In the Ming Imperial Palace.
"Yan Shisan is actually a servant of the Murong Family? And around the same age as Xie Xiaofeng?"
Zhu Houzhao stared at the ranking list, confused.
It was completely different from what he had understood.
"Someone, come!"
"Your servant greets Your Majesty!" The shadow guard commander appeared.
"Add these two to the priority watch list. They will be of great use in the future."
"Does Your Majesty want us to make contact with them?"
"No need. They need time to grow. If they cannot, then they are just weaklings and of no use to me."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
"Good. You may leave."
———
Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!
In a secluded place, two figures were clashing intensely.
Terrifying sword auras shot in all directions.
The surroundings were devastated beyond recognition.
Suddenly, one of them came to a halt.
"Xie Xiaofeng, what do you mean by this?"
"Stopping halfway through, are you looking down on me?"
A stern-faced young man glared at the Third Young Master, his eyes full of anger.
"Yan Shisan, even if we continue fighting for three days and nights, we will not determine a winner. We'll only end up destroying each other."
"So what? Even if I die by your sword, it just means my skills aren't enough. I won't blame anyone."
"Yan Shisan, don't you want to see what the Great Grandmaster Realm, or even the Land Immortal Realm, looks like?"
"A true life-or-death battle between us is inevitable. But that time is not now."
"Xie Xiaofeng, what are you trying to say?"
"There is still an unfulfilled wish in my heart."
"Hmph, so in the end, you still covet my young lady. Xie Xiaofeng, give up. She will never like you."
"She already has someone in her heart."
"I don't know exactly who it is."
"I only saw his back once. When I tried to follow him, an azure lotus suddenly appeared before my eyes."
"The next moment, I lost consciousness."
"In front of that man, I was as insignificant as an ant."
"I suspect he is the one the lady has feelings for."
"Compared to him, you still have a long way to go."
Yan Shisan spoke calmly, looking at Xie Xiaofeng with a hint of pity in his eyes.
"But why is it that every time I see Miss Qiudi, she always seems unhappy, downcast, even forcing a smile?"
"Xie Xiaofeng, you should focus on reaching the Great Grandmaster Realm first before worrying about these things."
"Hmph, if you keep this up, you won't be able to defeat me in the future. You'll die by my sword."
"As a swordsman, being ruled by emotions is a fatal flaw."
Xie Xiaofeng ignored Yan Shisan's words.
But in his heart, a seed was planted.
One day, he would not only defeat Murong Qiudi, but also surpass the man in her heart.
He would make her see that he, Xie Xiaofeng, was the most outstanding man in the world.
Rejecting him would be the biggest mistake and regret of her life.
———
Ming Dynasty, Jiangnan.
Inside a refined and elegant restaurant.
Lu Xiaofeng, Chu Liuxiang, Hua Manlou, and Ximen Chuixue sat together.
Especially Ximen Chuixue, who was staring intently at the names on the ranking list.
Xie Xiaofeng and Yan Shisan.
These two were among the top swordsmen in the martial world.
Especially Xie Xiaofeng, whose evaluation was not inferior to his own.
He might even challenge Ximen Chuixue for the title of Sword God in the future.
"Ximen Chuixue, are you getting excited again?"
Chu Liuxiang sipped his wine and smiled.
Ximen Chuixue nodded. "Worthy opponents. I hope they're not fame-seekers like Ye Gucheng."
At the mention of Ye Gucheng.
Lu Xiaofeng, who had been drinking heavily, suddenly froze and became dejected again.
The humiliation in the capital had left a deep scar.
Especially whenever he thought of that unfathomable emperor, his heart trembled.
He was the most terrifying person Lu Xiaofeng had ever met.
No one else even came close.
Just a single glance from the emperor felt enough to take his life.
As if the emperor were a god towering above all.
Lu Xiaofeng was afraid.
For someone as fearless as him, that was hard to believe.
"By the way, have you heard?"
"The entire Prince Nan's mansion was executed. Every single person, including Prince Nan and his heir."
"Ye Gucheng was the heir's teacher and got caught up in it too."
"He probably didn't survive."
"Just thinking about it is terrifying. When the imperial court unleashes its true power, not even top Grandmasters can compare."
"Ximen, you were lucky not to be implicated."
Hua Manlou said seriously, for once.
"You're wrong. I was implicated."
Ximen Chuixue shook his head, revealing a complex expression.
"After leaving the capital, I was ambushed by a terrifying person."
"From the court?" Chu Liuxiang's expression changed.
Ximen Chuixue nodded.
"If not for someone saving me in time, I would've been killed with one strike."
"One strike? Who saved you?"
"The Western Demon Cult's leader, Jade Rakshasa."
"Why him?" The others were puzzled.
"Even Jade Rakshasa didn't dare provoke that court official. He spoke respectfully, even humbly."
"And then?"
"Jade Rakshasa became a Royal Worship in exchange for my pardon."
Everyone in the room gasped.
Jade Rakshasa's fearsome reputation was well known.
Yet before that court official, he had acted with such humility, showing that this person's strength far surpassed his.
Clearly.
The court was far more terrifying than they had imagined.
"Ximen, Hua Manlou, Chu Liuxiang, none of you must ever speak of this to anyone else."
"Not even those closest to you."
"This matter is extremely sensitive."
"If we expose the court's secrets, it could lead to a disaster beyond imagination."
"I don't believe the court has only one such powerful figure."
"The true concern of the imperial court is likely the other great dynasties."
"Clashes between nations are not something we small fry should meddle in."
"Ximen, you should also be more cautious with your temper. This is no laughing matter."
Lu Xiaofeng's tone was extremely serious.
Even Ximen Chuixue nodded in acknowledgment.
Though proud, he was not a fool.
Before, he didn't know how terrifying the court truly was, so his actions were not deserving of death.
But now that he understood, if he dared provoke the might of the Ming again, death would be fully justified.