Cannot Hide, Cannot Escape

The Condensed Origin cultivator dispatched by the Zhuhu side hovered in the air, faint water ripples formed by his True Essence undulating around him.

Spreading his five fingers, the Donghuang cultivator who had transformed into black mist was instantly imprisoned midair by a water prison. No matter how much he thrashed, he could not break free.

"Fellow Daoist, there is no need to waste your strength. The gap of a single cultivation layer between us is like an uncrossable chasm."

As he spoke, his face was full of a confident smile. "To meet is destiny. Since you are here, why not take a tour of our Zhuhu and allow us to fulfill our duties as hosts?"

Having just entered the late stage of Condensed Origin, he was at the height of his high spirits.

This time, he was heavily favored by the Wangchao and selected as the Princess's Dao-protecting cultivator.

If he accomplished this task, promotions and generous rewards upon his return would naturally be indispensable.

In his eyes, a bright future was already paved before him. He only needed to step onto it to experience smooth sailing and a meteoric rise.

Looking at the situation here, this Donghuang cultivator was only at the sixth layer of Condensed Origin. Capturing him alive and taking him back would be yet another great merit!

Such a wonderful prospect left him feeling immensely proud just thinking about it.

But at this very moment, another person's state of mind was completely different from his.

This Dao-protecting cultivator was nothing more than a temporarily conscripted hand; he completely misunderstood the true inside story of this event.

As the core figure of this matter, Yingxuan naturally knew many more of the hidden secrets.

When she was first suddenly hoisted onto Yang Guanfeng's shoulder, Yingxuan was still a bit dazed.

But the moment she saw the Donghuang Condensed Origin cultivator manifest from the black mist, the Sensing Spirit Treasure on her body reacted.

She immediately understood what was about to happen. Her face turned deathly pale, and a touch of sorrow filled her eyes.

Coincidentally, Yang Guanfeng had been doing everything in his power to stabilize his mind-soul at the time and had not noticed the change in her state of mind.

Recalling the day of their parting, when her mother had cried until she was a woman made of tears and spoken those words to her, a surge of bitterness and unwillingness swelled in Yingxuan's heart.

"In the end... I still cannot hide from it?"

What did it matter if she was a Princess?

What did it matter if they were Princes?

In that heartless and unfeeling imperial palace, if one was not chosen by the State Preceptor, who could escape the fate of being reduced to ash!

She had thought that by volunteering to come to this perilous eastern border and establishing a few merits in battle, she could beg for a chance at life for her mother.

If she was lucky enough to complete that assignment, she could also break free from her predetermined trajectory of death.

Even if she could no longer enjoy the glory and wealth of being a Princess, as long as she could become a minor chess piece with some use, it would still be better than being burned as firewood!

But looking at it now, her thoughts had been far too naive and idealistic.

Simply by being tainted with this curse-like bloodline, her fate had already been sealed.

She was the destined abandoned piece in this game.

Whoosh-

Whoosh-

Just as the Zhuhu Dao-protecting cultivator was still immersed in his beautiful vision, two more streams of black mist flew in from the eastern horizon.

Within one of the streams, the faint, sharp hum of a blade could be heard.

Sensing the aura of these two people, the smile on his face instantly froze as a wave of horror surged in his heart.

"The ninth layer! Two at the ninth layer of Condensed Origin! And one is a sword cultivator! How is this possible!"

Shocked awake, he knew this matter was not simple. He decisively abandoned his water prison art, transformed into a cloud of mist, and turned to flee toward Zhuhu as if his life depended on it.

"Don't panic! For ten years, there has never been a precedent of a Condensed Origin cultivator perishing on the eastern border. The other side won't deal a lethal blow, and they might not even pursue too deeply!"

"Even if we really fight, the worst result is severe injuries and a drop in realm. If it comes down to it, I can just abandon the Princess and surrender. Preserving my life shouldn't be a problem."

While flying away, this Dao-protecting cultivator continued to comfort himself in his heart, having already thought of a way out.

Buzz-

But in the very next instant, a sudden palpitation transmitted from the Origin Core in his Qi Mansion, causing his entire body to go numb. A terrifying image of his Origin Core shattering flashed in his mind.

"Wh-"

Screech-Slash!

Before he could understand what had happened, a pitch-black sword phantom flashed past.

His figure subsequently materialized from the mist. He did not feel any pain; there was only a slight coolness around his neck before the world before his eyes began to spin wildly.

At the exact same time this conflict was taking place.

Deep within the imperial palace of the Zhuhu Wangchao, a game of chess had reached its middle stage.

The two sides playing chess were a man and a woman.

The woman was Western Consort, who had appeared to watch the ceremony that day when Li Yuande demonstrated his arts for Qi-Fall Condensed Origin.

The man opposite her was no stranger either.

His face was obscured by an ethereal cloud-like concealment art. He was the very same high-ranking Wangchao official who had assigned merits and distributed rewards to the Yang family in Qiulu.

"Being willing to risk venturing to the east can be considered possessing the Will to Seek Death. Yingxuan's temperament already surpasses many of her brothers and sisters."

Western Consort picked up a white piece and slowly placed it down.

"Hehe, Your Highness is mistaken. If she truly sought death, she should have cultivated the secret arts properly to let that fire burn even brighter."

The Faceless Man chuckled softly, placing a black piece into the white formation. "She appears to seek death, but in reality, she seeks life. Your Highness is also aware that in terms of talent, Yingxuan is far inferior to Qiuhan, and in terms of resourcefulness, she is vastly lacking compared to Tianyang."

"As for other aspects, compared to those children with true talent, she falls short by more than just a little bit. Her appearance is considered somewhat outstanding, but in the end, it is merely a fleshly vessel. I truly have no way to recommend her."

Western Consort watched him play his piece, her eyes scanning the entire board before she pondered for a long time.

"Even to just be a minor chess piece is fine."

"Sigh..."

The Faceless Man sighed and shook his head. "Your Highness, having reached this stage, how could any piece still be considered minor?"

"You have already protected that little girl from the Li family who knows how to play chess. Now, coming to ask for another quota is truly making things difficult for me."

"Since you have already left that contingency plan for Yingxuan, we can only see what her personal fortune brings."

By now, the layout of the chessboard before the two of them had little room for variation. At most, four or five more moves, and they would enter the final stage of the game.

Western Consort raised her hand, pinching a piece. It hovered above the chessboard for a long moment before she finally set it back down.

"Men."

"What are Your Highness's orders?"

"Deliver this item to Consort Shu for me."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The Faceless Man watched as a strip of white silk was handed out from Western Consort's hand. A trace of pity flashed across his face, hidden beneath the art.

Personally ordering the death of her own sister... he wondered what this Western Consort was feeling in her heart at this moment.

"She didn't have to die."

"Without Yingxuan, what difference is there between Chongtian Palace and an Asura Ghost Hell for a mere mortal like her!"

Hearing the anger mixed in Western Consort's words, the Faceless Man could only lower his eyes and remain silent.

"I went on the western expedition, and I won! Now they want to strike east, and they calculate against me once more. In this massive Zhuhu, is there no one else capable of stepping up?!" Western Consort rebuked angrily.

"Your Highness."

The Faceless Man called out and bowed low, using an art to transmit a message directly into Western Consort's ear.

"This... is His Majesty's intention."

Western Consort's eyes flickered upon hearing this. In her gem-like, bright gaze, a multitude of complex and inexplicable emotions flashed for an instant, only to completely dissipate the next.

"Leave the board. We will continue the game when there is free time."

Leaving these words behind, Western Consort's avatar dispersed into nothingness like flying ash.

"Yes, Your Highness."

The Faceless Man nodded in agreement. Standing up, he used an art to fix the chessboard in place and stored it in his sleeve.

The moment their conversation ceased was also the very moment the Donghuang Condensed Origin sword cultivator turned and shattered the Origin Core of the Zhuhu Dao-protecting cultivator.

The Origin Core shattered; the True Essence collapsed.

Streaks of ice-blue True Essence, like swimming fish entering the sea, returned to heaven and earth, transforming into a torrential downpour that fell over the area.

As the rain fell, the Donghuang sword cultivator's figure flashed once more. In the blink of an eye, he arrived in front of the wildly sprinting Yang Guanfeng.

Clang-

A sword fell, but it was blocked by an art barrier.

"Can't cut through it?"

A hint of surprise appeared in his eyes. He immediately increased his force and thrust his sword out again.

Thud!

The recoil this time was even heavier, causing his entire arm to feel somewhat weak.

"I really can't cut through it."

Having gauged the strength of this barrier, he put away the longsword in his hand.

At this time, the remaining two Donghuang cultivators also landed in the area.

They glanced at the art barrier protecting Yang Guanfeng and Yingxuan, then at the longsword their companion had sheathed, and understood what had happened.

"Is it so formidable that even you can't do anything about it?"

"It is the handiwork of a Spirit Communion cultivator, what do you think?"

The sword cultivator shrugged indifferently. "It won't last too long. We just have to wait."

"Heh, aren't you afraid of reinforcements from the Zhuhu side?"

"Just a bunch of useless Condensed Origin cultivators. No matter how many come, it's just a matter of a single strike from my sword!"

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