Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

The light and heavy machine guns fired in a crossfire, creating bursts of blood mist directly among the warriors.

In the face of advanced technology and military industry, the disciples of the Zixia Sect have no use for their cultivation.

In the blink of an eye, hundreds of disciples fell to the ground, wailing in agony, their lives ending meaninglessly.

Witnessing this bloody scene, Daoist Qingxuan completely broke down.

She had planned everything, but she never expected that one day, the sect's power would be so vulnerable in the face of the imperial court.

This was not a closely fought battle, but rather...

A one-sided massacre.

Suddenly, Qingxuan Daoist nun felt a sharp pain in her back.

Zhuque put his hands behind his back, took a step forward, and stepped on her spine.

Before she could react, Zhuque's voice rang in her ears: "Qingxuan Daoist nun, do you know why His Majesty treats you this way?"

Qingxuan Daoist remained silent, her face twitching as she strained to turn her head, her eyes fixed on Zhuque behind her.

"Because your Zixia Sect colludes with vassal states and has dealings with the Northern Yan Hu tribes, your sect is colluding with foreign enemies."

This is a grave taboo. No matter how much His Majesty values ​​the bond between master and disciple, he will not allow you to harm the nation and its people.

Upon hearing this, Daoist Qingxuan shouted, "This vile woman, I must kill her! Those who betray their sect will be despised by the martial world!"

Zhuque increased the force of her foot, causing Qingxuan Daoist nun to break out in a cold sweat and spit out another mouthful of blood.

"Even on the verge of death, you still show no remorse. In that case, let me deal with you on His Majesty's behalf to prevent future troubles."

Zhuque slowly raised his palm, and a surge of powerful true energy gradually gathered in his palm.

Just as Qingxuan Daoist nun closed her eyes and awaited death, a calm voice suddenly rang out above the Zhengyang Hall.

"stop!"

Immediately following, a violent palm strike, accompanied by an extremely powerful figure, crashed down towards the top of the Vermilion Bird's head.

Zhuque decisively struck out with a backhand palm.

The moment he exchanged blows with Murong Wei, his internal energy surged by three points, directly forcing the attacker back several steps.

"Master!"

As Murong Wei retreated, another beautiful figure approached with a sword, aiming straight for Zhuque's throat with incredible speed.

but……

Zhuque didn't even glance at it. He slightly turned his body to avoid the incoming sword, and at the same time, his right hand conjured several phantom images, striking the spine of the long sword in her hand with each backhand strike. The shock made Youwei's mind uneasy, and her inner energy boiled continuously.

"So strong!"

Murong Wei and Chu Youwei were both shocked to discover that the Vermilion Bird was so powerful.

The two realized that their opponent had not used his full strength in their previous exchange.

"who are you?"

Zhuque pointed at Murong Wei.

Murong Wei steadied his erratic breathing, straightened his back, and said, "Fifth Prince of the Great Yan Kingdom, Murong Wei."

"A Yan person? The Murong clan!"

The pupils behind the Vermilion Bird mask instantly emitted a sharp light.

"Very well, the evidence of Zixia Sect's collusion with foreign powers is irrefutable. Qingxuan, what else do you have to say?"

Zhuque glanced back at Qingxuan Daogu, then turned to look at Murong Wei.

"The Yan state dares to interfere in the affairs of my great Chu state. It seems they intend to provoke a war between the two countries?"

"Perfect timing! His Majesty is just looking for an opportunity to avenge the humiliation of four years ago, and you've delivered yourself right to his doorstep."

Murong Wei laughed wildly: "Great Chu will eventually become part of Great Yan territory. Can Chu afford the flames of war?"

"Ignorance is bliss! I envy your foolishness, which gives you this inexplicable courage!"

Zhuque withdrew her foot from Qingxuan Daogu and strode towards Murong Wei.

"Since Northern Yan does not want peace, then let's just drop this peace agreement."

Today, Zhuque will act on behalf of the Emperor. War has reignited between the states of Chu and Yan, and your life is in the hands of Chu's declaration of war!

Zhu Que clenched her jade hand, and a chilling glint emanated from the pupils of her mask.

Murong Wei's eyelids twitched, and he immediately became tense.

After their exchange, he realized that his opponent's cultivation level was far superior to his own.

To defeat her, one must resort to unconventional methods to have even a sliver of a chance.

On the other side, Chu Youwei had also calmed down. She exchanged a glance with Murong Wei, and together they formed a pincer movement against Zhuque.

"Chu Youwei, your husband has only been dead for a few months, and you've already found a new lover. It seems Xu Jingyan's taste is really not good."

"Shut up! What do you know!"

"Slut!"

Zhuque snorted disdainfully, her tone filled with utter contempt.

"Do it!"

Murong Wei let out a cold shout and attacked almost simultaneously with Chu Youwei.

With a palm strike and a sword strike, their movements were perfectly coordinated, completely suppressing Suzaku's mobility.

however……

But then Zhuque slowly and gently turned her palms over.

Suddenly, Yin on the left and Yang on the right, two completely different auras gathered around him, gradually forming a Yin-Yang aura.

Whether it was Murong Wei's palm strike or Chu Youwei's sword energy, they vanished into nothingness the instant they approached Zhuque within two feet, like a bull sinking into the sea.

"what?"

"This is the Yin-Yang Limitless Force!"

Both Murong Wei and Chu Youwei were utterly shocked by the power displayed by the Vermilion Bird before them.

"Is there really someone in the world who can master this kind of skill of using minimal force to deflect maximum force and using the opponent's strength against them?"

"Go!"

Just as the two were shocked, the Vermilion Bird withdrew its energy and transformed into yin and yang, which were reversed.

In an instant, Chu Youwei, whose cultivation was slightly weaker, coughed up blood and was sent flying.

As for Murong Wei...

Click~

Zhuque twisted his wrist with a backhand, and at the same time, his fists, palms, fingers, claws, and legs attacked swiftly like the wind, leaving him with no power to defend himself.

In a short moment, Murong Wei had been hit thirteen times, and the last blow shattered three of his ribs.

The two men, spitting out crimson blood, stood side by side, staring at the Vermilion Bird in disbelief.

In contrast, Zhuque stood firmly in place with his hands behind his back, looking down at the two with an air of dominance, displaying the demeanor of a master.

"You're all staying here today!"

Just as Zhuque was about to make another move, Murong Wei made his move.

"Retreat quickly!"

Ignoring his own injuries, he leaped directly to Chu Youwei and Qingxuan Daogu's side.

He then pulled out two gray bullets and smashed them hard on the ground.

Boom~

A flash of light, and smoke instantly filled the air.

After the smoke and dust cleared, Murong Wei, Chu Youwei, and Qingxuan Daogu had disappeared.

At this moment, the disciples of the Zixia Sect had already suffered heavy casualties under the firepower, and the remaining disciples all threw down their weapons and chose to surrender to the Chu army.

"Chase."

Seeing that Murong Wei and his group had escaped, Qu Yi was about to order a pursuit.

"No need. Let them go. Spare their lives and find the bigger mastermind behind it all."

Zhuque stopped the new army, turned around and entered Zhengyang Hall, walking towards Lu Qinghuan, who was dumbfounded, and Qingyin, who was terrified.

"Sect Leader Lu, are you also going to defy His Majesty's decree?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Qinghuan immediately knelt before Zhuque.

"Lu Qinghuan is willing to lead the disciples of the Zixia Sect to submit to the imperial court and be at the Empress's beck and call!"

"Very good. A man who knows the times is a hero."

Zhuque seemed quite satisfied with Lu Qinghuan's attitude.

"From this day forward, you are the Sect Master of the Zixia Sect, and the affairs of the Zixia Sect will be entrusted to you."

I hope you will not disappoint His Majesty and will restrain your disciples from following in Qingxuan's footsteps.

"Yes, please tell your junior sister... Your Majesty, I will definitely manage the Zixia Sect well and will never let her down."

"Remember what you said today, go check on your junior sister Qingyin, she's completely terrified."

"I'll leave the comforting to you. His Majesty doesn't want to see any more news about discord within the Zixia Sect."

After saying that, he ignored the two men and turned to Qu Yi, ordering, "Leave one battalion to guard the area until the Zixia Sect resumes operation. The rest of the battalions will be deployed. I need to go to the palace to report to His Majesty."

"Yes!"

……

The following day at noon, inside the Yongxi Palace, Jiang Mengxuan lay on her side on the couch, dozing off with one hand supporting her cheek, looking quite exhausted.

Just then, Jiang Chaoyun came from outside the palace to report: "Your Majesty, Qu Yi ordered me to convey that the Zixia Sect has submitted to the court."

Currently, Daoist nun Qingxuan and several key culprits, including Chu Youwei, are at large. Commander Qu Yi has instructed me to inquire whether we should continue the pursuit.

Jiang Mengxuan lazily turned over, slowly opened her eyes, and said to the outside of the hall, "Let them return to the military camp for the time being and await my next instructions."

"As ordered."

After Jiang Chaoyun left, Jiang Mengxuan closed her eyes again.

……

"call……"

Meanwhile, Shen Lang woke up in a private house.

He got up and looked around, only to find himself in a farmer's house.

"You finally woke up?"

Just then, a boy of about twelve or thirteen years old entered the house carrying a bowl of steamed egg custard.

Upon seeing Shen Lang regain consciousness, he immediately shouted excitedly.

"Father! He's awake! He's awake!"

The shouts immediately alerted the others.

Soon, a man and a woman burst into the house.

Shen Lang observed carefully and found that the man was sturdy. Looking at the calluses that were faintly visible on the joints of his index and middle fingers, he could tell that he was a hunter.

The woman was just an ordinary silk weaver.

As for the young man, a heroic spirit emanated from him, and his brows revealed a hint of brilliance, a natural-born general.

"Where am I?"

After understanding the general situation, Shen Lang asked his first question after regaining consciousness.