Ming Dynasty.
Capital City, Haozailai Tavern.
Chu Liuxiang, Lu Xiaofeng, and their companions Hua Manlou and Hu Tiehua sat together.
"Sigh, I feel like all these years of cultivation went to the dogs."
"No wonder she's ranked twenty-first on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. Only five years old and already at the Great Perfection Innate realm, with the power of a Great Grandmaster!"
"Heh, terrifying, truly terrifying!"
"I always thought I had good talent. I'm a Grandmaster now too, yet I can't compare to a five-year-old girl!"
Lu Xiaofeng shook his head and downed a bowl of wine in one gulp.
"Not just you. Even the most famous Great Grandmasters in the martial world must be making some interesting faces right now."
"Achievements they've worked their whole lives for, she reached at the very start."
"Now that's what you call a true child of destiny."
"And have you seen who her parents are?"
"The Azure Lotus Sword Immortal and Eastern Monarch of the Yin Yang School!"
"At minimum, both are Great Grandmasters, maybe even Land Immortals."
"With a background like that, not even a princess of the dynasty can compare."
The group gave wry smiles.
Even Hua Manlou, who usually had the most composed temperament, looked a little stunned.
"No use being envious. Let's just live our own lives."
"By the way, you all came to the capital this time because…"
"Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng are going to duel atop the Forbidden City under the full moon. Of course we couldn't miss it."
"The Hidden Dragon Ranking just appeared, and then something like this happens. I can't help but feel something big is coming."
Lu Xiaofeng's expression turned a little suspicious.
He had a vague sense that something wasn't right.
———
Ming Imperial Palace, Imperial Study.
Before Zhu Houzhao lay a table filled with precious treasures.
Some were heirlooms from the royal palace.
Others were rewards from the system.
He was choosing one as a first meeting gift for his daughter.
But none of them felt quite right.
"Eunuch Cao Zhengchun greets His Majesty."
"Hmm, rise," Zhu Houzhao nodded.
"Your Majesty, Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng plan to duel atop the Forbidden City on the night of the full moon. This servant suspects foul play. Should we arrest these two rebels immediately?"
"Your current priority is dealing with Liu Xi. Do you have time to meddle in other affairs?"
Zhu Houzhao's expression darkened.
This eunuch was pushing his luck. Even now, he dared test him.
Cao Zhengchun trembled in fear and quickly begged for forgiveness.
He left the imperial study in disgrace.
Outside, Cao Zhengchun's face turned ugly.
He had just sensed the emperor's killing intent toward him.
The situation with Liu Xi was more serious than he imagined.
That useless fool had to be dealt with.
———
A Hidden Base in the Capital.
This was Liu Xi's secret dungeon.
At this moment, Liu Xi stood with his hands behind his back, staring at two ragged prisoners before him. He suddenly raised his right hand.
An invisible force of inner energy burst forth, enveloping the two prisoners.
"Ahhhh!"
The prisoners immediately screamed in agony.
As they screamed, their bodies began to shrivel at a speed visible to the naked eye.
If a Great Grandmaster had been present, they would have seen that the prisoners' inner power was being siphoned into Liu Xi.
Soon, their bodies turned pale and shriveled, like dried corpses long dead.
"Ahh…"
Liu Xi took a deep breath and began refining the inner power he had just absorbed.
Their energy was far inferior to his own and was quickly fused and absorbed.
"No, still not enough. Their power doesn't help me much."
Liu Xi's face darkened with frustration.
"That damn Jiang Biehe, that damn Jiang Yuyan."
The Six-Ren Divine Dice and Flower Shifting Transplanting Wood should have been his.
Because of Jiang Biehe's betrayal, he had lost his chance.
"Worse still, the plan to kidnap the imperial consort failed, and now my whole scheme is delayed."
Liu Xi was filled with anger.
Clap clap clap clap!
Suddenly, a string of applause echoed.
"Who?!"
Liu Xi's hairs stood on end.
This was his most secret dungeon. Other than his loyal deathsworn, no one knew of it.
"Well done, Liu Xi, Eunuch Liu. To think I trusted you this much, and this is how you repay me?"
Cao Zhengchun's cold voice rang through the dungeon.
Liu Xi's expression changed, his body trembled.
Cao Zhengchun had found this place.
How?
"Eunuch Cao, what brings you here?"
Liu Xi forced a smile, trying to greet him.
"Liu Xi, end your life now, and I will leave you a whole corpse."
"Why? Eunuch Cao, I don't believe I've done anything wrong."
"Nothing wrong?" Cao Zhengchun burst out laughing.
"Placing your people in the Cabinet and the Six Ministries to manipulate state affairs. You've got some nerve. Even I wouldn't dare do such a thing. You, a mere insect, who gave you that courage?"
"You made officials of the Ming court bow to you. Who do you think you are, the emperor? Who gave you that power?"
"You even set up your own secret police within the Eastern Factory. What were you planning? Do you think I'm blind?"
"Selling positions, amassing wealth."
"Corrupting the martial world and harming the people."
"With all these crimes, do you have anything to say for yourself?"
Cao Zhengchun looked at Liu Xi coldly.
"Hahaha! Eunuch Cao, if you want to accuse me, you'll never lack a charge. Everything I did was under your silent approval, wasn't it?"
"You're the one who profited the most, aren't you?"
Liu Xi sneered and laughed loudly.
Bang!
Cao Zhengchun moved in an instant, struck Liu Xi squarely in the chest, and sent him flying.
He crashed hard to the ground.
Pfft!
Liu Xi coughed up blood.
"Eunuch Cao… I just want to die with clarity!" Liu Xi stared hard at him.
"Your biggest mistake was trying to kidnap the imperial consort!"
"Liu Xi, I misjudged you. I thought you had potential and even promoted you to Vice Director of the Eastern Factory. But I never expected you to be this stupid."
Liu Xi's eyes widened in disbelief.
"The consort? Just a mere consort, why?"
To him, the consorts of the inner palace were no different from palace maids.
Cao Zhengchun's fury deepened. He struck again.
This time, he destroyed Liu Xi's cultivation completely, rendering him a cripple.
"You fool. Worthless trash. All you ever did was ruin things. You nearly ruined everything for me. I want nothing more than to cut you into a thousand pieces."
"As a servant, you don't even know who you absolutely must never offend. What use are you?"
Cao Zhengchun didn't say another word.
The emperor was the one person no one must ever cross.
If Liu Xi couldn't understand that, he truly was worthless.
He had once thought him a talented man, but now saw he was an utter fool.
Without hesitation, he struck Liu Xi down on the spot, ending his life in despair and regret.
He beheaded him.
At the same time, fear and dread surged in Cao Zhengchun's heart.
He had made a mistake.
From this point on, whether he lived or died would be up to the emperor alone.
As for escape, he didn't dare.
If he didn't run, he had a fifty percent chance of survival.
If he did, he was guaranteed to die.