Terrifying Heavenly Might, Sword Pavilion Saintess

Above the firmament, lightning snakes danced wildly.

Like roaring dragons, they tore through the air, erupting in blinding light.

In that instant, the Yellow Springs Road seemed to be illuminated as if it were daylight.

The Horse-Face man, seeing Fang Heng atop the lightning dragon, his eyes slightly dimmed.

"May I ask if you would grant me a little respect?"

"If you simply stand by and do nothing today, this bottle of Profound Yin Spirit Liquid will be yours as a gift."

Profound Yin Spirit Liquid was worth a fortune.

This Horse-Face evil cultivator was certainly generous.

Unfortunately…

"Heh heh—"

"I'm more interested in your head."

The cold words were laced with a thick murderous intent.

They echoed through the firmament with the roar of the lightning dragon.

The Horse-Face man's aged face beneath his mask turned ashen and grim.

In his shadowy eyes, a crazy murderous intent flickered.

"Good! Good! Good!"

The Horse-Face man laughed in extreme anger.

As an evil cultivator, he was naturally audacious and unbridled in his actions.

If it weren't for the Nine Yin Absolute Meridian being too important and not wanting any complications, why would he bow to the Black Impermanence before him?

He hadn't expected his deference to only fuel the other party's arrogance.

"Countless people have wanted my head."

"But they all ended up as spirits under my command."

"Today, you'll be another one."

As his voice fell, the Horse-Face man's ten fingers moved in quick succession, forming a strange incantation.

Immediately after, a dense ghostly aura shot up into the sky.

Like smoke signals!

Or as if it had materialized!

Within this chilling ghostly energy, the sounds of wailing ghosts could be heard.

"Five Ghosts Unite, Reach Heaven and Sever Earth!"

As the Horse-Face man's voice faded, Fang Heng clearly felt it.

The aura of the five ghost entities began to merge, combining into one.

As the five ghosts' auras merged, a massive ghost entity, towering over heaven and earth, appeared before Fang Heng.

Thirty zhang tall, with two horns and four arms.

Its oppressive power seemed to solidify even the air.

Shen Qiushui's pretty face turned even paler, utterly devoid of color, when she saw the giant ghost entity.

Her breathing quickened, her full chest rising and falling.

If the Horse-Face man made a move, he would go all out.

She absolutely wouldn't be able to withstand a single blow.

Although the Horse-Face man spoke arrogantly.

In reality, he was very cautious.

Daoist School lightning cultivators were their natural enemies.

Even if the lightning cultivator before him, whose aura.

Seemed not strong, only at the Object Manipulation Realm, was nothing to worry about.

However, he still dared not be careless in the slightest.

Especially that terrifying blue lightning above the firmament.

One look and he knew it wasn't ordinary lightning.

Could it be the Divine Firmament Sect's Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning?

No!

It was somewhat similar, but also different.

This blue lightning seemed even more fierce than Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning!

With a single move, Horse-Face unleashed his signature technique.

When the five fourth-realm specters merged their auras, their combined strength was enough to contend with a fifth-realm specter.

No matter how powerful a lightning cultivator you were, could you truly leap three realms and emerge victorious?

The colossal specter stomped on the ground, resembling a small mountain, exuding an immense sense of oppression.

An ordinary cultivator in the Object Manipulation Realm would likely not even have the courage to act when faced with such a terrifying specter.

"Good thing I was cautious enough."

"Before making my move, I made thorough preparations!"

Fang Heng thought to himself, a faint flicker of lightning visible in his dark eyes.

The five Wood-Thunder Divine Lightnings stored within the Heavenly Thunder Token had already been released, transforming into five thunder dragons soaring across the sky.

The five thunder dragons seemed to sense the colossal specter's provocation.

Their roars echoed through the clouds.

Five Thunders Striking the Top!

With one strike, he went all out.

Fang Heng flipped his right hand, and his jade palm descended.

The five thunder dragons were like his five fingers, completely at his command.

Boom—

The five thunder dragons contained destructive power.

They descended with the force of a thunderbolt.

Blinding light!

Earth-shattering roars!

As if venting endless rage.

All of this boundless fury fell upon the colossal specter.

This scene was like divine wrath.

Shen Qiushui's eyes sparkled with admiration.

Her reverence flowed like a continuous, surging river.

The outside world said the Ninth Prince was a sickly wretch.

Only today did she realize that seeing was believing.

His Highness was so fierce, so incredibly ruthless.

Shen Qiushui's beautiful eyes seemed to be spinning.

As for Horse-Face, his mood at this moment was the exact opposite of Shen Qiushui's.

A deep unease and an unshakeable confusion surfaced in his mind.

What kind of move was this?

Could a lightning cultivator in the Object Manipulation Realm truly be this powerful?

"Break it for me!"

Horse-Face bellowed.

He manipulated the colossal specter, swinging its fist heavily at the thunder dragons.

Boom—

The enormous ghostly claw and the azure thunder dragons.

Collided head-on in mid-air.

Black and azure intertwined and clashed in the void.

The resulting shockwaves spread in all directions.

Even hundreds of feet away, specters that couldn't dodge in time were swept away by the shockwaves, their souls instantly scattered.

After the light dissipated.

The colossal specter's ghostly claw was gone.

It had actually been completely sheared off by the thunder dragons.

Horse-Face's heart sank to rock bottom.

In just one exchange, the colossal specter had suffered a huge loss.

Fang Heng showed no surprise at this scene.

Horse-Face only saw the thunder dragons' power, but he didn't see the formidable nature of the Soul Reaper Envoy Fate Attribute.

It could be said that every one of his moves was a critical hit against yin spirits and ghosts.

"Fall!"

The lightning struck.

It poured down like a violent rain.

Endless, as if without end.

A scorching scent permeated the air.

It was as if even breathing brought the stinging pain of lightning.

Boom—

Boom—

Boom—

Boom—

When all five lightning dragons had descended.

Crack, crack!

A shattering sound rang out.

As the gigantic ghost was crushed by the lightning dragons, a wave of terror shot straight to the Horse-Face man's head.

"Run—!"

Where there's life, there's hope!

At this moment, the Horse-Face man no longer cared about the Nine Yin Absolute Meridian.

The only thought in his mind was to escape.

This place was Yellow Springs Road, inherently suitable for performing Ghost Dao escape techniques.

A faint light shot up into the sky.

It streaked swiftly towards the exit of Yellow Springs Road.

Its speed was so great that it left streaks of afterimages in the void.

"Black Impermanence, I'll remember today's grudge. Next time…"

"Next time?"

"There won't be a next time!"

Fang Heng scoffed.

How could he let a tiger return to the mountains?

As his words fell.

Five Lightning-Attracting Banners, positioned in five directions, emitted dazzling purple light.

They subtly resonated with the lightning dragons in the sky.

"Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning, rise!"

Fang Heng circulated his magical power, and a green lightning burst forth from his palm.

Under the guidance of the Lightning-Attracting Banners, it streaked towards the distant escapee.

In less than a breath's time.

A lightning cage appeared out of thin air.

It enveloped Yellow Springs Road.

Seeing this, the Horse-Face man's vision went dark.

How could he not realize that Black Impermanence had been plotting against him all along?

"White Impermanence, you're despicable and shameless!"

"How could you plot against me?!"

The Horse-Face man roared, his eyes bloodshot.

He attributed his entire defeat today to Shen Qiushui.

If not for her schemes, how could he have fallen into such a desperate situation?

The lightning cage gradually shrank.

As it was about to fall upon him, the Horse-Face man completely panicked.

"Black Impermanence, spare my life!"

"From now on, I'm willing to serve you like an ox or a horse, to be your…"

Before he could finish his words, the Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning struck down with a crash.

Rumble—

Boom!

Lightning flashed, mingling with the thunderous roar, carrying with it a destructive power that seemed intent on obliterating everything between heaven and earth.

Three breaths later, the lightning dissipated.

The Horse-Face man was gone, reduced to dust. Not even a speck of flesh remained, only a white finger bone, which fell to the ground.

Fang Heng picked up the bone. It was icy cold, like a piece of ice. It appeared ordinary, no different from any other finger bone. Yet, for it to remain intact after being struck by the Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning, it was clearly no common object.

Fang Heng put away the finger bone and walked over to Shen Qiushui.

Shen Qiushui was already exhausted, holding on purely by sheer willpower. Now that the battle was over, her legs gave out, and she collapsed into Fang Heng's arms. A delicate fragrance, like a young woman's, wafted to his nose.

"Miss Shen, are you alright?"

"Mm... just... a little tired!"

Shen Qiushui felt the hand on her waist, and her pretty face flushed slightly. She didn't dare to look up directly at Fang Heng.

"Yellow Springs Road isn't safe. Let's leave first."

"Mm... whatever Your Highness decides."

Upon returning to Listening Rain Pavilion, Fang Heng quickly gave Shen Qiushui a Rejuvenation Pill and helped her regulate her breathing. A quarter of an hour later, Shen Qiushui's pale complexion finally regained some color.

"Thank you for your help, Your Highness."

"Your kindness in saving my life... I have no way to repay it..."

"So, this time, are you finally planning to offer yourself to me?" Fang Heng teased. This seemed to be the second time Shen Qiushui had said she had "no way to repay" him.

Shen Qiushui instantly blushed, her pretty face seeming as though blood could drip from it. She lowered her head and let out a soft hum from her nose, whispering in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

"If Your Highness insists on me offering myself, it's... not impossible..."

"Cough, cough!"

Fang Heng quickly coughed, interrupting Shen Qiushui. A little joke was fine, but if things actually crossed a line, Fang Heng wasn't sure what the Martial Prime Minister, being such a doting father, might do.

"Miss Shen, are you cultivating the Fiction School's legacy?"

Seeing Fang Heng change the subject, a hint of disappointment flickered in Shen Qiushui's eyes. However, she quickly composed herself.

"Your Highness has keen insight to recognize my lineage at a glance. Yes, I cultivate the Fiction School's legacy."

"But hasn't the Fiction School's legacy been lost?" Fang Heng asked, curious. Among the Hundred Schools of Thought, apart from the Agricultural School, Military School, Mohist School, and Yin-Yang School—the four lucky ones—the legacies of the others had long been extinguished in the river of history.

"I was just lucky," Shen Qiushui said softly, a hint of memory in her eyes. "I was sickly as a child and diagnosed with the Nine Yin Absolute Meridian, unable to practice martial arts, and without spiritual roots, unable to cultivate the Dao."

"I thought cultivation would be forever beyond my reach."

"But... when I was twelve, while out for a spring outing, I discovered a cave."

"Inside the cave, I found a jade slip. The jade slip contained the legacy of the Fiction School."

"Unexpectedly, through a fluke, I was actually able to cultivate the Fiction School's legacy."

"Also, the Fengdu Pass was also found in that cave."

Hearing Shen Qiushui's experience, Fang Heng felt it was all too familiar.

A cave encounter? Isn't that the standard trope for protagonists in fantasy webnovels?

"Prime Minister Wu, do you know that you've been cultivating the Fiction School's legacy?"

Shen Qiushui shook her head, giving Fang Heng a pleading look.

"My father doesn't know yet. Please, Your Highness, help me keep it a secret."

"Don't worry, I won't tell Prime Minister Wu."

"Thank you, Your Highness. I owe you another favor now."

Shen Qiushui paused, then changed the subject.

"I've reached the limit of what I can cultivate with the Fiction School's legacy."

I attended today's trade fair precisely to trade for the subsequent parts of its legacy.

"I never expected it to be a trap set by Horse-Face against me."

"I was too careless and fell right into it!"

Shen Qiushui's eyes dimmed, still filled with remorse as she recalled what happened in the City of Life and Death.

"Was that Horse-Face man after your Nine Yin Absolute Meridian?" Fang Heng asked.

Shen Qiushui nodded slightly, indignantly saying, "People with the Nine Yin Absolute Meridian have blood rich in yin energy, which is a great tonic for ghostly beings."

"Horse-Face somehow discovered my Nine Yin Absolute Meridian and wanted to capture me to raise ghostly beings."

Shen Qiushui couldn't imagine how tragic her fate would have been if the Horse-Face man had succeeded today.

Her gaze towards Fang Heng grew even more grateful and gentle.

"That subsequent part of the Fiction School's legacy?"

"Fake!"

Shen Qiushui deflated, her eyes vacant, her mood heavy.

Seeing Shen Qiushui like this, Fang Heng stroked his chin and said lightly, "Besides the subsequent legacy, there are other ways for the Fiction School to improve its strength."

"Write more popular novels, I know that, of course..."

"It's just that my Legend of Heroine Shen is already a very popular novel."

"Even the empresses in the palace read my novel."

When Shen Qiushui talked about The Legend of Heroine Shen, she felt both pride and helplessness.

She was proud of her talent in writing stories, having penned the most popular novel in Yujing City at the time.

Yet, she was helpless because the Fiction School's legacy had a low ceiling.

Even if she wrote popular novels, her strength remained mediocre among those of the same rank.

She was even inferior to Fang Heng, who was only in the second realm.

Fang Heng smiled knowingly.

The Legend of Heroine Shen might be the peak of Great Qian, but it wasn't the peak of novels.

He had countless story ideas in his mind.

Just the phrase "thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river" had been popular for who knows how many years.

"Miss Shen, I have a story here. Please listen."

"The poem goes: 'Chaos undivided, heaven and earth in disarray, vast and boundless, unseen by man...'"

At first, Shen Qiushui only listened to avoid dampening Fang Heng's enthusiasm.

But soon, she became completely engrossed.

His Highness actually has such talent in writing novels. It would be a waste if he didn't write them.

Sword Pavilion.

One of the Ten Great Dao Courts.

A sacred place in the hearts of countless sword cultivators.

A slender young woman in green.

Her features were heroic, making it hard to distinguish her gender.

Her eyes revealed deep resolve.

The young woman in green took out her master's relics and carefully examined them.

Chessboard... chess pieces...

"I hope this exchange for the Mystic Escape Artifact goes smoothly."

"Master, if your spirit lingers in the Yellow Springs, please bless your disciple."

Sword Pavilion, Main Hall.

"Has the Saintess shown any unusual behavior today?"

"Reporting to the Pavilion Master, the Saintess is completely normal and shows no signs of attempting to escape."

"Perhaps her previous failed escape attempts have made her realize your formidable power, Pavilion Master."

"Don't be careless!"

"The Saintess's marriage concerns the alliance between our sect and the Divine Firmament Sect. There must be no mishaps whatsoever."

"Your subordinate obeys."

Prince's Estate.

"Your Highness, you're back."

Yun Menglan sniffed the fragrance on Fang Heng, her pretty face filled with a hint of resentment as she spoke.

"Your Highness, would you like your concubine to help you prepare the betrothal gifts to propose to the Martial Prime Minister's residence?"

"Ahem!"

"Menglan, what nonsense are you spouting?"

Fang Heng shot her a look. He could smell a hint of jealousy emanating from Yun Menglan.

"Your Highness, you don't need to comfort me."

"Your concubine is merely a maidservant. How could I compare to the Martial Prime Minister's only daughter, a golden branch and jade leaf?"

Seeing Yun Menglan's jealousy, Fang Heng wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling the beautiful woman into his embrace.

"I only met Shen Qiushui today for tea."

"Tea? And you came back smelling of her perfume?"

Seeing Yun Menglan's continuous jealousy, Fang Heng directly hoisted her over his shoulder and headed towards the bedroom.

This immediately elicited a gasp from Yun Menglan.

"Your Highness, in broad daylight, you..."