Ten days passed.
The incident involving the Myriad Sword Diagram at Snow Moon City had come to a close.
The brutal battle that had taken place outside Snow Moon City had already shaken the entire Nine Provinces.
In the end, no one came out on top.
The spies from various nations and the cultivators all suffered heavy losses.
Ironically, the Myriad Sword Diagram ended up "mysteriously" falling into the hands of a "lucky" young man at the Innate Realm.
He returned the diagram to Snow Moon City.
As a result, Great City Lord Baili Dongjun personally broke the rules and accepted him as a disciple.
He became the envy of everyone paying attention to the matter.
Thanks to the diagram, Baili Dongjun successfully broke through his bottleneck and advanced to the Heavenly Human Realm Land Immortal.
Because of this, he held the diagram in especially high regard.
One could say that everyone suffered losses in that battle.
Even Snow Moon City paid a heavy price.
The only one who gained something was that so-called "lucky" young man.
Aside from Zhu Houzhao and Li Hanyi, probably no one knew the truth of what had really happened.
To prevent Snow Moon City from becoming a public target, Zhu Houzhao had deliberately arranged for this "lucky" person to receive the diagram.
The young man's aptitude, talent, temperament, and age were all excellent.
It was, in a way, Zhu Houzhao's gift to Snow Moon City, a fine new disciple.
Originally, Zhu Houzhao had intended to keep the boy as a potential talent for the Ming Dynasty, but for Li Hanyi's sake, he gave up on that idea.
That, of course, earned him quite a bit of "gratitude" from Li Hanyi, which made him feel deeply satisfied.
Soon after, the outcome of the battle between Netherworld City and Heaven Gate's lackeys was also revealed.
As expected, Netherworld City emerged victorious.
Empress Wu Zhao returned to the Ming Imperial Palace.
Naturally, Zhu Houzhao could no longer remain in Snow Moon City.
He gave Li Hanyi a proper explanation before reluctantly departing.
But since both of them were Land Immortals, seeing each other was as easy as a thought.
There was no real reason for sorrow.
If she missed him, Li Hanyi could simply go to the Ming Capital.
He would meet her at once.
To put it plainly, Zhu Houzhao was treating Li Hanyi like a flower he kept outside the palace.
If the other women found out about this, there would surely be another wave of "scumbag" accusations hurled at him.
==========
Meanwhile.
The Empress, having returned to the palace, had no idea that during the battle at Netherworld City, Zhu Houzhao had dispatched the Ming Dynasty's Dark Guard to intercept Heaven Gate reinforcements.
He had even wiped out all the powerful reinforcements.
Without that, Netherworld's 860 cities would not have won. They might have been completely destroyed.
But Zhu Houzhao never told the Empress about any of this.
He wanted to see just how far Netherworld City could go.
Moreover, after secretly observing several times, he discovered that Empress Wu Zhao still harbored deeper secrets.
Even he had yet to uncover them.
Ever since the information was exposed on the Heaven Dao Ranking, Zhu Houzhao had grown increasingly focused on the Empress.
As the Emperor, even though he trusted her deeply, that trust did not extend to her Netherworld City.
Surveillance was still necessary.
He even sent Dark Guard to infiltrate the city.
He simply made sure the Empress never found out.
However, what puzzled Zhu Houzhao the most was the true secret buried in the Empress's heart.
Netherworld City was only part of her power. She had even deeper layers of influence.
Sensing this, Zhu Houzhao knew he could not afford to be careless.
He had a feeling those secrets were closely tied to him.
==========
The last few days passed quickly as well.
Everyone across the Nine Provinces quietly awaited the next entries on the Martial Force Ranking.
The previously announced Rank 6, Sword Control Manor, was unfamiliar to many.
However, word soon spread of an internal coup within the manor.
A mysterious God Demon Realm Land Immortal had revealed his true identity and seized control of the manor.
He imprisoned the original Manor Lord's family and expelled the previous heir, Yin Tianxue.
At the same time, the name Yin Zhong echoed across the Nine Provinces.
It turned out that this "second brother" of the previous Manor Lord had hidden his strength all this time.
The God Demon Realm, what a terrifying realm.
He became the first fully exposed God Demon Realm cultivator.
No one had expected that such a being had been hiding so close all along.
Because of the sheer terror he inspired, no one dared provoke Sword Control Manor.
==========
Han Dynasty Territory.
Heaven Gate.
Di Shitian was furious. The forces he had sent to eliminate the remnants of Netherworld City had been completely wiped out.
He didn't care much about the defectors from Netherworld.
But those elite fighters under his command were cultivated at great cost over many years.
Now they are gone.
The loss pained him deeply.
He had lost several of his key pawns.
"Luo Xian, what happened?"
"When did Netherworld City become this powerful?"
"Did you provide false intel?"
Di Shitian eyed Luo Xian suspiciously.
Given Luo Xian's cunning, such a miscalculation seemed unlikely.
"Master, this is my failure."
Luo Xian immediately knelt.
"I never expected the Netherworld City traitors to become so useless over the years."
"They were wiped out by Netherworld City's defenders in no time."
"Our Heaven Gate reinforcements didn't even arrive before they were dead."
"In the end, the angry survivors of Netherworld City besieged and killed our reinforcements."
"It was my mistake to underestimate Netherworld City's strength, and to overestimate those defectors."
Feigning panic, Luo Xian pushed all the blame onto the failed operatives.
Although Di Shitian felt something was off, he didn't press the matter too hard.
"Forget it. They were ants. Dead is dead."
"But this Netherworld City... no wonder it was named by the Heaven Dao Ranking."
"It was I who underestimated them."
"Hmph, but it doesn't matter. Since they've opposed me, they're doomed."
"Rank 5 is nothing. They can't compare to my Heaven Gate."
"Without question, the Rank 1 will belong to me."
Di Shitian spoke confidently and arrogantly.
Proclaiming himself a god, he likely already believed he was the strongest being in the world.
Naturally, the force he created had to be the strongest.
No one could surpass him.
==========
Just as Di Shitian arrogantly praised himself.
The Heaven Dao Ranking once again appeared in the sky.
[Nine Provinces – Martial Force Ranking]
[In the Nine Provinces, Martial World forces are countless. The Heaven Dao, hereby compiles this ranking]
[Only forces whose leaders have reached the Great Grandmaster Realm or higher, and with at least ten members, are eligible based on strength, fortune, potential, and accomplishments]
[Only the top ten will be ranked. Each will receive a Heaven Dao Reward]
[The ranking is updated once every year]
[Now revealing Rank 1 through 5]
==========
[Martial World Ranking – Rank 5]
[Heaven Gate]
[Leader: Di Shitian]
[Cultivation: God Demon Realm Land Immortal]
[Expert: Two Mythical Realm Land Immortals, ten Heavenly Human Realm Land Immortals, more than one hundred Great Grandmasters, Grandmasters not included]
[Total Member: Over ten thousand]
[Reward: Heaven-Grade Top-Tier Treasure – God Slaying Dagger, when infused with enough martial essence, it can pierce the protective aura of a God Demon Realm being, capable of slaying gods and demons]
"What? Impossible!"
"My Heaven Gate is only Rank 5?"
"No way!"
Di Shitian stared at the ranking in disbelief, eyes bloodshot.
He was enraged.
How could the "God" he fancied himself to be, founder of the greatest power, only Rank 5?
He was humiliated.
Just then.
A terrifying sense of danger surged within him.
Looking down, he found a dagger glowing with icy cold light had appeared in his hand.
Almost instinctively.
He threw it away.
From that dagger, he felt a deep sense of dread.
As if it was his natural nemesis.
"Outrageous!"
"Heaven Dao Reward, or a curse?"
"You give this god a dagger that can kill gods?"
"Is it meant to be used to kill me?"
Di Shitian glared angrily at the floating ranking.
Not only was he unhappy with the rank, he also hated the reward.
This was clearly meant to spite him.
Should he use it or not?
He even wanted to destroy it.
But given its material, he couldn't.
Throw it away?
Even worse.
What if it ended up in the hands of an enemy?
He beckoned it back. The God Slaying Dagger returned to his hand.
But every time he held it, it filled him with dread.
"No. I must hide it."
"No one must know where it is!"
Di Shitian made up his mind.
Then he turned to look at Luo Xian, eyes full of warning.
Luo Xian's face turned pale with fear and she quickly lowered her head.
But in her heart, she was secretly excited.
This dagger might be the most powerful weapon that could kill Di Shitian.
She must find a way to obtain it.
It might come in handy someday.
A plan began to form in her mind.
"Unacceptable. Heaven Gate is only Rank 5."
"This god will see who the top four are."
"And once they are revealed, I will destroy them one by one."
"Once they're gone, won't Heaven Gate rise to Rank 1?"
"In this world, no person or force can stand above me."
He had made up his mind.
Once the top four were exposed, he would unleash everything to annihilate them.
==========
Han Dynasty Territory.
A small remote town.
Zhonghua Pavilion.
Nameless gazed up at the ranking, and when he saw Di Shitian's name, memories surged forth.
That devil wearing an ice-carved mask who had once slaughtered countless across the Martial World, proclaiming himself Di Shitian.
So it was him!
Nameless had spent years trying to track him down, but had never found a clue.
Now it turned out he was the Master of Heaven Gate.
And he possessed the terrifying strength of a God Demon Realm Land Immortal.
Far stronger than Nameless himself.
But Nameless knew clearly, this man called Di Shitian was a monster without a shred of humanity.
Such a threat must be eliminated.
Originally, Nameless had believed he would have enough power to defeat the ice-masked demon the next time they met.
But now, that confidence was shattered.
The gap between the Mythical and God Demon Realms was vast.
Even greater than the gap between the Innate Realm and the Mythical Realm.
If it came to a duel, he might be killed in an instant.
Clearly, he had to be more cautious.
But from this moment on, Nameless had truly set his sights on Heaven Gate.
Compared to its danger, groups like the World Society were not even worth mentioning.
==========
Sword Control Manor.
Yin Zhong, still recovering from his injuries, was shaken when he saw Di Shitian's name on the ranking.
There was someone in this world who had reached the same level as him?
What a formidable opponent.
Once he recovered, he would go meet Di Shitian.
But thinking about the injuries he had suffered from the Spirit Mirror again filled him with hatred.
Yin Tianxue.
The little girl he had watched grow up had become a massive threat to him.
She was his descendant. She should have been his right hand.
But now she was an enemy.
Worse, she wanted nothing more than to kill him.
Then there was the Tong Clan, he had to find them too. His long-held wishes were finally within reach.
Now that he knew there were others of his realm, he felt even more urgency.
What if Di Shitian came looking for him one day to eliminate a rival?
That would be even worse.
==========
Ming Imperial Palace.
Empress Chambers.
"Miss, that bastard Di Shitian and his Heaven Gate have made the ranking!"
Palace Maid Qing'er spoke in shock.
The Empress Wu Zhao, however, remained calm.
"With Di Shitian's strength, and Heaven Gate's power, it was only natural they'd be ranked."
"I just didn't expect them to be only Rank 5."
"Are the Nine Provinces hiding even more terrifying forces?"
"Why haven't I sensed them all these years?"
Wu Zhao's heart grew heavy.
She had thought she knew enough about the Nine Provinces, but now she realized she had been too naive.
Just dealing with Heaven Gate had already made her sleepless for years. Thank god she came to the Ming Dynasty and gained the Emperor's protection.
Otherwise, she and Netherworld City might have been wiped out long ago.
"With Di Shitian's arrogant and wild personality, seeing Heaven Gate only rank fifth must be driving him mad right now."
"I wish I could see his face!"
Every time Qing'er mentioned Di Shitian, it was with gritted teeth.
Her eyes burned with hatred.
Her entire family had been killed by Di Shitian.
She would never forget the day Netherworld City was first destroyed.
Just imagining Di Shitian being humiliated filled her with joy.