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

Ming Dynasty Territory.

Southern mountain ranges.

On this day, two figures were flying swiftly through the air.

One of them was none other than Zhang Yuchu, the National Master of the Ming Dynasty and Rank 2 on the Dao Immortal Ranking.

The other person, surprisingly, was Yin Tianxue, who had once returned to the palace with Zhu Houzhao.

"Lady, is the person you mentioned nearby?"

Zhang Yuchu looked around at the surrounding mountains and asked calmly.

"National Master, I haven't officially joined him yet. Please don't call me "Lady"!"

Hearing the title, Yin Tianxue responded with some embarrassment and irritation.

"Hahaha, same difference. In His Majesty's heart, you are already his."

"The only thing missing is the formal ceremony."

"Even so, this Daoist still owes you the proper respect."

"Otherwise, His Majesty will surely make life difficult for me."

Zhang Yuchu laughed heartily.

"What? You're a God Demon Realm cultivator, and His Majesty still makes things difficult for you?"

"In His Majesty's eyes, God Demon Realm, Mythical Realm, Heavenly Human Realm, or even an ordinary person, probably makes no difference at all!"

"If he wanted to, His Majesty could raise your realm to the God Demon Realm in a very short time."

"But doing so would completely destroy your future potential."

"Therefore, His Majesty usually does not take the initiative to raise the cultivation of the ladies."

The more he understood His Majesty, the more terrifying he found him.

Not only in strength, but in wisdom as well, beyond imagination.

That was why, even at the late stage of God Demon Realm, he dared not show the slightest arrogance in front of Zhu Houzhao.

He might be powerful, but he was not qualified to be arrogant.

Besides, his rapid advancement to the God Demon Realm was thanks to the unimaginable support from His Majesty.

Yin Tianxue did not continue dwelling on the title.

Instead, her expression grew serious as she asked.

"National Master, I can sense that my Second Uncle is in these mountains somewhere, but I don't know exactly where he's hiding."

"Heh, don't worry. His Majesty sent this Daoist here precisely for that problem."

"He cannot hide."

As he spoke, a palm-sized tortoise shell appeared in Zhang Yuchu's hand.

In the shell, a mirror was embedded.

A surge of immense true essence poured into it.

The next moment.

A strange yet familiar figure appeared in the mirror.

"Second Uncle!"

"National Master, is that tortoise shell..."

"Indeed, it is a treasure His Majesty received as a Heaven Dao Reward. It can reveal any scene he wishes to see."

"This time, His Majesty specifically lent it to this Daoist."

"Finding your Second Uncle will be effortless."

"He cannot escape."

At that moment, a mountain appeared on the mirror's surface.

The target was hiding inside the mountain.

He seemed to be seriously injured.

After the Dragon Slaying Expedition, he had fought Di Shitian again in the battle for the Dragon Essence.

Though the result was unclear, he clearly did not come out well.

Otherwise, had he obtained the Dragon Essence, he wouldn't be in such a miserable state now.

"Let's go, he's inside that mountain!"

Putting away the tortoise shell, Zhang Yuchu led Yin Tianxue rapidly toward the target.

Yin Tianxue looked excited and immediately took out her Spirit Mirror weapon, gripping it tightly.

She was ready to deliver a fatal strike to Yin Zhong at any moment.

==========

Buzz!

At the peak of a tall mountain.

Zhang Yuchu and Yin Tianxue stood silently.

An invisible ripple of energy spread out in all directions.

In just a few moments.

A terrifying and overwhelming aura surged into the sky.

Violent changes stirred the surroundings.

"Who dares disturb my seclusion?"

An angry roar burst forth.

Immediately afterward, Yin Zhong rushed toward them.

"Yin Tianxue, you again?"

"I've spared your life again and again, yet you remain so ungrateful."

"Fine, today I'll end you once and for all."

"From now on, I will have nothing to do with Sword Control Manor ever again."

Yin Zhong completely ignored Zhang Yuchu and glared fiercely at Yin Tianxue.

"Yin Zhong, you killed my father and brother. The hatred between us is as deep as the sea. It will not end until one of us is dead."

Yin Tianxue did not back down and immediately unleashed the Spirit Mirror in her hand.

A terrifying beam of light shot straight toward Yin Zhong.

Boom!

"Hahaha, Yin Tianxue, I just consumed half a Dragon Essence. My injuries have recovered by 90%, and my God Demon Immortal Physique has fully matured. Your Spirit Mirror is no longer a threat to me."

"Today, you must die."

"And the Spirit Mirror should be returned to its rightful owner."

With that, he threw a punch.

It collided with the Spirit Mirror's light beam.

Once, he was instantly overwhelmed.

But now, he was clearly overpowering her and advancing rapidly toward Yin Tianxue.

Having recovered most of his strength, Yin Zhong's power had grown exponentially.

Yin Tianxue was no match for him at all.

Just as she was in imminent danger.

Zhang Yuchu made his move.

He instantly appeared in front of Yin Tianxue.

With a gentle flick of the horsetail whisk in his hand.

His terrifying inner force clashed with Yin Zhong's punch.

A thunderous explosion erupted.

Yin Zhong was sent flying back more than a hundred meters by the shockwave.

Only then did he manage to stop.

"Who are you? Did that wretched girl Yin Tianxue bring you here to help?"

He hadn't paid attention earlier, but now that he took a good look, his expression changed dramatically.

It was a God Demon Realm cultivator just like him.

How could this be?

How could mere Yin Tianxue have summoned someone of this level?

"This Daoist is Zhang Yuchu. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Yin."

"Zhang Yuchu?"

Yin Zhong muttered to himself.

The name sounded familiar, but he couldn't recall it immediately.

Then his gaze turned to the ranking in the sky, and realization dawned.

The Ming Dynasty National Master.

The current Heavenly Master of the Main One Sect.

A Late God Demon Realm cultivator.

"You... You're Heavenly Master Zhang?"

Even Yin Zhong was utterly shocked.

Dao School in the Nine Provinces had many branches.

There were multiple Heavenly Master residences.

The Han Dynasty had one, the Tang Dynasty had one, and the Ming Dynasty had one as well.

At present.

Zhang Yuchu, the Heavenly Master of the Ming Dynasty, was considered the strongest among them.

Far surpassing the Heavenly Masters of the Han Dynasty and Tang Dynasty.

"Indeed, this Daoist is Zhang Yuchu."

"So you came here to kill me?"

"I don't think there's ever been any enmity between us, Heavenly Master Zhang."

"Are you going to interfere in the internal affairs of Sword Control Manor?"

Yin Zhong spoke coldly.

Though he was wary of Zhang Yuchu, that didn't mean he was afraid.

There was no one in this world he feared.

Not a God Demon Realm cultivator.

Not even those at the so-called Sage tier could make him cower.

"Family affairs?"

"Heh, this Yin Tianxue will soon become a Consort of His Majesty, the Ming Emperor."

"This Daoist believes that this is both a national and a personal matter."

"My intervention is not out of place."

Yin Zhong's expression darkened. He then looked toward Yin Tianxue.

"You really have some skill, managing to get close to the Ming Emperor."

"Well done, Yin Tianxue. I truly underestimated you."

"You are indeed stronger than your useless father and brother."

"Very well, since we're going to fight anyway, come on!"

"I want to see for myself just how powerful the National Master of Ming Dynasty really is."

Though he deeply feared the Ming Emperor, he didn't care much about Zhang Yuchu in front of him.

With his God Demon Immortal Physique, he had no concerns about being harmed.

Even if Zhu Houzhao struck personally, he believed he could not be killed.

It seemed from now on, he and the Ming Dynasty would be enemies.

In fact, countless thoughts were flashing through his mind.

He had decided that after this battle, he would join another dynasty.

With his strength, his position would surely be high.

He would use the power of a nation to block Zhu Houzhao's pursuit.

That was the only option left.

He didn't show anything on his face, but in his heart, he had already made up his mind.

However, before leaving, he needed to teach both Yin Tianxue and this Heavenly Master Zhang a painful lesson.

"Interesting. Fellow Daoist Yin, do you really think it is this Daoist who will fight you?"

"You are wrong. Very wrong!"

"If not you, then is it Yin Tianxue?"

"Or is it your Emperor Zhu Houzhao coming to handle me himself?"

Yin Zhong sneered in contempt.

"Heh, our realms are equal. Even if we fought for ten days and nights, neither of us would be able to defeat the other."

"In fact, even if you tried to flee, this Daoist would not be able to stop you."

"But to deal with you, does His Majesty need to strike personally? Just one item is enough to subdue you."

Zhang Yuchu shook his head with a smile and took out a scroll from his robe.

He slowly unrolled it.

Within the painting, a sword appeared.

"Hahaha, you think a mere sword painting can deal with me?"

"Utter nonsense!"

"The Ming Emperor looks down on me too much. This is an outrageous insult!"

Yin Zhong felt humiliated.

Zhang Yuchu gave a cold smile.

Then, he poured his true essence into the scroll.

In the next moment.

The sword within the painting seemed to come alive.

Instantly, an unmatched and terrifying sword aura erupted.

Yin Zhong's face changed drastically on the spot.

A sense of mortal danger surged in his heart.

Even the flow of true essence within his body slowed dramatically.

"This is bad!"

"Run!"

He sensed the presence of death.

The sword intent from the scroll had already surpassed the God Demon Realm.

How was this possible?

Could it have been created by Zhu Houzhao?

Wasn't he only at the Great Perfection God Demon Realm?

Even if he was stronger than Yin Zhong, he shouldn't be this terrifying.

Exploding with all his strength, Yin Zhong dashed out of the battle zone.

He didn't even say a word.

He just fled at top speed.

But the next moment.

The sword intent manifested physically.

Its target was the fleeing Yin Zhong.

It seemed to tear through space.

In an instant.

The sword intent flashed.

It appeared behind Yin Zhong.

It pierced through his chest from behind.

Pfft!

In midair, Yin Zhong spat out a mouthful of blood.

A pillar of blood gushed out.

Yin Zhong tried to flee.

But a sense of helplessness overwhelmed him.

No matter how hard he tried, he could not move.

He plummeted from the sky toward the ground.

Boom!

With a loud crash, a massive crater was smashed into the slope.

He lay in the pit, unconscious.

The terrifying scene shocked not only Yin Tianxue.

Even Zhang Yuchu showed a stunned expression.

Before they came, His Majesty had handed him this scroll and said it would be enough to defeat Yin Zhong.

He didn't believe it at first, but now he no longer knew what to say.

His mind was filled with terror.

Even he, the Heavenly Master Zhang, was frightened.

If he had faced that sword aura just now, he could say with certainty that he would not have survived.

He did not have Yin Zhong's God Demon Immortal Physique and could not survive a pierced heart.

Terrifying.

So this was His Majesty's strength?

It was simply too absurd.

Just a single strand of sword intent, and even he could not withstand it.

If the real person came himself, he would probably be dead already.

Not only Zhang Yuchu, but even Yin Tianxue in the distance had eyes shining brightly.

The earlier shock and fear had completely disappeared.

In their place were joy, pride, and happiness.

That sword intent came from the man she liked.

Just a single sword intent was enough to defeat a Great Perfection God Demon Realm cultivator.

If that man gave his full effort, how terrifying would it be?

"National Master, can I kill him now?"

Yin Tianxue looked at Yin Zhong, lying unconscious in the pit not far away, and asked with hatred in her voice.

"Lady, with our strength, I'm afraid we still can't kill him!"

"Can't kill him? Why? If we just chop off his head with a sword, wouldn't he be dead?"

Yin Tianxue didn't believe it.

"Yin Zhong cultivates the God Demon Immortal Physique. It's an extremely overbearing and terrifying technique."

"Once mastered, not just us, but even if he tried to kill himself, he wouldn't die."

"The God Demon Realm cannot kill him. Only someone beyond that, at the Sage tier, might be able to."

"If you don't believe it, you can try it yourself."

Yin Tianxue didn't believe it.

She rushed over quickly.

Pulled out her sword and stabbed straight at Yin Zhong's heart.

No matter how many times she stabbed, the wound healed quickly.

Even when she tried to slash his neck, it only left minor marks.

But in the blink of an eye, they vanished.

No matter what she did, it ended in failure.

If she hadn't seen Zhu Houzhao's sword intent still raging at his chest, she might have believed Yin Zhong to be truly immortal.

It seemed that to destroy his God Demon Immortal Physique, the attack needed to exceed the maximum limit it could withstand.

"Damn it!"

Yin Tianxue was unwilling to accept this.

Did it mean the vengeance for her father and brothers could never be avenged?

"National Master, can His Majesty kill him?"

"Maybe he can, maybe he can't."

"But based on this Daoist's understanding of His Majesty, he doesn't want to kill him. He wants to subdue him for his own use."

"As for what will really happen, you'll have to return to the palace and ask His Majesty yourself."

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

List of Characters:

Historical

・Zhang Yuchu ( 张宇初 ) — National Master of Ming Dynasty

Water Moon Cave ( 水月洞天 )

・Yin Tianxue ( 尹天雪 ) — Young Miss of Sword Control Manor

・Yin Zhong ( 尹仲 ) — Ancestor of Sword Control Manor