Yuan Imperial Palace.
Bang!
Temujin gripped his scimitar and slashed the table before him in half.
"God Demon Realm Land Immortal?!"
Temujin's teeth were clenched, his eyes bloodshot.
The strength of the Ming Emperor was overwhelming. What this meant was self-evident.
It meant that the Yuan Dynasty's chances of conquering the Ming Dynasty were almost zero.
No matter how ambitious Temujin was, the Yuan Dynasty's national power was clearly inferior to the Ming Dynasty.
Even in terms of cultivators and their power, they were significantly outmatched.
"Khan, things are not yet hopeless. For now, we need not concern ourselves with the Ming Dynasty."
"Even if the Ming Dynasty's strength is greater than ours, our strategy will remain unchanged."
"Southern Song Dynasty is still the priority!"
"Before eliminating the Southern Song Dynasty, diverting our focus will only weaken the Yuan Dynasty."
In fact, Phagpa withheld one more truth.
With the Yuan Dynasty's current strength, if they were to confront the Ming Dynasty head-on, the outcome would be mutual damage for the Ming Dynasty and complete destruction for the Yuan Dynasty.
To emerge victorious in this power struggle, the Yuan Dynasty must first wipe out the Southern Song Dynasty and grow stronger.
They must strengthen their national power and recruit more top-level fighters.
They might even need to form distant alliances and attack nearby nations to have a chance of defeating the Ming Dynasty.
Even then, defeating the Ming Dynasty was still uncertain.
At the very least, the Yuan Dynasty would need one or two God Demon Realm cultivators of their own.
"Eliminate the Southern Song Dynasty!"
"We must take them down within five years. No, three years!"
"The longer we delay, the worse it is for the Yuan Dynasty."
"And, National Master, began recruiting cultivators from the Nine Provinces immediately. I am willing to grant noble titles to those who join us!"
With such a terrifying enemy like the Ming Dynasty, Temujin was willing to go all-in.
Any cultivator who joined the Yuan Dynasty would be granted noble rank and the highest honors.
"Yes, Khan, I will see to it at once!"
"By the way, where is Minmin? Wasn't she sent as an envoy to the Ming Dynasty? Why is there still no word from her?"
"Khan, Princess Minmin appears to have been targeted by Ming Empress Wu Zhao."
"She hasn't even met the Ming Emperor yet."
"She's been treated as a threat by the Empress, who suspects she is trying to seduce the Emperor."
"Strangely enough, Empress Wu Zhao seems convinced the Emperor might really be interested in her."
Phagpa gave a helpless smile.
What on earth was the Empress thinking?
Minmin was not even a Great Grandmaster. How could someone like her attract the attention of a God Demon Realm cultivator like the Ming Emperor?
It was simply impossible.
Yet the Ming Empress still treated Minmin as a serious threat.
She did everything in her power to prevent Minmin from meeting the Emperor.
Upon hearing this, Temujin had a sudden idea.
"National Master, what do you think of marrying Princess Minmin to the Ming Emperor? Could it benefit us?"
"Khan, why this idea?"
"Surely you don't believe even you think the Ming Emperor would actually be interested in Princess Minmin?"
Phagpa asked in disbelief.
"National Master, you are a monk, you wouldn't understand matters of love and desire."
"Power does affect attraction, but not completely."
"Sometimes, if there's even a spark, romantic feelings can arise."
"Minmin is the most beautiful woman in the Yuan Dynasty. Even if Zhu Houzhao doesn't fall in love with her, he will at least be physically attracted."
"That alone is enough."
"With Minmin's abilities, she will have no problem capturing Zhu Houzhao's heart."
"Otherwise, why would Empress Wu Zhao react so strongly? She must sense something special about Minmin we don't know."
Temujin nodded to himself. It might actually work.
"If what you say is true, this could really be feasible."
"If Minmin becomes part of the Emperor's Imperial Harem, it would be an enormous advantage to the Yuan Dynasty."
"With her intelligence, she could certainly trouble Empress Wu Zhao."
"And if she whispers sweet nothings to Zhu Houzhao at night, the Yuan Dynasty will benefit greatly."
Phagpa also began to nod in approval.
This was the least costly and most rewarding tactic.
A beauty trap.
It could even bring down a powerful nation or lead it to destruction.
"Hahaha, good! Then we must do everything we can to make this marriage happen."
"With the Prince Ruyang Mansion as leverage, Minmin wouldn't dare betray the Yuan Dynasty."
Unfortunately, the two greatly overestimated Zhao Min, and underestimated Zhu Houzhao and Wu Zhao.
Zhao Min was indeed beautiful.
But that was all.
Most importantly, she lacked strength, nowhere near good enough to catch Zhu Houzhao's eye.
There were countless women better than her.
Even those on the Hidden Dragon Ranking far surpassed Zhao Min.
If Zhu Houzhao were here, he'd probably laugh in scorn.
Empress Wu Zhao sees Zhao Min as a threat?
What a joke.
If there was any truth in that, it could only be because Wu Zhao was planning something herself.
Zhu Houzhao knew his Empress very well.
==========
Sui Imperial Palace.
"Supreme Master, if you fought Zhu Houzhao, who would win?"
"Your Majesty, you overestimate me. The Ming Emperor has already reached the God Demon Realm. I cannot match him."
"Don't you have the Xuanyuan Sword? Shouldn't it allow you to fight across realms?"
"Your Majesty, once you enter the Land Immortal Realm, you step onto the true martial path. Every stage upgrade brings a complete transformation in strength."
"The God Demon Realm is in a completely different realm. The Xuanyuan Sword is merely an external aid."
At this point, Yuwen Tuo himself felt curious about Zhu Houzhao's power.
There were also differences within the God Demon Realm.
The strong could easily kill the weak.
Even the weakest of the God Demon Realm was far beyond the Mythical Realm.
If Zhu Houzhao had defeated the Master of Heaven Gate, Di Shitian, and the two God Demon Realm Masters of the Divine Search Palace, he was no weakling.
He must truly be the chosen child of destiny, favored by the heavens.
Yuwen Tuo understood well that fate and fortune played a role in this world.
In his eyes, Zhu Houzhao was someone blessed with immense luck.
"Your Majesty, the Ming Dynasty is still far from our borders. Right now, our priority should be strengthening our nation to resist the Tang Dynasty."
"I will leave it to you, Supreme Master."
"If any decisions must be made, you may consult the Empress."
"I am currently at a critical stage of cultivation and cannot be distracted."
==========
Tang Imperial Palace, Taiji Hall.
"Master Yuan, the Ming Dynasty and Zhu Houzhao now pose a serious threat to the Tang Dynasty."
"Is there any way to suppress the Ming Dynasty or even spark civil war to trap them in a quagmire?"
Li Shimin's eyes were cold and sharp.
Upon discovering Zhu Houzhao had reached the God Demon Realm, he instantly became a greater threat than the Qin Emperor, Ying Zheng.
He became Li Shimin's number-one enemy.
"In the past, I would've said that the Ming Dynasty's internal forces and power-hungry generals were its greatest weaknesses."
"But now, with the revelations from the ranking, it's clear those so-called weaknesses were intentionally shown by Zhu Houzhao."
"If we fall for it, we'll be in big trouble."
"They were bait, nothing more."
Yuan Tiangang couldn't help but sigh.
Zhu Houzhao's long-term vision impressed even him.
"What a cunning man. If not for the ranking, I might've fallen for it."
Li Shimin ground his teeth.
"Can we form an alliance with other nations to resist the Ming Dynasty?"
"Highly unlikely. Aside from Your Majesty, Qin Emperor Ying Zheng, and the Yuan Dynasty's Temujin, the other Emperors lack foresight."
"They wouldn't agree."
"Plus, every nation is entangled in its own conflicts and interests. Why would they forsake their own for a faraway Ming Dynasty?"
"Then let's ally with the Yuan Dynasty, and include the Qing Dynasty too."
"If we do that, the Tang Dynasty's reputation across the Nine Provinces will be ruined."
"After all, the Yuan Dynasty and Qing Dynasty are foreign tribes."
"Conspiring with outsiders to harm our own kind would earn Your Majesty an infamous legacy that could never be washed away."
"It would doom any chance of unifying the realm."
"Then is there really no way to stop the Ming Dynasty?"
"There is. But the plan is not yet ready. I need time to refine it."
"Not just me, other wise men across the Nine Provinces won't stand by and watch the Ming Dynasty grow unchecked."
"All we need is the right opportunity. If it works, the Ming Dynasty will be severely weakened and lose all hope of unifying the realm."
"No matter how strong Zhu Houzhao is, he would be confined to his own territory, barely holding on."
"Oh? What is this plan?"
Li Shimin became excited.
"For now, I cannot say. There is only one chance."
"If we miss it, we will never have another."
Yuan Tiangang said calmly.
"Very well. I look forward to your plan's success."
If what Yuan Tiangang said was true and the plan succeeded, Zhu Houzhao would no longer be a threat.
Only Ying Zheng would remain as a rival.
But even he had many flaws.
Li Shimin was confident that he alone would one day unify the Nine Provinces.
Zhu Houzhao and Ying Zheng would be mere stepping stones on his path to glory.
==========
Qin Imperial Palace.
Ying Zheng had nearly identical concerns as Li Shimin.
But unlike Li Shimin, Ying Zheng did not care about reputation.
As long as it achieved his goals, a little infamy meant nothing.
Unfortunately, the Qin Dynasty and Ming Dynasty were too far apart.
The Ming Dynasty's strength had no direct impact on the Qin Dynasty.
In the end, the Ming Dynasty was only a potential future threat.
The cost of intervention was far greater than the possible benefit.
Even with his far-reaching vision, Ying Zheng would not act against his own interests.
As he watched the Black Ice Platform Leader leave, Ying Zheng gritted his teeth and retrieved a strange, eerie mask.
He placed it on his face.
Instantly, his body went still on the throne, as if asleep.
If not for his breathing, one might think he was dead.
Why Ying Zheng entered this state, only he knew.
==========
Meanwhile.
Han Imperial Palace, Consort Yu Jiang Yuyan Chambers.
Jiang Yuyan lay on her bed, wearing a mask nearly identical to Ying Zheng's.
Her breathing was steady, as if asleep.
This mask was the one she had taken from the hunched old man.
Clearly, it had been very important to him.
Jiang Yuyan had forcefully taken it and examined it thoroughly.
She found nothing unusual.
Until recently, when she finally killed the old man, the mask changed.
She tried it on and sensed its strange powers.
The moment she wore it, a terrifying force pulled her spirit through space.
When she regained awareness, she was in a grand hall.
Chairs and tables were neatly arranged throughout.
She was seated at one of them, in the back, as if it were her assigned spot.
"Huh? A newcomer?"
"How interesting. This one seems different from the rest!"
A sharp, grating voice echoed beside her.
Nearby sat a figure wrapped in a blood-red robe.
The face was hidden, no way to tell man or woman.
Jiang Yuyan quickly looked at herself.
She too was wrapped in a red robe. The only difference was her unique mask.
"Who are you?"
Her voice came out equally sharp and eerie, no way to tell if it was male or female.
"Just look at the stone stele in the center of the hall. Everything will be clear."
Jiang Yuyan looked up.
Though it was far, she could see the writing on the stone clearly.
Soon, she understood everything.
"The Earth Mansion?!"
"This is not the Earth Mansion of legends!"
"A terrifying force in the Nine Provinces?"
"Fengdu Emperor, Yin Prince, Ksitigarbha, Meng Po, Ghost Emperor, Yama of Ten Halls, Judge, Bull Head, Horse Face, Black and White Impermanence..."
"All of them are Land Immortal Realm cultivators?"
"A martial force?"
"How could this be?"
"What kind of being could create such a terrifying group?"
"Is this still the world I know?"
Jiang Yuyan's voice trembled in shock and disbelief.
"Hahaha, since you're here, two paths await."
"Complete your initiation task, or die."
"You'll learn the Earth Mansion's true secrets once you officially join."
"Good luck."
"Hope we meet again."
"Remember, in the Earth Mansion, I am Number 50, the Yin Prince."
The eerie figure gave a strange laugh and vanished.
Jiang Yuyan was left alone in the massive hall.
Suddenly, a beam of light shot from the central stele and struck her.
Darkness overcame her vision.
When she awoke again, she found herself back in her palace chambers.
"Was that a dream?"
But then, a message appeared in her mind.
Her expression changed instantly.
"The Earth Mansion... is it real?"
Jiang Yuyan's face turned pale with shock.
This time, she was truly frightened.
Such a bizarre event had happened to her.
And just then.
In the sky above.
The Martial Force Ranking refreshed once more.
It caught the attention of all Nine Provinces, including Jiang Yuyan.
[Martial Force Ranking – Rank 2]
[Earth Mansion]
[Leader: Fengdu Emperor]
[Cultivation: God Demon Realm Land Immortal]
[Expert: Three God Demon Realm Land Immortals, seven Mythical Realm Land Immortals, more than ten Heavenly Human Realm Land Immortals, more than one hundred Great Grandmasters, Grandmasters not included]
[Total Member: Over a thousand]
[Reward: Immortal-Grade Treasure – Reincarnation Disk, containing the mysteries of life and death]
==========
Ming Imperial Palace.
Zhu Houzhao looked at the ranking in the sky, his face rarely showing such seriousness.
So the Earth Mansion had finally been exposed by the Nine Provinces Golden Ranking!
Fortunately, he had previously been rewarded with the "One Leaf Obscure the Heavens" skill.
Otherwise, his other identity would have been revealed just now!
If the Earth Mansion's actions were also exposed in the future, he would become the most wanted man in the Nine Provinces.
Even as Ming Emperor, he might not be able to survive it.