Jiang couldn’t believe how the young-looking emperor could be that way even after doing what he had just done to the innocent court ladies and eunuchs that were here just to serve him in case they were needed, the instant Jiang's eye met his, he found his head slamming face flat on the bloody ground
Jiang could not help feel anger towards this man, a seed of hatred had even begun to grow in the heart of Jiang who have never hated anyone despite what they did to him. But then when Jiang thought about his own father, that seed of hatred died instantly, who was he to hate on the emperor for his actions, his could be considered as nothing as compared to his father that was willing and is still willing to him, his own blood, with such a though he felt he had no right to hate the emperor, when even after all his father had done he still couldn’t bring himself to hate that man, so he had no right hating anyone else for the choices they make.
The emperor of cause didn't miss Jiang's expression of anger as he viewed what had happened in his surrounding, what baffled the emperor wasn't the fact that he noted Jiang's brief hatred as expressed in his eyes for him, but the fact that Jiang didn't seem to have much fear for his own life after all that he had witnessed.
Meanwhile, due to the emperor's outburst, Fang Mu that was although still standing on his two feet, had his brows creased and sweat dripping from his pores, while the lady who was glaring at Jiang earlier was on her knees, coughing up blood. Jiang hadn't been able to read the lady's cultivation level which normally meant she was at a higher level than him.
Jiang didn't die like those pitiful Palace's servants. But his condition was no better since he had been kowtowing to the emperor before the outburst, he was stuck in that position, with a pressure greater than that of a mountain keeping him in that uncomfortable position, it caused his face to flatten down on the floor, as well as his hands which were bent in an awkward position, his backbone was another matter entirely, as Jiang sensed as it began to slowly curve downwards, it did so even more as the pressure he felt on his back grew, making cracking sounds of broken bones to be heard all over the hall, and a howl of pain which had earlier been contained by Jiang to accompany it.
"That melody of pain sounds beautiful, do you agree with me, Fang Mu?" the emperor asked.
Fang Mu responded by first nodding, before saying "Your Majesty is never wrong, I am in agreement with your wise words"
"At least she has got some backbone," the emperor monotonously said, then suddenly let out a burst of devilish laughter at the irony of his words since it was just seconds ago that he literary almost made Jiang a vegetable without a spine with that stunt of his.
The emperor then continued his earlier statement from where he had left off "...for not wailing earlier than we predicted" the emperor casually made that remark while seemingly talking to no one in particular, he then flicked his fingers, something red seemed to spark out of it, about four, and all were headed towards Jiang's direction.
It was as if presently the emperor was deliberately directing his pressure now to certain parts of Jiang's body, those sparks made of only the emperor's fire elemental pressure headed towards Jiang's knees and arms and somehow they were forcefully pushed by the pressure unleashed due to the emperor's powers. The pressure was far too overbearing for Jiang's body to withstand, with his comparatively low level of cultivation and his body still in pain, Jiang none the less wise, in some way found out that due to the emperor's action, at present he was laying with hands stretched forward, legs straighten and face still kissing the ground. If Jiang knew that this pressure wasn't even a tenth of what the Emperor was capable of, he would be completely flabbergasted.
Jiang didn't want to die and thought if only he could breakthrough through the tenth great circle of the Spirit Magus Realm to the Magus Realm then he might have a better chance at surviving this dangerous situation. At this point, he had already sensed that most of the bones in his body were either broken or had started to crack slightly.
Jiang had the idea that in order for the heat pressure unleashed by the Emperor to reach such a high intensity there had to be a substantial amount of air element within that pressure acting as fuel and could either increase or reduce the heat pressure. And if Jiang was to take in that air element present in the atmosphere, it might be possible for him to not only use it to reduce the pressure on his body while at the same time used it aid his cultivation and accelerate his next breakthrough.
Whether Jiang was successful or not didn’t matter, at the very least he had fought the only way he knew to preserve this second life he was fortunate enough to gain. Anyway, having made his decision, Jiang wasted no time in putting it to action. He immediately started to circulate the air element mana in the atmosphere. He drew them towards his body and began to absorb it. As he did this, Jiang actually noticed that the pressure seemed to lessen. Though it wasn’t much, he had expected that. He then moved on to his next phase of action. He forced himself to stand up despite the intense pressure because he believed that such overbearing pressure would be a crucial force, driving rhis breakthrough.
It wasn't easy at all as Jiang forced himself to get up from the ground. His bones kept on making creaking sounds, blood started to seep out through pores of his skin. It was a bizarre sight even for Jiang, however that was the last thought on his mind. The pain he was experiencing right now was indescribably excruciating, but Jiang didn’t back down and faced the pressure head on.
Meanwhile, the Emperor looked at Jiang with heightened interest. His eyes seemed to glow in an unexpected manner. He already figured out what Jiang was planning to do and he wanted to see if he would be successful. The Emperor thought that since the Young Mistress of the Lei Manor was courageous enough to attempt a breakthrough in front of him, he would accord her some respect and indulge her just this once. Then, the Emperor lazily watched the show that Jiang was unwittingly putting up for him.
Jiang didn't disappoint the Emperor. Despite the cracking of his bones and the profuse bleeding all over his body he struggled with all his might to get up from the ground, while trying to accumulate the mana around him at the same time. Eventually, Jiang managed to stand on his two feet after much difficulty. But once he succeeded in standing up, he did indeed make the breakthrough he desired.
However, the price for his actions came at a severe price. was really too much. Jiang resembled a person on the verge of death. He was completely drenched in blood, every single bone in his body seemed to be broken when he had forcefully tried to stand up while attempting a breakthrough by lessening the pressure, and using the air in the atmosphere to cross that final step into the Magus Realm. It was a really risky move on his part, but when he succeeded the mana he received at that moment served as a healing force and helped to heal a most of his wounds. If the Emperor hadn't withdraw his pressure at that moment, Jiang would have probably ended up seriously injured, seeing as how at the moment of a breakthrough to a new realm one shouldn't be disturbed.
Jiang couldn't help but smile widely. Ice Jewel might concealed his features but his eyes were visible for others to see. And it was possible to discern the unspoken joy in him. He was so happy that he didn't even realise that the pressure from the Emperor had been removed.
"Interesting!" The Emperor said with an amused smile as he intently watched Jiang. He was very busy checking on the condition of, and the changes in his body. He seemed to have momentarily forgotten his perilous situation. Finally, Jiang stopped his examination and only then noticed that several pairs of eyes were on him. When he looked up his attention was captured by the Emperor’s eyes. Jiang belatedly realised how disrespectful his actions were, especially in the presence of the Emperor. He wondered, ‘Will he kill me for what I have just done? But I only did that to save my life or did it have an adverse effect instead? What should I do now?’ Jiang’s mind had once again going off on a different tangent.
Jiang’s worries were completely off the mark. The Emperor had only looked at him that way because he was trying to make sense of what he had heard and what he just witnessed. He had his subordinate carry out a detailed investigation of General Lei and everything and everyone connected with him. Thus, one might claim that the Emperor knew more about the Lei family even better than they knew themselves. But this Young Mistress Lei Yue before him was nothing like the reports he had received. This could only mean two things: it was quite possible that General Lei had concealed the true abilities of his daughter and the subordinate assigned the task of investigating the family was not able to do a proper job. The second possibility was that the Young Mistress before him wasn’t Lei Yue of the Lei Manor but someone else. However the Emperor immediately dismissed that notion because he didn’t believe General Lei would be audacious enough to commit such a crime.
Jiang finally came back to his senses, because his fate was up to this man. He must act as cautious as possible, after all there was really no use crying over spilt milk. He decided to shower the Emperor with praises and then see how things played out, "Young Mistress Lei Yue thanks Your Majesty for his grace. Without Your Majesty's chivalrous assistance, this lowly servant wouldn't have broken through so early. It would have taken years for Yuer to breakthrough, this lowly one can’t thank Your Majesty enough." Jiang said excitedly as he kowtowed towards the throne. He believed it was appropriate to address himself the way his father used to call his sister. When Jiang heard that term of endearment, it sounded pleasing to his ears and it might feel that way too with the Emperor, not that he really understood what addressing himself as ‘Yuer’ really entailed.
Jiang heard the Emperor laugh loudly, his voice was so mesmerizing that Jiang took another risk and raised his head slightly to take another peek. Jiang felt a little embarrassed as it seemed like he had become a peeping Tom ever since he entered the Grand Hall. But the way the Emperor laughed and smiled was breathtaking, his face was much better and more refreshing to look at than the cold, cruel face that Jiang had first seen. Jiang couldn't help feeling somewhat inferior in his presence. When the Emperor finally stopped laughing, he asked, "You know that wasn't our intention, right?".
"Even if it wasn't Your Majesty's intention, Your Majesty still helped Yuer breakthrough. So, Yuer is eternally grateful." Jiang stated simply.
"Good, Good, Good." The Emperor said, his expression reverting to its usual one. The change in his demeanour and emotions was really too fast for Jiang to follow or comprehend, which made Jiang see the Emperor as even more dangerous. He wasn’t the only one with such thoughts, almost everyone that got close to the Emperor felt the same way.
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