"Minruo, I've told you many times, I do not possess any immortal art of military strategy on me." Ning Tiance's hands clenched slightly, a power of Dao Principles gradually swirling around him.
But Zhou Minruo shook her head and smiled faintly. "I know. But you have the Heavenly Formation Dao Heart. It's said this Dao Heart can create and break formations. For a military commander, it's considered a heaven-defying creation."
"Minruo, what exactly do you want to do?" Ning Tiance's eyes narrowed. His Dao Heart was something he believed no one in the world knew about. How did Zhou Minruo find out?
"Ning Tiance, you owe me a life. Why not... repay it today?" Since they had already shed all pretense, Zhou Minruo no longer hid anything.
As long as she could obtain this Heavenly Formation Dao Heart, not only would her life be secure, but she could also aspire to the throne.
The matter of changing hearts wasn't something she hadn't considered before.
But the risk was too great; the slightest mistake meant instant death.
Unless absolutely necessary, Zhou Minruo naturally wasn't willing to try it lightly.
But now it was different. The sixth-grade pill bestowed upon her by the old immortal elder was a supreme treasure pill enough to cause tremors across the Western Frontier!!
Old immortal elder, Minruo offers her deepest thanks!
"What did you say?" Suddenly, Ning Tiance felt a deep sorrow.
Even though he had long known what Zhou Minruo was scheming.
Hearing her say it outright still felt oppressive.
Ten years!
He spent ten whole years just trying to prove to Great Zhou that he didn't have the slightest thought of rebellion.
Ten years!!
He bore hardships without complaint, devoted his heart to her. While it was repaying a debt of gratitude, wasn't it also... hoping to change Zhou Minruo's mind?
But in the end, it was all in vain.
If Zhou Minruo had said this in the past, he could have drawn his blade and returned his life to her.
But now, with Ning'er's whereabouts unknown, he was unwilling.
"Ding! The Son of Fate feels resentment. Congratulations, Host, on plundering 300 Luck Points and 3000 Villain Points."
"Where is Ning'er, exactly?" Ning Tiance's tone was calm, but the aura around him grew increasingly powerful.
The heavens and earth seemed to resonate with a Daoist rhythm, and even the ancient array enveloping the small courtyard began to tremble slightly.
Ling Xiao stood in the void, coldly watching the scene below.
It's not yet time.
Not enough hatred, not enough cruelty.
Only after being utterly disappointed will Ning Tiance understand the value of true sincerity!
"Isn't Ning'er right before your eyes? Ning Tiance, will you do it yourself, or shall I help you?" Zhou Minruo's delicate hand gently pinched the pale cheek of the young girl.
The reason she sent Ning'er away and found this unrelated girl to impersonate her was actually... in anticipation of today's situation.
Zhou Minruo was indeed vicious and paranoid, but she hadn't reached the point of being utterly mad.
Although!
Initially, she gave birth to Ning'er not out of love, but to gain Ning Tiance's trust.
But having herself personally kill her own flesh and blood... Zhou Minruo wasn't incapable of it, but she couldn't guarantee she would definitely go through with it.
So, she didn't want to take the slightest risk. That's why, from the moment of birth, she used this trick of swapping the child.
"Zhou Minruo!!! What do you want to do?!" Panic showed in Ning Tiance's eyes, but Zhou Minruo shook her head. "You don't believe she's your daughter, right? Then why are you worried!"
As she spoke, she suddenly grabbed the girl's arm and pulled lightly.
Crack!!
"Ah!!!" A scream of agony instantly filled the entire small courtyard.
Fortunately, the ancient array muffled the sound, preventing it from traveling far.
Ning Tiance stared blankly at the girl, her arm hanging limply, her face contorted in pain. The next moment, his eyes suddenly turned blood-red!!
"Zhou Minruo!!! You are utterly mad!!"
"Hahaha! Ning Tiance, you didn't really think I loved you, did you? This bastard child was merely a means to control you. Since you say she isn't Ning'er... then I'll just kill her." Zhou Minruo gently stroked the girl's hair, venom flashing in her eyes.
She naturally knew Ning Tiance's strength.
With Granny Shang's cultivation level, she might not truly be able to overpower him.
If today's events were exposed, Great Zhou would certainly fall into chaos!
But...
With "Ning'er" as her trump card, Ning Tiance wouldn't dare act recklessly.
Even if he didn't believe this girl was Ning'er, how could he easily take the risk?
"Stop!!!!" Ning Tiance gritted his teeth fiercely, but ultimately, he suddenly let out a soft sigh.
Perhaps it was Ning'er's luck not to be in the palace.
With such a ruthless mother, how could she grow up happily?
"Promise me, let her go."
"Of course, Ning'er is my daughter too. I swear by my Dao Heart, if you submit obediently, I will grant her a lifetime of glory and wealth." Zhou Minruo smiled and nodded, moving her delicate hand away from "Ning'er's" head.
And Ning Tiance finally said no more, slowly closing his eyes.
"Heh, Ning Tiance, rest assured. After your death, I will bury you with Great Zhou imperial rites!" As she spoke, an ancient sword suddenly appeared in Zhou Minruo's hand, thrusting fiercely towards the space between Ning Tiance's eyebrows.
Generals of the Northern Frontier, in this life, I have failed you.
Buzz!!
But just as the ancient sword in Zhou Minruo's hand reached a point three feet from Ning Tiance's forehead, a sharp buzzing sound suddenly came from above the ancient array.
Then, a figure in white robes drifted down gracefully, blocking the path in front of Ning Tiance.
"Huh?" The world fell into silence.
Even Shang Xiang was momentarily stunned, looking up at the ancient array above.
How did this youth break the array?
Buzz. Peerless Dao Principles suddenly blazed brilliantly. Ling Xiao merely extended two fingers, gently pinching the tip of the sword. Then... Zhou Minruo watched wide-eyed as the divine sword in her hand shattered into pieces.
Pfft! Her delicate form trembled, her eyes filled with terror.
Zhou Minruo's figure instantly flew backward, landing beside Shang Xiang. She looked at the young man in white with shock and apprehension.
For some reason, she felt this youth looked somewhat... familiar?
"Who are you?!"
"Why are you here?!" Zhou Minruo and Ning Tiance spoke simultaneously.
Ling Xiao simply shook his head with a smile. "General, have you made your choice now?"
"This..." A struggle flashed in Ning Tiance's eyes.
He wasn't sure if the girl was Ning'er. If he acted rashly...
"Ning Tiance, you as expected have help! What, don't you want your daughter's life anymore?" Although Zhou Minruo was also curious about where this youth came from, it was clear he knew Ning Tiance.
General?
Could he be one of Ning Tiance's former subordinates?
"Daughter? Eldest Princess, look, what is this?!" Ling Xiao smiled mockingly, suddenly producing an object from his hand. It was the only stone pendant found on the old woman Han Yue.
This pendant seemed ordinary but was actually a low-grade divine artifact.
And an old woman without any cultivation, who hadn't sold it even when facing death, indicated this pendant must have another use.
A token, or perhaps, a symbol of Ning'er's identity.
Zhou Minruo's face almost instantly froze in shock.
"You... who are you, really?"
"So, you abandoned your daughter, schemed against your husband. How can there be a viper of a woman like you in this world?" Ling Xiao glanced indifferently at Shang Xiang. Fourth Grade Divine Emperor, but... her lifespan was nearly exhausted, a candle guttering in the wind, not worth worrying about.
And at this moment, seeing the terror on Zhou Minruo's face, the last trace of hesitation in Ning Tiance's heart finally dissipated.
"Zhou Minruo!! How could you be so vicious!!"