Junior sister, keep forbear for a while, I almost become invincible as soon!

The Great Zhou Dynasty had a total of five princes and four princesses. Princess Zi Ji ranked ninth; the remaining three princesses had married far away, leaving only her within the imperial family.

Since Princess Zi Ji entered the deep palace, the Emperor's fondness for her was evident to all. That undisguised favor astounded the court and the many great powers, including the five princes.

They were all potential crown princes, individuals who might have become the Heir Apparent and perhaps even succeed the Emperor one day.

However, Princess Zi Ji's existence profoundly threatened their status. If she did not die, how could any of the five princes succeed?

Zhou Huaian was well aware of this. He also understood why the Emperor had sought him out—he had never taken sides and did not belong to any of the five princes' factions.

Having him protect Princess Zi Ji was the best option.

But now, he deeply doubted that.

On the night they set out, a formidable enemy attacked—a king from a different lineage.

Why? he wondered. Even if the news had leaked, it shouldn't have spread so quickly.

He thought for a long time.

The moment he stepped onto the town road, he suddenly understood something. He halted, his gaze went blank. Returning to his senses, he glanced at Princess Zi Ji beside him.

A dreadful thought emerged in his mind. Perhaps the Emperor didn't love Princess Zi Ji as much as one would think. Or perhaps… this journey was a choice for Princess Zi Ji to change her destiny, but more so, it was the Emperor's way of selecting an heir… There was no lack of imperial-level cultivators within the deep palace; the Emperor could easily have dispatched them to protect the princess. But he didn't. Having an unaffiliated cultivator like myself escort the princess out was tantamount to allowing anyone to strike at them at will. So… in the Emperor's decision-making, I must have been deemed expendable.

"Heh!"

Zhou Huaian suddenly burst into laughter. "I understand now! I understand! HAHAHA!"

The once greatest talent of the Great Zhou Dynasty now felt a suffocating pressure in his chest, a breath filled with indignation and helplessness…

He was merely a sacrificial piece in the imperial family's game of power.

「...」

Many people had arrived.

Guang Xiaoyu couldn't discern their clear affiliations; she didn't understand the situation in the Central Continent. However, she was sure of one thing: at least five different powers had sent their experts here.

There were around a hundred of them, their cultivation ranging from the Realm of Divine King to its later stages. As for what other hidden strengths they possessed, she had no way of knowing.

At this moment, her heart filled with worry. If such a formidable array of enemies is present for just a small town, then how many powerful foes are lying in wait on the road ahead? Can Senior Brother handle it alone?

Hmm?

Two figures came into view: a man and a woman. The man was burly and tall, walking towards them with the breeze, strikingly handsome. The woman was slender with delicate features, looking to be about ten years old.

As the two stepped into the town, the atmosphere instantly shifted, becoming heavy and oppressive.

Zhou Huaian slowed his pace.

Princess Zi Ji followed obediently but kept looking back, as if worried about something.

Is that Princess Zi Ji? Guang Xiaoyu expressed surprise, thinking, She doesn't seem that remarkable! Skinny and frail, thin-bodied, with average looks. Yet she actually rejected the Martial God Academy and the Tianxuan Saintess? TSK TSK… Huh?

When Guang Xiaoyu's Divine Sense reached the Dantian within Princess Zi Ji, its vastness shocked her…

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

She would bet that even the Dantians of those Divine Clan families were not as expansive. My goodness! No wonder the Martial God Academy and the Tianxuan Saintess both wanted her; it wasn't without reason! But why did this girl refuse them?

After the shock, Guang Xiaoyu felt a bit of dismay. If Senior Brother takes her as a disciple, wouldn't my position be threatened?

She felt a pang of jealousy.

The next instant, Guang Xiaoyu shook her head, suppressing the thought. We're from the same sect; we can't have internal strife. If Senior Brother found out, he'd break my legs. Besides, having such a prodigious junior sister is a source of pride!

In just a minute or two, she had considered many things, including the scene of her bringing Princess Zi Ji to the Nine Heavens Continent.

Surely, those people would be shocked, wouldn't they? HEH HEH! This girl, I claim her!

She was about to stand up and greet her "junior sister."

At that moment, the piercing cry of a Demon Bird echoed from high above. A massive Demon Bird descended, wings flapping, spitting fierce flames from its mouth.

Fifth Order!

Guang Xiaoyu's gaze sharpened, her expression growing somber as she thought, How dare you touch my junior sister?

VMM!

Zhou Huaian unsheathed his sword and slashed out. As a genuine Divine King, fending off an attack from a Fifth-Order Demon Bird was a simple matter for him.

The Demon Bird was cleaved in two on the spot, its blood raining down and staining the small path red.

But someone remained above, dressed in blue, looking dashing and elegant with an ethereal aura. Even as the Demon Bird beneath him was slain, he showed no anger; his demeanor remained perfectly calm.

"Chong Tower!" Zhou Huaian's gaze turned icy. "Do you truly wish to make an enemy of the Great Zhou Dynasty?"

The man in blue remained silent.

It was a rhetorical question.

Chong Tower had always remained neutral, never allying with any power. They only accepted missions; as long as one could pay the price, they would even assassinate the Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

However, Chong Tower didn't know that this time… they had courted disaster.

The famously mysterious Chong Tower would, in the near future, be razed to the ground by a single individual, becoming dust in the annals of history.

The man in blue drew his sword, and a torrent of sword light rained down, filling the sky.

He was very strong.

Exceptionally strong.

He was also a late-stage Divine King. Not only that… his Sword Dao was unique, imbued with the power of an attribute.

Water!

Yin and gentle, yet piercingly cold, its chill was oppressive.

Zhou Huaian bellowed, "Sword Gang!"

Boundless Gang Qi descended from the heavens!

Layers of Sword Intent formed into Sword Gang, enveloping both him and Princess Zi Ji. Even with the man in blue's formidable Sword Dao, he couldn't breach the Sword Gang quickly.

But the second Sword Slash came swiftly thereafter.

Zhou Huaian's expression flickered. I am a Divine King of the Sixth Heaven, while he is of the Eighth Heaven… That's a difference of two minor realms; the power of our Sword Dao is naturally distinct. A short-term battle is still manageable; I can hold my ground. But the current situation doesn't allow for excessive exertion. Countless formidable enemies lurk in the shadows, ready to strike. If I expend too much energy, Princess Zi Ji will undoubtedly be in even greater danger.

"The Taiyi Heavenly Water Sword is formed from the Nether Domain and originates from Taiyi God Mountain. The key to countering this technique lies in the principle of mutual generation and restriction among elements." Guang Xiaoyu, leading Lao Huang, the ox, stepped out. "Young man, you must use earth."

Hearing someone speaking, Zhou Huaian initially thought some senior was offering guidance. But upon looking closely, he saw it was just a little girl.

His face darkened immediately. "Who are you calling 'young man'?"

Guang Xiaoyu spoke earnestly, "At a time like this, do you still have the leisure to argue with me?" Honestly, aren't you afraid a Chong Tower expert will run you through with a sword too?

Zhou Huaian didn't feel like dealing with her.

"Use earth!" Guang Xiaoyu shouted.

"..." Zhou Huaian remained silent.

"It seems you haven't cultivated earth-element swordsmanship," she couldn't help but mutter.

"Attribute-based swordsmanship is categorized into 'Primordial' and 'High-Tier' series! Don't you understand anything?" Zhou Huaian retorted, sincerely wishing he could slap this little girl to death. If I had cultivated it, wouldn't I have used it already?

Guang Xiaoyu had an epiphany. "Ah, so that's how it is! But no matter, I happen to have one. I'll transmit it to you." With those words, a beam of light shot out from her fingertip.

Zhou Huaian still wanted to scold her. Stop bluffing!

But as the ray of light entered his mind, countless figures emerged, demonstrating swordsmanship, from basic moves to their profound meanings…

The transmission was incredibly fast.

Someone with slightly lesser talent probably couldn't have memorized it all. Fortunately, he was the foremost genius of the Great Zhou Dynasty, possessing ample aptitude and comprehension.

Broken Earth Sword.

These three words surfaced in his mind.

Zhou Huaian roared, "Broken Earth!" He slashed out with his sword. The ground beneath him shook violently, and Sword Intents erupted from the earth, surging towards the sky.

Despite the difference in their cultivation realms, the principle of elemental generation and restriction suppressed the blue-robed man's Sword Dao.

A look of joy flashed across Zhou Huaian's face; his second Sword Slash shattered the opponent's attack.