Han Dynasty.
In a remote small town.
Inside the Zhonghua Pavilion.
"Master, after all these years of searching, your disciple has finally found news of the Netherworld City."
A handsome young man excitedly reported to a middle-aged man playing the erhu.
"Indeed. Who would've thought she would become the Empress of the Ming Dynasty?"
Nameless looked up at the ranking high in the sky with a complicated gaze and spoke softly.
"Master, should we bring her back? Didn't you say you wanted to personally take her as a disciple and guide her, so she wouldn't stray from the right path?"
Jian Chen's tone carried an inexplicable excitement.
"Do you think she's still the same person as before?"
"This girl's talent is the most extraordinary I've seen in my life. Her future achievements may even surpass mine."
"Jian Chen, if you act recklessly, you might become her enemy."
"The consequences would be unimaginable."
"Besides, she is now the Empress of the Ming Dynasty."
Nameless spoke sternly.
"So what? The Ming Dynasty is nothing but chickens and dogs in the eyes of the Master. One sword would be enough to bring them all down!"
Jian Chen said proudly.
In his mind, Nameless was the number one in the world, and he was number two.
These so-called mundane dynasties were not worth mentioning at all.
Hearing this, Nameless could only shake his head.
He was somewhat disappointed in this disciple.
Even the newly accepted disciple, Bu Jingyun, was better.
Still, when it came to Wu Zhao and the Netherworld City, he couldn't help but feel a trace of unease.
Only he knew the terrifying potential of both.
If they fully matured, even Land Immortals might not be able to stop her.
==========
Sui Dynasty Imperial Palace.
"Interesting. This little Zhu Houzhao really has some ability. His Imperial Consort is a Great Perfection Great Grandmaster, and his Empress is a Half-Step Land Immortal?"
"I wonder if that boy can handle it?"
"Judging from the introduction on the Heavenly Ranking, this Wu Zhao is clearly not someone content to remain subordinate."
"With her strength and intelligence, it won't be long before she controls the entire Ming court."
"Eventually, will it still be called the Ming Dynasty, or the Great Wu Dynasty?"
"There's definitely some drama to look forward to in the future."
Yang Guang's tone was filled with ridicule toward Zhu Houzhao, but there was also a hint of envy.
He couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be with a Half-Step Land Immortal woman.
He had never experienced that before.
A useless man like Zhu Houzhao enjoying such fortune made him quite jealous.
Compared to Emperors like Li Shimin and Ying Zheng, Yang Guang's thoughts operated on a completely different wavelength.
Even his focus was entirely different.
"Your Majesty, shouldn't we begin investigating the Netherworld City and Wu Zhao's background immediately?"
Yuwen Huaji asked in confusion.
"No need. Our Sui Dynasty is far from the Ming Dynasty. Whatever happens there won't affect us."
"Let Ming handle its internal strife."
"Right now, I am only concerned with the Tang Dynasty. Everything else takes a back seat."
Yang Guang answered decisively.
"Enough, Minister Yuwen, you may leave. I am feeling tired."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I take my leave."
As he watched Yuwen Huaji leave, Yang Guang's expression turned cold and deep.
"Supreme Master Yuwen, come out."
Just as he finished speaking, a handsome man appeared and bowed respectfully to Yang Guang.
"Your Majesty."
"Rise, Supreme Master. There is no need for such formality between us."
"Etiquette cannot be neglected."
The man had a firm face with heterochromatic eyes. His left eye was blue and his right was red.
He held a golden greatsword in his hand.
"Supreme Master, do you know of the Netherworld City?"
"With your strength, there shouldn't be many things in the Nine Provinces that can escape your notice."
At this moment, Yang Guang radiated a regal aura.
He was entirely different from the persona he presented to Yuwen Huaji.
Anyone familiar with him would be stunned.
Wasn't Yang Guang supposed to be a foolish Emperor?
But right now, he showed not even the slightest trace of foolishness.
It turned out everything had been a carefully maintained act.
"Netherworld City was once a powerful martial force in the Han Dynasty's martial world that lasted for centuries."
"However, ten years ago, it fought a terrifying force called the Heaven Gate and was ultimately destroyed."
"Everyone who knew of this battle was silenced afterward."
"That's why there was no information spread in the martial world."
"However, several Land Immortals were secretly involved in that battle."
"I happened to be there and personally witnessed the destruction of the Netherworld City."
"I also saw firsthand the terrifying power of the Heaven Gate."
As Yuwen Tuo spoke, he couldn't hide his lingering shock.
"If the Netherworld City was destroyed, then why has it resurfaced now?"
"And it has even become a power under the Ming Empress?"
Yang Guang's face darkened.
"I will continue to investigate. I believe the Heaven Gate will get involved again this time."
"So be it. I'll wait for your good news."
Yang Guang waved his hand.
"By the way, have you found the medicine I asked for? Can the injuries on my body still be healed?"
Suddenly recalling it, Yang Guang asked anxiously.
Yuwen Tuo looked troubled.
"Your Majesty, your injuries are due to the cultivation technique. If you abandon your cultivation, the injuries will heal naturally."
"But if you continue to cultivate, they will worsen, and you might permanently lose functionality."
Yang Guang looked unwilling.
"Is there really no other way?"
"If I abandon my martial arts, I will lose my last means of self-defense. That's absolutely unacceptable!"
"The various noble families in the Sui Dynasty are full of wolves. If they send assassins, I'll be completely defenseless."
"But if I continue cultivating..."
Yang Guang had always pretended to be obsessed with women to hide the fact that he had lost certain functions.
Yet, it was all due to his cultivation.
He didn't want to live as a eunuch Emperor.
But he also couldn't bear to lose his formidable power.
That was the source of his dilemma.
Now even the distance between him and the Empress was growing.
That made him even more unwilling.
It was also the reason behind his envy and hatred toward Zhu Houzhao.
Though partly an act, some of his thoughts were sincere.
"Supreme Master, Wu Zhao hasn't reached the Land Immortal Realm yet. Can you bring her to the Sui Dynasty?"
"If not, could you at least eliminate her?"
As he spoke, a flash of ruthlessness appeared in Yang Guang's eyes.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I truly do not have that ability."
"We have all underestimated the Ming Dynasty. It is not as weak as we thought."
"Whether it's me or the Tang's Bad Marshal Yuan Tiangang, we would not normally enter Ming Dynasty territory."
Yuwen Tuo replied firmly.
"Forget it. We'll discuss this later."
"What about the Empress? I asked you to keep an eye on her. How is she doing?"
"I always feel like she's hiding something from me."
"Rest assured, Your Majesty. The Empress has done nothing to betray you."
"But she has recently broken through again and is now at the Late Great Grandmaster Realm."
"Is that so? I underestimated the Empress's cultivation talent. Why can't I cultivate the Longevity Art?"
"The Empress aside, even two lowly beggars can learn it. How frustrating!"
"Every time I see the Empress teaching those two beggars with such devotion, I want to kill them."
"Your Majesty, the Empress treats the Twin Dragons only as disciples. They're just close followers. There's nothing more."
"No, I can feel it. There is definitely someone else in the Empress's heart. I just haven't found out who yet."
"Supreme Master, continue monitoring the Empress closely. Have someone report to me daily. Make sure she doesn't find out."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
Perhaps even Li Shimin of Tang Dynasty had no idea that Yang Guang, whom he always looked down on, possessed such deep scheming.
The identity of Empress Wu Zhao of the Ming Dynasty has now been revealed, drawing the intense attention of the Qin Dynasty, Tang Dynasty, and Sui Dynasty.
Even the Han Dynasty, Yuan Dynasty, Northern and Southern Song Dynasty, Qin Dynasty, and several other nations have begun investigating in secret.
None of them ever imagined that a nation's Empress could be hiding so deeply, fooling nearly the entire Nine Provinces.
It was truly terrifying.
Thankfully, the Heavenly Ranking exposed it all.
Many who once looked down on the Ming Dynasty quickly reined in their arrogance.
Putting everything else aside, just the power behind the Empress alone was incomparable to ordinary forces.
It wasn't only the great dynasties. The entire martial world of the Nine Provinces was in shock.
Especially the Ming martial community and court.
They were practically boiling over.
==========
Southern Ming Dynasty.
Yuelai Tavern.
Ximen Chuixue, Chu Liuxiang, and Hua Manlou had surrounded Lu Xiaofeng, staring at him intently.
"Lu Xiaofeng, what else have you been hiding from us? Spit it out now."
"Back then during the battle atop the Forbidden Peak, what really happened in the Ming Palace?"
"You weren't taught a lesson by the Imperial Consort, were you? It was the Empress, wasn't it?"
"And Ye Gucheng didn't die by the Imperial Consort's hand either. It was the Empress, right?"
None of them could believe how terrifying the Ming Palace truly was.
Leaving aside the Imperial Consort Long Bixia, a Great Perfection Great Grandmaster.
There was someone even more fearsome.
The Empress, a Half-Step Land Immortal.
Even Ximen Chuixue broke out in a cold sweat.
Thinking back on their duel on the Forbidden Peak and how they had challenged the Emperor and disrespected the Ming Dynasty, how foolish could they have been?
It was a miracle they were still alive.
Luckily, the Emperor and Empress had not pursued the matter, or they would have been annihilated along with their entire families.
Just like Ye Gucheng and White Cloud City, which had already vanished.
"Sigh, stop asking. If I could talk about it, I would have said so already."
"Do you think I don't want to speak? I've been holding it in for a long time!"
"But if I say it, not only will I be in trouble, you all will be too."
"Do you really want to know?"
"If you're not afraid of dying, I'm happy to tell you everything!"
Lu Xiaofeng looked at them with a mischievous grin.
"Forget it. Since it's a secret, keep it to yourself."
"Honestly, I'm not even curious. I don't care what happened that day."
Hearing Lu Xiaofeng's seriousness, Chu Liuxiang and the others immediately backed away.
They were smart enough to know what questions could be asked and what should be left alone.
Now that the Heavenly Ranking had appeared and more secrets were being exposed, they no longer dared to act as ignorantly as they had before.
The Ming Dynasty court they had looked down on turned out to be the most terrifying force of all.
In the past, it simply had no interest in dealing with them.
But if they ever chose to provoke it, they would be walking straight into their graves.