Chapter 34: Zhou Zhiruo Battles the Underworld Emperor Zhu Yougui

Zhu Yougui, Zhu Youwen, Granny Meng, and Zhong Xiaokui—these four Xiantian-realm masters would form a formidable force that no one in Bianzhou would dare underestimate. Among them, Zhu Yougui had ascended to the top twenty of the Earth Ranking, while Zhu Youwen, despite a drop in his ranking after his defeat by Zhou Zhiruo, still held the twenty-fifth position.

However, Gao Wu’s side boasted an even greater number of Xiantian-realm powerhouses. Not only were the three women accompanying him all at the peak of the Xiantian realm, but Yang Shuzi of the Disreputable Ones (Buliangren), Li Guxiao of the Tongwen Pavilion, and Li Maozhen of the Huanyin Workshop were all formidable Xiantian masters as well. With these combined forces, the annihilation of the Xuanming Sect was a certainty.

Guided by the Water and Fire Judges, Gao Wu and his group avoided unnecessary delays and reached the Nameless Canyon with maximum speed.

"Yang Yan, Yang Miao, you two dogs, you’ve done well! Ha ha..."

"Holy cow, is that the leader of the Xuanming Sect, the Underworld Emperor Zhu Yougui?"

Although they had been prepared, the group was still taken aback by Zhu Yougui’s grotesque appearance and stature. The gloomy, fog-filled environment only added to his menacing aura. Standing behind the Underworld Emperor, the tall and imposing Zhu Youwen cast a cold gaze toward Zhou Zhiruo, his fighting spirit burning intensely. Having fully recovered from his injuries over the past few days, he felt this was the perfect moment for a great battle.

Zhou Zhiruo arched an eyebrow, her focus fixed solely on the diminutive dwarf opposite her—the Underworld Emperor. He was her true opponent.

Zhao Liying looked eager. "Is that red-haired guy the Ghost King? Is he my opponent this time?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone turned to look at this round-faced young girl in black. She carried a long saber as tall as herself. While others had sensed that she was no simple character, no one had expected her to challenge the Ghost King right off the bat.

"Indeed. His martial arts are sinister and ruthless; you must be careful!"

"Don't worry, just watch me!"

According to the plan, Zhou Zhiruo would face the Underworld Emperor, Zhao Liying would take on the Ghost King, and Liu Yifei would confront Zhong Xiaokui. Granny Meng was an undercover agent planted by the Disreputable Ones within the Xuanming Sect; when Gao Wu had exposed this, even the Commander of the Disreputable Ones was shocked, though he subsequently acknowledged it.

While the Xuanming Sect held the advantage of terrain and natural defenses, Gao Wu’s side possessed a greater number of top-tier masters.

"You dare to make an enemy of my sect? Today, I will bury you all here to add even more yin-煞 energy to our Xuanming Sect! Heh heh..."

As the Underworld Emperor continued to indulge in pre-battle posturing according to martial arts etiquette, Gao Wu’s team had long since targeted their opponents. The three women were eager to begin; especially Zhao Liying, who treated this as a game and viewed the current situation as a boss fight.

Her nerves were truly made of steel!

"Attack!"

Without further ado, Gao Wu gave the order. The three women flew out simultaneously, each displaying her own unique grace. Zhou Zhiruo surged toward the Underworld Emperor like a ball of searing fire encased in black smoke. Zhao Liying sprinted toward the towering Ghost King while dragging her long saber, her momentum growing with every step, a domineering and murderous intent locking firmly onto him. Liu Yifei, meanwhile, looked like a celestial being descending to the mortal realm; her white robes were striking against the black toxic mist, her energy tightly coiled around Zhong Xiaokui, as if a celestial sword would strike the moment she made a move.

Several miles away from the Nameless Canyon, atop a mountain peak, the red-robed Sect Leader Dongfang reclined on a sedan chair. Internal energy pulsed around him as he took in the entire battlefield below.

"Lian'er, do you know what kind of martial arts that Zhou Zhiruo is using?"

"This subordinate does not know, but rumors suggest it resembles the martial arts of the Demon Sect."

"Hmm, it does carry a heavy sense of yin energy," Dongfang Bubai nodded, then turned his gaze toward Zhao Liying. "And who is that young girl? How is she so domineering?"

"I will investigate immediately!" Cold sweat poured down Yang Lianting’s back, but he dared not wipe it away.

"I don't blame you," Dongfang Bubai hummed softly. "Even the four elders returned in defeat, so how could I blame Lian'er?"

Fan Song, Zhao He, Zhang Chengyun, and Zhang Chengfeng knelt around the sedan chair. "We are incompetent; please punish us, Sect Leader!"

It turned out the four elders were the ones who had carried the sedan chair up the mountain. Yang Lianting’s expression improved slightly, and he felt a secret thrill: *Those four old geezers finally know what it's like to be humbled!*

The Sun-Moon Holy Sect was not the only group of spectators. Zhang Wuji, leader of the Ming Sect in the east, and Wei E and Zhu Yuyan of the Yin Gui Sect in the west, were all present, scattered across the four directions, keeping their distance from one another.

"Zhou Zhiruo! Eighteenth on the Earth Ranking, no wonder!"

"Sect Leader, do not be anxious. That Zhou Zhiruo only reached such a high position on the Earth Ranking by relying on the rapid progress of her demonic arts. You, Sect Leader, are building your foundation for a greater breakthrough; entering the Earth Ranking is only a matter of time!"

Zhang Wuji was less optimistic. "After I mastered the 'Great Shift of Heaven and Earth,' I only reached the top twenty of the Human Ranking. To enter the Earth Ranking, one’s cultivation must at least reach the peak of the Xiantian realm!"

Yang Xiao looked at Zhang Wuji with deep satisfaction. Although the Ming Sect was viewed by many as a demonic sect, he believed that under the leadership of their new leader, Zhang Wuji, the Ming Sect would surely rise to become a force that could not be ignored in Qingzhou, or even across the entire Great Zhou martial arts world.

"Left Emissary Yang, I vaguely feel that within Zhou Zhiruo’s martial arts, besides the sinister energy, there is also a stream of supreme yang energy. It might be related to the 'Nine Yang Divine Skill' I practice. Arrange for someone to investigate."

"Yes, Sect Leader!"

Back on the battlefield, Zhu Yougui and Zhou Zhiruo had already become entangled. Both of their martial arts styles were inherently ruthless and vicious. In the dark, thick fog, their figures were nearly impossible to distinguish, visible only as alternating flashes of red and white.

As their fists and swords clashed, sparks flew in every direction. Relying on the sharpness of the Heaven-Reliant Sword and the sinister, unpredictable nature of her swordplay, Zhou Zhiruo maintained a slight upper hand. However, the "Nine Nether Profound Heaven Divine Skill" employed by Zhu Yougui was infinitely variable, making his every move difficult to track.

Their momentum continued to soar, rising like billowing black flames. The energy they unleashed was terrifying; within the Nameless Canyon, no one could withstand it, and no one dared to approach. Every collision brought massive destruction.

Zhang Zifan, unaware of Granny Meng’s true identity, leaned toward Gao Wu and asked, "Who is going to deal with that old woman? Should my Tenth Uncle step in?"

"No need!" The sound of the wind caused by the battle in the canyon was deafening, forcing Gao Wu to shout.

Though puzzled, Zhang Zifan saw that Granny Meng had no intention of moving, so he ceased his questioning and focused his attention on the duel between the masters. Such a battle between Xiantian-realm experts was a rare sight; observing it at close range would be immensely beneficial for his own future advancement to the Xiantian realm.

The twin sisters, Qingguo and Qingcheng, were closest to the Xiantian realm, and they watched in a trance, unable to tear their eyes away from the three simultaneous duels.

Upon reaching the Xiantian realm, a martial artist begins to merge with the world and perceive the laws of nature. Those with exceptional talent can borrow these laws to strike their enemies, making them a cut above ordinary Xiantian warriors. Every one of the hundred masters on the Earth Ranking had mastered at least one law of nature.

The laws mastered by the Underworld Emperor and Zhou Zhiruo—the Nine Nethers and the Nine Yin—shared common roots. Now, the two were pitted against each other in a contest of their mastery of these laws and the depth of their internal cultivation.