Ming Dynasty Imperial Palace.
Inside the Empress's palace.
"Your Majesty, how do you intend to deal with your Consort?"
As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw the complicated expression on Zhu Houzhao's face. Her own face revealed a trace of panic.
The Empress looked sorrowfully at Zhu Houzhao and asked softly.
"Empress, what do you think I should do? Kill you? Depose you?"
"You really kept me in the dark for so long."
"If it weren't for the Golden Ranking being revealed, I wouldn't have known your real name."
Zhu Houzhao responded with clear frustration.
"Your Majesty, please let me explain. I never meant to deceive you!"
"I was just worried..."
The Empress's expression turned anxious. Seeing that Zhu Houzhao had misunderstood her made her heart ache as if pricked by needles.
She would accept any suffering without complaint, but to be misunderstood by the one she loved… This, she could not bear.
"Netherworld City, one of the ancient and powerful hidden forces of the Han martial world. With a long history and tremendous strength."
"Years ago, it was destroyed by the combined assault of Di Shitian's Heaven Gate and internal traitors working from within."
"So, you're actually a descendant of Netherworld City!"
"You feared Heaven Gate would come knocking, didn't you?"
Zhu Houzhao's calm words stunned the Empress completely.
"Your Majesty, how... how do you know so much?"
The Empress stared at Zhu Houzhao in shock and disbelief.
The Heaven Gate, forget the Ming Dynasty, even in the Han Dynasty, very few knew about them.
Those who did were swiftly silenced.
"In this world, as long as I want to know something, there is nothing I cannot find out."
"Netherworld City? It's nothing impressive."
"And the Heaven Gate? They're not even worth mentioning. Maybe Di Shitian has just enough weight for me to take notice."
"If you weren't my Empress, someone who shares my bed, I wouldn't have spared you. Do you really think those little secrets of yours could fool me?"
Zhu Houzhao spoke half-truths, masking the full picture.
No matter what, he had to maintain a dominant position before her.
The rest… He would investigate slowly.
First, he needed to suppress her momentum.
If she truly followed the same path as that legendary Empress Wu from history, it would be a nightmare.
If she ever seized the imperial throne, that would be a massive disgrace for him.
He could love her, yes, but within reason.
Granting her some power was acceptable, but the throne was absolutely off limits.
That was his bottom line.
"Your Majesty, you already knew. It was narrow-minded of me, and I shouldn't have hidden it."
"I am willing to present Netherworld City to Your Majesty."
"I only ask that you not blame me anymore."
The Empress looked at Zhu Houzhao with a pitiful expression, making it hard for him to endure.
This tactic of retreating to advance… Well played.
Had he been Qin Shi Huang, Li Shimin, or Yang Guang, or any Emperor from other dynasties, he might have readily accepted this generous offer.
Unfortunately for her, he was Zhu Houzhao.
The one and only Zhu Houzhao.
Netherworld City might be impressive, but it was not enough to catch his eye.
Compared to the Empress's incredible potential, Netherworld City was insignificant.
A whirlwind of thoughts raced through his mind before he made the best decision.
So what if he gave her great authority?
He wanted to see just how far she could go.
"Giving it to me?"
"Empress, your intention is appreciated."
"But Netherworld City is your own enterprise. Keep it for yourself."
"As long as you don't act against the interests of Ming, I grant you amnesty."
Zhu Houzhao waved his hand, pretending to be magnanimous.
"Your Majesty, please be assured. I am the Empress of Ming. How could I ever harm this nation?"
Empress Wu Zhao quickly assured him.
Zhu Houzhao gave her a long look but said no more.
"By the way, Empress, what's the story with your strength?"
"I gave you the Divine Phoenix Art. It's not weak. Why didn't you cultivate it?"
Zhu Houzhao asked, puzzled.
Could it be that the so-called Nirvana Art was even stronger than his Divine Phoenix Art?
This technique was a top-tier one rewarded by the system, second only to his self-created Azure Lotus Immortal Scripture.
"Your Majesty, I have cultivated it. In fact, I combined the Divine Phoenix Art with the Nirvana Art, although I kept the name Nirvana."
"In truth, it's no different from the original Divine Phoenix Art."
"Otherwise, I couldn't have reached this level so quickly."
A trace of complexity crossed the Empress's face.
The Nirvana Art was her family's heirloom. She had believed it was one of the most powerful in all of the Nine Provinces.
But after comparing it to the Emperor's gift, she finally understood the vast difference.
"Previously, I destroyed my own cultivation to rebuild my foundation."
"This will ensure greater potential in the future."
"And this time, with the Heavenly Dao reward of the Indestructible Divine Phoenix Physique, it complements the Divine Phoenix Art perfectly. I am confident I will reach the next level within three months."
Speaking of the Heavenly Dao's reward, even the Empress could not hide her excitement.
Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but admire her talent.
Without the system, he wouldn't even come close to her in comprehension.
"Empress, do you know that because your information was exposed, the entire Ming Dynasty is now in chaos?"
"From the court to the martial world, many people are stirring."
Empress Wu Zhao didn't seem concerned in the slightest.
Instead, she looked faintly disdainful.
"Just a bunch of schemers."
"If Your Majesty is willing, all of them could be swept away with a flick of the hand. The only reason they're still breathing is because they're still useful."
==========
At that moment.
At the gates of the Ming Palace, a mysterious figure suddenly appeared.
Due to the Empress's identity being exposed by the Golden Ranking, the palace was on high alert, with guards searching for any suspicious individuals.
But when the old man Nameless strolled toward the palace, something shocking happened.
The palace guards acted as if they couldn't see him at all.
Nameless passed through the gates unchallenged, striding toward the inner palace.
He even had time to admire the scenery and make idle comments along the way.
It was the very picture of arrogance.
He treated the imperial palace as if it were nothing.
A cold smile lingered at the corners of Nameless's mouth.
This was it?
The most sacred place in Ming?
It couldn't even slow him down.
In the entire palace, only the Empress posed any threat to him.
As for the Imperial Consort, Long Bixia, he was confident he could defeat her with ease.
Not worth mentioning.
In the past, he never regarded the Ming court seriously and found no fun in controlling it.
But because of the Empress's presence, he suddenly found the court intriguing.
This kind of Ming court was worthy of becoming one of his chess pieces.
He didn't care for power or wealth.
But he deeply enjoyed the feeling of controlling others like pawns.
He wanted to savor the process.
By using the Empress Wu Zhao, he would take control of Ming.
Let him freely write his masterpiece.
The thought brought a brighter smile to Nameless's face, along with a rare thrill of excitement.
Strolling and pausing leisurely, Nameless eventually arrived outside the Empress's palace.
No one stopped him.
No one even noticed him.
==========
Inside the palace.
Zhu Houzhao and Empress Wu Zhao were discussing the Divine Phoenix Art and the Indestructible Divine Phoenix Physique.
Suddenly, a powerful unfamiliar presence appeared outside, causing them both to pause.
Zhu Houzhao's lips curled with amusement.
"Interesting. I didn't expect it to be him."
"So bold, coming right in front of me."
Wu Zhao was slightly surprised.
"Your Majesty, do you know him? He doesn't seem like he comes with good intentions, and his strength is considerable."
"Ming actually has someone like this?"
Zhu Houzhao nodded calmly.
"The leader of a group in the martial world called the 'Invisible Ones.' He thinks himself invincible and manipulates sects for his own gain."
"Since he's walked right into our hands, there's no need to keep him alive."
"Empress, I'll leave this one to you."
Wu Zhao accepted the task with a smile.
==========
"Who is outside? Come in."
The Empress's commanding voice echoed through the air.
As soon as she spoke.
With a creak, the palace doors opened.
Nameless strode in, his face full of admiration.
Clap clap clap
"Truly worthy of being someone ranked on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. Extraordinary indeed!"
Nameless clapped as he spoke with a grin.
He completely ignored Zhu Houzhao, who was beside the Empress.
"Who are you?"
The Empress found the situation increasingly entertaining.
This man's audacity was simply astonishing.
Zhu Houzhao calmly watched, sipping his tea as though watching a play.
"To think, a mere woman has such courage."
"You've put most of the men in the Nine Provinces to shame."
"The Emperor of Ming is hardly worthy of a woman like you. Wouldn't you agree, Emperor?"
Nameless looked mockingly at Zhu Houzhao, who remained silent.
Zhu Houzhao couldn't even be bothered to respond to such a frog at the bottom of a well.
This man was already dead in his eyes. Not worth an ounce of emotion.
Still, he had his uses.
Let him be the whetstone for the Empress.
"Leader of the Invisible Ones, Nameless. You're quite bold."
"Unfortunately, you lack foundation."
"Your judgment is poor. Just because you have some power, you think you can look down on the world?"
"To true titans, you're nothing."
"Do you think no one has noticed the evil you've done?"
"You simply aren't threatening enough to warrant their attention."
The Empress's words caused Nameless's expression to shift drastically.
He looked at her in disbelief.
His confidence shattered.
"You know me? Or do you have spies among my people?"
Nameless forced himself to remain calm and asked coldly.
"Do dragons send spies to monitor ants?"
"Are you overestimating yourself?"
The Empress lifted her teacup and took a light sip, then set it down.
"Very well, let this dragon see what tricks this ant has to offer."
Nameless moved in an instant, appearing before the Empress.
With a seemingly effortless palm strike, the air inside the hall trembled.
The force rippled outward.
"How's my palm, dragon? Can you withstand this ant's strike?"
At that moment.
Zhu Houzhao flicked his right hand lightly, and all the shockwaves vanished.
Nameless's pupils shrink.
An overwhelming sense of danger erupted within him.
Chill surged from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head.
At the same time, the Empress's counterattack struck.
"With such petty skills, you dare intrude upon the palace?"
"Who gave an ant like you such courage?"
Her stern voice exploded in Nameless's ears.
In an instant, his inner energy stuttered.
Even his movement stalled slightly.
Then.
A slender jade palm slammed into his chest.
Pfft!
A mouthful of blood sprayed into the air.
Nameless's entire body was thrown backward.
The terrifying palm force raged through his body.
In mere moments, his internal organs were destroyed.
His strength dropped by more than ninety percent.
He stared at the Empress in horror and fury.
How could this be?
They were in the same realm. How did he lose in one move?
How could the gap be this wide?
He couldn't understand no matter how hard he thought.