In the Netherworld, Zhenyuanzi grasped his horsetail whisk and streaked forward as a beam of light.
After a long while, he slowed his flight, dropping both altitude and speed, as if searching for something.
Below him, endless ruins and broken walls billowed with thick smoke, the flames casting a crimson glow over the once pitch-black world.
The air was thick with the stinging stench of burning; every corner echoed with the cries of vengeful ghosts, and mindless souls drifted everywhere.
Taking a deep breath, he glided toward the Hall of Life and Death.
......
Inside the Imperial Study, Marshal Silver gazed at the Jade Emperor, his expression blank and lost.
At that moment, he suddenly realized he no longer recognized the man standing before him.
Was this still the ruler of the Three Realms to whom he had sworn undying loyalty?
"Well? As long as you find a way to take down that demon monkey, I will grant your every wish!" The Jade Emperor widened his eyes and spoke slowly. "I know you can do it. Last time, if it hadn't been for Taibai Jinxing and the others, you would have already captured the demon monkey. This time may be more dangerous, but I trust you."
With that, the Jade Emperor personally took the box containing the tiger tally from the dragon desk and handed it to Marshal Silver. "This time, the entire Celestial Army is yours to command. As long as you can subdue the demon monkey, I permit you to use any means necessary—no more restrictions!"
Marshal Silver continued to gaze at him in silence.
"What are you waiting for? There's no time left," the Jade Emperor said through gritted teeth.
Lowering his head, Marshal Silver slowly smiled.
The Jade Emperor was taken aback. "Why are you smiling?"
"Your Majesty, do you know what you're saying?"
"Haven't I made myself clear enough? As long as you help me through this crisis, I can fulfill all your wishes!"
"Then, Your Majesty, what do you think Marshal Silver's wish is?"
"Your wish..." The Jade Emperor hesitated for a moment, resting a hand on the dragon desk, and asked with a trace of doubt, "Isn't your wish simply to be with Fairy Nisha? Isn't that enough?"
Hearing this, Marshal Silver couldn't help but laugh. He stepped back, gazing at the Jade Emperor with a faint smile, and said softly, "Your Majesty, if all I wanted was to be with Nisha, I would have rebelled long ago. I wouldn't have waited for you to make this promise today."
"Then what do you want?"
"What Marshal Silver wants, Your Majesty cannot give." Marshal Silver turned and walked away.
"What is it you truly want?" the Jade Emperor roared suddenly.
Marshal Silver stopped, turned back slowly, and said calmly, "In truth, I don't even know what I want. Perhaps that's why I've ended up like this. I caused Nisha's death, I caused the destruction of the Heavenly Fleet, all those brothers lost—the responsibility is mine. But I do know very clearly what I do not want."
Looking at the Jade Emperor, Marshal Silver said softly, "I do not want a sovereign who can ignore all living beings just to protect his own throne. Your Majesty, do you understand the situation right now?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"To march on the Netherworld, the odds of victory are less than ten percent. Even someone locked up in prison knows that much, not just Your Majesty. You're asking me to lead the Celestial Army to their deaths."
"You want to die anyway, didn't you just say so yourself? Why not take the army and gamble for it?"
"And what about them?" Marshal Silver gestured toward the door and spoke softly. "Do they want to die too?"
The Jade Emperor was suddenly stunned.