Empress Yao Guang wore a gentle smile, a picture of grace and virtue.
At this moment, she seemed not like the ruler of a powerful dynasty, but simply the beloved elder sister of the Pure Land's Sage Rulers.
"Sister Bai has returned from Nanchao. Surely she has obtained the ancient Emperor's legacy. This is a joyous occasion. However, if I were to receive her alone, it would be a sign of disrespect. I must summon all our sisters here in Great Ci to welcome her properly."
Qing Qiu looked at her, puzzled. Did Empress Yao Guang truly not believe Fan Li's warning?
A palace servant had already been dispatched to deliver the message:
"Sage Ruler Bai, please wait! Her Majesty, accompanied by Sage Ruler Qing Qiu, Sage Ruler Miaoyin, Sage Ruler Jin De, and Bai Rong, will personally welcome you."
Danzhu waited outside the palace. He was initially startled by the message, then relaxed.
"Hah! Just as Bai Shijiu's memories suggested. The Pure Land's Sage Rulers… They claim to be as close as sisters, despite lacking any blood ties. How absurd! But this is beneficial to me. I will remain hidden within the Great Ci Dynasty, observe the conflicts unfolding in the Central Plains, and wait for those fools to weaken each other. Then, I will strike and claim the world for myself! After ten thousand years, it will finally be mine! Hahahaha!"
Danzhu reveled in his scheme. After a short while, the palace doors swung open.
Inside, several figures stood gracefully at the foot of the imperial dais.
A single glance, and it was as if he had fallen into a garden of a thousand flowers. There were countless beautiful women in the world.
But how many could truly be considered the most radiant, the most captivating?
It seemed, within the Chao Ge Palace, the most beautiful women in the world had gathered!
The delicate beauty of spring, the vibrant charm of summer, the elegant grace of autumn, and the serene allure of winter.
Each figure possessed a unique and captivating beauty. Each woman represented a different shade of the world's colors.
Danzhu felt his blood rushing, his mouth dry.
"If only I were a man… " He swallowed hard. A dignified voice reached his ears.
"Sister Bai, why are you still standing outside? Have you grown distant from your elder sister after your travels?"
Danzhu, hearing this, quickly curtsied.
"This younger sister hasn't seen her elder sister for so long. I was momentarily lost in thought and forgot my manners. Please forgive me, Elder Sister."
He was afraid that Empress Yao Guang would notice something amiss. He imitated Bai Shijiu's graceful gait as he walked towards the dais.
Crossing the threshold, he finally saw Empress Yao Guang's face.
'Ah? Empress Yao Guang… she's so… ordinary?'
Danzhu had hoped to "enjoy the flowers," but Yao Guang's appearance disappointed him.
Thankfully, the other Sage Rulers were breathtakingly beautiful, enough to compensate for his disappointment.
Danzhu's gaze swept across each woman with greed.
'Once I conquer the world, I will claim all these beauties for my harem!'
It wasn't a delusional thought. To restore his male form wasn't difficult. He simply needed to possess a suitable body.
"Sister Bai, you've returned from your travels. Surely you should greet our sisters." Empress Yao Guang said.
"Yes."
Danzhu, pinching his nose, responded in a sweet, high-pitched voice.
This was perfect.
He wanted to appreciate the beauties up close. He walked towards the closest woman, dressed in green.
"Ah… Sister Qing Qiu, it's been a while. You're even more beautiful than before." Danzhu smiled.
Qing Qiu stared at him with an emotionless expression, as if she were looking at a stranger.
What was happening?
Had she seen through his disguise?
Impossible. Possession wasn't a simple disguise. He was now inhabiting Bai Shijiu's true body.
Thankfully, Danzhu quickly found information about Qing Qiu in Bai Shijiu's memories. She was known for being aloof and distant.
Among the ten great Sage Rulers, Qing Qiu had no friends.
"Sister Jin De, I've missed you so much."
Danzhu turned to another woman. Her attire was luxurious, adorned with gold threads. She held a book in her hands. He recognized her – the Sage Ruler of Literature.
"I've missed you too, sister." Jin De smiled politely.
Now, this was a normal reaction.
Danzhu took Jin De's hand with a look of sisterly affection. Inwardly, he thought, 'She's truly a pampered beauty. Her hands are so soft and delicate. What a wonderful feeling.'
But before he could enjoy the sensation for long, Jin De pulled her hand away.
Perhaps it was just his imagination, but for a moment, he saw disgust flash across her eyes.
"Elder Sister Bai, do you still remember me?"
Before Danzhu could understand what had just happened, a petite and alluring beauty approached him.
The woman before him was truly a feast for the eyes. Danzhu felt his mood lifting. He had already forgotten about Jin De's strange behavior.
"You…"
Danzhu was startled. He couldn't find any information about this woman in Bai Shijiu's memories.
Perhaps they had never met?
But her tone suggested otherwise.
Danzhu realized that his possession of Bai Shijiu's body wasn't perfect. Surely there were some memories and experiences he hadn't inherited.
He felt a flicker of fear. What if he was exposed?
The woman pouted. "Sister, have you forgotten about Rong'er? It's all my fault. The last time you left, I was in secluded cultivation. I couldn't see you off. Please forgive me, sister."
Danzhu sighed with relief.
Rong'er?
Then her name must be Bai Rong.
Bai Rong was incredibly talented. She was the heir to the Sage Ruler of Blood's legacy.
Danzhu, searching through Bai Shijiu's memories, found the information he needed. He was confident now.
"Rong'er, don't be upset. How could I possibly forget about you? You are the one Elder Sister has chosen, from among all the talented women in the world, to inherit the Blood Sage's position."
Bai Rong, hearing this, beamed with joy, like a child. She threw her arms around Danzhu, embracing him tightly.
A beautiful woman in his arms! He could feel her perfect curves pressing against him. Danzhu wished he were a true man.
Despite this, he still felt excited.
'There's… there's another beauty, Miaoyin…'
Danzhu, enjoying Bai Rong's embrace, wondered if he should hug Sage Ruler Miaoyin as well.
Yes, it was a good idea. According to Bai Shijiu's memories, she and Miaoyin were close friends.
Hehehe…
Suddenly, he felt Bai Rong's arms tightening around him, almost painfully so.
"Rong'er, you're squeezing me."
He tried to gently push her away. But Bai Rong stepped back abruptly!
However, Danzhu felt something restraining him. He looked down and saw a rope-like spiritual treasure binding him!
"Elder Sister! My Binding Spirit Rope has activated!"
Bai Rong's face was cold and cruel, her eyes filled with malice. She looked nothing like the playful and innocent girl from moments ago.
Danzhu was shocked. Had he been tricked?
Clang~!
A series of metallic sounds filled the air, sharp and piercing, imbued with killing intent.
Sage Ruler Miaoyin had retrieved her Heavenly Demon Zither. The zither's melody transformed into blades of light that shot towards him.
Something was wrong!
Danzhu unleashed his spiritual energy. He didn't care about maintaining Bai Shijiu's gentle demeanor. His body swelled, like a balloon about to burst.
Snap!
The Binding Spirit Rope was a treasure Bai Rong had inherited from Xue Feng's legacy. Its grade was low – only first-rank Earth-grade. Moreover, she hadn't fully mastered it.
With a burst of strength, Danzhu broke free from the rope.
But several of the zither's blades still struck him!
Thud!
Thud, thud, thud!
Within moments, over twenty wounds appeared on his body!
If Bai Shijiu hadn't possessed a high cultivation level, if not for Danzhu's vast reserves of spiritual energy, her body would have been torn to shreds!
"What's happening? Where did I go wrong?"
Danzhu couldn't believe these women had seen through his possession technique. If they couldn't see through it, how could they possibly know he wasn't the true Bai Shijiu?
Suddenly, his gaze fell upon Empress Yao Guang. She seemed unconcerned by the battle unfolding before her. In her hands, she held a letter.
Danzhu's eyesight was keen. He could easily see through the paper, reading the letter's contents.
"To Empress Yao Guang of the Great Ci Dynasty, from Fan Li, Duke Jin of the Great Chu. During my journey to Nanchao, I encountered a malevolent entity, incredibly powerful.
Sage Ruler Bai fought against the entity, but unfortunately, she was defeated and perished.
The entity was injured but managed to escape. I am aware of my limited cultivation and know I cannot pursue him. I am writing to inform Your Majesty of the situation.
This entity is cunning and deceitful. He is skilled in the art of deception and should not be trusted. I suspect he might disguise himself as Sage Ruler Bai and infiltrate the Great Ci Dynasty.
Please, Your Majesty, investigate thoroughly."
Danzhu dodged Miaoyin's attacks while making plans.
That damn Fan Li! How had he managed to send a letter to Great Ci before him? They had been in Nanchao together!
A warning?
Humph!
Danzhu sneered.
Fan Li's letter was vague. He hadn't revealed the true situation in Nanchao.
It seemed he was afraid of revealing too much. He didn't want his secret – that he had established his own kingdom, the Great Jin – to be exposed.
This was beneficial to Danzhu. The more vague the letter, the less convincing it would be.
Only two of the Sage Rulers had attacked him – Bai Rong and Miaoyin.
Empress Yao Guang, the most powerful cultivator in Great Ci, hadn't even released her aura. It seemed she was merely suspicious. She hadn't decided to kill him yet.
'I still have a chance!'
Danzhu knew that his only hope of survival was to gain Empress Yao Guang's trust. Otherwise, he would never escape the Great Ci Dynasty alive.
He had to take a risk!
Danzhu gritted his teeth and stopped dodging.
Thud!!!
He took Miaoyin's attack head-on, coughing up blood. The blood splattered across the air, beautiful and tragic.
Danzhu, in his stolen body, wore pristine white robes. The sight of blood staining those robes was truly pitiful.
Miaoyin, having landed a successful strike, was about to attack again, but she hesitated.
Bai Shijiu was swaying unsteadily. She collapsed at the foot of the dais, kneeling before Empress Yao Guang.
"Elder Sister… What have I done wrong? Why do you wish to take my life?"
Danzhu perfectly imitated Bai Shijiu's voice, her tone, even her expression. It was as if the Chess Sage had returned from the dead!
"Cough!"
He coughed up another mouthful of blood. With his vast spiritual energy reserves, he could have healed his injuries instantly. But now, he had to appear weak and vulnerable to gain Empress Yao Guang's sympathy.
"If Elder Sister wants to kill me, then strike. I have followed you since I was a child. I have always seen you as my elder sister, even my mother. Even if I die, I will have no regrets."
He spoke with a trembling voice.
"But please, Elder Sister, tell me why! Why do you wish to kill me?!"
His cries echoed through the palace. Miaoyin, who had been about to attack again, hesitated. Even she seemed moved by his performance. She looked conflicted, then finally sheathed her zither.
"You…"
The Empress, seated upon her throne, finally spoke.
"Are you truly my younger sister, Bai Shijiu?"
Danzhu's heart leaped with joy.
It was working!
He looked up at her, tears streaming down his face and confusion in his eyes.
"Elder Sister, what do you mean? I am Shijiu. Who else could I be?"
"Humph!"
Empress Yao Guang suddenly stood up, her face twisted in anger. She held Fan Li's letter, realizing she had been deceived.
"Fan Li's letter said that my sister died in Nanchao. How do you prove that you are Bai Shijiu, and not that… evil entity from Nanchao?"
Proof?
That was easy.
Danzhu adjusted his breathing, circulating his spiritual energy.
A faint glow appeared, forming nineteen crisscrossing lines and countless black and white dots. This was the unique aura of a Go cultivator, something impossible to fake.
Since Fan Li hadn't mentioned "possession" in his letter, Danzhu was confident that he could gain Empress Yao Guang's trust.
And indeed, the Empress's expression softened. She even seemed excited. She left her throne and walked quickly towards Bai Shijiu.
"Elder Sister, you believe me now?"
Danzhu remained kneeling with joy. Inwardly, he cursed, 'You bitch! You dared force me to kneel! Once I conquer the world, you will be the first to suffer!'
"I believe you."
As she spoke, she crushed Fan Li's letter in her hand, reducing it to dust. Danzhu secretly chuckled.
It seemed she truly believed him. The Empress extended her left hand, gently stroking Bai Shijiu's head. Danzhu didn't enjoy the sensation, but he endured it.
But then, he noticed something. The Empress was holding another letter in her right hand!
Danzhu's eyes scanned the page.
It was Fan Li's handwriting!
But the contents were completely different.
Danzhu's head spun.
He had clearly seen the words "possession" and "Danzhu" within the letter.
Why were there two letters?
Was this Fan Li's scheme, or Empress Yao Guang's?
He didn't have time to think!
An immense pressure suddenly descended upon him, crushing him, suffocating him!
What terrifying power! Even if he hadn't possessed Bai Shijiu, even if he were in his true form, at his peak strength, he wouldn't be able to withstand such pressure!
"Elder Sister…"
Danzhu still wanted to struggle.
He raised his head with difficulty, and happened to see that several Sage Rulers were standing beside Empress Yao Guang, all 'appreciating' him with different expressions.
Sage Ruler Jin De's face was full of ridicule!
Sage Ruler Miaoyin's eyes were full of contempt and disgust!
A cruel smile hung on the corner of Bai Rong's lips, and her eyes held gloating and anticipation.
What was she anticipating?
Was she looking forward to seeing how he would die!?
Bai Rong's expression filled Danzhu with immense terror. How could someone so heartless be so beautiful?!
He tried to speak, to explain, but he could only manage a few words.
"Yao Guang… I… I can surrender… Do you know who I am? I am Yao's son…"
Before he could finish, his last conscious thought was of Empress Yao Guang's left hand, descending upon him, as vast as the sky itself.
He was a tiny mosquito, unable to escape her grasp.
The sky closed in.
In truth, the Empress simply clenched her fist.
Danzhu was like a mosquito in the palm of Empress Yao Guang. He was crushed to death silently and there was no possibility of rebirth.