The Yan Zhao Dynasty, Imperial Palace.
Lan Ling had lost her former radiance. Her clothes were disheveled, her hair unkempt, and her face was dejected.
She no longer bore any resemblance to a princess, but rather a resentful woman confined to her chambers, her eyes filled with boundless hatred.
A powerful Emperor-level expert from the Panlong Sacred Land had died in Wangjing because of her, and she had been severely reprimanded by her sect.
Simultaneously, due to the failure of the Great Qin Dynasty's invasion, her father had begun to question her abilities and no longer trusted her as he once did.
Under this double blow, Lan Ling felt her life had turned bleak, and these days had been incredibly miserable.
Her heart was consumed by thoughts of a certain man, and she could only think of how to tear him limb from limb.
"Ji Mo, I will not let you go."
Lan Ling gritted her teeth, her face contorted, and she cursed loudly, clenching her fists.
If not for Ji Mo, how could she have ended up in such a state?
"Grandmother Hua, have the people sent out not returned with any news yet?"
Lan Ling inquired of the Demon Emperor beside her, who exuded an aura of curse power.
"A while ago, Ji Mo was constantly within the Great Qin army camp, protected by the Heavenly Scent Wolf Cavalry Legion. The assassins sent had no opportunity to act. However, Ji Mo has now left the military camp and is returning to Wangjing alone. Our people will seize the opportunity to strike, and news should reach us soon."
Grandmother Hua looked at Lan Ling and secretly shook her head.
Last time, they had lost an Emperor-level expert, and this time they had dispatched a large number of sect experts to assassinate Ji Mo. If successful, it would be fine, but if they lost more personnel, the sect would likely not spare them lightly.
Although Lan Ling was the Saintess of the Panlong Sacred Land, it was unwise to use sect resources for personal gain.
What worried Grandmother Hua the most was that Ji Mo was definitely not simple.
Not only had he easily dispelled the curse power she had placed on Ying Ye, but he was also immune to curses.
She had secretly attempted to curse Ji Mo before, but it had failed.
This made her feel deeply uneasy, and she had a premonition that those who sought to harm Ji Mo would likely not meet a good end.
She had tried to dissuade Lan Ling, but Lan Ling, blinded by hatred, would not listen.
"Returning to Wangjing alone? That scoundrel is truly arrogant. But this is for the best; his death is inevitable."
Lan Ling revealed a cruel smile, believing she would soon receive news of Ji Mo's demise.
...
"Am I beautiful?"
Du Juan held a bronze mirror, admiring her reflection.
In the mirror, her eyes were like peaches, her face like a hibiscus, her nose like a jade, and her mouth like a cherry. She was truly beautiful.
But why, in the eyes of that bastard Ji Mo, had she been called an old woman trying to look young, and an eyesore!
The bandits standing behind Du Juan quickly responded, "Lord Du Juan is as beautiful as a celestial being; no one in this world can compare to you."
To ensure their own safety, these men could only flatter her against their conscience.
Hearing this, Du Juan's mood improved slightly, and she continued to ask, "Compared to Black Rose, who is more beautiful?"
"Naturally, Lord Du Juan is the most beautiful. How can Black Rose compare to you? She is not even one-tenth as good as you."
The bandits showered her with more praise.
"If that's the case, why did that bastard Ji Mo say I was an eyesore?" Du Juan was extremely indignant.
She had roamed for hundreds of years and had never been so insulted, nor had any man ever escaped her grasp.
Yet, with Ji Mo, she had encountered a Waterloo in her career.
"In this world, there is no man that I, Du Juan, cannot conquer."
Du Juan held a deep resentment in her heart.
"I will definitely make Ji Mo pay the price and beg at my feet."
Du Juan clenched her five fingers, and the bronze mirror turned to dust.
"Lord Du Juan, can we not take such risks anymore? Your life is more important." A bandit earnestly advised.
Ji Mo had kicked you away with a single foot; to provoke him again would be suicidal.
You got lucky this time, but the next time, you might not be so fortunate.
"Get lost, all of you. I have my own plans."
Du Juan dismissed her subordinates and pursued Ji Mo in the direction he had left.
She refused to admit defeat, and even if it meant death, she would reclaim her honor from Ji Mo.
Ji Mo, continuing his journey back to Wangjing, felt very pleased, believing he had saved a few misguided souls.
After his education, that group of swindlers who performed "fairy jumping" must have realized their mistakes, repented, and returned to the righteous path.
He was in a good mood, unaware that danger was already looming ahead.
Yun Kuo Canyon was the mandatory route for Ji Mo's return to Wangjing.
And five experts from the Panlong Sacred Land, dispatched by Lan Ling, were lying in wait here to intercept him.
Three humans and two demons, all of them Saint-level powerhouses, all equipped with legendary-grade gear. Such a lineup was sufficient to assassinate a mid-stage Emperor-level expert.
They concealed themselves within the canyon, awaiting Ji Mo's arrival.
"It's people from the Panlong Sacred Land. Should I cooperate with these experts to ambush Ji Mo?"
On the cliff above Yun Kuo Canyon, Bai Xiong hid within a thicket of vines, contemplating.
This was undoubtedly a good opportunity to deal with Ji Mo, but he was hesitant, as he could not estimate Ji Mo's true strength and felt uncertain.
A short while later.
Footsteps echoed, and in the drifting mist, Ji Mo's figure appeared.
Ji Mo was clearly unaware of the danger lurking before him. He stepped on the thick fallen leaves and entered the canyon.
"Action!"
The five experts secretly communicated and began their attack.
On the ground, a barely perceptible trail snaked into view.
It was a demon saint, lurking underground, rapidly approaching Ji Mo.
This was a Jin Mao Yao Shu (Golden-Haired Demonic Rat), most skilled at attacking from beneath the ground.
It planned to burrow beneath Ji Mo and attack his lower body, catching him off guard.
In the blink of an eye.
The Jin Mao Yao Shu reached beneath Ji Mo's feet.
It revealed a cruel smile and was about to break through the surface when it suddenly felt a peculiar aura appear, rendering its entire body immobile.
Then, something even more terrifying happened.
The Jin Mao Yao Shu's eyes widened in disbelief as it watched a giant foot descend from the sky, like Mount Tai pressing down, carrying a terrifying force as it stomped down heavily.
"No..."
Its soul was torn apart, and it was filled with terror.
The legendary defensive armor it wore instantly turned to fragments, and its body was crushed into a pulp.
*Pfft...*
Blood seeped through the fallen leaves, staining the ground a deep crimson.
Ji Mo felt as if he had stepped on something soft beneath his feet. As he was about to investigate, a gust of foul wind hit him.
"Roar..."
A roar echoed throughout the canyon, and another demon saint transformed into its original form and leaped out.
It was a Black Panther demon, with two horns on its forehead and a mouth full of fangs, roaring as it lunged.
But in the next second, its charge came to an abrupt halt.
The Black Panther's pupils suddenly constricted as it saw Ji Mo's sole was stained crimson, and the Jin Mao Yao Shu beneath the ground had already become a bloody mess.
How is this possible!
The Black Panther trembled all over. The Jin Mao Yao Shu's strength was superior to its own, and it wore legendary-grade armor, yet it had been flattened by a single stomp!
What is Ji Mo's true strength?