Soaring to Prominence

Jiang Shuyue gritted her silver teeth and remained unmoved, tenaciously dodging or blocking the Li Family head's attacks.

She firmly believed she would win, because not only was her True Essence more abundant, she had also opened five Divine Treasuries, giving her more comprehensive abilities.

After an Incense Stick, Jiang Shuyue was already covered in blood, yet her eyes had grown sharper and more resolute.

At last, she found the Divine Treasury that the Li Family head had failed to open.

It was the Kidney Divine Treasury!

"Die!" Jiang Shuyue suddenly counterattacked with all her strength, ignoring the Li Family head's attacks and sparing no thought for mutual destruction as she relentlessly struck at his weakness.

The Li Family head held every advantage and naturally had no desire to perish together with her. He hurriedly withdrew his sword to defend himself.

However, the rhythm reversed in an instant and fell completely into Jiang Shuyue's hands.

In fewer than ten moves, Jiang Shuyue pierced the Li Family head's heart with her sword and shredded it, then yanked out her blade and retreated explosively, preventing him from dragging someone down with him before he died.

"Y-you... I..." The Li Family head clutched his endlessly bleeding chest with one hand and pointed at Jiang Shuyue with the other, filled with unwillingness.

Beneath the arena, countless spectators were dumbfounded, unable to understand why the situation had suddenly turned so drastically.

Only a tiny number of experts knew the true reason, but their faces too were filled with shock and disbelief.

Jiang Shuyue had entered the Divine Treasury Realm only a month ago, yet she was already at the Divine Treasury Realm Fifth Heaven. Not even a Saint reincarnated could achieve such a thing!

The entire Jiang Family erupted in thunderous cheers, overwhelmed with excitement.

As for the Li Family, every smile froze before turning to ashen despair.

The Li Family head fell unwillingly and breathed his last.

Covered in blood, Jiang Shuyue raised her sword toward the Li Family once more and shouted sharply, "Li Family, come up and die!"

Unable to bear the pressure, Li Yuanwang's will collapsed. He cried out pleadingly, "The Li Family surrenders! The entire Li Family will be given to your Jiang Family!"

"Li Family, come up and die!" Like a blood-soaked female god of death, Jiang Shuyue's voice rang in everyone's ears once more.

"Why won't your Jiang Family accept our surrender?" Li Yuanwang demanded resentfully.

Prefect Gao Xianzhi spoke again to urge them on, "The duel continues. The Li Family must immediately send someone up."

"I won't go die!" Li Yuanwang shrieked, turning and fleeing with all his might.

Prefect Gao Xianzhi unhurriedly announced, "The Li Family's chosen duelist fled without fighting. The Jiang Family has won the final victory."

After speaking, a ten-zhang-tall Law Manifestation flew out above his head, and an incomparably tyrannical aura blanketed everyone.

The Law Manifestation caught up to Li Yuanwang in an instant. From its enormous palm, it unleashed a bolt of lightning as thick as a water bucket, instantly blasting Li Yuanwang into ashes.

After the Law Manifestation returned to its body, Prefect Gao Xianzhi slowly rose to his feet. His gaze swept over everyone as he warned, "No matter who it is, those who break the law will die!"

The Jiang Family had won a complete victory. Jiang Shuyue had cut through four people alone, frightening the Li Family's last Divine Treasury Realm expert out of his wits and sending him fleeing without a fight.

The Jiang Family cheered wildly in excitement and felt immense gratitude toward Jiang Shuyue. Still reeling from shock, the spectators looked up to her in awe and reverence, while the various powers and families began to regard the Jiang Family differently because of her.

As for the Li Family, every face was ashen, as though mourning their parents. All the Divine Treasury Realm experts in their family had died. The vast wealth controlled by the Li Family could no longer be kept, and their decline was now set in stone.

However, they had brought it all upon themselves.

That very day, news that the Jiang Family had defeated the Li Family, and that Jiang Shuyue had slaughtered her way through the Li Family's Divine Treasury Realm experts alone, rapidly spread throughout White Emperor City. Everyone was shocked and found it difficult to believe, thinking it was merely a rumor.

Once the news was confirmed as true, nearly everyone could not help but feel admiration and envy.

From that day on, Jiang Shuyue soared to prominence in White Emperor City!

The news also reached the Zhennan Marquis Estate.

Many servants gathered in little groups to discuss it, after all, Jiang Shuyue was still nominally the Young Lord's wife.

Quite a few servants secretly rejoiced that they had not bullied or made things difficult for Zhao Ping'an in order to curry favor with the Young Lord's Wife, Su Yingluo.

When Qiushui received the report, she was greatly startled and could not help feeling uneasy.

Jiang Shuyue had previously killed a Zhennan Marquis Estate servant who had stolen Zhao Ping'an's belongings. Now that Jiang Shuyue had suddenly advanced into the Divine Treasury Realm, what if she harbored resentment and insisted on killing Qiushui?

Though Qiushui was merely a maid with some status and influence, she could hardly bring a Divine Treasury Realm guard every time she left the estate.

Moreover, even if she did bring a Divine Treasury Realm guard, Jiang Shuyue's terrifying combat strength—slaughtering four Divine Treasury Realm experts from the Li Family alone—might not be enough to keep her safe.

"Someone!" After dismissing the person who had delivered the report, Qiushui immediately called out.

Very soon, a maid stepped forward to receive her orders.

Qiushui said, "Immediately clean up the Yellow Bamboo Courtyard and invite Zhao Ping'an to move in."

It had been her own unauthorized arrangement to make Zhao Ping'an live in that Small Wooden Cabin.

Zhao Yingpeng and Su Yingluo's orders had been to imprison Zhao Ping'an in a small courtyard for the rest of his life.

"Yes." The maid accepted the order, turned, and went to carry it out.

She had taken only two or three steps when Qiushui called out again, "Wait!"

The maid stopped and turned back to Qiushui.

Qiushui solemnly instructed, "Make sure it is done before nightfall!"

"Yes!"

After the Errand Maid left, Qiushui composed herself and went to report Jiang Shuyue's situation to her mistress, Su Yingluo.

After hearing it, Su Yingluo showed no reaction. She continued chanting scriptures and cultivating, her heart free of distractions.

After hearing the news about Jiang Shuyue, the old madam of the Zhennan Marquis Estate snorted disdainfully. "What kind of woman goes out in public to fight and kill? She has utterly disgraced the Zhennan Marquis Estate!"

Zhao Yingpeng was quite shocked after hearing the news.

He had once been husband and wife with Jiang Shuyue. He knew that aside from her peerless beauty—she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen—and her gentle nature, her cultivation talent and comprehension had both been quite ordinary. He never expected that in just a few years, Jiang Shuyue would advance into a Divine Treasury Realm expert.

Moreover, according to intelligence estimates, Jiang Shuyue might already be at the Divine Treasury Realm Fifth Heaven!

"Could it be that she obtained some Great Destiny?" he guessed.

Little did he know that Jiang Shuyue's Great Destiny was becoming pregnant with Zhao Ping'an and insisting on giving birth to him.

Zhao Ping'an also received the news. Chen Donglai had come to bring him the good news.

When Zhao Ping'an heard Chen Donglai describe how Jiang Shuyue had repeatedly faced deadly peril while fighting the Li Family head and had nearly fallen, he nervously clenched his fists until his fingernails pierced his palms and drew blood.

After hearing the full account, Zhao Ping'an felt no joy. Instead, his heart ached. Mother, you were once such a gentle, kind, and beautiful person, yet because of me, you have turned yourself into a killing star feared by all.

Not long afterward, a maid arrived with several Male Servants.

"Young Master Ping'an, this servant has already prepared the Yellow Bamboo Courtyard. I respectfully invite you to move in," the maid said as she approached Zhao Ping'an.

Zhao Ping'an laughed several times. "You people are quick to turn with the wind. Not even a day has passed."

When his laughter ended, he said coolly, "Tell that lowly Qiushui to come and invite me herself. Otherwise, I won't be moving."

Half an hour later, Qiushui personally came to invite Zhao Ping'an to move into the Yellow Bamboo Courtyard.

Zhao Ping'an glanced at Qiushui and mocked, "You're afraid my mother will kill you."

With Zhao Ping'an exposing her thoughts before the other servants, Qiushui was inwardly furious, but she said calmly on the surface, "This servant's life is worthless. If I am killed, then I am killed. But this servant believes that Madam will uphold justice for me."

"Heh heh." Zhao Ping'an gave two mocking laughs and turned back toward the Small Wooden Cabin. "Why are you still standing there? Come in and help me pack my things."

Being able to move into the Yellow Bamboo Courtyard was something his mother had nearly traded her life for. Naturally, he would not refuse.

Before nightfall, Zhao Ping'an moved into the Yellow Bamboo Courtyard.

The Yellow Bamboo Courtyard was named for the dozen or so yellow bamboo stalks planted within it. These yellow bamboo stalks were no ordinary bamboo, but Low-Grade Spirit Plants.

The yellow bamboo was emerald with a faint yellow tint. It was not tall, only a little over one zhang high. More than a dozen stalks clustered together, their shadows swaying gracefully. As the breeze passed through, the bamboo leaves rustled and gave off a bamboo fragrance that calmed the heart.

The entire courtyard contained seven rooms, including a kitchen and a latrine. The main house was spacious, bright, clean, and well-ventilated. Its conditions were far superior to the Small Wooden Cabin.

The next day, Chen Donglai made a special trip back to Jiang Manor to report to Jiang Shuyue that Zhao Ping'an had moved into the Yellow Bamboo Courtyard.

Jiang Shuyue, covered in injuries and lying in bed to recuperate, felt some of the torment and suffering in her heart ease after hearing this.

However, she did not relax in the slightest.

She had to advance into the Dragon Transformation Realm. Only by becoming a top expert of the Dragon Transformation Realm would she have even a sliver of a chance to rescue Zhao Ping'an from the Zhennan Marquis Estate.

If the Dragon Transformation Realm was not enough, then she would cultivate to the Law Manifestation Realm!

Jiang Shuyue opened the "Clear Void Xun Wind Art" and turned to the fourth level of the "Clear Void Xun Wind Art," which was also its final level.

The moment she finished reading the fourth level of the "Clear Void Xun Wind Art," enlightenment immediately came to her.

In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, she completely comprehended the fourth level of the "Clear Void Xun Wind Art."

Unfortunately, advancing into the Dragon Transformation Realm was no trivial matter and required immense accumulation.

Although she had opened all five Divine Treasuries within a month, she still had to explore and excavate all the wondrous powers within them, and she also had to fill all five Divine Treasuries to the brim.

All of this required time and accumulation, as well as countless Cultivation Resources.

More than a year passed, and Zhao Ping'an had now been imprisoned in the Zhennan Marquis Estate for a full three years.

"Brat Zhao, this old dog is leaving. Remember your promise," Old Black said to Zhao Ping'an.

Zhao Ping'an was briefly stunned, then understood. "Has it already been three years? Thank you, Senior Old Black, for protecting me. I, Zhao Ping'an, am deeply grateful and will certainly repay you with everything I have in the future!"

"Hmph hmph. This old dog has kept you company for so long and has gotten nothing but a pile of empty promises," Old Black said dissatisfiedly. "You still haven't given me the basketful of Golden Buns you promised me at the start!"

Zhao Ping'an smiled. "You made an angel investment. When I become awesome in the future, I'll build you a huge dog kingdom and a huge dog harem too—white ones, black ones, spotted ones, yellow ones, three-headed ones... If you like them wild, I'll catch you a few female wolves too. Everything you could want, so you can enjoy bliss until you die."

"Looking to get bitten?" Old Black bared a mouthful of gleaming, razor-sharp canine teeth at Zhao Ping'an and was about to rush over and bite him.

Zhao Ping'an hurriedly waved his hands. "Just joking, just joking."

Old Black snorted coldly and turned to leave.

After taking a few steps, it stopped and looked back. "I'll ask you one last time. Are you willing to learn the 'Sun Devouring Divine Art'?"

"Thank you for your kind intentions, but I do not want to learn it," Zhao Ping'an said sincerely.

Old Black said nothing more. It turned, took a few steps, then leaped over the wall and departed.

Zhao Ping'an waved toward the direction Old Black had left.

From now on, he had one less companion.