But Zhou Yao was very pleased, holding the hostage tightly: “Yang Hao, you can only lose. This trap was set for you from the beginning. Your woman and child are surrounded by the Ten Sword Stream. If you dare to fight back, she will die.” Zhou Yao’s words were spot-on. Although Xuan Lan wasn’t there, Ling Ziyan was completely trapped within the crowd of the Ten Sword Stream. That had been the entire purpose of surrounding the duel platform from the very start.
Although Ling Ziyan herself was skilled in martial arts, she was pregnant and definitely couldn’t withstand attacks from so many swordsmen. Worse still, several senior elders from the Ten Sword Stream—Wang Clan’s Haiwang Gong and the cultivator Qilian from the Xiu Shi Lin—were both within a hundred steps of Ling Ziyan. With their strength, killing her would be effortless.
Could Yang Hao move? He owed Ling Ziyan a great deal. Back during the Three Crystals incident, Ling Ziyan had nearly died for him. After she was captured by the elder steward Rong Li, Yang Hao hadn’t even tried to rescue her.
It was easy to imagine what sacrifices and efforts this woman had made to protect the child in her womb—the child of Yang Hao.
How could Yang Hao let her die?
Zhou Yao seemed to have seen through this. Deep in his heart, he truly admired Princess Xuan Lan’s brilliant plan. That woman’s mastery of such a scheme was truly unparalleled in the world.
The Brilliant Starlight Sword flashed again, and Yang Hao’s body, marked with the wounds of the Big Dipper, spurted blood, drawing gasps of horror from the audience.
This sudden reversal was something no one could have foreseen. Just moments ago, Yang Hao’s fiery explosion had made everyone believe he had already won. Yet in a short time, Yang Hao seemed like a puppet, standing there motionless, showing no reaction even when pierced by swords.
In truth, Yang Hao was furious. His rage surged like violent waves inside his chest.
Yang Hao wasn’t a man who enjoyed killing, but over the long period of time, he had found that there were too many people who deserved death—people who must be killed.
People like Zhou Yao, like the Ten Sword Stream itself—all of them deserved to die.
Zhou Yao finally prepared to unleash his ultimate sword strike. He had sacrificed his uncle and even used four divine swords just to launch this one strike at Yang Hao.
This was the “Starfall Annihilation,” a technique that the Celestial Circus had studied for centuries, claiming it could rival even the Dragon Spirit Sword.
The sky darkened again, and the countless stars reappeared, their brilliant light completely overshadowing the sun. Suddenly, the light from these countless stars erupted, shooting out silver chains of radiance that converged on the Starlight Sword in Zhou Yao’s hand.
That sword had gathered the power of countless stars—the energy left behind by the Creator before the stars fell into oblivion.
As Zhou Yao unleashed his strike, the air was filled with an ancient, majestic atmosphere, as if countless stars were raining down all at once.
The glow of starlight enveloped Yang Hao.
Anyone could see that Yang Hao was now facing the greatest danger.
Yet he seemed oblivious, not even bothering to look at Zhou Yao’s ultimate strike. He seemed to have given up.
Zhou Yao thought so too. In truth, he had already won the moment Xuan Lan decided to use Ling Ziyan as a hostage. They had known all along that Yang Hao would never resist.
And now, just as expected, Yang Hao stood there, offering no resistance, as if he had already decided to exchange his life for Ling Ziyan’s.
But Yang Hao sighed, “Why?”
Why?
“Why must you force me to kill?” Yang Hao’s gaze suddenly turned icy cold.
Zhou Yao, flying in midair, felt a chill in his heart, but he couldn’t stop, nor did he want to. He was confident that even if Yang Hao tried to act now, he couldn’t stop the “Starfall Annihilation.”
Yang Hao raised one hand, his fingertip trembling.
Suddenly, thousands of cold blades appeared in the air. With almost no resistance, over a hundred sword beams pierced Zhou Yao’s body. The brilliance of the “Starfall Annihilation” vanished in an instant. Zhou Yao’s Saint Domain power slowly drained away through countless wounds.
His body was cut into countless pieces, like being executed by a thousand cuts, until only a headless corpse fell to the ground.
But the sword beams didn’t stop. As Yang Hao’s fingers trembled, the sword light rapidly expanded, spreading in all directions. The swordsmen of the Ten Sword Stream near the duel platform had no time to react before being torn apart by Yang Hao’s sword beams.
“This is the Sword Ultimate Principle, the masterpiece of Situ Hai, the greatest swordsman in the universe!” Yang Hao roared in fury. “Now you will learn that a Sword God is unbeatable—forever unbeatable!!”
The endless Sword Ultimate Principle expanded in the air, devouring all life around. Yang Hao unleashed it without restraint. Since Situ Hai had passed this principle to him, this was Yang Hao’s first and only time using it at full strength.
Zhou Yao collapsed, his life at its end. He hadn’t even had the chance to face Yang Hao in a full-fledged battle before being crushed.
“Kill her!! Kill her!!! Kill her!!!” Zhou Yao screamed with all his might. He realized Yang Hao was trying to wipe out the Ten Sword Stream and rescue Ling Ziyan while no one was paying attention, so he used his last ounce of strength to warn the Ten Sword Stream’s experts to kill her.
But soon, Zhou Yao witnessed a shocking scene—his final astonishment before death.
Ling Ziyan had escaped!!
This woman, who seemed oblivious to the danger around her, had taken advantage of the moment Yang Hao unleashed the Sword Ultimate Principle. She had slipped away unnoticed by the nearby swordsmen and dashed toward Lan Ling.
This was absolutely beyond the Ten Sword Stream’s expectations, and completely outside Xuan Lan’s plan.
Xuan Lan had believed she had Ling Ziyan completely under control. Ling Ziyan had obeyed her every command. Today, when Xuan Lan arranged for Ling Ziyan to come see Yang Hao, she had planned everything meticulously, placing Ling Ziyan deep within the Ten Sword Stream’s encirclement. It was a flawless plan.
But Ling Ziyan had escaped. At the first tiny lapse in the defenses caused by Yang Hao’s attack, she had fearlessly sprinted toward the Dan Ding Sword Sect.
Lan Ling had noticed her too. Shocked and furious, Lan Ling led the Snow Night Lion Group and the Dan Ding Sword Sect members in a frantic charge to intercept Ling Ziyan.
Under the cover of Yang Hao’s Sword Ultimate Principle, the distance between them narrowed, nearly converging.
But a few people’s actions changed everything.
Several clan leaders from the Ten Sword Stream acted. They didn’t rush to kill Ling Ziyan but instead gathered around Yang Hao, blocking most of the Sword Ultimate Principle’s beams.
As a result, the Ten Sword Stream swordsmen felt relieved. They redirected their attacks, surrounding Ling Ziyan again. Although Ling Ziyan ran fast, she was pregnant and had been trapped within the Ten Sword Stream’s encirclement. Before she could reach Lan Ling, she was driven back by several great swordsmen from the Wang Clan.
“Ziyan!!” Yang Hao roared. He rode Yingyue, flying toward her desperately.
“Ziyan!!!” Lan Ling cried out in agony. Her silver spear was at full power, blasting everyone around her into bloody chunks.
“Kill her! Hurry!!” the Xiu Shi Lin’s Qilian cultivator shouted.
Yang Hao and Lan Ling gave their all, but they couldn’t outpace the Ten Sword Stream. Two great swordsmen had already raised their blades, aiming directly at Ling Ziyan’s belly.
A critical moment.
In imminent peril!
Just then, Ling Ziyan did something strange. She stopped running, clapped her hands three times.
Right beside her, two black mists exploded into existence.
But Zhou Yao was quite pleased with himself, holding the hostages as his trump card. “Yang Hao, you can only lose. This setup today was designed specifically for you. Your woman and child are surrounded by the Ten Sword Stream. If you dare to fight back, she dies—she’s dead for sure.” Zhou Yao wasn’t wrong. Although Xian Lan wasn’t present, Ling Ziyan was completely trapped within the crowd of the Ten Sword Stream. From the very beginning, the reason the Ten Sword Stream encircled the dueling platform was precisely this.
Though Ling Ziyan herself possessed martial skills, she was heavily pregnant and certainly couldn’t withstand the attacks of so many swordsmen. Moreover, the most formidable elders of the Ten Sword Stream—Lord Haiwang of the Wang Clan and the Qilian Cultivator from the Cultivator’s Grove—were positioned less than a hundred steps away from her. With their strength, killing Ling Ziyan would be effortless.
Could Yang Hao move? He owed Ling Ziyan. Back at the Three Crystal Sea, Ling Ziyan had nearly died for him. And when she was captured by the Elder Council’s enforcers, Yang Hao hadn’t gone to rescue her.
One could only imagine the immense sacrifices and hardships this woman had endured to protect the child in her womb—Yang Hao’s child.
How could Yang Hao let her die?
Zhou Yao seemed to have seen through this. Deep down, he truly admired Princess Xian Lan’s brilliant scheme—her ability to devise such a ruthless plot was indeed unparalleled.
The sword, radiant as starlight, flashed once more. Blood gushed from the seven wounds on Yang Hao’s body, drawing gasps from the audience.
This reversal was something no one had anticipated. Just moments ago, Yang Hao’s explosive display had convinced everyone that victory was his. Yet in the blink of an eye, Yang Hao stood motionless, like a puppet, utterly unresponsive even as swords pierced him.
In truth, Yang Hao was seething with rage—his fury churned within him like a tempestuous sea.
Yang Hao wasn’t a bloodthirsty man, but over time, he had realized that there were far too many people who deserved to die—far too many who *had* to die.
People like Zhou Yao. People like the Ten Sword Stream.
Zhou Yao finally prepared to unleash his strongest strike. He had sacrificed his uncle and even brought out four divine swords—all for this one attack against Yang Hao.
The Star Circus had spent centuries refining this technique, claiming it could rival even the legendary Dragon Sword.
“Starfall Annihilation!”
The sky darkened once more as countless stars reappeared, their brilliance eclipsing the sun. The starlight erupted in a dazzling display, silver chains of energy converging onto the star-forged sword in Zhou Yao’s hand.
That sword now held the condensed power of countless stars—the remnants of a celestial apocalypse left behind by the Creator.
When Zhou Yao unleashed his strike, the air trembled with an ancient, overwhelming aura, as if countless stars were plummeting like rain in an instant.
The starlight enveloped Yang Hao.
Anyone could see that Yang Hao now faced the greatest danger of his life.
Yet he seemed oblivious, not even bothering to properly face Zhou Yao’s strike—the strongest attack. It was as if he had given up.
Zhou Yao thought so too. In truth, he had already secured victory the moment Xian Lan decided to use Ling Ziyan as a hostage. They knew Yang Hao wouldn’t resist.
And now, it was happening exactly as predicted. Yang Hao stood there, utterly defenseless, seemingly ready to trade his life for Ling Ziyan’s.
But Yang Hao sighed. “Why?”
Why?
“Why must you force me to kill?” Yang Hao’s gaze suddenly turned as cold as a frozen abyss.
Zhou Yao, mid-air, felt a chill—but he couldn’t stop now, nor did he intend to. He was certain that even if Yang Hao struck back, he couldn’t possibly withstand “Starfall Annihilation.”
Yang Hao raised a hand, his fingers trembling.
Suddenly, thousands of cold glints materialized in the air. Without the slightest resistance, hundreds of sword beams pierced Zhou Yao’s body. The radiance of Starfall Annihilation vanished in an instant, and Zhou Yao’s saintly power slowly drained away through countless wounds.
His body was carved into pieces as if subjected to a thousand cuts, leaving only a head and a mutilated corpse to fall.
But the sword beams didn’t stop. As Yang Hao’s fingers twitched, the beams expanded rapidly, spreading in all directions. The Ten Sword Stream swordsmen at the edge of the platform had no time to react before Yang Hao’s sword beams tore them apart.
“This is the Sword’s Profound Truth—the masterpiece of the greatest swordsman in this universe, Situ Hai!” Yang Hao roared in fury. “Now, let me show you that a Sword God is invincible—*eternally* invincible!”
The endless Sword’s Profound Truth expanded in the air, devouring all life around it. Yang Hao unleashed it without restraint—this was the first time he had used it at full power since inheriting it from Situ Hai.
Zhou Yao collapsed, his life at its end. He hadn’t even gotten the chance to face Yang Hao in a proper, all-out duel before being utterly crushed.
“Kill her!! Kill her!!!! Kill her!!!!!” Zhou Yao screamed with his last breath. He realized Yang Hao intended to annihilate the Ten Sword Stream in one fell swoop while rescuing Ling Ziyan, so he used his final strength to urge the Ten Sword Stream’s experts to act.
But then, Zhou Yao witnessed something astonishing—his last shock before death.
Ling Ziyan was running away!!
This woman, who had seemed oblivious to the danger around her, had taken advantage of the chaos when Yang Hao unleashed the Sword’s Profound Truth. While the nearby swordsmen were distracted, she darted toward Lan Ling’s side.
This was beyond the Ten Sword Stream’s expectations—and beyond Xian Lan’s carefully laid plans.
Xian Lan had believed she had complete control over Ling Ziyan, who had obeyed her every word. She had arranged everything meticulously, placing Ling Ziyan within the Ten Sword Stream’s tight encirclement—a flawless plan.
Yet Ling Ziyan had escaped. The moment the defenses faltered under Yang Hao’s assault, she had bolted toward the Dan Ding Sword Sect without hesitation.
Lan Ling noticed her too. Stunned and furious, Lan Ling led the Snowy Night Star Lion Corps and the Dan Ding Sword Sect in a desperate charge to intercept Ling Ziyan.
Under the cover of Yang Hao’s Sword’s Profound Truth, the distance between them rapidly closed—they were almost within reach.
But then, a few individuals acted, changing everything.
The patriarchs of the Ten Sword Stream intervened. Instead of pursuing Ling Ziyan, they surrounded Yang Hao, intercepting the majority of his Sword’s Profound Truth’s beams.
This gave the Ten Sword Stream swordsmen breathing room. They redirected their focus, swiftly encircling Ling Ziyan once more. Though she ran fast, her pregnancy slowed her down, and she was still within the Ten Sword Stream’s grasp. Before she could reach Lan Ling, several elite swordsmen from the Wang Clan drove her back.
“Ziyan!!” Yang Hao bellowed. Mounting Shadowmoon, he shot forward like a madman.
“Ziyan!!!” Lan Ling’s heart tore as she pushed her silver spear to its limits, exploding those around her into bloody chunks.
“Kill her! Now!!” the Qilian Cultivator shouted. “Kill her!!!”
Yang Hao and Lan Ling fought with everything they had, but they couldn’t outpace the Ten Sword Stream. Two master swordsmen raised their blades, poised to strike Ling Ziyan’s belly.
A split second remained.
The danger was imminent!
But then, Ling Ziyan did something unexpected. She stopped abruptly and clapped her hands three times.
*Boom! Boom!*
Two bursts of black mist erupted beside her.
Two purple-clad assassins from the Nether Shades Assassination Group materialized, their swords flashing like black lightning. Before the Ten Sword Stream swordsmen could react, they were cut down.
Then, the assassins whisked Ling Ziyan away at an astonishing speed, vanishing into the Dan Ding Sword Sect’s ranks.
The situation had completely reversed.
By the time Yang Hao reached Ling Ziyan’s side, the Ten Sword Stream had lost all control. They could only gather at the periphery, watching helplessly as Yang Hao and Ling Ziyan reunited.
“Ziyan, you scared me to death!” Lan Ling hugged Ling Ziyan tightly, bursting into tears. This woman, who had never been able to distinguish friend from foe, now wept openly.
Ling Ziyan wiped the sweat from her brow and shot a glare at Yang Hao, who stood awkwardly nearby.
“Stupid man. If I’d waited for you to save me, both me and the baby would’ve been dead. Even if you don’t want me, at least care about your son.”
Yang Hao nearly fainted. This woman—her sharp tongue hadn’t changed one bit.
Hearing about the child, Lan Ling loosened her embrace, glancing between Yang Hao and Ling Ziyan before wisely keeping silent.
“What just happened?” Yang Hao was still bewildered.
“Do I look dumb enough to get kidnapped?” Ling Ziyan smirked mischievously. “The moment Xian Lan suggested I come see you, I knew she was plotting something. But I played along—how else was I supposed to escape the Elder Mountain?”
Yang Hao’s jaw dropped. He had met bold people before, but never someone so reckless as to risk being taken hostage just to flee to him.
But clearly, Ling Ziyan wasn’t one to act without preparation. While everyone thought she was defenseless, she had long since arranged backup.
The two purple-clad assassins beside her remained silent. Lan Ling eyed them warily, but Ling Ziyan grinned.
“Relax, they’re mine.”
“Yours?” Yang Hao was stunned. Wasn’t Nether Shades part of the Ten Sword Stream?
“Idiot!” Ling Ziyan poked Yang Hao’s forehead. “I was once the leader of Nether Shades, remember? Did you think I wouldn’t have any loyal followers?”
Now, everyone present understood Ling Ziyan’s brilliance.
Xian Lan had tried to use her to manipulate Yang Hao, but Ling Ziyan had turned the tables, using Xian Lan to escape the Elder Mountain. Though she had been trapped by the Ten Sword Stream, she had bided her time—and even had two elite assassins ready to intervene if needed.
Truly, a master strategist’s plan to secure victory.
With their safety assured, it was Yang Hao’s turn to settle scores with the Ten Sword Stream.
Zhou Yao, now reduced to a mere footnote, had long since been carved apart on the dueling platform. Today’s battle, though tumultuous, had ended in Yang Hao’s overwhelming victory. The awe-inspiring display of the Sword’s Profound Truth had already been broadcast across the universe.
Now, the crisis had shifted to the Ten Sword Stream.
After ensuring Ling Ziyan’s safety, Yang Hao turned coldly toward the trembling ranks of the Ten Sword Stream. Shadowmoon circled above him, radiating a killing intent that forced the swordsmen back.
“W-what are you doing?” The Qilian Cultivator, stripped of his elder’s dignity, croaked.
“I won the duel. I’m claiming my prize.” Yang Hao strode forward without a glance at the surrounding swordsmen, heading straight for the four divine swords embedded in the platform.
“Stop!!!” The Ten Sword Stream erupted in protest.
Yang Hao sneered. “This wager was *your* idea. You willingly staked these swords. Now that Zhou Yao is dead, do you dare go back on your word?”
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*
Five figures flashed like lightning, blocking Yang Hao’s path to the swords.
They were the five remaining patriarchs of the Ten Sword Stream—the highest-ranking and most powerful among them. They knew one thing for certain: today’s loss was acceptable, Zhou Yao’s death was bearable—but losing these four swords was unthinkable.
The Ten Sword Stream had already lost six divine swords to Yang Hao. If these four were taken too, their faction would cease to exist. They would be abandoned—by the Elder Council, by the universe’s nobility.
Everything they had built would vanish.
“Yang Hao,” Lord Haiwang leaned on his cane. “You’ve won, but you cannot take the swords.”
“Oh?”
“Even if it costs our lives, we won’t let you take them!” the Qilian Cultivator rasped.
“Your lives won’t be enough to stop me.” Yang Hao’s domineering aura sent shivers through the crowd. Then, Shadowmoon manifested in a terrifying form—splitting into five beams of the Thousand-Mile Flowing Slash, aimed at the five patriarchs.
“Thousand-Mile Flowing Slash!!!” Yang Hao roared.
The five patriarchs combined their strength, raising their swords in unison.
*Clang!!!*
Four of the slashes turned into illusions—only the real one was blocked by their combined effort.
But Yang Hao himself had transformed into a sword—a blade capable of piercing the heavens. Its radiance soared skyward.
“The long sword remains in hand!” Yang Hao declared.
The Sword’s Profound Truth crashed into the five patriarchs.
*Cough!*
The five masters spat blood, sent flying. Their disciples scrambled to catch them—but the patriarchs were already on the brink of death, their faces ghastly pale.
Only the intervention of the Yan Clan’s healers saved them.
Meanwhile, Yang Hao had already pulled the four divine swords from the platform, raising them high for all to see.
Silence—brief, but profound—was soon shattered by deafening cheers. Some nobles even knelt, kowtowing to Yang Hao as if worshiping a god of war.
The power he had displayed was too immense, too overwhelming. Every warrior present could only revere him.
Then, they grabbed Ling Ziyan and, with miraculous speed, shot into the crowd of the Dan Ding Sword Sect.
The situation had completely reversed.
When Yang Hao reached Ling Ziyan’s side, the Ten Sword Stream had already lost control of the entire situation. They could only gather outside the Dan Ding Sword Sect’s crowd, watching helplessly as Yang Hao and Ling Ziyan reunited.
“Ziyan, you scared me to death!” Lan Gang embraced Ling Ziyan and actually burst into tears. This woman had never known who was a friend and who was a rival.
Ling Ziyan wiped the sweat from her forehead and gave Yang Hao, who stood awkwardly nearby, a glare:
“If I waited for you to rescue me, I’d be dead with the baby too. If you don’t want me, at least think of your son.”
Yang Hao nearly fainted. This woman, as always, never held back with her sharp tongue.
Lan Ling, hearing about the child, loosened her embrace and glanced at Yang Hao and Ling Ziyan, wisely choosing to stay silent.
“What happened?” Yang Hao was still confused.
“Do I look like someone who can be easily captured?” Ling Ziyan grinned slyly. “That day when Xuan Lan said she wanted me to see you, I knew she had an agenda. But I played along and came out with her, otherwise how could I escape from the Elder Mountain?”
Yang Hao’s mouth opened wide enough to fit a fist. He had seen bold people before, but never someone this reckless. To risk being captured just to escape from the Elder Mountain and run to him—she was truly fearless.
But clearly, Ling Ziyan wasn’t someone who acted without preparation. While everyone thought she was in danger, she had actually made her own arrangements.
The two purple-clad assassins standing beside Ling Ziyan remained silent. Lan Ling was still somewhat wary of them.
But Ling Ziyan smirked confidently: “Don’t worry, they’re my people.”
But Zhou Yao was quite pleased with himself, holding hostages as his trump card: “Yang Hao, you can only lose. This setup today was designed specifically for you. Your woman and child are surrounded by the Ten Sword Faction. If you dare to fight back, she will die—she will definitely die.” Zhou Yao was absolutely right. Although Xian Lan wasn’t present, Ling Ziyan was completely trapped within the ranks of the Ten Sword Faction. From the very beginning, the reason the Ten Sword Faction encircled the dueling platform was for this purpose.
Though Ling Ziyan herself possessed martial skills, she was pregnant and certainly couldn’t withstand the attacks of so many swordsmen. Moreover, the most formidable elders of the Ten Sword Faction—Lord Haiwang of the Wang Clan and the Qilian Cultivator from the Cultivator Forest—were less than a hundred steps away from her. With their strength, killing Ling Ziyan would be effortless.
Could Yang Hao move? He owed Ling Ziyan. Back at the Three Crystal Sea, Ling Ziyan had nearly died for him. After she was captured by the Elder Rong Hui, Yang Hao hadn’t even tried to rescue her.
One could only imagine the immense sacrifices and efforts this woman had made to protect the child in her womb—Yang Hao’s child.
How could Yang Hao let her die?
Zhou Yao seemed to have seen through this. Deep down, he truly admired Princess Xian Lan’s brilliant scheme—her cunning was indeed unparalleled in the world.
The sword, radiant as starlight, flashed once more. The wounds forming the Big Dipper on Yang Hao’s body gushed blood, eliciting gasps from the audience.
This reversal was something no one had anticipated. Moments ago, Yang Hao’s explosive display of power had convinced everyone that he was certain to win. Yet in the blink of an eye, Yang Hao stood motionless like a puppet, numb even as swords pierced his flesh.
In truth, Yang Hao was seething with rage—his fury surged like a tempest within his chest.
Yang Hao was not a bloodthirsty man, but over time, he had realized there were far too many people who deserved to die, and far too many who needed to die.
People like Zhou Yao. People like the Ten Sword Faction. They all deserved death—no, they *had* to die.
Zhou Yao finally prepared to unleash his strongest sword technique. He had sacrificed his uncle and even brought out four divine swords—all for this one strike against Yang Hao.
The Star Circus Troupe had spent centuries refining this technique, claiming it could rival even the legendary Dragon Sword.
“Starfall Annihilation!”
The sky darkened once more as countless stars reappeared, their dazzling radiance eclipsing the sun. The starlight erupted in a sudden burst, silver chains of light converging onto the star-forged sword in Zhou Yao’s hand.
That sword now held the condensed power of countless stars—the energy left behind by the Creator before their fall.
As Zhou Yao unleashed his strike, the air trembled with an ancient, majestic aura, as though countless stars were plummeting like rain in an instant.
The starlight enveloped Yang Hao.
Anyone could see that Yang Hao now faced the greatest danger of his life.
Yet he seemed oblivious, not even bothering to properly face Zhou Yao’s strike—the strongest sword technique. It was as if he had given up.
Zhou Yao thought so too. In truth, he had been confident of victory from the moment Xian Lan decided to use Ling Ziyan as a hostage. They knew Yang Hao wouldn’t dare resist.
And now, it was happening exactly as predicted. Yang Hao stood there, utterly defenseless, as if ready to trade his life for Ling Ziyan’s.
But Yang Hao sighed. “Why?”
Why?
“Why must you force me to kill?” Yang Hao’s gaze suddenly turned as cold as a frozen abyss.
Zhou Yao, mid-air, shuddered—but he couldn’t stop now, nor did he intend to. He believed that even if Yang Hao struck back at this moment, he couldn’t possibly withstand “Starfall Annihilation.”
Yang Hao raised a hand, his fingertip twitching.
Suddenly, thousands of icy glints materialized in the air. Without the slightest resistance, hundreds of sword beams pierced Zhou Yao’s body. The radiance of Starfall Annihilation vanished in an instant, Zhou Yao’s saintly power draining away through countless wounds.
His body was carved into pieces as though subjected to a thousand cuts—only a head and a mutilated torso remained as they plummeted to the ground.
But the sword beams didn’t stop there. As Yang Hao’s fingers trembled, the sword light expanded rapidly, spreading in all directions. The swordsmen of the Ten Sword Faction at the edges of the dueling platform had no time to react before Yang Hao’s sword beams tore them apart.
“This is the Sword’s Profound Truth—the masterpiece of the greatest swordsman in this universe, Situ Hai!” Yang Hao roared in fury. “Now, let me show you that a Sword God is invincible—*forever* invincible!!”
The endless Sword’s Profound Truth expanded through the air, devouring all life in its path. Yang Hao unleashed it without restraint—this was the first time he had used it since inheriting it from Situ Hai, and the only time he had wielded it at full power.
Zhou Yao collapsed, his life at its end. He hadn’t even gotten the chance to face Yang Hao in a proper, all-out duel before being utterly crushed.
“Kill her!! Kill her!!!! Kill her!!!!!” Zhou Yao screamed with his last breath. He realized Yang Hao intended to annihilate the surrounding Ten Sword Faction in one fell swoop while they were distracted, rescuing Ling Ziyan. So with his final strength, he urged the Ten Sword Faction’s experts to kill her.
But soon, Zhou Yao witnessed a scene that shocked him—his last surprise before death.
Ling Ziyan was running away!!
This woman, who had seemed oblivious to the danger around her, had taken advantage of the moment Yang Hao unleashed the Sword’s Profound Truth. While the nearby swordsmen were distracted, she darted toward Lan Ling’s side.
This was completely beyond the Ten Sword Faction’s expectations—and beyond Xian Lan’s carefully laid plans.
Xian Lan had believed she had Ling Ziyan firmly under control. Ling Ziyan had obeyed her every word, and today’s arrangement—placing Ling Ziyan within the Ten Sword Faction’s tight encirclement—had seemed flawless.
Yet Ling Ziyan had escaped. The moment the defenses faltered by even a fraction due to Yang Hao’s attack, she had bolted toward the Dan Ding Sword Sect without hesitation.
Lan Ling noticed her too. Stunned and furious, Lan Ling led the Snowy Night Star Lion Corps and the Dan Ding Sword Sect in a desperate charge to intercept Ling Ziyan.
Under the cover of Yang Hao’s Sword’s Profound Truth, the distance between them rapidly closed—they were almost within reach.
But then, a few individuals acted, changing everything.
The patriarchs of the Ten Sword Faction made their move. Instead of pursuing Ling Ziyan, they surrounded Yang Hao, intercepting the majority of his Sword’s Profound Truth.
This gave the Ten Sword Faction’s swordsmen a momentary reprieve. They redirected their focus, swiftly encircling Ling Ziyan. Though she ran fast, her pregnancy slowed her down, and she had been within the Ten Sword Faction’s grasp all along. Before she could reach Lan Ling, several grandmasters from the Wang Clan drove her back.
“Ziyan!!” Yang Hao bellowed. Mounting Shadowmoon, he shot toward her like a madman.
“Ziyan!!!” Lan Ling’s heart tore as she pushed her silver spear to its limits, exploding those around her into bloody chunks.
“Kill her! Now!!” the Qilian Cultivator roared. “Kill her!!!”
Yang Hao and Lan Ling strained with all their might, but they couldn’t outpace the Ten Sword Faction. Two grandmasters had already raised their swords, poised to stab Ling Ziyan’s belly.
A critical moment.
Life hung by a thread.
Then, Ling Ziyan did something unexpected. She stopped abruptly and clapped her hands—three times.
*Boom! Boom!*
Two bursts of black mist erupted beside her.
Two purple-ranked assassins from the Nether Shades suddenly appeared. Their swords, swift as black lightning, struck down the Ten Sword Faction’s swordsmen before they could react.
Then, seizing Ling Ziyan, they dashed into the Dan Ding Sword Sect’s ranks at an impossible speed.
The situation had completely reversed.
By the time Yang Hao reached Ling Ziyan’s side, the Ten Sword Faction had lost all control. They could only gather outside the Dan Ding Sword Sect’s formation, watching helplessly as Yang Hao and Ling Ziyan reunited.
“Ziyan, you scared me to death!” Lan Ling hugged Ling Ziyan tightly, bursting into tears. This woman, who had never been able to distinguish friend from rival.
Ling Ziyan wiped the sweat from her brow and shot a glare at Yang Hao, who stood awkwardly nearby.
“You idiot. If I’d waited for you to save me, it would’ve been two corpses instead of one. Even if you don’t want me, at least care about your son.”
Yang Hao nearly fainted. This woman—her sharp tongue hadn’t changed one bit.
Hearing about the child, Lan Ling loosened her embrace, glancing between Yang Hao and Ling Ziyan before wisely keeping silent.
“What just happened?” Yang Hao was still bewildered.
“Do I look stupid enough to get kidnapped?” Ling Ziyan smirked. “The moment Xian Lan suggested I come see you, I knew she was plotting something. But I played along—how else was I supposed to escape Elder Mountain?”
Yang Hao’s jaw dropped. He’d met bold people before, but never someone so reckless. To escape Elder Mountain and reach him, she’d risked being taken hostage.
But clearly, Ling Ziyan wasn’t one to act without preparation. While everyone thought her defenseless, she had long since arranged for backup.
The two purple-clad assassins beside her remained silent. Lan Ling eyed them warily, but Ling Ziyan grinned.
“Relax, they’re mine.”
“Yours?” Yang Hao was stunned. Wasn’t Nether Shades part of the Ten Sword Faction?
“Idiot!” Ling Ziyan poked his forehead. “I was once their leader, remember? Did you think I wouldn’t have any loyal followers?”
Now, everyone present understood Ling Ziyan’s brilliance.
Xian Lan had sought to use her against Yang Hao, but Ling Ziyan had turned the tables, using Xian Lan to escape Elder Mountain. Though she’d been trapped by the Ten Sword Faction, she had waited for the right moment to flee—and even if she couldn’t, her two assassins would ensure her safety.
A true strategist, this woman.
With their group now secure, it was Yang Hao’s turn to settle scores with the Ten Sword Faction.
Zhou Yao, reduced to a mere side character, had long since been sliced to death on the dueling platform. Today’s battle, though tumultuous, had ended in Yang Hao’s overwhelming victory. The awe-inspiring display of the Sword’s Profound Truth had already been broadcast across the universe.
Now, the crisis had shifted to the Ten Sword Faction.
After ensuring Ling Ziyan’s safety, Yang Hao turned coldly toward the trembling ranks of the Ten Sword Faction. Shadowmoon circled above him, its killing intent forcing the enemy back step by step.
“What… what do you want?” The Qilian Cultivator had lost all dignity, his voice hoarse.
“I won the duel. I’m claiming my prize.” Yang Hao didn’t even glance around as he strode toward the forest of swords. Returning to the dueling platform, he reached for the four divine swords embedded there.
“Stop!!!” This time, it was the Ten Sword Faction’s turn to panic. A collective roar erupted.
Yang Hao smirked. “This wager was your idea. You offered these swords as the stake. Now that Zhou Yao is dead, do you dare go back on your word?”
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!* Five figures flashed like lightning, blocking Yang Hao’s path to the swords.
They were the five remaining patriarchs of the Ten Sword Faction—the highest-ranking and most powerful among them. They knew today’s gamble could be lost, Zhou Yao could die, but under no circumstances could they afford to lose these four swords.
The Ten Sword Faction had already lost six divine swords to Yang Hao. If these four were taken too, their faction would cease to exist—abandoned by the Elder Council, by the nobles of the universe.
Everything they had built would vanish.
“Yang Hao!” Lord Haiwang leaned on his cane. “You’ve won, but you cannot take the swords.”
“Oh?”
“Even if it costs our lives, we won’t let you take them!” the Qilian Cultivator shouted hoarsely.
“Your five lives won’t be enough to stop me.” Yang Hao’s domineering aura sent shivers through the crowd. Then, Shadowmoon manifested in a terrifying form—splitting into five beams of the Thousand-Mile Flowing Slash, aimed at the five patriarchs.
“Thousand-Mile Flowing Slash!!!” Yang Hao roared.
The five patriarchs joined forces, summoning their swords in a desperate counter.
*Clang!!!*
Four of the slashes turned out to be illusions—only the real one was deflected by their combined strength.
But Yang Hao himself had become a sword—a blade capable of piercing the heavens. Its light surged skyward with unparalleled grandeur.
“The long sword remains in hand!” Yang Hao declared.
The Sword’s Profound Truth slammed into the five patriarchs.
*Cough!*
The five masters vomited blood, sent flying. Their subordinates scrambled to catch them—barely alive, their faces deathly pale.
The Yan Clan’s healers rushed to stabilize them, barely saving their lives.
But on the dueling platform, Yang Hao had already pulled out the four divine swords, raising them high for all to see.
Silence—brief, before erupting into thunderous cheers. Some nobles even knelt, worshiping Yang Hao like a war god upon the platform. The power he had displayed was too immense, too overwhelming—every warrior present could only revere him.
But Zhou Yao was quite pleased with himself, holding the hostages as leverage. “Yang Hao, you can only lose. This setup today was designed specifically for you. Your woman and child are surrounded by the Ten Sword Sect. If you dare to fight back, she will die—she will definitely die.” Zhou Yao wasn’t wrong at all. Though Xian Lan wasn’t present, Ling Ziyan was completely trapped among the Ten Sword Sect’s members. From the very beginning, the reason the Ten Sword Sect had encircled the dueling platform was for this purpose.
Although Ling Ziyan had martial skills of her own, she was pregnant and certainly couldn’t withstand attacks from so many swordsmen, let alone the most formidable elders of the Ten Sword Sect—Lord Haiwang of the Wang Clan and the Qilian Cultivator from the Cultivator Forest—who stood less than a hundred paces away from her. With their strength, killing Ling Ziyan would be effortless.
Could Yang Hao move? He owed Ling Ziyan. Back at the Three Crystal Sea, Ling Ziyan had nearly died for him. And after she was captured by the Elder Rong Hui, Yang Hao hadn’t gone to save her.
One could only imagine the immense sacrifices and hardships this woman had endured to protect the child in her womb—Yang Hao’s child.
How could Yang Hao let her die?
Zhou Yao seemed to have seen through this. Deep down, he truly admired Princess Xian Lan’s brilliant scheme—her cunning was indeed unparalleled in the world.
The Sword of Starlight flashed once more, and the wounds on Yang Hao’s body, shaped like the Big Dipper, gushed blood, eliciting gasps from the audience.
This reversal was something no one had anticipated. Just moments ago, Yang Hao’s explosive attack had made everyone believe he had already secured victory. Yet in the blink of an eye, Yang Hao stood motionless like a puppet, utterly unresponsive even as swords pierced him.
In truth, Yang Hao was seething with rage—his fury surged like a tempest within his chest.
Yang Hao wasn’t a bloodthirsty man, but over time, he had realized there were far too many people who deserved to die, far too many who needed to be killed.
People like Zhou Yao. People like the Ten Sword Sect. They all deserved death—no, they *had* to die.
Zhou Yao finally prepared to unleash his strongest sword strike. He had sacrificed his uncle and even brought out four divine swords—all for this one attack against Yang Hao.
The Star Circus had spent centuries perfecting this technique, claiming it could rival even the Divine Dragon Sword.
“Stellar Annihilation!”
The sky darkened once more as countless stars reappeared, their dazzling radiance completely overshadowing the sun. The starlight erupted in a sudden burst, silver chains of light converging onto the Star Sword in Zhou Yao’s hand.
That sword now held the condensed power of countless stars—the energy left behind by the Creator before their annihilation.
When Zhou Yao unleashed his strike, the air trembled with an ancient, majestic aura, as if countless stars were plummeting like rain in an instant.
The starlight enveloped Yang Hao.
Anyone could see that Yang Hao now faced the greatest danger.
Yet he seemed oblivious, not even bothering to properly watch Zhou Yao’s strike—the strongest attack. It was as if he had given up.
Zhou Yao thought so too. In truth, he had already secured victory the moment Xian Lan decided to use Ling Ziyan as a hostage. They knew Yang Hao wouldn’t dare resist.
And now, it was exactly as they had predicted. Yang Hao stood there, utterly defenseless, seemingly ready to trade his life for Ling Ziyan’s.
But Yang Hao sighed. “Why?”
Why?
“Why must you force me to kill?” Yang Hao’s gaze suddenly turned as cold as a frozen abyss.
Zhou Yao, mid-air, shuddered—but he couldn’t stop now, nor did he intend to. He believed that even if Yang Hao struck back, he couldn’t possibly block “Stellar Annihilation.”
Yang Hao raised a hand, his fingertip twitching.
Suddenly, countless cold glints appeared in the air. Without the slightest resistance, hundreds of sword beams pierced Zhou Yao’s body. The radiance of Stellar Annihilation vanished in an instant, and Zhou Yao’s Saint-level power slowly drained away through countless wounds.
His body was sliced into countless pieces, leaving only a head attached to a lifeless torso that plummeted to the ground.
But the sword beams didn’t stop. As Yang Hao’s fingers trembled, the sword light rapidly expanded, spreading in all directions. The Ten Sword Sect’s swordsmen at the edge of the dueling platform had no time to react before Yang Hao’s sword beams tore them apart.
“This is the Sword’s Profound Truth—the masterpiece of the greatest swordsman in this universe, Situ Hai!” Yang Hao roared in fury. “Now, let me show you that a Sword God is invincible—*eternally* invincible!”
The endless Sword’s Profound Truth expanded in the air, devouring all life around it. Yang Hao unleashed it without restraint—this was the first time he had used it since inheriting it from Situ Hai, and the only time he had used it at full power.
Zhou Yao collapsed, his life at its end. He hadn’t even gotten the chance to face Yang Hao in a proper, all-out duel before being utterly crushed.
“Kill her!! Kill her!!! Kill her!!!!!” Zhou Yao screamed with his last breath. He realized Yang Hao intended to annihilate the surrounding Ten Sword Sect members unnoticed and rescue Ling Ziyan, so he used his final strength to urge the Ten Sword Sect’s experts to kill her.
But soon, Zhou Yao witnessed something astonishing—his last shock before death.
Ling Ziyan had escaped!!
This woman, who seemed oblivious to the danger around her, had taken advantage of the moment Yang Hao unleashed the Sword’s Profound Truth. While the nearby swordsmen were distracted, she had darted toward Lan Ling’s side.
This was beyond the Ten Sword Sect’s expectations—and beyond Xian Lan’s plans.
Xian Lan had believed she had complete control over Ling Ziyan, who had obeyed her every word. Today, Xian Lan had arranged everything perfectly, placing Ling Ziyan under the Ten Sword Sect’s tight encirclement—a flawless plan.
Yet Ling Ziyan had escaped. The moment the defenses faltered by a fraction due to Yang Hao’s attack, she had dashed toward the Dan Ding Sword Sect without hesitation.
Lan Ling noticed her too. Stunned and furious, Lan Ling led the Snowy Night Star Lion Corps and the Dan Ding Sword Sect’s members in a desperate charge to rescue Ling Ziyan.
Under the cover of Yang Hao’s Sword’s Profound Truth, the distance between them rapidly closed—they were almost within reach.
But then, a few individuals acted, changing everything.
The Ten Sword Sect’s clan heads intervened. Instead of pursuing Ling Ziyan, they surrounded Yang Hao, intercepting most of the Sword’s Profound Truth’s beams.
This gave the Ten Sword Sect’s swordsmen a brief respite. They redirected their focus, closing in on Ling Ziyan. Though she ran fast, her pregnancy slowed her down, and she was still within the Ten Sword Sect’s encirclement. Before she could reach Lan Ling, several Wang Clan grandmasters drove her back.
“Ziyan!!” Yang Hao bellowed. Mounting Shadowmoon, he shot toward her like a madman.
“Ziyan!!!” Lan Ling screamed, her silver spear glowing with maximum power as she blasted those around her into bloody chunks.
“Kill her! Now!!” the Qilian Cultivator shouted. “Kill her!!!”
Yang Hao and Lan Ling fought with all their might, but they couldn’t match the Ten Sword Sect’s speed. Two grandmasters had already raised their swords, poised to stab Ling Ziyan’s belly.
A split second remained.
The danger was imminent!
Then, Ling Ziyan did something unexpected. She stopped, clapping her hands three times.
*Boom! Boom!*
Two bursts of black mist erupted beside her.
Two Violet-Ranked assassins from the Nether Assassination Corps appeared, their swords flashing like black lightning. Before the Ten Sword Sect’s swordsmen could react, they were slain.
Then, the assassins whisked Ling Ziyan away at an astonishing speed, vanishing into the Dan Ding Sword Sect’s ranks.
The situation had completely reversed.
By the time Yang Hao reached Ling Ziyan’s side, the Ten Sword Sect had lost all control. They could only gather outside the Dan Ding Sword Sect’s formation, watching helplessly as Yang Hao and Ling Ziyan reunited.
“Ziyan, you scared me to death!” Lan Ling hugged Ling Ziyan, bursting into tears. This woman, who had never been able to distinguish friend from foe, now wept openly.
Ling Ziyan wiped the sweat from her brow and shot a glare at Yang Hao, who stood awkwardly nearby.
“You idiot. If I’d waited for you to save me, both me and the baby would’ve been dead. Even if you don’t want me, at least care about your son!”
Yang Hao nearly fainted. This woman’s sharp tongue hadn’t dulled one bit.
Lan Ling, hearing about the child, loosened her embrace. Glancing between Yang Hao and Ling Ziyan, she wisely kept silent.
“What just happened?” Yang Hao was still bewildered.
“Do I look stupid enough to be taken hostage?” Ling Ziyan smirked. “The moment Xian Lan suggested I come see you, I knew she was plotting something. But I played along—otherwise, how could I escape the Elder Mountain?”
Yang Hao’s jaw dropped. He’d seen bold people before, but never someone so reckless as to risk being kidnapped just to escape the Elder Mountain and reunite with him.
But Ling Ziyan wasn’t one to act without preparation. While everyone thought she was defenseless, she had secretly arranged for two Violet-Ranked assassins to stand by her side.
The two assassins remained silent. Lan Ling eyed them warily, but Ling Ziyan grinned.
“Relax, they’re mine.”
“Yours?” Yang Hao was stunned. Wasn’t the Nether Assassination Corps part of the Ten Sword Sect?
“Dummy!” Ling Ziyan poked Yang Hao’s forehead. “I was once the Nether Assassination Corps’ leader. Did you think I wouldn’t have any loyal followers?”
Now, everyone present understood Ling Ziyan’s brilliant scheme.
Xian Lan had tried to use her to manipulate Yang Hao, but Ling Ziyan had turned the tables, using Xian Lan to escape the Elder Mountain. Though she had been trapped by the Ten Sword Sect, she had seized the moment to flee—and if that failed, she had two elite assassins as backup.
Truly, a female Zhuge Liang with strategies to rival the heavens.
With their safety secured, it was Yang Hao’s turn to settle scores with the Ten Sword Sect.
Zhou Yao, now reduced to a mere footnote, had already been sliced to death on the dueling platform. Today’s battle, though tumultuous, had ended in Yang Hao’s overwhelming victory. The awe-inspiring display of the Sword’s Profound Truth had been broadcast across the universe.
Now, the crisis had shifted to the Ten Sword Sect.
After ensuring Ling Ziyan’s safety, Yang Hao turned coldly toward the trembling ranks of the Ten Sword Sect’s swordsmen. Shadowmoon circled above him, radiating killing intent that forced the enemy back step by step.
“What… what do you want?” The Qilian Cultivator, stripped of his elder’s dignity, croaked.
“I won the duel. I’m claiming my prize.” Yang Hao ignored the surroundings, striding toward the forest of swords. He returned to the dueling platform, reaching for the four divine swords embedded there.
“Stop!!!” This time, it was the Ten Sword Sect’s turn to panic. Nearly everyone roared in protest.
Yang Hao sneered. “This wager was your idea. You willingly offered divine swords as stakes. Now that Zhou Yao is dead, do you dare renege?”
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*
Five figures flashed like lightning, blocking Yang Hao’s path to the swords.
They were the five remaining clan heads of the Ten Sword Sect—the highest-ranking and most powerful figures left. They knew today’s loss was acceptable, and Zhou Yao’s death could be endured—but losing these four swords was unthinkable.
The Ten Sword Sect had already lost six divine swords to Yang Hao. If these four were taken too, the sect would cease to exist, abandoned by the Elder Council and the universe’s nobility.
Everything they had built would vanish.
“Yang Hao!” Lord Haiwang leaned on his cane. “You’ve won, but you cannot take the swords.”
“Oh?”
“Even if it costs our lives, we won’t let you take them!” the Qilian Cultivator rasped.
“Your five lives won’t stop me.” Yang Hao’s domineering aura sent shivers through the crowd. Then, Shadowmoon manifested in a terrifying form—splitting into five beams of the Thousand-Mile Slaughter, aimed at the five clan heads.
“Thousand-Mile Slaughter!!!” Yang Hao roared.
The five clan heads combined their strength, raising their swords in desperation.
*Clang!!!*
Four of the beams turned into illusions, while the real attack was barely deflected by their combined effort.
But Yang Hao himself had transformed—into a sword capable of piercing the heavens. Its radiance soared skyward.
“The sword remains in hand!” Yang Hao declared.
The Sword’s Profound Truth slammed into the five clan heads.
*Cough!*
The five masters spat blood, sent flying. Their subordinates scrambled to catch them—but the clan heads were already on the brink of death, their faces deathly pale.
The Yan Clan’s healers rushed to stabilize them, barely saving their lives.
Meanwhile, on the dueling platform, Yang Hao pulled out the four divine swords, raising them high for all to see.
Silence.
But only for a moment.
Then, the crowd erupted in deafening cheers. Some nobles even knelt, worshiping Yang Hao like a god of war. The power he had displayed was too immense, too overwhelming—every warrior present could only revere him.
At this, everyone finally understood Ling Ziyan’s brilliant plan.
But Zhou Yao was quite pleased with himself, holding the hostages as his trump card. “Yang Hao, you can only lose. This setup today was designed specifically for you. Your woman and child are surrounded by the Ten Sword Stream. If you dare to fight back, she will die—she’s as good as dead.” Zhou Yao wasn’t wrong. Though Xian Lan wasn’t present, Ling Ziyan was completely trapped among the Ten Sword Stream’s forces. From the very beginning, the reason the Ten Sword Stream had encircled the dueling platform was precisely this.
Though Ling Ziyan herself possessed martial skills, she was pregnant and certainly couldn’t withstand the attacks of so many swordsmen. Moreover, the most formidable elders of the Ten Sword Stream—Lord Haiwang of the Wang Clan and the Qilian Cultivator from the Cultivator’s Grove—were less than a hundred paces away from her. With their strength, killing Ling Ziyan would be effortless.
Could Yang Hao move? He owed Ling Ziyan. Back at the Three Crystal Sea, Ling Ziyan had nearly died for him. And when she was captured by the Elder Council’s enforcers, Yang Hao hadn’t gone to rescue her.
One could only imagine the immense sacrifices and efforts this woman had made to protect the child in her womb—Yang Hao’s child.
How could Yang Hao let her die?
Zhou Yao seemed to have seen through this. Deep down, he truly admired Princess Xian Lan’s brilliant scheme—her cunning was indeed unparalleled in the world.
The Sword of Starlight flashed once more. The wounds on Yang Hao’s body, shaped like the Big Dipper, gushed blood, eliciting gasps from the spectators.
This sudden reversal was something no one had anticipated. Just moments ago, Yang Hao’s explosive attack had made everyone believe he was certain to win. Yet in the blink of an eye, Yang Hao stood motionless like a puppet, numb even as swords pierced his flesh.
In truth, Yang Hao was seething with rage—his fury surged like a tempest within his chest.
Yang Hao wasn’t a bloodthirsty man, but over time, he had realized there were far too many people who deserved to die—far too many who *had* to die.
People like Zhou Yao. People like the Ten Sword Stream.
Zhou Yao finally prepared to unleash his strongest strike. He had sacrificed his uncle and even brought out four divine swords—all for this one attack against Yang Hao.
The Star Circus had spent centuries refining this technique, claiming it could rival even the Divine Dragon Sword.
“Stellar Annihilation!”
The sky darkened once more as countless stars reappeared, their dazzling radiance completely eclipsing the sun. The starlight erupted in a sudden burst, silver chains of light converging onto the Star Sword in Zhou Yao’s hand.
That sword now held the condensed power of countless stars—the energy left behind by the Creator before their annihilation.
When Zhou Yao unleashed his strike, the air trembled with an ancient, majestic aura, as if countless stars were plummeting like rain in an instant.
The starlight enveloped Yang Hao.
Anyone could see that Yang Hao now faced the greatest danger.
Yet he seemed oblivious, not even bothering to properly face Zhou Yao’s strike—his strongest attack. It was as if he had given up.
Zhou Yao thought so too. In truth, he had been confident of victory from the moment Xian Lan decided to use Ling Ziyan as a hostage. They knew Yang Hao wouldn’t dare resist.
And now, it was happening exactly as predicted. Yang Hao stood there, utterly defenseless, as if ready to trade his life for Ling Ziyan’s.
But Yang Hao sighed. “Why?”
Why?
“Why must you force me to kill?” Yang Hao’s gaze suddenly turned as cold as a frozen abyss.
Zhou Yao, mid-air, felt a chill—but he couldn’t stop now, nor did he intend to. He believed that even if Yang Hao struck now, he couldn’t possibly block “Stellar Annihilation.”
Yang Hao raised a hand, his fingers trembling.
Suddenly, countless cold gleams appeared in the air. Without resistance, hundreds of sword beams pierced Zhou Yao’s body. The radiance of Stellar Annihilation vanished in an instant, and Zhou Yao’s saintly power slowly drained from his countless wounds.
His body was sliced into countless pieces, leaving only a head attached to a lifeless torso that plummeted to the ground.
But the sword beams didn’t stop. As Yang Hao’s fingers twitched, the light expanded rapidly, spreading in all directions. The Ten Sword Stream’s swordsmen at the edge of the platform had no time to react before Yang Hao’s sword beams tore them apart.
“This is the Sword’s Profound Truth—the masterpiece of the greatest swordsman in this universe, Situ Hai!” Yang Hao roared in fury. “Now, let me show you that a Sword God is invincible—*eternally* invincible!!”
The endless Sword’s Profound Truth expanded in the air, devouring all life around it. Yang Hao unleashed it without restraint—this was the first time he had used it at full power since inheriting it from Situ Hai.
Zhou Yao collapsed, his life at its end. He hadn’t even gotten the chance to face Yang Hao in a proper duel before being utterly crushed.
“Kill her!! Kill her!!!! Kill her!!!!!” Zhou Yao screamed with his last breath, realizing Yang Hao intended to annihilate the Ten Sword Stream in one fell swoop while they were distracted, rescuing Ling Ziyan. With his final strength, he urged the Ten Sword Stream’s elites to act.
But soon, Zhou Yao witnessed something astonishing—his last surprise before death.
Ling Ziyan was running away!!
This woman, who seemed oblivious to the danger around her, had taken advantage of the chaos when Yang Hao unleashed the Sword’s Profound Truth. While the nearby swordsmen were distracted, she darted toward Lan Ling’s side.
This was beyond the Ten Sword Stream’s expectations—and beyond Xian Lan’s carefully laid plans.
Xian Lan had believed she had complete control over Ling Ziyan, who had obeyed her every word. She had arranged everything for Ling Ziyan to be surrounded by the Ten Sword Stream—a flawless plan.
Yet Ling Ziyan had escaped. The moment the defenses faltered under Yang Hao’s assault, she had bolted toward the Dan Ding Sword Sect without hesitation.
Lan Ling noticed her too. Shocked and furious, Lan Ling led the Snowy Night Star Lion Corps and the Dan Ding Sword Sect’s forces in a desperate charge to rescue Ling Ziyan.
Under the cover of Yang Hao’s Sword’s Profound Truth, the distance between them rapidly closed—they were almost within reach.
But then, a few individuals acted, changing everything.
The leaders of the Ten Sword Stream’s great clans intervened. Instead of pursuing Ling Ziyan, they surrounded Yang Hao, intercepting most of his Sword’s Profound Truth’s beams.
This gave the Ten Sword Stream’s swordsmen the opening they needed. They redirected their focus, swiftly encircling Ling Ziyan. Though she ran fast, her pregnancy slowed her down, and she had been trapped within the Ten Sword Stream’s formation all along. Before she could reach Lan Ling, several elite swordsmen from the Wang Clan drove her back.
“Ziyan!!” Yang Hao bellowed, riding Shadowmoon as he shot forward like a madman.
“Ziyan!!!” Lan Ling’s heart tore as she unleashed her silver spear at full power, reducing those around her to bloody chunks.
“Kill her! Now!!” the Qilian Cultivator shouted. “Kill her!!!”
Yang Hao and Lan Ling fought with everything they had, but they couldn’t outpace the Ten Sword Stream’s forces. Two elite swordsmen raised their blades, poised to strike Ling Ziyan’s belly.
The moment was critical.
Disaster loomed!
But then, Ling Ziyan did something unexpected. She stopped abruptly and clapped her hands three times.
*Boom! Boom!*
Two bursts of black mist exploded beside her.
Two purple-clad assassins from the Nether Shades suddenly appeared. Their swords, swift as black lightning, struck down the Ten Sword Stream’s swordsmen before they could react.
Then, seizing Ling Ziyan, they dashed into the Dan Ding Sword Sect’s ranks at an astonishing speed.
The situation had completely reversed.
By the time Yang Hao reached Ling Ziyan’s side, the Ten Sword Stream had lost all control. They could only gather outside the Dan Ding Sword Sect’s formation, watching helplessly as Yang Hao and Ling Ziyan reunited.
“Ziyan, you scared me to death!” Lan Ling hugged Ling Ziyan, bursting into tears. This woman, who had never been able to distinguish friend from foe, now wept openly.
Ling Ziyan wiped the sweat from her brow and shot Yang Hao a glare.
“You idiot. If I’d waited for you to save me, it would’ve been two corpses by now. Even if you don’t want me, you’d at least want your son, right?”
Yang Hao nearly fainted. This woman—her sharp tongue hadn’t changed a bit.
Hearing about the child, Lan Ling loosened her embrace, glancing between Yang Hao and Ling Ziyan before wisely keeping silent.
“What just happened?” Yang Hao was still bewildered.
“Do I look stupid enough to get kidnapped?” Ling Ziyan smirked. “The moment Xian Lan suggested I come see you, I knew she was up to something. But I played along—how else was I supposed to escape the Elder Mountain?”
Yang Hao’s jaw dropped. He’d met bold people before, but never one so reckless as to risk her life just to flee to him.
But clearly, Ling Ziyan wasn’t one to act without preparation. While everyone thought she was defenseless, she had secretly arranged for two Nether Shades assassins to protect her.
“Don’t worry, they’re mine,” Ling Ziyan said smugly.
“Yours?” Yang Hao was stunned. Weren’t the Nether Shades part of the Ten Sword Stream?
“Idiot!” Ling Ziyan poked Yang Hao’s forehead. “I was once the Nether Shades’ leader, remember? Did you think I wouldn’t have any loyal followers?”
Now, everyone present finally understood Ling Ziyan’s brilliant scheme.
Xian Lan had tried to use her to manipulate Yang Hao, but Ling Ziyan had turned the tables, using Xian Lan to escape the Elder Mountain. Though she had been trapped by the Ten Sword Stream, she had bided her time—and even if she couldn’t escape, she had two elite assassins as backup.
Truly, a master strategist’s plan to secure the world.
With their safety assured, it was Yang Hao’s turn to settle scores with the Ten Sword Stream.
Zhou Yao, now reduced to a mere footnote, had already been executed on the dueling platform. Today’s battle, though tumultuous, had ended in Yang Hao’s overwhelming victory. The awe-inspiring display of the Sword’s Profound Truth had already been broadcast across the universe.
Now, the crisis had shifted to the Ten Sword Stream.
After ensuring Ling Ziyan’s safety, Yang Hao turned coldly toward the trembling ranks of the Ten Sword Stream’s swordsmen. Shadowmoon circled above him, radiating a murderous aura that forced the enemy back.
“What… what are you doing?” The Qilian Cultivator, stripped of his elder’s dignity, croaked.
“I won the duel. I’m claiming my prize.” Yang Hao ignored the surroundings, striding confidently toward the forest of swords. He returned to the dueling platform, reaching for the four divine swords embedded there.
“Stop!!!” This time, it was the Ten Sword Stream’s turn to panic. Nearly everyone roared in protest.
Yang Hao sneered. “This wager was your idea. You willingly staked these divine swords. Now that Zhou Yao is dead, do you dare go back on your word?”
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*
Five figures flashed like lightning, blocking Yang Hao’s path to the swords.
They were the remaining leaders of the Ten Sword Stream’s five great clans—the highest-ranking and most powerful among them. They knew one thing clearly: today’s bet could be lost, Zhou Yao could die, but under no circumstances could they afford to lose these four swords.
The Ten Sword Stream had already lost six divine swords to Yang Hao. If these four were taken too, the Ten Sword Stream would cease to exist in this world. They would be abandoned—by the Elder Council, by the universe’s nobility—without mercy.
Everything they had built would vanish.
“Yang Hao!” Lord Haiwang leaned on his cane. “You’ve won, but you cannot take the swords.”
“Oh?”
“Even if it costs our lives, we won’t let you take them!” the Qilian Cultivator shouted hoarsely.
“Your five lives won’t be enough to stop me.” Yang Hao’s domineering aura sent shivers through the crowd. Then, Shadowmoon manifested in a terrifying form—splitting into five beams of the Thousand-Mile Flowing Slash, aimed at the five clan leaders.
“Thousand-Mile Flowing Slash!!!” Yang Hao roared.
The five leaders joined forces, summoning their swords in a desperate counter.
*Clang!!!*
Four of the slashes turned into illusions, while the real one was neutralized by their combined strike.
But Yang Hao himself had transformed—into a sword. A sword capable of piercing the heavens, its radiance soaring skyward.
“The long sword is still in hand!” Yang Hao declared.
The Sword’s Profound Truth struck the five leaders with devastating force.
*Cough!*
The five supreme experts vomited blood, sent flying. Their subordinates scrambled to catch them, but the leaders were already on the brink of death, their faces deathly pale.
The Yan Clan’s healers rushed in, barely stabilizing them.
Meanwhile, Yang Hao had already pulled the four divine swords from the platform, raising them high for all to see.
Silence.
But only for a moment.
Then, the crowd erupted in deafening cheers. Some nobles even knelt, prostrating themselves before Yang Hao, who stood like a war god upon the platform. The power he had displayed was too immense, too overwhelming—every warrior present could only worship in awe.
What a brilliant woman, indeed.
Now that the people here were safe, it was Yang Hao’s turn to settle accounts with the Ten Sword Stream.
Zhou Yao, now reduced to a mere side character, had already been executed on the duel platform. Though the battle had been full of twists and turns, Yang Hao had emerged nearly victorious. The arrogant display of the Sword Ultimate Principle had already been broadcast to every corner of the universe.
Now, the crisis had shifted to the Ten Sword Stream.
After ensuring Ling Ziyan’s safety, Yang Hao turned coldly toward the trembling swordsmen of the Ten Sword Stream. Yingyue circled above him, radiating a chilling killing intent that forced the Ten Sword Stream members to retreat repeatedly.
“W-what are you going to do?” Qilian, the elder cultivator, completely losing his composure, asked hoarsely.
“I won the duel. Now I claim my prize.” Yang Hao didn’t even glance around. He calmly walked into the forest of swords, returning to the duel platform to retrieve the four divine swords embedded there.
“Stop!!!” This time, it was the Ten Sword Stream’s turn to panic. Almost everyone shouted at once.
Yang Hao sneered: “This bet was your idea. You willingly offered the divine swords as stakes. Now that Zhou Yao is dead, do you want to renege?”
Whoosh! Five figures flashed like lightning, blocking the path between Yang Hao and the divine swords.
These were the remaining five clan leaders of the Ten Sword Stream—the highest-ranking and most powerful individuals in the Ten Sword Stream. They all knew clearly that today’s bet could fail, and they could lose Zhou Yao, but no matter what, they could not lose these four swords anymore.
The Ten Sword Stream had already lost six divine swords to Yang Hao. If they lost these four as well, the Ten Sword Stream would no longer exist. They would be abandoned, mercilessly cast aside by the Elder Council and the aristocracy of this universe.
All their past achievements would vanish into oblivion.
“Yang Hao!” Haiwang Gong leaned on his cane. “You’ve won, but you cannot take the swords.”
“Oh?”
“Even if we must give our five lives, we won’t let you take the swords!” Qilian shouted desperately.
But Zhou Yao was quite pleased with himself, holding the hostages as his trump card. “Yang Hao, you can only lose. This setup was designed for you from the start. Your woman and child are surrounded by the Ten Sword Sect. If you dare to fight back, she will die—she will definitely die.” Zhou Yao wasn’t wrong at all. Although Xian Lan wasn’t present, Ling Ziyan was completely trapped within the ranks of the Ten Sword Sect. From the very beginning, the reason the Ten Sword Sect had encircled the dueling platform was precisely this.
Though Ling Ziyan herself possessed martial skills, she was pregnant and certainly couldn’t withstand the attacks of so many swordsmen. Moreover, the most formidable elders of the Ten Sword Sect—Lord Haiwang of the Wang Clan and the Qilian Cultivator from the Cultivator Forest—were less than a hundred paces away from her. With their strength, killing Ling Ziyan would be effortless.
Could Yang Hao move? He owed Ling Ziyan. Back at the Three Crystal Sea, she had nearly died for him. And when she was captured by the elders of the Rong Hui Sect, Yang Hao hadn’t gone to rescue her.
One could only imagine the immense sacrifices and efforts this woman had made to protect the child in her womb—Yang Hao’s child.
How could Yang Hao let her die?
Zhou Yao seemed to have seen through this. Deep down, he truly admired Princess Xian Lan’s ingenious scheme—her ability to devise such conspiracies was indeed unparalleled.
The sword, radiant as starlight, flashed once more. The wounds forming the Big Dipper on Yang Hao’s body gushed blood, eliciting gasps from the spectators.
This reversal was something no one had anticipated. Moments ago, Yang Hao’s explosive display of power had convinced everyone that victory was his. Yet in an instant, Yang Hao stood motionless, like a puppet, numb even as the sword pierced him.
In truth, Yang Hao was seething with rage—his fury churned like a tempest within his chest.
Yang Hao was not a man who relished killing. But over time, he had realized that there were far too many people who deserved to die, far too many who needed to die.
People like Zhou Yao. People like the Ten Sword Sect. They all deserved death.
Zhou Yao finally prepared to unleash his strongest strike. He had sacrificed his uncle, even gone so far as to bring out four divine swords—all for this one attack against Yang Hao.
The Star Circus had spent centuries refining this technique, claiming it could rival even the legendary Dragon Sword.
“Stellar Annihilation!”
The sky darkened once more, the stars reappearing in full splendor, their brilliance eclipsing the sun. Countless beams of starlight erupted, silver chains of light converging onto the star-forged sword in Zhou Yao’s hand.
That sword now held the condensed power of countless stars—the energy left behind by the cosmos before annihilation.
When Zhou Yao unleashed his strike, the air trembled with an ancient, overwhelming aura, as though countless stars were plummeting like rain in an instant.
The radiance of starlight enveloped Yang Hao.
Anyone could see that Yang Hao now faced the greatest danger of his life.
Yet he seemed oblivious, not even bothering to properly face Zhou Yao’s strike—his strongest attack. It was as if he had given up.
Zhou Yao thought so too. In truth, he had been confident of victory from the moment Xian Lan decided to use Ling Ziyan as a hostage. They knew Yang Hao wouldn’t dare resist.
And now, it was happening exactly as predicted. Yang Hao stood there, utterly defenseless, as if ready to trade his life for Ling Ziyan’s.
But Yang Hao sighed. “Why?”
Why?
“Why must you force me to kill?” Yang Hao’s gaze suddenly turned as cold as a frozen abyss.
Zhou Yao, mid-air, felt a chill—but he couldn’t stop now, nor did he intend to. He believed that even if Yang Hao struck now, he couldn’t possibly withstand “Stellar Annihilation.”
Yang Hao raised a hand, his fingertips trembling.
Suddenly, thousands of cold gleams materialized in the air. Without resistance, hundreds of sword beams pierced Zhou Yao’s body. The radiance of Stellar Annihilation vanished in an instant, Zhou Yao’s saintly power draining away through countless wounds.
His body was carved into countless pieces, like death by a thousand cuts, leaving only a head and a mutilated corpse to fall.
But the sword beams didn’t stop. As Yang Hao’s fingers twitched, the light expanded rapidly, spreading in all directions. The Ten Sword Sect swordsmen at the edges of the dueling platform had no time to react before Yang Hao’s sword beams tore them apart.
“This is the Sword’s Profound Truth—the masterpiece of the greatest swordsman in this universe, Situ Hai!” Yang Hao roared in fury. “Now you will learn that a Sword God is invincible—forever invincible!”
The endless Sword’s Profound Truth expanded in the air, devouring all life around it. Yang Hao unleashed it without restraint—the first and only time he had used it at full power since inheriting it from Situ Hai.
Zhou Yao collapsed, his life at its end. He hadn’t even gotten the chance to face Yang Hao in a true, all-out duel before being utterly crushed.
“Kill her!! Kill her!!!! Kill her!!!!!” Zhou Yao screamed with his last breath, realizing Yang Hao intended to annihilate the Ten Sword Sect in one fell swoop while rescuing Ling Ziyan. With his final strength, he urged the Ten Sword Sect’s elites to act.
But then, Zhou Yao saw something astonishing—his last shock before death.
Ling Ziyan was running away!!
This woman, who had seemed oblivious to the danger around her, had taken advantage of the chaos when Yang Hao unleashed the Sword’s Profound Truth. While the nearby swordsmen were distracted, she darted toward Lan Ling’s side.
This was beyond the Ten Sword Sect’s expectations—beyond even Xian Lan’s meticulous planning.
Xian Lan had believed she had complete control over Ling Ziyan, who had obeyed her every word. Today, Xian Lan had arranged everything perfectly, placing Ling Ziyan in the heart of the Ten Sword Sect’s encirclement—an airtight plan.
Yet Ling Ziyan had escaped. The moment Yang Hao’s attack created the slightest opening, she had bolted toward the Dan Ding Sword Sect without hesitation.
Lan Ling noticed her too. Stunned and furious, Lan Ling led the Snowy Night Star Lion Corps and the Dan Ding Sword Sect in a desperate charge to rescue Ling Ziyan.
Under the cover of Yang Hao’s Sword’s Profound Truth, the distance between them closed rapidly—they were almost within reach.
But then, a few individuals acted, changing everything.
The patriarchs of the Ten Sword Sect made their move. Instead of pursuing Ling Ziyan, they surrounded Yang Hao, intercepting the majority of his sword beams.
This gave the Ten Sword Sect swordsmen the opening they needed. They redirected their focus, closing in on Ling Ziyan. Though she ran fast, her pregnancy slowed her down. Before she could reach Lan Ling, several elite swordsmen from the Wang Clan drove her back.
“Ziyan!!” Yang Hao bellowed, riding Shadowmoon in a desperate charge.
“Ziyan!!!” Lan Ling screamed, her silver spear at full power, reducing those around her to bloody chunks.
“Kill her! Now!!” the Qilian Cultivator shouted. “Kill her!!!”
Yang Hao and Lan Ling fought with everything they had, but the Ten Sword Sect was faster. Two master swordsmen raised their blades, poised to strike Ling Ziyan’s belly.
A split second remained.
The danger was imminent!
Then, Ling Ziyan did something unexpected. She stopped, clapping her hands three times.
Two bursts of black mist exploded beside her.
Two purple-clad assassins from the Nether Assassination Corps appeared, their swords flashing like black lightning, cutting down the Ten Sword Sect swordsmen before they could react.
Then, they whisked Ling Ziyan away at an impossible speed, vanishing into the ranks of the Dan Ding Sword Sect.
The situation had completely reversed.
By the time Yang Hao reached Ling Ziyan’s side, the Ten Sword Sect had lost all control. They could only gather outside the Dan Ding Sword Sect’s formation, watching helplessly as Yang Hao and Ling Ziyan reunited.
“Ziyan, you scared me to death!” Lan Ling hugged Ling Ziyan tightly, bursting into tears—this woman, who had never been able to distinguish friend from rival.
Ling Ziyan wiped the sweat from her brow, shooting a glare at the awkwardly standing Yang Hao.
“Stupid man. If I’d waited for you to save me, it would’ve been two corpses by now. Even if you don’t want me, at least care about your son.”
Yang Hao nearly fainted. This woman’s sharp tongue hadn’t changed a bit.
Hearing about the child, Lan Ling loosened her grip, glancing between Yang Hao and Ling Ziyan before wisely staying silent.
“What just happened?” Yang Hao was still bewildered.
“Do I look dumb enough to get kidnapped?” Ling Ziyan smirked. “The moment Xian Lan suggested I come see you, I knew she was plotting something. But I played along—how else was I supposed to escape the Elder Mountain?”
Yang Hao’s jaw dropped. He’d met bold people, but none as reckless as this. To escape the Elder Mountain and reach him, she’d risked being taken hostage.
But Ling Ziyan wasn’t one to act without preparation. While everyone thought her defenseless, she had secretly arranged for two Nether Assassination Corps elites to stand by.
A true strategist, this woman.
With their safety secured, it was Yang Hao’s turn to settle scores with the Ten Sword Sect.
Zhou Yao, now a mere footnote, had already met his gruesome end on the dueling platform. Today’s battle had been tumultuous, but Yang Hao had emerged victorious. The overwhelming display of the Sword’s Profound Truth had been broadcast across the universe.
Now, the crisis had shifted to the Ten Sword Sect.
After ensuring Ling Ziyan’s safety, Yang Hao turned coldly toward the trembling ranks of the Ten Sword Sect. Shadowmoon circled above him, radiating killing intent, forcing the swordsmen back step by step.
“What… what do you want?” The Qilian Cultivator, stripped of his elder’s dignity, croaked.
“I won the duel. I’m claiming my prize.” Yang Hao strode past them without a glance, returning to the dueling platform to retrieve the four divine swords embedded there.
“Stop!!!” The Ten Sword Sect erupted in protest.
Yang Hao sneered. “This wager was your idea. You offered these swords as stakes. Now that Zhou Yao is dead, do you dare renege?”
Whoosh! Five figures flashed like lightning, blocking Yang Hao’s path to the swords.
They were the five remaining patriarchs of the Ten Sword Sect—the highest-ranking, most formidable warriors left. They knew today’s gamble had failed. They could lose Zhou Yao, but they could not afford to lose these four swords.
The Ten Sword Sect had already lost six divine swords to Yang Hao. Losing these four would mean their end—abandoned by the Elder Council, forsaken by the universe’s nobility.
Everything they had built would vanish.
“Yang Hao!” Lord Haiwang leaned on his cane. “You’ve won, but you cannot take these swords.”
“Oh?”
“Even if it costs our lives, we won’t let you take them!” the Qilian Cultivator rasped.
“Your five lives won’t stop me.” Yang Hao’s dominance sent shivers through the crowd. Then, Shadowmoon manifested in a terrifying display—splitting into five beams of the Thousand-Mile Slash, aimed at the five patriarchs.
“Thousand-Mile Slash!!!” Yang Hao roared.
The five patriarchs combined their strength, raising their swords in defense.
Clang!!!
Four of the slashes dissipated as illusions. The real attack was barely deflected by their combined might.
But Yang Hao himself had become a sword—a blade capable of piercing the heavens. Its radiance soared skyward.
“The long sword remains in hand!” Yang Hao declared.
The Sword’s Profound Truth crashed into the five patriarchs.
Gah!!!
The five masters spat blood, sent flying. Their disciples scrambled to catch them, but the patriarchs were already on the brink of death, faces ghastly pale.
Only the intervention of the Yan Clan’s healers saved them.
Meanwhile, Yang Hao had already claimed the four divine swords, raising them high before the awestruck crowd.
Silence—brief, then shattered by thunderous cheers. Some nobles even knelt, worshiping Yang Hao like a god of war. The power he had displayed was too immense, too overwhelming. Every warrior present could only revere him.
It split into five figures, becoming five thousand-mile killing waves, rushing toward the five clan leaders—the five elders.
“Ten-Thousand-Mile Killing Waves!!!” Yang Hao roared.
The five clan leaders, desperate, combined their strength, summoning their swords.
Clang!!!
Four of the killing waves turned into illusions. The only real killing intent was extinguished by the five elders’ combined strike.
But Yang Hao himself had transformed into a sword—a sword capable of piercing the sky. Its brilliant light surged upward.
“The sword is still in my hand!” Yang Hao shouted.
The sharp Sword Ultimate Principle struck the five clan leaders.
Aaaah!!!
The five peerless experts spat blood and were blasted away. Their disciples scrambled to catch them, but the five clan leaders were already barely breathing, their faces deathly pale.
The Yan Clan quickly stepped in to heal them, barely saving their lives.
But on the duel platform, Yang Hao had already pulled out the four divine swords, raising them high for all to see.
Silence—only for a moment. Then, thunderous cheers erupted like a tidal wave. Some nobles even knelt and bowed reverently to Yang Hao, who stood on the duel platform like a war god. The power Yang Hao had unleashed was simply too immense, too overwhelming. Every martial artist could only feel awe and admiration.
In this battle, Yang Hao officially became a miracle figure known throughout the universe, his sword’s ultimate technique displayed before every viewer watching the live broadcast.
Today, Yang Hao defeated opponents who were once the top experts in the universe. Zhou Yao was already at the peak of the Saint Domain, which initially caused a stir, yet he was practically helpless against Yang Hao and was killed mercilessly. The five family heads were the last remaining experts of the Ten Sword Style, and their combined attack could likely overwhelm even the senior elders. Yet Yang Hao effortlessly forced them into a desperate situation.
What does this indicate? It likely means only one thing—that Yang Hao’s strength has surpassed that of the senior elders. And this scene was broadcast live, in full view of everyone.
In this battle, Yang Hao officially became a household name across the universe as the Miracle Man. The power of his sword’s profound essence was displayed before everyone watching the live broadcast.
Today, the opponents Yang Hao defeated were all once first-class masters in the universe. Zhou Yao was already at the peak of the Saint Realm, which had caused an uproar from the start. Yet, Zhou Yao was effortlessly slain by Yang Hao without even putting up a fight. The five family heads were the last remaining elite masters of the Ten Sword Streams. Their combined strike could hardly be withstood even by the Elder Council’s stewards, yet Yang Hao easily forced them into a desperate situation.
What does this mean? It can only mean one thing—Yang Hao’s strength has surpassed that of the Elder Council’s stewards. And this scene was broadcast live in its entirety for all to witness.
From this battle onward, Yang Hao was recognized as the undisputed top master in the universe today. His reputation had even approached that of the Supreme One.
This was a new day, and a new legend was born.
The night after the decisive battle was excruciatingly difficult for the Ten Sword Streams and the Elder Council.
But for some, it was a night of unparalleled happiness.
For example, within the Dan Ding Sword Sect, laughter echoed from the entrance to every building, especially the wild laughter of Zhuge Jian, which seemed capable of piercing the heavens. As it turned out, the biggest beneficiary of this duel was none other than the Dan Ding Group under Zhuge Jian’s leadership. This old man had quietly become the bookmaker for the duel’s betting pool—and the biggest one backing Yang Hao’s victory.
Originally, he wouldn’t have made much profit since most people bet on Yang Hao to win. Zhuge Jian had closed the betting early, ensuring at best a break-even outcome.
But who could have guessed that the damned Zhou Yao would do him a huge favor? That show-off flaunted his Saint Realm radiance, changing the betting outcome at the last moment.
After watching the live broadcast, people across the universe frantically switched their bets to Zhou Yao. Seizing the opportunity, Zhuge Jian aggressively closed the bets. When the results came out, the Dan Ding Group swept the board, raking in hundreds of trillions of imperial credits in a single stroke.
Without a doubt, after tonight, the Dan Ding Group would become the top merchant enterprise in the universe.
Zhuge Jian, ecstatic over his windfall, naturally celebrated by splurging billions of imperial credits on a victory feast, leaving the entire Dan Ding Sect drunk and jubilant.
However, the hero of the celebration, Yang Hao, was absent. At that moment, he was busy with Lan Ling, handling an important matter—
Pacifying a pregnant woman!
Ling Ziyan was sobbing in Yang Hao’s room. When it came to playing the victim, Ling Ziyan and Princess Xianlan were evenly matched. But Ling Ziyan’s tears had a solid foundation in reality.
Between sobs, she coherently accused him: “I went through so much to escape, carried your child for ten months, couldn’t sleep from missing you… And what do you do? You hook up with my sister! You lecher! You heartless, ungrateful scoundrel…”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Yang Hao, sweating profusely, could only bow his head in apology.
“Lan Ling…” Ling Ziyan grabbed Lan Ling’s hand, startling her so much she nearly drew her silver spear. But Ling Ziyan, still tearful, continued, “Lan Ling, I know you’re the most innocent. You must have been tricked by that guy. He fools one after another…”
Lan Ling froze for a moment before nodding emphatically. “You’re right. I was tricked by him.”
“Uh…” Yang Hao opened his mouth to defend himself.
But Ling Ziyan cut him off decisively. “No talking! I’m not done crying yet.”
Yang Hao deflated, pulling a pitiful face.
“What am I supposed to do now? A pregnant woman like me, all alone and helpless—should I go beg in the streets of the universe?” Ling Ziyan sobbed dramatically.
“He wouldn’t dare!” Lan Ling declared with righteous indignation. “Ziyan, don’t worry. I’ll make sure he takes responsibility and marries you. If he dares neglect you and the child, he’ll answer to me.”
“He marries me?” Ling Ziyan covered her face with her hands, peeking through her fingers. “Then what about you?”
“Me…” Only then did Lan Ling think of herself. She suddenly realized that after enduring hardship, sweetness hadn’t come—only more bitterness. “I… I’ll leave him, of course. You two belong together. You even have his child…”
Lan Ling’s heart ached, but this seemed the only solution. Unlike Xianlan, who only had an engagement that could be broken off, Ling Ziyan carried Yang Hao’s flesh and blood—something that couldn’t simply be returned.
Lan Ling’s family already disapproved of Yang Hao. If he married one woman, they’d refuse; marrying two would cause an uproar in the Lan family. Moreover, Lan Ling’s proud nature made sharing a husband unthinkable. So the moment she saw Ling Ziyan, she had already resolved to step aside.
“Hey!” Yang Hao couldn’t take it anymore.
“Shut up!” Both women snapped at him.
Yang Hao shut his mouth.
Ling Ziyan burst into loud sobs again. “You two are trying to kill me! You want me and my baby dead! I don’t want to live anymore!”
“What’s wrong?” Lan Ling panicked. “Ziyan, don’t cry. Didn’t I say I’d step aside?”
Ling Ziyan cried even louder. “You’re pressuring me! I have prenatal depression now. I’ll go crazy! The universe will have another madwoman!”
“Please, stop this.” Lan Ling’s tears fell in desperation. “Ziyan, what do you want? I really won’t be with Yang Hao anymore.”
“Even if you’re not with him, what will people think of me? They’ll say I stole your man. How can I face anyone after this?” Ling Ziyan’s sobs didn’t stop, yet her words flowed seamlessly—a testament to her acting skills.
“Alright, alright.” Lan Ling surrendered completely. “Just tell me what you want me to do. Whatever you say, I’ll do it.”
“You promise?” Ling Ziyan’s tears stopped abruptly.
“Yes, yes.” Lan Ling, now the one sniffling, braced herself for Ling Ziyan’s demands—never seeing Yang Hao again, cutting all ties, and so on.
But Ling Ziyan grinned mischievously, raising a finger. “Then I want… you to marry Yang Hao with me!”
“What?!” Yang Hao and Lan Ling exclaimed in unison.
“You won’t agree?” Ling Ziyan’s tears cascaded like pearls again.
Yang Hao scrambled to wipe her tears. “We agree, we agree!” He shot Lan Ling a pleading look, urging her to comply.
By now, everyone understood—Ling Ziyan’s act was just to ease the awkwardness between the three of them. True to her reputation as the Elder Council’s most cunning disciple, her schemes were flawless.
Ling Ziyan had long seen the bond between Yang Hao and Lan Ling. But having grown up with Lan Ling, she knew how stubborn the girl was. If she simply returned to Yang Hao, Lan Ling’s only choice would be to leave—permanently.
So Ling Ziyan used herself and the child as leverage, forcing Lan Ling to agree to marry Yang Hao together.
In the end, it was Ling Ziyan’s meticulous planning and selfless love for Yang Hao that saved the day.
Yang Hao’s heart swelled with mixed emotions—shock, joy, and a bittersweet ache.
“You… you won’t agree?” Seeing Lan Ling’s reddened eyes and silence, Ling Ziyan climbed off the bed. “If you don’t, I’ll jump with my son!”
She even made a move toward the windowsill.
Yang Hao stayed silent and unmoving.
Lan Ling finally broke, rushing to hug Ling Ziyan as they cried together.
“I agree! I agree, Ziyan. I’ll do whatever you say.”
While hugging Lan Ling and crying, Ling Ziyan flashed Yang Hao a triumphant “V” sign behind her back—utterly shameless.
Once the tears dried, the three sat together on the bed—Yang Hao’s bed was spacious enough for a few more women, after all.
Lan Ling alternated between pressing her ear to Ling Ziyan’s belly to listen to the baby and scolding Yang Hao for neglecting them, making Ling Ziyan laugh happily.
With the two women reconciled, Yang Hao was the one suffering—he still hadn’t gotten to touch his own child.
Finally, Lan Ling took pity. “Come on, you can listen too.”
Overjoyed, Yang Hao leaped over, first kissing Ling Ziyan’s belly before pressing his ear against it. At seven months, the baby was fully developed and active—probably annoyed by the noise outside, it kicked Yang Hao’s face several times through its mother’s womb.
“Master, can you hear?” Yang Hao called out to Hunyuanzi, who was in seclusion.
“I hear it, I hear it!” Hunyuanzi laughed breathlessly. “That’s my grand-disciple! My good grand-disciple! The Dan Ding Sect has an heir!”
“What?!” Ling Ziyan and Lan Ling exclaimed. “Our son joining the Aphrodisiac Sect? No way!”
Hunyuanzi quickly retreated into seclusion—the old sage knew better than to mess with two angry mothers-to-be.
After the commotion, the room gradually settled into peace.
Ling Ziyan began recounting her ordeal after Elder Rong Hui took her back to the Elder Mountain.
It turned out Ling Ziyan, Xianlan, and Lan Ling had been raised together under Rong Hui’s tutelage. Later, Lan Ling joined the Imperial Guards under Qin Feng’s guidance, while Ling Ziyan served the Elder Council as an envoy.
When the Elder Council learned Ling Ziyan was pregnant with Yang Hao’s child, they were furious. After Rong Hui brought her back, Steward Hei Feng and others wanted to execute her and extract the baby for a sacrificial ritual targeting Yang Hao—a cruel spell requiring a relative’s blood.
At the critical moment, Rong Hui couldn’t bear to see her disciple die and shielded her, confining her to a meditation chamber where only Xianlan could visit.
When Princess Xianlan “rescued” Ling Ziyan to see Yang Hao, Ling Ziyan had already sensed Xianlan’s scheme and played along, waiting until the duel’s climax to escape.
Hearing this, Lan Ling was confused. “You said Xianlan had a scheme? What was it? Why harm you and Yang Hao? How did you know?”
“Because…” Ling Ziyan hesitated theatrically.
“Because Xianlan is the Enchantress,” Yang Hao cut in bluntly. “The one controlling the Ten Sword Streams and colluding with the Elder Council—it’s Xianlan.”
“What?!” Lan Ling gasped.
“How did you know?” Ling Ziyan was annoyed.
“Why wouldn’t I know?” Yang Hao smirked, stretching his legs across both women. “Not just me—even Emperor Yinglie probably knows. Secrets like the Hidden Dragon Pavilion reaching the Elder Council? Impossible without a mole in the palace.”
“But it doesn’t have to be Xianlan.”
“It is Xianlan,” Ling Ziyan confirmed. “She was always the Elders’ protégée. Even after returning to court, she remained their long-groomed Enchantress. Many royal incidents were her doing.”
“Why?” Lan Ling still couldn’t believe it.
“No idea,” Ling Ziyan said bluntly.
But Yang Hao had some insight into Xianlan’s motives. “That Enchantress grew up with the Elders, saw their power, and decided the royals couldn’t win. She thought pleasing them was the only way to save the imperial family.”
“So she meant well for Emperor Yinglie?” Lan Ling asked hopefully.
“Maybe.” Yang Hao sighed, holding both women’s hands as he gazed out the window. “Maybe.”
The Great Selection was approaching.
In truth, this was Yang Hao’s first time hearing of the “Great Selection,” yet now he was to be one of its key arbiters.
In the Galactic Empire, all planetary officials served five-year terms. Upon expiration, the central government issued a Great Selection list, reassigning posts across the empire.
This system governed the empire’s administration and power distribution. The Great Selection decided the fate of billions of planets, with thousands of core systems at its heart.
The list of governors for these core systems was the most contested, traditionally split evenly between the Emperor and the Elder Council—the Emperor holding strategic points, the Elders resource-rich worlds for cultivation needs.
But this time, things were different. The once-dominant Elder Council, which had barely tolerated sharing power, had suffered repeated defeats by Yang Hao, with two stewards severely wounded.
Now, all eyes were on how the new Great Selection would divide influence between the weakened Elders and the resurgent throne.
The night after the decisive battle was particularly difficult for the Ten Sword Style and the Elder Council.
But for some, it was the happiest of times.
In this battle, Yang Hao officially became a household name across the universe—a man of miracles. The profound power of his sword techniques was displayed before everyone watching the live broadcast.
Today, Yang Hao defeated none other than the top-tier masters of the universe. Zhou Yao, already at the peak of the Saint Realm, had caused an uproar from the very beginning. Yet, he was effortlessly slain by Yang Hao, barely able to put up a fight. The five family heads, the last remaining elite of the Ten Sword Streams, launched a combined attack that even the Elder Council’s overseers would struggle to withstand. Yet, Yang Hao casually forced them into a desperate corner.
What did this mean? It could only mean one thing—Yang Hao’s strength had surpassed even that of the Elder Council’s overseers. And this scene was broadcast live, unedited, for all to witness.
From this battle onward, Yang Hao was recognized as the undisputed strongest warrior in the universe. His fame had even begun to approach that of the Supreme Sovereign.
This marked a new day—the birth of a new legend.
The night after the decisive battle was excruciating for the Ten Sword Streams and the Elder Council.
But for some, it was a night of unparalleled joy.
For instance, within the Alchemy Sword Sect, laughter echoed from the gates to every building, especially the uproarious guffaws of Zhuge Jian, which seemed capable of shaking the heavens. As it turned out, the biggest beneficiary of this duel was none other than the Alchemy Group under Zhuge Jian’s leadership. The old man had quietly positioned himself as the bookmaker for the duel’s betting pool—and the biggest backer betting on Yang Hao’s victory.
Originally, he wouldn’t have made much profit, as most people had bet on Yang Hao. Zhuge Jian had closed the betting early, ensuring at best a break-even outcome.
But who could have guessed that the damned Zhou Yao would do him a massive favor? The man, eager to flaunt his Saint Realm radiance, altered the betting odds at the last moment.
After witnessing the live broadcast, the entire universe frantically switched their bets to Zhou Yao. Seizing the opportunity, Zhuge Jian aggressively closed the bets. When the results came out, the Alchemy Group had swept the board, raking in hundreds of trillions in imperial currency in a single stroke.
Without a doubt, after tonight, the Alchemy Group would become the foremost merchant empire in the cosmos.
With such a windfall, Zhuge Jian was naturally ecstatic. He splurged billions in imperial currency on a grand victory feast, leaving the entire Alchemy Sword Sect in a drunken, jubilant mess.
However, the hero of the celebration, Yang Hao, was absent. At that moment, he was busy with Lan Ling, handling an important matter—
Pacifying a pregnant woman!
Ling Ziyan was sobbing in Yang Hao’s room. When it came to playing the victim, Ling Ziyan and Princess Xianlan were evenly matched. But Ling Ziyan’s tears had a solid foundation in reality.
Between sobs, she delivered a clear, well-structured accusation:
“I went through so much to escape… I carried your child for ten months… I couldn’t sleep from missing you… And what do you do? You seduce my best friend! You scoundrel! You heartless, ungrateful betrayer…”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Yang Hao wiped sweat from his brow, bowing his head in apology.
“Xiao Ling…” Ling Ziyan grabbed Lan Ling’s hand, startling her so much she nearly drew her silver spear. But Ling Ziyan, still tearful, continued, “Xiao Ling, I know you’re the most innocent one. You must have been tricked by that scoundrel. He deceives one after another…”
Lan Ling blinked, then nodded emphatically. “That’s right. I was deceived by him.”
“Uh…” Yang Hao opened his mouth to defend himself.
But Ling Ziyan cut him off decisively. “No talking! I’m not done crying yet.”
Yang Hao deflated, pulling a pitiful face.
“What am I supposed to do now? A pregnant woman, all alone in the universe… Am I supposed to go begging?” Ling Ziyan sobbed dramatically.
“He wouldn’t dare!” Lan Ling declared with righteous fury. “Ziyan, don’t worry. I’ll make sure he takes responsibility and marries you. If he dares neglect you and the child, I’ll make him regret it.”
“Marry me?” Ling Ziyan covered her face with her hands, peeking through her fingers. “Then what about you?”
“Me…” Lan Ling suddenly realized her own predicament. After enduring so much hardship, she had expected relief—only to find herself in deeper misery. “I… I’ll leave him, of course. You two belong together. You even have his child…”
Her heart ached, but this seemed the only solution. Unlike Xianlan, whose engagement could be broken off, Ling Ziyan carried Yang Hao’s flesh and blood—something that couldn’t simply be returned.
Lan Ling’s family already disapproved of Yang Hao. If he married one woman, they’d protest. Marrying two? The Lan family would revolt. Moreover, Lan Ling’s proud nature made sharing a husband unthinkable. So, upon seeing Ling Ziyan, she had already resolved to step aside.
“Hey!” Yang Hao couldn’t take it anymore.
“Shut up!” both women snapped.
Yang Hao shut up.
Ling Ziyan burst into fresh tears. “You two are trying to kill me! You want me and my baby to die! I don’t want to live anymore!”
“What’s wrong?” Lan Ling panicked. “Ziyan, don’t cry. Didn’t I say I’d step aside?”
Ling Ziyan wailed louder. “You’re pressuring me! I have prenatal depression! I’ll go mad! The universe will have another lunatic!”
“Please, stop.” Lan Ling’s own tears fell. “Ziyan, what do you want? I swear I won’t be with Yang Hao.”
“Even if you leave him, what will people say about me? They’ll say I stole your man! How can I face anyone after this?” Ling Ziyan’s sobs didn’t hinder her speech—a testament to her skill.
“Alright, alright.” Lan Ling surrendered completely. “Tell me what you want. Whatever you say, I’ll do it.”
“You promise?” Ling Ziyan’s tears stopped instantly.
“Yes.” Lan Ling sniffled, bracing for demands like never seeing Yang Hao again or cutting all ties.
But Ling Ziyan grinned mischievously, raising a finger. “Then I want… you to marry Yang Hao with me!”
“What?!” Yang Hao and Lan Ling exclaimed in unison.
“You won’t agree?” Ling Ziyan’s tears returned like a string of pearls.
Yang Hao scrambled to wipe her tears. “We agree! We agree!” He shot Lan Ling a pleading look.
By now, everyone understood—Ling Ziyan’s theatrics were meant to ease the awkwardness between them. She was truly the most cunning disciple the elders had ever taught.
Ling Ziyan had long recognized Yang Hao and Lan Ling’s feelings. But having grown up with Lan Ling, she knew how stubborn the girl could be. If she simply returned to Yang Hao, Lan Ling’s only option would be to leave—permanently.
So Ling Ziyan used herself and her child as leverage, forcing Lan Ling to agree to share Yang Hao.
In the end, it was Ling Ziyan’s meticulous planning and selflessness that saved the day.
Yang Hao felt a mix of shock, joy, and bittersweet emotion.
“You… you won’t agree?” Ling Ziyan eyed Lan Ling’s reddened eyes and silence, then slid off the bed. “If you won’t, I’ll jump with my son!”
She even made a move toward the windowsill.
Yang Hao stayed silent and still.
Finally, Lan Ling couldn’t take it. She rushed over, embracing Ling Ziyan as they both cried.
“I agree! I agree, Ziyan! I’ll do whatever you say!”
Ling Ziyan hugged her back, flashing Yang Hao a triumphant V-sign behind Lan Ling’s back.
Once the tears dried, the three sat together on the bed—plenty of space for more, if needed.
Lan Ling alternated between listening to the baby’s kicks and scolding Yang Hao for neglecting the mother and child, making Ling Ziyan beam with joy.
With the two women reconciled, Yang Hao was the one suffering—he still hadn’t touched his own child.
Finally, Lan Ling took pity. “Come here. Listen.”
Overjoyed, Yang Hao leaped over, first kissing Ling Ziyan’s belly, then pressing his ear against it. At seven months, the baby was fully developed, kicking vigorously—probably annoyed by the noise. The little one delivered several strong kicks to Yang Hao’s face through the womb.
“Master, can you hear?” Yang Hao summoned Hun Yuanzi from seclusion.
“I hear! I hear!” Hun Yuanzi laughed breathlessly. “My grand-disciple! Our Alchemy Sword Sect has an heir!”
“What?” Ling Ziyan and Lan Ling protested. “Our son joining the Aphrodisiac Sect? No way!”
Hun Yuanzi retreated into seclusion—wise enough to avoid the wrath of two mothers.
After the commotion, the room settled into calm.
Ling Ziyan recounted her ordeal after Elder Rong Hui dragged her back to the Elder Mountain.
She, Xianlan, and Lan Ling had been raised together under Rong Hui’s tutelage. Later, Lan Ling joined the Imperial Guards under Qin Feng’s guidance, while Ling Ziyan served the Elder Council as an envoy.
When the elders learned of her pregnancy, they were furious. Rong Hui shielded her from execution by Overseer Hei Feng, who wanted to kill her and use the child in a dark ritual against Yang Hao—a spell requiring a relative’s blood.
Locked in the Elder Mountain’s meditation chamber, only Xianlan could visit.
When Xianlan “rescued” Ling Ziyan to confront Yang Hao, Ling Ziyan had already sensed her scheme and played along, escaping at the duel’s climax.
“Xianlan had a scheme?” Lan Ling frowned. “Why would she harm you and Yang Hao? How did you know?”
“Because…” Ling Ziyan hesitated theatrically.
“Because Xianlan is the Enchantress,” Yang Hao stated bluntly. “The one controlling the Ten Sword Streams and colluding with the elders—it’s Xianlan.”
“What?!” Lan Ling gasped.
“How did you know?” Ling Ziyan pouted.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Yang Hao smirked, stretching his legs across both women. “Even Emperor Yinglie probably knows. Secrets like the Dragon Vault couldn’t leak to the elders without an insider.”
“But why Xianlan?”
“It’s her,” Ling Ziyan confirmed. “She studied under the overseers before returning to court. She’s been the elders’ puppet for years—behind many royal scandals.”
“Why?” Lan Ling struggled to believe it.
“No idea,” Ling Ziyan admitted.
But Yang Hao had a theory. “The Enchantress grew up with the elders. She believes the royals can’t win, so she sides with the elders to preserve the throne.”
“So… she meant well?” Lan Ling clung to hope.
“Maybe.” Yang Hao sighed, gripping both women’s hands. “Maybe.”
The Great Selection was approaching.
Though Yang Hao had never heard of it before, he was now one of its key arbiters.
In the Galactic Empire, planetary governors served five-year terms. The Great Selection reassigned them, shaping the empire’s power structure.
At its core were a thousand critical systems—the focal point of factional struggles.
Traditionally, the emperor and Elder Council split these appointments evenly. The emperor held strategic systems, while the elders took resource-rich ones.
But now, with the Ten Sword Streams weakened and the elders humiliated by Yang Hao, the balance had shifted.
This Great Selection would redefine the empire’s future.
And all eyes were on Yang Hao.
Originally, he wouldn’t have made much profit because most people bet on Yang Hao to win. Zhuge Jian had closed the betting early, ensuring at best a no-profit, no-loss situation.
But no one expected Zhou Yao to unintentionally help him out. That guy loved to show off his Saint Domain radiance, which unexpectedly changed the betting outcome at the last moment.
After the entire universe watched the live broadcast, people rushed to change their bets to Zhou Yao. Zhuge Jian seized the opportunity to buy back all the bets. When the final result was revealed, the Dan Ding Group swept all the bookmakers, winning hundreds of trillions of imperial credits in one fell swoop.
Without a doubt, after tonight, the Dan Ding Group would become the number one commercial entity in the universe.
Zhuge Jian’s windfall naturally made him ecstatic, so he spent several billion imperial credits to host a grand celebration banquet, leaving the entire Dan Ding Sect drunk, laughing, and in high spirits.
However, the guest of honor at this celebration, Yang Hao, was absent. At this moment, he was busy doing something important with Lan Ling.
In this battle, Yang Hao officially became a household name across the universe, a man of miracles. The power of his sword’s profound essence was displayed before everyone watching the live broadcast.
Today, the opponents Yang Hao defeated were all once the top-tier masters of the universe. Zhou Yao was already at the peak of the Saint Realm, which had caused an uproar from the start. Yet, Zhou Yao was effortlessly slain by Yang Hao, barely able to fight back. The five family heads were the last remaining masters of the Ten Sword Streams. Their combined strike could likely overwhelm even the Elder Council’s executives, yet Yang Hao easily forced them into a corner.
What does this mean? It can only mean one thing—Yang Hao’s strength has surpassed that of the Elder Council’s executives. And this scene was broadcast live, unedited, for all to see.
From this battle onward, Yang Hao was recognized as the undisputed strongest in the universe today. His reputation had even begun to approach that of the Supreme One.
This was a new day, the birth of a new legend.
The night after the decisive battle was excruciatingly difficult for the Ten Sword Streams and the Elder Council.
But for some, it was a night of unparalleled happiness.
For example, within the Alchemy Sword Sect, laughter echoed from the entrance to every building, especially the uproarious laughter of Zhuge Jian, which seemed capable of shaking the heavens. It turned out that the biggest beneficiary of this duel was none other than the Alchemy Group under Zhuge Jian’s leadership. This old man had quietly become the bookmaker for the duel’s betting pool—and the biggest one backing Yang Hao’s victory.
Originally, he wouldn’t have made much profit since most people bet on Yang Hao. Zhuge Jian had closed the betting early, ensuring at best a break-even outcome.
But who could have guessed that the damned Zhou Yao would do him a huge favor? That show-off had flaunted his Saint Realm radiance at the last moment, altering the betting odds.
After watching the live broadcast, people across the universe frantically switched their bets to Zhou Yao. Seizing the opportunity, Zhuge Jian massively expanded his betting pool. When the results came out, the Alchemy Group swept the board, raking in hundreds of trillions of imperial credits in a single stroke.
Without a doubt, after tonight, the Alchemy Group would become the foremost merchant empire in the universe.
Zhuge Jian, flush with profit, was naturally ecstatic. He splurged billions of imperial credits on a victory banquet, leaving the entire Alchemy Sword Sect drunk and jubilant.
However, the hero of the celebration, Yang Hao, was absent. At that moment, he was busy with Lan Ling, handling an important matter—
Pacifying a pregnant woman!
Ling Ziyan was sobbing in Yang Hao’s room. When it came to playing the victim, Ling Ziyan and Princess Xianlan were evenly matched. But Ling Ziyan’s tears had a solid foundation in reality.
Between sobs, she delivered a clear and logical accusation:
“I went through so much to escape for you. I carried your child for ten months. I couldn’t sleep from missing you… And what do you do? You seduce my best friend! You lecher! You heartless, unfaithful scoundrel!”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Yang Hao, sweating profusely, could only bow his head in apology.
“Xiao Ling…” Ling Ziyan grabbed Lan Ling’s hand, startling her so much she nearly drew her silver spear. But Ling Ziyan, still tearful, continued, “Xiao Ling, I know you’re the most innocent. You must have been tricked by that guy. He deceives one after another…”
Lan Ling froze for a moment, then nodded emphatically. “You’re right. I was tricked by him.”
“Uh…” Yang Hao opened his mouth to defend himself.
But Ling Ziyan cut him off decisively. “No talking! I’m not done crying yet.”
Yang Hao deflated, pulling a pitiful face.
“What am I supposed to do now? A pregnant woman like me, all alone and helpless—should I go begging across the universe?” Ling Ziyan sobbed heavily.
“He wouldn’t dare!” Lan Ling declared with righteous fury. “Ziyan, don’t worry. I’ll make sure he takes responsibility and marries you. If he dares neglect you and the child, he’ll regret it.”
“Marry me?” Ling Ziyan covered her face with her hands, peeking through her fingers. “Then what about you?”
“Me…” Only then did Lan Ling remember herself. She suddenly realized that after enduring hardship, sweetness hadn’t come—only more bitterness. “I… I’ll leave him, of course. You two belong together. You even have his child…”
Lan Ling’s heart ached, but this seemed the only solution. Unlike Xianlan, who merely had a marriage contract that could be broken, Ling Ziyan carried Yang Hao’s flesh and blood—something that couldn’t be casually discarded.
Lan Ling’s family already disapproved of Yang Hao. Marrying one woman was already pushing it; marrying two would provoke outright rebellion from the Lan family. Moreover, Lan Ling’s proud nature made sharing a husband unthinkable. So the moment she saw Ling Ziyan, she had resolved to step aside.
“Hey!” Yang Hao couldn’t take it anymore.
“Shut up!” Both women snapped at him.
Yang Hao shut up.
Ling Ziyan burst into loud sobs again. “You two are trying to kill me! You’re driving me and my child to our deaths! I don’t want to live anymore!”
“What’s wrong?” Lan Ling panicked. “Ziyan, don’t cry. Didn’t I already say I’d step aside?”
Ling Ziyan cried even louder. “You’re pressuring me! I have prenatal depression! I’ll go mad! The universe will have another madwoman!”
“Please, stop.” Lan Ling’s own tears fell. “Ziyan, what do you want? I really won’t be with Yang Hao anymore.”
“Even if you’re not with him, what will people think of me? They’ll say I stole your man! How can I face anyone after this?” Ling Ziyan’s sobs didn’t stop, yet her words flowed seamlessly—a testament to her acting skills.
“Alright, alright.” Lan Ling surrendered completely. “Just tell me what you want me to do. Whatever you say, I’ll do it.”
“You promise?” Ling Ziyan’s tears stopped abruptly.
“Yes, yes.” Lan Ling sniffled, bracing herself for demands like never seeing Yang Hao again or cutting all ties with him.
But Ling Ziyan grinned mischievously, raising a finger. “Then I want… you to marry Yang Hao with me!”
“What?!” Yang Hao and Lan Ling exclaimed in unison.
“You won’t agree?” Ling Ziyan’s tears returned like a string of pearls.
Yang Hao scrambled to wipe her tears. “We agree, we agree!” He shot Lan Ling a pleading look, urging her to comply.
By now, everyone understood—Ling Ziyan’s theatrics were just to ease the awkwardness between the three of them. She truly was the most cunning disciple the Elders had ever taught, with a mind as sharp as a blade.
Ling Ziyan had long recognized the bond between Yang Hao and Lan Ling. Having grown up with Lan Ling, she knew how stubborn the girl could be. If she simply returned to Yang Hao’s side, Lan Ling’s only option would be to leave—permanently.
So Ling Ziyan used herself and her child as leverage, forcing Lan Ling to agree to marry Yang Hao together.
In the end, it was Ling Ziyan’s meticulous planning and selfless love for Yang Hao that saved the day.
Yang Hao’s heart swelled with mixed emotions—joy, surprise, and a bittersweet ache.
“You… you won’t agree?” Seeing Lan Ling’s reddened eyes and silence, Ling Ziyan climbed off the bed. “If you won’t agree, I’ll jump off this building with my son!”
She even made a move toward the windowsill.
Yang Hao stayed silent and unmoving.
Lan Ling finally broke, rushing over to hug Ling Ziyan as they cried together.
“I agree! I agree, Ziyan! I’ll do whatever you say!”
Ling Ziyan, still sobbing, flashed Yang Hao a triumphant “V” sign behind Lan Ling’s back—utterly shameless.
Once the tears dried, the three sat together on the bed (which was spacious enough for a few more women, if needed). Lan Ling alternated between listening to the baby’s movements and scolding Yang Hao for neglecting the mother and child, much to Ling Ziyan’s delight.
With the two women reconciled, Yang Hao became the unfortunate one—he still hadn’t even touched his own child.
Finally, Lan Ling took pity. “Come here. You can listen too.”
Overjoyed, Yang Hao leaped over, first kissing Ling Ziyan’s belly before pressing his ear against it. At seven months, the baby was fully developed and active—likely annoyed by the noise outside, it kicked Yang Hao’s face several times through its mother’s womb.
“Master, can you hear?” Yang Hao even summoned Hun Yuanzi from his meditation.
“I hear, I hear!” Hun Yuanzi laughed breathlessly. “That’s my grand-disciple! My dear grand-disciple! The Alchemy Sword Sect has an heir!”
“What?!” Ling Ziyan and Lan Ling shouted in unison. “Our son will join the Aphrodisiac Sect? No way!”
Hun Yuanzi swiftly retreated into meditation. The old sage knew better than to trifle with two angry mothers-to-be.
After the commotion, the room gradually settled into calm.
Ling Ziyan began recounting her experiences after Elder Rong Hui took her back to the Elder Mountain.
It turned out Ling Ziyan, Xianlan, and Lan Ling had all been raised together under Rong Hui’s tutelage. Later, Lan Ling joined the Imperial Guards under Qin Feng’s guidance, while Ling Ziyan served the Elder Council as a special envoy.
When the Elders learned Ling Ziyan was pregnant with Yang Hao’s child, they were furious. Rong Hui initially protected her, but Elder Hei Feng and others demanded her execution—and the extraction of Yang Hao’s child for a dark sacrificial ritual targeting him.
At the critical moment, Rong Hui couldn’t bear to see his disciple die and confined her to a meditation chamber, where only Xianlan could visit.
When Xianlan “rescued” Ling Ziyan to meet Yang Hao, Ling Ziyan had already sensed Xianlan’s ulterior motives and played along until the duel’s climax to escape.
Lan Ling frowned. “You said Xianlan had a scheme? What was it? Why harm you and Yang Hao? How did you know?”
“Because…” Ling Ziyan hesitated theatrically.
“Because Xianlan is the Enchantress,” Yang Hao stated bluntly. “The one controlling the Ten Sword Streams and working with the Elders—it’s Xianlan.”
“What?!” Lan Ling gasped.
“How did you know?” Ling Ziyan pouted.
“Why wouldn’t I know?” Yang Hao smirked, stretching his legs across both women. “Not just me—even Emperor Yinglie probably knows. Secrets like the Hidden Dragon Pavilion reaching the Elders? There had to be a mole in the palace.”
“But why Xianlan?”
“It’s her,” Ling Ziyan confirmed. “Xianlan always regarded the Elders as her true masters. Even after returning to court, she remained their long-prepared Enchantress. Many imperial incidents were her doing.”
“Why?” Lan Ling still couldn’t believe it.
“No idea,” Ling Ziyan shrugged.
But Yang Hao had some insight. “That Enchantress… having grown up with the Elders, she saw their power firsthand. She probably believed the imperial family couldn’t win and sought to preserve them by siding with the Elders.”
“So she meant well for Emperor Yinglie?” Lan Ling asked hopefully.
“Maybe.” Yang Hao gazed out the window, holding both women’s hands. “Maybe.”
The Great Selection was approaching.
This was Yang Hao’s first time hearing of the “Great Selection,” yet he was now set to become one of its key arbiters.
In the Galactic Empire, all planetary officials served five-year terms. Upon expiration, the central government issued a Great Selection list, reassigning officials to new posts.
This system governed the empire’s bureaucratic and power distribution. The Great Selection determined the fate of billions of planets, with thousands of core systems at its heart.
Traditionally, the core system governorships were split evenly between the Emperor and the Elder Council—strategic points for the throne, resource-rich worlds for the Elders’ cultivation needs.
But this time, things were different. The once-dominant Elders, who had even disdained the Emperor, had suffered repeated defeats against Yang Hao. With two executives severely wounded and the Ten Sword Streams weakened, the balance had shifted.
Now, all eyes were on how power would be divided in the new Great Selection between the throne and the diminished Elder Council.
Ling Ziyan was sobbing in Yang Hao’s room. When it came to pretending to be pitiful, Ling Ziyan and Princess Xianlan were truly evenly matched. But Ling Ziyan’s grief had a real foundation.
While crying, she clearly accused him: “I went through so much hardship to come out here. I’ve been carrying your child for ten months. I miss you so much I can’t sleep… And you? You flirted with my best friend. You pervert! You heartless, unfaithful man…”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Yang Hao was sweating profusely, only able to bow his head and apologize.
“Xiaoling…” Ling Ziyan grabbed Lan Ling’s hand, scaring her so much she almost drew her silver spear. But Ling Ziyan still looked tearful and pitiful: “Xiaoling, I know you’re the most innocent. That guy must have tricked you, deceiving one girl after another…”
Lan Ling hesitated, then nodded firmly: “Right, I was definitely tricked by him.”
“Uh…” Yang Hao was about to speak in defense.
But Ling Ziyan immediately interrupted: “Don’t speak! I haven’t finished crying yet!”
Yang Hao shut up, his face twisted in frustration.
“What am I supposed to do now? I’m a pregnant woman with a big belly, all alone and helpless. Should I go begging across the universe?”
“He dares!” Lan Ling said indignantly. “Ziyan, don’t worry. I’ll make sure he takes responsibility and marries you. If he dares not take care of you and the child, I’ll make him pay.”
“Marry me?” Ling Ziyan covered her face with her hands, peeking through her fingers. “Then what about you?”
“I…” Lan Ling suddenly remembered herself. She realized that after enduring hardship, instead of relief, she faced even more suffering. “I… I’ll naturally leave him. You two are meant for each other. You even have his child.” Although Lan Ling felt a pang in her heart, this seemed to be the only viable solution for now. Unlike Princess Xianlan, whose engagement could be broken, Ling Ziyan carried Yang Hao’s own flesh and blood—something that couldn’t simply be returned.
Lan Ling’s family had always disliked Yang Hao. They wouldn’t even accept him marrying just one woman. If he married two, the Lan family would go completely berserk. Plus, Lan Ling was proud by nature and unwilling to share her husband with anyone. So when she saw Ling Ziyan, she had already resolved to step aside.
“Hey!” Yang Hao couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Be quiet!” Both women shouted in unison.
Yang Hao shut up again.
Ling Ziyan burst into loud wails again: “You two are trying to kill me! You want to kill me and my child! I don’t want to live anymore!”
“What’s wrong?” Lan Ling was at a loss, “Ziyan, don’t cry. What’s the matter? Didn’t I say I’d step aside?”
Ling Ziyan cried even louder: “You’re forcing me! I’ve got prenatal depression now. I’ll go mad! The universe will have another madwoman!”
“Please, don’t do this,” Lan Ling pleaded, tears streaming down her face. “Ziyan, what do you really want? I promise I won’t be with Yang Hao anymore.”
“But even if I leave him, what will others say about me? They’ll think I stole your man. How can I ever show my face again?” Ling Ziyan’s crying didn’t stop at all, yet she kept speaking fluently, truly impressive.
“Alright, alright,” Lan Ling finally surrendered. “Then tell me, what should I do? Whatever you say, I’ll do it.”
“You said so?” Ling Ziyan’s crying stopped abruptly.
“Yes, yes,” Lan Ling sniffled, already expecting Ling Ziyan to demand she never see Yang Hao again, or to cut all ties with him, and so on.
But Ling Ziyan suddenly grinned mischievously, raising her finger: “Then I want… you and me to marry Yang Hao together!”
“What?” Yang Hao and Lan Ling exclaimed in unison.
“You don’t agree?” Ling Ziyan’s tears began to flow like pearls again.
Yang Hao hurriedly wiped her tears: “We agree, we agree.” He quickly signaled Lan Ling to agree as well.
Actually, by now everyone understood that Ling Ziyan was just putting on this act to ease the awkwardness between the three of them. She truly was the most cunning apprentice trained by the elders, clever and resourceful.
Ling Ziyan had long seen the feelings between Yang Hao and Lan Ling. But having grown up with Lan Ling, she knew how stubborn the girl was. If she suddenly returned to Yang Hao’s side, Lan Ling’s only possible outcome would be to leave, never to return.
So Ling Ziyan used herself and her unborn child as leverage, forcing Lan Ling to agree to marry Yang Hao together with her.
In the end, it turned out Ling Ziyan was thoughtful and considerate of Yang Hao’s feelings.
This made Yang Hao feel both surprised and delighted, yet also a bit emotional.
“You… you won’t agree?” Ling Ziyan looked at Lan Ling, who was silent with red eyes, then got out of bed. “You won’t agree, then I’ll jump with my son!”
She actually started climbing toward the window.
Yang Hao kept his mouth shut and didn’t move.
Lan Ling finally couldn’t hold back anymore, rushing over and hugging Ling Ziyan, both crying together.
“I agree, I agree. Ziyan, I’ll do whatever you say.”
As Ling Ziyan hugged Lan Ling and cried, she secretly gave Yang Hao a V-sign behind her back—an unforgettable sight.
After the two women finished crying, the three of them sat together on the bed. Yang Hao’s bed was big enough anyway—there was plenty of room for a few more women.
Lan Ling alternated between pressing her ear to Ling Ziyan’s belly to hear the baby and complaining about how Yang Hao hadn’t taken care of them for so long, making Ling Ziyan beam with joy.
With the two women now reconciled, Yang Hao was the one who suffered—he hadn’t even touched his own child yet.
Finally, Lan Ling relented: “Alright, come here and listen too.”
Overjoyed, Yang Hao rushed over, first kissing Ling Ziyan’s belly, then pressing his ear against it. The baby was about seven months along, fully developed, and kicking around inside. Probably annoyed by the noise outside, the moment Yang Hao’s face touched the belly, the little one kicked him several times from inside the womb.
“Master, did you hear?” Yang Hao eagerly called out the meditating Hun Yuanzi.
“I heard, I heard,” Hun Yuanzi laughed uncontrollably. “This is my disciple’s grandson! My dear grand-disciple! The Dan Ding Sect finally has an heir!”
“What?” Both Ling Ziyan and Lan Ling shouted. “Our son has to learn the Love Potion Sect? No way!”
Hun Yuanzi quickly retreated into meditation again. The old immortal knew very well that dealing with three women wasn’t a joke.
After the commotion, the room finally quieted down.
Ling Ziyan began recounting her experience after being captured back to the Elder Mountain by Elder Rongli.
It turned out that Ling Ziyan, Xianlan, and Lan Ling had all been raised together by Elder Rongli since childhood. Later, Lan Ling was taken away by her family and joined the Imperial Guard, receiving teachings from Master Qin. But Ling Ziyan remained in service to the Elder Council, acting as a special envoy stationed in various regions.
When the Elder Council learned that Ling Ziyan was pregnant with Yang Hao’s child, they were furious. Elder Rongli had captured her, and several elders led by Hei Feng wanted to execute her and extract Yang Hao’s child for a sacrificial ritual—an evil spell that required the blood of a close relative.
At the critical moment, Elder Rongli couldn’t bear to see her apprentice die and protected her, locking her inside the Elder Mountain’s meditation chamber. Except for Xianlan, no one could see Ling Ziyan.
On the day Princess Xianlan brought Ling Ziyan out to meet Yang Hao, she already knew that Xianlan harbored a secret plot. Ling Ziyan had played along, pretending to be taken hostage until the crucial moment of the duel, when she suddenly executed her escape plan.
Hearing this, Lan Ling was puzzled: “You say Xianlan had a plot. What plot? Why would she harm you and Yang Hao? How do you know this?”
“Because…” Ling Ziyan said mysteriously, still hesitating to reveal it.
In this battle, Yang Hao officially became a household name across the universe, a man of miracles. The power of his sword’s profound essence was displayed before everyone watching the live broadcast.
Today, the opponents Yang Hao defeated were none other than the top-tier masters of the universe. Zhou Yao was already at the peak of the Saint Realm, which had caused an uproar from the start. Yet, Zhou Yao was effortlessly slain by Yang Hao without even putting up a fight. The five family heads were the last remaining masters of the Ten Sword Styles, and their combined strike could hardly be withstood even by the Elder Council’s stewards. Yet, Yang Hao easily forced them into a corner.
What does this mean? It can only mean one thing—Yang Hao’s strength has surpassed even that of the Elder Council’s stewards. And this scene was broadcast live, unedited, for all to witness.
From this battle onward, Yang Hao was recognized as the undisputed strongest in the universe. His reputation had even begun to approach that of the Supreme One.
This was a new day, the birth of a new legend.
The night after the decisive battle was excruciating for the Ten Sword Styles and the Elder Council.
But for some, it was a night of unparalleled joy.
For example, within the Alchemy Sword Sect, laughter echoed from the gates to every building, especially the uproarious laughter of Zhuge Jian, which seemed capable of shaking the heavens. As it turned out, the biggest beneficiary of this duel was none other than the Alchemy Group under Zhuge Jian’s leadership. This old man had quietly become the bookmaker for the duel’s betting pool, and he was the largest backer betting on Yang Hao’s victory.
Originally, he wouldn’t have made much profit since most people bet on Yang Hao. Zhuge Jian had closed the betting early, ensuring at best a break-even outcome.
But who could have guessed that the damned Zhou Yao would do him a huge favor? That show-off flaunted his Saint Realm radiance at the last moment, altering the betting odds.
After watching the live broadcast, people across the universe frantically switched their bets to Zhou Yao. Seizing the opportunity, Zhuge Jian aggressively closed the betting pool. When the results came out, the Alchemy Group swept the board, raking in hundreds of trillions of imperial credits in a single stroke.
Without a doubt, after tonight, the Alchemy Group would become the foremost merchant empire in the universe.
Zhuge Jian, flush with profit, was naturally ecstatic. He splurged billions of imperial credits on a grand celebration, drinking the entire Alchemy Sword Sect into a drunken stupor, filled with laughter and cheer.
However, the hero of the celebration, Yang Hao, was absent. At that moment, he was busy with Lan Ling, handling an important matter—
Pacifying a pregnant woman!
Ling Ziyan was sobbing in Yang Hao’s room. When it came to playing the victim, Ling Ziyan and Princess Xian Lan were evenly matched. But Ling Ziyan’s tears had a solid foundation in reality.
Between sobs, she coherently accused him: “I went through so much to escape, carried your child for ten months, couldn’t sleep from missing you… And what do you do? You seduce my best friend! You lecher, you heartless scoundrel…”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Yang Hao wiped the sweat from his brow, bowing his head in apology.
“Lan Ling…” Ling Ziyan grabbed Lan Ling’s hand, startling her so much she nearly drew her silver spear. But Ling Ziyan continued tearfully, “Lan Ling, I know you’re the most innocent. You must have been tricked by that guy. He fools one after another…”
Lan Ling froze for a moment before nodding emphatically. “You’re right. I was tricked by him.”
“Uh…” Yang Hao opened his mouth to defend himself.
But Ling Ziyan cut him off decisively. “No talking! I’m not done crying yet.”
Yang Hao deflated, pulling a pitiful face.
“What am I supposed to do now? A pregnant woman like me, all alone in the universe—should I go beg on the streets?” Ling Ziyan sobbed dramatically.
“He wouldn’t dare!” Lan Ling declared with righteous fury. “Ziyan, don’t worry. I’ll make sure he takes responsibility and marries you. If he dares neglect you and the child, he’ll answer to me.”
“He’ll marry me?” Ling Ziyan covered her face with her hands, peeking through her fingers. “Then what about you?”
“Me…” Only then did Lan Ling remember herself. She suddenly realized that after enduring hardship, sweetness hadn’t come—only more bitterness. “I… I’ll leave him, of course. You two belong together. You even have his child…”
Lan Ling’s heart ached, but this seemed the only solution. Unlike Xian Lan, whose engagement could be broken off, Ling Ziyan carried Yang Hao’s flesh and blood—there was no returning that.
Lan Ling’s family already disapproved of Yang Hao. If he married one woman, they’d refuse; marrying two would cause an uproar in the Lan family. Moreover, Lan Ling’s proud nature made sharing a husband unthinkable. So when she saw Ling Ziyan, she had already resolved to step aside.
“Hey!” Yang Hao couldn’t take it anymore.
“Shut up!” Both women snapped at once.
Yang Hao shut up.
Ling Ziyan burst into loud sobs again. “You two are trying to kill me! You want me and my baby to die! I don’t want to live anymore!”
“What’s wrong?” Lan Ling panicked. “Ziyan, don’t cry. Didn’t I say I’d step aside?”
Ling Ziyan cried even louder. “You’re bullying me! I have prenatal depression now. I’ll go crazy! The universe will have another madwoman!”
“Please, stop.” Lan Ling’s own tears fell. “Ziyan, what do you want? I really won’t be with Yang Hao.”
“Even if you leave him, what will people think of me? They’ll say I stole your man. How can I face anyone after this?” Ling Ziyan’s sobs didn’t slow her speech—a testament to her skill.
“Alright, alright.” Lan Ling surrendered completely. “Just tell me what you want. Whatever you say, I’ll do it.”
“You promise?” Ling Ziyan’s tears stopped abruptly.
“Yes, yes.” Lan Ling sniffled, bracing herself for demands like never seeing Yang Hao again or cutting all ties.
But Ling Ziyan grinned mischievously, raising a finger. “Then I want… you to marry Yang Hao with me!”
“What?!” Yang Hao and Lan Ling exclaimed in unison.
“You won’t agree?” Ling Ziyan’s tears returned like a string of pearls.
Yang Hao scrambled to wipe her tears. “We agree, we agree!” He shot Lan Ling a look, urging her to comply.
By now, everyone understood—Ling Ziyan’s act was just to ease the awkwardness between the three. She was truly the most cunning disciple the elders had ever taught, sharp-witted and resourceful.
Ling Ziyan had long recognized Yang Hao and Lan Ling’s feelings. Having grown up with Lan Ling, she knew how stubborn the girl was. If she simply returned to Yang Hao, Lan Ling’s only choice would be to leave—permanently.
So Ling Ziyan used herself and the baby as leverage, forcing Lan Ling to agree to marry Yang Hao together.
In the end, it was Ling Ziyan’s meticulous planning and selfless love for Yang Hao that resolved the situation.
Yang Hao felt a mix of shock, joy, and bittersweet emotion.
“You… you won’t agree?” Ling Ziyan saw Lan Ling’s reddened eyes and silence. She got out of bed. “If you don’t agree, I’ll jump off the building with my son!”
She even made a move toward the window.
Yang Hao stayed silent and still.
Finally, Lan Ling couldn’t take it. She rushed over, embracing Ling Ziyan as they cried together.
“I agree, I agree. Ziyan, I’ll do whatever you say.”
Ling Ziyan hugged Lan Ling, crying while flashing Yang Hao a victorious “V” sign behind her back—utterly ridiculous.
Once the tears dried, the three sat together on the bed (which was spacious enough for more). Lan Ling alternated between listening to the baby’s kicks and scolding Yang Hao for neglecting them, making Ling Ziyan laugh.
With the two women reconciled, Yang Hao was the one suffering—he still hadn’t touched his own child.
Finally, Lan Ling took pity. “Come on, you can listen too.”
Overjoyed, Yang Hao leaped over, kissing Ling Ziyan’s belly before pressing his ear against it. At seven months, the baby was fully developed, kicking vigorously—probably annoyed by the noise. Yang Hao’s face earned a few tiny kicks through the womb.
“Master, can you hear?” Yang Hao summoned Hun Yuanzi from seclusion.
“I hear, I hear!” Hun Yuanzi laughed breathlessly. “My grand-disciple! Our Alchemy Sword Sect has an heir!”
“What?!” Ling Ziyan and Lan Ling protested. “Our son will join the Aphrodisiac Sect? No way!”
Hun Yuanzi retreated into seclusion—wise enough to avoid the wrath of two mothers.
After the commotion, the room settled into calm.
Ling Ziyan recounted her ordeal after Elder Rong Hui took her back to the Elder Mountain.
It turned out Ling Ziyan, Xian Lan, and Lan Ling had been raised together under Rong Hui’s tutelage. Later, Lan Ling joined the Imperial Guards under Qin Feng’s guidance, while Ling Ziyan served the Elder Council as an envoy.
When the elders learned Ling Ziyan carried Yang Hao’s child, they were furious. Rong Hui protected her from execution by stewards like Hei Feng, who wanted to cut the baby out for a dark ritual targeting Yang Hao—a spell requiring a relative’s blood.
Rong Hui couldn’t bear to see her die and confined her to the mountain’s meditation chamber, where only Xian Lan could visit.
When Xian Lan “rescued” Ling Ziyan to see Yang Hao, Ling Ziyan already suspected Xian Lan’s scheme and played along, escaping at the duel’s climax.
Lan Ling was puzzled. “You said Xian Lan had a plot. What was it? Why harm you and Yang Hao? How did you know?”
“Because…” Ling Ziyan hesitated theatrically.
“Because Xian Lan is the Enchantress,” Yang Hao cut in bluntly. “The one controlling the Ten Sword Styles, the Elder Council’s mole—it’s Xian Lan.”
“What?!” Lan Ling gasped.
“How did you know?” Ling Ziyan was annoyed.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Yang Hao smirked, stretching his legs across both women. “Not just me—even Emperor Yinglie probably knows. Secrets like the Hidden Dragon Pavilion reached the elders. There had to be a mole in the palace.”
“But why Xian Lan?”
“It’s her,” Ling Ziyan confirmed. “Xian Lan always studied under the stewards. Though she returned to court, she was the elders’ long-prepared Enchantress. Many royal incidents were her doing.”
“Why?” Lan Ling still couldn’t believe it.
“Who knows?” Ling Ziyan shrugged.
But Yang Hao had some insight. “That Enchantress… growing up with the elders, she saw their power and believed the royals couldn’t win. She curried favor to preserve the throne’s last hope.”
“So she did it for Emperor Yinglie?” Lan Ling clung to hope for Xian Lan’s redemption.
“Maybe.” Yang Hao gazed out the window, holding both women’s hands. “Maybe.”
The Great Selection was approaching.
Yang Hao had never heard of it before, but now he would help lead it.
In the Galactic Empire, all planetary officials served five-year terms. After each term, the central government issued the Great Selection—a reshuffling of assignments across billions of worlds, with thousands of core systems as the focal point.
Traditionally, half the core system governors were appointed by the emperor, half by the Elder Council, balancing power. The emperor held strategic systems; the elders took resource-rich ones for cultivation needs.
But this time, things were different. The once-dominant Elder Council had suffered repeated defeats, even losing two stewards to Yang Hao. The emperor’s faction was rising.
Now, the universe watched—how would power be divided in this new era?
“What?” Lan Ling gasped.
“How do you know?” Ling Ziyan was also frustrated.
“What’s so strange about me knowing?” Yang Hao now looked smug. He stretched his legs, one resting on Lan Ling and the other on Ling Ziyan. “Not only do I know, but I bet even Emperor Yinglie knows. How else could such a secret as the Dragon-Hiding Pavilion reach the Elder Council? There must be an inside agent in the palace.”
“But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s Xianlan.”
In this battle, Yang Hao officially became a miracle man known throughout the universe. The power of his sword’s profound essence was displayed before everyone watching the live broadcast.
Today, the opponents Yang Hao defeated were all once first-class masters in the universe. Zhou Yao was already at the peak of the Saint Realm, which had caused an uproar from the start. Yet, Zhou Yao was effortlessly slain by Yang Hao without even putting up a fight. The five family heads were the last remaining masters of the Ten Sword Streams. Their combined strike would likely be difficult for even the Elder Council’s executives to withstand, yet Yang Hao easily forced them into a desperate situation.
What does this mean? It can only mean one thing—Yang Hao’s strength has surpassed that of the Elder Council’s executives. And this scene was broadcast live in its entirety before the eyes of the universe.
From this battle onward, Yang Hao was recognized as the undisputed top master in the universe. His reputation had even approached that of the Supreme One.
This was a new day, and a new legend was born.
The night after the decisive battle was excruciatingly unbearable for the Ten Sword Streams and the Elder Council.
But for some, it was a night of unparalleled happiness.
For example, within the Dan Ding Sword Sect, laughter echoed from the entrance to every building, especially the uproarious laughter of Zhuge Jian, which seemed capable of shaking the heavens. As it turned out, the one who profited the most from this duel was none other than the Dan Ding Group under Zhuge Jian’s leadership. This old man had quietly become the bookmaker for the duel’s betting pool, and he was the biggest backer betting on Yang Hao’s victory.
Originally, he wouldn’t have made much money since most people bet on Yang Hao to win. Zhuge Jian had closed the betting early, ensuring at best a break-even outcome.
But who could have expected that the damned Zhou Yao would do him a huge favor? That show-off flaunted his Saint Realm radiance at the last moment, altering the betting odds.
After seeing the live broadcast, people across the universe frantically switched their bets to Zhou Yao. Seizing the opportunity, Zhuge Jian closed the betting pool in a frenzy. In the end, when the results came out, the Dan Ding Group swept the board, raking in hundreds of trillions of imperial credits in a single stroke.
Without a doubt, after tonight, the Dan Ding Group would become the foremost merchant empire in the universe.
Zhuge Jian, ecstatic over his windfall, naturally celebrated by distributing billions in bonuses for a grand victory banquet, leaving the entire Dan Ding Sect in a drunken, jubilant mess.
However, the hero of the celebration, Yang Hao, was absent. At that moment, he was busy with Lan Ling, handling an important matter—
Pacifying a pregnant woman!
Ling Ziyan was sobbing in Yang Hao’s room. When it came to playing the victim, Ling Ziyan was on par with Princess Xianlan. But Ling Ziyan’s tears had a solid foundation in reality.
Between sobs, she coherently laid out her grievances: “I went through so much to escape… I carried your child for ten months… I couldn’t sleep from missing you… And what do you do? You hook up with my best friend! You scoundrel! You heartless, ungrateful man…”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Yang Hao wiped the sweat from his forehead, bowing his head in apology.
“Lan Ling…” Ling Ziyan grabbed Lan Ling’s hand, startling her so much she nearly drew her silver spear. But Ling Ziyan continued tearfully, “Lan Ling, I know you’re the most innocent one. You must have been tricked by that guy. He deceives one after another…”
Lan Ling froze for a moment before nodding emphatically. “You’re right. I was deceived by him.”
“Uh…” Yang Hao opened his mouth to defend himself.
But Ling Ziyan cut him off decisively. “No talking! I’m not done crying yet.”
Yang Hao deflated, pulling a pitiful face.
“What am I supposed to do now? A pregnant woman like me, all alone and helpless… Am I supposed to beg on the streets of the universe?” Ling Ziyan sobbed dramatically.
“He wouldn’t dare!” Lan Ling declared with righteous indignation. “Ziyan, don’t worry. I’ll make sure he takes responsibility and marries you. If he dares neglect you and the child, I’ll make him regret it.”
“He marries me?” Ling Ziyan covered her face with her hands, peeking through her fingers. “Then what about you?”
“Me…” Lan Ling suddenly realized her own predicament. After enduring so much hardship, instead of sweetness, she faced even more bitterness. “I… I’ll leave him, of course. You two belong together. You even have his child…”
Lan Ling felt a pang in her heart, but this seemed like the only solution. Unlike Xianlan, who only had a marriage contract that could be annulled, Ling Ziyan carried Yang Hao’s flesh and blood—something that couldn’t simply be returned.
Lan Ling’s family already disapproved of Yang Hao. If he married one woman, they’d refuse; marrying two would cause an uproar in the Lan family. Moreover, Lan Ling’s proud nature made sharing a husband unthinkable. So, upon seeing Ling Ziyan, she had already resolved to step aside.
“Hey!” Yang Hao couldn’t take it anymore.
“Shut up!” Both women snapped at him.
Yang Hao shut his mouth.
Ling Ziyan burst into loud sobs again. “You two are trying to kill me! You want to drive me and my child to death! I don’t want to live anymore!”
“What’s wrong?” Lan Ling panicked. “Ziyan, don’t cry. Didn’t I already say I’d step aside?”
Ling Ziyan wailed even louder. “You’re pressuring me! I have prenatal depression! I’ll go mad! The universe will have another lunatic!”
“Please, don’t be like this.” Lan Ling’s own tears fell. “Ziyan, what do you want? I really won’t be with Yang Hao anymore.”
“Even if you leave him, what will people think of me? They’ll say I stole your man! How can I face anyone after this?” Ling Ziyan’s crying didn’t stop, yet her words flowed seamlessly—a testament to her acting skills.
“Alright, alright.” Lan Ling surrendered completely. “Just tell me what you want me to do. Whatever you say, I’ll do it.”
“You promise?” Ling Ziyan’s sobs ceased abruptly.
“Yes, yes.” Lan Ling sniffled, bracing herself for Ling Ziyan’s demands—cutting ties with Yang Hao forever, never seeing him again, and so on.
But Ling Ziyan grinned mischievously, raising a finger. “Then I want… you to marry Yang Hao with me!”
“What?!” Yang Hao and Lan Ling exclaimed in unison.
“You won’t agree?” Ling Ziyan’s tears fell like pearls again.
Yang Hao scrambled to wipe her tears. “We agree, we agree!” He shot Lan Ling a pleading look, urging her to comply.
By now, everyone understood—Ling Ziyan’s theatrics were meant to ease the awkwardness between the three of them. She was truly the most cunning disciple the Elders had ever taught, with a mind as sharp as a whip.
Ling Ziyan had long recognized the bond between Yang Hao and Lan Ling. But having grown up with Lan Ling, she knew how stubborn the girl could be. If she simply returned to Yang Hao’s side, Lan Ling’s only option would be to leave—permanently.
So Ling Ziyan used herself and the child as leverage, forcing Lan Ling to agree to marry Yang Hao together.
In the end, it was Ling Ziyan’s meticulous planning and selfless love for Yang Hao that resolved the situation.
Yang Hao felt a mix of shock, joy, and a bittersweet ache in his heart.
“You… you won’t agree?” Seeing Lan Ling’s reddened eyes and silence, Ling Ziyan climbed off the bed. “If you don’t agree, I’ll jump off the balcony with my son!”
She actually made a move toward the windowsill.
Yang Hao stayed silent and unmoving.
Finally, Lan Ling couldn’t take it anymore. She rushed over, embracing Ling Ziyan as they both broke into tears.
“I agree! I agree, Ziyan! I’ll do whatever you say!”
Ling Ziyan hugged Lan Ling while flashing Yang Hao a triumphant “V” sign behind her back. It was utterly ridiculous.
Once the two women calmed down, the three of them sat together on the bed—Yang Hao’s bed was large enough to accommodate even more women, if necessary.
Lan Ling alternated between listening to the baby’s movements and scolding Yang Hao for neglecting the mother and child, making Ling Ziyan beam with joy.
With the two women reconciled, the one suffering was Yang Hao—he still hadn’t even touched his own child.
Finally, Lan Ling took pity. “Come here. You can listen too.”
Overjoyed, Yang Hao leaped over, first kissing Ling Ziyan’s belly before pressing his ear against it. At seven months, the baby was fully developed and active, likely annoyed by the noise outside—Yang Hao’s face was met with several kicks through the womb.
“Master, can you hear?” Yang Hao even summoned Hun Yuanzi from his seclusion.
“I hear, I hear!” Hun Yuanzi laughed breathlessly. “My grand-disciple! My dear grand-disciple! The Dan Ding Sect has an heir!”
“What?!” Ling Ziyan and Lan Ling exclaimed. “Our son will join the Aphrodisiac Sect? No way!”
Hun Yuanzi swiftly retreated into seclusion. The old sage knew better than to meddle in a domestic dispute.
After the commotion, the room gradually settled into peace.
Ling Ziyan began recounting her experiences after Elder Rong Hui took her back to the Elder Mountain.
It turned out that Ling Ziyan, Xianlan, and Lan Ling had all been raised together under Elder Rong Hui’s tutelage. Later, Lan Ling joined the Imperial Guards under Qin Feng’s guidance, while Ling Ziyan served the Elder Council as a special envoy.
When the Elders learned Ling Ziyan was pregnant with Yang Hao’s child, they were furious. Elder Rong Hui brought her back, but several executives, led by Hei Feng, demanded her execution—along with extracting the child for a sacrificial ritual targeting Yang Hao.
At the critical moment, Elder Rong Hui couldn’t bear to see her disciple die and shielded her, confining her to a meditation chamber where only Xianlan could visit.
When Xianlan “rescued” Ling Ziyan to see Yang Hao, Ling Ziyan had already sensed Xianlan’s ulterior motives and played along until the duel’s climax, when she made her escape.
Hearing this, Lan Ling was puzzled. “You say Xianlan had a scheme? What was it? Why would she harm you and Yang Hao? How did you know?”
“Because…” Ling Ziyan hesitated dramatically.
“Because Xianlan is the Enchantress,” Yang Hao cut in bluntly. “The one controlling the Ten Sword Streams and acting as the Elders’ mole—it’s Xianlan.”
“What?!” Lan Ling gasped.
“How did you know?” Ling Ziyan was annoyed.
“Why wouldn’t I know?” Yang Hao smirked, stretching his legs across both women. “Not just me—even Emperor Yinglie probably knows. Secrets like the Dragon’s Vault wouldn’t reach the Elders without an insider in the palace.”
“But it doesn’t have to be Xianlan.”
“It is Xianlan,” Ling Ziyan confirmed. “She always regarded the Elders as her masters. Even after returning to the palace, she remained their long-cultivated Enchantress. Many imperial affairs were her doing.”
“Why?” Lan Ling still couldn’t believe it.
“No idea,” Ling Ziyan said flatly.
But Yang Hao had some insight. “This Enchantress… she grew up with the Elders, knowing their power. She believed the imperial family couldn’t win against them, so she sided with the Elders to preserve the throne’s last hope.”
“So she did it for Emperor Yinglie’s sake?” Lan Ling asked hopefully, wanting to believe Xianlan had some goodness left.
“Hopefully.” Yang Hao sighed, gazing out the window while holding both women’s hands. “Hopefully.”
The Great Selection was fast approaching.
In truth, this was Yang Hao’s first time hearing of the “Great Selection,” but now, he was to become one of its key arbiters.
In the Galactic Empire, all planetary officials served five-year terms. At the end of each term, the central government issued a Great Selection list, reassigning officials to new posts.
This system governed the empire’s bureaucratic and power distribution. The Great Selection determined the fate of billions of planets, with the core thousand systems being the focal point.
Traditionally, half of these core system governors were nominated by the Emperor, the other half by the Elder Council—dividing strategic and resource-rich territories between them.
But this time, things were different. With the Ten Sword Streams weakened and the Elders repeatedly humiliated by Yang Hao, the balance of power had shifted.
Now, all eyes were on how the Emperor and the Elders would divide their influence in the upcoming Great Selection.
“Why?” Lan Ling still couldn’t believe it.
“Don’t know,” Ling Ziyan answered simply.
In this battle, Yang Hao officially became a household name as the Miracle Man of the universe. The power of his sword’s profound essence was displayed before everyone watching the live broadcast.
Today, the opponents Yang Hao defeated were all once the top-tier masters of the universe. Zhou Yao was already at the peak of the Saint Realm, which had caused an uproar from the start. Yet, Zhou Yao was effortlessly slain by Yang Hao without even putting up a fight. The five family heads were the last remaining masters of the Ten Sword Styles, and their combined strike could hardly be withstood even by the Elder Council’s executives. Yet, Yang Hao easily forced them into a desperate situation.
What does this mean? It can only mean one thing—Yang Hao’s strength has surpassed even that of the Elder Council’s executives. And this scene was broadcast live in its entirety before the eyes of the universe.
From this battle onward, Yang Hao was recognized as the undisputed number one master in the universe, his reputation even approaching that of the Supreme Sovereign.
This was a new day, and a new legend was born.
The night after the decisive battle was excruciatingly unbearable for the Ten Sword Styles and the Elder Council.
But for some, it was a night of unparalleled happiness.
For example, within the Alchemy Sword Sect, laughter echoed from the entrance to every building, especially the maniacal laughter of Zhuge Jian, which seemed capable of piercing the heavens. As it turned out, the one who profited the most from this duel was none other than the Alchemy Group under Zhuge Jian’s leadership. This old man had quietly become the bookmaker for the duel’s betting pool—and the biggest one backing Yang Hao’s victory.
Originally, he wouldn’t have made much money since most people bet on Yang Hao. Zhuge Jian had closed the betting early, ensuring at best a break-even outcome.
But who could have guessed that the damned Zhou Yao would do him a huge favor? That show-off flaunted his Saint Realm radiance at the last moment, completely shifting the betting odds.
After seeing the live broadcast, the entire universe frantically switched their bets to Zhou Yao. Seizing the opportunity, Zhuge Jian aggressively closed the bets. When the results came out, the Alchemy Group swept the board, raking in hundreds of trillions of imperial credits in a single stroke.
Without a doubt, after tonight, the Alchemy Group would become the foremost merchant empire in the universe.
Zhuge Jian, flush with profits, was naturally ecstatic. He splurged billions of imperial credits on a grand victory banquet, leaving the entire Alchemy Sword Sect drunk and merry.
However, the hero of the celebration, Yang Hao, was absent. At that moment, he was busy with Lan Ling, handling an important matter—
**Pacifying a pregnant woman!**
Ling Ziyan was sobbing in Yang Hao’s room. When it came to playing the victim, Ling Ziyan and Princess Xianlan were evenly matched. But Ling Ziyan’s tears had a solid foundation in reality.
Between sobs, she delivered a clear and logical accusation:
*”I went through so much to escape… I carried your child for ten months… I couldn’t sleep from missing you… And what do you do? You seduce my best friend! You scoundrel! You heartless, unfaithful man!”*
*”Yes, yes, yes!”* Yang Hao wiped the sweat from his forehead, bowing his head in apology.
*”Xiao Ling…”* Ling Ziyan grabbed Lan Ling’s hand, startling her so much she nearly drew her silver spear. But Ling Ziyan, still tearful, continued, *”Xiao Ling, I know you’re the most innocent one. You must have been tricked by that guy. He deceives one after another…”*
Lan Ling blinked, then nodded firmly. *”You’re right. I was tricked by him.”*
*”Uh…”* Yang Hao opened his mouth to defend himself.
But Ling Ziyan cut him off decisively. *”No talking! I’m not done crying yet!”*
Yang Hao deflated, pulling a pitiful face.
*”What am I supposed to do now? A pregnant woman like me, all alone… Should I go beg in the streets of the universe?”* Ling Ziyan let out a dramatic sob.
*”He wouldn’t dare!”* Lan Ling declared with righteous fury. *”Ziyan, don’t worry. I’ll make sure he takes responsibility and marries you. If he dares neglect you and the child, I’ll make him regret it!”*
*”Marry me?”* Ling Ziyan covered her face with her hands, peeking through her fingers. *”Then what about you?”*
*”Me…”* Lan Ling suddenly realized her own predicament. The sweetness she had hoped for after enduring hardship had turned into even greater bitterness. *”I… I’ll leave him, of course. You two belong together. You even have his child…”*
Her heart ached, but this seemed like the only solution. Unlike Xianlan, who merely had a marriage contract that could be annulled, Ling Ziyan carried Yang Hao’s flesh and blood—something that couldn’t simply be returned.
Lan Ling’s family already disapproved of Yang Hao. If he married one woman, they would refuse; marrying two would cause an uproar in the Lan family. Moreover, Lan Ling’s proud nature made sharing a husband unbearable. The moment she saw Ling Ziyan, she had already resolved to step aside.
*”Hey!”* Yang Hao couldn’t take it anymore.
*”Shut up!”* Both women snapped at him.
Yang Hao shut his mouth.
Ling Ziyan burst into loud sobs again. *”You two are trying to kill me! You want me and my baby to die! I don’t want to live anymore!”*
*”What’s wrong?”* Lan Ling panicked. *”Ziyan, don’t cry! Didn’t I already say I’d step back?”*
Ling Ziyan wailed even louder. *”You’re pressuring me! I have prenatal depression! I’ll go crazy! The universe will have another madwoman!”*
*”Please, stop this!”* Lan Ling’s own tears fell. *”Ziyan, what do you want? I swear I won’t be with Yang Hao.”*
*”Even if you leave him, what will people think of me? They’ll say I stole your man! How can I face anyone after this?”* Ling Ziyan’s crying never stopped, yet her words flowed smoothly—a testament to her acting skills.
*”Alright, alright!”* Lan Ling surrendered completely. *”Just tell me what you want. Whatever you say, I’ll do it.”*
*”You promise?”* Ling Ziyan’s tears vanished instantly.
*”Yes, yes.”* Lan Ling sniffled, already imagining Ling Ziyan demanding she never see Yang Hao again.
But Ling Ziyan grinned mischievously and raised a finger. *”Then I want… you to marry Yang Hao with me!”*
*”WHAT?!”* Yang Hao and Lan Ling exclaimed in unison.
*”You won’t agree?”* Ling Ziyan’s tears returned like a string of pearls.
Yang Hao scrambled to wipe her tears. *”I agree! I agree!”* He frantically signaled Lan Ling to comply.
By now, everyone understood—Ling Ziyan’s act was just to ease the awkwardness between the three of them. She truly was the most cunning disciple the Elder Council had ever produced, her schemes flawless.
Ling Ziyan had long recognized the bond between Yang Hao and Lan Ling. But having grown up with Lan Ling, she knew how stubborn the girl was. If Ling Ziyan simply returned to Yang Hao, Lan Ling’s only choice would be to leave—forever.
So Ling Ziyan used herself and her child as leverage, forcing Lan Ling to agree to share Yang Hao.
In the end, it was Ling Ziyan’s meticulous planning and selflessness that saved the situation.
Yang Hao felt a mix of shock, joy, and bittersweet emotion.
*”You… you won’t agree?”* Seeing Lan Ling’s reddened eyes and silence, Ling Ziyan climbed out of bed. *”If you don’t agree, I’ll jump off this building with my son!”*
She actually made a move toward the windowsill.
Yang Hao stayed silent and unmoving.
Finally, Lan Ling couldn’t take it anymore. She rushed over, embracing Ling Ziyan as they both burst into tears.
*”I agree! I agree, Ziyan! I’ll do whatever you say!”*
Ling Ziyan hugged Lan Ling tightly while flashing a triumphant “V” sign at Yang Hao behind her back.
Once the two women calmed down, the three of them sat together on the bed—Yang Hao’s bed was large enough to accommodate even more women if needed.
Lan Ling alternated between listening to the baby’s movements and scolding Yang Hao for neglecting the mother and child, making Ling Ziyan laugh happily.
With the two women reconciled, the real victim was Yang Hao—he still hadn’t even touched his own child.
Finally, Lan Ling took pity. *”Alright, come listen.”*
Overjoyed, Yang Hao leaped over, first kissing Ling Ziyan’s belly before pressing his ear against it. The baby, nearly seven months along, was fully developed and kicking vigorously—probably annoyed by the noise outside. The moment Yang Hao’s face touched her belly, the little one kicked him several times through the womb.
*”Master, can you hear it?”* Yang Hao even summoned Hun Yuanzi from his seclusion.
*”I hear it! I hear it!”* Hun Yuanzi laughed breathlessly. *”That’s my grand-disciple! My precious grand-disciple! The Alchemy Sword Sect has an heir!”*
*”What?!”* Ling Ziyan and Lan Ling shouted in unison. *”Our son will join the Aphrodisiac Sect? No way!”*
Hun Yuanzi immediately retreated back into seclusion. The old immortal knew better than to mess with two angry mothers.
After the commotion, the room finally settled into peace.
Ling Ziyan began recounting her experiences after Elder Rong Hui took her back to the Elder Mountain.
It turned out that Ling Ziyan, Xianlan, and Lan Ling had all been raised together under Elder Rong Hui’s guidance. Later, Lan Ling was taken by her family to join the Imperial Guards, trained by Qin Feng. Meanwhile, Ling Ziyan served the Elder Council as a special envoy.
When the Elder Council learned Ling Ziyan was pregnant with Yang Hao’s child, they were furious. After capturing her, Elder Hei Feng and other executives wanted to execute her and extract the baby for a sacrificial ritual targeting Yang Hao—a cruel spell requiring the blood of a relative.
At the critical moment, Elder Rong Hui couldn’t bear to see his disciple killed and shielded her, confining her to a meditation chamber where only Xianlan could visit.
When Princess Xianlan “rescued” Ling Ziyan to see Yang Hao, Ling Ziyan had already suspected Xianlan’s ulterior motives. She played along until the duel’s climax, then made her escape.
Hearing this, Lan Ling was confused. *”You said Xianlan had a scheme? What was it? Why would she harm you and Yang Hao? How did you know?”*
*”Because…”* Ling Ziyan hesitated dramatically.
*”Because Xianlan is the Enchantress,”* Yang Hao cut in bluntly. *”The one controlling the Ten Sword Styles and acting as the Elder Council’s inside agent—it’s Xianlan.”*
*”WHAT?!”* Lan Ling gasped.
*”How did you know?”* Ling Ziyan was annoyed.
*”Why wouldn’t I know?”* Yang Hao smirked, stretching his legs across both women. *”Not just me—even Emperor Yinglie probably knows. How else would the Elder Council learn about top-secret places like the Hidden Dragon Pavilion? There had to be a mole in the palace.”*
*”But it doesn’t have to be Xianlan.”*
*”It is Xianlan,”* Ling Ziyan confirmed. *”She always regarded the Elder Council executives as her masters. Even after returning to the palace, she remained their long-trained Enchantress. Many imperial incidents were her doing.”*
*”Why?”* Lan Ling still couldn’t believe it.
*”No idea,”* Ling Ziyan shrugged.
But Yang Hao had some insight. *”That Enchantress… She grew up with the elders and saw their power firsthand. She probably believes the imperial family can’t win against them, so she’s trying to curry favor to preserve the royal line.”*
*”So… she’s doing it for Emperor Yinglie’s sake?”* Lan Ling asked hopefully, wanting to believe Xianlan still had a conscience.
*”Hopefully.”* Yang Hao wasn’t sure either. Gazing out the window, he squeezed both women’s hands. *”Hopefully.”*
The **Great Selection** was approaching.
This was Yang Hao’s first time hearing the term, but now, he was set to become one of its key decision-makers.
In the Galactic Empire, all planetary officials served five-year terms. At the end of each term, the central government issued the Great Selection list, reassigning officials to new posts.
This system governed the entire empire’s power distribution. The Great Selection determined the fate of billions of planets, with the core thousand systems being the most contested.
Traditionally, the emperor and the Elder Council each nominated half of the core systems’ governors, splitting the benefits. The emperor secured strategic points, while the elders took resource-rich worlds for cultivation and sect needs.
But this time, things were different.
The Elder Council, once domineering, had suffered repeated defeats at Yang Hao’s hands. With the Ten Sword Styles weakened and two executives severely injured, their influence had waned.
Now, the entire universe watched—how would power be divided between the imperial family and the Elder Council this time?
“So… she did it for Emperor Yinglie’s sake?” Lan Ling asked anxiously, hoping Xianlan still had a conscience.
“Let’s hope so,” Yang Hao wasn’t sure either. He looked out the window, holding the hands of the two women. “Let’s hope so.”
The Great Selection was coming soon.
Actually, this was the first time Yang Hao had heard the term “Great Selection,” but this time, he would become one of the key decision-makers in the process.
In the Galactic Empire, all officials stationed in star systems served five-year terms. At the end of each term, the imperial central government would release a Great Selection list, assigning new postings to officials across the empire.
In essence, the entire empire was governed through this system, dividing power and influence. The Great Selection determined the fate of billions of planets, with the core thousand star systems being the most crucial.
The list of governors for these core star systems was the most important part of the Great Selection, and had long been the focal point of factional struggles.
According to tradition, while the Great Selection included many other appointments, the list for the core star system governors was evenly split—half chosen by the Emperor and half by the Elder Council, balancing their interests.
The Emperor usually controlled the strategic star systems, while the Elder Council held the resource-rich systems, sustaining their cultivation and affiliated sword sects.
But this time, everyone knew the situation was different. Previously, the Elder Council had been arrogant, barely acknowledging the Emperor’s authority, treating the half-share as a favor.
Now, with the Ten Sword Style nearly defeated and the Elder Council repeatedly losing to Yang Hao—even two elders severely injured—the balance of power had drastically shifted. Therefore, how the royal family and the Elder Council would divide their influence in the upcoming Great Selection attracted everyone’s attention.
The court meeting, which Yang Hao disliked the most, was beginning again.
Almost every court meeting he had attended in the past ended with Yang Hao being attacked by other ministers. However, now that Yang Hao has become the Grand Governor of the Western Territory, overseeing a quarter of the entire universe, even the unfriendly ministers in the Empire dare not provoke him recklessly.
The Emperor’s favor toward Yang Hao is also openly displayed. Even after Yang Hao’s broken engagement with Xianlan, the Emperor’s favor has not diminished. Today, the Emperor even allowed Yang Hao to stand alongside Feng Feng on the golden steps.
That was an honor nearly equivalent to being granted a royal title. Yet Yang Hao, seemingly unimpressed, found standing too tiring and simply sat down on the golden steps, watching the ministers as they spoke.
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