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

News spread quickly, shocking countless powers. Hidden enemies began to stir, some making their move, including a Supreme Mystery Realm powerhouse. Because Zi Ji had not traveled for two years, the powerhouse assigned was not very strong, mainly serving a surveillance role and lacking the power to assassinate. He struck because he thought Zi Ji's cultivation was shallow, believing he could take her down.

However...

Before the Shadow behind her could act, Zi Ji slashed with her sword, releasing a ferocious Qi that instantly split the man's body in two.

Everyone was astonished. Even the Shadow was stunned.

It seems my combat strength has far surpassed the Supreme Mystery Realm, Zi Ji silently thought to herself.

In just two short years, starting from scratch, she had acquired such formidable combat strength—not because of her talent, Dantian, or meridians, but rather because of the Yuan World and the Companion Divine Weapon. While in the Netherworld, she had stored all her Innate Qi in the Yuan World, waiting for the day she would revive and reclaim her heritage. That's why she had achieved so much.

Kill!

Another attacked; it was a King Tao expert, his killing intention overflowing. Alas, he still couldn't withstand Princess Zi Ji's single sword strike... Everyone was utterly shocked.

I have been watching the Princess for the past two years. She did nothing but meditate and never cultivated. How could she possess such terrifying combat power? the Shadow gasped in astonishment, thinking.

The slight figure continued forward, never looking back. Her expression was calm, her eyes dark, the belief in her heart exceptionally strong—she had to leave this place. After nine reincarnations, she had finally stepped onto the path of cultivation. Regrettably, the Yuan Knight had long since departed. This time, she would not be weak. She intended to find her Senior Brother, destroy the Moon God, and obliterate Chong Tower. Any enemy who dared to lay hands on her would be relentlessly swept aside.

A Prince hastily arrived, also intending to strike in secret and kidnap Zi Ji to force the Emperor to abdicate. But upon seeing Zi Ji slay a strong opponent, he hesitated. Since Zi Ji refused the throne and was determined to leave Great Zhou, he had one less rival. Why not just let her go?

「Elsewhere.」

The Eighth Prince had also arrived. As a child, he was sent to a holy land to cultivate and had the good fortune to attend the gathering of young talents two years prior, witnessing Guang Xiaoyu annihilate the Bai Family. The experience left a shadow in his heart. Naturally, he would not act against Zi Ji. As long as she didn't interfere with him, if she wished to leave, then let her go!

But the Empress wasn't so kind; at her command, an attempt was made to intercept and kill Zi Ji. Several Divine Kings stepped forward.

The Shadow frowned, glancing back towards the palace, pondering a problem: if the Divine Kings acted, Zi Ji would surely be no match for them, and he would have to intervene. But if he revealed himself, it would mean there were no Shadows left in the depths of the palace, and then... the hidden enemies might target the Emperor. His true intention had been to buy some time for the Emperor to prepare, to prevent things from becoming too hasty.

"Chu Clan, nine years ago you sent assassins to kill my mother, and in the nine years since, you have repeatedly struck at me. Do you really think this Princess is so easily bullied?" Zi Ji said coldly, halting. She raised her head, gazing in a certain direction. Her figure might be small, but her aura was overwhelming.

A surge of Qi burst forth, swirling around her, forming a protective barrier. In her hand, she tightly gripped the Emperor-level Divine Weapon given to her by Chen Pingping; although unsuitable for a Qi Refiner, its high grade compensated for this. Under her plain clothes, she also wore an ill-fitting dress—a powerful piece of armor Chen Pingping had covertly given her.

At this moment, the atmosphere was frigid and tense. Several Divine Kings approached step by step, their killing intention potent, their Divine Might pressing down on the air, making it crackle. The cultivators watching all felt that terrifying pressure.

But Zi Ji remained calm, like an immovable Mount Tai. Her dark eyes never once glanced at the Divine Kings, remaining fixed on that distant direction. For an instant, it seemed she saw the Empress—a woman with a heart as venomous as a serpent's. In the nine years that had passed, the Empress had never ceased her attempts on Zi Ji's life. The injustices within the harem were almost all orchestrated by her hand.

"Kill her!" the Empress commanded, her face cold. "A mere bastard whelp dares to address this Empress by name?"

BANG!

The Qi around Zi Ji grew increasingly majestic, almost materializing as it swirled about her.

The next moment, several Divine Kings attacked simultaneously. Some unleashed sword beams, some charged forward with clenched fists, their Power Path overwhelming, while another cast a skill, Divine Radiance blanketing the sky. Although they were only early-stage Divine Kings, killing someone like Zi Ji, whose cultivation was still shallow, should have been as easy as flipping a hand.

"Be careful, she has an Emperor-level Divine Weapon..." the Empress warned.

"Mother Empress, there's no need," the Eighth Prince interjected. "Ninth Sister is already preparing to leave Great Zhou. There's no need for this."

"What do you understand?" the Empress sneered. "You know full well how much the Emperor adores her. She's leaving now, but what if she has second thoughts tomorrow?"

The Eighth Prince frowned.

The Empress continued, "Besides, everything Mother does is for your own good. Don't you understand the principle of cutting the weeds and digging up the roots? And... this girl possesses the Yuan World, which is crucial for the Heavenly Road. If you could obtain it and embark on the Heavenly Road, given time, your achievements would surely far surpass those of any genius."

Could he truly surpass them? The Eighth Prince wasn't certain; the only thing he was sure of was that *he* wasn't capable of it. Unless he left this place and did not contend for the throne.

Although he wanted to intervene... the Empress was, after all, his mother, and it wasn't his place to say much. He could only pray that Zi Ji could escape.

PUFF!

The Shadow made his move. A single finger pressed down towards them, instantly shattering the attacks of the three Divine Kings.

The Empress's expression changed slightly. "Do you see? Even the Shadow has acted! This is a conspiracy! The Emperor intends to use Zi Ji's hand to eliminate us!"

The Eighth Prince remained silent.

She added, "But it doesn't matter. I am prepared. Hmph... This time, that wretch will undoubtedly die, and the throne will be yours, my son!"

She had waited too long for this day, constantly scheming, allying with various feudal lords, colluding with court officials, and even planting powerful individuals deep within the palace to monitor the Emperor's every move. Now, the Emperor's time was almost up. As long as they killed Princess Zi Ji and then dispatched troops to suppress the other four Princes, the throne of Great Zhou would fall to the Eighth Prince.

Her dream was about to be realized. How could the Empress easily give up, even if the Emperor still had some tricks up his sleeve...

"Lin Family! It's your turn now!" the Empress whispered, her gaze profound.

On the other side of Long Street, several Lin Family powerhouses raced over. Without even stopping, they began to channel their cultivation realms, casting techniques in unison.

With a resounding BANG, an ancient, azure cauldron flew out, adorned with exquisite script and patterns. It was, astonishingly, an Emperor-level Divine Weapon.

In the shadows, everyone was aghast.

Prince Qi's face turned ashen. Has that woman gone mad?

Matters of the Imperial family were their own affairs, yet she had actually colluded with a cultivation family, clearly breaking the established rules. Given this situation, the other four Princes would have to join forces to sever the Eighth Prince's path to the throne. The most direct method was to report this to the Emperor, have the Emperor himself deal with it, and revoke the Eighth Prince's eligibility for succession.

But if he could think of this, how could the Empress not have anticipated it?