"Yan Fei, now that you've safely walked out of the formation, I shall return your freedom."
"From now on, you are once again the Eastern Monarch of the Yin Yang School."
"Come back with me. The recent rewards from the Heavenly Dao Golden List are a tremendous opportunity for the Yin Yang School."
"We cannot afford to miss it."
Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi's calm voice echoed through the air.
His tone toward Eastern Monarch Yan Fei was full of condescension, as if offering her charity.
Unfortunately for him, Yan Fei was no longer the woman she used to be.
Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi was powerful, but he no longer had the power to control her.
Especially since she now possessed the techniques and life-saving methods taught by that infamous scoundrel.
She had nothing to fear anymore.
"My apologies, Lord Eastern Sovereign. From the moment you imprisoned me, I could no longer return to the Yin Yang School."
Yan Fei shook her head, firmly and without hesitation.
"So you're saying… you're going to betray me?"
Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi's voice grew cold.
It was like a storm brewing, filled with suppressed rage.
"Call it betrayal or expulsion, say whatever pleases you. I don't care."
Yan Fei's indifferent attitude pushed Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi over the edge.
His fury erupted completely.
"In that case, let me see just how much you've improved to dare speak to me like this!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a terrifying aura burst forth.
Above the battlefield, the skies churned and clouds roared.
It felt as though the heavens themselves were enraged.
"Xue'er, stay back! Don't get too close!"
With a gentle push, Yan Fei sent Xue Nu flying backward.
She landed safely more than a kilometer away.
"So powerful… Worthy of being a Land Immortal!"
Even though Xue Nu was a Great Grandmaster, considered top-tier in the Nine Provinces, she was still clearly outmatched.
In a real fight to the death, her chances of survival would be slim.
At the same time, a longing rose in her heart for the realm of the Land Immortal.
If she could reach that level, she would have more time and standing to stay by his side.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of thunderous explosions echoed across heaven and earth.
Even from such a distance, Xue Nu could feel the terrifying pressure.
Despite her strength, the sheer force pressing down was overwhelming.
For ordinary Grandmasters or even Innate cultivators, it would be unbearable.
==========
"So this is your strength? If this is all you've got, then what awaits you is still an endless prison."
"Hmph, then let Lord Eastern Sovereign taste the results of my cultivation over these years!"
Yan Fei shouted in fury.
The next moment, her hands began to move.
Illusions of her form flickered in every direction.
In the center of her palms, two terrifying flames, one golden, one silver, began to form.
Under her control, the flames quickly merged.
In an instant.
They formed a dazzling, terrifying lotus.
"Buddha Wrath Fire Lotus! go!"
As the lotus burst forth, the surrounding space seemed to ignite.
A trail of fire, like a shooting star, hurtled toward Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi.
In a flash of light, the searing heat was upon him.
He had no time to dodge.
The lotus struck him squarely.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions raged endlessly.
The terrifying energy rampaged through Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi's body.
It was as though it intended to annihilate his organs completely.
If he hadn't already become a Land Immortal, he would have been reduced to ashes on impact.
Bang!
Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi was sent flying.
His body carved a deep trench into the earth as he skidded across the ground.
"Impressive, Yan Fei. I underestimated you. No wonder you're so confident."
Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi gritted his teeth.
Even though he had taken the full brunt of her attack, he suffered only superficial damage.
Not even the massive black robe he wore had a single tear.
"Lord Eastern Sovereign, do you still want to continue?"
"I might not be able to defeat you, but you can't do anything to me either."
"Right now, I only want to see my daughter. Anyone who tries to stop me is my greatest enemy."
"That includes you… and the Yin Yang School."
Flames of fury burned in Yan Fei's eyes.
An overwhelming aura began to surge from her body.
It looked as if she might erupt at any moment into a life-or-death battle.
"This time, I'll let it go for your sake. But next time, don't expect mercy."
Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi stared at her deeply.
He didn't continue fighting. In a flash of light, he vanished.
His earlier test had already confirmed that Yan Fei had indeed broken through to the Land Immortal realm.
Perhaps due to her recent breakthrough, her combat power was slightly lacking.
But the gap was not large.
Without the ability to kill or capture her, it would be unwise to fight to the death.
For now, the Eastern Monarch posed no threat to the Yin Yang School.
Letting her go for now was acceptable.
Once he reached a stronger level, someone like Yan Fei would be nothing.
Watching Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi truly leave, Yan Fei finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Unless absolutely necessary, she didn't want to become enemies with him.
Having grown up in the Yin Yang School, she understood just how terrifying Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi was.
No one knew how deep he had hidden his power.
She didn't want to fall into the trap of mutual destruction, only to let someone else reap the rewards.
"Xue'er, this place is no longer safe. Let's leave immediately."
Calling out to Xue Nu in the distance, the two women took off without hesitation, flying away quickly.
They left behind a battlefield in ruins.
Several hours later
The devastated area was discovered by others, and news of it spread quickly.
Many martial artists rushed to the site.
Especially when they saw the deep trench carved into the ground. It was clearly made by a human.
Everyone present was shaken to their core.
They simply couldn't fathom what kind of terrifying person had the power to do this.
But compared to Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi and Yan Fei, these martial artists were nothing.
At most, they were Grandmasters or Innate experts.
Not even in the same league.
With their limited perspectives, how could they possibly comprehend the terror of true power?
==========
Far away, near the border of Qin and the former Zhao Kingdom.
A convoy of about a dozen carriages was slowly moving forward.
"Lord Zhao Gao, it looks like someone is blocking the road ahead!"
"Oh? Who dares be so bold as to block our carriage? They must be tired of living!"
"Six Sword Slaves. Kill them."
From inside the carriage came a chilling voice.
"Yes, my lord!"
In the next instant, six figures darted forward.
They swiftly surrounded and attacked the "bandits" ahead.
In just a few breaths of time, those so-called bandits would be slaughtered by the Six Sword Slaves.