Chapter 13

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The general swallowed his saliva. At this moment, the thousands of black shadows around him also held their breaths and looked around, as if they were trying to protect something.

Seeing that, the man frowned and demanded impatiently, “What do you have to say?”

The man had somehow released his resistance earlier on, but now, it had faded away. It was not a power that he could control at will.

Even the general was also trembling in fear, and he said carefully, “I didn’t expect the sorcerer to have someone supporting him. The sorcerer calls him ‘Heavenly God’. Some citizens and priests of Tianlong even regard him as their guardian deity. The sorcerer claimed that they had to sacrifice some animals every month, and even human lives. Supposedly, this was the only way to make Tianlong even more prosperous. For some reason, the commoners all obeyed the sorcerer to serve this heavenly deity.”

The general explained, “However, there were definitely sober ones among the common people. They could tolerate sacrificing livestock, but later on, they actually had to sacrifice human lives. Sometimes, they sacrificed priests, and sometimes, even children who were born with spiritual roots. Of course, there were definitely those who did not obey. However, those who did not obey would usually end up dying unexpectedly. For this reason, the Emperor could only swallow his anger. Although he was still the Emperor of Tianlong, almost half of the country was not under his jurisdiction. For the past 18 years, the Emperor had always turned a blind eye to the sorcerer’s actions because not only would he have to face the rebellion of the priests from Tianlong Temple, but he might also have to face the wrath of the Heavenly God if he executed the sorcerer.”

“Your Highness, I’m sure you’re here now because of them. I’ve let you down. I failed to protect you and made you suffer here. However, Your Highness, why are you still alive? I am not cursing Your Highness, but this place is the altar of the Heavenly God. It’s divided into four mystical realms. That’s what we learned after we died.”

The general continued, “Each mystical realm is filled with dead souls from sacrifices. Some belong to livestock, while some belong to soldiers like us. Others belong to priests or children. This is where dead souls should be. No living people have ever appeared here apart from intruders. However, they have always been executed by the Heavenly God. That’s why I’m really curious as to why both of you appeared here alive!”

Mu Yao didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t say that she had reincarnated. That explanation sounded outrageous.

Besides, the man’s appearance was a mystery even to her.

However, that wasn’t important for now. What was important was that Mu Yao had a rough idea of what had happened to her.

However, one question remained. Only those who were sacrificed would appear here.

Did that mean that these defeated soldiers had been sacrificed instead of being defeated in battle?

As such, Mu Yao asked, “If this is a sacrificial altar, why are all of you here? Before I came here, I remember hearing all the citizens saying that you were defeated, and that it was because of me that it happened. You guys weren’t sacrificed!”

At this moment, the thousands of black shadows were all trembling.

“Your Highness! Please keep your voice down!”

“Your Highness, there’s more to our deaths!”

At the same time, the black shadow general was silent. He was incensed. It turned out that the princess had been sacrificed after all! All of this was because of the Heavenly God’s greed!

When the soldiers first arrived, everyone thought that they had died gloriously for their country and would be praised by their descendants.

However, later on, the Heavenly God appeared in this mystical realm.

It was then that they found out that their deaths were not simply because they had been defeated! Although the stone tablet also said that they had lost gloriously, that was merely a pretense!

After all, the souls of the defeated would not have appeared here. They were only here because the sorcerer and priests had sacrificed them to the Heavenly God! They would forever be trapped here, unable to enter the cycle of reincarnation!

In addition, if they ever angered the heavenly deities, their souls might even be destroyed.

However, the citizens of Tianlong knew nothing about this secret of theirs. They had been kept in the dark because of a selfish sorcerer who pretended to be merciful and kind.

Yet, even though the soldiers now knew what was going on, they did not dare to discuss this matter loudly in this mystical realm.

Therefore, these thousands of black shadows had lived here with hatred for so long.

They looked at each other, wanting to speak, but not daring to do so. Who knew when that terrifying Heavenly God would show up?

At the same time, the black shadow who said that he had gone to Shuiguo to be a spy at the start stepped out. “If you don’t dare to say it, I’ll say it! Anyway, I’m not afraid of my soul disappearing!

If I continue to live here, I might have a wisp of my soul left, but I’ll never be able to enter reincarnation. I’ll still be suppressed under this idiotic Heavenly God. I might as well have my soul scattered!”

“Li Dan! Do you want to die? Do you know what you’re saying?!” one of his compatriots warned.

“That’s right, Old Li. We shouldn’t lose hope!” another encouraged.

Beside the black figure called Li Dan, the general sighed without any intention of stopping them.

Li Dan then said to Mu Yao, “Your Highness, the reason we’re here is that we were sacrificed. Being defeated in battle was only a cover. This way, the people wouldn’t be thrown into chaos nor would the hearts of the sorcerers and priests be shaken. Therefore, Your Highness, you may have been sacrificed for an unknown reason too. I don’t know why you’re still alive. No matter, can you help us return and reincarnate if you manage to leave this mystical realm? Otherwise, we only hope that the citizens of Tianlong and our relatives will know that the people they respect are not good people! They need to realize that!”

When the other black shadows saw that nothing was happening around them, they also began to speak, “Your Highness! Please help us!”

“Your Highness! You’re our only hope now!”

“It’s not just about us, but Tianlong and the Emperor too! We’ve been bullied for long enough!”

The soldiers had no idea that the Emperor was dead. Even Mu Yao herself had no idea about that.

Mu Yao heard the cries of the black shadows, making her feel very conflicted. It turned out that the Emperor had allowed her to live 18 years in peace and comfort. She really thought that her parents had only done this because of the Emperor’s orders.

She wasn’t the cause of the soldier’s defeat in battle. She was merely a scapegoat to appease the hearts of the people because of the greed of the sorcerers and priests!

Hearing this, tears naturally flowed out of her eyes.

‘Heavenly God, that sorcerer and priest, just you wait! Father, Mother, did you know that I was a scapegoat? Did you choose to let me be executed? And the Emperor, my dear father, are you well?’

She took a deep breath, her hazy eyes flashing with a hint of coldness and determination!

She had to prove her innocence!

She gathered her strength and said, “I promise you..”