Knife.
Gentle dance.
Sounds of reed flutes filled the air above Floating Island, the breeze was tender and beautiful, with the bright moon hanging in the void.
In the midst of the gorgeous music, the knife rested on the man's neck.
"Wait a moment!"
The man was completely immobilized, yet he did not panic at all, merely speaking calmly,
"Why the rush? Patricide and assassinating the Head of the Family are against the rules, and greatly damaging to your reputation."
"Child, just wait—wait until I pass on the position of the family head to you, then I will commit suicide!"
"This is my truest 'love,' a final request from a father to his child."
Song Qingyun had been calm, her gaze steady, but upon hearing these words, she suddenly burst into an uncontrollable sharp laughter.
"Hahaha, you are so ridiculous."
She held the knife, her expression composed, her gaze unfocused as she fell into memories of the past.
For a while.
Her tone turned cold,
"You dare to talk about 'love'?"
"Not just you, the entire human race is ill-suited to be the vessel for 'love'."
"—Humans are too fickle, emotions come and go without schedule, they are the lightest and most worthless nothings in the world."
She took a step forward, standing in front of the man.
Long knife.
—Once again raised slowly.
"What are you crying for, father? You are the Head of the Song Family, commanding the Thirty-six Families, a true figure of authority. Are your tears of regret?"
"Fantastic," the man said.
The knife stopped.
"What do you mean?" Song Qingyun asked.
"You are amazing; the Song Family...should indeed be handed over to you."
The man muttered under his breath, suddenly raising his head, his speech becoming fast and decisive—
"Qingyun, you are the real head of an influential family, cruel and merciless, quick to kill, unburdened by familial ties."
"—Unlike me, a fool who hesitates at the last step."
His voice grew louder and more excited,
"Forget it, you are right, killing me is the way to go. Then the Song Family will be yours alone, which will awaken the Divine Artifact once more. It must now lend you its full strength."
"I have longed for it but never achieved it."
"—The Song Family will rise again, reclaiming the glory of the sixth Great Family!"
Song Qingyun listened quietly, her facial expression suddenly becoming gentle.
"Father."
"The Song Family and the Thirty-six Families that rely on it are nothing but my slaves, and when I'm done using them, they will all be offered to the Evil God."
"I have already promised them."
The man seemed to be hit by something fierce, passion draining from his face as he shouted,
"Why would you do such a thing!"
Song Qingyun's face was expressionless, she said calmly,
"That year, you feared public censure and dared not act personally, hinting to my stepmother to scheme in secret, allowing me time to awaken my Talent, leading to Shocking the world, forcing you to abandon your plans."
"Later, when I reviewed the situation, I kept thinking about it."
"Thinking as the head of a family is too burdensome, entangled by all sorts of trivial matters, hesitating at every turn,"
"Even for important matters like obtaining the Divine Artifact, you couldn't make up your mind and ultimately gave up halfway."
"This changed the image of you in my mind."
"Father, I think you are a—"
She paused, a warm expression on her face as she uttered those two words,
"Waste."
At this point, she seemed to lose some interest.
"It doesn't really matter whether waste lives or dies."
"But to further gain the trust of the Divine Spirits and use their power to become stronger, I have to first kill the waste."
The murderous intent on the knife increased.
The man's face changed, he shouted,
"Patricide is a heinous crime, if you do it, the people of the world will never acknowledge your authority!"
"The people of the world? They're all going to die."
Song Qingyun said leisurely, "I have an agreement with the Divine Spirits. I'll kill you first, then collaborate with the Thirty-six Families to randomly select a hundred thousand people from their territories as a sacrifice to them. I'll then receive their full support, becoming a stronger Demigod, and forever leaving this mortal coil."
"It's quite simple, with the Thirty-six Families working together, a large-scale natural disaster will cover it up."
"You are insane! Damn it! You are unfit to be the head of the Song Family!" the man roared in anger.
He struggled, but he was held captive by the nine vertical pupils on the blade, unable to move an inch.
Song Qingyun smiled slightly.
"Too late."
The knife was raised again, high above her head.
The man's throat made a "gurgling" noise, his face red as blood, his body shaking uncontrollably.
But he couldn't break the Technique of the Nine Evil Gods.
At that moment.
In the face of the end of death, a very ancient scene slowly awakened from the depths of his memory.
It was a summer from years past.
He was accompanying Song Qingyun in knife practice, but suddenly felt dizzy, almost passing out.
But on the verge of fainting, a warm strength pulled him back, allowing him to regain consciousness.
At that time...
Song Yinchen, Qingyun's sister, stood not far away, looking at him worriedly.
"Get out, this is your sister's training ground!"
He had shouted loudly at the time.
Yet neither sister looked at him.
They were Watching each other.
"Meddlesome." Song Qingyun said.
"As long as I'm alive." Song Yinchen said.
At the time, he didn't understand.
Ridiculous.
In the last moment of his long life, he suddenly understood something.
"Yinchen..."
The man said with a bitter taste in his mouth.
Song Qingyun paused, then burst into a great laughter.
"Even waste has moments of brilliance?"
"You're right, my sister has the Talent to activate memories, capable of breaking my Strength."
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"Thank goodness you didn't believe in her."
"Father, you were too mercenary, holding me in the palm of your hand while she was cast aside like an old shoe."
"—You never recognized true emotions."
The man shook even more violently.
Blood streamed down from his eye sockets, and he bit down hard, his face filled with despair.
The long sword did not fall.
She admired the man's expression, slowly retracting the sword and softly said,
"Thank you for treating her that way, because of it I can do all of this."
With a gentle thrust, the sword pierced through the man's chest.
Blood.
Splattered.
"If I don't behead you, it will take about several dozen seconds for you to die completely."
"These last moments are for you to reflect on your life—let infinite regret and pain devour you."
"Father."
"This is my final act of filial piety to you as your daughter."
Song Qingyun slowly sheathed her sword.
Behind her, the Nine-Headed Giant Serpent watched her intently, chanting an obscure spell.
Song Qingyun stood with her eyes closed, her garments fluttering without any wind.
Boom—
An invisible force transformed into a wild wind blowing in all directions.
"Such immense power... I really should have killed you earlier, father."
Song Qingyun appeared increasingly radiant.
The Evil Gods had granted her power, as promised.
The Song Family...
Now only she remained.
She would soon become the last holder of the World Suppressing Divine Artifact!
She turned and walked through the corridor towards the main hall.
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The corpse in the small pavilion suddenly burst into flames, crackling as it burned up.
Despite this, the corpse still struggled unwillingly, emitting mournful "whimpers."
This sound made Song Qingyun even more delighted.
She passed through several doors, pushed aside layers of heavy curtains, and arrived under the brilliantly lit chandeliers.
The Thirty-Six Families were all assembled.
All eyes were on her.
Doubt, wariness, scrutiny, adoration, submission—their expressions were mixed and varied.
Song Qingyun gently raised her hand, resting it on the sword's hilt.
The long sword remained still.
Nine one-eyed giant serpents with vertical pupils materialized in the void, releasing towering fluctuations all descending upon Song Qingyun.
With this empowerment, she began to speak,
"Three days ago, the Song Family held a grand succession ceremony for the Head of the Family. Song Qingyun became the new Head. As for her father, feeling incompetent to lead the family because of his past deeds, he chose to retire to the old house for recuperation, stepping away from the center of the Song Family's power."
"Oh, and by the way... Song Yinchen has also passed away."
After she finished speaking, she sat down in the Head of the Song Family's seat of honor.
The expressions of everyone turned listless.
Their memories had been altered, and now they were slowly processing the information.
Song Qingyun, however, was toying with a wine glass on the table, her gaze passing over the crowd and looking at each blank face.
Commanding the Thirty-Six Families.
Actually, it wasn't anything special.
She herself could have done such a thing long ago.
Today was just about coming into the open, to announce her new identity to the world.
As the Head of the Song Family, she had the authority to do one thing—
"Everyone,"
She said aloud, "I am about to gain the recognition of the World Suppressing Divine Artifact, and I request that you unite with me. Let us come together, leave the World Government's control, and establish a new independent nation!"
The crowd was stirred with excitement.
This had been in the works for quite a while.
Yet, not one of the past three generations of the Song Family had gained the Divine Artifact's recognition.
"Have you truly gained its recognition?"
One of the family heads asked.
Song Qingyun replied, "Yes, the visions of the World Suppressing Divine Artifact will soon manifest. It will protect me and prevent any Heavenly King Level experts from obstructing our endeavors."
"Our country shall be called Song."
"I will appoint Nine Divine Spirits as supreme deities of the state religion, demanding praise and allegiance from all."
"No one will interfere with our affairs!"
Her words had barely fallen.
A deep, resounding breath came from the depths of Zhongzhou City.
The sound was so grand and magnificent that everyone on the Floating Island could hear it clearly.
"It's the World Suppressing Divine Artifact!"
The crowd cheered.
Song Qingyun also revealed a slight smile.
If that Divine Artifact was in hand, even if all the experts of this world came forth, they wouldn't dare to harm her in the slightest.
It's a pity it doesn't recognize me.
This is fate.
But I have already changed my destiny.
"Come, the ancestral artifact of our Song Family... None but I are worthy of you."
Song Qingyun's voice carried far and wide.
Suddenly.
A resonant male voice came from outside:
"Human Martial Arts Group, Zhilie Equipment Research Institute, Eternal Science and Technology Union, and the Five Great Families, have come to pay a visit!"
Song Qingyun, sensing the movements beneath the ground, let her smile gradually widen and said loudly,
"Please wait a moment. After I have communicated with the World Suppressing Divine Artifact, I will come to greet you."
Murmuring rose from outside.
But, after all, they dared not take any further action.
The situation was temporarily maintained.
Song Qingyun stretched out her hand, beckoning to the void.
"Come!"
Inside the hall, a gentle breeze wafted through.
After several moments, the crowd realized that nothing had come.
Song Qingyun's demeanor remained unchanged, as though she had anticipated this.
She sat in the high seat, pouring herself a cup of wine and sipping delicately.
"It seems we need a bit more time. It will recognize me after confirming the situation."
As she spoke, she drew the long sword, and the nine vertical pupils upon it opened once more.
Thus, everyone in the hall fell silent.
The people were like puppets, motionless, soundless, expressionless.
Utter silence.