Chapter 376: Su Qing—Actually, I Am King Chi

Alongside the news about Pride, reports were circulating about the Faceless Angel and the Seven Kings. Naturally, the coverage was a chorus of praise, claiming the Seven Kings had fought together, defeated the strongest nightmare Pride had unleashed, and saved the world from destruction.

Various nations began establishing nightmare defense lines along their coastlines, dispatching troops to garrison them.

The first wave of Nightmare Creatures had already made landfall in the nearby Blood Moon Empire, and the Undead King was calling on all nations to donate supplies and other forms of aid...

After covering the proactive responses of the various nations, the news launched into a harsh condemnation of the Seven Deadly Sins and Pride. The broadcast labeled the Seven Deadly Sins a terrorist organization intent on overthrowing the world, while Pride was branded the chief culprit behind the apocalypse, accompanied by a list of over a dozen sensational crimes.

Su Mu nodded in satisfaction. The Seven Great Empires had responded swiftly. Mostly, this was because the crisis was severe enough that if it spread, it wouldn't just be commoners dying—the nobles would die, too. Those aloof aristocrats didn't care about wars, because no matter how a war played out, a noble could simply pay a ransom to save themselves. But they absolutely cared about a Nightmare Invasion.

Because to Nightmare Creatures, it didn't matter if you were a noble or a commoner—everyone had to die!

Just then, chaotic footsteps echoed through the lobby of the Law Enforcement Bureau as a squad of heavily armed enforcers jogged over.

The captain leading them pulled off her mask, revealing a familiar face.

Mu Lingxi!

The enforcement captain who had been sent to Star City by the General Law Enforcement Bureau to assist Sikong Zhen in investigating the Seven Deadly Sins—and who was, in reality, an undercover agent for the Revolutionary Army.

Mu Lingxi still wore a black leather combat suit. With her shoulder-length black hair and wheat-colored skin, she looked exactly as she had in Star City. The only difference was her expression. Perhaps due to the Nightmare Invasion, her demeanor was incredibly grave, her brows locked in a perpetual frown.

"Su Mu, Su Qing. Her Majesty King Chi summons you."

Su Mu nodded, unsurprised.

"What about us?" Lin Nanxing hurriedly asked.

"Her Majesty did not summon you," Mu Lingxi said coldly. "Go back and rest for now."

With that, she led Su Mu and Su Qing away. The entire nation had entered a state of war, and everything was now being handled with sweeping efficiency.

Chiyan Imperial Palace.

Guided by the guards, Su Mu and Su Qing walked deeper into the royal compound.

Along the way, Su Qing asked casually, "Why do you think King Chi summoned us so suddenly?"

"We'll know once we see her."

Su Qing looked at Su Mu's calm profile and curled her lip. But thinking about what was to come, smugness welled up inside her. You can stay calm for now, but once you find out my true identity, it'll definitely scare you. Hehe...

Soon, the two stepped into a resplendent grand hall. The space was incredibly vast. Deep inside, a towering platform rose from the floor, resembling a majestic little hill.

The platform was cast from Bronze, its tiers of steps overlapping. Carved into it were mountains, rivers, birds, beasts, and motifs of dragons and phoenixes bringing auspiciousness.

Seated at the top of the platform was a peerlessly magnificent empress. She wore a dark gold phoenix robe. The phoenix embroidered upon it was incredibly lifelike, its wings spread as if ready to take flight, highlighting the empress's absolute majesty.

Her face was breathtakingly beautiful yet stern. Her pale skin was as fine and smooth as mutton-fat jade, exuding an innate air of nobility. Her brows, like distant mountains, angled slightly upward, carrying a hint of heroic spirit.

Her long, narrow eyes were deep and profound, harboring an unfathomable authority and dominance. It was as if a single glance from her could decide the rise and fall of the world.

She was one of the current Seven Kings—King Chi!

Su Mu glanced at King Chi. Technically, this was their first formal meeting. Setting everything else aside, just based on her appearance, anyone who saw her would feel she was a peerlessly magnificent empress—provided they didn't know about her private life.

"Count Su, I summoned you the moment you returned from the Nightmare World. You must have many questions." King Chi's cold, clear voice echoed through the empty hall.

Su Mu nodded. "I wonder if Your Majesty's summons is related to Pride?"

"Exactly. We will discuss that matter shortly. Su Qing, come up." King Chi waved to Su Qing.

With brisk steps, Su Qing walked up the towering platform. Halfway there, she glanced back at Su Mu, flashing him a secretive smile.

The moment she stepped atop the platform and stood beside King Chi, golden flames suddenly erupted from Su Qing's body. Under the intense heat, she melted like a candle, ultimately fusing completely into the fire.

Those golden flames then flew to King Chi. For a moment, the empress was bathed in golden fire. Brilliant light flickered in her narrow eyes. The phoenix on her dark gold robe seemed to come alive, and its faint cry echoed in the air.

The myriad of supernatural phenomena lasted for several seconds before completely dissipating.

Faced with such a miraculous scene, Su Mu's face remained utterly calm.

King Chi was stunned. No reaction at all?

"Su Mu, actually... Su Qing is one of my avatars."

"Yeah, I know."

"What? You know? How did you know?" King Chi was shocked, blinking her large eyes.

A hint of confusion surfaced in Su Mu's eyes. "Didn't you tell me? That day at the entrance of the Law Enforcement Bureau, you said you were King Chi."

"I..." King Chi felt like she was choking on her words. It seemed that was true. She really had said that. Wait... You believe whatever I say?

"Su Mu, you're a really interesting guy. I said it as a joke back then, and you actually took it seriously." Perhaps because there was no one else around, King Chi revealed her true colors a bit. She no longer maintained the airs of a ruler, and her speaking style shifted back toward Su Qing's.

Su Mu shook his head. "Yeah, I took it seriously."

King Chi rolled her eyes in exasperation, feeling somewhat gloomy. Back when she interacted with him as Su Qing, she was always getting shut down. Now that she had laid her cards on the table, it was exactly the same. Didn't that mean she had revealed her identity for nothing?

She had wanted to see Su Mu look shocked, but in the end, she didn't get to see it at all.

"Forget it. I won't talk to you about this anymore. I really do have an important reason for calling you over," King Chi said, her expression turning serious.

"The era has changed now. The Nightmare Invasion is in full swing. The oceans have been occupied by Nightmare Creatures, and they are constantly spreading inland. Right now, all nations are dispatching large numbers of Transcendents to coastal cities to deal with them. The Chiyan Empire is naturally no exception. Therefore, I have decided to suspend the operation to find the late king's relics. I plan to send you Nightmare Apostles, who excel at dealing with Nightmare Creatures, to the coast."

Stopping the search for the late king's relics?

Although that was what King Chi said on the surface, Su Mu naturally knew the real reason. With the Supreme Heaven having fallen into Pride's hands, King Chi was currently out of options. She had even recalled Su Qing, all to prevent Pride from seizing the Royal Family's bloodline.

"Su Mu, your personal strength is outstanding, and you possess a Gold Grade Nightmare Creature like Bubai. Therefore, I have decided to have you lead the Nightmare Apostles recruited within the country. You will guide them to the coastal cities. Of course, the Empire will never mistreat a meritorious subject. Although your personal realm has not reached Gold, with Bubai, you can still fight against a Gold powerhouse. Because of this, I will elevate your noble title, allowing you to enjoy all the rights and privileges of a Gold Noble. What do you say?"