Uphold the righteous path!
Enforce justice on behalf of heaven!
Whether righteous or demonic, the martial world shared a single thought: eliminate Zhao Zhenle.
Help the prince restore the imperial dynasty's majesty.
Their intolerance for her existence was compounded by the desire to have their contributions recognized by the restored dynasty.
Several days later…
Inside the palace…
Zhao Zhenle sat upon the dragon throne, her expression calm. In this moment, her true beauty shone through. No one who saw her would mistake her for a demon.
"What must come, will come."
"I've been waiting for you."
"Once I eliminate you all, I can finally rest easy."
She murmured to herself. Even after achieving her revenge, she hadn't sought out Lin Fan. She knew the most challenging hurdle lay in overcoming these experts from various sects.
"Go, kill them for me."
As soon as the words left her lips, dozens of figures appeared within the hall. These were former imperial guards. Instead of killing them, she had shattered their minds, turning them into her puppets. Now was the time for them to prove their worth.
The dozens of guards vanished.
Soon, the sounds of fierce fighting echoed from outside.
But not long after, a Buddhist chant resonated throughout the heavens and earth.
"All you benefactors are heroes, yet you have fallen under the control of a demon. This old monk will help you find liberation."
This was a supreme technique of the Dajue Temple.
Only the Divine Monk could achieve such a feat.
Zhao Zhenle knew she faced the combined might of the world's experts. They would never tolerate her existence. But to her, everything that had happened was worth it, and she felt no remorse.
BOOM!
The palace doors burst open.
A crowd surged into the hall.
"Demon! You murdered your father and brother, attempting to plunge the Dayuan Dynasty into eternal damnation! We will not tolerate your actions!"
The experts who came to subdue Zhao Zhenle roared their accusations.
"Hahaha…"
"Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous. I don't understand what you're saying."
Zhao Zhenle faced them without fear. No matter how many people or how powerful the experts, she felt no trepidation.
"Imperial Sister, how could you do such things? Do you know how much calamity your actions have brought upon the Dayuan Dynasty?"
A dignified man spoke with heartfelt pain.
He was the last remaining prince of the Dayuan Dynasty, nurtured by the Divine Monk, unknown to the outside world. This prince was truly grateful to Zhao Zhenle. If she hadn't eradicated the imperial family, he might never have become the emperor.
"Hmph!"
Zhao Zhenle snorted disdainfully.
"In your eyes, I see desire and falsehood, but more than that, gratitude. I imagine you're quite thankful for what I've done, since you're the only prince left."
These words immediately drew condemnation from those around them.
The prince's expression remained unchanged. Having reached this point, he didn't need to say anything or argue with her. It was no longer important.
Just as Zhao Zhenle had said, he was the only remaining prince. If the throne wasn't his, whose would it be? He was the ultimate heir, a fact no one could ignore.
A demonic sect master spoke, "Are you cultivating the Nine Nether Divine Scripture?"
"Do you want it?"
Zhao Zhenle looked at the old man with amusement. A demonic expert, she could sense the powerful aura emanating from him. He was indeed a formidable, reclusive master.
The demonic sect master continued, "Everyone, this witch has cultivated to the extreme. Just now, when she spoke to me, she used a type of demonic incantation. If one is not careful, they can be dragged into eternal damnation."
The crowd gasped in horror, realizing the truth of his words.
Among those present were some with ordinary skills who had joined in hopes of gaining some merit. The current situation was extraordinary. Helping the prince reclaim the throne was a meritorious deed of supporting the future emperor. Even if they couldn't receive the same immense rewards as the powerful experts, they could at least get a share of the spoils.
At this moment, a young man spoke, "Zhao Zhenle, the Nine Nether Divine Scripture you cultivate is a technique that heaven and earth will not tolerate. A thousand years ago, someone just like you cultivated the Nine Nether Divine Scripture and was ultimately taken by the heavens. Now, since the heavens won't take you, I will."
This young man was handsome and possessed an extraordinary demeanor. Even the prince paled in comparison.
The Divine Monk and other reclusive experts were slightly surprised by the young man's words. His tone was incredibly bold.
Looking closely, the more perceptive among them revealed astonished expressions. They couldn't discern the young man's cultivation level, and he exuded a unique aura.
The Divine Monk's expression remained unchanged, but inwardly, he was shocked.
"This young man is extraordinary."
His discerning eyes, which had judged even the prince he had trained, found this youth superior. He wondered whose disciple he could be.
He even had a feeling…
…that this was a child of destiny, someone with an exceptionally precious fate. Even the emperor couldn't compare, especially since the imperial family was nearly extinct. If their fate was truly precious, how could such a thing happen?
Zhao Zhenle smiled, a smile as radiant as a flower. Coupled with her beauty, she truly resembled a celestial being descending from the heavens. Some of those present gulped, unable to help themselves. She was simply too beautiful, so beautiful that words failed to describe her.
If only she weren't a demon…
Some even thought…who cares if she's a demon? Even if she is, they would willingly accept her.
"Let's see what you're capable of."
Zhao Zhenle roared, her body surging with killing intent. A boundless black mist erupted, enveloping the entire hall. Many trembled in fear at this sight, their faces filled with horror.
The Divine Monk and the others understood.
The Nine Nether Divine Scripture was truly terrifying.
In the inner palace…
Lin Fan sat in the courtyard, staring blankly at the vegetables in the field. Then, he looked towards the distance and muttered,
"It sounds like someone's fighting, but…they're so weak."
He wasn't particularly interested.
Having lived here for several years, he truly missed his days in Qingyun Town. There were many people there, all living in harmony. Even when conflicts arose, he could mediate and help everyone get along amicably.
That was the life he cherished most.
Just as Lin Fan was about to return to his room to lie down, footsteps approached.
He looked towards the entrance.
A familiar figure appeared.
Zhao Zhenle had left the main hall. Her claim of invincibility was true, but she hadn't anticipated the young man's strength. His final "Heavenly Sword" had pierced through her Nine Nether Qi.
Although it hadn't severely injured her, it had disrupted her internal energy.
She knew she had failed.
"Have you eaten?"
Lin Fan initially wanted to ask what had happened, but he reconsidered and instead, just like years ago, smiled and asked if she had eaten.
Hearing these words, Zhao Zhenle's body trembled slightly, as if her thoughts were pulled back to the past.
Before the killings…
Before cultivating the Nine Nether Divine Scripture…
Everything was ordinary. Whenever she was bullied, coming here brought her peace, a sense that someone in the palace cared about her.
She shook her head, indicating she hadn't eaten.
"Sit down for a bit. I'll cook. My skills have improved over the years. I've learned several new dishes that are quite delicious." Lin Fan spoke as he walked towards the house.
Zhao Zhenle sat at the stone table, waiting quietly. She didn't regret her actions, nor did she feel any remorse. After killing all her enemies, she felt a sense of release.
"If I don't die, I will make you pay."
Thinking of the faces of those martial arts experts, her eyes filled with intense killing intent.
At this time…
The group of experts searched for Zhao Zhenle's whereabouts. They hadn't expected her to have such an escape method, transforming into black mist and vanishing in an instant. However, the witch had been severely injured and couldn't have escaped far.
The Divine Monk could sense it.
The witch was still within the palace.
This was a rare opportunity. They had to eliminate her now, or there would be endless trouble in the future.
The Divine Monk looked at the young man, "Young Hero Qin, did your final sword strike utilize the power of heaven and earth?"
This was the realm the Divine Monk yearned for, the pursuit of his life.
However, it wasn't related to arduous cultivation but rather to comprehension and harmony.
"Yes," Qin Ge nodded, not hiding the matter. "My last sword strike did utilize the power of heaven and earth. I didn't expect that witch to be so formidable, still having the strength to escape."
The Divine Monk said, "This witch has cultivated the Nine Nether Divine Scripture to a level never before seen. What's even more peculiar is that this old monk has discovered a sharp and unparalleled energy within her true essence."
"Hundreds of heroes came to subdue her, and half of them perished at her hands."
The Divine Monk hadn't witnessed the power of the Nine Nether Divine Scripture before, but now he had. It was truly domineering and tyrannical. Among the dead were many renowned experts.
Those who participated in this battle would likely never forget it.
It would forever be etched in their memories.
Qin Ge lamented, "Indeed, but all of this is to uphold justice and protect the world. The witch must be eliminated, and the Nine Nether Divine Scripture must be destroyed. If such an evil technique continues to be passed down, it will bring calamity upon the world."
Several highly respected hermits nodded in agreement.
They held no malice towards cultivation techniques, even demonic ones. It depended on the user. However, the Nine Nether Divine Scripture was simply too evil. Those who cultivated it would inevitably be corrupted.
Their inner demons would be amplified a hundredfold, a thousandfold. Even an expert like the Divine Monk might not be able to withstand its evil nature.
Soon, they arrived at a courtyard.
"She's inside."
Everyone became vigilant. The witch was here, and after their previous encounter, they were deeply wary of her terrifying techniques.
"Do you smell food?"
"Yes, I do. To be honest, I'm a bit hungry."
"This is no time to think about such things. Once the witch is eliminated, will we lack for food?"
"I saw everyone so serious, I just wanted to make a joke."
Then, they entered the courtyard, fully prepared.
However, the scene before them…
…left them stunned.