Chapter 135 - Rank 1 Revealed, The Empress's Urgency, And The Shock of The Harem
[Sword Immortal Ranking – Rank 1]
[Su Yi]
[Title: Azure Lotus Sword Immortal]
[Cultivation Realm: Great Perfection God Demon Realm Land Immortal]
[Sword Dao Comprehension: Fourth Cycle, 50% Mastery]
[Reward: Saint-Grade Divine Sword – Azure Duckweed Sword, contains a set of Saint-Grade Sword Techniques with immense and unfathomable power. Use with caution]
"Huh?"
Zhu Houzhao let out a surprised sound.
As expected, his skill One Leaf Obscure the Heavens had taken effect.
Otherwise, the ranking would not show the "Great Perfection God Demon Realm" but rather the "Early Sage Realm".
This must have been the cultivation realm from the last time he transformed into the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal, Su Yi.
Still, that was perfectly fine.
Being at the Great Perfection God Demon Realm was already enough to shock and intimidate the other nations and forces.
If it had revealed the Sage Realm, it might have united all hostile powers against him.
That would be detrimental to his future plans of lying low.
Azure Duckweed Sword!
As he gazed at the Divine Sword in his hand, even Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but smile in delight.
The quality was superb.
And the Saint-Grade Sword Technique contained within was extremely compatible with his style.
It would greatly assist him in further comprehending the Sword Dao.
Heaven Dao Reward is, as always, generous.
==========
Empress Palace.
"Miss, it's His Majesty!"
"Oh my god, Great Perfection God Demon Realm!"
"Fourth Cycle, 50% Mastery of Sword Dao Comprehension, that's insane!"
Palace Maid Qing'er and Shangguan Wan'er covered their mouths in disbelief.
This was virtually the Great Perfection God Demon Realm, just a step away from the legendary Sage Realm.
They had previously assumed that His Majesty, even if within the God Demon Realm, was at most at the Early or Intermediate.
But reality had far exceeded their expectations.
It was truly staggering.
In all of the Nine Provinces, apart from that mysterious Sage Realm figure, no one could possibly be His Majesty's match.
In contrast, Empress Wu Zhao felt a bit puzzled.
That Sage Realm presence who once caused a great stir across the Nine Provinces, wasn't that supposed to be His Majesty?
Could she have been mistaken?
Regardless, she knew she had to work harder.
Otherwise, she would be left further and further behind His Majesty's footsteps.
She might not even be able to remain by his side.
Back when she was selected through the imperial draft and "luckily" appointed Empress, her original plan had been to secretly use her control over the Netherworld City to manipulate the Ming Emperor from the shadows.
Eventually, she intended to control the entire Ming Dynasty to fulfill her grand ambitions.
But later, as she spent more time with His Majesty, she unexpectedly fell deeply in love with him.
Even her ambitions gradually faded.
Just being able to stay by his side every day became a source of joy and happiness.
He ruled the entire dynasty, and she assisted at his side.
Husband and wife working in harmony, what bliss.
His Majesty had always trusted her and supported her development.
She thought life would continue peacefully and happily.
But with the emergence of the Golden Ranking, everything changed.
His Majesty's true identity was revealed.
The man who had always been by her side was hiding such astonishing strength.
It was shocking beyond belief.
But alongside the shock came a deep sense of urgency.
Fortunately, she later obtained a mysterious inheritance and finally reached the God Demon Realm.
She had caught up, for now.
But now His Majesty had reached the Great Perfection of that stage, on the verge of ascending to the Sage Realm.
Would she be left behind again?
She had to keep pushing forward.
She could not let those so-called "beloved companions" catch up and surpass her.
With that in mind, Empress Wu Zhao made a firm decision.
She would return to Phoenix Nest.
Lately, she had felt something from there calling to her again.
It was a good sign.
She had a hunch.
There was definitely a greater secret hidden within the Phoenix Nest.
The mysteries she once couldn't decipher, she would now resolve them on her own.
If she could fully master that opportunity, her strength would leap forward again.
Even if His Majesty entered the Sage Realm, she would still be able to follow.
Compared to Empress Wu Zhao's sense of urgency, the other Consorts each had their own reactions.
==========
Xue Yuan Palace.
Huang Rong, Wan Wan, and Shi Feixuan, this small team now wielded considerable influence in the Imperial Harem.
Especially with Zhu Houzhao's silent backing.
And none of the four were ordinary women.
It was nearly impossible for anyone to bully them.
"Oh my god, His Majesty is in the Great Perfection God Demon Realm!" Huang Rong shouted excitedly.
"Feixuan, I bet even you didn't expect the great scumbag to be this powerful, right?"
"No, I don't think we've ever seen his true capabilities."
"Not in the past, not now, and perhaps never in the future."
"Even this Sword Immortal Ranking... I have my doubts."
"The Azure Lotus Sword Immortal Su Yi might just be one of many identities the great scumbag uses. And yet, that alone was enough to claim Rank 1."
"The first time I met him, just talking to him, I knew he possessed Buddhist knowledge far beyond imagination."
"Do you think His Majesty might also have a Buddhist identity?"
"I think a demonic identity makes more sense. He taught me Moth Void Evil Fire. Without demonic cultivation, how could he have learned it?"
"He definitely knows Dao School Martial Techniques too!"
"Oh my god, how many secrets does His Majesty actually have?"
"Even the Nine Provinces Golden Ranking couldn't reveal them all at once. He's too strong."
The women's eyes sparkled like gold.
Aside from that Sage Realm figure, His Majesty might truly be unmatched.
Especially Wan Wan, ambition flashed in her gaze.
No.
She couldn't continue being aimless.
She refused to be just a pretty decoration by that man's side.
She wanted to become someone indispensable to him.
She wanted him to feel pain without her, to lose his appetite, to feel heartbreak, to think of her day and night.
She had to possess a unique edge.
As time passed, there would be more and more women around that man.
And every one of them would be exceptional.
If she remained short-sighted, immersed in his sweet words, it might be fine for ten or twenty years.
But what about fifty or a hundred years?
That man would remain youthful with his cultivation, while she would grow old. Then what?
With his current power, living several hundred years was easy.
Would she still be able to stay by his side forever?
She didn't want to become a mere memory in his heart.
She wanted to become a permanent part of it.
An irreplaceable part.
This anxiety and sense of urgency was not unique to Wan Wan.
Even Shi Feixuan, Huang Rong, and Xue Yuan shared it.
All of them were among the most exceptional women in the world.
Their beauty and intelligence were second to none.
While others were still basking in happiness, they were already thinking of the future.
They aimed to ascend to the Land Immortal Realm.
Then the Heavenly Human Realm, the Mythical Realm, and the God Demon Realm.
Eventually, they would strive for the Sage Realm.
To evolve their very existence.
To extend their lives.
They refused to be left behind, old and fading, while other women remained youthful and vibrant.
Even worse, to watch their own lifespan run out.
Just imagining such an end made them shudder.
Their resolve grew even stronger.
==========
Meanwhile.
Murong Qiudi Palace.
While feeling happy that the scumbag made it to the ranking, Qiudi, Shiyin, You Ruo, and Yuhua had many thoughts in mind.
Ever since entering the Imperial Harem, and especially with Zhu Houzhao's intentional nurturing, the women had broadened their horizons immensely.
Their cultivation had also advanced at a rapid pace, far beyond what they had achieved in the Martial World before.
Even though Song Yuhua, You Ruo, and Murong Qiudi all came from distinguished families, their past knowledge was still quite shallow in comparison.
They had never been exposed to the true hidden secrets of the Nine Provinces, the number of real cultivators, or how power was distributed.
Only with Zhu Houzhao's guidance did they come to understand these things.
But the more they learned, the more they felt their own insignificance.
They had to constantly improve themselves and become even stronger.
Just like Murong Qiudi.
Previously, she believed the Heavenly Venerable Organization was an extraordinary force.
But after her perspective expanded, she realized that in the eyes of the truly top-tier forces, the Heavenly Venerable Organization could be destroyed with just a single word.
"Qiudi, I really think we should focus on cultivation now. Reaching a higher realm and extending our lifespan should be our top priority." Lin Shiyin said seriously.
"Wasting time and effort on managing a power base is not worth it. Just appoint a trusted subordinate to handle it."
"As long as you remain strong, no one under you would dare betray you!"
"That's right, Qiudi. Your cultivation has become somewhat stagnant lately." You Ruo added.
"You're ranked 3rd on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, and we, Yuhua, Shiyin, and I, are far behind you."
"But now, Yuhua and I have reached the Heavenly Human Realm, and Shiyin is at the Half-Step Land Immortal Realm. She could break through at any time. Yet you've shown no signs of advancement."
"At this rate, forget competing with the Empress. You might even get surpassed and left behind by newcomers."
This was a rare moment when You Ruo gave a stern warning.
Murong Qiudi had been too caught up with the affairs of the Heavenly Venerable Organization, leaving her barely any time for cultivation.
Ever since they came to the Ming Dynasty, You Ruo and Song Yuhua had always received Qiudi's care.
In their eyes, Murong Qiudi was a trustworthy and intimate ally.
They didn't want to see her fall into the trap of chasing power and completely lose her way.
Strength was the foundation of survival among the strong in the Nine Provinces.
With strength, she could build any power she wanted in the future.
They couldn't understand why someone as smart as Qiudi couldn't grasp this most basic principle.
Murong Qiudi turned pale and fell into deep thought.
She had been too proud.
She wanted to excel at everything.
And she constantly compared herself with Empress Wu Zhao.
But the more she did that, the more she lost her way.
Her top priority now shouldn't be to compete with the Empress but to improve herself.
Whether it was strength, knowledge, or wisdom, she still had much to learn.
Her so-called force was the least important thing.
If Zhu Houzhao wished, he could easily grant any of his women a power far greater than the Heavenly Venerable Organization.
Only by reaching the God Demon Realm could she even begin to compare with the Empress.
As she was now, she was still unqualified.
Possibly even laughable.
Perhaps the Empress had never taken her seriously at all.
Murong Qiudi remained silent, deep in contemplation.
She truly needed to change.
==========
Elsewhere in the Imperial Harem.
Nong Yu and Hong Lian Palace.
Nong Yu quietly played a melody on her zither, her heart completely calm.
Ever since entering the palace and marrying Zhu Houzhao, her long-held wish had finally come true.
Her mental state improved greatly.
Not only had her music skills and mastery of the zither advanced dramatically, but her cultivation had also broken through its bottleneck.
She successfully stepped into the Heavenly Human Realm Land Immortal.
She felt incredibly happy now.
Like the happiest woman in the entire world.
The sorrow that once lingered between her brows had completely vanished.
Her eyes constantly reflected a gentle joy.
Even Hong Lian, who had entered the palace with her, was influenced.
She too had stepped into the Heavenly Human Realm.
The female companions who had past connections with Zhu Houzhao were given special attention after entering the palace.
Vast resources had been poured onto them.
And with his occasional personal guidance, most of them had broken through one by one.
If Zhu Houzhao hadn't asked them to keep a low profile, their progress would have surely shocked the entire world.
"I really didn't expect the scumbag to be the first on the Sword Immortal Ranking!"
"He must've been hiding his strength when we first met in the capital of the Han Kingdom."
"Great Perfection God Demon Realm. Oh my god, I still can't believe it." Hong Lian muttered, pouting.
"Never mind the God Demon Realm. Even if he reached the Sage Realm, I would still have faith in my husband." Nong Yu replied with a smile while plucking the zither strings.
"You're just spoiling him. He's practically been ruined by your pampering." Hong Lian rolled her eyes.
"Probably, in his eyes, you're the best woman in the world, and I'm the worst."
"Huh? Wait a minute, Nong Yu, what elixir did you take? You just broke through the Early Heavenly Human Realm recently." She said, wide-eyed.
"You're already at the Intermediate Stage? Don't tell me the scumbag gave you special treatment in secret?"
"How biased can he be? Why didn't he include me?" Hong Lian laughed, clearly not genuinely upset.
"Husband isn't the kind of man you think he is!"
"Maybe it's because my mindset changed. I'd been building up for a while, and now everything just came together."
"When I was playing music recently, I easily broke through to the Intermediate Heavenly Human Realm."
"It was smooth and natural. My foundation is stable too."
"I feel like I won't encounter any bottlenecks until I hit the Mythical Realm."
Listening to Nong Yu's almost bragging explanation, Hong Lian was so annoyed she nearly wanted to smack her.
"I don't care! That scumbag definitely gave you special treatment. He's too biased!"
"Hehehe!"
Soon, the two of them were laughing and playfully bickering.
Their palace was filled with joy and laughter.
==========
Another part of the Imperial Harem.
Zhao Min Palace.
Staring at the name on the ranking floating in the sky, Zhao Min clenched her teeth.
Great Perfection God Demon Realm.
This was a level far beyond the National Master Phagpa.
Only that mysterious Sage Realm figure in all of the Nine Provinces might surpass him.
The thought that she had married someone so powerful left Zhao Min unsure whether to be happy or worried.
To be honest, no woman would feel dissatisfied being chosen as a Consort by Zhu Houzhao.
Countless women in the Nine Provinces would be envious, jealous, and filled with hatred.
Even though she was reluctant to admit it, she had long since fallen hopelessly in love with him during their time together.
Yet when she thought of her family in the Yuan Dynasty, her father and brother, she had to suppress her feelings deep within her heart.
If she dared show even a hint of betrayal, with Temujin's cruelty, her family would surely be wiped out.
Now, she was truly caught in a dilemma.
What made her even more frustrated was that Zhu Houzhao clearly understood her inner turmoil but pretended not to and kept teasing her every now and then.
It left her heart restless and her teeth grinding in frustration.
But there was nothing she could do.
Seeing the terrifying description on the ranking, she could only play along with this "game".
She had a strong feeling that Zhu Houzhao was using her as a chess piece to stir up internal conflict within the Yuan Dynasty.
And at the center of that conflict was the Prince Ruyang Mansion.
Thinking back to when she had first come to the Ming Dynasty as an envoy, Empress Wu Zhao constantly made things difficult for her.
She had thought the Empress was simply jealous and afraid she might seduce the Emperor.
Now it all seemed ridiculous.
Back then, they had already decided to use her as a chess piece.
A pawn meant to tip the balance of an entire nation.
That Empress's schemes were terrifying.
Her own cunning was nothing compared to Wu Zhao's.
"No, I need to figure something out. That scumbag, that bastard is trying to drive a wedge between my father and Temujin."
"With the Khan's temper, it's entirely possible that he would wipe out the entire Prince Ruyang Mansion!"
==========
Qin Dynasty, Land of Hundred Yue.
Hundred Yue City.
"Mother, did Father really become the number one on the Sword Immortal Ranking?"
"That's amazing! Someday, I'll surpass him and make him Rank 2!"
Little Su Yue clenched her fists adorably, making Yan Lingji, Eastern Monarch Yan Fei, and the recently returned Zi Nu burst into laughter.
"Of course. The student surpasses the master!"
"Yue'er, I believe you can do it!" Zi Nu said as she picked her up and teased her.
"No wonder. Even though we already thought highly of him, we still severely underestimated him." Someone sighed.
"Great Perfection God Demon Realm. No wonder he could pull off all those amazing, unimaginable feats."
"No wonder Hundred Yue City, which he built, turned out to be so terrifying."
"Even a Mythical Realm cultivator could be stopped with ease."
"To him, the so-called Mythical Realm is probably no different from ordinary cultivators."
"Yan Lingji, Zi Nu, we need to train harder from now on." Eastern Monarch Yan Fei said seriously.
Even though she always claimed she wouldn't forgive that scumbag, deep down, she had never truly let him go.
She never intended to.
If she ever got the chance, she would definitely return to his side.
Even if not for herself, then for the sake of Yue'er.
"Yes. Among everyone in Hundred Yue City, at least one of us must reach the God Demon Realm."
At this, Zi Nu and Fei Yan looked at Yan Lingji.
She was their best hope of achieving that in the short term.
"I'll give it my all." Yan Lingji said firmly.
==========
Ming Dynasty, Snow Moon City.
Tallest Building, Rooftop.
Baili Dongjun looked at Sword Immortal Li Hanyi with a wry smile.
"Junior Sister, did you know all along that he was this terrifyingly strong?"
Seeing her neither nod nor shake her head, he took that as silent confirmation.
"This generation's Ming Emperor... he really is a monster."
"Too terrifying."
"How did he do it?"
"God Demon Realm was already unbelievable, but now he's perfected it. He's just one step away from the Sage Realm."
"He might cross that threshold any day now."
"And when that happens, he'll become the second Sage Realm being in the Nine Provinces."
"At that point, who in the world could possibly stop him?"
"Uniting the Nine Provinces would be effortless!"
Li Hanyi finally turned her head.
"Senior Brother, you're mistaken."
"You think someone who's reached his level still cares about worldly power and wealth?"
"Only strength. Only the pursuit of martial arts is what the true cultivators of the Nine Provinces desire."
"Once he grows tired of being Emperor, he might even refuse to continue the role."
Baili Dongjun listened and nodded in agreement.
Zhu Houzhao was only in his twenties.
After serving as Emperor for a decade or two, he might find it dull.
It would only distract him and drain his energy.
Being Emperor might eventually become a shackle instead.