The Tiger-Chasing Condensing Essence cultivator hovered midair, faint ripples of true essence shimmering around him.

He spread his fingers, trapping the black mist-transformed Eastern Wilderness cultivator in a hovering water prison that held firm despite violent struggles.

“Save your strength, Friend. The gap between First Levels is an insurmountable chasm.”

Confidence radiated from his smile as he added, “Our meeting’s fate. Visit Tiger-Chasing as our honored guest.”

Freshly advanced to late stage Condensing Essence, he basked in his rising prominence.

Being chosen as princess Yingxuan’s temporary protector cultivator marked royal favor.

Success promised promotions and riches – his glorious future seemed assured.

Capturing this sixth-level Condensing Essence Eastern Wilderness cultivator would be another easy triumph.

While he envisioned greatness, contrasting emotions churned elsewhere.

This temporary protector remained ignorant of deeper schemes.

But Yingxuan, central to these events, knew bitter truths.

When Yang Guanfeng first threw her over his shoulder, she’d been stunned.

But seeing the black mist manifestation triggered her spiritual treasure’s warning.

Understanding dawned – her face whitened, eyes filling with despair.

Yang Guanfeng, focused on stabilizing his mind and soul, missed her distress.

Memories flooded back: her weeping mother’s farewell words.

“Can’t escape after all?”

Princess or prince mattered little.

Without national master’s approval, all royal children faced fiery doom in that loveless palace.

She’d hoped volunteering for dangerous eastern border missions might earn her mother survival.

Completing special tasks could rewrite her death-scripted fate.

Better be useful chess piece than firewood, even without royal comforts.

Now reality struck – naive dreams shattered.

This cursed bloodline sealed her destiny.

She existed to be sacrificed.

Whoosh—

Whoosh—

As the Tiger-Chasing cultivator basked in delusions, two new black wisps came flying in from eastern skies.

A faint ringing hummed from one of the wisps.

When he sensed the two individuals’ presence, his smile froze instantly as terror gripped his heart.

“Ninth level! Two Condensing Essence ninth levels! And a sword cultivator! Impossible!”

Knowing things were dire, he immediately abandoned the water prison technique. His body dissolved into mist as he fled toward Tiger-Chasing.

“Stay calm! No Condensing Essence cultivator’s died on the eastern border in ten years. They won’t kill me—might not even chase!”

“Worst case, I get severely injured and lose cultivation levels. Could always betray the princess to survive if it comes to that.”

The protector cultivator kept rationalizing while fleeing, already mapping escape routes.

Bzzzt—

His primordial dan suddenly quivered in his Qi Palace. Numbness spread through his limbs as a vision of his shattered core flooded his mind.

“Wha—”

Shhink!

The black sword’s gleam outran his thoughts.

His mist-form solidified. No pain came—just coldness at his throat before the world tilted sideways.

Meanwhile in Zhuhu Dynasty’s palace, a chess game approached mid-game.

Two players faced each other:

The West Concubine who’d witnessed Li Yuande’s Gathering Qi to Condensing Essence performance.

Across from her sat a man cloaked in shifting mist—the same concealment technique-wielding official who’d rewarded Yang Family at Qiulu.

“Willingness to risk the east shows death-wish resolve. Yingxuan’s spirit exceeds her siblings.” The West Concubine tapped a white piece onto the board.

“Your Highness mistakes recklessness for virtue.” The Faceless Man dropped a black stone into white territory. “True death-seekers hone secret methods to feed the flames.”

“This isn’t suicide—it’s survival. Yingxuan lacks Qiuhan’s talent and Tianyang’s cunning. Compared to gifted royals, she’s ordinary save for pretty features. I can’t endorse her.”

The West Concubine studied the board after his move. Minutes passed.

“Even small moves matter.”

“Sigh… No move’s small now.” The Faceless Man shook his hooded head. “You already secured the Li Family’s chess-playing girl. Asking another favor strains courtesy.”

“Since you’ve prepared Yingxuan’s backup plan, let fate decide.”

Only four or five moves remained before endgame. The West Concubine lifted a piece, hesitated, then set it down unplayed.

“Summon someone.”

“What does your Highness command?”

“Deliver this to Shu Concubine.”

“Yes, your Highness.”

The Faceless Man watched the white silk pass from the West Concubine’s hand. Beneath his concealed face, a trace of pity surfaced.

What must she have felt, ordering her own sister’s death?

“She didn’t need to die.”

“Without Yingxuan, Chongtian Palace would be no better than Asura’s hell for a mortal!”

Hearing the anger in the West Concubine’s voice, the Faceless Man lowered his eyes silently.

“I fought and won the western expedition! Now they push eastern campaigns onto me—has Tiger-Chasing no other competent souls?” the West Concubine snapped.

“Your Highness.”

The Faceless Man bowed, his voice carried by technique to her ear alone.

“The Emperor’s will.”

The West Concubine’s jewel-bright eyes flickered. Countless emotions swirled briefly before vanishing.

“Preserve this game. We’ll finish it later.”

Her projection dissolved like scattered ash.

“Yes, your Highness.”

The Faceless Man secured the chessboard with technique and tucked it into his sleeve.

As their conversation ended, the Eastern Wilderness sword cultivator crushed the protector cultivator’s primordial dan.

Ice-blue true essence erupted, swirling skyward before cascading down as relentless rain.

The sword cultivator materialized before fleeing Yang Guanfeng.

_Clang!_

His blade bounced off a Barrier of Technique.

“Unbreakable?”

Surprise flickered in his eyes. He struck harder.

_Thud!_

The rebound numbed his arm.

“Truly unbreakable.”

Sheathing his longsword, he assessed the barrier.

Two Eastern Wilderness cultivators landed beside him.

They eyed the barrier shielding Yang Guanfeng and Yingxuan, then their companion’s sheathed weapon.

“Even you can’t pierce it?”

“Spirit Communication work. Obviously.”

The swordsman shrugged. “It won’t hold long.”

“Suppose Tiger-Chasing sends reinforcements?”

“Useless Condensing Essence fools. However many come, my blade ends them.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep