The Left Minister's expression twitched. He looked down at the whiskey, its alcohol content clearly excessive, unsure if he should drink it. After a long hesitation, he sighed, "I come bearing His Majesty's decree."

"That's none of my business."

After the bartender poured himself a glass and gulped down half of it, he sat before the piano, casually lifted the lid, and began to idly play the keys, as if entertaining himself.

Only after the Left Minister's face showed a pained expression, and he picked up his glass, then downed an entire bottle of hard liquor, did the man reach into his pocket, take out a half-smoked cigar from yesterday, and relight it.

Thin wisps of smoke rose, blurring his face.

"You can speak now."

"It seems I have come at an inopportune time?" sighed the Left Minister.

"I never said Yingzhou people were not allowed. But you always arrive either too early or too late. The former is displeasing, and the latter even more so. I think it would be best if you didn't come at all, but this is your country."

The bartender shrugged. "I'm just a passerby."

The Left Minister stood up, holding the Emperor's decree in his hands, and bowed deeply. "I earnestly request that the General help us out of this critical situation."

So, the old man known as the General snickered, "You could've said that earlier. Ugh, Yingzhou people are always so awkward..."

The Left Minister maintained his pleading posture. "Now we can only rely on the General to turn the tide."

"Ah, that is indeed true, but—" The man considered for a moment, shaking his head. "No."

The Left Minister was stunned.

"Let me guess... you must think I'm a war maniac, right?" the General said mockingly, smoking his cigar. "The type who would start wars like a mad dog at any opportunity? Regardless of whom, regardless of where, no truce until death..."

Without waiting for the Left Minister to respond, he nodded, openly admitting it.

"Yes, that is right. I am."

"But now is not the time, Little Brag."

He laughed oddly. "When it's not the right time for war, one must learn to endure, wait, and compromise. This is a common problem among you Yingzhou people: you always throw catastrophic fits over trivialities. Why don't you value your own lives?"

As he spoke in his raspy voice, iron-like authority emerged from his deep blue eyes. The Terrible Power at the apex of the Fifth Stage rose from this somewhat aged man, enveloping everything under its oppressive might.

His words were firm and resolute, like blows from an Iron Hammer to the Left Minister's soul, intent on turning his speech into nails, hammering them into his mind. "Since life is precious, it should be given equivalent value—but among you, it's far too cheap.

"If you don't cherish your own life, others will not cherish it either. If you don't value the lives of others, then they will treat you like ants.

"Isn't this the simplest truth in the world?"

The color drained from the Left Minister's face, his former handsome grace lost in the presence of this man.

He could only muster his courage. "At least, please take back Xiematai. His Majesty can..."

"Why should I?"

The General countered, "Is it just for a few pieces of the Philosopher's Stone? Or for a fragment from a broken mirror? That's too cheap, Little Brag. Have you really been listening to what I said?"

His voice boomed low, like thunder in the Left Minister's ears, brutally tearing at his eardrums, causing him to fall disgracefully to the ground.

Thick blood flowed from his ears.

He wanted to open his mouth, to plead, but under the General's imposing gaze, he couldn't utter a sound, until from outside the door, a somewhat immature voice arose.

"God's Wedge."

The words of the Emperor came from outside the door. The slight figure entered, pushing open the door, the sunlight behind concealing his face in shadows.

"Apart from the fragment of the Sun Witch's Stigma, there is a God's Wedge beneath Xiematai, the heirloom left by the previous Law Emperor—is that not sufficient recompense for the General?"

As his words were spoken, even the General fell into silence. It wasn't just because of the Emperor's sudden arrival, but also because of the words he had spoken.

God's Wedge.

The last miracle left in the world by the Gods, the definite proof of their past existence. No, it should be said that it was the sole authority the Gods left behind when they faced death.

The miracle of miracles, the power within power.

This was something greater than the remnants of miracles like Stigma. It was indispensable for those wishing to break through the Fifth Stage's limits and step into the Domain of Gods, becoming equals with the Great Spirits of yore—the Natural Enemy.

Yingzhou actually still retains such a foundation?

After a long silence, the General suddenly began to chuckle softly. "As a reward, it's indeed sufficient. But the problem is… why should I follow the orders of a Little Brag and let him ride on my neck?"

He slowly stood up, lowered his head, and gazed mockingly at the diminutive Emperor before him.

"You don't actually think that by offering some benefits, you can manipulate me at will, do you?"

But the Emperor looked up at him.

Gazing at that face which was too terrifying for him, suppressing the fear in his heart, even though his legs had already begun to tremble involuntarily.

"Could it be…" he countered. "Could it be that the General is not my subject?"

"…"

In the silence, the General stood frozen, staring blankly at that face, twitching from fear, for a long, long time before his shoulders suddenly began to shake.

He laughed.

He roared with laughter.

It was unclear whether it was filled with anger or murderous intent, surprise or mockery.

The hoarse voice turned into a thunderclap, spreading across the Sky Dome, stirring the clouds and instantly obscuring the Sun and its light, turning the world pitch black in an instant.

Lightning burst forth, like molten metal, stinging everyone's eyes.

In the end, only the thunderous roars echoing between the sky and the earth remained.

"At last, you're looking a bit like an Emperor, Little Brag…"

He grinned, eyeing the child in front of him with satisfaction, and nodded. "Very good. Since I've come here and become your subject, how could I not honor your decree?"

"It's just that, can you bear the cost of commanding me?"

The Emperor, trembling, did not speak, stubbornly holding his head high.

"Very good. Very good indeed."

The General picked up his wineglass and drained the strong liquor in one gulp. "Then, I'll be right back."

The glass was placed back on the bar top. In the glass, ice cubes swayed with the ripples, then suddenly cracked with a sharp sound, disintegrating into sand-like powder.

Only the fierce Eagle statue broke free from the ice, spreading its wings to soar high in the dim light.

So ferocious.

And the silhouette in front of the Emperor had disappeared without a trace.

In its place, a nearly terrifying storm had arisen over the Endless Sea.

Under that soaring shadow, countless terrifying lightning bolts and thunder roared, effortlessly whipping up towering waves, brutally swallowing everything along their path—the borders and Hell itself.

Plunging straight downward, in an instant, he arrived over Xiematai.

Subsequently, an almost endless torrential rain rose from the ocean, gathered by the gales into a terrifying tornado capable of engulfing Xiematai.

Wild lightning shot out in all directions.

The figure that had suddenly appeared amidst maniacal laughter strode forward and threw a punch.

And so, heaven and earth shook!

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