Ming Dynasty Imperial Palace.
"Achoo!"
"Achoo!"
Zhu Houzhao sneezed several times in a row.
"Who is cursing me?"
He rubbed his nose, a puzzled look flashing across his eyes.
"But why do I feel so uneasy, like I've forgotten something important?"
"It feels like something terrible is about to happen to me."
"Is someone powerful within Ming targeting me?"
Buzz!
Zhu Houzhao's body trembled.
The final name had just appeared on the Hidden Dragon Ranking.
Who could possibly surpass Xiang Shaoyu?
In the next moment, the rankings in the sky updated.
Lines of golden text appeared.
[Hidden Dragon Ranking – Rank 21]
[Su Yue]
[Identity: Daughter of the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal and the Yin Yang School's Eastern Monarch, Princess of Baiyue]
[Cultivation: Great Perfection Innate Realm (Currently five years old, can rival an Early Great Grandmaster)]
[Technique: Azure Lotus Sword Song, Yin Yang Technique]
[Reward: Earth-Grade Ultimate-Tier Pill – Physique Pill. Upon consumption, gain a top-level physique perfectly suited to the user.]
[One month later, the ranking from 11th to 20th place will be revealed.]
[Based on strength, potential, cultivation, destiny, and fate. Grandmasters may qualify.]
"Pfft..."
"What the heck!"
Zhu Houzhao stared at the rankings in disbelief, spitting out his tea.
His face was filled with shock.
The daughter of the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal and Eastern Monarch?
Wasn't that the child he had with Feiyan?
Didn't Feiyan once hate him so much she wanted to kill him?
How did she end up bearing his child?
But the Golden Ranking of the Nine Provinces could not be wrong.
That meant he had misunderstood her back then.
The thought filled Zhu Houzhao with a hint of regret.
She should be five years old now.
Incredible.
To be ranked first among all Innate cultivators.
As expected of his daughter.
Princess of Baiyue.
She must have been with Zi Nu and the others all these years.
But how was Feiyan doing?
Did the Yin Yang School cause them trouble?
Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi...
If you did anything out of line, I won't forgive you.
It looks like I need to find an opportunity to visit Great Qin.
———
"What the heck, that little girl named Su Yue is only five years old."
"And she's already at Peak Innate Realm, with strength equal to an Early Great Grandmaster."
"What kind of monster is this!"
"This is insane!"
"Five years old! If she grows up, imagine her as a Grandmaster or Great Grandmaster. It would be terrifying. Becoming a Land Immortal might be nothing for her."
"When I was five, I couldn't even sense qi. The difference is just too ridiculous."
"I'm over fifty now and still only in the Middle Innate realm. I feel like I've lived my life like a dog."
"Think about the so-called geniuses in the martial world. Compared to her, they are completely outclassed."
"Didn't you see? She's the daughter of the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal and Eastern Monarch Yan Fei!"
"I don't know much about the Sword Immortal, but Eastern Monarch is second only to Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi in the Yin Yang School. Her status is extraordinary from birth."
"Anyone heard of the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal?"
"No, but if the Golden Ranking calls him 'Sword Immortal,' he must be at least a Great Grandmaster."
"Not only does she have noble lineage, but her talent is unmatched. Her future is limitless!"
"I can only look up to her."
The announcement of the final name caused a complete uproar across the Nine Provinces.
Not just among Innate cultivators.
Even Grandmasters and Great Grandmasters dared not underestimate this five-year-old girl.
Just look at what the ranking said.
Great Perfection Innate Realm, yet capable of defeating Great Grandmasters.
And that's without having matured yet.
Once she grows older, becoming invincible at the Great Grandmaster realm would be effortless.
She had already surpassed ninety-nine percent of people at the starting line.
———
Great Qin, Yin Yang School.
Boom!
"So this is why Eastern Monarch betrayed me?"
Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi's voice carried suppressed fury.
His aura erupted in all directions.
Below him, Xing Hun and several elders kept their heads low, drenched in cold sweat.
"Azure Lotus Sword Immortal? That was the one who fought his way into the Yin Yang Forbidden Grounds?"
"Curse him. So it was him. I've been searching for him all these years, and now there's finally news."
"And he even stole away the one I valued most, Eastern Monarch."
Thinking of that terrifying figure, even Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi could not help but roar in rage.
It showed how much trauma that man had once caused him.
"Lord Eastern Sovereign, what cultivation realm is this Azure Lotus Sword Immortal in?"
"A Great Grandmaster? Or..."
Xing Hun asked cautiously.
"Hmph, do you think a mere Great Grandmaster would dare act arrogantly before me?"
"Could a Great Grandmaster fight his way into the Yin Yang Forbidden Grounds?"
"Six years ago, he was already a Land Immortal. In terms of real combat strength, he was no weaker than me."
"No wonder this Su Yue girl has such terrifying talent. Compared to her, Eastern Monarch is a minor figure."
Though Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi felt unwilling, he did not belittle the other side.
Xing Hun and the Yin Yang elders were left dumbfounded.
The Azure Lotus Sword Immortal was a Land Immortal.
Eastern Monarch had also recently broken through to the Land Immortal realm.
With both parents so powerful, it was no wonder the little girl's birth was so astonishing.
Even the princesses of imperial dynasties could not compare to her.
"Lord Eastern Sovereign, how should we handle Princess Su Yue?"
"She is Eastern Monarch's daughter. Her status and bloodline are incredibly noble. Other than you, no one can decide her fate."
Xing Hun, though proud of his own talents, felt utterly inferior to Su Yue.
He also had no desire to provoke either of the two Land Immortals.
That would be courting death.
It was best to leave this matter to Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi.
"I will handle this personally."
"I must confront Eastern Monarch and make her recognize the gravity of her mistake."
Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi's expression was complex.
Eastern Monarch Yan Fei and Princess Su Yue were supposed to be the future of the Yin Yang School.
Now they stood on the opposite side.
And there was also the mysterious Azure Lotus Sword Immortal.
No one knew how powerful he had become over the years.
Even during his battle at the Yin Yang Forbidden Grounds, he might not have used his full strength.
Eastern Sovereign Tai Yi had a faint feeling that this man had already surpassed him.
If it came to a real battle to the death...
He had no chance of winning.