Chapter 268: Rivals Meet

The Supreme Holy Church is a unique religious sect found only in the southern regions.

In theory, after the Supreme Immortal Sect unified the universe, there should no longer be room for religion. However, many regions of the universe remained uncivilized and undeveloped, especially in the south, where the native populations were numerous and many planets were still in primitive, ignorant states, making them incapable of accepting normal colonial rule.

Thus, the Senate established the Supreme Holy Church in the south, using religion as a means to govern the people of the southern planets, while the planetary governors only cared about collecting heavy taxes and plundering resources.

However, everything changed after the Battle of Elder Mountain. The influential merchant families that had supported the southern systems were branded as imperial traitors, and the former planetary governors split into different factions, either loyal to the Emperor or to Yang Hao, and became targets of purges.

The Senate had always been short on military forces, and after suffering heavy losses in the great battle, it simply lacked the strength to deal with the southern regions. As a result, they handed the task of cleansing the south entirely over to the Supreme Holy Church.

This led to the Supreme Holy Church running rampant in the south, freely hunting down and eliminating merchants and dissenters.

The Holy Temple on the Yundujia Cluster was the largest among all the systems in the south, and was considered the pride of the Holy Church. Atop the summit of Mount Lengjia stood a towering hundred-meter-high temple fortress, unlike any other architecture found elsewhere—it was entirely constructed from massive stone blocks stacked together. The temple’s roof was capped by a colossal meteorite that had drifted in from space, weighing over a thousand tons. This massive rock pressed down upon the temple, giving the entire structure a dark and oppressive aura.

The temple was built on a protruding cliff platform at the peak of the cold and desolate Lengjia Mountain. One side faced several large cities of the Yundujia Cluster, while the other overlooked the vast Black Sea.

The sound of black sea wolves crashing against the cliffs echoed ceaselessly through the skies above the temple, creating a constant, whip-like crackling noise.

Kan Ling and Ling Ziyan stood before this gloomy and terrifying temple. As the crashing waves echoed, Ling Ziyan couldn’t help but frown, instinctively covering her ears with her hands.

“Are you really going to oppose the Supreme Holy Church?” Ling Ziyan asked helplessly. “Miss, don’t forget—you’re just one person now. And don’t forget, you’re no longer a knight of the Snow Night Star Lion Corps.”

“Can I just stand by and do nothing?” Kan Ling replied, drawing circles on the ground with the tip of her silver spear. “Maybe you can bear it, but I can’t.”

Ling Ziyan pursed her lips. Her own nature was to find Yang Hao first and settle her son before anything else. But Kan Ling had always been the kind to leap into action at the sight of injustice. All along the way, she had caused no shortage of trouble.

It was nearing evening, the sky gradually darkening. The sunset by the sea was always especially vivid, casting golden rays over the two women, making them seem like figures from a painting.

But the goddess of fate seemed to think the situation wasn’t chaotic enough. Before Kan Ling could even begin her move, a new group of people appeared from behind them.

Ling Ziyan nudged Kan Ling. “It’s the pretty girl squad from the tavern.”

Kan Ling turned around and indeed saw Shi Mingyuan and her group of angelic beauties from Tianyushi. They were still clad in their battle armor, having just climbed up.

Kan Ling glanced at the gloomy fortress ahead and then at Ling Ziyan beside her, hesitating slightly. She hadn’t yet figured out the true nature of these Tianyushi people. If they decided to act, there was a risk they might take Ling Ziyan hostage.

When Shi Mingyuan spotted Kan Ling and Ling Ziyan, she was momentarily surprised, but quickly regained her composure and smiled knowingly. “So you’ve come too.”

“What are you here for?” Kan Ling asked bluntly.

“The same thing as you,” Shi Mingyuan replied, her gaze shifting to the castle. The Supreme Holy Temple must have detected their presence through its internal sensors, and the fortress was now in an uproar. Many black-robed church members were rushing out, a significant number of them. Shi Mingyuan gave a charming smile. “To kill all these bastards.”

Kan Ling stuck her tongue out in surprise. She hadn’t expected such a beautiful woman to carry so much killing intent. However, since their goals aligned, Kan Ling felt a slight fondness for Shi Mingyuan.

“You’re from Tianyushi?” Ling Ziyan asked.

“Yes,” Shi Mingyuan nodded. Ling Ziyan gave her a strange look, but Shi Mingyuan still failed to recognize her.

Kan Ling, however, was already impatient.

About five hundred Supreme Holy Church members had emerged, forming a defensive formation on the grassy field before the castle.

Kan Ling raised her silver spear to the sky, launching a silver energy orb into the air. Soon, a response came from the sky—a strange, bizarre beast, like a fiery meteor, came crashing down and landed with a boom, kneeling before Kan Ling.

This was the Sword Spirit from the Dan Ding Sect, once formed from the divine soul of the sacred Qilin beast. Previously, it had remained on Copper Furnace Mountain, protecting the safety of the Jian family. During the Battle of Elder Mountain, the Sword Spirit had rescued Kan Ling and had followed her ever since.

Kan Ling lightly leapt onto the head of the Sword Spirit, her silver spear pointing coldly at the formation of five hundred church members below. She tossed a final sentence to Shi Mingyuan. “I can handle this alone. Just watch over my friend.”

With that, the Sword Spirit shot forward like a rocket. Kan Ling’s foot lightly touched its head as she charged toward the church members.

“She really is like a knight,” Shi Mingyuan murmured in admiration.

Ling Ziyan smiled mysteriously. “She was one.”

“Can she really do this alone?” Shi Mingyuan asked, somewhat taken by Kan Ling’s bold and fearless personality.

“She used to be the Empire’s youngest Holy War expert. Killing a few church members? Nothing she can’t handle.” Ling Ziyan’s smile deepened.

And indeed, the battle was a one-sided massacre.

Though the Supreme Holy Church had a large number of members and quickly surrounded Kan Ling, she and the Sword Spirit moved like wolves among sheep, cutting through the enemy with ease. Her silver spear was razor-sharp, unstoppable.

From afar, Kan Ling was like a bolt of lightning in the night sky, embodying everything a knight should be.

The blood of the church members splattered across the dark-clad crowd. Though they charged forward fearlessly, they were merely adding more ghosts to the tip of her spear.

“It should be over before the sun sets,” Ling Ziyan said proudly, as if she were the one doing the killing.

And given Kan Ling’s current display of Holy War power, Ling Ziyan’s words weren’t far off. A few hundred ordinary-level church members were nothing more than lambs awaiting slaughter.

But Shi Mingyuan didn’t think so. She had indeed seen Kan Ling’s unstoppable momentum and Holy Domain power, but she had also seen the danger that was about to befall her.

That danger was hidden among the countless church members rushing toward her spear.

Kan Ling herself hadn’t realized how close the danger was—because she was a kind-hearted person. A kind person would never think of using human lives as a distraction to draw attention from a powerful enemy.

But Kan Ling was kind. The Supreme Holy Church was not.

The current religious leader of the Supreme Holy Church was an extremely evil figure. And what made him even more terrifying—he was an Elder.

He had only arrived in the south two weeks ago, previously a reclusive Elder within the Senate. With the current shortage of manpower, he had been reassigned to the south.

As a survivor of the Battle of Elder Mountain, the religious leader naturally recognized Kan Ling and understood her strength well. In a direct fight, he might not be able to defeat Kan Ling and the Sword Spirit together, especially with Ling Ziyan lurking nearby as a hidden powerhouse.

So when he saw Kan Ling from within the temple, he devised a plan—a deadly one.

He ordered all the church members inside the temple to rush out and surround the enemy. He knew full well that with their strength, the only outcome would be their deaths at Kan Ling’s hands.

But that was exactly what he wanted. He himself donned a black robe like an ordinary church member, blending into the group. He watched as Kan Ling pierced each of them with her spear, as the blood of his subordinates stained the grass in wild abandon.

He was waiting for his chance—and it was coming soon.

Kan Ling was still human, and humans grew tired. Five hundred church members, even if they stood still and let themselves be killed, would be enough to exhaust anyone. Let alone fighting fiercely.

So Kan Ling occasionally showed signs of fatigue, though these openings were far too small for the church members to exploit. But for a Holy War expert like him, it was different.

The religious leader spotted the opening. When Kan Ling exposed her entire back to him, he knew—his moment had finally come.

He clenched his hands together, and a milky-white arcane light surged out. This palm technique had been passed down to him by Elder Cheng Yi. It was the very same palm strike that had killed the legendary Sage Situ Hai.

He placed both palms against Kan Ling’s back. As soon as he unleashed his power, the deadly force would surge into her body, shattering her meridians.

He could already see her coughing blood and dying.

BOOM!! BOOM! BOOM!!

Three lightning bolts, thicker than a man’s arm, suddenly struck down from the sky, slamming into the religious leader’s head. Even as a Holy Domain expert and an Elder, he could not withstand such a devastating attack.

He screamed in agony, his body smoking and severely mangled.

Even worse, Kan Ling had already noticed him and realized how close she had come to being assassinated. The Sword Spirit roared in fury, darting to the religious leader’s side. Before the Elder could recover from the lightning strike, Kan Ling’s silver spear had pierced through his life.

His corpse was flung high into the air and thrown violently onto the temple plaza.

Kan Ling’s cold gaze swept across the stunned church members. Even the most fanatical among them now understood the vast power gap between them.

Even their god-like religious leader had been killed. Continuing the fight would only mean senseless death.

With that thought, the church members lost all will to fight. At first, a few scattered individuals fled, but soon, wherever Kan Ling’s spear struck, crowds of church members scattered in panic. In the end, over five hundred church members left behind over a hundred corpses and the religious leader’s body, and fled down the mountain in disarray.

Shi Mingyuan and her subordinates merely protected Ling Ziyan and did not pursue the fleeing church members. In the south, the Supreme Holy Church had at least millions of followers—there was no way they could all be killed.

Kan Ling still stood high atop the Sword Spirit, the last rays of the setting sun shining directly upon her, making her seem as if she were wrapped in a golden glow.

Her silver spear dripped with blood, each drop falling into the grass, forming a pool of crimson.

The Sword Spirit surveyed the area majestically, confirming there were no more enemies before carrying its master back to Ling Ziyan.

Kan Ling softened her gaze and playfully looked at Shi Mingyuan. “That lightning just now—was that you?”

Shi Mingyuan lifted her chin slightly, neither confirming nor denying.

“You’re not bad,” Kan Ling said.

“Neither are you,” Shi Mingyuan smiled.

Two young women, equally beautiful and both reaching the Holy Domain, had sparked a competitive fire in each other.

“Oh no,” Ling Ziyan groaned, looking at her son helplessly. “Don’t ever turn out like your aunt—violent to the core.”

But Kan Ling and Shi Mingyuan had eyes only for each other, their gazes locked as if trying to see through each other’s ultimate techniques and strength.

At a moment like this, in a place like this, it was hardly appropriate for the two of them to engage in a duel.

Kan Ling shifted her gaze to the monstrous, beast-like temple in the distance.

“Oh?” Shi Mingyuan noticed it too.

“Let’s see who can destroy it first,” Kan Ling said with a charming smile.

“Fine by me!” Shi Mingyuan grinned and readily accepted the challenge.

Ling Ziyan was practically going mad. She had never seen women like this—both Holy Domain experts, yet still wanting to compete.

Fine, they wanted to compete. But why challenge something so difficult?

This wasn’t just a little shack. It was a massive stone fortress built from colossal rocks.

Tearing it down was no easy feat—just removing a single stone would be a challenge.

But the two women were deadly serious.

Kan Ling remained atop the Sword Spirit, her silver spear pointed at the castle, ready to charge like a knight once more.

Meanwhile, Shi Mingyuan’s armor activated into battle mode, a unique electrical energy swirling around her.

In fact, Shi Mingyuan’s armor had a remarkable origin—one even connected to the current rebellion in the east. Back then, several senior masters from hidden immortal sects had taken Shi Mingyuan back to Tianyushi, raising the banner of rebellion. However, they soon realized their strength was insufficient, and their technological capabilities were weak, making it nearly impossible to resist the Empire’s military forces.

To change this, the masters adopted the east’s most advanced technology—mecha armor. Originally, mecha armor was simply a defensive equipment for individual warriors, with two modes: normal and battle. In battle mode, the armor would transform, fully enclosing the warrior.

This technology itself wasn’t particularly impressive—it only slightly enhanced the defensive capabilities of the female warriors in the east.

But after a few modifications by the masters, everything changed.

Tian Xuanzi, the most creative and brilliant ancestor of the Dan Ding Sect, added a secret formation to each suit of armor. This engraved formation allowed the armor to absorb a tiny bit of star energy during battle mode.

Although it was only a slight change, it had already brought about a powerful transformation. This slight enhancement was enough to double a person’s strength.

It was precisely with the armed power of these mechs that the Star Spirit Republic managed to withstand several suppressive attacks from the Empire and even defeated the Glory Legion.

Now, as Shi Mingyuan’s mech transformed into combat mode, perfectly encasing her body, her entire presence changed. A surge of overwhelming power made her float in the air with divine indifference, while arcs of blue lightning spiraled around her.

Ling Ziyun quickly led the warriors of Angel Star away. She had already anticipated that these two would soon launch a frenzied attack.

Indeed, the final result turned out to be even worse than Ling Ziyun had imagined.

Kan Ling rose on the tips of her toes and launched from the Sword Spirit, merging with her silver spear to become a silver dragon. She lightly brushed against a specific point on the temple.

At the same time, the serpentine lightning summoned by Ling Ziyun struck the temple with a thunderous boom.

The final outcome was that the massive, terrifying temple was shattered into fragments by the combined power of the two Saint Domain experts. With a deafening roar, it collapsed, its debris tumbling like boulders rolling down a mountain, plunging into the Black Sea.

“I’m really impressed by you two…” Ling Ziyun patted her chest, addressing the two women who returned hand-in-hand, smiling cheerfully.

In just one joint attack, these two women had already formed a deep bond, becoming as close as sisters.

Smiling, Shi Mingyuan walked back to Ling Ziyun’s side, treating the collapse of the temple behind her as something trivial. She extended her hand toward Kan Ling and said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Shi Mingyuan, the Chief Executive of the Star Spirit Republic.”

“The Star Spirit Republic?”

“Shi Mingyuan?”

Kan Ling and Ling Ziyun reacted very differently.

Lan Hu was only slightly surprised before extending her hand to shake with Shi Mingyuan:

“I’m Kan Ling, and this is Ling Ziyun. We’re rebels from the Empire.”

“Rebels from the Empire?”

Shi Mingyuan finally turned in astonishment, taking another careful look at Ling Ziyun. She couldn’t reconcile the image of the plain-faced, approachable woman holding a baby with the memory of the elegant brothel owner she had known. “You’re Ling Ziyun?”

Ling Ziyun finally recognized Shi Mingyuan too, and was left speechless.

Though the world was full of coincidences, could there really be one this incredible? The three women connected to Yang Hao had met in one place and even forged a deep bond through battle.

Even more surprising to Ling Ziyun was the fact that Shi Mingyuan had become the Chief Executive of the Star Spirit Republic.

Was this still the same Shi Mingyuan as before? The same woman who used to be mocked by clients for her electrical defenses, the top courtesan supposedly never touched by any man? The same woman she used to bully?

Ling Ziyun’s face paled slightly when she noticed a simmering anger in Shi Mingyuan, her mech already shifting slightly, preparing for battle.

Knowing she had a history of conflict with Shi, Ling Ziyun acted immediately. She hugged the baby tightly and said the one sentence that might save her: “Yang Hao’s child is almost as heavy as his father already.”

It was a completely meaningless statement—how could a newborn possibly weigh more than its father?

But the key to this sentence lay in the first two words—”Yang Hao.”

As Ling Ziyun had expected, Shi Mingyuan’s anger quickly subsided, replaced instead by a sense of confusion.

Ling Ziyun, the cunning little fox carefully cultivated by the Senate, had gambled again—and won. Though she didn’t know Yang Hao’s current whereabouts, Shi Mingyuan’s connection to him was clear. Simply bringing up Yang Hao’s son was enough to soften her heart and weaken her resolve.

Kan Ling looked puzzled, sensing something unusual between the two women: “What’s going on? Do you two know each other?”

“No.” Shi Mingyuan shook her head quickly and firmly. “We don’t know each other. Not at all.”

Ling Ziyun gave a small smile: “That’s right. We don’t know each other.”

Though they claimed not to know each other, an awkward tension now hung in the air among the three.

At this moment, Ling Ziyun was the one who knew the most—she understood the identities of all three and their relationships with Yang Hao. Shi Mingyuan only knew that the baby Ling Ziyun held was Yang Hao’s son, and she had heard of Kan Ling’s name, knowing she was the woman Yang Hao had taken in the Imperial Capital. As for Kan Ling, she was completely in the dark, utterly innocent, caught under the heavy, sorrowful gaze Shi Mingyuan cast her way.

“Miss Leader, you must be very busy. Let’s part ways here.”

Ling Ziyun finally broke the awkward silence, hinting at something.

“No!” Both Kan Ling and Shi Mingyuan shouted at the same time.

Especially Kan Ling, who grabbed Shi Mingyuan’s hand and clung to her: “No way. Shi Sister’s martial skills are so impressive—I want to keep learning from her.”

Ling Ziyun rolled her eyes dramatically. Learning? If they kept “learning,” she might just lose her husband altogether.

But no matter how dramatically she rolled her eyes, Kan Ling completely ignored her, instead enthusiastically discussing Saint Domain cultivation techniques with Shi Mingyuan.

Ling Ziyun could only sigh into the wind—this was just too outrageous.

But regardless, by the heavens’ witness, the three women closest to Yang Hao—three potential super rivals in love—had finally come together in a bizarre twist of fate.

History’s wheel rolled steadily and straight ahead.

After leaving Lengjia Mountain, Shi Mingyuan simply invited Kan Ling and the others onto her spaceship.

After all, Kan Ling and the others had nowhere else to go. Hitchhiking on smuggler ships wasn’t convenient, so they boarded Shi Mingyuan’s sleek, white, and gorgeous twin-hulled vessel, the Gemini.

To be honest, this ship was quite famous in the cosmos—not for its technological capabilities, but for its appearance. It was a twin-hulled vessel, with two cabins connected by a corridor and the main control deck below. The entire ship was lightweight and looked like a soaring white swallow.

Generally speaking, whether commercial or combat vessels, ships tried to blend into the cosmic background. At the very least, they tried to look identical to other ships of the same class. Everyone knew the rule of warfare: the nail that sticks out gets hammered.

The more conspicuous and showy you were, the more likely you were to become a target.

The Gemini, painted pure white, stood out like a shining star against the blue cosmic backdrop, making it extremely conspicuous—and dangerous. But Shi Mingyuan never worried about that. As a woman, her relentless pursuit was beauty in appearance. Everything else came second.

Inside the control cabin, Ling Ziyun sat at the captain’s seat, lost in thought.

The ship already had an automated flight route, so no manual control was needed. Ling Ziyun merely stared at the warp navigation map, deep in contemplation.

Meeting Shi Mingyuan in the south had shocked her. Though she had known a little about Shi during her time as a Senate spy, she never expected this woman to become the Chief Executive of the Star Spirit Republic.

However, Shi Mingyuan’s current position wasn’t Ling Ziyun’s main concern. What she was really pondering was whether Yang Hao’s whereabouts had anything to do with Shi.

She and Kan Ling had never returned to Shenyu Autonomous Territory. Their sole purpose had been to search for Yang Hao. Ever since the battle on Yuanlao Mountain, where Yang Hao had fought against the Supreme Emperor and then vanished without a trace, he had neither returned to Shenyu nor gone to the now-destroyed north. So Kan Ling and Ling Ziyun had come south to search.

But after searching for so long without any clues, could it be that Yang Hao had gone east to Shi Mingyuan?

The more Ling Ziyun thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Earlier, when Shi Mingyuan heard that the baby Ling Ziyun held was Yang Hao’s son, the expression on her face was definitely not that of a long-lost lover.

If Yang Hao was wandering through space, not returning to Shenyu or coming south, then the only place left to look was the east, where Shi Mingyuan was.

As Ling Ziyun was deep in thought about Yang Hao’s whereabouts, she suddenly heard a scream—Kan Ling’s voice.

Startled, Ling Ziyun turned around. Kan Ling had just gone to the nearby bathroom with some clothes to take a shower. With her abilities, nothing should have frightened her so badly.

After waiting for a while, Kan Ling’s scream faded, but the sound of rushing water came from the bathroom. Then Shi Mingyuan was forcefully pushed out.

Dripping wet and disgruntled, Shi Mingyuan left the bathroom and walked into the control cabin where Ling Ziyun was.

“What were you two doing?” Ling Ziyun asked, already feeling a headache coming on.

Shi Mingyuan grinned mischievously: “I just rushed into the bathroom to catch a glimpse of the naked beauty when she chased me out.”

“Peeping on Lan Gang while she was bathing?” Ling Ziyun was speechless, shaking her head helplessly. “You’re really something. If you want to know about your rival, just ask me. Why sneak a peek?”

Shi Mingyuan’s eyes twinkled as she sat down beside Ling Ziyun and whispered, “Ling Ziyun Sister, tell me—am I prettier than Kan Ling?”

“Sister?” Ling Ziyun muttered inwardly. Shi Mingyuan had really grown up, even using such a shameless title to gather intelligence. Still, she answered seriously, “Kan Ling and you are equally beautiful. But she has bigger breasts, and you have longer legs—both things Yang Hao likes.”

“Oh.” Shi Mingyuan blushed slightly, nodding. But suddenly she snapped back, “Wait! Why should it matter what Yang Hao likes? What does he have to do with it?”

“Isn’t Yang Hao with you?” Ling Ziyun asked casually, throwing in a sharp question.

“How do you know?” Shi Mingyuan was shocked. This was a secret known only to a few core members of the Star Spirit Republic.

“Oh!” Ling Ziyun grinned slyly like a little fox. “So he really is with you.”

“You tricked me?” Shi Mingyuan bit her lip. Though she had matured and become the Chief Executive, she was still no match for Ling Ziyun’s cunning.

“Did Yang Hao really go to the Star Spirit Republic? When did he arrive? Was he injured?” Ling Ziyun fired off a series of questions.

Although it was just a tiny bit, it was already a powerful change—enough to double a person’s strength.

It was precisely because of these mecha armaments that the Starling Republic could withstand several suppressions by the Imperial Army and even defeat the Glory Legion.

Now, as Shi Mingyuan’s mecha transformed into combat mode, perfectly encasing her body, she became entirely different. Surging with overwhelming power, she floated in the air like a deity, indifferent and aloof, surrounded by arcs of blue lightning.

Ling Ziyan quickly led the warriors of Angel Star away, already anticipating that these two were about to launch a frenzied attack.

Sure enough, the final outcome was even more severe than Ling Ziyan had imagined.

With a light tap of her toes, Kan Ling shot forward from the sword spirit, merging with her silver spear and transforming into a silver dragon. She gently touched a single point in the temple.

At the same time, the serpentine lightning summoned by Ling Ziyan struck the temple with a thunderous impact.

In the end, the enormous and terrifying temple was shattered into fragments by the combined power of the two Saint Realm experts, collapsing with a deafening roar. The rubble cascaded like rocks tumbling from a high peak, crashing down the cliff and plunging into the Black Sea.

“I really can’t believe you two…” Ling Ziyan patted her chest, addressing the two women who returned hand in hand, laughing.

Despite having only joined forces for a single strike, the two women had already developed a mutual admiration, bonding like sisters.

Shi Mingyuan walked back to Ling Ziyan with a smile, as if the temple’s catastrophic collapse was nothing out of the ordinary. She extended her hand to Kan Ling and said, “Pleased to meet you. I’m Shi Mingyuan, Chief Executive of the Starling Republic.”

“Starling Republic?”

“Shi Mingyuan?”

Kan Ling and Ling Ziyan had completely different reactions.

Lan Hu was only slightly surprised before also extending her hand to shake Shi Mingyuan’s.

“I’m Kan Ling, and this is Ling Ziyan. We’re rebels against the Empire.”

“Ling Ziyan?” Shi Mingyuan froze, turning back to scrutinize Ling Ziyan. But no matter how long she stared, she couldn’t reconcile the plain-faced, kind-hearted woman holding a baby before her with the graceful and coquettish brothel owner from her memories. “You’re Ling Ziyan?”

Ling Ziyan finally recognized Shi Mingyuan as well, her jaw dropping in speechless shock.

In this world, coincidences weren’t rare—but none were as bizarre as this. Yang Hao’s three women had not only met in one place but had also forged a deep combat camaraderie.

What stunned Ling Ziyan even more was that Shi Mingyuan had become the Chief Executive of the Starling Republic.

Was this the same Shi Mingyuan from before? The one mocked by clients for her electric defense, the courtesan rumored to be unwanted by anyone? The woman Ling Ziyan used to bully?

Ling Ziyan’s face paled slightly as she noticed Shi Mingyuan’s simmering anger, her mecha twitching as if preparing for battle.

Ling Ziyan knew full well that she had a history of conflict with Shi Mingyuan. If the latter decided to settle scores today, things would get ugly. Without hesitation, she hugged the child in her arms and uttered a sentence that would save her:

“Yang Hao’s child—almost as heavy as his father now.”

It was a ridiculous statement—a newborn couldn’t possibly weigh as much as an adult.

But the key lay in the first two words: “Yang Hao.”

Just as Ling Ziyan had predicted, Shi Mingyuan’s anger dissipated instantly, replaced by a haze of confusion.

Ling Ziyan, the cunning fox meticulously trained by the Senate, had gambled and won again. Though she didn’t know Yang Hao’s current whereabouts, she was well aware of his relationship with Shi Mingyuan. By invoking Yang Hao’s son, she knew Shi Mingyuan would soften.

Kan Ling, utterly baffled, sensed something unusual between Ling Ziyan and Shi Mingyuan. “What’s going on? Do you two know each other?”

“No,” Shi Mingyuan shook her head firmly. “We don’t. Absolutely not.”

A faint smile played on Ling Ziyan’s lips. “Yeah, we don’t.”

Despite their denials, an awkward tension lingered among the three.

Ling Ziyan, now the most informed of the three, knew their identities and connections to Yang Hao. Shi Mingyuan only knew that Ling Ziyan held Yang Hao’s son and had heard of Kan Ling—Yang Hao’s woman from the Imperial Capital. Poor Kan Ling, completely in the dark, remained oblivious under Shi Mingyuan’s intense, sorrowful gaze.

“Leader, you must be very busy. Let’s part ways here,” Ling Ziyan finally broke the silence, hinting at something deeper.

“No!” Both Kan Ling and Shi Mingyuan exclaimed simultaneously.

Kan Ling, the unsuspecting one, clung to Shi Mingyuan’s hand, reluctant to let go. “No way! Sister Shi’s combat skills are incredible. I still want to learn more from her!”

Ling Ziyan rolled her eyes. Learn what? If this kept up, even their shared husband might be “learned” away.

But no matter how hard she rolled her eyes, Kan Ling remained oblivious, eagerly discussing Saint Realm cultivation techniques with Shi Mingyuan.

Ling Ziyan could only sigh into the wind—life was just too unpredictable.

Yet, no matter what, the heavens bore witness: Yang Hao’s three closest women, three potential super-rivals, had bizarrely come together.

The wheels of history continued rolling forward—straight and unwavering.

After leaving Mount Lengjia, Shi Mingyuan invited Kan Ling and the others aboard her ship.

Since Kan Ling and Ling Ziyan had nowhere else to go, and hitchhiking on smuggler ships wasn’t ideal, they boarded Shi Mingyuan’s pristine white, strikingly beautiful Gemini-class vessel.

This ship was quite famous in the cosmos—not for its technological prowess, but for its appearance. A twin-hulled design connected by a central corridor, with the main control deck below, the ship resembled a soaring white swallow.

Most ships, whether commercial or combat, tried to blend into the cosmic backdrop or at least match their counterparts. After all, standing out in battle was a surefire way to become a target.

But the Gemini, gleaming white against the blue void, stood out like a beacon. Yet Shi Mingyuan never worried—as a woman, aesthetics were her priority.

Inside the control deck, Ling Ziyan sat in the captain’s seat, lost in thought.

The ship’s autopilot handled navigation, leaving Ling Ziyan to stare at the hyperspace route map, pondering.

Running into Shi Mingyuan in the south had shocked her. Though she’d known bits about Shi Mingyuan from her Senate spy days, she never imagined the woman would rise to become the Starling Republic’s Chief Executive.

But Shi Mingyuan’s status wasn’t Ling Ziyan’s main concern—Yang Hao’s whereabouts were.

She and Kan Ling hadn’t returned to the Shenyu Autonomous Region solely to find Yang Hao. After the battle at the Senate Mountain, Yang Hao had clashed with the Supreme One and vanished. He hadn’t returned to Shenyu, nor could he have gone to the devastated north, so they’d come south.

Yet after searching for so long, there was no trace of him. Had he gone east, to Shi Mingyuan’s territory?

The more Ling Ziyan thought, the more plausible it seemed. Shi Mingyuan’s reaction upon hearing about Yang Hao’s son hadn’t been that of a former lover—it was something else.

If Yang Hao was drifting in space, neither in Shenyu nor the south, then east was the only option.

Just as Ling Ziyan was deep in speculation, a scream pierced the air—Kan Ling’s voice.

Startled, Ling Ziyan turned. Kan Ling had gone to bathe in the nearby bathroom. Given her skills, what could possibly frighten her so badly?

After a long pause, Kan Ling’s voice faded, replaced by the sound of running water. Then Shi Mingyuan was forcefully shoved out of the bathroom, dripping wet and scowling as she stomped into the control deck.

“What were you two doing?” Ling Ziyan rubbed her temples at the sight.

Shi Mingyuan grinned mischievously. “I just wanted to peek at the naked beauty, but she kicked me out.”

“You spied on Kan Ling bathing?” Ling Ziyan gaped, shaking her head. “That’s just… If you wanted intel on your rival, you could’ve asked me!”

Shi Mingyuan’s eyes darted around before she sidled up to Ling Ziyan. “Sister Ling, tell me—who’s prettier, me or Kan Ling?”

“Sister?” Ling Ziyan inwardly scoffed. Shi Mingyuan had grown up—enough to call her “sister” for information. But she answered seriously, “Kan Ling is as pretty as you, but she’s bustier, while your legs are longer. Both are things Yang Hao likes.”

“Yang Hao likes?” Shi Mingyuan blushed, nodding slightly before snapping back. “Wait, what does that have to do with him? Why should he like anything?”

“Is Yang Hao in your territory?” Ling Ziyan asked casually, striking with a sudden question.

“How did you know?” Shi Mingyuan was stunned—this information was known only to the Starling Republic’s core members.

“Aha!” Ling Ziyan smirked like a fox. “So he really is with you.”

“You tricked me?” Shi Mingyuan pouted. Though she’d matured and become Chief Executive, she was still no match for Ling Ziyan’s cunning.

“Is Yang Hao really in the Starling Republic? When did he arrive? Is he hurt?” Ling Ziyan fired off questions.

But Shi Mingyuan clamped her mouth shut, stubbornly refusing to answer, determined to make Ling Ziyan sweat.

Yet she was no match for Ling Ziyan—the strategist even Yang Hao consulted.

With a light raise of her brow, Ling Ziyan smiled. “If you won’t tell me, I’ll just inform Kan Ling about your relationship with Yang Hao and let her ask you.”

“No!” Shi Mingyuan panicked. “Don’t! Please, Sister Ling, don’t tell Kan Ling!”

“Why not? She’s Yang Hao’s official fiancée now.”

“And I’m his official first wife!” Shi Mingyuan huffed. “That fickle man.”

“Fine, I won’t tell Kan Ling—but you have to tell me where Yang Hao is. I don’t want my child growing up without a father. Even missing an arm or leg would be bad.” Ling Ziyan shrugged.

Defeated, Shi Mingyuan sighed. “He’s fine. He’s in the Starling Republic, undergoing special training with the Grandmasters.”

“Special training?”

Shi Mingyuan briefly explained her experiences and the Immortal Veil Realm, omitting the dangers of the Great Alchemy Furnace cultivation—since Yang Hao’s participation was uncertain, she didn’t want to worry others.

Relieved to hear Yang Hao was not only safe but also receiving training from Golden Immortals, Ling Ziyan relaxed—but then slyly asked,

“When you reunited with Yang Hao, did he mention Kan Ling?”

“Hmph!” Shi Mingyuan sulked in the captain’s seat before finally turning. “Sister Ling, is that child really Yang Hao’s?”

“Yes.” Ling Ziyan nodded.

“A son this big, plus a fiancée… That womanizing scoundrel!” Shi Mingyuan fumed, blue lightning crackling around her, startling Ling Ziyan.

“Alright, alright, don’t be mad.” Ling Ziyan soothed. “I won’t meddle in your mess. Let Yang Hao sort it out himself.”

Truthfully, Ling Ziyan was in the most secure position—she’d borne Yang Hao’s child, an unassailable advantage. She was content to watch the drama unfold.

Despite Shi Mingyuan’s anger and Ling Ziyan’s nonchalance, both agreed on one thing: for now, Kan Ling wouldn’t learn about their tangled relationships.

Given Kan Ling’s intolerance for betrayal, if she learned Yang Hao had other women, she’d storm the Starling Republic to confront him.

And so, the wheels of history rolled on—straight and unwavering.

But how could she possibly outwit Ling Ziyun, the brilliant female strategist even Yang Hao consulted?

Ling Ziyun raised her eyebrows slightly and smiled: “Since you won’t tell me, I’ll just let Kan Ling know about your relationship with Yang Hao and let her ask you.”

“No!” Shi Mingyuan cried out in alarm. “Don’t tell her, Ling Ziyun Sister, please don’t!”

“Why not tell her? She is Yang Hao’s current official fiancée, after all.”

“I’m still Yang Hao’s official first wife,” Shi Mingyuan pouted. “Hmph, that fickle man.”

“You can keep her from knowing, but you have to tell me where Yang Hao is. I don’t want the baby to grow up without a father. Even losing an arm or a leg would be terrible.”

Shi Mingyuan was completely defeated and reluctantly admitted, “He’s fine. He’s undergoing special training with the Masters in the Star Spirit Republic.”

“Training?”

Shi Mingyuan briefly told Ling Ziyun about her experiences and the Hidden Immortal Realm, though she omitted the dangerous parts about the Grand Elixir Cauldron cultivation, since Yang Hao’s participation was still uncertain, and she didn’t want to worry others.

Hearing that Yang Hao was not only safe but had even gained the special training of several Golden Immortals, Ling Ziyun relaxed somewhat. Still, she glanced slyly at Shi Mingyuan and asked:

“When you reunited with Yang Hao, did he mention anything about Kan Ling?”

“Hmph!” Shi Mingyuan sat sulking at the captain’s seat. After a long while, she turned her head and asked, “Ling Sister, is that really Yang Hao’s child?”

“Yes,” Ling Ziyun nodded.

“He already has a son and an unmarried fiancée. What a fickle man, that Yang Hao!” Shi Mingyuan grew angrier, sending arcs of blue electricity flying around her, making Ling Ziyun quite nervous.

“Alright, alright, don’t be angry,” Ling Ziyun tried to calm her down. “Anyway, I won’t get involved in your relationship. Let Yang Hao explain everything to you when the time comes.”

Looking at the current situation, Ling Ziyun was actually the most secure of the three. After all, she had already given birth to Yang Hao’s child, giving her a unique advantage no one else could match. Naturally, she was quite content to watch the drama unfold.

Regardless of how Shi Mingyuan fumed or how calmly Ling Ziyun took things, the two women shared a common decision—they would temporarily keep the complicated relationships between them from Kan Ling.

Given Kan Ling’s intolerance for deceit, if she found out Yang Hao had other women, she would surely rush to the Star Spirit Republic to confront him.