Dongfang Xuetong's Fury

"How could that be?" Zhu Ding hurriedly replied. Then, to prove himself, he added, "Go and check on your disciple right now. I absolutely won't stop you."

At the same time, through a special communication spell, he asked Duan Qi, "Is Xiao Yao still alive?"

"Yes!" Duan Qi paused briefly, his palm stopping mid-motion.

Zhu Ding hadn't told him the truth. On the one hand, it could easily expose him; on the other, Duan Qi had previously talked back to him, and still hadn't killed Xiao Yao by now. So, in Zhu Ding's eyes, Duan Qi deserved to die.

Unaware that he'd been sold out, Duan Qi ended the call and continued putting all his strength into another palm strike.

At the same time, a system notification sounded in Xiao Yao's ear.

[Beep! Because the Heavenly Net Grand Formation has entered its burst state more than 15 times, a hidden effect has been triggered. The formation's tier has advanced to Saint tier.]

[Heavenly Net: Can withstand a full-power strike from a Saint Realm cultivator. Requires 100,000 Low-grade spirit stones per day.]

[While in its burst state, it can kill Saint Realm cultivators. Requires 10 million Low-grade spirit stones per day.]

Xiao Yao was overjoyed!

But soon, a new worry arose in him. But I don't have 100,000 Low-grade spirit stones anymore!

[Beep! Host, on the first day after the Heavenly Net triggers its hidden effect, it does not require Low-grade spirit stones.]

"I see!"

Just as Xiao Yao's thought ended, Duan Qi's palm struck the grand formation. Previously, his attacks had sent ripples surging across it, but this time they were like stones sinking into the sea, without the slightest response.

After feeling it out, he shouted in disbelief, "What? How did it become a Saint tier grand formation? Wasn't it a Venerable Tier Grand Formation before?"

"Hahaha! That's because my grand formation was so eager to protect its master that it advanced in tier all by itself!" Xiao Yao laughed smugly.

Duan Qi didn't believe a word of it.

But the facts were right before his eyes. He had no choice but to believe them.

How could something so absurd happen in this world?

Was Heaven itself helping Xiao Yao, who possessed a Chaos Body, keeping him from dying just yet?

Duan Qi didn't dwell on it any further. He already understood that this assassination mission would end in failure.

So he had to leave. If he didn't, he wouldn't have time to escape.

Unlike his cautious arrival, he tore open space without hesitation as he left.

But just as most of his body had disappeared into the spatial rift, an incomparably terrifying force dragged him back.

He looked up and saw Lotus Sword Emperor Dongfang Xuetong, her face filled with fury, killing intent, and icy coldness.

"You dared attack my Direct Disciple. Tell me who ordered you to do it!"

Duan Qi's face turned deathly pale in an instant, utterly bloodless. His body trembled uncontrollably, and panic filled his heart.

But he didn't simply sit back and await his fate. With a thought, he shattered the jade bracelet concealed within his black cloak.

In an instant, a mature woman with a voluptuous figure appeared before them.

Her slender hand held a long-stemmed pipe. She took a light puff, then slowly exhaled, smoke swirling around her. Paired with her revealing, alluring figure, the sight was utterly enchanting.

Dongfang Xuetong recognized her at a glance. She opened her mouth and snapped, "Empress Shangyuan, you're still the same as ever. You'll take any assassination job, won't you?"

"Hmph! That's what happens when you have the power to do so," Empress Shangyuan replied coldly.

She glanced at Xiao Yao, who was sitting on the wall, and giggled. "Little one, you'd better have your master protect you every moment of every day. Once the Dark Palace takes a job, it will keep trying to assassinate its target until the target is completely dead—unless the Dark Palace itself is destroyed."

She dared to be so brazen even in front of his master. Empress Shangyuan must have had a few tricks up her sleeve.

But after these seven days of recuperation, and with the Quasi-Immortal tier spell No-Self, his master's strength had already advanced by leaps and bounds.

He just didn't know whether she could suppress Empress Shangyuan—or even kill her.

Dongfang Xuetong's willow brows drew together slightly, and her beautiful eyes gleamed more sharply than ever. She slowly spoke a single sentence: "In that case, starting today, the Dark Palace will be destroyed."

"Heh! Lotus Sword Emperor, I'm sixth on the Great Emperor Ranking, and you're tenth. If that stinking fox ranked first on the Great Emperor Ranking weren't protecting you, I would've killed you long ago, you Holy White Lotus Flower."

As soon as Empress Shangyuan finished speaking, she noticed a faint silvery-white light enveloping Dongfang Xuetong, whose aura was far stronger than before.

So she didn't underestimate her opponent. She immediately summoned the Emperor tier magic weapon Divine Talisman Diagram, then said something even more infuriating to Dongfang Xuetong.

"Lotus Sword Emperor, since you insist on this fight, today I'll send you and your Direct Disciple to the underworld together."

Dongfang Xuetong's fury grew, but her understanding of the situation was clearer than ever.

Empress Shangyuan didn't know that she could cast a spell that increased her strength twentyfold, or that her Sword Intent had risen by two levels, reaching the peak of the 101st level. Those were her advantages.

Besides, in their last battle, Empress Shangyuan had only narrowly surpassed her.

That was why she had the confidence to declare that she would destroy the Dark Palace.

She had waited a very, very long time for this moment. Her heart surged with excitement, so much so that even the hand gripping her Emperor tier sword trembled slightly.

"Hahaha... Your hand is trembling even as you hold your sword. Lotus Sword Emperor, are you really that afraid of me?" Empress Shangyuan jeered without restraint.

Dongfang Xuetong didn't reply. She gathered all her strength, essence, and spirit into the attack to come.

Emperor tier spell—Light Clouds Emerge, Moonlit Breeze Stills the Night!

In an instant, the bright daytime turned to night. A gleaming full moon appeared behind Dongfang Xuetong, and sacred pink-and-white lotus petals drifted on the breeze.

Xiao Yao knew this was an apparition caused by the spell.

At the same time, Empress Shangyuan swept her arm outward. The ancient diagram spun continuously and shielded her from the front.

Whoosh!

A golden beam of light burst forth. When it was no longer so dazzling, his master stood behind Empress Shangyuan, while Empress Shangyuan remained rooted in place, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"What a fast sword!"

"How... how could you possibly have such power?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Empress Shangyuan's body was obliterated by the golden light, along with her Emperor Soul.

Duan Qi and Zhu Ding, who had witnessed it through his Spiritual Sense, were completely stunned!

One move...

It had taken just one move to kill Empress Shangyuan, sixth on the Great Emperor Ranking. The Lotus Sword Emperor was unbelievably powerful!

I have to... I have to tell Lord about this...

Just as Zhu Ding was about to leave without a sound, he heard Xiao Yao's voice through the Spiritual Sense he had sent out.

"Master, don't let Shātu Demon Sage get away. He's almost certainly the one who hired the assassins to kill me."

Damn it!

You little brat!

Zhu Ding cursed inwardly. He had already gotten halfway to Ghost Fiend Demon Emperor, but a terrifying force dragged him back.

"Why was Zhu Ding dragged back?"

Ghost Fiend Demon Emperor found the sight incomprehensible. Still, following the fluctuations in space, he went in person to find Zhu Ding and ask what had happened.

When he arrived outside the courtyard of the Xiao Clan's Young Clan Leader, he saw the Divine Talisman Diagram shattered into pieces.

Wasn't this Empress Shangyuan's magic weapon? Why was it here?

Besides that, Zhu Ding and another Saint Realm cultivator were kneeling on the ground.

At last, his gaze fell on Lotus Sword Emperor Dongfang Xuetong. No matter how he looked at her, she was as naturally beautiful as ever.

"Lotus Sword Emperor, what happened here?"

Dongfang Xuetong was in no mood to be polite. Like a roaring tigress, she replied coldly, "Ghost Fiend, don't you really know?"

Even though he was also an Emperor Tier cultivator, Ghost Fiend Demon Emperor's strong, burly body still trembled. But he asked in confusion, "What would I know?"