The improved female villains regained their memories.

Xu Anyin asked in confusion, "Sister, Xu Nianren is clearly in cahoots with that envoy. Why don't we just go out and kill that envoy?"

The envoy Xu Anyin went to investigate and found that although he was an immortal, he was only at the level of a terrestrial immortal.

Xu Anlu shook her head: "That person has already made contact with Xu Nianren's men. Even if we kill him, Xu Nianren will still bring the news to the Emperor."

Xu Anyin's face revealed a murderous intent: "Then we'll kill Xu Nianren's men."

Xu Anlu raised his hand slightly, signaling her not to get so angry: "After that person made contact with the envoy, he must have used some kind of magic weapon or secret treasure. In any case, Xu Nianren acted very quickly. He already said it in court. I can't kill someone in public under everyone's watchful eyes."

Xu Anyin asked, "Why not? The Shadow Empire's setup is complete. Even if Song Panning's grand formation is in place, we will still have the advantage."

Xu Anyin was still the same as before—impatient and frivolous.

Xu Anlu sighed inwardly. So what if the Shadow Empire has descended? With a formidable enemy at hand, this is not the time to compete with Song Panning.

She said, "Xiao Yin, you also listened to the Master's Art of War back then. I remember you were the one who rushed to listen. How come you don't understand many practical principles and are still so frivolous and impetuous?"

Xu Anyin, after being reprimanded, immediately lowered his voice: "Song Panning is the villain. We'll give her face and let Xu Baxian cause trouble for a while, that's fine. But are we also going to give Xu Nianren face?"

Xu Anlu frowned: "What are you saying? The master once said, 'Act only when it is in our interest, and stop when it is not.' Killing Xu Nianren will not benefit us; on the contrary, it will ruin our reputation."

Xu Anyin muttered, "That thing is ethereal and intangible, what's so important about it? Anyway, we are immortals. Now that the Guardian Sect has been defeated, it's time to use our strength to unify the whole situation."

Xu Anlu smiled helplessly: "The Guardian Heaven Sect was driven back, not defeated. Besides, even if we are immortals, considering the influence of the dragon vein, we still need to stabilize the Qian Kingdom. If problems arise in the region, we will be in a very passive position. In addition, there are many other sects around the Qian Kingdom."

Xu Anyin said carelessly, "They are all small sects, the largest of which is only a Celestial Immortal. Let alone our Shadow Empire, even the royal forces could wipe them out."

Xu Anlu reached out and tapped her on the head: "Alright, I don't want to argue with you anymore. Just put away your bloodthirsty thoughts and help me stabilize the Shadow Empire. No matter what, this is our foundation."

"Don't worry, sis, I definitely won't make a mistake."

Can you really trust this guy?

But at this moment, Xu Anlu couldn't care less about anything else. Ying had just handed her information that the Guardian Sect had somehow contacted Xiao Hua.

He only asked Xiaohua to pass on a few words to Xu Anlu.

"With the destruction of the Qian Kingdom and the death of the villains, the Guardian Heaven Sect is willing to cooperate with the Shadow Empire and support it to become the new ruler of the world."

"With the change of power, the Heavenly Guardian Sect no longer interferes in mortal affairs. All mortal matters are now managed by the Shadow Empire, and the rules of the world are set by the Queen of the Shadow Empire."

What moved Xu Anlu was not that sentence, but the next sentence.

"The Heavenly Guardian Sect only recognizes one ruler of the world. If Xu Anlu is willing to be the ruler of the world, then her will is the will of the Heavenly Guardian Sect. Even if she wants to marry Yang Pingsheng, the Heavenly Guardian Sect is willing to make it happen."

-------------

The imperial palace stood majestically, its walls as impregnable as iron, the tall gates tightly shut, studded with copper nails, exuding solemnity and mystery. Banners fluttered in the wind atop the walls, seemingly proclaiming the majesty of imperial power.

Since the Battle of the capital, the palace has never been under guard. The heavily armed imperial guards, clad in armor and wielding spears, stand expressionless, their presence casting a chilling atmosphere over the entire palace.

Passing through the heavy city gate, one finds a wide imperial road lined with lifelike stone carvings of mythical beasts, seemingly ready to leap at any moment. At the end of the road stands a magnificent palace, its glazed tiles gleaming in the sunlight. Huge bronze bells hang from the resplendent eaves, their melodious sounds carried on the breeze, yet never lacking in solemnity.

Inside the hall, one could see carved beams and painted rafters, colorful decorations. In the center of the hall, Xu Weibang stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

The space beside them distorted slightly, and Fang Wu appeared: "Your Majesty, we have investigated and confirmed that they are indeed from the Guardian Heaven Sect."

Xu Weibang's body stirred, as if a long-standing statue had come to life, and he asked, "So, even though we declared war on the Guardian Sect, the Guardian Sect still chose Xu Nianren, my son?"

Fang Wu gave a wry smile: "I'm afraid so."

Xu Weibang pondered for a long time before finally saying, "If a prince dies, will the dragon vein be shaken?"

Fang Wu asked in surprise, "Your Majesty, the Second Prince is still the Crown Prince."

Xu Weibang said, "What crown prince or prince? To put it bluntly, they are all human beings and flesh and blood. When they die, they turn into minced meat. They are all worthless lives."

There is no such thing as noble or lowly.

It doesn't matter if you're dead or alive; once you're dead, whatever people say goes.

Fang Wu asked, "Then Your Majesty..."

"The villains haven't made a move, nor have my beloved daughter or son," Xu Weibang said. "If they haven't made a move, why are you in such a hurry?"

"We received intelligence that some countries overseas are making moves, and some other places seem to be harboring considerable ambitions as well."

With his hands behind his back, Xu Weibang walked towards the secret chamber in the main hall and said, "Rise and fall are the natural order of things, but I will do my best."

The dragon vein's energy is faint and indistinct.

He suddenly remembered that he was still a commoner at that time and did not know that he was of royal blood. His wife said, "If there is any way to make everyone's life better, that would be great."

He wasn't called Xu Weibang back then; he took the name Xu Weibang when he returned to the palace.

The door to the secret room opened.

Xu Weibang waved his hand, and two rows of candles lit up automatically.

The place is small and can't hold much; there's only a copy of "The Record of Cultivating the Heavenly Path," a few old clothes, and a map.

He carefully pulled out a marriage certificate from under his old clothes, and looked at it without any emotion in his eyes.

Fang Wu followed behind, looking on with a complicated expression.

-------------

A dilapidated thatched cottage stands quietly.

The outer walls of the thatched cottage were made of rammed earth, and after being eroded by wind and rain, the walls were mottled and worn, with weeds growing stubbornly in the cracks. The roof was covered with layers of straw, and although it had been repaired many times, it was still difficult to hide the traces of rain. Whenever a storm came, basins and jars had to be placed inside to catch the rainwater seeping from the roof.

Pushing open the rickety wooden door, the room was dark and damp. The floor was unpaved, made of compacted earth, and years of foot traffic had left slight depressions, revealing the marks of time. There was very little furniture in the room; a worn-out wooden bed took up most of the space, covered with a thin quilt that was patched upon patched, faded but clean.

In the corner, a simple stove served as the kitchen, with an iron pot on it and firewood and rudimentary cooking utensils piled up beside it. Several tattered bamboo baskets hung on the wall, containing a small amount of grain and vegetables, the only food available in the household.

The only decorations inside were the straw raincoat and bamboo hat hanging on the wall, companions of the owner during his work, witnessing his hard-working life of working from sunrise to sunset. The windows were small, supported by a few wooden strips, and the light that filtered in could barely illuminate the corners of the room.

The house is like an old man who has experienced many vicissitudes, silently telling the story of the ruthlessness of time.

However, no one knew that a wedding was taking place here today.

No parents, no servants, no band, nothing at all.

The bride wore a hand-sewn red wedding dress. Although the fabric was rough, the stitches were fine and dense, each stitch reflecting her painstaking efforts. Her hair was styled in a simple bun, adorned with a few wildflowers. Though not extravagant, it made her appear even more fresh and refined. Her face was delicate, her skin slightly tanned from years of hard work, but her bright eyes sparkled with gentle light, and a faint smile always graced her lips, giving her a warm and approachable aura.

The groom wore a neat blue shirt, which, although faded from washing, was clean and tidy, making him look exceptionally energetic. He was tall and straight, with a resolute expression on his face, but when he looked at the bride, a rare hint of tenderness would appear on his face.

"Xu Lang, from now on, we are husband and wife," the woman said with a smile.

"Okay, okay." The man nodded in agreement and smiled.

“My father has been taking care of you ever since he brought you to our home, but he’s dead now, and you’re not very literate, so we won’t be so particular.” The woman took out a piece of cloth and handed it to the man: “I don’t ask for anything. This marriage certificate is just a witness.”

The man didn't even look at it, bit his finger and pressed the fingerprint, causing the woman to gasp in surprise.

She grabbed the man's hand and scolded, "Doesn't it hurt?"

"It's alright, it's good to leave your fingerprints, it shows you keep your word." The man said with a smile, "Since you've already done it, I definitely have to too."

The woman's gaze softened, and she said, "Since you can't read, I'll read it to you. You must remember it well and not forget it."

"I will never forget!"

"Alright, then I will recite: It is said that when heaven and earth unite, all things are born; when yin and yang interact, human relationships are established..."

The winds of the past have blown in gusts, and they still blow now.

No one expected that the person from back then would transform into a royal heir.

Both are Xu, but one is from heaven and the other from earth.

"It is said that when heaven and earth unite, all things are born; when yin and yang interact, human relationships are established. My daughter, Zhiruo, is blessed by heaven and earth and fortunate to have met with such a good match. Today, at this auspicious time, we are bound by our marriage vows. I wish to grow old with you, our love stronger than gold. This letter is presented to heaven and earth, and we are now husband and wife. You will not betray me, and I will not betray you."

Xu Weibang read the marriage certificate in his hand, word by word.

Fang Wu didn't dare to disturb him and listened silently.

The sound stopped, and the secret room remained silent for a long time.

Fang Wu then remembered that when the maid delivered medicine to Zhou Zhiruo, he had sought out Xu Weibang.

He asked Xu Weibang if he should intervene, but the emperor at that time only replied with a few words: "Don't interfere."

The phrase "leave her alone" has killed many people.

Fang Wu didn't know whether Xu Weibang was among these people.

All he knew was that the voice was calm, very calm.

It's as peaceful as it is now.

Xu Weibang suddenly spoke again, calmly saying, "Fang Wu, my sword has been buried in the tomb for a long time. Dig it out for me."

This emperor was always very calm.

Chapter 504 Ye Buxin's Anger

“Brother, among immortals, although there are many methods, they can still be roughly classified into a few categories.”

"Killer moves, elixirs, spirit arrays, magic weapons, talismans."

To make sure Yang Pingsheng understood, Wen Shihan deliberately slowed down his explanation: "You understand the killing moves. Among the methods of immortals, the most commonly used are killing moves. For example, at the Heavenly Immortal realm, one can use destructive immortal killing moves. With one move, one can move mountains and fill seas, destroying mountains and rivers. When one reaches the True Immortal realm, one can merge with the traces of the Great Dao and break through all laws with one force."

“Spirit arrays and magical artifacts—just look at Song Panning and Shi Guijia to see that the strength of an array lies in its ability to enclose a world for one’s own use. Although I’m reluctant to admit it, Song Panning is the only one who has integrated arrays with the secret realms of heaven and earth, even creating mobile arrays and annihilating the origin of the Heavenly Dao. As for Shi Guijia, she created a humanoid magical artifact, and even turned herself into a magical artifact during the battle on the grasslands—it’s simply astonishing.”

"Both of them fall into the abnormal category. Brother, all you need to know is that normal immortals mainly rely on killing moves, combined with some simple and practical grand formations, and then bring enough elixirs and talismans as needed. That's enough. As for magical artifacts, apart from specialized artifact refiners, very few people usually refine them themselves."

"So next, I will talk about elixirs and talismans. Elixirs and talismans are graded, and generally speaking, the higher the grade, the better the effect. Elixirs have wonderful uses in healing, restoring spiritual energy, repairing the soul, and bringing the dead back to life. If used properly, they can even turn the tide of battle."

"Compared to elixirs, talismans are somewhat of a double-edged sword. Since everyone knows immortal techniques, talismans have very little effect. In fact, using talismans consumes spiritual energy, unlike elixirs, which can be used even without spiritual energy. In most cases, talismans are used by younger generations to prevent danger when they go out for trials, so that they can unleash attacks comparable to Earth Immortals, Celestial Immortals, or even True Immortals."

"Even so, the effect of talismans is still very small, especially for immortals. On the one hand, they are highly replaceable, and on the other hand, they are disposable items and extremely troublesome to prepare. The highest-grade red attack talisman, although comparable to a true immortal's full-force attack, requires cumbersome materials and is complicated to make. The overall cost is no less than that of making an eighth-grade magic weapon. Therefore, most immortals would rather spend these resources on elixirs and magic weapons than on talismans."

Wen Shihan was talking non-stop when he suddenly noticed that Yang Pingsheng was somewhat distracted, so he waved his hand and asked, "Brother, are you listening?"

Yang Pingsheng snapped out of his reverie and smiled sheepishly, "Sorry, hearing you talk about talismans reminded me of something else."

The eighth villain used talismans.

Wen Shihan blinked and asked tentatively, "Brother, when you gave Song Panning the information before, you mentioned that the eighth villain used talismans. Could it be that when I mentioned talismans, you thought of her?"

As always, Xiao Han was perceptive, and Yang Pingsheng nodded in agreement: "Yes."

That pink phantom was like a dream, so detached from the memories of the eighth life.

It seems a bit unreal.