Han Martial World.
The land where the dragon was slain.
In the direction another Dragon Essence had flown.
Zhu Houzhao and Empress Wu Zhao were hiding in the shadows.
Watching a fierce battle not far away.
The person being besieged was tightly clutching a Dragon Essence.
"My husband, since you're not interested in the Dragon Essence, why are we here trying to seize it?"
Empress Wu Zhao shot Zhu Houzhao an annoyed look.
"I may not care for it, but that doesn't mean my subordinates don't."
"Yuwen Tuo of the Sui Dynasty has already reached the God Demon Realm. I need to raise the Dark One's realm as quickly as possible."
"Otherwise, if they face each other in the future, he might not stand a chance."
In Zhu Houzhao's eyes, his Dark Guard Leader Dark One was a counterpart to Black Shadow of Qin Dynasty's Black Ice Platform, Yuan Tiangang of Tang Dynasty, Yuwen Tuo of Sui Dynasty, Huang Shang of Song Dynasty, and Phagpa of Yuan Dynasty.
As his trusted subordinate, Dark One must not be weaker than those people.
Compared to Yuwen Tuo, Yuan Tiangang, Phagpa, and Huang Shang, Dark One was still slightly lacking.
Now was the perfect chance to seize a Dragon Essence to reward him for his loyalty and years of service.
As for why Zhu Houzhao wasn't giving it to his wives or female companions, naturally, it was because he had better methods for them.
The Dragon Essence might instead become a shackle to their potential.
Unless absolutely necessary, he would not give it to them.
"Put down the Dragon Essence, and I'll leave your corpse intact!"
A loud shout rang out.
Next, a middle-aged man with a rat-tail braid strode forward.
His eyes were cold as he stared at the foreign-robed elder who was gripping the Dragon Essence tightly.
"A man from the Qing Dynasty? How dare you! Do you know who I am?"
"I am the Golden Wolf Hall Vice-Master under Genghis Khan of the Yuan Dynasty!"
"You dare try to steal Genghis Khan's spoils? Aren't you afraid he'll send an army to destroy the Qing Dynasty?"
The foreign-robed elder shouted fiercely.
Though he was only at the Heavenly Human Realm, he showed no fear facing the Mythical Realm cultivator of the Qing Dynasty.
"Temujin? Hah, interesting!"
"In that case, all the more reason I cannot let you go. Everyone here must die!"
"Remember this. The one who will kill you is Zhalun, Flying Guillotine Guard Leader under His Majesty Emperor Qianlong!"
As soon as the words fell, The Flying Guillotine Guard Leader moved.
In an instant, he appeared before the foreign-robed elder.
With a fierce punch, He struck the elder's heart directly.
The elder had no strength to resist.
Before a Mythical Realm cultivator, the Heavenly Human Realm was nothing.
Spurt!
Boom!
A mouthful of blood sprayed out.
His heart was shattered, and the internal energy ravaged his organs.
Even with the strong vitality of the Heavenly Human Realm, he stood no chance.
Another punch.
Instantly killed the Yuan Dynasty Heavenly Human Realm cultivator on the spot.
His body exploded.
Not even bones remained.
Then, with a look of joy, Zhalun snatched the falling Dragon Essence.
"Run, quickly run!"
"That's a Mythical Realm cultivator! He won't spare us!"
"Scatter and flee!"
Many Heavenly Human Realm cultivators who had been chasing suddenly turned pale.
A shout was given.
They scattered in all directions.
Although the Yuan Dynasty and Qing Dynasty were supposed to be allies, Now, they were killing each other for the Dragon Essence.
They absolutely couldn't allow this news to spread.
Everyone here had to be silenced.
"Run? Mere ants! How can you escape the palm of my hand?!"
Zhalun laughs coldly.
His figure flickered rapidly.
One shadow after another flashed before the Heavenly Human Realm cultivators.
Each strike was lethal.
All aimed at the heart.
He shattered their hearts with precision.
All of them were killed on the spot.
Once no survivors remained, Zhalun grinned broadly.
Without hesitation, he picked a direction and fled swiftly.
He had to return to the Qing Dynasty while the God Demon Realm cultivators weren't paying attention.
Once back in Qing Dynasty, he'd be safe.
Whoosh!
His figure moved, disappearing instantly.
Not long after Zhalun vanished, several figures quickly approached.
Their clothing was nearly identical to that of the Yuan Dynasty elder who had died.
The leader was none other than the Demon Master Pang Ban, who had once narrowly escaped from the Heaven Mocking Palace.
"This is bad! The Dragon Essence is gone!"
"How could this be? Where's the Golden Wolf Hall Vice-Master?"
"The Dragon Essence was in his hand!"
"Didn't he call for our help?!"
"No need to look. His body has already been smashed to pieces by the killer!"
Pang Ban glanced around the scene and said calmly.
"Demon Master, do you know who did it?"
"Judging from the way they died, it must've been a Mythical Realm cultivator!"
"Heart Shattering Fist!"
"It was Zhalun, the Qing Dynasty's Flying Guillotine Guard Leader!"
"No doubt about it. He's the only one in all of the Central Plains who matches the technique. I learned of him from Master Meng!"
"Despicable! The Qing Dynasty's ambitions are monstrous. I must report this to the Khan!"
"This Dragon Essence may already be in Hongli's hands!"
"Very well. You all return to the Yuan Dynasty first. I'll go assist the National Master. He's in a dangerous situation right now!"
"Understood. Master, take care!"
==========
"Hahaha! I finally got the Dragon Essence!"
As he fled, Zhalun laughed wildly.
"Should I give the Dragon Essence to His Majesty, or keep it for myself?"
He hesitated.
After thinking for a long while, he decided to take it himself.
If he consumed the Dragon Essence, not only would his strength increase, but he might also gain eternal life.
The position of Flying Guillotine Guard Leader in the Qing Dynasty meant nothing to him anymore.
Once he reached the God Demon Realm, his status would surpass even that of an Emperor.
Why remain a servant?
Thinking this, he looked for a safe place to wait for the Dragon Essence to cool, then consume it directly.
But just as he continued fleeing, a sword aura slashed through the air.
So fast it could not be dodged.
It pierced through his forehead.
A dignified Mythical Realm cultivator had no chance to react.
He was killed instantly.
Even as he died, his eyes were full of joy and ambition.
The next moment, Zhu Houzhao and Wu Zhao appeared.
They looked at the corpse on the ground with indifference.
Zhu Houzhao waved his right hand.
The Dragon Essence flew into his palm.
He then struck out with a palm technique.
The Flying Guillotine Guard Leader was instantly reduced to dust, scattered into the wind.
A breeze blew by.
All traces were erased.
Everyone would assume Zhalun was still alive.
Probably hiding somewhere, secretly refining the Dragon Essence.
"Let's go!"
"To the next Dragon Essence location!"
"My husband, didn't you already get one?"
"The more Dragon Essences, the better!"
"Even if I don't use them, I won't let the enemy have them!"
After killing an ant, Zhu Houzhao and Wu Zhao felt no emotion.
Besides, this Flying Guillotine Guard Leader had killed countless masters of the Ming Dynasty.
His death was well-deserved.
Even if not killed today, he would have died when the Qing Dynasty was destroyed.
Doing it now saves a lot of trouble.
He didn't even look at the Dragon Essence, storing it directly in his system space.
Taking Wu Zhao's soft hand, he vanished into the shadows once more.
==========
"Sunflower Ancestor, put down the Dragon Essence and this monk will spare your life!"
Yuan Dynasty's National Master Phagpa stared indifferently at the beardless old eunuch before him.
"If you eat the Dragon Essence, it'll truly be wasted!"
"Phagpa, your Yuan Dynasty invaded Song Dynasty Territory. You and I are fated to be enemies!"
"If you want the Dragon Essence, you'll have to kill me first!"
"Otherwise, I'll take it back to the Southern Song Emperor."
"If His Majesty consumes it, our nation will surely rise to great power!"
"You Mongol barbarians have only one fate, destruction!"
"Hahaha! You old eunuch are laughable. You don't even plan to use the Dragon Essence for yourself, but to give it to that useless Southern Song Emperor!"
"Sunflower Ancestor, you shame the Mythical Realm!"
"Phagpa, if you seize this Dragon Essence, won't you give it to Temujin?"
"Hmph, how can that child Zhao Gou compare to Genghis Khan?"
"Zhao Gou is nothing but trash."
"He casually discards loyal generals. How can he be called an Emperor?"
"Calling him trash is actually a compliment."
"He's not even worthy of being called trash!"
"Insolent! How dare you insult His Majesty! Die!"
"Perfect. I'll kill this eyesore of a eunuch here and now. When the Khan conquers the Southern Song Dynasty, there will be one less obstacle."
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!
Several silver needles shot out.
Everyone expected the Sunflower Ancestor to fight Phagpa.
But after tossing a few needles, he turned and vanished into afterimages.
He had no intention of entangling with Phagpa.
Boom!
At that moment, a powerful palm strike hit the fleeing Sunflower Ancestor.
Spurt!
He spat out blood.
Looking at his attacker with disbelief.
His speed was unmatched among Mythical Realm cultivators.
Yet he lost.
When he saw who it was, his eyes narrowed.
"Yuan Dynasty's Golden Wolf Hall Master!"
"Your true target wasn't the Dragon Essence, but me!"
The Sunflower Ancestor instantly understood.
The Yuan Dynasty was about to destroy the Southern Song Dynasty.
As the Emperor's most trusted and loyal eunuch, they would not let him live.
If he were just a Heavenly Human Realm, they might not care.
But he was a Mythical Realm cultivator, a major threat.
He had to be eliminated.
They wanted the Dragon Essence.
But they wanted his life even more.
This had been premeditated by Phagpa and the Golden Wolf Hall Master before they even left the Yuan Dynasty.
"Only now do you understand? Too late."
"Pity. You followed a useless Emperor and ended up like this!"
The Golden Wolf Hall Master rushed forward.
With a fierce palm strike to the head, The Sunflower Ancestor was killed instantly.
"Hall Master, take this Dragon Essence to the Khan!"
Phagpa reached out and pulled the Dragon Essence into his hand.
After a moment of silence, He handed it to the Golden Wolf Hall Master.
"Very well. There are still several God Demon Realm cultivators fighting over Dragon Essences. To avoid further trouble, I must return to the Yuan Dynasty at once and deliver it to the Khan."
"With this Dragon Essence, the Khan will surely unite all of the Central Plains."
"Good. I leave this to you."
"I will rendezvous with the Demon Master. He is alone, and I am concerned."
"The Demon Master has great potential to reach the God Demon Realm. He must not fall here."
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
List of Characters:
Number One Under Heaven ( 天下第一 )
・Zhu Houzhao ( 朱厚照 ) — Emperor of Ming Dynasty
Sun Moon In The Sky ( 日月当空 )
・Wu Zhao ( 武曌 ) — Empress of Ming Dynasty
Lethal Weapon of Love and Passion ( 覆雨翻云 )
・Pang Ban ( 庞斑 ) — Master of Demon Master Palace
Broken Void ( 破碎虚空 )
・Phagpa ( 八思巴 ) — National Master of Yuan Dynasty
Smiling and Proud Wanderer ( 笑傲江湖 )
・Sunflower Ancestor ( 葵花老祖 ) — Head Eunuch of Southern Song Dynasty