From the fake emperor to the concubine

Han Tianxiong pondered for a moment, "What is the strength of that Dark Night?"

"It's said that he has already broken through to the late stage of the Mahayana realm," Han Feiyang said.

"Late stage of the Mahayana Realm?" Han Tianxiong frowned slightly. "This strength is not weak."

"Uncle, you are a mid-stage Mahayana Realm expert, how could you not be able to deal with him?" Han Feiyang asked with some worry.

“Although there’s only a small difference between the mid-stage and late-stage Mahayana Realm, the difference in strength is significant,” Han Tianxiong said. “However, don’t worry, I have a way.”

“What method?”

"Before I came, I specifically borrowed a treasure from the family head." Han Tianxiong took out a jade bottle from his robes. "This is the 'Breaking Yuan Pill,' which can greatly increase one's cultivation level in a short period of time. With it, I'm fully confident I can deal with that Dark Night."

Han Feiyang's eyes lit up. "Great! Uncle, when do you plan to make your move?"

"No rush." ​​Han Tianxiong carefully put away the jade bottle. "I've just arrived in Tianyuan City and need to gather information first. It's not too late to act after I've figured out the details of that Dark Night."

"Uncle is wise," Han Feiyang nodded.

“Oh, right,” Han Tianxiong suddenly remembered something, “I heard that An Ye has a relationship with a woman named Su Wanqing?”

“Yes,” Han Feiyang said, “Su Wanqing is a remnant of the Su family and possesses the Heavenly Fire Token. I’ve been searching for her, but I never expected she would follow that Dark Night.”

"The Heavenly Fire Token!" A greedy glint flashed in Han Tianxiong's eyes. "This is a valuable item. If we could obtain the Heavenly Fire Token, it would be of great help to the Han family."

"Uncle, should we arrest Su Wanqing as well this time?" Han Feiyang asked.

“Of course.” Han Tianxiong nodded. “Kill Dark Night, capture Su Wanqing, and seize the Heavenly Fire Token. Three birds with one stone.”

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the night.

“Dark Night,” he murmured, “I’ve heard you’re quite formidable. But before me, Han Tianxiong, you are nothing.”

The next day, the weather was gloomy and covered with dark clouds.

A damp smell filled the air, as if it were about to rain. There were far fewer pedestrians on the streets than usual, and they were all hurrying along, afraid of getting wet.

Zheng Yi got up early in the morning.

He stood in the courtyard, feeling the dampness in the air, and had a bad feeling.

"Something might happen today," he thought to himself.

Sure enough, just past noon, Zheng Bowen rushed in.

"Master, there's movement from the Han family!" he said. "Han Tianxiong is leading his men this way!"

"How many people?" Zheng Yi asked.

“There are about twenty or thirty people,” Zheng Bowen said. “The leader is Han Tianxiong, and the rest are Han family guards; they are quite strong.”

Zheng Yi nodded. "Understood. Go and inform everyone to prepare for battle."

"Yes!" Zheng Bowen responded and turned to inform the others.

Soon, everyone gathered in the courtyard.

"Patriarch, have the Han family arrived?" Su Wanqing asked, her expression somewhat tense.

“Yes,” Zheng Yi nodded. “Han Tianxiong came in person, with twenty or thirty men.”

"Han Tianxiong?" Su Wanqing's expression changed. "He's an elder of the Han family, a mid-stage Mahayana Realm expert."

“I know,” Zheng Yi said. “Don’t worry, with me here, he can’t hurt you.”

He looked at everyone, "When the Han family arrives, you all stay in the courtyard and don't go out. The Heavenly Thunder Formation will protect you. I'll deal with Han Tianxiong."

"Yes, patriarch," everyone replied in unison.

Zheng Yi nodded and then walked out of the courtyard.

He had to confront Han Tianxiong outside, and couldn't let the fighting affect the people in the courtyard.

They left the courtyard and came out onto the street.

There were hardly any pedestrians on the streets anymore; they all seemed to sense the danger and had taken refuge indoors. A suffocating atmosphere hung in the air, like the calm before a storm.

Zheng Yi stood in the middle of the street, waiting quietly.

A short while later, a group of people walked over from the other end of the street.

Leading the group was a middle-aged man dressed in a brocade robe, none other than Han Tianxiong. He held a folding fan in his hand, gently waving it, a playful smile on his face.

Behind him followed twenty or thirty guards dressed in black, each exuding a menacing and murderous aura.

Han Tianxiong walked up to Zheng Yi, stopped, and looked Zheng Yi up and down.

"Are you Dark Night?" he asked.

“That’s right.” Zheng Yi nodded.

"You're indeed young," Han Tianxiong laughed. "I've heard you're quite powerful, crippling Han Tie's cultivation and daring to threaten my nephew. I'd like to see just how capable you really are."

“Elder Han wants to see, and I will naturally accompany him,” Zheng Yi said calmly. “However, I advise you to go back. You should know what happened to Han Tie. If you don’t want to end up like him, you’d better leave now.”

"Hahaha!" Han Tianxiong laughed loudly, "What arrogance! A junior in the late stage of the Mahayana Realm dares to speak to me like that?"

“I’m telling the truth,” Zheng Yi said.

"The truth?" Han Tianxiong's smile vanished, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "Then I'll show you what true strength is."

The spiritual energy within him began to surge, and a powerful aura erupted from him.

The pressure from the mid-stage Mahayana realm cultivator was like a giant mountain, pressing down on Zheng Yi. At the same time, the folding fan in his hand suddenly unfolded, its surface shimmering with cold light, seemingly containing some terrifying power.

Zheng Yi stood still, motionless.

He also unleashed an aura, the pressure of a late-stage Mahayana realm cultivator like a giant dragon awakening, contending with Han Tianxiong's aura.

The two forces collided in mid-air, producing a buzzing sound. The surrounding air began to vibrate, as if it were about to be torn apart.

"Interesting." Han Tianxiong narrowed his eyes. "It seems your strength is indeed considerable. But unfortunately, you've met your match."

He took out the jade bottle from his bosom, poured out a pill, and swallowed it directly.

The pill entered his stomach and immediately transformed into a scalding hot current, circulating throughout his body. His aura began to soar, and in the blink of an eye, he broke through from the mid-stage of the Mahayana Realm to the late-stage of the Mahayana Realm.

"This is a Breakthrough Pill," Han Tianxiong sneered. "After consuming it, my cultivation can rise to the late stage of the Great Ascension Realm in a short time. Now, we are at the same level. What else do you have to say?"

Zheng Yi looked at Han Tianxiong, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.

"The same realm?" He shook his head. "Even if you've taken some pills, you're still no match for me."

"Arrogant!" Han Tianxiong roared in fury.

With a flick of his folding fan, a sharp gust of wind slashed towards Zheng Yi.

The gust of wind, like an invisible blade, arrived in front of Zheng Yi in an instant, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound.

Zheng Yi didn't dodge, but instead struck out with his palm, directly dispersing the fan-like wind. "Is that all you've got?" he said indifferently.

Han Tianxiong's expression changed; he hadn't expected his attack to be so easily neutralized.

"Take this!" he shouted, and with a swift movement, he charged toward Zheng Yi.

He moved with incredible speed, his folding fan transforming into a series of afterimages as he aimed for Zheng Yi's vital points. Each strike carried a sharp gust of wind, seemingly intent on tearing Zheng Yi to shreds.

But Zheng Yi was faster.

He dodged left and right with ease, avoiding all of Han Tianxiong's attacks, and then struck Han Tianxiong in the chest with a palm.

boom!
Han Tianxiong's body flew backward like a cannonball, rolling several times on the ground before he could barely regain his balance.

He clutched his chest, his face deathly pale. That blow had nearly broken his sternum.

"How...how is this possible?" He looked at Zheng Yi in horror. "I clearly took the Breakthrough Pill and my cultivation has already reached the late stage of the Great Ascension Realm, how come I'm still no match for you?"

"Do you think that the cultivation level increased by taking pills can compare to that of a normal breakthrough?" Zheng Yi said coldly. "Pills only increase the quantity of spiritual energy, but they cannot improve the quality of spiritual energy or the ability to control it. Although your current cultivation level is at the late stage of the Mahayana Realm, your actual combat strength is far inferior to that of a true late stage Mahayana Realm cultivator."

"As for me, I've climbed to the top step by step through my own hard work. Each realm has been refined through countless trials, my foundation is incredibly solid. To think you can bridge the gap with elixirs is simply wishful thinking."

Han Tianxiong's face turned even paler after hearing this.

He knew Zheng Yi was right. Although the Breaking Yuan Pill could improve cultivation level, it only enhanced superficial strength. True combat power still depended on one's own foundation and control over spiritual energy.

He is clearly inferior to Zheng Yi in both of these aspects.

"Now, do you still want to continue playing?" Zheng Yi asked.

Han Tianxiong gritted his teeth and got up from the ground.

"I am an elder of the Han family, how can I admit defeat before you?" he roared. "Even if I die, I will fight you to the bitter end!"

He took out a short sword from his bosom. The short sword was completely black and exuded a cold aura, clearly not an ordinary item.

"This is my Han family heirloom, the Bloodthirsty Sword," Han Tianxiong sneered. "Anyone pierced by this sword will have their blood drained, dying a gruesome death. Are you ready?"

Zheng Yi looked at the short sword, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes.

He could sense that the short sword contained an evil power, and it must have been forged using some special method.

"It seems you're planning to fight to the death," he said calmly.

"Not bad!" Han Tianxiong shouted, gripping the Bloodthirsty Sword and thrusting it at Zheng Yi.

His speed was even greater than before, as if he were burning his own life force. The Bloodthirsty Sword, with a whistling sound, cut through the air like a black lightning bolt, heading straight for Zheng Yi's heart.

Zheng Yi did not dodge, but instead stretched out his right hand and grabbed the blade of the Bloodthirsty Sword.

laugh!
The evil power emanating from the sword invaded his palm, attempting to drain his blood. However, Zheng Yi's spiritual power was far more abundant, forcefully suppressing that evil force.

"What?!" Han Tianxiong exclaimed in shock, "How could you catch the Bloodthirsty Sword with your bare hands?"

“This sword is not enough to harm me,” Zheng Yi said coldly.

With a forceful squeeze of his right hand, the Bloodthirsty Sword broke in two with a crisp sound.

"My Bloodthirsty Sword!" Han Tianxiong cried out in terror, "How dare you?!"

Zheng Yi ignored his shouts and instead slapped him on the chest.

boom!
Han Tianxiong was sent flying again. This time, he spat out a mouthful of blood and crashed to the ground like a kite with a broken string, unable to get up again.

"Elder Han!" The guards of the Han family were shocked and wanted to rush forward to help.

"Stop right there!" Zheng Yi shouted coldly, his aura suddenly exploding.

That imposing aura was like a mountain, pressing down on the guards and rendering them unable to move.

Zheng Yi walked up to Han Tianxiong and looked down at him.

“I told you, you are no match for me,” he said calmly. “Now, do you believe me?”

Han Tianxiong lay on the ground, trembling all over, his eyes filled with fear.

He never expected to lose so badly. He was an elder of the Han family, a mid-stage Mahayana Realm expert, and after consuming the Breaking Yuan Pill, he had even advanced to the late-stage Mahayana Realm. Yet, against Zheng Yi, he couldn't even withstand a single move.

What kind of monster is this in the dark night?

"Now, I'm giving you two choices," Zheng Yi said. "First, I'll cripple your cultivation, turning you into a useless cripple. Second, you must leave Tianyuan City immediately and never bother me again."

"You...you dare cripple my cultivation?!" Han Tianxiong said in a trembling voice, "I am an elder of the Han family. If you cripple me, the Han family will not let you off!"

"The Han family?" Zheng Yi sneered. "Han Tie said the same thing last time. And what happened? I crippled his cultivation, and the Han family sent you to seek revenge, but you couldn't beat me either."

"Who else do you think the Han family could send to deal with me?"

Han Tianxiong opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

He knew that within the Han family, there were very few people stronger than him. Even if the Han family sent more people, they might not be able to defeat this Dark Night.

"Alright, I don't have time to waste with you," Zheng Yi said. "Which one do you choose?"

Han Tianxiong remained silent for a moment, then finally lowered his head.

“I…I choose the second option,” he said with difficulty. “I will leave Tianyuan City and never bother you again.”

“Very good.” Zheng Yi nodded. “I hope you keep your word. If you dare to go back on your word, I won’t be so polite next time.”

He turned and walked towards the courtyard.

Han Tianxiong lay on the ground, watching Zheng Yi's departing figure, a hint of resentment flashing in his eyes.

But in the end, he didn't say anything.

He knew he was no match for the darkness. Even with his deepest resentment, he could only endure it.

“Let’s go!” he said to the guards as he struggled to his feet.

The guards rushed forward to help him up, and the group slunk away.

When Zheng Yi returned to the courtyard, everyone gathered around him.

"Master, are you alright?" Su Wanqing asked anxiously.

"It's nothing," Zheng Yi shook his head. "I defeated Han Tianxiong, and he's agreed to leave Tianyuan City and won't cause any more trouble."

"That's great!" Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

“However, this matter is not over yet,” Zheng Yi said. “Although Han Tianxiong has agreed to leave, the Han family will certainly not let this go. We must be prepared to deal with any further retaliation from the Han family.”

"Yes, patriarch," everyone replied in unison.

The storm raged all night. (End of Chapter)