...

The Fire Emperor and Flaming Sun Princess had ugly looks written across their faces. Even the few officials and ministers in their presence could feel the tense atmosphere and didn't dare to even breathe.

The Fire Emperor was shaking as killing intent radiated out from him and filled the entire room.

"Emperor Father..." Flaming Sun Princess opened her mouth gently to speak, "Maybe things aren't as bad as we think it is. Maybe the Emperor's Energy wasn't destroyed and that Xu Que used a spell to prevent you from tapping into it!"

When the Emperor heard this, his eyes lit up as he nodded his head and whispered, "That's right. The protective spells within the tombs are so powerful. With that small bastard's cultivation level, he wouldn't be able to break through. Since we haven't reached a point of desperation yet, we shouldn't be nervous!"

At this, the Fire Emperor then swept a glance out of the palace and inhaled deeply. His eyes were filled with an intense look of hatred as he whispered, "Flaming Sun, since the situation has gotten to such a state, it's time to conduct the ritual!"

"Emperor father, this..." Flaming Sun Princess was taken aback as she opened her mouth in shock.

"There's no need to speak further. I understand what you mean. But this is our only option left. Madam Ya has been kept pure all her life. The reason was so that we could eventually sacrifice her to the Fire God."

The Fire Emperor waved his hand and interrupted Flaming Sun Princess mid sentence before speaking out, "I guess the Dragon Veins had probably been disturbed and manipulated, resulting a consequence over the nation's fortune. Even our sacred tombs had been broken into by that kid from Heavenly Explosion Faction. Hence, the sacrifice ritual is our only remaining option."

To the Fire Emperor, the only reason he was defeated repeatedly wasn't because he wasn't powerful enough. Instead, it was because the luck and fortunes of the nation had been affected!

The fortune of the nation also represents the life of the Fire Emperor and the success of the Imperial family in their endeavors!

As long as the nation was flourishing and prosperous, the Imperial family would never be destroyed. Likewise, if the nation's fortunes were doing poorly, no matter what they did, luck would always be on the side of their enemies.

Hence, the Fire Emperor assumed that the Dragon Veins were the source of the nation's fortunes and was closely linked to his battle capabilities and powers.

As long as he could use the pure and innocent Madam Ya as a sacrifice to the Fire God, the Dragon Veins would be restored once again. The fortunes of the Fire Nation would thus take a turn for the better and he wouldn't lose to Xu Que anymore.

"Go and prepare. Send someone to escort Madam Ya to the Imperial Tomb's Altar. Once the ritual is complete, we shall call upon the protection and blessings of the Fire God to renew our fortunes. We might even be able to restore the Emperor's Energy. When that happens, Xu Que is dead for sure."

The Fire Emperor waved his hands as his decision was made. At the same time, he instructed Flaming Sun Princess, ensuring that she had no choice but to obey.

The Flaming Sun Princess opened her mouth but decided that she was in no position to disagree.

In actual fact, she found it hard to do something like this, for Madam Ya was her aunt who had watched her grow up. She knew that Madam Ya was well loved by the people. And now, she will be used as a sacrifice. This was hard for Flaming Sun Princess to do.

But things had already reached such a state. She knew that she had no other options. Madam Ya's sacrifice was necessary in order to protect the entire nation and to protect the Imperial family from further farm.

"Flaming Sun understands. I shall now instruct some men to fetch Madam Ya!" Flaming Sun Princess made her difficult decision before retreating.

Zi Xuan had been beside her all this while, listening attentively. She wasn't a member of the Imperial family and wasn't a citizen of the Fire Nation. When it came to such matters, she simply had no rights to offer her opinion and thus remained silent. She then departed along with the Princess.

When the both of them had left, the Fire Emperor sat down on his dragon throne. His eyes were blinking in a daze as he sighed before closing his eyes.

The entire court filled with ministers and officials didn't dare to say anything as well and remained silent.

However, the happy and fast-paced music outside could now be heard from within the throne room.

Several officials couldn't bear the strange lyrics and jovial rhythm of the music and were particularly affected by it.

Additionally, they weren't as disciplined and powerful as the Fire Emperor to repel it. All they could do was to grit their teeth and stand still as they struggled inwardly with themselves.

'What kind of dog shit beat is this? The lyrics doesn't even make sense.'

'Eh?'

'The song changed again?'

'You are my little apple?'

'Too low class. Way too low class! These lyrics are so stupid and they could sing it so loudly and so proudly? Aren't they ashamed singing such song which lacks class and culture!?'

'Eh?'

'The song changed again!'

'Fahai you don't know love? Leifeng Pagoda will fall?'

Pu!

Many of these officials almost spat blood from the rubbish that they were listening to.

'Rubbish, what rubbish songs. These lyrics are absolutely nonsense!'

The ministers and officials cursed under their breaths as their faces were filled with unease while they shook their heads.

However, many of the uneducated war generals within the halls were stirred up by the music. Their eyes beamed as they looked outside. If it weren't for the presence of the Fire Emperor, they would've burst out in crazy dances to vent out the urge in their hearts.

They pricked their ears attentively to listen. The more they heard, the more they enjoyed the songs.

"You are, you are my little apple, no matter how much I love you, it would never be enough... Wow! Fantastic. These lyrics are so mysterious. They're so frank and direct and the singing is so good and clear. It's a very suitable song for confessing your feelings to a woman."

"Unlike those ministers and officials who think they know it all, whom, instead of singing songs that are direct and simple, they had to beat around the bush and sing those dog shit idioms and fanciful lyrics that nobody can understand. How is that manly at all? When it comes to love, it has to be expressed directly and not in riddles!"

"Yo, the song changed again!"

"Fahai you don't know love. Leifeng Pagoda will fall?"

"Powerful. Way too powerful lyrics! Just hearing these lyrics, I can tell that there's a fascinating story behind it!'

"It should be about a hero and a fighter who was abandoned by a woman named Fahai. Hence, in his rage, he decided to shatter and destroy the Leifeng Pagoda!"

The ministers and war generals held different opinions on Xu Que's music. However, what was undeniable was that Xu Que had made them all feel something from his music! Their thoughts and attention had all been drawn towards it.

Regardless of whether they were critical about it or whether they liked it, everyone was listening to it. Gradually, their soul strengths were being affected by his music!

In confusion, an Original Infant staged official looked like he was in a daze and was impacted by the music. He cleared his throat before speaking out loudly, "It's so lonely to be peerless, it's so lonely..."

"Eh?" The Fire Emperor who had been deep in thought the entire time opened his eyes in shock.

Formidable strength and crushing pressure emanated out from the Fire Emperor, causing the official to awaken from his daze.

The Fire Emperor had maintained a neutral and unaffected expression. However, in actual fact, he had also been affected by Xu Que's songs, causing his emotions to be in a whirl. He simply felt like killing someone for allowing himself to fall into it!

And now, someone from within his court dared to sing along to the songs? That was outrageous!

The Fire Emperor glanced down at his subjects before asking angrily, "Who was singing?"

Even before anyone of them could reply, there was another change in the song.

There was a temporal silence as the new track started playing. Soon after, the unabashed and confident voice of Xu Que rang out.

"Who was singing... her voice is filled with loneliness!"

"The white and puffy clouds hovered in the blue skies, just like tears floating in the air..."

"..."

The group of officials and ministers had to do their utmost to stifle a laugh.

That... That was too damn coincidental!

The Fire Emperor shouted out in anger "Who was singing" and Xu Que sang the exact same lyrics as though he was mocking the Fire Emperor's anger.

Indeed, that was truly a coincidence!

Xu Que had already dedicated a portion of his soul strength to the system and allowed it to play songs automatically. The system thus queued several tracks to play at once randomly.

At this point, Xu Que had already engaged with a dozen of Tian Sha Assassins and was fighting a huge battle.

The pair of black wings from his back made him look exactly like a powerful and ferocious demon.

With his mighty fists, he punched and conjured spells in the air, looking extremely magnificent.

When the Water Empress watched him fighting, she seemed to have lost herself in how awesome he looked...