Chapter 280: The Royal Family’s Surrender

That guillotine which seemed capable of locking onto fate and causality, severing all true spirits, had already begun to waver once it lost the support of the This World’s Only One authority.

And now, with the projection of the Divine Court and Netherworld solidifying in the sky, the guillotine was directly crushed into dust.

The backlash from the failed Royal Decree caused Prince Rhine to suddenly vomit blood. The blood-clad figure seated upon the throne in the sky crumbled in an instant. On his mythic form, born from soul ascension, twisted and chaotic distortions appeared.

Prince Rhine’s eyes widened as if about to burst. Beneath his skin, countless wriggling worms stirred, and strange whispers echoed from the shadows behind him.

It was a clear sign of supernatural collapse. Prince Rhine could no longer care about his enemy. He relied solely on his sheer will to suppress the pathway’s collapse, completely unaware that the Royal Scepter—symbol of the royal pathway—had already slipped from his grasp.

All of Orank City fell into deathly silence.

All the Transcendents who had been watching the battlefield stared up at the sky-shrouding Divine Court projection. Their bodies and souls began to tremble involuntarily.

Before that projection, capable of illuminating the heavens, even Demigods felt like insignificant ants. The deities seated within the Divine Court needed only to cast a glance to annihilate all life.

And yet, the Divine Court remained solemn, its gods indifferent. It was as if nothing in the world was worthy of their attention.

Within the royal palace and the Great Steam Cathedral, all the watching powerhouses fell silent.

When Prince Rhine had drawn out the Royal Scepter, they believed victory was certain.

Even one-seventh of the complete Royal Scepter still represented the source of the royal pathway. As a Grade-Zero Sealed Artifact, its authority exceeded worldly limits.

Even a Sequence Two Ground Angel couldn’t withstand the laws it invoked.

But the Divine Court projection looming over Orank shattered their understanding—it had suppressed even a Grade-Zero Sealed Artifact’s authority.

In the face of this vast Divine Court, even the Victoria royal family could only bow their heads.

“That’s… the Netherworld projection from a few months ago!”

“Back then, the projection was brief and didn’t show any divine might. But now it’s suppressing even an incomplete Grade-Zero Sealed Artifact?”

“Who is that Guild Saint, really?”

“They say his name is Lu Yan… Why does that name sound familiar…”

Murmurs echoed throughout the Great Steam Cathedral. Before the solemn altar, the church’s high-ranking officials had gathered to discuss the matter.

Yet most of them regarded the Divine Court’s projection with the attitude of spectators watching a good show.

The Steam God Church had ruled the Victoria Kingdom for countless years. Under normal circumstances, they should step in to repel such an overwhelming outsider, preserving the church’s dignity.

But the crux of the matter was that this time, Lu Yan was not targeting the Steam God Church—he was confronting the Victoria royal family.

Ever since the gods fell into slumber centuries ago, the royal family had begun to test boundaries.

First, they strengthened secular authority and expanded the power of the noble class. Then, together with those nobles, they initiated an industrial reform that shook the world.

That upheaval had once brought the Steam God Church to the brink of decline. It was only when the Pope defied opposition and revised the holy scriptures—incorporating steam and machinery into the god’s divine duties—that the church returned to glory.

In such circumstances, the royal family’s relationship with the church was naturally strained.

Just this time, for instance—the royal family had informed the church of the planned ambush on the Guild Saint mere hours in advance.

The Steam God Church had long harbored dissatisfaction. But unable to act openly due to the political situation, they could only maintain an uneasy truce.

Now that the royal family had suffered a setback, the church was secretly delighted. Why would they help Prince Rhine?

What’s more, Lu Yan’s suppression of the Royal Scepter using the Divine Court projection had deeply alarmed the church.

With the True Gods still asleep, their only real foundation was Sequence Two Ground Angels and Grade-Zero Sealed Artifacts—none of which could guarantee a victory against Lu Yan.

“Besides, this Saint seems focused on the Guild. The conflict is mainly with the royal family and nobles. The church has no vested interest in the industrial districts. Giving way slightly won’t hurt.”

One cardinal temporarily set the Steam God Church’s stance.

But he failed to notice one young saint among the group quietly gazing up at the Divine Court projection in the heavens, seemingly lost in thought.

High in the sky, Lu Yan stood proud. In his eyes flickered countless invisible gazes and causal threads.

As the various eyes of scrutiny began to fade, especially the powerful auras from within the Steam Cathedral which had now receded, the waves of karma stilled once more. Only then did Lu Yan secretly exhale in relief.

To the outside world, Lu Yan had conjured the Divine Court and Netherworld projection, suppressed the Royal Scepter with ease, and wielded a majesty that even Sequence Two Angels could not compare to.

But in truth—only Lu Yan himself knew the facts.

In the previous major collapse version, the Longevity Sovereign’s will projection had once told Lu Yan that the order of the Divine Court could suppress This World’s Only One authorities.

That was why Lu Yan had risked everything to construct the Divine Court—so he could stand a chance against beings wielding This World’s Only One power.

And reality had proven it.

The trace of This World’s Only One authority within the Royal Scepter, though minuscule, was enough to crush Sequence Two Ground Angels. Equivalent to a Nascent Soul cultivator confronting a Void Refinement existence.

Yet the Royal Scepter’s core was just that trace of authority.

Lu Yan’s Divine Court, while incomplete, was still a Divine Court of the Myriad Heavens.

Suppressing a complete This World’s Only One authority was beyond him. But suppressing a mere fragment? That was trivial.

The Divine Court’s order had neutralized the scepter. This led the Steam God Church to misjudge Lu Yan.

In truth, Lu Yan’s current limit was fighting Nascent Soul-level opponents. If a Void Refinement powerhouse showed up, he’d probably be forced to trigger the version update and run.

Lu Yan’s gaze shifted toward Prince Rhine, who was still teetering on the brink of supernatural collapse. His expression cold, he reached out and caught the falling Royal Scepter.

The moment his fingers touched it, Lu Yan felt an extraordinary transcendental pathway unfold before him.

In a flash, torrents of information flooded into his mind.

“A source of pathways? Uniqueness? The struggle for royal power?”

Lu Yan raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued.

In popular legend, the royal pathway was one of the few that could rival the seven orthodox divine paths—a true road to godhood.

The knowledge contained within didn’t just reveal the fundamental differences between low- and high-sequence Transcendents, but also unveiled another side to the supernatural system.

The secrets within the Royal Scepter greatly enlightened Lu Yan. Once he finished digesting them, his research into the Netherworld pathway would take a major leap forward.

“Such a marvelous treasure.”

Lu Yan’s gaze seemed to pierce through the scepter, reaching the faint trace of This World’s Only One authority hidden within.

However, he did not walk the royal pathway, and thus could not harness that authority.

“Without becoming a This World’s Only One, forcibly using even a fragmented piece of that authority leads to backlash.

“And that backlash… always exacts a price. That is the true source of danger behind Grade-Zero Sealed Artifacts.”

Realizing this, Lu Yan cast a pitiful glance at Prince Rhine, still hovering in the sky.

A Sequence Three god-walker—comparable to a Nascent Soul Dao Lord—was indeed formidable to the world.

But before This World’s Only One authority, he was just a slightly larger ant.

To bear that authority with his own flesh, even if the supernatural pathway mitigated the backlash, the cost would still be immense.

The Victoria royal family’s act of handing the scepter to Prince Rhine may have looked like support—but in truth, they’d merely used him as cannon fodder to uphold royal dignity.

Even if Lu Yan hadn’t suppressed the This World’s Only One power, Prince Rhine would eventually spiral into collapse for wielding it.

“If death is inevitable, then allow me to grant you a swift one.”

Staring at the grotesquely contorted Prince Rhine, whose aura had grown increasingly depraved, Lu Yan exhaled slowly.

The Yin-Yang energies of Creation and Destruction surged from his mouth, instantly condensing into a world-ending Heavenly Millstone.

Its apocalyptic aura roared through the heavens, grinding everything in its path into void.

On the brink of death, Prince Rhine abruptly regained brief clarity. He roared in fury.

“No!”

A heartbeat later, the twisted flesh beneath his blood-red robe transformed into warped characters. Countless faces emerged from his ascended soul, howling in rage and agony as corrupted energy surged toward Orank in every direction.

But the next instant, that abominable mythic monstrosity was dragged into the Heavenly Millstone. With the roar of the Great Dao, it was ground to dust.

All returned to fundamental particles. Not even a soul fragment remained.

Lu Yan’s Divine Court and Netherworld projection faded slowly, all celestial phenomena dissipating.

Descending once more to the earth, he landed upon the ruins of the White family estate. The thousand-year-old noble clan had been completely obliterated—mere ants before a Demigod’s might.

Yet Lu Yan did not leave.

Instead, he gazed toward the royal palace—as though waiting for something.

After a moment of stillness, a portal shaped like starlight opened within the ruins. A man and a woman stepped forth.

The man wore a deep violet formal suit, his features handsome and elegant. A mere gesture revealed his strength—he was already a Sequence Four Saint.

The woman wore a pale golden gown. Tall and slender with waist-length silver hair, her beauty was stunning and ethereal. Yet her cultivation was far weaker—only Sequence Five.

What the two shared in common were their pale violet eyes—mark of royal blood from Victoria.

Upon seeing Lu Yan standing motionless in the ruins, the two immediately bowed with great respect.

“Greetings, Your Grace.”

“Your Grace” was a title usually reserved for Sequence Three god-walkers—but also dependent on status.

As royal heirs, they had no need to bow to Demigods. Only when facing a High Pope of the Orthodox Church would they show such respect.

But now? Lu Yan had slain Prince Rhine and seized the Royal Scepter. Showing deference was only right.

Lu Yan eyed the pair with a calm, unreadable gaze, saying nothing.

The young man quickly spoke again.

“My name is Charles. I have come to represent the royal family in thanking Your Grace—for slaying the fallen Prince Rhine and saving the millions of citizens in Orank.”

Seeing Charles speak with such seriousness, Lu Yan couldn’t help but show a strange smile.

From the facts alone, Charles hadn’t said anything wrong. Lu Yan had indeed killed the out-of-control Prince Rhine.

But the cause of that collapse? The battle that came before? All glossed over.

“In gratitude for Your Grace’s actions, the royal family has decided to bestow upon you all of Marquis White’s properties, as well as the wealth of the nobles who conspired against the Guild today.

“In addition, the royal family shall issue a decree—every factory in the industrial district will be integrated into the Guild’s reform. This will improve conditions for Orank’s workers.

“If Your Grace desires, this decree can even be expanded nationwide.”

Lu Yan narrowed his eyes. The air itself seemed to freeze in that moment.

Both Charles and the silver-haired woman felt as if an invisible hand was gripping their souls. Terror and dread swept over them in an instant.

But the next moment, Lu Yan smiled. The danger dissipated instantly, leaving only two nobles drenched in cold sweat.

“Thank the royal family for their kindness.”

Still smiling, Lu Yan turned and began walking toward the industrial district, Royal Scepter in hand.

Charles’s eyes widened. He hurriedly called out:

“Your Grace, that Royal Scepter—”

Lu Yan halted.

He looked back at Charles.

The young prince instantly felt a crushing pressure fall upon him. Though Sequence Four, he could barely breathe beneath it.

“What you offered… was a token of thanks for my killing of Prince Rhine.

“Or do you mean to steal my possession in exchange for what’s rightfully mine?”

Lu Yan’s voice boomed like thunder in Charles’s mind. His soul trembled, and his thoughts went blank. He didn’t know how to respond.

“What is it Your Grace desires?”

The silver-haired woman suddenly stepped forward, her tone humble.

Lu Yan toyed with the Royal Scepter in his hand, his eyes gleaming.

“Tell me… who in your royal family handed this scepter to Prince Rhine?”

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she answered.

“It was His Majesty, the King.”

“King Charles is a foolish ruler who has plunged the kingdom into chaos and misery.

“The royal family intends to set things right—by replacing him with a new monarch.

“What does Your Grace think of that script?”

(End of Chapter)