Ming Dynasty, Outside of Sword Control Manor.
"Tianxue, is this the Sword Control Manor you spoke of? The place where Yin Zhong is hiding?"
Mei Yinxue asked the girl beside her, Yin Tianxue.
Originally, Mei Yinxue had planned to seek out Zhu Houzhao as soon as she arrived in the Ming Dynasty.
But along the way, she unexpectedly rescued Yin Tianxue, Nameless, Tong Bo, and Tong Zhan.
After that, they quickly became acquainted.
To her surprise, she discovered that Yin Tianxue actually knew Zhu Houzhao.
She had even gifted her a treasure of decent grades.
Because of that, Mei Yinxue showed extra concern for Yin Tianxue.
Especially after seeing the ranking in the sky.
Great Perfection God Demon Realm.
With that kind of strength, she gave up the idea of seeing Zhu Houzhao for now.
Someone already so powerful likely wouldn't need the Immortal-Grade Sword Technique from the Male-Female Twin Swords.
Since that was the case, there was no rush to meet.
Helping Yin Tianxue reclaim her home came first.
In her heart, she was also considering forming an alliance with her.
"Elder Sister Mei, later I'll lure my Second Uncle out of the Sword Control Manor. You must make sure he has no chance to escape."
"Senior Nameless, Brother Tong Bo, Brother Tong Zhan, I'll trouble you to rescue my father and elder brother from inside."
"Don't worry, Miss Yin. With my brother and me here, we won't let you down."
"Miss Yin once saved me. It is only right that I repay her favor."
"Thank you, everyone!"
Yin Tianxue took the kindness to heart but didn't say more.
Her figure flickered, swiftly flying into the Sword Control Manor.
Moments later.
A thunderous roar echoed through the area surrounding the Sword Control Manor.
"Yin Tianxue, you dare seek death!"
"Again and again, you provoke me. This time, I will show no mercy!"
"Yin Zhong, you captured my father and brother. I will never let you go!"
Soon, Yin Tianxue and Yin Zhong burst out of the Sword Control Manor, one fleeing and one pursuing.
Their speed was astonishing.
Nameless, Tong Bo, and Tong Zhan exchanged glances and immediately entered the Sword Control Manor to begin searching for Yin Hao and Yin Tianqi.
Meanwhile, a few miles from the Sword Control Manor, in an open field.
Yin Tianxue finally stopped running.
"Not fleeing anymore? Yin Tianxue, you've disrupted my plans too many times. I've had enough of you."
"Hand over the Spirit Mirror."
"And tell me, where did you get it? Where are the Tong brothers? Tell me, and I'll leave your corpse intact."
Yin Zhong spoke coldly.
"Don't even think about it! You old monster, you're not my real Second Uncle!"
"The real one was killed by you, and now you want to murder my father and brother too? I will never forgive you!"
"Oh? Is that so? But do you even have the strength?"
"Even with the Spirit Mirror, it's just a treasure collecting dust in your hands."
Yin Zhong looked at her with disdain. His killing intent was no longer hidden.
Now that he was prepared and with their strength gap so wide, he wasn't afraid of her anymore.
It was the perfect opportunity to reclaim the Spirit Mirror and get rid of the one who had spoiled his plans.
"Dragon God Exercise!"
In an instant, Yin Zhong activated the Dragon God Exercise, transforming into a shadowy dragon as he charged toward Yin Tianxue.
Yin Tianxue's expression changed. She quickly raised the Spirit Mirror.
A flash of light burst out.
Unfortunately, Yin Zhong was simply too fast. She couldn't land a hit.
Boom!
Caught off guard, Yin Tianxue was struck and sent flying.
She spat a mouthful of blood.
The Spirit Mirror in her hand flew from her grasp.
Seeing it about to fall into Yin Zhong's hands, her face turned anxious.
Whoosh!!
Just then, two sharp sword auras came slicing through the air.
Sensing a terrifying threat, Yin Zhong quickly dodged, narrowly avoiding a fatal strike.
"Who's there?!"
He shouted furiously, anger boiling within him.
Just as the words left his mouth, a graceful white figure appeared in a flash.
She swept in, caught the Spirit Mirror, and returned it to Yin Tianxue's side.
"Thank you, Sister Mei!"
"No need for thanks. I was just a moment late, which led to your injury."
"Are you alright?"
"It's nothing. I'll be fully recovered after a night of rest."
On the other side, Yin Zhong's face darkened as he saw the two women completely ignoring him and chatting casually, as if he weren't even there.
His expression twisted in rage.
"Seeking death!"
The dragon-shaped shadow emerged once more.
"Dragon God Exercise? You know the Dragon God Exercise too?" Mei Yinxue was surprised.
She had once seen Zhu Houzhao use it right in front of her.
That single demonstration had left a deep impression.
But compared to his mastery, Yin Zhong's version was simply pathetic.
"You know about it too? Are you from the Tong Clan?"
"No... you don't have their aura."
"You've met someone from the Tong Clan?"
"Hahaha, looks like you also have secrets I want. That makes it even more necessary to kill you!"
Laughing wildly, Yin Zhong unleashed his full power and charged at Mei Yinxue.
Swish, swish!
Mei Yinxue's eyes turned sharp.
She drew both the male and female twin swords, one in each hand.
Then she began to move.
Terrifying sword aura rained down like a storm, crushing toward Yin Zhong.
Though they were both at the God Demon Realm, Mei Yinxue's swordsmanship was clearly far superior.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Sword energy ravaged Yin Zhong's body.
His shrill screams echoed continuously.
Pfft!
He spat out a mouthful of blood as he crashed back to the ground in a sorry state.
His face was pale, and blood seeped from the corners of his mouth.
"Such powerful swordsmanship!"
"Are you Mei Yinxue? Or Murong Xisheng?"
(T/N: ??? Seems like the author forgets that he has met her.)
Yin Zhong stared at Mei Yinxue in disbelief, blurting out the question.
Mei Yinxue ignored him and was just about to strike the killing blow.
When suddenly, three figures rushed over from a distance, their expressions grim.
"Brother Tong, how are my father and brother?"
Yin Tianxue saw their faces and felt an ominous chill in her heart.
"Miss Yin... we're sorry. When we arrived to rescue them, we discovered that your father and brother had already been dead for quite some time."
"All the life force in their bodies had been completely drained."
In the end, Nameless revealed the bitter truth.
"Yin Zhong! It was you! You actually used my father and brother to cultivate demonic techniques?!"
"Hmph, I originally intended to spare them. But it was you, brat, who injured me with the Spirit Mirror."
"In order to heal, I had no choice but to use them."
"Their deaths are indeed mostly my responsibility, but you, Yin Tianxue, are far from innocent."
"If you hadn't interfered, how would your father and brother have died?"
"This is all your doing."
Even now, Yin Zhong tried to mentally crush Yin Tianxue.
"Nonsense!"
Mei Yinxue let out a cold laugh.
The thing she despised most was this kind of behavior.
Those who had once hunted her were exactly like Yin Zhong.
Committing heinous acts, then blaming others for the consequences.
Utterly disgusting.
As her words fell, the terrifying sword aura from the Twin Swords surged forth.
Slash! Slash!
With swordsmanship strong enough to rank her third on the Sword Immortal Ranking, Mei Yinxue's power was overwhelming.
Yin Zhong didn't even have a chance to fight back.
He was immediately severely injured, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"This is bad!"
"My old wounds haven't healed, and now I've taken fresh injuries. If I don't escape now, I might really die here."
Not daring to linger, Yin Zhong didn't spare a glance at Yin Tianxue or the Spirit Mirror.
He turned and fled at lightning speed.
Mei Yinxue was about to give chase and finish him off.
But after a moment's thought, she decided to leave him for Yin Tianxue.
This was a blood feud.
A hatred born of her father and brother's deaths.
It wasn't her place to interfere.
Yin Zhong, though, he was certainly interesting.
He seemed to be hiding quite a few secrets.
==========
Han Dynasty.
Divine Search Palace.
"Hmm? What's with you? Seeing your nemesis rise to Rank 1 on the Sword Immortal Ranking, shouldn't you be howling with rage?"
"Why are you so quiet?"
"Don't tell me you've been dealt a heavy blow?"
The Demon Lord, Bai Suzhen, had once again come to inspect the seal of the Longevity Immortal God.
Seeing the man looking utterly defeated, she was visibly surprised.
"Demon Lord, did you already know that the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal was at the Great Perfection God Demon Realm?"
"All those times I cursed Su Yi in front of you... did you think I looked like a clown?"
"Demon Lord, you're truly vicious!"
The Longevity Immortal God stared at her with venomous hatred.
In fact, at this very moment, he hated the Demon Lord even more than the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal.
"Wasn't that obvious?"
"When we sealed you back then, he had just broken into the God Demon Realm. How could he possibly have already reached the Great Perfection?"
The Demon Lord sneered.
"Utter nonsense."
"From Early God Demon Realm to Great Perfection... can that really be done in just a few years?"
"Even geniuses like you and me needed hundreds of years to get that far."
To the Longevity Immortal God, it was laughable, absurd, even.
"Compared to the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal, what kind of geniuses are we?"
"We're nothing but fools!"
"He reached the perfected God Demon Realm in his twenties. Can you do that?"
"What arrogance do you even have left in front of someone like him?"
"No wonder he completely dismissed you back when he sealed you."
"You really weren't worth his attention."
With disdain and mockery in her voice, the Demon Lord turned and left.
"Bai Suzhen! Azure Lotus Sword Immortal! Su Yi! Zhu Houzhao!"
The Longevity Immortal God clenched his jaw and spat out the names with seething hatred.
The raw contempt from both the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal and the Demon Lord had shattered the last fragments of his pride.
His ego could no longer bear the weight.
It crumbled completely.
His hatred toward them surged to a new peak.
If he ever escaped, he swore to take brutal revenge on the two people who had humiliated him so thoroughly.
==========
Heaven Gate Headquarters.
Luo Xian stood respectfully beneath Di Shitian.
Her expression was calm, but her heart was filled with wild excitement.
The new master... was terrifying!
Even stronger than Di Shitian by far.
Di Shitian had cultivated for over two thousand years and still couldn't compare to Zhu Houzhao, who had cultivated for barely over twenty.
Give him a little more time, and perhaps he could break through to the Sage Realm, or even beyond.
At that point, what Heaven Gate, what Di Shitian?
They would be no more than ants to be crushed with a wave.
"Master, do we still need to target the Ming Emperor?"
Hearing Luo Xian's question, the face beneath Di Shitian's icy mask briefly showed a flicker of fear.
Yes.
He was afraid.
Afraid that if he continued provoking Zhu Houzhao, the man would come for his head.
With Zhu Houzhao's current strength, even if he didn't want to admit it, the truth was clear.
He could not win.
He had lost his nerve.
If he couldn't beat Zhu Houzhao with power, then he would beat him with time.
He possessed an endless lifespan.
If a hundred years wasn't enough, then he would wait a thousand.
After a thousand years, would Zhu Houzhao still be alive?
By then, all of Nine Provinces would still fall into his hands.
He immediately ordered a full withdrawal of Heaven Gate's forces from the Ming Dynasty and the Netherworld City.
Time to find other entertainment.
If Ming Dynasty was off the table.
Then he would choose another target.
Qin Dynasty, Sui Dynasty, Han Dynasty, Tang Dynasty, Song Dynasty, Yuan Dynasty.
Each imperial dynasty flashed through his mind.
Ah yes.
He had heard that the Han Dynasty was on the verge of upheaval.
Good.
That Jiang Yuyan, who had seized control of the Han Emperor, seemed like a promising talent.
If he could bring her into Heaven Gate as a loyal dog, perhaps she could even put on a good show for him.
And with careful planning.
Maybe he could use this pawn to cause some trouble for Zhu Houzhao.
If he couldn't kill Zhu Houzhao, at least he could disgust him a little.
Even that would bring him a bit of satisfaction.