Han Imperial Palace.
Imperial Harem, Consort Yu Jiang Yuyan Palace.
Jiang Yuyan sat cross-legged on her couch, feeling Heaven Dao Reward, the Devouring Spiritual Physique.
Boom!
"I finally succeeded. I'm just one step away from the Heavenly Human Realm Land Immortal!"
"As expected of a Heaven Dao Reward. Compared to the previous reward from the Hidden Dragon Ranking, this is much stronger!"
"Not bad. With the Devouring Spiritual Physique, my cultivation talent has increased again, and my progress to the Heavenly Human Realm will speed up!"
"Give me a bit more time, and I will definitely rise!"
"Even Heaven is aiding me. I will never lose!"
A fiery light flashed through Jiang Yuyan's eyes.
The hatred she once held toward the Nine Provinces Golden Ranking now completely vanished.
Perhaps, in the future, the Nine Provinces Golden Ranking would bring her even more benefits.
But only if she had the qualifications to earn its rewards.
Right now, she still faces great threats.
On one side were the powerful forces under the mysterious man with the ice-carved mask.
On the other, those sent by the power behind the hunchbacked elder who had forcefully taken her to the Han Imperial Palace.
Both sides treated her like a mere pawn, as if they had her completely under control.
None of them had good intentions.
Especially those from the force behind the hunchbacked elder. Their gazes held nothing but the look one gives a dead person.
With her cunning, Jiang Yuyan instantly saw through their schemes.
Once her value ran dry, they would never let her live.
She had to find a way to eliminate this mysterious force as soon as possible.
Of course, she couldn't do it alone.
So, she set her sights on the subordinates of the masked man.
Though her strength was not yet equal to theirs, when it came to plotting, Jiang Yuyan was the more skilled.
She played both sides' cultivators in the palm of her hand.
==========
"Congratulations, Consort Yu! Your chain of schemes has succeeded!"
"Those two scheming men are now fighting each other to the death!"
At that moment, a trusted subordinate stepped forward to report.
Jiang Yuyan was overjoyed.
"Where are they?"
"In the valley ten miles outside the city!"
"Let's go, right now! This time, I won't let the opportunity slip by!"
"For three whole months I've endured humiliation in silence. Today, I'll make them repay it a hundredfold!"
Without delay, Jiang Yuyan dashed out of the palace.
==========
"What a damn lackey of Heaven Gate! Instead of staying by Di Shitian's side to do his sneaky deeds, you dare meddle in Han Dynasty's affairs? You're courting death!"
"Hahaha! I, the god, do whatever I please. So what if it's the Han Imperial Palace?"
"Not only will I meddle, but if I wanted, I could wipe out the entire Han Dynasty in the blink of an eye."
"You lowly rats from the Stitched Cloth Guard dare challenge Heaven Gate?"
"Soon, the world will be in chaos. Whether the Han Dynasty continues to exist is already in doubt. And your Stitched Cloth Guard? Soon to be wiped out!"
"When the god has time, the first to go will be you rats!"
Two arrogant voices echoed through the air.
A terrifying clash of forces rang out endlessly.
The valley, once full of birdsong and flowers, was now in ruins.
A fierce battle between two Heavenly Human Realm cultivators had turned the place to rubble.
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
Pfft!
Pfft!
"How can this be?"
"You're despicable! You poisoned me before the battle?!"
"Go to hell!"
"Ridiculous! It's you who poisoned me!"
"You Stitched Cloth Guards dare fight to the death with Heaven Gate?"
"No! Such powerful poison!"
"My true essence is draining fast!"
Within the valley, both Heavenly Human Realm cultivators turned pale.
Their internal energy rapidly declined.
Even their faces darkened.
Their auras collapsed entirely.
By now, they both realized they had been schemed against.
"Who dares ambush us?"
"No... We've been tricked."
"That woman... it must be that Witch! We underestimated her!"
"She dares attack us?"
Just then, a burst of arrogant laughter echoed through the valley.
"Hahahaha..."
Accompanied by the laughter, Jiang Yuyan descended like a Queen, looking down at the two with cold disdain.
"Well, gentlemen?"
"Are the gifts I prepared to your liking?"
Jiang Yuyan sneered.
"Jiang Yuyan, you were hiding your true self all along. You fooled me. I should have been more cautious!"
"You dare rebel?"
"Don't think god will let this go! When he finds out, you'll wish you were dead!"
To their threats, Jiang Yuyan remained unfazed, her expression full of scorn.
"For months, you've humiliated me. I've remembered every moment."
"Now is payback time!"
"Oh right, you must be curious about the magic of my Spirit Devouring Demon Exercise."
"Let me give you a demonstration!"
"Spirit Devouring Demon Exercise, Devour!"
With a soft command, Jiang Yuyan raised her palms toward the two men.
In the next moment, a terrifying suction force erupted.
Even Heavenly Human Realm cultivators could not resist it.
Their vast true essence and life force surged out of their bodies, drawn into Jiang Yuyan's own.
"Impossible! You haven't even reached the Heavenly Human Realm! How can you absorb my true essence?!"
"My life force! My lifespan!"
"No!!"
"Jiang Yuyan, stop! Let's talk!"
"Spare me! I'll obey your every command!"
But Jiang Yuyan ignored their pleas.
Only by killing them could she avenge her humiliation of the past three months.
As time passed, all their true essence and life force were devoured.
The skills, techniques, and even memories the two possessed were completely absorbed by Jiang Yuyan, better understood by her than they ever were by themselves.
A hundred meters away, her loyal follower watched the horrifying scene with cold sweat pouring down.
Too terrifying!
The Spirit Devouring Demon Exercise was beyond comprehension.
No wonder it ranked on the Nine Provinces Cultivation Technique Ranking.
He couldn't imagine any other technique more fearsome than this.
Aaaah!
Break through!!!
Suddenly, with a shout, a violent burst of energy exploded from Jiang Yuyan's body, her aura surging tenfold.
"Hahahaha! Heavenly Human Realm Land Immortal! I finally made it!"
With this breakthrough, she shed the limits of ordinary cultivators.
Her life essence evolved completely.
"Heaven Gate! Di Shitian! God!"
"Han Dynasty's Stitched Cloth Guard! Hidden Guard!"
"So, you all targeted me?"
"How hateful!"
As she reviewed the flood of memories brought by the Spirit Devouring Art, Jiang Yuyan finally understood the backgrounds of the two dead Heavenly Human Realm cultivators.
She now bore deep hatred toward both Heaven Gate and the Stitched Cloth Guard.
Were it not for the fact that both forces harbored Mythical Realm and God Demon Realm cultivators, she would have already made her move.
Especially the Stitched Cloth Guard, she felt nothing but pure killing intent.
It was because of them that she had become this twisted being, neither human nor ghost.
She would have her revenge.
She would wipe out the entire Stitched Cloth Guard.
No matter the cost. No peace until they were all dead.
She would use the Spirit Devouring Demon Exercise to absorb every Land Immortal within them.
She even set her sights on the man with the ice-carved mask, the one who had brought her endless humiliation.
Di Shitian.
God.
Heh. One day, she would devour this so-called god.
"Congratulations, Consort Yu, on reaching the Land Immortal Realm!"
Her loyal subordinate knelt, offering his heartfelt congratulations.
"Let's go."
"Today's events must not be told to anyone. You understand what that means."
"Yes, Consort Yu. I saw nothing."
"Hmph! With two Heavenly Human Realm cultivators dead, their forces will not let this go."
"I need to plan carefully to shift suspicion away from myself."
"Oh yes, isn't the area around the palace filled with spies from the various Imperial Courts and superpowers?"
"Perfect. Let's pin this on them."
"Let Heaven Gate and the Stitched Cloth Guard fight it out with all the major forces!"
As thoughts raced through her mind, she quickly devised a brilliant plan.
Shift the blame. Let others fight.
==========
Ming Imperial Palace.
Zhu Houzhao stared at the ranking board, his eyes deep and unreadable.
This Jiang Yuyan was more incredible than he imagined.
This situation reminded him of what had happened with Empress Wu Zhao.
Although Jiang Yuyan couldn't compare to Wu Zhao, she still wasn't someone to be underestimated.
Her potential was tremendous.
She must be handled carefully.
With her skills, she might really pull off something major.
In the future battle for the Han Dynasty, this woman was going to be a critical factor.
He had underestimated her.
Now, her wings had fully formed.
The Spirit Devouring Demon Exercise!
Far more powerful than Zhu Wushi's Absorption Great Method!
Boom!
At that moment, the Cultivation Technique Ranking shone brightly once more.
The third spot was about to be revealed!
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
List of Characters:
Number One Under Heaven ( 天下第一 )
・Zhu Houzhao ( 朱厚照 ) — Emperor of Ming Dynasty
Xiao Yu'er and Hua Wuque ( 小鱼儿与花无缺 )
・Jiang Yuyan ( 江玉燕 ) — Illegitimate Daughter of Jiang Biehe