Buzz!
[Martial Force Ranking – Rank 1]
[Heaven Palace]
[Leader: Jade Emperor]
[Cultivation: God Demon Realm Land Immortal]
[Expert: Four God Demon Realm Land Immortals, nine 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: Saint-Grade Treasure – River Diagram Book, containing profound cosmic star patterns and laws of time and space]
The Martial Force Ranking had finally updated the Rank 1!
Heaven Palace!
A name that sounded grand and awe-inspiring.
Like the Earth Mansion, it was named after a legendary mythical organization.
The leader, the Jade Emperor, truly had immense ambition.
Unfortunately, the Golden Ranking did not reveal his true identity.
Perhaps, like the Fengdu Emperor of the Earth Mansion, he had long abandoned his real name and adopted this title.
Just when people thought the Earth Mansion was already overpowered.
Heaven Palace turned out to be even more unbelievable.
Where did the Nine Provinces get so many Land Immortals?
Normally, even one at the Heavenly Human Realm Land Immortal could be a patriarch of a top-tier force.
But now, those at the Mythical and God Demon Realms were appearing in droves.
It was too outrageous!
Especially for the newcomers of the Martial World, each felt severely crushed.
Even though many were geniuses.
Facing so many Land Immortals that they might never reach in a lifetime, who wouldn't feel despair?
Even more, the reward was River Diagram Book.
A supreme treasure of unimaginable value even in myths and legends!
Granting such mythical treasures to people in a Martial World.
What is this Golden Ranking trying to stir up?
The people of the Nine Provinces looked at the first-place ranking in complete shock.
They were not only amazed by the terrifying power of the force.
They were also filled with envy and bitterness over the final reward.
If only they could receive such a treasure!
==========
Ming Imperial Palace.
When Dark One saw that Heaven Palace was ranked as first, his expression shifted slightly.
But he quickly composed himself again.
Zhu Houzhao glanced at him, a faint smile playing on his lips.
However, he did not ask further.
"Continue to monitor the situation with Jiang Yuyan."
"It won't be long before she stirs up something big in the Han Dynasty."
"The Dark Guard are only responsible for gathering intelligence. Do not interfere."
Zhu Houzhao made his final decision regarding Jiang Yuyan.
"Dark One, what do you think about how we should deal with Heaven Palace and the Earth Mansion?"
"So far, we have intelligence on most martial forces."
"But these two are completely beyond our grasp."
"They seem to have appeared out of nowhere."
"And with so many at the God Demon Realm, if they become our enemies, it would be a disaster."
"We must be vigilant."
Zhu Houzhao quickly shifted the topic to Heaven Palace and the Earth Mansion.
"Your Majesty, don't worry. Now that the Golden Ranking has exposed them, no matter how well they hide, they will eventually leave traces."
"Good. Continue this investigation under the Dark Guard."
"You may leave."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
As Dark One left, Zhu Houzhao's eyes grew deep.
River Diagram Book.
Reincarnation Disk.
This time, the rewards from the Golden Ranking far exceeded his expectations.
He had a strong feeling that with such benefits bestowed, something major would happen in the Nine Provinces in the future.
He might very well be drawn into it.
Perhaps the Nine Provinces World was not as simple as he once believed.
==========
Northern Song Dynasty Territory.
"Come out."
"I've been waiting for you for a long time, Murong Longcheng!"
"Did you really think that by joining the so-called "Earth Mansion" I wouldn't be able to do anything to you?"
"You killed the officials of my Imperial City Division, colluded with criminals, and conspired to rebel. You deserve death!"
Huang Shang stared into the direction of the forest behind him and shouted with power.
"Hahaha, Huang Shang, you truly are impressive. You actually sensed my presence!"
"These past years, we've clashed countless times. Though I've bested you often, you've ruined many of my plans."
"Very well. Let's settle everything today."
"Your existence poses a serious threat to my ambitions."
"You must die. Once you're gone, no one in the Northern Song Dynasty can stop me."
"In the future, during the war for supremacy of the Nine Provinces, my Yan Dynasty will definitely rise again, perhaps even contend with other dynasties!"
Just after Huang Shang spoke.
A man in a blood-red robe and a strange mask strode out.
"The Yan Dynasty has been destroyed for so long. Its fortune is gone, yet your Murong Clan still stirs up chaos in the Song Dynasty."
"Countless innocents have died because of you. Your clan's sins are unforgivable."
"Once you die, Murong Bo and Murong Fu will be nothing."
"Make your move. I've already set a trap. You have nowhere to run."
"Your only chance at survival is to kill me."
Huang Shang's face was calm, his aura ethereal.
Hands behind his back, he looked indifferently at the man in red.
"By the way, what is your title in the Earth Mansion?"
"Hmph, Huang Shang, you know about the Earth Mansion? I'm certain you're not one of them."
"Then, are you from the Heaven Palace?"
"Interesting. The head of the Song Dynasty's Imperial City Division is actually part of the Heaven Palace? Hahaha!"
With just a simple sentence, Murong Longcheng inferred crucial information.
"If the Song Emperor finds out, your position will be gone."
"That depends. Can you even make it out alive?"
Just as Huang Shang finished speaking.
He moved.
Countless afterimages flashed, and in an instant, he was in front of Murong Longcheng.
Boom!
A soft palm strike landed on Murong Longcheng's chest.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"You... How are you this strong?"
"We're both in the Mythical Realm. Why am I losing?"
In return, he received a flurry of palm strikes from Huang Shang.
Bang, bang, bang, bang!!
Each strike landed on his chest.
A mouthful of blood burst forth.
Even fragments of his internal organs came out.
His red robe and mask were destroyed.
Revealing a handsome middle-aged man. He must have been incredibly charming in his youth.
Even now, despite his pale complexion, his charisma remained.
Unfortunately, his strength was far inferior to Huang Shang's.
"You're part of the Earth Mansion, yet you don't understand. Even within the Mythical Realm, there are vast differences in power."
"You disappoint me, Murong Longcheng."
"In all these years, you haven't improved at all?"
"In such a dangerous world, only personal strength matters."
"Imperial ambitions and wealth are fleeting illusions."
"You haven't grasped even that. What a waste of your talent."
"How tragic."
Without giving Murong Longcheng a chance to escape.
Huang Shang moved again.
A terrifying force engulfed Murong Longcheng.
Boom!
His internal organs were destroyed.
His internal energy shattered.
"This palm technique..."
"You... you are the Water Monarch of the Heaven Palace?!"
"Hahaha, I can't believe it. The famed Water Monarch is the Director of the Song Dynasty's Imperial City Division!"
"You really hid yourself well."
"Looks like the entire Song Dynasty will fall into the hands of that mysterious Jade Emperor."
"You, Huang Shang, are no different from me!"
"You dare insult me with such arrogance?"
"You're no better!"
Murong Longcheng mocked coldly.
"You don't understand how I act."
"You're not qualified to comment on the Jade Emperor."
"Your vision is too short."
"You've stayed in the Earth Mansion without knowing any real secrets. Such a waste."
"You ignored the real opportunity right in front of you and chased trivial things."
"Pathetic."
Murong Longcheng's face changed drastically.
He wanted to argue, but didn't know how.
As he tried to speak, Huang Shang lost patience.
With one final strike, he killed him completely.
Looking at the corpse, Huang Shang remained expressionless.
"Murong Longcheng, you were wrong. I never intended to betray the Song Dynasty."
"The Former Emperor gave me a chance, I will not abandon the Song Dynasty's foundation."
"Heaven Palace is merely a means for me to grow stronger."
"My relationship with the organization is purely cooperative."
"From beginning to end, the Jade Emperor never asked us to do anything evil."
"They are not like your wicked Earth Mansion."
He muttered quietly.
Then struck once more.
Murong Longcheng's body turned to ash and disappeared.
With a wave, he collected the Earth Mansion mask.
Then vanished from the scene.
==========
Qin Dynasty Territory.
"Hahaha, finally found you. Didn't expect you to hide here?"
"Xuan Jian, I've left the Net Trap. Why are you still chasing me?"
"Jing Ni, once part of the Net Trap, always part of the Net Trap. Until death."
"Return now to see Lord Zhao Gao. Maybe you'll live."
"Dream on. I'll never go back."
"Then you leave me no choice!"
In an instant, a terrifying battle erupted near a secluded village.
Devastating shockwaves destroyed everything nearby.
"Judgment Blade, Reversal Soul Slash!"
Twin swords unleashed terrifying sword energy, trapping Jing Ni.
She had nowhere to run.
"Wait... this sword energy... no! It's from the Earth Mansion!"
"Xuan Jian, you're with the Earth Mansion?"
Jing Ni immediately realized something and cried out in shock and anger.
"Oh? You can sense the Earth Mansion's energy?"
"Then you definitely can't be allowed to live."
"Impossible... only people from the Heaven Palace can recognize it!"
"Jing Ni, you're from the Heaven Palace?!"
Xuan Jian was in disbelief.
His prey turned out to have another identity.
"Hahaha, great. If I kill you, I'll get a massive Earth Mansion reward."
"I can finally exchange for that Sword Technique I desire."
"Becoming a Land Immortal is within reach!"
Realizing Jing Ni was from the Heaven Palace, Xuan Jian was thrilled.
He believed killing her would bring tremendous benefits.
"Kill me?"
"Now that you know who I am, I can't let you live either."
"Die!"
In a flash, lightning burst from Jing Ni's body.
She drew her sword.
Bolts of lightning slashed around Xuan Jian.
Shadows flashed.
He felt intense pain all over his body.
Sword energy cut into him from all directions.
He had no chance to resist.
He couldn't even move.
He could only watch the attacks land on him.
Spurt!
A mouthful of blood spilled out.
"Jing Ni, you're a Land Immortal?"
"How can you have grown so strong?"
Feeling his life force slip away, Xuan Jian was filled with despair.
"This lightning power... you're the Lightning Mother of the Heaven Palace?!"
Xuan Jian shouted with certainty.
"Whether I am or not, what does it matter?"
Jing Ni replied coldly.
With another slash, sword energy sliced through his throat.
The Heavenly Human Realm assassin of the Net Trap, Xuan Jian, fell dead.
He thought she was the prey, but in the end, he was the one hunted.
She collected the Earth Mansion mask.
Looking at the destruction around her, Jing Ni sighed.
"I can't stay here anymore."
"The Net will find this place soon. I'm not afraid, but there's no need to get entangled."
"I'll leave the Qin Dynasty and head to the Ming Dynasty."
She whispered, a glimmer of anticipation in her eyes.