Wait a minute, where is my master?

Ye Wuyang completely lost his temper.

When only eight hundred pitch-black pupils remained in the void, he suddenly realized.

Getting beaten didn't stop him from talking!

The only way out now was to quickly mention the wager, and as for the outcome, whether the other party accepted or not, that was no longer his concern.

Ye Wuyang felt that for the grand scheme of the Demon Sect, he had done all he could and even if the Great Elder inquired later, he would have an explanation ready.

With that thought, the seven hundred and eighty-nine black pupils in the void, facing Jin Xu's golden lightning, spoke in unison.

"Emperor Zhao, since the founding of the Great Xia Dynasty, you have adhered to the national policy that prioritizes the welfare of the people. Today, as you ascend the throne and in the presence of all the guests and major powers from the Nine Provinces (broadcasted)—you wouldn't disregard the lives of one hundred thousand citizens of Great Xia!

Currently, our sect has detained one hundred thousand civilians of the Xia Dynasty in a valley a hundred miles from Shangjing City, and their lives now hang by your single thought!

If you still care about their lives and adhere to your dynasty's policy, have this Taoist stop and bet with me.

Otherwise, I can detonate that valley right now and let those one hundred thousand of Great Xia perish in the blink of an eye!"

The Four Elders of the Demon Sect spoke extremely quickly, fearing his words would be drowned out by the thunder, and he specifically constructed this sentence in the void with his spiritual power beforehand.

Upon hearing this, Xia Xuanmin on the high platform narrowed his eyes, instinctively wanting to cut off the broadcasting formation of Tingfeng Building, but the cultivator responsible had already broadcasted the spiritual energy script in the void.

"The enemy wants to use the people's lives to threaten Zhaoer,"

Emperor Min, although not knowing what exact wager the enemy would propose, knew that once agreed, he would surely be led by the nose by them.

So, he conveyed through sound transmission to the Empress.

"Zhaoer, you mustn't agree to the enemy's wager. In a moment, your grandpa will take over this matter. When I start fighting this demon cultivator, you command the Left Minister to destroy all broadcasting formations in Tingfeng Building! Afterwards, pacify the guests properly, pushing all the responsibility onto me, and this matter will be resolved."

Xia Xuanmin knew the enemy intended to coerce Xia Yunzhao with righteousness.

So, he wanted to take on this matter himself since he was already a man near death and had already borne the stigma of using the citizens of four cities as bait. He didn't mind carrying the lives of another hundred thousand now.

He was no longer the Xia Xuanmin who had founded Great Xia, but he wanted his granddaughter to inherit the throne cleanly and continue the legacy he started.

This was also taken as the last thing he could do for his beloved granddaughter before his death.

Xia Yunzhao, sitting on the emperor's throne in the Golden Throne Hall, heard what the Four Elders, Ye Wuyang, had said and also heard the sound transmission from her grandfather.

It was only then that she realized that the mention of one hundred thousand citizens as a congratulatory gift was meant this way.

The abduction of the citizens of Shangjing City had not been reported to her by Xia Xuanmin.

The newly enthroned Empress of Great Xia pondered for a moment, then flew out.

She understood the implications of what her grandfather had said. If she listened to him, there was a high chance the one hundred thousand citizens would die, and the stigma would be borne by Xia Xuanmin, and she could be absolved as a clean new Emperor.

But, she did not want that.

Xia Yunzhao felt fortunate enough to have met Jin Xu and to inherit a throne that others had desperately sought, even at the cost of their lives.

When her grandfather had given her the option to ascend the throne, all the pros and cons were clearly presented, and she had thoroughly thought it over before agreeing. She also understood what kind of legacy Xia Xuanmin wanted to continue, and she greatly agreed with it.

Thus, for today's matter, no matter what conspiracies the other party had, she must bear it herself.

Otherwise, if today her grandfather took this matter on himself, and tomorrow she encountered a similar situation, she would not have another grandfather to rely on.

Besides, with the Taoist present, her life was undoubtedly safe.

So, these one hundred thousand citizens, she wanted to save!

Xia Yunzhao flew out of the Golden Throne Hall.

Within the Golden Spiritual Power Shield formed by Jin Xu, she looked at the remaining seven hundred and twelve black pupils in the void, her face full of vigor, and boldly said.

"It wouldn't hurt to bet with you, but let's talk about the wager when you're down to one last eye!"

These words had just been transmitted to her by the Taoist.

Jin Xu saw and heard the enemy's words—the lives of one hundred thousand citizens indeed should not be taken lightly.

The Taoist had been in the Nine Provinces Realm for so long and had probably not seen as many living people as this number.

However, since the demon cultivator had demands, they definitely shouldn't just listen to whatever he said. To offer a wager was fine, but let's wait until there was only one eye left in the sky!

Thus, Jin Xu directly transmitted these words to Xia Yunzhao.

On the high platform, Xia Xuanmin saw that his beloved granddaughter ignored his transmission, and his heart sank. But at this moment, he couldn't say anything because Xia Yunzhao was now the Emperor of Great Xia, and he must respect her in front of all these people.

In the high skies, when Ye Wuyang heard the other party agreed, he was initially elated. But then hearing them talk about discussing the wager only when one eye was left, he first froze then anger surged up.

It was one thing for that Taoist not to take me seriously, but for you, a little girl who ascended to the Void Refinement Realm by relying on your nation's dragon energy, to look down upon me too!

The Four Elders of the Demon Sect was burning with rage, his heart afire!

In a fit of rage, he withdrew four hundred thirty-four of the remaining four hundred thirty-five black pupils from the sky!

"Didn't you say we would talk when there was only one left? Well, now we can talk, right?"

On the ground.

Jin Xu, who had been holding up his right hand, was stunned.

He had just discovered that the Hand Palm Thunder could be sustained as a golden lightning column, swiftly sweeping across the dense black eyes in the sky. Why had the black pupils disappeared on their own at this moment?

In the void.

The sullen voice of Ye Wuyang echoed.

"There's only one eye left now, can I speak?"

Xia Yunzhao instinctively turned her head to glance at the little Taoist on the ground who had just lowered his right hand and then spoke, "Speak then, how will your Demon Sect cultivators be willing to release the hundred thousand citizens of my Great Xia?"

The Four Elders of the Demon Sect composed his emotions before he began narrating his bet.

Although the current situation didn't match his envisioned grand entrance of using the citizens' lives to threaten Great Xia and the little Taoist into compliance, he could finally articulate the bet he had planned!

"In a valley a hundred miles outside of Shangjing City, your Great Xia's hundred thousand citizens are there at this moment. They are now under the influence of the Charming Skill, left with only their basic instincts to act.

My bet is this, I will give your Great Xia eight hours. If you can evacuate all the citizens from the city, then my Demon Sect will not send anyone to the territories of the two provinces of your Great Xia for the next three hundred years; if you fail, I will not detonate that valley, you just need to give me half of Great Xia's national Dragon Energy,"

After hearing this bet, Xia Yunzhao was puzzled. One hundred thousand citizens sounded like a lot, but high-level cultivators using techniques like Sleeves of the Universe could transport them several times in less than the time it takes for a cup of tea.

Why would the other party give eight hours for a surely lost cause?

"Are there any restrictions?"

The Empress gazed directly at the sole remaining black eye in the void as she inquired.

"Well, it's not exactly a restriction.

But that valley was casually marked with a new formation by the Third Elder of my sect while studying formation paths. The formation itself isn't very powerful; it just perfectly balances Spiritual Sense and Spiritual Energy inside.

If any other force enters from the outside, or if a cultivator enters the formation, it would cause a violent explosion. The power of the explosion isn't great, but it's just enough to kill all the hundred thousand citizens in the valley. So, Emperor Zhao, if you want to rescue all the hundred thousand citizens from the valley, you could only let ordinary people go in to save them."

Ye Wuyang finally revealed his meticulously prepared bet!

He tried to discern any distressed expression on the faces of Xia Yunzhao and the little Taoist, but alas, both of them had either a blank face or a calm demeanor.

Seeing this, he turned to the Empress and said, "Your Great Xia claims to put people first since its inception. Today, betting half of your Dragon Energy and national fortune against your hundred thousand citizens' lives, I wonder, Emperor Zhao, are you willing to make that sacrifice?"

Xia Yunzhao remained calm, yet she chose not to speak.

At this moment, she was busy communicating telepathically with the little Taoist Jin Xu.

On the high platform.

Xia Xuanmin, having heard Ye Wuyang's bet, showed anger in his cloudy eyes and his slackened face trembled. He felt like his granddaughter, like a young beast who had just learned to hunt and encountered a seasoned hunter.

And he, an old beast close to death, had the responsibility to shield her from this seasoned hunter.

This time, Emperor Min decided not to communicate with Xia Yunzhao first.

Xia Xuanmin swept his gaze over the broadcasting formation and the cultivators of Tingfeng Building, aware of their capability to spread information. Thus, he planned to first destroy the broadcasting formation, restrain these people, and then directly confront the Four Elders of the Demon Sect in combat, finally shouldering all the blame himself.

Emperor Min slightly squinted, gathering his Spiritual Power slowly within him. Although his life was nearing its end, he still had the strength for one last fight.

"Grandpa, please don't act rashly."

Xia Yunzhao's voice suddenly rang in his ears.

"Granddaughter knows you want to protect me and shield me as much as possible. But I don't want you to bear the blame anymore. I want to take this risk myself. Moreover, Jin Xu just told me he has the perfect solution to this matter."

Xia Xuanmin abruptly halted his planned actions.

The understanding from Xia Yunzhao comforted him deeply as he cherished his granddaughter, and she cherished him in return.

"I know about that valley mentioned by the demon cultivator. The mouth of the valley is no wider than ten yards. If ordinary people were to go in one by one to move the citizens out, it could take days. Are you sure friend Jin Xu truly has a solution?"

Xia Xuanmin communicated back.

"Yes, Grandpa, don't worry. If the little Taoist says he has a way, then he definitely has a way."

"Right, Uncle Xia, you can rest assured."

Jin Xu, who had accidentally overheard their telepathic conversation, couldn't help but interject.

Seeing even the little Taoist vouching for it, Emperor Min temporarily halted his radical plans.

"Wait a moment! This person can hear my and Zhaoer's telepathic communication?"