Xuanhuan: The Empress and I Swapped Bodies - Chapter 87

The colossal hand of the Vermilion Bird Ancestor instantly seized the attention of everyone present.

The Vermilion Bird Clan wanted to witness firsthand how their invincible ancestor would suppress the mighty Divine Dragon Empress. Meanwhile, the people of the Divine Dragon Empire were filled with dread, fearing their empress might fall to the Vermilion Bird Ancestor.

Even Liu Shan, the ancestral elder of the Divine Dragon Imperial Family, was visibly tense. Only the Imperial Clan Elder, Liu Ning, seemed to recall something—his anxious expression suddenly relaxed.

In the next moment, an unexpected change occurred with Ye Wushuang.

Having already reached the level of a Supreme Realm expert, Ye Wushuang’s gaze suddenly sharpened, and his aura surged tenfold. Then, just like the Vermilion Bird Ancestor, he extended a hand—reaching straight for the old bird himself.

In an instant, the two hands collided.

But Ye Wushuang’s energy-formed giant hand far surpassed the Vermilion Bird Ancestor’s. With a single clash, the latter’s colossal hand silently dissipated. The overwhelming force then directly struck the Vermilion Bird Ancestor’s true body.

A moment later, the old bird’s right arm exploded—unable to withstand the devastating power.

“AHHH—!!”

The Vermilion Bird Ancestor’s horrified scream echoed in everyone’s ears.

Yet, in the next second, his voice was abruptly cut off.

His neck had been seized in a death grip by Ye Wushuang’s massive hand.

Though the Vermilion Bird Ancestor’s form was enormous, Ye Wushuang’s grasp was unshakable, completely immobilizing him. Trapped within, the old bird felt an overwhelming binding force—one that left him powerless to resist, escape, or even struggle.

At this moment, he was nothing more than a helpless chick, lifted by the scruff of its neck.

No one had anticipated such a drastic reversal.

The Vermilion Bird Ancestor’s face twisted in horror.

“H-how did you…? Your strength—it’s multiplied several times over?!”

“Perhaps you should ask yourself that. You forced my hand.”

Naturally, Ye Wushuang wouldn’t reveal the truth about his techniques. Instead, he gave an ambiguous answer, letting the Vermilion Bird Ancestor and others assume he had been concealing his true strength all along.

Not that he cared how they interpreted it.

With his power now tenfold, handling a Supreme Realm expert was as effortless as gripping a chick. Such overwhelming strength meant he no longer needed to tread cautiously.

“Now… it’s my turn to set terms.”

If possible, Ye Wushuang wouldn’t hesitate to snap the old bird’s neck. But while killing him might be satisfying, it wouldn’t maximize his gains—and that wasn’t what he wanted.

Hearing Ye Wushuang’s words, the Vermilion Bird Ancestor exhaled in relief. The desperate aura he had been gathering for a final struggle instantly dissipated.

“N-negotiate! Let’s negotiate! State your terms!”

Trapped in Ye Wushuang’s grasp, the old bird could keenly sense the terrifying power within that hand—a force he stood no chance against. Even a last-ditch explosion of strength might not kill Ye Wushuang.

Thus, the moment negotiation was mentioned, he immediately complied.

“First—thirty Greater Worlds. I want them relocated near the Divine Dragon Empire, annexed as our territory.”

“W-what?! Thirty Greater Worlds?! The Vermilion Bird Holy Mountain only controls fifty! Several are already in chaos—losing thirty would leave us with nothing!”

“If you refuse, I can simply erase the Vermilion Bird Holy Mountain. Then you won’t have to worry about it.”

“W-we agree! We’ll hand over thirty!”

Of course, the Vermilion Bird Ancestor was unwilling. But the moment he hesitated, Ye Wushuang’s aura surged with murderous intent—as if ready to crush him and flatten the Holy Mountain in an instant.

Faced with annihilation, survival alone was a blessing.

Seeing the old bird submit, Ye Wushuang smirked and continued:

“From now on, half of the Vermilion Bird Clan’s annual wealth will be surrendered to the Divine Dragon Empire.”

“H-half?! But—”

“Wasn’t this your own demand earlier? Or do rules only apply to others?”

As he spoke, Ye Wushuang tightened his grip, intensifying the old bird’s suffocation.

Panicked, the Vermilion Bird Ancestor hastily relented:

“W-we accept! We accept!”

“Good. After all, I’m being generous—only taking half. If your clan finds itself short on funds, you can always seize more Greater Worlds from others. Your faction’s strength remains intact, doesn’t it?”

“Y-yes! Absolutely!”

“Since we understand each other, that settles it. I have no further demands.”

“Except… this Vermilion Bird Holy Mountain looks rather appealing. I’ll take it with me.”

With a casual wave, the Holy Mountain—a sacred land that had stood for countless eras—was uprooted from the earth and lifted into Ye Wushuang’s palm.

The protective formations and hidden experts within were effortlessly disregarded.

In moments, he dismantled the mountain’s barriers, plundered all its treasures, and—before everyone’s eyes—began refining the Holy Mountain itself.

The massive mountain rapidly shrank under his power, its divine metals and Dao patterns extracted and reforged.

Ten breaths later, a small square seal took shape in his hand.

It resembled the legendary Sky-Overturning Seal, though lacking its crushing weight or status as an immortal peak. Instead, it embodied the boundless Dao principles Ye Wushuang had comprehended.

While its materials might be slightly inferior, a single strike from this seal could still devastate heaven and earth—a peerless treasure in its own right.

Infused with his Dao, it could annihilate even Supreme Realm experts. Wielded by one, it would enable them to battle two peers simultaneously.

Its might was undeniable.

Watching this, the Vermilion Bird Ancestor opened his mouth several times—only to shut it again, feeling the overwhelming pressure from Ye Wushuang.

Having lived for so long, he understood better than anyone: without absolute strength, resistance was futile.

At this point, survival was his only hope. As for the rest—no matter how reluctantly—he had to let go.