While Jue Xin appeared calm on the surface, he was seething inside, particularly toward Yan Ying. If it weren't for her, there wouldn't be Jue Tian, and he would still be the esteemed eldest son of the Wushen Absolute Palace, the rightful heir. But Yan Ying's arrival changed everything. Absolute God adored her and, by extension, Jue Tian. If not for his cunning, Jue Xin would likely have been eliminated long ago.
To avoid giving Yan Ying any excuse to move against him, Jue Xin feigned utmost respect toward her. Ironically, Yan Ying treated Jue Xin with maternal affection, creating a façade of a harmonious mother-son relationship that was anything but genuine.
"Damn it! Since you've shown no mercy, don't blame me for being ruthless!" Back in his quarters, Jue Xin slammed his fist onto the table. Ever since Jue Tian's birth, he had been living under the shadow of Absolute God's blatant favoritism.
Whenever Jue Tian failed a mission or made mistakes, he was met with comforting words rather than punishment. On occasion, Absolute God even placed the blame on Jue Xin, claiming it was his responsibility as the elder brother to guide Jue Tian properly.
Jue Xin, on the other hand, was expected to excel in everything he did, receiving no rewards for success but facing severe reprimands for any failure. If he had the strength to overthrow Absolute God, he would have done so long ago. Between them, there was no father-son bond—only cold disdain.
Despite his grievances, Jue Xin couldn't afford to openly rebel yet. To avoid drawing Absolute God's ire, he had to fulfill his assigned tasks, even if it meant enlisting external help. Qin Shuang's martial arts prowess was formidable, and Jue Xin knew he couldn't defeat him alone. Therefore, he sought an ally, one with a mutual grudge against Absolute God.
"Po Jun." Jue Xin had a plan. Yan Ying's past had created an irreconcilable rift between Absolute God and Po Jun. If not for Po Jun's inability to defeat Absolute God in battle, the two would have long since come to blows.
"What a woman, to have captured the hearts of so many martial heroes," Jue Xin muttered as he reached out to Po Jun.
Meanwhile, Daniel sneaked into the Tianxia First Pavilion, the heart of Absolute Palace's operations, and quickly spotted Yan Ying. Despite having encountered countless beauties, Daniel found himself momentarily surprised. Yan Ying wasn't just beautiful—her allure carried a natural charm that was utterly captivating.
Based on the timeline and the ages of Jue Tian and Wind, Yan Ying was well into her years, yet time seemed to have left no mark on her. Her presence exuded a magnetism that surpassed even Second Dream and left women like Chu Chu far behind.
It wasn't that Chu Chu wasn't beautiful. After all, she had captivated Sword Chen at first sight. However, her charm lacked the depth and mystique of Yan Ying's. Yan Ying's beauty was complemented by her gentle and empathetic demeanor, which had caused many powerful figures to fall head over heels for her.
Even the cunning and manipulative Absolute God was not immune to her influence. The only exception seemed to be Xiongba, who remained indifferent toward her, further proving his uniqueness among the martial world's elite.
"These fools never considered launching a counterattack on the Eastern Islands. Don't they understand that prolonged defense inevitably leads to failure?" Daniel mused, observing the state of Absolute Palace's operations. While he could have rescued Nameless and the others from captivity, he decided against it. Their repeated mistakes and naïveté warranted some time in confinement, especially since Nameless was using this opportunity to train in Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Sect.
Nameless had been given the secret key to the Sword Sect's ultimate technique after being captured. Neither Absolute God nor Jue Xin nor even Po Jun could fully comprehend the manual, leaving it to Nameless to decipher. Ironically, the prison environment provided the perfect solitude for his training.
"It's time to deal with Jue Xin. That schemer is too dangerous to leave alive," Daniel decided. Jue Xin's cunning was reminiscent of Duàn Làng's. Both were shrewd, power-hungry, and disliked by those around them. However, their luck had always been extraordinary, allowing them to acquire treasures like the Dragon Essence. Unfortunately for both, their good fortune always ran out, leading to tragic ends.
"You and I can work together. You can reclaim Yan Ying, and I'll become the master of the Wushen Absolute Palace," Jue Xin proposed directly to Po Jun.
"Agreed." After a brief moment of contemplation, Po Jun nodded. With his strength alone, he would never stand a chance against Absolute God. Using Jue Xin's ambitions might be his only path forward.
"Then start making preparations." After finalizing his deal with Po Jun, Jue Xin made his way to a dense forest at the base of the Tianxia Association's mountain.
"I accept your terms. However, I need your help to become the master of the Wushen Absolute Palace," Jue Xin said, speaking into the seemingly empty forest.
"Rest assured. If our master's plan succeeds, the Wushen Absolute Palace will be the least of your gains," a shadowy figure clad in ninja garb emerged from behind a tree.
"I've already secured control of the royal palace. Soon, we'll pinpoint the location of the Dragon Veins," Jue Xin began. However, before he could continue, the air around them seemed to distort and ripple unnaturally. Alarmed, he immediately fell silent.
"What's this about the Dragon Veins? Are you Eastern Islanders planning something?" a calm yet commanding voice echoed from behind Jue Xin. Spinning around, he saw an unfamiliar figure standing where he had been moments ago.
The newcomer was, of course, Daniel. After tailing Jue Xin to his meeting with Po Jun and overhearing their plot, Daniel decided it was time to act. Upon hearing mention of the Dragon Veins, he wasted no time deploying the Mirror Dimension, trapping Jue Xin and the ninja within.
"Who are you?" Jue Xin demanded, glaring at Daniel while inching closer to the ninja for protection.
"I am Emperor Shitian, master of the Heavenly Gate," Daniel declared with a cold smirk. His tone exuded an air of superiority as he channeled the eccentric mannerisms of the real Emperor Shitian. Wearing a peculiar wooden mask, he moved in a serpentine fashion, adding an unsettling aura to his presence.
"The Heavenly Gate? I've never heard of such a sect in the Central Plains," Jue Xin retorted, his expression darkening. As the Wushen Absolute Palace's chief strategist, he had detailed knowledge of all notable factions in the martial world. Yet the Heavenly Gate was entirely foreign to him.
"That's merely a reflection of your ignorance," Daniel replied dismissively. Suddenly, he stepped forward, extending his hand toward the space beside Jue Xin. What seemed like thin air moments ago materialized into another ninja, whom Daniel grabbed by the throat and slammed into the ground with enough force to shake the forest.
"Jiao Luosha," Daniel said, addressing the ninja by name. "So, the son of the Eastern Islands' Heavenly Emperor has decided to play at being a predator. But have you forgotten? Even a mantis stalking a cicada may fall prey to the oriole lurking behind."
Jiao Luosha, the son of the Eastern Islands' Heavenly Emperor, had been sent as part of a covert operation to manipulate the Wushen Absolute Palace and gather intelligence on the Central Plains. Unfortunately for him, his plans were now in shambles.
"Trying to run? You're not going anywhere," Daniel said coldly, sensing Jue Xin attempting to flee. With a flick of his hand, he summoned a powerful gravitational force that pulled Jue Xin back.
"Spare me!" Jue Xin begged as Daniel raised his hand, ready to strike.
"Mercy? I am not Nameless, nor Wind and Cloud," Daniel sneered, slamming his palm onto Jue Xin's head. Using his Op-Op Fruit abilities, he extracted the information he needed before freezing Jue Xin's body with his ice-based true energy, ending his life.
"With this, another thorn is removed," Daniel muttered as he turned his attention to Jiao Luosha's unconscious body. "Perhaps it's time to introduce Absolute God to a new kind of beast."
Grabbing both corpses, Daniel made his way to the Tianxia First Pavilion.
"Absolute God, get out here!" Daniel shouted, tossing the two bodies onto the pavilion's front plaza.
"What manner of man dares trespass upon the Wushen Absolute Palace?" Before Absolute God could respond, his disciples and elite warriors, including the Ghost Claw Luo and Golden Claw Luo, rushed to confront Daniel.
"Begone." With a single dismissive wave, Daniel unleashed a storm of frost spears that pierced through the approaching crowd, leaving the plaza littered with frozen corpses.
"Such power…" Po Jun muttered as he observed from a distance. For the first time, he hesitated. If this mysterious figure was capable of such devastation, could he be the key to eliminating Absolute God?
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