The Tiger-Chasing Condensing Essence cultivator hovered midair, faint ripples of true essence shimmering around him.
He spread his fingers, trapping the black mist-transformed Eastern Wilderness cultivator in a hovering water prison that held firm despite violent struggles.
"Save your strength, Friend. The gap between First Levels is an insurmountable chasm."
Confidence radiated from his smile as he added, "Our meetingâs fate. Visit Tiger-Chasing as our honored guest."
Freshly advanced to late stage Condensing Essence, he basked in his rising prominence.
Being chosen as princess Yingxuanâs temporary protector cultivator marked royal favor.
Success promised promotions and riches â his glorious future seemed assured.
Capturing this sixth-level Condensing Essence Eastern Wilderness cultivator would be another easy triumph.
While he envisioned greatness, contrasting emotions churned elsewhere.
This temporary protector remained ignorant of deeper schemes.
But Yingxuan, central to these events, knew bitter truths.
When Yang Guanfeng first threw her over his shoulder, sheâd been stunned.
But seeing the black mist manifestation triggered her spiritual treasureâs warning.
Understanding dawned â her face whitened, eyes filling with despair.
Yang Guanfeng, focused on stabilizing his mind and soul, missed her distress.
Memories flooded back: her weeping motherâs farewell words.
"Canât escape after all?"
Princess or prince mattered little.
Without national masterâs approval, all royal children faced fiery doom in that loveless palace.
Sheâd hoped volunteering for dangerous eastern border missions might earn her mother survival.
Completing special tasks could rewrite her death-scripted fate.
Better be useful chess piece than firewood, even without royal comforts.
Now reality struck â naive dreams shattered.
This cursed bloodline sealed her destiny.
She existed to be sacrificed.
Whooshâ
Whooshâ
As the Tiger-Chasing cultivator basked in delusions, two new black wisps came flying in from eastern skies.
A faint ringing hummed from one of the wisps.
When he sensed the two individualsâ presence, his smile froze instantly as terror gripped his heart.
"Ninth level! Two Condensing Essence ninth levels! And a sword cultivator! Impossible!"
Knowing things were dire, he immediately abandoned the water prison technique. His body dissolved into mist as he fled toward Tiger-Chasing.
"Stay calm! No Condensing Essence cultivatorâs died on the eastern border in ten years. They wonât kill meâmight not even chase!"
"Worst case, I get severely injured and lose cultivation levels. Could always betray the princess to survive if it comes to that."
The protector cultivator kept rationalizing while fleeing, already mapping escape routes.
Bzzztâ
His primordial dan suddenly quivered in his Qi Palace. Numbness spread through his limbs as a vision of his shattered core flooded his mind.
"Whaâ"
Shhink!
The black swordâs gleam outran his thoughts.
His mist-form solidified. No pain cameâjust coldness at his throat before the world tilted sideways.
Meanwhile in Zhuhu Dynastyâs palace, a chess game approached mid-game.
Two players faced each other:
The West Concubine whoâd witnessed Li Yuandeâs Gathering Qi to Condensing Essence performance.
Across from her sat a man cloaked in shifting mistâthe same concealment technique-wielding official whoâd rewarded Yang Family at Qiulu.
"Willingness to risk the east shows death-wish resolve. Yingxuanâs spirit exceeds her siblings." The West Concubine tapped a white piece onto the board.
"Your Highness mistakes recklessness for virtue." The Faceless Man dropped a black stone into white territory. "True death-seekers hone secret methods to feed the flames."
"This isnât suicideâitâs survival. Yingxuan lacks Qiuhanâs talent and Tianyangâs cunning. Compared to gifted royals, sheâs ordinary save for pretty features. I canât endorse her."
The West Concubine studied the board after his move. Minutes passed.
"Even small moves matter."
"Sigh⊠No moveâs small now." The Faceless Man shook his hooded head. "You already secured the Li Familyâs chess-playing girl. Asking another favor strains courtesy."
"Since youâve prepared Yingxuanâs backup plan, let fate decide."
Only four or five moves remained before endgame. The West Concubine lifted a piece, hesitated, then set it down unplayed.
"Summon someone."
"What does your Highness command?"
"Deliver this to Shu Concubine."
"Yes, your Highness."
The Faceless Man watched the white silk pass from the West Concubineâs hand. Beneath his concealed face, a trace of pity surfaced.
What must she have felt, ordering her own sisterâs death?
"She didnât need to die."
"Without Yingxuan, Chongtian Palace would be no better than Asuraâs hell for a mortal!"
Hearing the anger in the West Concubineâs voice, the Faceless Man lowered his eyes silently.
"I fought and won the western expedition! Now they push eastern campaigns onto meâhas Tiger-Chasing no other competent souls?" the West Concubine snapped.
"Your Highness."
The Faceless Man bowed, his voice carried by technique to her ear alone.
"The Emperorâs will."
The West Concubineâs jewel-bright eyes flickered. Countless emotions swirled briefly before vanishing.
"Preserve this game. Weâll finish it later."
Her projection dissolved like scattered ash.
"Yes, your Highness."
The Faceless Man secured the chessboard with technique and tucked it into his sleeve.
As their conversation ended, the Eastern Wilderness sword cultivator crushed the protector cultivatorâs primordial dan.
Ice-blue true essence erupted, swirling skyward before cascading down as relentless rain.
The sword cultivator materialized before fleeing Yang Guanfeng.
_Clang!_
His blade bounced off a Barrier of Technique.
"Unbreakable?"
Surprise flickered in his eyes. He struck harder.
_Thud!_
The rebound numbed his arm.
"Truly unbreakable."
Sheathing his longsword, he assessed the barrier.
Two Eastern Wilderness cultivators landed beside him.
They eyed the barrier shielding Yang Guanfeng and Yingxuan, then their companionâs sheathed weapon.
"Even you canât pierce it?"
"Spirit Communication work. Obviously."
The swordsman shrugged. "It wonât hold long."
"Suppose Tiger-Chasing sends reinforcements?"
"Useless Condensing Essence fools. However many come, my blade ends them."