The Emperor's Domineering Favor, the Evil Consort's Unparalleled Reign

"As you wished, you have become the Empress of the Mu Clan Dynasty in the Spirit Realm Continent. Give me the Gathering Yuan Pearl!" Mu Ran said expressionlessly. She had gone against her will to become the Empress of the Mu Clan Dynasty and had punished Hou Jingting, who had murdered Ying Xue. If Ying Li knew this, who knows how heartbroken she would be.

He must obtain the Gathering Yuan Pearl as soon as possible; the sooner he does, the less danger Ying Li will face!

Feng Ye gave a cold laugh. She looked down at the noble Empress's robes she was wearing, her fingertips touching the cool texture of the small jade beads on them. Without even looking up when she heard Muran's question, she said, "The late Venerable Master Mu Zhen said that you must inherit the position of Venerable Master, cultivate a marital relationship with me, and give birth to a legitimate son to inherit the dynasty before I would allow you to have the Gathering Yuan Pearl. The Gathering Yuan Pearl is extremely precious, and the late Venerable Master also left some things unsaid. Feng Ye would never dare to give it to you rashly."

"Uh!"

Feng Ye's neck was gripped tightly by Mu Ran, and she let out a weak groan, feeling Mu Ran's hand tightening around her neck!

"Mu Ran, are you enraged?! What's so great about that woman?! She will shake the foundations of both the Spirit and Ghost Realms, she will drag you into endless darkness! For your own good, even if I die, I will not give you the Gathering Yuan Pearl so you can do something foolish!"

"Feng Ye, do you really think I don't understand your nature?! You're afraid of death! Afraid of falling from your high position! Afraid that all your previous efforts will be in vain! You value your life very much! I'm the kind of person who never wants to owe anyone anything, so I agreed to your first step, bestowing upon you the title of Venerable and allowing you to receive what you deserve, but that's not a reason for you to indulge me! I'm only concerned with my own peace of mind, so don't think I'll have the slightest pity for you! Today, if you can't reveal the whereabouts of the Gathering Yuan Pearl, don't expect to get away with this!"

Muran's voice was as cold as ice and swords, piercing to the bone.

Feng Ye suddenly felt a little scared. It seemed that Mu Ran could crush him like an ant at any moment!

"Hahahaha...Mu Ran, don't forget, you've been poisoned by the Snake Thread Gu! Guess where the mother snake is?!" Feng Ye laughed maniacally, watching Mu Ran's face gradually turn pale, a sense of triumph welling up in her heart.

With his right hand gripping the mother snake tightly, Muran was in excruciating pain. The snake's threads, like tiny, living snakes, twisted and writhed from his wrist, reaching deep into his heart and lungs! Muran could barely breathe; he was enveloped in a vast, black abyss of fear and agony.

Feng Ye smugly shook off Muran's hand that was pinching him, took a couple of steps around the collapsed Muran, clicked his tongue twice and sighed softly, feigning sympathy, "Who would have thought that the now high and mighty Lord Muran would be so pathetic in front of the Empress?! Muran, I advise you to listen to me obediently, otherwise, even though you are more powerful than me, don't forget that your life is in my hands!!! The Gu poison that the former Lord put on you really worked!"

"Don't you feel miserable right now?! From the day you were born, your fate has been in the hands of others?! Don't you feel indignant about your situation?! You were born a prince, yet you grew up hiding in the Huaijiang Mansion; you could have had wealth and happiness for the rest of your life, yet under your birth mother's control, you were born with a short-lived constitution, destined to live no more than thirty years; you were handsome and dashing, and even Heaven should have arranged a good marriage for you, yet under your father's poison, you married a woman you didn't love!"

Feng Ye frowned as he watched Muran lying shivering on the ground. He knelt down and stroked Muran's cold face, his eyes filled with icy resentment. "Muran, I used to feel sorry for you. Hearing about your background, I felt so sorry for you. My situation was the same as yours. Although I was the Princess Feng Ye of Zhong'an Kingdom, I couldn't control my words or actions. When I learned that I was to be married off to a stranger for political reasons, I resisted with my life and severed ties with my uncle. But when I saw you, I was willing to become a prisoner in the court. I was willing to spend my life with you within the high walls and deep palace. I thought that two people who were exactly alike would be happy. But you didn't cherish it!"

Feng Ye shoved Muran away, her head hitting the ground hard. She shook her head slightly, tears welling in her eyes. "You don't cherish me! I have looks, I have education, I have status, why can't I compare to Ying Li?! Since you've already married me, don't even think about backing out halfway! Since I can't keep your heart, then I'll keep you, keep your power! And in the future, I'll keep your descendants! Muran, don't run away, it's useless, what's so good about Ying Li?!"

Feng Ye lay slightly on the ground, leaning against Mu Ran's chest. He closed his eyes quietly, his expression softening. But his right hand gripped the mother snake's vital point tightly. "As long as you obey, we will create the future of the Spirit Realm together. We will seal the barrier between the Spirit and Ghost Realms, so that those Ghost Realm people can no longer disturb us. Okay?!"

"Ugh! Ah!" The veins on Muran's forehead trembled incessantly. He cried out and gasped for breath. The waves of pain from his heart were unbearable. Blood gushed from the corner of his mouth. The little snake struggled and wreaked havoc in his heart. The taste of blood rose from his throat. The pain almost made Muran faint!

With his hands clenched tightly, he kept circulating the spiritual energy within his body. Muran's eyes were bloodshot. The Heavenly Spirit enveloped his and Feng Ye's bodies, but it could not alleviate the pain in the slightest!

"Ah! Uh! Ah!" Muran's eyes widened suddenly, unable to catch his breath, his face covered in cold sweat and deathly pale. The little snake hissed and roared at his heart, its sharp fangs tearing relentlessly at Muran's heart! The tiny wounds were constantly magnified with each rise and fall of his heart!

"Mu Ran, tell me, were you wrong?" Feng Ye held Mu Ran's trembling body tightly, asking with a smile. She firmly believed that as long as she had something on Mu Ran, she could control Mu Ran's life.

Muran's eyes were bloodshot, the blood vessels constantly spreading. He was in pain, he was filled with hatred! Why?! Why had he been bound by others since birth?! Why?! He would make those who had hurt him pay the price!!!

"Ugh! Ah!" Muran's body arched, and with the support of the Heavenly Spirit, he soared into the air. He struggled to gather spiritual energy in his right hand and struck his chest with a palm! A powerful barrier was erected at his heart! The barrier power that Xuan Ye had taught him quickly enveloped his wounded heart when it touched it, blocking the roaring little snake outside!

Feng Ye's expression changed drastically. By the time she reacted, Muran's sword was already at her throat! She hurriedly dodged, but half of her long, jet-black hair was already severed, leaving her in a mess! Feng Ye was terrified. She gathered her spiritual energy to block in front of her, but Muran's sword strangely slashed towards her right hand!

"Mu Ran, you!" Feng Ye hurriedly dodged, but her right arm was slashed hard by Mu Ran's sword. The flesh was torn open, and blood gushed out like a fountain. She was shocked and terrified. Mu Ran wanted to kill her! Mu Ran really wanted to kill Feng Ye!

"Ugh!!!" However, the next second, Muran's heart-wrenching scream startled Feng Ye. She clutched her bleeding right arm, watching Muran clutch her chest in agony. She blankly raised her right hand. The mother snake had been decapitated! The corpse left in her hand writhed emotionlessly. The mother snake's head fell at Feng Ye's feet, its two venomous fangs spraying out their last drop of venom. Half a cup of tea later, it was dead.

"If the mother snake dies, you will die! Mu Ran, do you love her that much?! Do you love her that much?!" Feng Ye's eyes were filled with tears as he looked at Mu Ran in disbelief, as if he were looking at a madman. Mu Ran's body trembled slightly. He struggled to stand up, blood trickling from the corner of his lips, his eyes utterly indifferent. "Feng Ye, the Gathering Yuan Pearl! Give me the Gathering Yuan Pearl!"

"Mu Ran, the mother snake is dead, and you're about to die too. Do you think I'd let Ying Li have it so easily?! Let me tell you, from beginning to end, I never intended to leave the Gathering Yuan Pearl to Ying Li! I've already used the Gathering Yuan Pearl; I have nothing else for her!"

"Fine, since you're so ruthless, don't blame me!" Mu Ran smiled, her eyes suddenly turning blood red, her pupils fixing on Feng Ye, rendering him unable to move, yet the wound on his right arm continued to bleed!

"Feng Ye, I'd like to see if you love me or yourself!" Mu Ran said, her pupils growing stronger. Out of the corner of Feng Ye's eye, he saw his right arm gradually turning purplish-blue. If this continued, he would lose his arm! Once he lost his arm, his life would be next!

She did so much to become the Empress of the Mu Dynasty, to be at the center of power, so that she would not be trampled on by others. But now, if she loses her life, everything will be in vain!

The Gathering Yuan Pearl is not something someone with her skill level could obtain. She was just deceiving Mu Ran earlier; the Gathering Yuan Pearl is safely hidden in Mu Zhen's secret chamber...

"While you hesitated, your arm was ruined. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Feng Ye, you will experience what I just felt, and even more pain!"

"In Mu Zhen's secret chamber, on the east wall, there's a hidden compartment that can only be awakened by those without royal blood. What you're looking for is there!!! Alright, let me go!" Feng Ye was nearly driven mad. She cursed and shouted, "Mu Ran, let me go! Mu Ran!"

"As expected!" Mu Ran stared coldly at Feng Ye, her pupils growing weaker and weaker. "You really do love yourself more!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Muran clutched her chest and walked towards the door. Feng Ye collapsed to the ground, her head lying next to the mother snake's head. Feng Ye watched Muran's departing figure with sarcasm and asked bitterly, "Was it worth it?! Muran, was it worth all that you did for her?!"

Muran stopped, turned around, glanced at Feng Ye, and said emotionlessly, "Muran died when he was born. The current me is Jiang Huai. And Jiang Huai, for Ying Li, is worth anything!"

With a fleeting movement, Jiang Huai's figure vanished from the tall and magnificent hall...