Looking down at Jiang Biehe, now completely devoid of inner strength, Jiang Yuyan felt not fear, but an exhilarating sense of vengeance.
Years of oppression, pain, and hatred…
All of it had finally erupted in a single moment.
Strength.
Power.
Only with invincible strength and supreme authority could she live freely.
She would never again be the Jiang Yuyan who let others trample on her.
From now on, she would be the one doing the trampling.
Casting one last indifferent glance at the dazed Jiang Biehe, she felt no nostalgia.
She stepped out the door.
Just as she was about to leave, something seemed to come to mind.
With the Netherworld Sword in hand, Jiang Yuyan slaughtered everyone in the residence like slicing vegetables.
Then, she set the entire place ablaze.
This place held too many memories of pain and hatred.
She burned it all. Clean and complete.
———
"What a ruthless woman."
"I've finally seen it for myself."
From the shadows, two figures slowly emerged, watching Jiang Yuyan's decisive departure.
"Lu Xiaofeng, it's a good thing you never messed with a woman like that, or I wouldn't be seeing you here today."
"Handsome Xiang, you should worry about yourself instead."
Lu Xiaofeng.
Chu Liuxiang.
Two of the most famous figures in the martial world of the Ming Dynasty.
Highly skilled, widely connected.
They had suddenly appeared here.
And had witnessed the entire massacre firsthand.
But for some reason…
They hadn't intervened.
"Handsome Xiang, with your temperament, why didn't you stop her from killing just now?"
Chu Liuxiang gave a bitter smile.
"Lu Xiaofeng, to be honest, I hesitated."
"When I saw her, I suddenly felt a chill in my heart, like disaster was looming."
"If I provoked her, I would definitely regret it."
"Even the likes of Water Mother Yin Ji and Shi Guanyin never gave me that feeling. Isn't it unbelievable?"
Lu Xiaofeng laughed heartily.
"Funny thing is, I felt the same way just now."
"This woman, unless you have the heart to kill her in one decisive strike, it's best not to provoke her at all."
"Too ruthless."
"I've seen many vicious women, but never one so resolute."
"Let's go. Best to get away from this place."
"To think we once believed Jiang Yuyan was just a harmless little bunny. Turns out she's a terrifying demon beneath the surface."
Having witnessed Jiang Yuyan's descent into darkness firsthand…
How could anyone still underestimate her?
Even daring souls like Lu Xiaofeng and Chu Liuxiang wanted nothing to do with such a dangerous figure.
"Flower Shifting Transplanting Wood can absorb someone's inner energy? So that's the secret of the Six-Ren Divine Dice."
"The martial world is about to explode with chaos."
"Heh, ever since the Golden Ranking appeared above our heads, undercurrents have been stirring across the Nine Provinces, especially in the martial world."
"Let's spread the word as soon as possible. People need to stay alert."
"Eunuch Liu Xi from the Eastern Factory definitely won't let her go."
"To think Jiang Biehe, the so-called great hero of Jiangnan, turned out to be a hypocrite. I used to praise him too."
As the two left, news of Jiang Yuyan's actions quickly spread across the Ming Dynasty's martial world.
Especially her ruthless nature, which shocked everyone.
Absorbing inner energy.
Crippling her own father.
Slaughtering an entire household.
Each incident pushed the psychological limits of the martial community.
However, realizing that Jiang Yuyan was still only an Innate-stage martial artist, yet possessed the Six-Ren Divine Dice…
Many with ill intentions began to plot.
But who was Jiang Yuyan?
A woman so brutal she could wipe out the cast of an entire drama until only the title remained.
How could petty crooks possibly deal with someone like her?
They were just lambs to the slaughter.
Fuel for Jiang Yuyan's continued rise in strength.
From that moment onward…
The entire Ming martial world began to take the Hidden Dragon Ranking seriously.
If someone ranked in the last ten, still in the Innate realm, was already this terrifying…
Then what kind of monsters would be in the middle ranks among grandmasters?
What kind of gods would the top ten Great Grandmasters be?
———
Capital City, Dragon Guarding Manor
"Haitang, the Six-Ren Divine Dice has surfaced. Liu Xi from the Eastern Factory is already on the move. You must secure the dice and the Flower Shifting Receiving Jade before he does."
"Foster father, the Flower Shifting Receiving Jade is a lost secret of the Flower Shifting Palace. Won't this put us in direct conflict with them?"
"It doesn't matter. The Flower Shifting Palace may be strong, but before the imperial court, they are nothing. If they dare act out, I won't hesitate to wipe them out."
"In that case, I'll go immediately. What about Jiang Yuyan?"
"Kill."
Zhu Wushi coldly spat out the word.
—
Not only Dragon Guarding Manor, but major powers, sects, and families throughout the martial world began dispatching experts to hunt down Jiang Yuyan.
Their aim: the Six-Ren Divine Dice.
Some wanted to cultivate the Flower Shifting technique for themselves.
Others hoped to return it to the Flower Shifting Palace to win their favor.
———
Ming Dynasty, Imperial Palace
Zhu Houzhao stared coldly at the kneeling figure of Cao Zhengchun.
"Eunuch Cao, have I been too lenient with you?"
"My Eastern Factory is starting to look more like your private army."
"Next thing I know, you'll be planning a rebellion."
Zhu Houzhao's voice was calm and distant, as if he were speaking about something entirely trivial.
But when those words reached Cao Zhengchun's ears, his heart nearly stopped.
His face turned pale.
Terror rose from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
Sweat drenched his back.
Others might not know, but Cao Zhengchun understood just how terrifying this emperor was.
Though he rarely showed emotion, nothing escaped his notice.
And once the bottom line was crossed, destruction would follow without mercy.
He, Cao Zhengchun, would be no exception.
Nor would Zhu Wushi, the Iron Courage Divine Marquis.
Nor any prince within the Ming realm.
"Your Majesty, have mercy! Please grant this servant one more chance! I will give you a satisfactory explanation!"
Cao Zhengchun kowtowed repeatedly, loudly begging for forgiveness.
"Liu Xi dared lay hands on one of my concubines just to further his martial arts."
"Eunuch Cao, you know what must be done."
"Seven days. Only seven days. I do not wish to hear that he is still alive."
"If he is… then you have no reason to exist."
There was not a hint of anger in Zhu Houzhao's tone.
And that was exactly what made Cao Zhengchun more afraid.
If the emperor had shown even a trace of fury, he might feel more at ease.
But the truth was…
The emperor was even more unfathomable than he had imagined.
Joy and rage never showed on his face.