“Master!!” Su Qianqian gazed in delight at Lin Muxue, who stood amid specks of light and drifting dust.
“Don’t be afraid, Qianqian, your Master has come to take you home… But first, I have to deal with this problem in front of us—!”
Lin Muxue’s expression was icy as she pointed her sword at Luo Wuhen, who stood in her way.
The killing intent radiating from her had never been higher; battle was about to erupt at any moment.
At that moment, Luo Wuhen glanced at Su Qianqian.
Seeing the joy on her face, a shadow passed through her heart, but her lips still curved in a half-smile as she looked at Lin Muxue:
“Oh my, has Sect Leader Lin come to celebrate my wedding? What a unique way to arrive, but I must—”
Before she could finish, a wave of sword qi slashed toward Luo Wuhen.
She dodged to the side, and the clouds behind her split in two from the force of the blow.
Clearly, Lin Muxue had shown no mercy with that strike!
“And why is this, Sect Leader Lin? If there’s any misunderstanding, can’t we resolve it after my wedding is finished?”
Luo Wuhen’s smile remained forced, eyes gleaming with cold amusement.
“What’s the point of wasting words? You kidnapped my disciple—I am taking her back!”
“Heh, I kidnapped her? But you know her identity well. She doesn’t belong to you—”
“Nor to you! But you have imprisoned her!” Lin Muxue ground out the words, her teeth clenched.
Luo Wuhen laughed, as if she’d heard something hilarious, and retorted,
“And you haven’t? Perhaps your ‘imprisonment’ is much looser, but still, you wish to keep her trapped at your side, don’t you? The only reason I must restrict My Empress’s freedom so much is because of your constant harassment…?”
“If Qianqian wants freedom, I will grant her wish. If she wishes to cultivate, I will be her Master once more. But right now, I must take her home!”
As soon as Lin Muxue spoke, several flying swords once again shot past Luo Wuhen, but this time, their target wasn’t her…
The swords landed on the ground, forming an Array that trapped Shun and Ying, who were trying to sneak Su Qianqian away!
Luo Wuhen’s expression didn’t change; she never intended to flee with Su Qianqian in front of this Sword Immortal anyway.
The two faced off, both knowing that this was a fight to the death. The instant one faltered, the battle would truly ignite…
“Su Qianqian is living well with me. We love each other deeply—she is now the Empress above millions! You, on the other hand, are the greatest obstacle to her freedom. If you would only give up, I could offer her even more freedom, everything she could ever want!”
Luo Wuhen’s tone was resolute. Faith Power condensed around her, and the enormous shadows of dragon and phoenix slowly appeared in the void…
But Lin Muxue was unmoved, her face still cold.
“Qianqian would never truly fall for someone who keeps her imprisoned… She is waiting for me to take her home. Her younger sister and her parents are still waiting for her to return—!”
As she spoke, countless flying swords rose behind Lin Muxue, ready to strike, their radiance dazzling!
Still, neither made a rash move; both probed for a weakness or a way to force an opening…
Luo Wuhen kept trying to anger Lin Muxue. “I won’t deny that Qianqian does want to go back, but it’s because she misses her family. It has nothing to do with you!”
“If you really care about her, then let me bring her family here! With My great nation, My prosperous city—surely it’s more suitable for her family than your Sword Sect deep in the mountains!”
Lin Muxue fell silent at those words, not refuting them…
She truly couldn’t be certain of her place in Su Qianqian’s heart, and she had to admit, the area around Sword Sect wasn’t fit for ordinary mortals…
Seeing Lin Muxue hesitate, Luo Wuhen’s smile grew as she pressed her advantage:
“Leave now. I don’t wish to kill you… Though I hate to admit it, you are someone she deeply respects as her Master. If I were to kill you, coaxing My Empress back would be nearly impossible. For the sake of our future child, I must give her a loving—”
“Whoosh—!!”
The sound of swords tearing through the air rang out as countless flying swords, imbued with murderous intent, ripped through space, raining down on Luo Wuhen like a meteor shower!
At Lin Muxue’s sudden attack, Luo Wuhen actually smiled. As expected, provoking her had worked—her composure was gone…
Luo Wuhen did her utmost to block Lin Muxue from getting close to Su Qianqian, all while continuing to provoke her with words:
“My Empress will surely make a wonderful mother; she’s always so gentle, even in bed…”
“Shut up!!!” Lin Muxue rasped out, voice hoarse.
Rage surged within her, her killing intent growing fiercer and fiercer!
“Kill her… kill her… kill her—!” A phantom voice echoed in Lin Muxue’s mind—kill Luo Wuhen!
In the void above, the battle between Lin Muxue and Luo Wuhen had already surpassed anything the officials below could possibly withstand, yet none panicked.
Luo Wuhen, having the home advantage and knowing all, had anticipated this very scenario.
Watching Lin Muxue grow more and more furious, the officials followed Luo Wuhen’s prior instructions, quietly moving to their assigned positions while Lin Muxue’s attention was fully occupied by the Emperor.
The Imperial Token representing their status and power emitted a faint, ghostly glow, waiting in silence for Luo Wuhen’s signal…
Meanwhile, trapped inside the Array, Su Qianqian watched Lin Muxue and Luo Wuhen’s fight with intense anxiety, stomping her feet in agitation.
If she listened to her heart, Su Qianqian desperately wanted to return with Lin Muxue.
But she didn’t want either of them to get hurt—she couldn’t bear to see them fight to the death!
“Hey—! Stop fighting! Please, stop!” Su Qianqian shouted, sending a transmission up to the two, but neither of them could possibly stop at this point!
The battle escalated, both sides revealing their trump cards. The shockwaves forced the weaker officials to crouch on the ground, unable to withstand the pressure…
Su Qianqian herself felt little, protected as she was by the Array left by Lin Muxue and the Mark set in advance by Luo Wuhen. But watching the fight grow ever more vicious, her anxiety only increased!
Seeing more and more wounds appear on both of them, Su Qianqian felt her heart ache. She didn’t even know whom she hurt for more…
Behind her, Shun and Ying circled anxiously, just as nervous as Su Qianqian, but not knowing how to comfort her—
Should they say, “The Emperor will surely win”? But on the other side was Su Qianqian’s Master, here to save her…
Should they say, “Lin Muxue will surely win”? That was even worse; they were definitely on Luo Wuhen’s side!
Should they say, “They’ll stop fighting soon”? Looking at the situation now, they couldn’t say anything so hollow; this was a fight to the death—!
Seeing how distressed Su Qianqian was, the two still tried to offer comfort. “Um, please don’t worry… everything will be fine.”
But it was obvious their words didn’t help at all—Su Qianqian kept anxiously tugging at her hair.
Meanwhile, in the void above, the battle reached a fever pitch. The once-still air was now threaded with fine cracks, as if a mirror were breaking!
Lin Muxue was covered in wounds, and Luo Wuhen fared little better—the once-festive Wedding Robe now in tatters…
Despite being consumed by anger in the fight, Lin Muxue still held onto a thread of reason, and now, that reason was slowly regaining control.
Lin Muxue possessed the Earth-shrinking Divine Ability. If she could use it, Luo Wuhen would never be able to stop her.
Precisely because of this, Luo Wuhen had completely sealed off the surrounding space, preventing her from using that ability.
But Earth-shrinking Divine Ability didn’t necessarily have to follow the usual path through space…
Lin Muxue sensed the connection to the flying sword she’d just shot near Su Qianqian—that was a part of her Divine Weapon: Natal Sword…
If she combined Causality Divine Power with the Earth-shrinking Divine Ability, she could use her connection with her Natal Sword to bypass all obstacles and arrive at Su Qianqian’s side via causality!
She was waiting for an opening—a single moment of relaxation from Luo Wuhen…
Now, Lin Muxue’s attacks slowed considerably, as if she’d exhausted her energy in that furious outburst just now.
Luo Wuhen naturally noticed this, and with a cold sneer, prepared to deliver a heavy blow!
It was at this very moment that Lin Muxue’s eyes flashed with sharp light.
The aura of causality coiled around her, and in an instant, she vanished from where she’d stood!
Yet Luo Wuhen merely raised her lips in anticipation, as if everything had gone as planned…
Lin Muxue appeared suddenly at Su Qianqian’s side, reaching to take her away, but immediately she felt herself utterly unable to move—a terrifying Faith Power pinned her down, weighing on her like the whole nation!
Extending her senses, she saw before every official a floating Imperial Token, linked together, forming an Array centered around Luo Wuhen and Su Qianqian—
“With the Hundred Officials as Array, sect law as the foundation! Suppress one with the might of the entire nation! Heh, just to be safe, I’ve even worn down your strength as much as possible…”
Luo Wuhen approached the immobilized Lin Muxue, gently pushing the desperate Su Qianqian aside and coming right up to Lin Muxue…
Looking at Lin Muxue’s unwilling and angry eyes, Luo Wuhen felt a surge of satisfaction. She’d laid out this scheme for so long—finally, the moment had come!
“Luo Wuhen, please! Let her go, I’ll do anything you ask after this! Please, just let her leave!”
Su Qianqian ran over once more, grabbing Luo Wuhen’s clothes, begging with all her heart!
Luo Wuhen’s face grew cold, but soon the smile returned. She crouched, pinching Su Qianqian’s worried face…
“I won’t kill her. That would only make My Empress sad~, and a war with Sword Sect isn’t in the nation’s interest either. But… for barging in so rudely and disrupting our wedding, there must be punishment—”
“Sect Leader Lin, I will Seal your cultivation. I will make you a palace maid, and I want you to witness our love with your own eyes! I want you to see us raise our Crown Prince and Princess—!”
“Don’t worry, once everything settles down, I’ll grant you your freedom. I might even invite you to be our children’s Master; Qianqian always praises your teaching so highly~”
Lin Muxue’s killing intent exploded, but she was unable to move!
All she could do was watch as Luo Wuhen began placing Seals on her, one after another.
Su Qianqian could only sigh in despair.
At least Master was still alive, and with the Sword Sect’s pressure, she should regain her freedom in the future—this was already the best outcome…
But suddenly, Su Qianqian sensed a strange aura erupt from Lin Muxue.
Her cultivation was recovering and soaring at a breakneck pace.
Luo Wuhen, naturally, sensed the anomaly too and immediately intensified her suppression!
Watching Lin Muxue, Su Qianqian’s heart pounded wildly.
She suddenly thought of the Sword Sect’s Forbidden Technique: Immortal Release!
“Lin Muxue, stop! Do you want to die?! Stop! Don’t use Immortal Release!”
Su Qianqian shouted desperately at Lin Muxue!
If this Forbidden Technique was used, no matter the result, Lin Muxue would suffer irreparable wounds—even death or soul destruction!
“Qianqian, I will take you home…” Lin Muxue forced her head up, oppressed as she was, and said each word to Su Qianqian with determination…
“I—I’m really living well here, Luo Wuhen treats me kindly, and it’s quite good to stay… Please, stop!”
Tears streamed down Su Qianqian’s cheeks as she pleaded, but Lin Muxue wouldn’t listen!
Finally, seeing Luo Wuhen with her back turned, completely unguarded, Su Qianqian made up her mind. She activated the Mark Lin Muxue had left inside her body!
An attack equal to Lin Muxue’s full strength exploded at such close range, cleaving into Luo Wuhen’s back—she’d never guarded against Su Qianqian, only managing to instinctively resist a little.
The blow left Luo Wuhen grievously wounded!
And the wound wasn’t only to her body, but even more so to her spirit…
She looked at Su Qianqian in a daze, her eyes filled with confusion, bewilderment, and a deep, deep despair…
With Luo Wuhen, the core of the Array, gravely injured, her suppression of Lin Muxue was greatly weakened.
Lin Muxue halted the Immortal Release process, broke through the oppression in one swoop, seized Su Qianqian, and vanished from the spot!
Luo Wuhen stared dazedly at the place where Su Qianqian disappeared.
In her final glance, she saw Su Qianqian’s worried eyes, and the unfinished “I’m sor—…”
She collapsed onto the ground, weakly reaching out, then letting her hand fall, her gaze landing on her ruined Wedding Robe.
She touched her lower abdomen, and finally let out a bitter, broken laugh…
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