Chapter Forty-Six: Iron Widow

Zetian emerges from Qin Zheng’s mind realm into the Yellow Dragon’s senses, overwhelmed by terror emanating from the trapped Water Emperor. Qin Zheng has unearthed and reached the battle with the Dragon, which encircles and drains the Water Emperor, proving Earth overcomes Water. The Water Emperor’s pleas cease as it dies, becoming lifeless spirit metal.

While Qin Zheng silently maintains the Balanced Match, Zetian learns the Dragon’s unique assimilation: it absorbs Earth-type spirit metal from slain Hunduns to repair and extend itself. They carve a path toward Mount Zhurong, overwhelming noble Hunduns and ensuring victory.

Fearing post-battle retribution, Zetian takes full control. Addressing camera drones, she reveals the truth about the pilot system, asserts gender is irrelevant to spirit strength, identifies herself as Iron Widow, and opens the cockpit to show she dominates Emperor Qin Zheng in the yang seat. She then launches, flies to the rear, and crushes the radio trucks, severing strategists’ control over all Chrysalises.

Returning to Mount Zhurong, she finds the counterattack won but the battlefield leaderless. Zetian confronts the Black Tortoise and Xiuying, who admits threats to Zetian’s family and implies manipulation. Enraged and betrayed, Zetian executes Xiuying by crushing the Tortoise’s head, shocking the remaining pilots into inaction.

In the yin-yang realm, Qin Zheng recognizes Zetian’s aim to take over the world. Zetian warns that modern pilots are mere spectacles, not rulers. Qin Zheng agrees to proceed. Zetian rejects the notion of redemption, concluding the world—not she—must be remade, and commits to seizing power by force.