Chapter 240 - A Useful Chess Piece, Zi Nu Ambushed, Fierce Counterattack, Zhu Houzhao's Disdain

Han Dynasty Territory.

Atop a mountain peak.

The blood-robed Fengdu Emperor moved, and his blood-colored robe disappeared.

In the next instant.

A familiar figure appeared.

Zhu Houzhao.

The aura around him shifted from its previous darkness and eeriness to one of grandeur and ethereal immortality.

Even if a God Demon Realm cultivator was present, they would not detect the slightest connection between him and the Fengdu Emperor from moments ago.

The Longevity Immortal God.

To Zhu Houzhao, he still had some value left to be used.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have sealed him back then instead of completely annihilating him.

After so many years of being sealed, it was his own ability that allowed him to escape by luck.

He could regain his freedom.

But he must never be allowed to become an enemy.

Otherwise, wouldn't all of Zhu Houzhao's original plans be for nothing?

After all, he was a God Demon Realm cultivator.

The harm he could cause was not to be underestimated.

Zhu Houzhao himself didn't care.

But if one day he turned against the Ming Dynasty or the Vast Sea Dynasty, it would become troublesome.

If the damage he caused was too great, even if Zhu Houzhao was heartbroken, he would still have no choice but to kill him.

This outcome was something Zhu Houzhao had to guard against.

Especially since the Han Dynasty's Embroidered Guards had many secrets.

It was highly likely they would be enemies rather than allies in the future.

"Husband, you're back?!"

"Is everything taken care of?"

"Easily resolved. Let's go. Our next target is the Qin Dynasty region."

"I'll follow your lead in everything!"

Mei Yingxue didn't ask about where Zhu Houzhao had gone just now. She had no interest in idle matters.

She only cherished every moment alone with Zhu Houzhao.

The ten names on the Demon God Ranking had all been revealed.

A brilliant light burst forth.

[Nine Provinces – Demon God Ranking has been fully announced]

[A new ranking will be released in three months]

Moments later.

The ranking rolled up and turned into a stream of light, vanishing without a trace.

The people of Nine Provinces had long grown used to the sudden appearance and disappearance of the Golden Ranking.

They were simply curious about what the next ranking would be.

==========

Border between the Qin Dynasty and the Han Dynasty.

At this moment, a team of several hundred people was slowly moving forward.

From appearance, it seemed like an ordinary merchant caravan.

But from the aura emitted by the guards.

Almost none of them were weaklings.

Even the weakest among them had the cultivation of a Grandmaster.

The squad leaders had reached the level of Great Grandmasters.

Especially the Guard Leader, he was a Heavenly Human Realm Land Immortal.

To have a Land Immortal serve as a guard, the identity of the caravan's master was certainly not to be taken lightly.

Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh!

Just then.

A volley of arrows rained down from the sky.

The target was the caravan.

As if intending to completely wipe it out.

"Ambush!"

"Everyone on alert. First squad, protect the master. Do not let the enemy disturb the master!"

"The rest of you, join me in eliminating the attackers."

"Yes, Commander!"

These guards were well-trained. They showed no panic in the face of attack.

Their response was flawless.

As if they had known an ambush was coming.

"Kill!"

In the next moment, hundreds of masked men in black appeared around them.

Each one radiated a terrifying killing intent.

Without the slightest hesitation, they charged at the caravan's guards.

In an instant, both sides were locked in fierce combat.

Neither side held the advantage.

The black-clothed assailants were clearly no ordinary force.

Especially their leader, who went straight for the Guard Leader.

The commander believed that with his Heavenly Human Realm cultivation, he could easily handle any foe.

But unexpectedly, with just one move.

He was sent flying.

Crashing to the ground with a heavy impact, severely injured.

"Mythical Realm?!"

The commander snarled viciously.

"Too bad. You realized it too late."

"Who are you? Did Ying Zheng send you?"

"So what if he did? What if he didn't? Either way, you won't get the chance to spread the word."

"Only the dead can keep secrets!"

"Don't even think about it! Even if it's Ying Zheng, so what?"

"We are not afraid of him!"

The commander tried to rise again and continue resisting the Mythical Realm attacker.

But the black-clad leader struck first.

A palm strike thundered toward the commander's heart.

Had it landed, death would be inevitable.

But just at that critical moment.

From inside the carriage guarded by the first squad, a powerful burst of energy shot out.

It struck directly at the masked leader.

Boom!

With a thunderous explosion, the attack from the masked man was instantly interrupted.

He was even knocked back violently.

He didn't stop until he was a hundred meters away.

"Attacking my caravan without cause!"

"No matter who you are or what your goal is, today you will not escape death!"

"Especially you. A dignified Mythical Realm cultivator resorting to such cowardly ambush tactics, how disgraceful!"

A graceful, stunning woman with violet hair and a violet dress stepped forward, exuding an enchanting aura.

As she stared at the masked leader, her eyes were filled with killing intent.

"Zi Nu of Hundred Yue City?!"

"If I kill you, I wonder how angry the Hundred Yue Queen will be?"

"That depends, are you even capable of killing me?"

As soon as the words left her mouth.

The soft sword in Zi Nu's hand grew more agile.

Razor-sharp sword qi surged forth.

Tearing through space, it closed in on the black-clothed leader.

She wanted to tear off his mask and see who he really was.

Was he one of Ying Zheng's people, or someone else scheming in the shadows?

What was the true purpose behind their attempt to assassinate her?

Boom boom boom!

Sounds of battle echoed nonstop.

Terrifying waves of energy surged out.

Sending both the black-clad attackers and caravan guards flying.

"Zi Nu, what a pity. Even though your strength is nearly at the Mythical Realm..."

"In the end, you're still only in the Heavenly Human Realm. You're no match for me."

"Die now!"

The black-clad leader's voice was harsh.

He immediately unleashed a deadly move, aiming to kill her in one strike.

"You think someone like you could ever understand my true strength?"

Who was Zi Nu?

She was Zhu Houzhao's woman.

As Zhu Houzhao's woman, even putting aside her own techniques and secret arts, she definitely wouldn't be without powerful treasures for protection.

Zi Nu didn't intend to prolong the fight.

With her current cultivation, she couldn't beat a Mythical Realm enemy, but she wouldn't lose either.

Even if she continued fighting, she couldn't kill him.

But just because she couldn't kill him didn't mean her scumbag man couldn't.

Everything he gave her had immense power.

In a life-or-death situation, it could turn the tide.

With that in mind.

Zi Nu sheathed her sword and took out a talisman.

When she opened it.

An ancient sword was etched on its surface.

She channeled her true essence into it.

In the next moment.

The sword symbol on the talisman seemed to come alive.

It materialized into a real sword-shaped energy projection.

Under Zi Nu's control, it flew straight toward the black-clad leader.

"Not good. Retreat!"

The masked man's face changed dramatically as he sensed an unprecedented threat.

He no longer cared about killing Zi Nu.

His only thought now was to escape.

As far and as fast as possible.

Unfortunately.

The sword energy tore through the void.

As if it had teleported.

It appeared directly before the masked man and pierced through his chest.

The devastating sword qi rampaged within his body.

"Pfft!"

Even with his Mythical Realm cultivation, he was gravely injured on the spot.

A wave of weakness surged over him.

"Retreat!"

If not for his heart being abnormally located three inches to the right.

That strike would have killed him instantly.

Even so.

If he didn't flee to heal immediately, he would die from the sword energy still within him.

He glared hatefully at Zi Nu.

He had miscalculated.

He was certain he could kill everyone, including Zi Nu.

Yet in the end, Zi Nu only used one talisman and nearly killed him.

He never expected that.

"Trying to escape? Don't even think about it!"

Zi Nu was surprised the masked man had survived and still had the strength to flee.

Naturally, she was unwilling to let him go.

He ambushed them and tried to kill her, how could she let him get away?

With a swing of her sword.

Terrifying energy surged forth like a rain of swords.

Pfft pfft pfft pfft!

Adding injury to injury.

The masked leader couldn't hold on anymore. After vomiting several mouthfuls of blood.

He ignored his remaining subordinates and fled in disgrace.

Zi Nu was about to give chase when a voice came from inside the carriage.

"Zi Nu, do not pursue a desperate foe!"

"He may be trying to lure you into a trap!"

"Alright, I'll listen to you, Xue'er."

Zi Nu nodded and gave up the chase.

But as for the remaining black-clad attackers who hadn't escaped, she showed no mercy.

Sword qi shot out in all directions.

The black-clad attackers at the Grandmaster Realm and Great Grandmaster Realm were slaughtered.

None were left alive.

"Find out where they came from. Then report back to me!"

After speaking, Zi Nu returned to the carriage.

"Xue'er, do you think these people were sent by Ying Zheng?"

"Their goal is to stop Hundred Yue City from relocating!"

"It's possible, but we can't rule out other forces trying to sow discord!"

"Any force capable of fielding a Mythical Realm cultivator could be involved, aside from the Qin Dynasty, there's also Xiong Qi's force and the remnants of the Six Kingdoms."

"None of them are decent."

"Let's not worry about it for now. Relocation is still the priority!"

"Besides, after being hit by Scumbag's sword qi, that guy probably won't recover any time soon, even if he survived."

"Once we reach Qin Dynasty Territory and poke around, we'll hear something."

"And what just happened might not escape the attention of Scumbag's Dark Guard."

"They're much more professional. Once they investigate, they'll report back to us."

Zi Nu and Xue Nu discussed the earlier attack.

Their disgust for the forces of the Qin Dynasty only grew.

==========

About a mile away in the sky above the battlefield.

Zhu Houzhao and Mei Yingxue had watched everything.

"Husband, you're not going down to help them?"

"With their strength, they can handle these minor issues. Besides, I rarely interfere in the affairs of Hundred Yue City."

"Unless their lives are truly in danger."

"As for power struggles, they must handle that themselves. It serves as a kind of tempering."

"But the masked attackers were quite a surprise."

"Their petty schemes are truly despicable."

"Unworthy of the stage. They'll never achieve greatness."

"No matter how clever their tricks, they're just minor tactics, not worth mentioning."

Clearly, Zhu Houzhao already knew exactly who those masked attackers were.