Golden Ranking Appears, My Empress Turns Out to Be Wu Zhao

Qin Imperial Palace.

Looking at the unconscious Monarch Wu'an Bai Qi, whose chest bore a gaping hole and was bleeding profusely, Ying Zheng was filled with fury.

If Bai Qi were not a Mythical Realm cultivator with an extremely strong life force, he would have already died.

But even so.

He would not last much longer.

Very soon, the Qin Dynasty would lose one of its most capable generals.

That was not something Ying Zheng wanted.

"Damn Zhao Yong!"

"Sir, is there anyone who can save Monarch Wu'an?"

"Your Majesty, Monarch Wu'an is too severely wounded. His vital organs have been damaged. Ordinary medicine cannot heal him."

"Unless..."

At this point, Shang Yang glanced at the jade box in Ying Zheng's hand.

Inside it was the fragment of the Dragon Essence they had fought so hard to retrieve.

The meaning was clear.

Only the Dragon Essence could save Bai Qi.

Unfortunately, the Dragon Essence was something Ying Zheng absolutely needed.

It all depended on whether he was willing to give it up.

Ying Zheng's expression changed, then he looked conflicted.

After gritting his teeth, he handed over the jade box.

After all, the Dragon Essence could no longer grant him immortality.

In comparison, Bai Qi was of greater value.

"Your Majesty, on behalf of Monarch Wu'an, I thank you for your life-saving grace!"

Even Shang Yang was somewhat astonished by Ying Zheng's resolve.

He knew how obsessed this Emperor was with the idea of eternal life.

Though the incomplete Dragon Essence could not grant immortality, it could still prolong life.

Giving it up so easily was unexpected.

Ying Zheng sighed deeply.

What once seemed a sure thing had failed again.

Was he truly fated never to achieve eternal life?

Impossible.

Even if Heaven did not allow it, he would force it to happen.

==========

At that moment.

New lines of text began to appear on the Dao Immortal Ranking.

[Dao Immortal Ranking – Rank 7]

[Xiao Yaozi]

[Force: Carefree Sect of Song Dynasty]

[Cultivation: Great Perfection Heavenly Human Realm Land Immortal]

[Technique: Eternal Everlasting Spring Exercise]

[Reward: 5x Low-Tier Enlightenment Card (Can be used for enlightenment, increasing comprehension one hundred times, duration one hour!)]

==========

"Xiao Yaozi? Does our Song Dynasty have such a person? Why have I never heard of him?"

"Carefree Sect! I never thought the true founder was him!"

"Oh my god, I can't believe our Song Dynasty has such a hidden figure. I must be too ignorant."

"You're not the only one. Compared to him, those so-called martial arts masters are nothing."

"Do you think it's still possible to join the Carefree Sect now?"

==========

Qin Dynasty Territory.

Xiao Yaozi, who was just about to part ways with the Mohist School, suddenly froze.

Xiao Yaozi?

Was he the one on the ranking?

No, wait!

After reading closely, he understood.

There was actually another powerful Xiao Yaozi in the Song Dynasty.

And he was the founder of a hidden sect.

Compared to that Xiao Yaozi, he was still lacking.

The road ahead was long, and he still had much to learn.

==========

In the Nine Provinces, atop a remote and isolated mountain peak.

A Daoist with an ethereal aura looked at the Enlightenment Cards granted by Heaven Dao and let out a bitter smile.

Years ago.

During a journey, he had unexpectedly encountered a young and absurdly handsome cultivator of the God Demon Realm.

Out of pride, he had issued a challenge.

But to his shock, he was defeated in a single move and gravely injured on the spot.

Fortunately, the opponent had no intention to kill.

Even so.

He had fallen from the Mythical Realm to the Heavenly Human Realm.

It had taken him years just to return to the peak of the Heavenly Human Realm.

Due to fate's twist, he had now been ranked on the Dao Immortal Ranking.

He didn't know whether to call it luck or misfortune.

Fortunately, the reward of five Enlightenment Cards gave him a new opportunity.

With them, returning to the Mythical Realm should not be a problem.

Moreover, with the enhanced comprehension, he could further strengthen his foundation.

This would improve his chances of reaching the God Demon Realm in the future.

It was quite a fortunate encounter after all.

Once he reached the God Demon Realm.

He would find that cultivator again and challenge him properly.

To prove he was not as weak as he once seemed.

What he didn't know was.

The one who had shattered his cultivation years ago was actually Zhu Houzhao, the Ming Emperor, disguised during one of his secret journeys.

If Zhu Houzhao did not want to be found, Xiao Yaozi could turn the entire Nine Provinces upside down and still never find him.

But why hadn't Zhu Houzhao killed him back then?

Why had he left him with a sliver of hope?

Only Zhu Houzhao knew the answer.

Given his nature, he likely had some scheme in mind.

Even Xiao Yaozi himself was unaware of it.

==========

Song Imperial Palace.

"Minister, do you know who this Xiao Yaozi is?"

"Is there a way we could recruit him?"

After experiencing the benefits of the Dragon Essence, Zhao Ji grew increasingly obsessed with Heaven Dao Reward.

But without powerful cultivators, there was no way to earn such rewards.

Now, the Dragon Essence had begun to cool, and once Lin Lingsu finished refining it into a pill.

After taking it, he was certain to gain great benefits.

It might not grant eternal life, but it could definitely prolong his years.

"This Xiao Yaozi, I met him once. Technically, he should be in the same realm as me."

"Why is he now in the Heavenly Human Realm?"

"Maybe he suffered some misfortune."

"Trying to recruit him would be extremely difficult!"

"This man seeks true freedom and detests all restraints. Any form of control would only hinder his path."

Huang Shang answered with some doubt, but ultimately shook his head.

"Then his self-created Cultivation Technique, the Eternal Everlasting Spring Exercise, clearly aims at immortality."

"Can you obtain it for me?"

"Of course, he may name any condition. I will agree to anything."

Huang Shang fell silent.

This was clearly his most treasured technique, likely not even taught to disciples.

How could he possibly share it with an outsider?

Even an Emperor would be no exception in the eyes of such a person.

He was just a worldly man.

Huang Shang casually made up an excuse to avoid the request.

This Emperor Zhao Ji had stopped playing with stones and paintings and was now obsessed with immortality.

Ying Zheng had such ambitions because he had the power and means.

But Zhao Ji?

What did he amount to?

Soon, the Song Dynasty would be destroyed.

When that happened, he would become a prisoner of war in the truest sense.

Unable to live, unable to die.

==========

Northern Song Martial World, Deaf Mute Valley.

Wu Yazi looked at the ranking in the sky, and tears fell from his eyes.

"It's Master."

He felt a deep sense of guilt toward Xiao Yaozi.

The sect had been entrusted to him, yet things had turned out this way.

Back when he served under Xiao Yaozi, he and his Senior and Junior Sisters lived in harmony.

Life has been so free and joyful.

But now?

Everything had changed.

He had managed to survive, but his potential was gone and the future bleak.

He would likely never become a Land Immortal.

He didn't even know if he would ever have the chance to see his Master again.

==========

Spirit Vulture Palace.

Wu Xingyun also saw her Master's name on the Dao Immortal Ranking and was overwhelmed with emotion.

Among all the disciples, she missed Xiao Yaozi the most.

Thinking about her current miserable state, and that she had been harmed by her own junior sister, she didn't know how to feel.

It was complicated, bitter, painful, and sorrowful all at once.

Her only desire now was to see her Master again after all these decades.

==========

In a tavern.

Xiao Feng, Xu Zhu, and Duan Yu sat at a table.

"Xiao Yaozi? Founder of the Carefree Sect!"

"Second Brother, Third Brother, it seems you both share deep fates with this senior."

"Second Brother is the current head of the Carefree Sect, and Third Brother has learned its top-level techniques. He would be considered your grandmaster."

"Elder Brother, Wu Yazi is still alive, so technically he remains the sect leader. I only wish I could return to Shaolin Temple one day and be a simple monk again. But alas, that path is forever closed to me."

Xu Zhu spoke with a hint of sadness.

"I feel the same. I only learned the Carefree Sect's techniques by chance and was never officially acknowledged."

"I wonder if a conflict will arise if we meet in the future."

Ever since they became sworn brothers, they had traveled the world together.

They had long left behind matters of Liao Kingdom, Great Li Kingdom, and their tangled pasts.

They no longer wanted to be involved in any more troubles.

Even Duan Yu, after learning of the conflict between Great Li Kingdom and Song Dynasty, gave up the idea of returning home.

Instead, they wandered through various nations.

Challenging top cultivators from all over the realm.

And surprisingly, all three had extraordinary talent.

In less than a year.

They had become powerful Great Grandmasters in the Martial World.

Their reputations soared.

==========

Ming Imperial Harem.

"Xiao Yaozi, huh?"

"That strike all those years ago dropped him down a realm. I didn't expect he still hasn't recovered."

"Seems I overestimated him."

"I originally wanted to recruit him into the ranks of the Ming Dynasty's Imperial Minister. Looks like I'll have to wait a bit longer."

"Whether he's worthy of a personal invitation from me still remains to be seen."

"Of course, if he reaches the God Demon Realm, I'll give him another chance."

Back then, Zhu Houzhao held Xiao Yaozi in high regard.

At their first meeting, he had already seen the weaknesses in Xiao Yaozi's foundation.

By striking him down a realm, he was actually helping him.

Otherwise, even given a hundred more years, he would never reach the God Demon Realm.

And now?

After being forced to start over, if he could climb back, his chances of ascending would be much higher.

Only by becoming a God Demon Realm cultivator would he be worthy of Zhu Houzhao's personal attention.

He truly admired Xiao Yaozi.

Not only for his martial skill, but also for his character and intellect.

As long as he didn't waste his potential, he was indeed worth recruiting.

Zhu Houzhao eagerly awaited to see whether the Heaven Dao reward would help him repair his foundation.

And whether he could one day reach the God Demon Realm.

The sooner he succeeded, the more value Zhu Houzhao would place on him.

Otherwise, Zhu Houzhao's patience would slowly wear thin.

And one day, he would forget all about this spare move.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

List of Characters:

Number One Under Heaven ( 天下第一 )

・Zhu Houzhao ( 朱厚照 ) — Emperor of Ming Dynasty

Qin's Moon ( 秦时明月 )

・Ying Zheng ( 嬴政 ) — Emperor of Qin Dynasty

・Bai Qi ( 白起 ) — Commander of Qin Dynasty

A Step Into The Past ( 寻秦记 )

・Shang Yang ( 商鞅 ) – Prime Minister of Qin Dynasty

Water Margin ( 水浒传 )

・Zhao Ji ( 赵佶 ) — Emperor of Northern Song Dynasty

Legend of the Condor Heroes ( 射雕英雄传 )

・Huang Shang ( 黄裳 ) — Director of Imperial City Division

Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils ( 天龙八部 )

・Xiao Yaozi ( 逍遥子 ) — Founder of Carefree Sect

・Wu Yazi ( 无崖子 ) — Master of Carefree Sect

・Wu Xingyun ( 巫行云 ) — Master of Spirit Vulture Palace

・Duan Yu ( 段誉 ) — Prince of Great Li Kingdom

・Xiao Feng ( 萧峰 ) — Master of Beggar Gang

・Xu Zhu ( 虚竹 ) — Disciple of Shaolin Temple