"Yun Zeng, I've been treading on thin ice this whole journey. Do you think I can reach the other shore?" Ju Shou's voice held a hint of sorrow.
Clutching Liu Ruyan close, Yun Zeng's gaze landed on Ju Shou. All past kindness, all shared history, had been utterly erased, leaving only venomous hatred and murderous intent.
Ju Shou's beard trembled, and a bitter laugh escaped him. He remembered Liu Ruyan's words: "You don't understand women, which is why you lost to one."
Know yourself, know your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles. He hadn't anticipated Liu Ruyan's methods, how completely she'd ensnared Yun Zeng. In hindsight, he should have stopped Yun Zeng from going to the Charm Sect the very first time. It had all been Liu Ruyan's elaborate scheme, and now, it was too far gone.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" Yun Zeng swept his sleeve, and a multitude of his heavily armored commanders materialized, ready to obey his every whim.
Ju Shou didn't look back, walking step by painful step towards the other side of the cold lake.
Yun Zeng let out a cold snort.
"Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!" In an instant, ten thousand arrows erupted from the earth! They fell like a torrential rain, blanketing the entire area. The sky itself seemed to darken with their countless, deadly silhouettes.
Ju Shou made no attempt to defend himself. In a flash, he was pierced by ten thousand arrows. Blood sprayed! In less than a breath, his body, riddled with arrows, was pinned to the surface of the cold lake. There was nothing left of him but arrows, and more arrows.
No last words. Ju Shou had fallen!
Witnessing this, many of Yun Zeng's subordinates were visibly shaken.
A powerful figure, Ju Shou, who once stirred up storms in the Fallen Star Sea and commanded the Garrison Authority over this Dragon Vein, had met such a wretched end. He was as dead as could be. All because of Liu Ruyan! That woman was far too dangerous!
Several commanders wore solemn expressions, silently mourning Ju Shou. A mighty figure had fallen, without a peaceful end.
Yun Zeng's face remained utterly placid. In his heart, he had long since severed all ties with Ju Shou. He kissed Liu Ruyan's jade-like forehead and said, "Let's go back."
Ju Shou was dead! He felt as if a heavy shackle had been removed from his body, and he instantly felt lighter, freer. Ju Shou had been his foster father, yes, but also his cage.
Soon after, Yun Zeng carried Liu Ruyan back to their chambers. With a sweep of his sleeve, he unleashed countless seals and restrictions, their brilliant divine light surging.
"There. Ruyan, now it's just us." He lowered his head, intending to kiss Liu Ruyan, but she recoiled with an expression of utter disgust.
Yun Zeng froze, his heart tearing apart. He looked into Liu Ruyan's eyes. In this moment, she had dropped her disguise, her face turning impossibly cold, as if he were a complete stranger.
Seeing this, Yun Zeng's heart was cut by a thousand knives. What had been tender intimacy just moments ago had transformed into such chilling indifference? Could Ruyan truly become so utterly alien in an instant?
"Ruyan, what's wrong?" Yun Zeng's body slumped in a display of humble, almost devout submission.
Liu Ruyan's beautiful eyes flickered, observing Yun Zeng's expression. She had already read him like a book. She understood men too well. She knew what they were going to say before they even opened their mouths.
Abandoning Yun Zeng at this moment would only make him beg for mercy, perhaps even hand over the entire Garrison Authority to her. Yun Zeng would do anything for her! He would apologize. He would cry. He would act like a pathetic child, desperate to feel her warmth again. But it was useless!
Liu Ruyan stared coldly at Yun Zeng and commanded, "Kneel!"
Yun Zeng flinched, then the Charm Seed Flower within him bloomed abruptly. Without a moment's hesitation, he dropped to his knees.
"Thump!" Yun Zeng threw his arms around Liu Ruyan, clear tears streaming down his face. "Ruyan, why? Why are you doing this?"
Liu Ruyan remained silent. She disdained to offer Yun Zeng any explanation. From start to finish, she had never found any pleasure in manipulating him. He was too naive. There was no fun in the game!
But soon, his consciousness grew increasingly hazy, replaced entirely by Liu Ruyan's Charm Seed Flower.
With a mere thought from Liu Ruyan, Yun Zeng immediately handed over the Garrison Authority.
Gazing at Yun Zeng, kneeling like a pathetic stray dog, Liu Ruyan felt a profound sense of realization. Without even noticing, she had journeyed from that insignificant speck of a realm, the Tai Chu Realm, all the way to the First Star Ring. Even a powerful figure like Yun Zeng, the Sixth Prince of the Shenwu Empire, had become her puppet. And Ju Shou, a formidable strategist who once stirred up storms, had died by her hand.
"Hahahahaha!" Liu Ruyan felt herself ascending towards the pinnacle of this vast starry sky. How many cold stares and mocking jeers had she endured on her journey? They called her vile, they called her wanton… she didn't care. In the future, when she stood at the very top, all living beings would be nothing but ants beneath her feet.
Liu Ruyan looked around the cold, quiet room, a wave of emotion washing over her. Her astonishing perseverance had no audience.
A moment later, Liu Ruyan reined in her thoughts. She discovered that within her, ten drops of Ancient Ancestor essence blood were surging, beginning to unleash their true potential.
With this thought, Liu Ruyan immediately sat cross-legged, her hands forming intricate spirit seals as mysterious energy surged around her. Her inner world was undergoing a dramatic transformation! The Ancient Ancestor bloodline power of Shenwu Emperor Tianye was continuously pouring into her Dao foundation, permeating her limbs and bones.
Liu Ruyan murmured to herself, "I originally thought my physical body couldn't withstand the Ancient Ancestor bloodline power. But it seems the Ancient Ancestor's power isn't as formidable as I imagined. Or perhaps my body is simply extraordinary; my Primordial Yin Body shines through the ages. I'm already at the Seven-rotation Star Venerate Realm, but this cultivation isn't enough."
A hint of self-mockery touched her lips. The supposedly supreme power of Ancient Ancestors – she could already see the gap between them with her own eyes. Ancient Ancestors weren't gods! Ancient Ancestors could die too!
"Hahahahahaha!" Liu Ruyan burst into laughter.
Next, she was going to make a grand move. First, she would go to the Charm Sect and refine its ultimate inheritance. Then, she would head to the Qianhuan Sect to seize its Ancient Ancestor inheritance! Once she refined the Charm Sect's ultimate inheritance, she could step into the Myriad Phase Realm! And by seizing the Qianhuan Sect's Ancient Ancestor inheritance, she would directly charge towards the Ancient Ancestor Realm! Only then would she have the capital to directly confront Shenwu Emperor Tianye!
Not long after, Liu Ruyan slowly emerged from the room, with Yun Zeng trailing behind her. He had become nothing more than her puppet.
In the distance, a large number of commanders stood at attention, awaiting orders. Yun Zeng swept his sleeve and commanded, "All forces, form ranks!"
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! The heavily armored guards assembled, their gleaming armor shimmering like golden scales in the sun.
Yun Zeng directly ordered, "To the Second Star Ring!"
Swiftly, massive cloud ships rose from the earth, their brilliant divine light illuminating the heavens. Terrifying waves of suppressive power poured forth like a tide, washing over the world.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The cloud ships shot out of the First Star Ring like bolts of lightning. Liu Ruyan, her long dress billowing, stood beside Yun Zeng, gazing at the magnificent starry sky. A victor's smile played on her lips as she thought, This starry sky will ultimately belong to me, Liu Ruyan.
...Meanwhile, in the Tai Chu Realm, at the Grand Dao Sect.
"Boom!" "Crack!" The void tore open! Space twisted! Lu Xuan, clad in white robes, slowly stepped out from the spatial rift, followed by Ji Fuyao, Ye Chen, and several other disciples. A monstrous aura surged forth like a tidal wave.
Immediately, numerous Old Ancestors, Sect Masters, and Peak Lords were startled. Endless divine senses and spiritual probes stretched out, and everyone was incredibly excited.
"Lu Xuan is back!"