[Sword Immortal Ranking – Rank 10]
[Xiao Meiniang]
[Identity: Empress of Sui Dynasty]
[Cultivation: Late Heavenly Human Realm Land Immortal]
[Sword Dao Comprehension: First Cycle, 90% Mastery]
[Reward: Heaven-Grade Low-Tier Pill – Longevity Physique Pill, upon consumption, the body transforms into Longevity Physique]
As soon as the Sword Immortal Ranking updated, everyone was utterly stunned.
No one had expected that the first name to appear would be the Sui Empress, someone completely overlooked by the world.
Even more shocking, Xiao Meiniang was actually a Late Heavenly Human Realm Sword Immortal.
She had been hiding her strength far too well.
==========
Sui Imperial Palace.
"Supreme Master Yuwen, did you know the Empress was this powerful?"
Yang Guang's expression shifted repeatedly, before finally sighing in frustration.
"Your Majesty, I only knew the Empress was a Heavenly Human Realm cultivator, but I had no idea she was a Sword Immortal!"
"In fact, I suspect the palace's long-standing security might have been because of her."
A glint flashed through Yuwen Tuo's eyes.
He had clearly underestimated the Empress. A Late Heavenly Human Realm Sword Immortal, now strengthened further by a Heaven Dao Reward and a transformed physique. Her talent would improve accordingly.
Her future breakthrough to the Mythical Realm was almost certain.
Perhaps forming an alliance with her might be the Sui Dynasty's only hope for survival.
"Longevity Physique Pill? Longevity Physique?"
Yang Guang muttered, eyes glowing brighter by the second.
"If I consume this pill, would I gain longevity too?"
"Hurry, summon the Empress and have her present the Heaven Dao Reward. I shall reward her handsomely!"
What mattered to him most was whether this pill would cure his "illness".
If his physique became Longevity Physique, would the side effects of that technique vanish completely?
Thinking of this, Yang Guang was overcome with excitement. He could hardly wait to seize the pill.
"Your Majesty, please calm yourself. The Empress has likely already consumed the pill."
"Furthermore, this is Heaven Dao Reward. Attempting to seize it would bring calamity."
"My investigations show that whether low-level or high-level rewards, anyone who tried to take them met a tragic end."
"During the Snow Moon City incident, countless died due to greed, and in the end, the Myriad Sword Diagram returned to Snow Moon City. There is clearly an unseen heavenly force maintaining balance."
"Your Majesty must find another way."
Yuwen Tuo advised with rare seriousness.
"This..." Yang Guang hesitated.
On one hand was his safety, on the other was a cure for his condition.
After a long internal struggle, he finally chose to prioritize his own life.
"Forget it. This was her fortune. I cannot steal from her."
"Besides, the Empress is the mother of the Sui Dynasty. Whether I take it or she takes it, the benefit is the same."
Yang Guang forced a smile, though his tone betrayed his reluctance.
==========
Sui Imperial Palace, Xiao Meiniang Chambers.
"Congratulations, Master, for ranking on the Sword Immortal Ranking!"
"Master is incredible!"
The Twin Dragons were beaming as they congratulated Xiao Meiniang.
To them, she was like a mother, teaching them Martial Techniques, life lessons, and even helping them form their own forces.
Though their bond started due to the Longevity Art, it was clear they were fated to be close.
Now, seeing someone they cherished gain such an achievement filled them with joy.
"Enough, you two. I need to consume this pill first. We can talk afterward."
"Yes, we'll stand guard outside."
The Twin Dragons quickly exited, watching the surroundings carefully.
Inside, Xiao Meiniang stared at the pill in her hand with a complicated expression and sighed deeply.
"Sigh, I owe him more and more... what a karmic entanglement."
"In any case, I must first increase my strength. Otherwise, everything else is meaningless."
Without hesitation, she swallowed the pill.
It dissolved instantly.
A surge of energy flooded her body, transforming her physique at an astonishing rate.
Strangely, there was no pain.
Instead, it felt indescribably pleasant.
Over ten minutes later, the sensation faded.
Suddenly, her senses became razor-sharp.
Her strength, spirit, speed, and physique had all undergone a complete metamorphosis.
"This is the Longevity Physique?"
"The special physique he once spoke of... it's far more powerful than I imagined."
"With this body, advancing to the Mythical Realm will be easy."
"Even the God Demon Realm might not be out of reach."
"If that's the case... then he and I..."
She quickly shook her head and pushed away those thoughts, hiding them deep within her heart.
She was not yet qualified to chase what she truly desired.
"Zhong, Ziling, come in."
"Master, you..."
Upon entering, the Twin Dragons were stunned.
"What is it? Did something happen to me?"
"Not something bad. Something great. Master, you look so young and beautiful now!"
"You look just like a 17 year old girl!"
"If you stood next to Fairy Shi and Witch Wan Wan, people would think you were their sister!"
"Your temperament has changed too. You look divine, like a fairy!"
The flattery rolled off their tongues with ease.
Xiao Meiniang laughed happily.
"Supreme Master Yuwen Tuo requests an audience with the Empress!"
A voice came from outside.
Xiao Meiniang's expression changed slightly, giving the Twin Dragons a meaningful glance.
They instantly understood and stood upright silently at the side.
"Supreme Master Yuwen, come in."
"Huh?"
The moment Yuwen Tuo entered, his expression changed at the sight of her transformation.
So this was the power of the Heaven Dao Reward?
Too outrageous.
He even felt a sense of deadly danger from her.
He was a full realm higher than her, yet still felt threatened.
This was no illusion.
He immediately corrected his previous underestimation of her and resolved to treat her as an equal in future.
"Supreme Master Yuwen, do you have business with me?"
Xiao Meiniang's tone was cold and guarded.
She had always been wary of Yuwen Tuo and preferred not to get involved with him.
At least not until she reached the Mythical Realm.
Only then would she have the strength to protect her own interests.
Seeing her guarded look, Yuwen Tuo sighed inwardly and swallowed his original intentions.
It was not the right time.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty has granted you permission to form your own force."
"You may now establish a force similar to the Tang Dynasty's Bad People."
"Why did His Majesty not tell me personally?"
"The Emperor is currently in seclusion. You will not be able to see him for a while."
"I see. I understand. If there is nothing else, you may leave."
As Yuwen Tuo left, the Twin Dragons couldn't hold back.
"Master, that Yuwen Tuo doesn't seem like a bad guy."
"Yeah, why are you so wary of him?"
"Sigh, you can't judge him by appearances. If you ask who in all of the Nine Provinces has killed the most people..."
"It's undoubtedly Supreme Master Yuwen."
"In his eyes, human life is like ants. Killing people doesn't faze him in the slightest."
"He may be a god, a celestial, a Buddha, or even a demon or ghost, but he is not human."
"With such a being, how can I interact casually?"
"Until I'm as strong as him, I will avoid contact."
"You two as well. If you see him, steer clear."
"Your talents are not bad. In the future, you may surpass him. But if you die by his hand now, it would be too tragic."
The Twin Dragons nodded solemnly.
Better to stay away from someone like that.
"Oh right, since His Majesty instructed me to build a covert force for the Sui Dynasty, you two will help me."
"Thank you, Master. Our force will rival those of any other dynasty!"
Kou Zhong was full of confidence.
==========
Tang Imperial Palace, Taiji Hall.
"Master Yuan, I know this Sui Empress. Wasn't she just an ordinary woman?"
"How is she suddenly a Late Heavenly Human Realm Sword Immortal?"
"You really have nothing to say?"
Li Shimin was visibly displeased.
Such a major development, and he had been kept in the dark.
"Your Majesty, I believed she was only a Great Grandmaster, so I did not investigate further."
"Also, Yuwen Tuo clearly concealed her information. I admit I made a mistake."
"This Xiao Meiniang is a troublesome figure."
"Then what do we do about her?"
"She's already in the Late Heavenly Human Realm, and now with a Heaven Dao Reward, her path to the Mythical Realm is almost certain."
"Can we kill her?"
"Only if I personally act. Otherwise, it's nearly impossible."
"But Yuwen Tuo will be watching closely. I'll have no chance."
"What if we unite the other dynasties against her?"
Li Shimin's eyes gleamed coldly.
Surely the other dynasties, Qin Dynasty, Han Dynasty, Song Dynasty, Yuan Dynasty, and Ming Dynasty, would not want to see the Sui Dynasty rise.
If even one agrees, their chances of success would increase greatly.
"Your Majesty, have you forgotten the Heaven Mocking Palace incident?"
"Who can predict the true intentions of the other dynasties?"
"For all we know, the target may end up being us."
"Even the Northern Song Dynasty's Imperial City Division claims to be at odds with Yuwen Tuo, but I suspect there's more to it."
"We must be cautious."
Yuwen Tuo, Huang Shang, and Phagpa were all men whose wit and power rivaled Yuan Tiangang.
No precaution was too much.
==========
As Yuan Tiangang left, Li Shimin's face darkened.
"Someone, summon King Jin, Li Keyong!"
Moments later, a burly man entered.
"Your subject Li Keyong greets Your Majesty."
"Rise, King Jin."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. May I ask what task awaits?"
"King Jin, you are a veteran who served the Former Emperor and was granted the imperial surname. You are one of our own."
"No need for formalities."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"I was just reminiscing."
Li Shimin chatted warmly for a long while, playing the emotional card.
Finally, he got to the point.
"King Jin, I have a dangerous task for you. Do you have the courage to take it on?"
His sharp gaze made it clear that refusal would not be tolerated.
"For Your Majesty, I would die a thousand deaths without regret!"
"Good!"
Li Shimin laughed heartily, then handed over a sealed scroll.
"Follow its instructions. Only you and I know about this. Not a word to anyone else. Understood?"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"You may go."
Watching him leave, Li Shimin's expression grew colder.
He tapped the desk lightly.
"Li Keyong."
"Li Maozhen."
"Zhu Wen."
"Hmph."
"The Former Emperor was foolish to grant so many kingships."
"Now the dynasty is out of control."
"These men are thorns in the Tang Dynasty's side and must be removed."
"Otherwise, my dream of unifying Nine Provinces will never come true."
==========
Ming Imperial Palace, Imperial Harem.
Xue Yuan, Wan Wan, Shi Feixuan, and Huang Rong Palace.
Seeing Xiao Meiniang's name on the Sword Immortal Ranking, both Wan Wan and Shi Feixuan were stunned.
"We misjudged her."
"To think that the Sui Empress is so powerful. I thought she was just a Great Grandmaster when she took away Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling."
"Yes, I misjudged her too."
"Good thing we didn't stop her back then. She might have killed us with a single sword stroke."
Wan Wan shuddered.
Back then, they were the Saintesses of the Yingui Sect and the Cihang Tranquil School and held deep hostility toward the Sui Imperial Court.
If Xiao Meiniang had been the least bit hostile, they would be dead.
But why did she let them go, yet only take the Twin Dragons?
With her around, neither the Yingui Sect nor the Cihang Tranquil School could stir up any real trouble.
Even the so-called Great Grandmaster Ning Daoqi would likely fall to a single sword.
Now, they were both worried for their sects.
Since entering the palace, they had learned many hidden truths about Nine Provinces.
They finally understood how deep the waters ran.
Their sects, once thought invincible, now seemed laughable.
To think they believed they could manipulate Imperial Courts.
Absurd.
The Sui Dynasty had only spared them because the Tang Dynasty was the real enemy.
Without the Tang Dynasty as a lightning rod, their sects would have been wiped out many times over by Yuwen Tuo.
==========
Ming Dynasty, Murong Qiudi Palace.
"Your Majesty, do you know this Sui Empress?"
Seeing Zhu Houzhao's strange expression, Murong Qiudi asked suspiciously.
"She is the Sui Empress. How could I know her?"
Zhu Houzhao would never reveal his true thoughts.
"Tsk tsk, Late Heavenly Human Realm. I bet Yang Guang isn't feeling too great right now."
"He must be under a lot of pressure."
He chuckled mischievously.
With Xiao Meiniang's methods, might she take control of the Sui Imperial Court in the future?
Quite likely.
Hehe, plenty of opportunities to manipulate this.
Still, Yang Guang was not to be underestimated.
He had to ensure the Ming Dynasty remained free of suspicion.
Ah, the Tang Dynasty would make the perfect pawn.
Zhu Houzhao's eyes lit up.
Countless devious schemes instantly flashed through his mind.
==========
Ming Dynasty, Outside of Sword Tomb.
"What a sword. I got lucky this time and found an exceptional Divine Sword."
Lu Xiaofeng waved his new weapon with satisfaction.
"You all seem to have had good luck too."
He smiled at Ximen Chuixue and the others.
"This really is the Sword Tomb, but isn't it supposed to be the second Forbidden Land?"
"Why didn't we encounter any danger?"
Chu Liuxiang rubbed his nose, puzzled.
"And the owner didn't even try to stop us from taking the swords. Why?"
"Could the Sword Tomb be ownerless?"
"Impossible. Otherwise, like the Phoenix Nest, there would have been a sign."
"This place is a true treasure trove."
"The owner must be incredibly generous."
"Enough. Let's go. This place was named a Forbidden Land for a reason."
"If we push our luck, we could end up dead."
"Don't get greedy."
Shortly after they left, thick mist once again filled the area around the Sword Tomb.
A wave of deadly danger instantly swept over them.
"Run!"
"It's dangerous!"
Everyone's expressions changed as they used all their strength to flee.
Screams of agony echoed behind them.
Those slightly slower were consumed by the mist.
Reduced to ashes, without a trace left behind.
Those who survived were pale with terror.
No longer daring to hold anything back, they fled for their lives.
It was a long time before the threat dissipated and they stopped, still trembling.
"So this is a Forbidden Land? That was insane."
"Yeah, we had no chance to resist."
"Opportunity and danger truly go hand in hand."
"From now on, I'm staying far away from the Forbidden Lands."
Even Lu Xiaofeng, known for his curiosity, was shaken to the core.
That mist was likely the outermost edge.
Had they gone deeper, they would have certainly died.
The Sword Tomb's master must not have cared about ants like them.
==========
Nearby Inn.
Lu Xiaofeng, Ximen Chuixue, and the others drank to calm their nerves.
They avoided mentioning the Forbidden Land and instead turned the conversation to the Sword Immortal Ranking.
"Ximen Chuixue, how much have you grasped your sword intent?"
"When will you comprehend the true essence of Sword Dao?"
"That's the key to becoming a Sword Immortal."
Ximen Chuixue's face darkened.
"I'm only in the Early Great Grandmaster Realm. Becoming a Sword Immortal is still a distant goal. Lu Xiaofeng, don't mess with my sword heart."
"Hehe..."
"I was only joking to lighten the mood."
"But seriously, if the Rank 10 Sword Immortal is that terrifying, what about the ones ranked higher?"