In the Imperial Palace, Escape Is Impossible

How could Ren Xiaoyao not be overjoyed?

His current state—

his Dao Realm Fifth Heaven cultivation had only just begun to loosen.

Originally, it would still have taken a long time for him to enter the Dao Realm Sixth Heaven.

The original Two Thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones

had already greatly shortened that time.

Now, if he could obtain Three Thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones,

then as long as Ren Xiaoyao absorbed the spiritual energy within those Three Thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones over half a month,

he would have absolute confidence

that he could enter the Dao Realm Sixth Heaven!

And these Three Thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones

had all been triggered by Luo Mengxian through the system's option.

Naturally, Ren Xiaoyao was filled with goodwill toward Luo Mengxian.

However,

after his brief delight,

Ren Xiaoyao also grew somewhat curious.

Luo Mengxian was also a top-tier Martial Saint Realm existence,

and she had mastered the advanced martial arts of Qianqiu Pavilion.

Just what had happened

for her to encounter a Life and Death Crisis?

At this moment,

guidance had already appeared in Ren Xiaoyao's mind.

Yet when Ren Xiaoyao saw the information in his mind,

he was rather puzzled.

Because the information showed

that Luo Mengxian was located

within the Imperial Palace of the Capital City.

"There is actually someone in the Imperial Palace capable of putting Luo Mengxian through a Life and Death Crisis? Could it be that the Empress has concealed her true strength? It seems I still underestimated this Empress. To become the Son of Heaven, she certainly does not lack means!"

Ren Xiaoyao mused inwardly.

It seemed that he was not the only one who understood how to conceal his strength.

At that thought,

Ren Xiaoyao became even more resolute.

No matter the circumstances,

he could not completely expose his strength to the eyes of the outside world.

Otherwise,

sooner or later, he would suffer a crushing loss.

Ren Xiaoyao put on the Ghost Face Mask once more.

The Starlight Glazed Robe on his body

also changed its appearance.

Riding the wind again,

he departed from the Imperial Observatory.

Great Gan Imperial Palace.

Before the Empress's bedchamber.

The figures of Luo Mengxian and Liu Ruyan appeared there.

They were currently surrounded by countless Imperial Guards.

Yet not a trace of Fearful Look

appeared on the faces of Luo Mengxian and Liu Ruyan.

Though these Imperial Guards were all Martial Artists of considerable strength,

to Luo Mengxian, a top-tier Martial Saint Realm expert,

they were still nothing but chickens and dogs made of clay.

At the very front of the Imperial Guard stood Shadow Guard Commander Phoenix.

Phoenix's attention was not on Luo Mengxian, but fixed tightly upon Liu Ruyan as she said in an icy voice,

"Liu Ruyan, you truly have the audacity to defy heaven. Last year, you were thrown into the Heavenly Prison for attempting to assassinate Your Majesty. I never expected that you would dare infiltrate the Imperial Palace again now. You are simply tired of living!"

The reason Phoenix had not paid attention to Luo Mengxian

was that Luo Mengxian was a figure of Qianqiu Pavilion's Inner Cabinet.

Even though Phoenix controlled intelligence throughout Great Gan, she had never heard the slightest news of Luo Mengxian. At this moment, Phoenix only believed that Luo Mengxian and Liu Ruyan were both assassins sent by the Demonic Cult.

After hearing Phoenix's words, Liu Ruyan gave a teasing smile and said, "Commander Phoenix, I do not know whether I am tired of living, but you dared point your sword at my Master. I think you will not live much longer."

"Your Master?"

Phoenix looked toward Luo Mengxian and Snorted Coldly. "What is she supposed to—"

However,

before Phoenix could finish her words—

Bang!

Luo Mengxian struck out with a palm from afar.

The blow blasted toward Phoenix.

Before Phoenix could react,

the immense gale of True Essence instantly sent her flying.

The strength of that force was something Phoenix simply could not Contend Against.

Phoenix was sent flying like a kite with its string cut,

crashing into the wall of the Empress's bedchamber.

The entire bedchamber seemed to shake.

Half of Phoenix's body was embedded in the wall.

Only after struggling with great difficulty did she free herself.

Phoenix was naturally in a wretched state. She coughed up blood, her gaze toward Luo Mengxian filled with Fear as she said, "Y-you... who are you?!"

Phoenix was naturally terrified.

Under the Empress's training,

she had now become a Martial Artist of the Heavenly Human Realm.

She had thought herself to be among the very pinnacle even in the martial world beyond.

Yet now, a casual palm strike from Luo Mengxian had utterly shattered all her pride.

At this moment,

the thousands of Imperial Guards also felt a chill run through them. They knew their mission was to surround Luo Mengxian before them, but after witnessing Luo Mengxian's ferocious might, not a single Imperial Guard dared step forward half a pace.

They could see it clearly.

The Luo Mengxian before them

was likely another existence capable of crushing thousands upon thousands of troops alone.

The Imperial Guard were indeed loyal to the Emperor and unafraid of death.

But when facing such a terrifying existence,

they could not help but tremble.

Luo Mengxian did not answer Phoenix's question. Instead, she gave a Cold Laugh, looked into the bedchamber, and said,

"Martial Emperor, you certainly put on grand airs. Since you know this Saintess has arrived, why have you not come out to greet me? Could it be that you think your wings have hardened and you can disregard Qianqiu Pavilion?"

Upon hearing Luo Mengxian's words,

Phoenix's heart lurched.

For she had already guessed that Luo Mengxian was the Saintess of Qianqiu Pavilion!

Her expression turned incomparably ugly at once.

At this moment,

the Empress's faint voice Followed from within the bedchamber.

"Phoenix, since the Saintess wishes to see Me, have the Imperial Guard withdraw. Without My summons, no one is to approach the bedchamber."

"By Your Majesty's decree!"

Phoenix hurriedly withdrew the Imperial Guard.

Then,

wearing a Black Dragon Robe, the Empress walked out from the bedchamber. Her expression was cold as she stared at Luo Mengxian before speaking.

"Luo Mengxian, though you are now the Saintess of Qianqiu Pavilion and hold an honored status, you should not have trespassed into My Imperial Palace in the middle of the night. After all, in the Great Gan Land, I still call the shots."

After hearing the Empress's words, Luo Mengxian gave a Cold Laugh and said,

"Martial Emperor, now that you have latched onto the Huangfu Family, even the tone of your speech has changed. Are you so certain the Huangfu Family will win? If you wager on the wrong treasure, not only will you fail to keep your throne, you may even die without a burial ground."

After hearing this, the Empress merely smiled faintly and said,

"My affairs require no concern from the Saintess. Besides, I think the Saintess's current predicament appears to be worse than Mine!"

"What do you mean by that?"

Luo Mengxian frowned.

The Empress did not speak.

But a Cold Laugh came from behind her.

Then a figure walked out from the bedchamber.

This man wore a Black Robe, his long hair hanging loose, his face grim and cold.

He had no Right Hand. In his Left Hand, he carried a longsword Black as Ink, within which rolling Black Mist churned, as though the sword had come from the Nine Nether Hell.

After sensing the aura emanating from this man,

Luo Mengxian's expression also became unpleasant.

For this man's aura was immensely powerful.

It did not lose to hers in the slightest.

The black-robed man stared at Luo Mengxian and said,

"Luo Mengxian, the Saintess of Qianqiu Pavilion's current generation? Then Qianqiu Pavilion's previous Saintess, Luo Mengshen, must have been your Elder Sister? My name is Sword Demon. Back then, Luo Mengshen severed this right arm of mine. Today, this debt should be settled upon your head."

Sword Demon's laughter was sinister and vicious.

It carried boundless killing intent.

Luo Mengxian's expression remained indifferent as she said calmly, "Martial Saints in the outside world may indeed be rare, but if you wish to Contend Against me, I fear you are still unqualified!"

"Good!"

Sword Demon chuckled and said, "Since the Saintess is so confident, why do you all not Appeared? Let the Saintess see whether us Martial Saints of the outside world are qualified to Contend Against her!"

As his words fell,

figures lurking in the darkness sprang out from all around the Empress's bedchamber.

In merely one or two breaths,

eight more figures surrounded Luo Mengxian and Liu Ruyan.

When Luo Mengxian looked at the eight people before her,

her face darkened.

For these eight people

were also Martial Saint Realm existences.

When Phoenix saw the nine Martial Saint Realm existences,

she felt nothing but terror.

A full nine Martial Saint Realm existences had been lying in wait within the Imperial Palace,

yet she had not known the slightest thing about it.

At this moment, Sword Demon chuckled and said,

"Luo Mengxian, these eight friends of mine are the Eight Sword Martial Saints of West Shu Mountain. I wonder whether the nine of us joining forces are qualified to deal with you?"

"Empress, you have hidden yourself deeply indeed. To summon nine Martial Saint Realm existences at once to deal with me—looks like I underestimated you before!"

Luo Mengxian's voice was grim.

Yet after hearing Luo Mengxian's words, the Empress Shook His Head and said,

"These nine were not summoned by Me. I do not have such a grand face! Besides, I do not know your whereabouts, nor did I know that you would come to the Imperial Palace tonight."

Luo Mengxian's gaze fell upon Sword Demon and the others, and she instantly understood. "It seems the Huangfu Family asked you to act and deal with me?"

Luo Mengxian had already figured everything out.

Wine Daoist also knew of her whereabouts.

And Wine Daoist was Qianqiu Pavilion's Outer Sect Master,

loyal only to the Pavilion Master of the Inner Cabinet.

Therefore, in the struggle between the Huangfu Family and the Luo Family.

Had always remained neutral.

Wine Daoist had likely revealed her whereabouts to the Huangfu Family.

"Correct!"

Sword Demon readily admitted it. "The Huangfu Family promised us that as long as we got rid of you, they would grant us an opportunity to reach the Through Profound Realm. Naturally, we could not refuse."

The Empress spoke softly as well.

"Saintess, you have seen it too. Today's matter has nothing to do with me. I was merely passively dragged into the whirlpool of conflict between your Luo Family and the Huangfu Family."

"Good! Very good!"

Luo Mengxian let out a Cold Laugh. "Hiring Martial Saints from outside to act—then even if Qianqiu Pavilion investigates afterward, they will find nothing linking it to the Huangfu Family. And Sword Demon bears an Old Grudge against my Elder Sister. When I die, I fear it will be taken as an outside Martial Artist's retaliation against my Elder Sister, won't it?"

"Correct!"

The Empress readily admitted it. "After all, Luo Mengshen made far too many enemies outside back then. It is only natural for her enemies to retaliate against you, Luo Mengxian."

"Humph!"

After hearing this, Luo Mengxian Snorted Coldly. "But even nine Martial Saint Realm experts will not find it so easy to intercept and kill me, will they?"

Even if she faced nine Martial Saint Realm experts at once,

Luo Mengxian still had confidence in her heart.

After all, Luo Mengxian stood at the peak of the Martial Saint Realm and had mastered all kinds of high-level martial arts within Qianqiu Pavilion. She might not be unable to fight nine Martial Saint Realm experts alone.

Yet after hearing Luo Mengxian's words, the Empress Shook Her Head. "Saintess, the Huangfu Family naturally knows your strength. Since they have decided to eliminate you, they naturally will not leave you any chance of survival."

It was at this moment.

A figure descended from the sky.

It was a man dressed in Purple Robe.

He struck at Luo Mengxian with his palm. Luo Mengxian sensed the terrifying power behind the strike; unable to evade it, she could only meet the Purple Robe man's palm with her own.

Boom!

The two palms collided.

Countless violent gusts of force were Stirred Up.

Luo Mengxian, standing on the ground, Snorted Coldly.

Blood seeped from the corner of her lips.

Underfoot,

slabs of marble shattered and broke apart.

The ground Collapsed into a deep pit.

Meanwhile, high in the sky,

the Purple Robe figure

landed steadily on the ground.

Only then did everyone see his face clearly.

He was an Old Man whose face was covered in Scars.

His entire appearance was incomparably vicious.

"The Through Profound Realm!"

Luo Mengxian stared at the Purple Robe Elder before her.

Her heart sank straight to the bottom.

She knew

that today, she truly had no escape from this calamity!