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nWhen the remaining four saw Qin Fangzhen looking over to them, they tried to slip away without looking at him.

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nQin Fangzhen was already prepared. He rushed forward and grabbed them, two in each hand, effectively stopping their escape. “Are you guys going back to copy the scriptures too?”

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nThese four people were from the other four powerful government departments.

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nThe Deputy Martial Master of the Sacred Martial Bureau shouted with a menacing stare, “Let me go!”

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n“Don’t think about shirking responsibility. You have to take part of the blame, whether you like it or not.” Qin Fangzhen retorted.

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nThe four of them saw that he was trying to bend the rules, and the people from the courier station had already arrived.

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nIf they were to leave now, it would be even more troublesome if he complained to Emperor Sheng Wen.

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nThey glared at him with hatred and reluctantly stayed back.

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nAfter leaving the courier station,

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nXiao Ran looked in the direction of the palace and thought of the masked man. The still waters in the capital city ran very deep!

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nInstead of going back, he hurried toward the palace.

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nThe matter was already half-completed. As long as he handed the ‘Iron Blood Dragon Horse’ and ‘Heavenly Secrets Interlinked Crossbow’ to Xia Luoran, the matter he had promised the Eldest Princess would be completed.

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nIn this way,

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nthe Yin Incubation Institute’s plan would also be exposed.

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nThe rest was up to the Imperial Court.

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nAs for these two items, even if they were complete, they were still trash in Xiao Ran’s eyes, much less having only a third of their power in their current form.

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nHe arrived outside the palace.

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nXiao Ran invoked and circulated the Death Feigning Mystical Technique and restrained his aura totally. He entered the palace without alerting the patrolling Imperial Guards.

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nBefore his arrival,

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nhe had found out how to get to Xia Luoran’s residence.

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nWithout alerting anyone, he arrived outside her palace.

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nIt was deserted. Apart from the Imperial Guards outside, there was no one else in the huge palace.

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nSpiritual soul energy surged out, searching for traces of Xia Luoran.

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nA few moments later,

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nXiao Ran frowned. “Strange! Why isn’t she here?”

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nWhen he arrived at her bedchamber, the two palace maids paced back and forth anxiously.

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nThe two of them were Xia Luoran’s personal palace maids. They had met before in the Celestial Dungeon.

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n“It’s all my fault! Even if Her Highness punished me just now, I should have followed her.”

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nAnother palace maid said, “This is not the time to talk about this. I hope Her Highness comes back soon. Otherwise, if His Majesty blames us, we won’t be able to bear the responsibility!”

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n“Only them here?” Xiao Ran was puzzled.

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nHe then entered the palace.

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nHe stepped forward and appeared in front of them. Before they could speak, he subdued them.

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n“Spirit Shifting Soul Control!” Xiao Ran activated his spiritual skill.

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nTwo beams of golden light shot out from his eyes and entered their eyes.

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nNeither of them had a Forbidden Spirit Technique in their minds. They were only at Level 2 of the Grandmaster Realm, so were easily taken down without any chance of them resisting.

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n“Where did Xia Luoran go?” Xiao Ran asked.

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nThe palace maid with the light airy fringe on her forehead said, “Her Highness went to the Tranquility Lake.”

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n“Where’s Tranquility Lake?”

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n“South of the city, near the moat.”

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nAfter obtaining the answer he wanted, Xiao Ran retracted the Spirit Shifting Soul Control and knocked them unconscious.

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nHe then left the palace and went out of the Imperial Palace.

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nThe Death Feigning Mystical Technique was really powerful. Coupled with his level of evolution, he did not cause much of a commotion. The old monsters in the palace were all blind to his intrusion despite their wide open eyes, let alone discover that he had been here.

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nNevertheless,

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nXiao Ran could still vaguely sense several terrifying auras from the depths of the Imperial Palace.

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nAt Tranquility Lake.

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nXia Luoran sat in the pavilion and looked at the rippling water, sparkling under the moonlight.

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nLike a log, she sat there staring into space, without any sign of life.

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nThe sky suddenly went black. A huge dark cloud floated over, blocking out the moonlight.

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nA hurricane erupted out of nowhere.

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nThe surrounding temperature dropped to freezing level in an instant. As the chill descended, a shadowy figure, face fully masked except for two eyes and wearing a night suit, walked across the water surface.

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nIn a few flashes, he was behind her.

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nLooking at the stunned Xia Luoran, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. He leaned forward and rushed over like a ghost.

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nHis palm turned into a claw, and rays of blood red light flashed in his palm. With a sharp aura coupled with great force, he grabbed the back of her head viciously.

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n“Fiery Dance Ethereal Immolation Technique!” Xia Luoran shouted menacingly.

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nAlthough she was in a daze, her talent in combat skills was strong.

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nThe moment she sensed danger, she instinctively attacked.

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nThe red light spun and attacked the surroundings, forming surges of terrifying flames. As it churned, it shot out to cover hundreds of feet. The accompanying temperature burned the sky and boiled the sea.

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nIt blasted into the onrushing clawed hand.

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nThe pavilion was instantly destroyed. Violent air waves exploded and caused big arcs of waves on the water surface, as massive columns of water spray soared into the sky.

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nWith this attack, Xia Luoran was sent flying by the impact and she fell into the lake.

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nThe masked man tapped his foot and hovered above the water surface.

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nHis icy cold eyes searched for traces of her body underwater.

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nAt the bottom of the lake,

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nXia Luoran clutched at her chest and hid in place, not daring to make a sound.

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nHowever she had been seriously injured by that earlier blow.

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nDespite her best efforts to hold it in, blood rushed uncontrollably from her mouth.

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nIn addition, it was even more difficult to withstand the huge water pressure underwater and circulate spirit energy to conceal her injuries.

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nGradually,

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na pool of red appeared on the surface of the water. The masked man’s lips curled in a merciless smile.

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n“Are you going to come out on your own, or do I have to drag you out?”

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nAfter a dozen breaths,

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nthere was still no movement around him.

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n“You don’t know what’s good for you,” said the masked man, his patience exhausted.

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nA supreme aura erupted as he extended his palm. Blood red light condensed and transformed into a thousand-foot-long palm print that clapped onto the water surface.

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nWhoosh…

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nUnder the attack of the palm print, the lake water evaporated, and the surrounding water was squeezed to the side under the pressure of the palm of blood.

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nAs the palm continued to press down, it became a vacuum.

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nUnderwater,

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nXia Luoran’s expression was decidedly very awful. Looking at the immense pressure coming from above, she found it difficult to breathe.

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nWith a hint of ruthlessness of her gaze, she made a decision with fierce determination.

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n“Even in death, I must not fall into his hands.”

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nShe drew out the Fiery Dance Sword.

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nRisking everything and mobilizing all the spirit energy in her body, she infused it into the sword.

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nBuzz!

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nThe Fiery Dance Sword shook violently, and its entire blade was like fire.

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n“Fiery Dance Whirlwind Sword Technique!”

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nHer whole body transformed into a fierce hurricane. Using the power of the Numinous Treasure, she whipped up flames that filled the sky. She became one with the sword and stabbed at the incoming palm of blood.

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nEven at her peak, she was not his match, let alone now in her injured state.

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nShe was slapped to the ground straightaway and rendered immobile.

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nAs she stared up at the night sky, images flashed by, and she felt surprisingly calm. “Maybe this is a form of liberation for me.”

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n“Come here!” the masked man barked.

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nA terrifying suction force emanated from his palm and grabbed at Xia Luoran.

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nShe was already prepared to immolate herself. The Fiery Dance Ethereal Immolation Technique had a secret technique that allowed her to burn herself.

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nAt this moment, the dark heavy clouds in the night sky were abruptly dispersed by a powerful aura.

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nThe dazzling sword intent was like an ancient river illuminating the night sky.

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nIt left a sword scar in the vastness between heaven and earth and slashed down mightily.

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nIts speed tore through the air, not visible to the naked eye.

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nIt reached the masked man one step ahead and slashed down on his body just before he could grab Xia Luoran.

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n“No…” The masked man screamed in horror.

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nHe was shocked out of his wits by this sudden turn of events.

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nHe activated and circulated his skills with all his might, creating a barrier around his body to protect himself securely.

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nHowever it was useless.

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nAs the sword light fell, his body exploded in a shower of blood under the destructive force.

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nThen, as the sword light continued to slash down, it landed on the water surface.

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nThe lake water rolled back, and the bottom was visible for thousands of feet. The terrifying sword energy churned and roiled, keeping the walls of water separated infinitely.

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nXiao Ran appeared in front of her in a flash and picked her up from the ground. “Are you all right?”

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