One Who Claims the Throne Is Destined for Loneliness

To ascend to godhood and become the lord of the provincial capital, he built Hell and made deals with the Judge; his power was overwhelming.

Liu Banban, however, remained the same, though he spoke even less.

Liu Banban still habitually left a lamp lit for him late at night and warmed a bowl of porridge.

Yin Wudao had always felt that Liu Banban was like a piece of old furniture in his palace—unobtrusive, but always there.

He was used to having him at hand and had never imagined that one day this piece of furniture would leave in such a manner.

"Your Highness, in the future, you are destined to ascend to an even higher position. There is no need to mind the lowly life of this old servant."

The old eunuch's voice pulled Yin Wudao back from his thoughts; there was a sense of gratification in that voice.

"One who claims the throne is destined for loneliness."

"This old servant... was the last person by Your Highness's side."

The bone spear was already before their eyes. The Hatred Fire burning on the spear tip illuminated the old eunuch's deeply wrinkled face.

He tightened his grip on Yin Wudao's arm, as if wanting to use his withered body to shield the person in his arms from all the wind, rain, and harm.

"To be able to block a tribulation for Your Highness is this old servant's blessing."

"It is just that the night winds are strong, and no one will be able to add a layer of clothing for Your Highness anymore."

"Your Highness, please take care..."

Before he could finish, the bone spear pierced straight through the old eunuch's skull.

Hatred Fire ignited instantly, spreading frantically along his soul-body.

At the same time, the divine path authority Chen Zhou had infused into the bone spear, 【Yin-Yang Decree】, was passively triggered, beginning to judge the old ghost's sinful karma.

In the old eunuch's life as Yin Wudao's personal eunuch and trusted henchman, how many hundreds or thousands of lives had ended directly or indirectly by his hand?

Among them were the innocent, political enemies, stumbling blocks, and many unfortunate souls who simply offended Yin Wudao's eyes.

Case after case, a mountain of blood debts.

This sinful karma became the best fuel for the Hatred Fire, and the sound of scorching never ceased.

The old eunuch screamed shrilly; the sensation of a soul being burned by Hatred Fire was not easy to bear.

He gritted his teeth hard. His arms around Yin Wudao loosened, and using the last of his strength, he shoved Yin Wudao violently to the side.

"Your Highness... run!"

With the final shred of consciousness before his soul dissipated, he roared those words.

In the next moment, lethal poison and Hatred Fire erupted simultaneously, completely incinerating the old eunuch's hunched soul-body.

Not a single trace was left behind.

The Hatred Fire burned away the last wisp of his remnant soul.

The old eunuch's hunched figure vanished completely into the air. Not even a speck of ash remained, as if he had never existed.

Yin Wudao stood where he was, frozen in the posture of having been pushed away.

There was no expression on his face—neither the relief of surviving a disaster nor the sorrow of losing a confidant.

He only slowly withdrew his hand. That hand was still stained with the ghost blood that had flowed when Liu Banban fought the malevolent ghosts.

It was sticky and carried a rotting stench.

Chen Zhou frowned. He hadn't expected that someone like Yin Wudao would actually have someone willing to die for him.

But it didn't matter; he had plenty of bone spears.

You might escape today, but can you escape forever?

Another bone spear condensed and whistled through the air. This time it was even faster than before, carrying a will for certain death.

Yin Wudao's expression changed.

He truly had no meat shields left now.

Liu Banban was dead, the ghost wall was shattered, and his own meager cultivation was simply not enough to face Chen Zhou.

"Judge!"

Yin Wudao didn't even think; he turned and ran, rushing toward the massive eyeball monster in mid-air.

That was his final reliance.

As long as he hid within the Judge's range of protection, even Chen Zhou would be unable to do anything to him.

"Save me!"

"I am your acting agent in the mortal world! You cannot watch me die!"

Yin Wudao shouted for help as he sprinted wildly.

The bone spear pursued him relentlessly, grazing past his scalp and shearing off the golden crown on his head.

With his hair disheveled, Yin Wudao looked exceptionally pathetic. He felt something warm flowing down, wetting his cheek.

He subconsciously wiped it.

Red.

It was blood.

As it turned out, his left eye socket was bleeding.

Earlier, in order to summon the Judge, he had brutally gouged out his own eyeball. He hadn't treated the wound, and now, under the intense exertion, the blood surged like a spring.

Yin Wudao looked at the blood covering his hand, which had already mingled with Liu Banban's ghost blood.

By some strange impulse, he stuck out his tongue and licked it.

"Salty..."

Yin Wudao froze.

Why was it salty?

Shouldn't fresh blood be coppery and sweet?

In the past, he had drunk the blood of palace maids; it was sweet and carried the flavor of fear.

Why was his own blood salty?

Like... the taste of tears.

"Heh, what a joke."

Yin Wudao sneered in his heart.

With the heart of an emperor and a ruthless nature, how could he ever shed tears?

Thinking this, Yin Wudao fled all the way until he finally reached the Judge's side.

After steadying his breathing, Yin Wudao pulled a handkerchief from his robe and began to wipe his fingers one by one with elegant movements.

Those who wish to achieve great things may even kill their closest kin.

I am merely fulfilling Liu Banban's purpose.

He tossed the blood-stained handkerchief away casually, watching it flutter in the wind and fall into the tide of ghosts below.

In Liu Banban's life, his only value was to serve and protect me.

If I died, he would be nothing but a walking corpse even if he lived.

To be able to add a brick to my grand cause in the final moments of his life and become a stepping stone on my path to godhood—that is a blessing he earned over several lifetimes.

He should feel honored, shouldn't he?

Yin Wudao worked hard to convince himself.

All things in this world are but meat on the chopping block.

He wanted to ascend to that position and become the one who holds the blade, the one who moves the pieces. Therefore, everyone should rightfully be his resources.

The commoners were, the officials were, the demons were, and loyal servants were no exception.

It mattered not.

As long as I can become a god, their sacrifices are meaningful.

When I stand above the clouds looking down upon all living beings, I will naturally reshape their souls and grant them eternal life.

Therefore, any price can be paid.

As Yin Wudao was thinking this, he suddenly saw black spots condense into a giant hand, reaching out from within the Judge.

Then, it grabbed him by the throat.

"Urgh..."

Yin Wudao was hoisted into the air.

The massive force constricted his throat, causing him to suffocate instantly. His legs kicked helplessly in the air.

Clang!

The bone spear pursuing him from behind struck the giant hand of black spots with a sharp crack, only to be shattered by the shockwave.

The Judge ignored Chen Zhou. Instead, the eyeball lowered and stared fixedly at Yin Wudao in its grasp.

"You... did... well..."

The Judge's voice echoed in Yin Wudao's mind, still fragmented, hoarse, and grating.

"For me... accumulated... so much... sinful karma..."

"But... the Dragon-Suppressing Stakes... are destroyed..."

A flash of tyranny crossed the Judge's eye.

Four of the eighteen Dragon-Suppressing Stakes had already been destroyed. Without the supplement of the thousand years of sinful karma within the stakes, his power was recovering very slowly.

Furthermore, the fellow holding the brush was very strong—so strong that it made him feel a hint of threat.

He needed power.

More power.

Since the rice bowl outside had been smashed, he could only eat from what was at home.

"Rather than... being... destroyed by him..."

"It is better... to return... to my body..."

"As... a reward... I grant you... death..."

As the words fell, the giant hand of black spots suddenly tightened.

Crack!

Yin Wudao's neck bone let out a sharp snap.