World-Ending Demon Emperor

Chapter 2111 - 999: Deadlock! Zhi Yan Begins Killing!

Upon hearing Ning Wuya’s inquiry, Zhi Yan was initially slightly puzzled, very curious about why Ning Wuya would ask her this, but a quick flash of hostility flashed across, and she shook her head and said, "It’s not me."

Ning Wuya continued to stare at her for a while, then moved his gaze away, asking the next person.

Everyone had been scrutinized, and when Ning Wuya circled back, he suddenly approached Ji Xiuning and said, "Is it you? Ji Xiuning, are you the fourth Hell Knight?"

Ji Xiuning’s eyes also showed confusion.

Why ask her this? Could it be that those above suspect her? Based on what? Why?

"Do you not know what I’ve done to Lanling?" Ji Xiuning said.

Ji Xiuning was indeed the least likely to be Demon Emperor Lanling’s spy because she personally activated the Black Hole Vortex within Lanling and at a critical moment abandoned her and Sauron’s own offspring, leaving the Flame Demon Empire just to report the Hell Knight affair.

Ning Wuya said, "The soul of the Hell Knight might have been dormant until Demon Emperor Lanling rose, so anyone could be the fourth Hell Knight?"

Ji Xiuning said, "Anyone could be the fourth Hell Knight, so why focus on me?"

Ning Wuya said, "Because your and Zhi Yan’s identities are special..."

At this point, Ning Wuya paused slightly, ensuring to let everyone understand the implication of this statement.

Their identities are special, why special? Of course, it relates to the next generation’s core top leaders of the Sky Holy Palace.

Then, Ning Wuya continued: "Moreover, during this time, the mental and emotional states of you and Ji Xiuning have been relatively intense. Naturally, this doesn’t mean more intense than others, but more intense than your usual states. To say something treasonous, Demon Emperor Lanling is now imprisoned, destined for destruction. Thus, if this fourth Hell Knight is lurking within someone else’s mind, no uproar would emerge, but if they are instead in yours and Zhi Yan’s, or Ji Xiuning’s mind domains, and you become the core top leaders of my Sky Holy Palace in the future, it would undoubtedly be a disaster of extinction."

Zhi Yan said, "I understand."

Ji Xiuning said quietly, "I understand too, thank you, Ning Wuya."

Ning Wuya said, "Determining if someone is a Hell Knight is indeed very difficult. However, there’s a way to remove suspicion from someone. For the future of the Dragon Temple, we have to adopt this method."

Everyone’s faces unconsciously showed curiosity, wondering what kind of exclusion method it could be.

"Bring them in." Ning Wuya said.

The door opened, and two Samurai escorted two people inside.

One was a beautiful girl, none other than Demon Emperor Sauron’s daughter, Suo Qinqin. And the other was a boy around ten, bearing some resemblance to Gui Qinshao, yet also to Sauron; he was Sauron’s other son, Suo Lin, born to Gui Qinshao.

"These two are Demon Emperor Lanling’s offspring, one is Suo Qinqin, the other Suo Lin, born to Fu Yan’er and Gui Qinshao respectively," Ning Wuya said. "The blood flowing through them is Demon Emperor Lanling’s, making them little masters to the Hell Knight. Thus, the fourth Hell Knight could never harm them, likely preferring death to killing Demon Emperor Lanling’s own blood."

As these words were spoken, the crowd present subtly changed expression.

Suo Qinqin and Suo Lin were brought to the center, Ning Wuya handed Zhi Yan a sword, and Ji Xiuning a sword saying, "To prove you’re not the fourth Hell Knight, kill these two of Demon Emperor Lanling’s offspring, one each."

Zhi Yan’s face slightly changed, while Ji Xiuning’s gaze sharpened, and the two of them accepted the swords.

"Who will be the first to act?" Ning Wuya asked.

"I will!" Ji Xiuning said.

Ning Wuya said, "Whom do you choose to kill?"

"Suo Qinqin." Ji Xiuning said.

Why did she choose Suo Qinqin? Because when Demon Emperor Lanling rose, she felt somewhat fearful inside, leading to some flattery towards Suo Qinqin, which was met with cold disdain.

Now that Demon Emperor Lanling has walked into the trap, fallen into Danzhou’s prison, she needn’t be too respectful to his children.

Ji Xiuning grasped the sword, approached Suo Qinqin, and coldly said: "Look at me."

Suo Qinqin raised her head and looked at Ji Xiuning.

"Speak." Ji Xiuning said.

Suo Qinqin remained silent, gazing quietly at Ji Xiuning.

Ning Wuya said, "Hell Knight four, these two are Demon Emperor Lanling’s own children. If you don’t want these two kids to die, stand out yourself, and I will spare their lives; otherwise, these two children can only meet their end, and you will betray your master by watching them die without salvation."

Yet, the scene remained silent, no one spoke.

Fu Lingxi first moved her gaze away, then returned.

Suo Qinqin, originally named Fu Qinqin, was her granddaughter with whom she had spent some time.

"Hell Knight four, won’t you stand out and admit?" Ning Wuya asked.

Still, no one stepped forward.

Ning Wuya suddenly swung his hand vehemently.

Ji Xiuning’s sharp sword struck fiercely towards Suo Qinqin’s heart, instantly piercing through.

Suo Qinqin, this beautiful teenage girl, still didn’t make any sound. A trace of blood flowed from the corner of her beautiful mouth, and then she slowly fell to the ground, completely dead.

Ji Xiuning expressionlessly pulled out her sword, wiping the blood on Suo Qinqin’s dress.

"Very good, Ji Xiuning, you have removed your suspicion. Return to the lineup," Ning Wuya said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty Ning Wuya, thank you, Your Majesties." Then Ji Xiuning threw her sword onto Suo Qinqin’s corpse and returned to the lineup.

Ning Wuya came to Zhi Yan and said, "Zhi Yan, it’s your turn."

Zhi Yan’s face was pale and green, and she said, "Why must it be like this?"

Ning Wuya said, "If you weren’t possessed by the Hell Knight Fourth Child, and you were truly Zhi Yan, back then, you directly pierced Sauron’s heart with one stroke. That was your husband, your greatest benefactor, yet you were able to do it. How could you not bring yourself to harm his son today? If you aren’t the Hell Knight Fourth Child, you’d definitely be able to do it."

Zhi Yan said, "Sauron was an adult, and this is still a child."

Ning Wuya said, "In the Dragon Temple’s eyes, there is no distinction between child and adult, only whether one should be killed or not. If you strike, you can clear yourself of suspicion. If you don’t strike, you cannot clear yourself of suspicion."

Zhi Yan slowly approached Suo Lin.

This child was already about ten years old, how handsome he looked. Who knows how many girls he’d captivate when he grows up.

He seemed relatively calm at this moment, but his eyes were filled with fear, desperately clenching his jaw, holding his fists tightly, as if unwilling to disgrace his father, yet unable to resist his fear.

"Close your eyes," Zhi Yan said.

Suo Lin closed his eyes, then tears uncontrollably flowed down, he was truly scared.

"I’m sorry," Zhi Yan said.

Then, placing one hand on his shoulder, she thrust her sword fiercely into his chest and abdomen.

Immediately, Suo Lin screamed, then collapsed to the ground.

Zhi Yan released her hand and directly returned to the lineup.

Seeing this scene, Ning Wuya furrowed his brows, while Gu Ban sighed with relief.

The despicable Ning Wuya, even when capturing the Hell Knight Fourth Child, employs schemes.

Ji Xiuning was ruthless, willing to sacrifice even her own flesh and blood, let alone Suo Qinqin; she was utterly indifferent. But Zhi Yan might not be able to steel herself to kill Sauron’s son, whether she’s the Hell Knight Fourth Child or not.

And if Zhi Yan doesn’t kill, then she can’t clear the suspicion of being the Hell Knight Fourth Child, and she will be excluded from the next generation’s Sky Holy Palace’s core leadership, thus removing Ji Xiuning’s biggest competitor.

Currently, Ji Xiuning is Ning Wuya’s person, and Zhi Yan is Gu Ban’s person.

Previously, Kui Shuangshuang repeatedly tried to match Zhi Yan and Huai Bingyi for the same reason, because she knew Zhi Yan would refuse, thus driving a wedge between Huai Bingyi and Zhi Yan, prompting a confrontation between them, making Huai Bingyi abandon his illusions and preventing any potential alliances.

Zhi Yan was decisive and fierce in character, first killing Fang Qingqing and Fang Qingshu, completely offending Yin Zhou. Then, she refused Huai Bingyi, offending Ba Zhou. In the future core position’s competition, Zhi Yan was already at a disadvantage.

At this moment, if she didn’t act to kill Sauron’s son, Suo Lin, she’d completely lose hope.

It’s undeniable that Ning Wuya’s faction is truly ruthless, employing all kinds of extreme methods, truly catching people off guard.

But unexpectedly, Zhi Yan acted, directly assassinating Sauron’s son, Suo Lin.

With this, she and Ji Xiuning returned to the same starting point.

The now quiet and lifeless Suo Qinqin lay on the ground, her blood spreading everywhere. Suo Lin, with a sword in his chest and abdomen, wasn’t completely dead, convulsing on the ground with blood continuously oozing from the corners of his mouth.

Ning Wuya began clapping; in the Hall of the Moon, the applause seemed somewhat abrupt and jarring.

"Good, splendid, splendid..." Ning Wuya said, "Zhi Yan and Ji Xiuning, the two of you are indeed the best heirs of my Sky Holy Palace, decisive in crucial moments, you have completely cleared yourselves of suspicion. But the one I admire more is the Hell Knight Fourth Child hiding among us, you’re even more remarkable. To watch Sauron’s two children be killed before your eyes and remain unmoved, this is your little master, after all. Yet you didn’t step forward to save them, nor did you show the slightest emotional fluctuation, truly leaving me in awe!"

Taking a long breath, Ning Wuya said, "This first battle, we lost, you won, Hell Knight Fourth Child! But it’s meaningless, because the Demon Emperor Lanling is in our hands, that’s the true victory. Let’s call it a day for now; we shall fight again another day."

Ning Wuya waved his hand and said, "Dispose of these two corpses!"

Then two samurai came in and dragged the corpses of Suo Qinqin and Suo Lin, bringing them to a large incinerator outside where they were thrown in directly.

The two were immediately burned to ashes, although Suo Lin wasn’t completely dead.

Then in a nearby house, there were several people who looked exactly like Suo Qinqin, each covered with a sack, being transported away like goods.

These two were not Sauron’s real children, but only substitutes, yet they looked exactly alike.

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Note: This is the first update, seeking your support, thank you everyone!