Ten miles outside Li Courtyard.
"Who are you? One of Long Xiaoyun's accomplices? Were you the one who destroyed my family?"
Lin Shiyin stared at the imposing Murong Qiudi in the distance, her face showing no fear.
"I didn't expect someone as remarkable as you to come from the minor Demon Blade Gate."
"How about joining my Heavenly Venerable Organization?"
Murong Qiudi spoke with a hint of amusement.
"You still haven't answered me. Are you in league with Long Xiaoyun?"
"Long Xiaoyun? That insignificant worm?"
Murong Qiudi scoffed.
"If you hadn't acted first, he would have already died by my hand."
"Why?" Lin Shiyin asked, confused.
"Your father and the Demon Blade Gate were part of my Heavenly Venerable Organization."
"Since the Demon Blade Gate was destroyed, it's only right that I avenge them."
"You are the only one left from the Demon Blade Gate, so naturally, you are one of mine too."
Lin Shiyin was shocked.
Her father had such a background?
But no matter what, she would never again entrust her fate to someone else.
Li Xunhuan was not trustworthy.
And this woman before her was even less so.
Only she could control her own destiny.
"Impossible. I will never join you."
"Heh. Then we'll see if you're qualified to refuse."
Murong Qiudi sneered.
With a wave of her hand.
A lotus-shaped burst of energy shot toward Lin Shiyin.
"Shadow Lotus Step!"
Lin Shiyin's expression changed. She gripped her twin blades.
She struck in midair.
Boom!
The blade light clashed with the energy blast, releasing a terrifying explosion.
Everything around them was obliterated.
"A Great Grandmaster!"
Lin Shiyin's face went stiff.
This woman was terrifying. She might even be stronger than herself.
But taking her down would not be easy.
"Withered Lotus Slash!"
An even more powerful force pressed down upon her.
"Purple Lotus - World-Cleaving Slash!"
Lin Shiyin joined her twin blades and called out.
A fearsome burst of blade energy surged forward, as if it would tear through space itself.
Boom boom boom boom!
Explosions roared endlessly.
Both Murong Qiudi and Lin Shiyin felt the overwhelming force crash into them.
Their bodies were flung backward uncontrollably.
"What technique is that? I've never seen it before."
"What about your technique? I've never heard of it in the martial world either."
Almost simultaneously, the two women shouted.
"Purple Lotus? Azure Lotus? Lin Shiyin, have you met the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal?"
"Your technique is strikingly similar to the Azure Lotus Sword Classic."
Murong Qiudi muttered to herself.
Then, something occurred to her, and her tone suddenly changed.
"Could it be that your technique was taught by him too?"
Lin Shiyin was sharp and immediately caught on.
"Where is he? Tell me, and I'll spare your life."
"Hmph. I want to know where he is too."
"Wait, didn't the Nine Provinces Golden Ranking say he had a daughter with the Eastern Monarch of the Qin Dynasty's Yin Yang School? He should be in the Qin Dynasty now."
"Impossible. I investigated it. He's currently in the Ming Dynasty. That's a fact."
Lin Shiyin hesitated.
Murong Qiudi looked at the woman in front of her, equal in beauty, bearing, and strength, and her face darkened.
After a moment of silence, she suddenly smiled.
"You're looking for him, and so am I. Why don't we work together?"
Lin Shiyin remained on guard.
This Murong Qiudi clearly was not a good person.
Who knew if she was plotting something behind the scenes?
"Don't worry. Until we find him, I won't harm you."
"Whether we are friends or foes can be decided later."
"For now, we share a common enemy. Eastern Monarch of the Qin Dynasty."
"What do you think? Relying on yourself alone to find that scoundrel, how long would it take?"
"A day? A year? Ten years? Maybe even twenty?"
Murong Qiudi coaxed gently, a smug smile appearing on her lips.
The woman before her might be powerful, but when it came to schemes and manipulation, she was too naive.
No wonder she was almost fooled by Li Xunhuan and Long Xiaoyun.
If not for her strength, her life would have been filled with endless suffering.
Such a useful ally, how could she let her slip away?
As expected, Lin Shiyin showed signs of hesitation.
"Fine. I'll trust you this once and temporarily join your Heavenly Venerable Organization."
"But if you ever try to make me do something evil, I won't agree."
Murong Qiudi said nothing, only smiled faintly.
She had a feeling that more and more rivals would appear in the future.
She needed allies.
Otherwise, she might lose everything in the battles to come.
Any woman who caught the interest of that scoundrel was certainly exceptional.
She didn't trust herself, but she had to trust that man's judgment.
As for the Heavenly Venerable Organization she founded, she didn't care about it at all.
It was nothing more than a tool.
Even if it were destroyed now, she wouldn't be upset.
What she valued more was this seemingly naive but powerful woman who could be both a rival and an ally.
———
Buzz!
The Hidden Dragon Ranking suddenly shone brightly.
Murong Qiudi and Lin Shiyin turned to look.
[Hidden Dragon Ranking – Rank 17]
[Yan Shisan]
[Identity: Servant and disciple of the Murong Family]
[Cultivation: Great Perfection Grandmaster Realm]
[Technique: Thirteen Fatal Sword Strikes]
[Reward: Earth-Grade Top-Tier Spiritual Herb – Seven-Leaf Sword Grass, enhances sword intent greatly when consumed[
[Hidden Dragon Ranking – Rank 16]
[Xie Xiaofeng]
[Identity: Third Young Master of the Divine Sword Manor]
[Cultivation: Great Perfection Grandmaster Realm]
[Technique: Heaven-Stealing Sun-Swapping Snatching Sword Style, Earth Breaking Shaking Heaven, Burning Heaven Earth, Xie Family Sword Method]
[Reward: Earth-Grade Top-Tier Spiritual Herb – Seven-Leaf Sword Grass, enhances sword intent greatly when consumed]
"Yan Shisan is from your Murong Family?"
"And I heard the Third Young Master Xie Xiaofeng is quite close to you?"
Lin Shiyin gave Murong Qiudi a curious look and asked.
Murong Qiudi seemed completely unfazed, as if she had expected it.
"Yan Shisan may be of servant origin, but neither my father nor I have ever treated him as one. He is one of us."
"As for Xie Xiaofeng, we've only met a few times. Though he has some skill, compared to you and me, he is still lacking."
Murong Qiudi spoke calmly.
Perhaps, in her heart, people like Xie Xiaofeng and Yan Shisan were not worth mentioning.
Only those like Lin Shiyin and the Eastern Monarch of the Yin Yang School were her true rivals.