In the beginning, he was ranked alongside An Shigeng as a spoiled brat.

In addition, there are those Zhang family retainers who were not on the list but were Grandmasters or peerless masters.

The destruction of the Guigu and Mo families by the Zhang family was nothing more than a matter of a single word from Zhang Xiaoshan.

Compared to the carefree Jing Tianming, Xiang Shaoyu frowned deeply upon hearing the news, looking at Gai Nie with a solemn expression and saying:

"Does Mr. Gai mean that the Zhang family wants to contend for the world?"

"Indeed, the Zhang family is accumulating strength in all aspects of their plans."

The lands beyond the Great Wall, the Mo Family's mechanical city, and even the land of Loulan... This time, the Zhang family seems to be stabilizing the order of the martial arts world, but in reality, they are using the name of stabilizing the order of the martial arts world to rapidly expand their own power.

"I fear that once the Dragon Emperor falls and the empire descends into chaos, it will be the time for the Zhang family to vie for control of the Nine Provinces."

Upon hearing Gai Nie's speculation, Xiang Shaoyu and the young Tianming realized the seriousness of the situation.

"Uncle, should we stop the Zhang family's expansion?"

Gai Nie shook his head upon hearing this.

Even a young man knows to be wary of the Zhang family's terrifying power, let alone Gai Nie.

As one of the two heroes of Guigu, Gai Nie understood that once the Dragon Emperor fell, the Nine Provinces would need a chosen one to suppress the situation.

The Zhang family is undoubtedly the best choice.

It's likely that Zhang Xiaoshan foresaw the chosen one's demise of the Dragon Emperor, which is why he had this idea.

In the end, when a dynasty prospers, the people suffer; when a dynasty falls, the people suffer!

Although Gai Nie always feared the Zhang family, he had to admit that the Zhang family's reputation as a living Buddha among all the families in Kyushu was truly well-deserved.

"Many heroes are vying for power, and the Zhang family is not the only one."

Moreover, the Zhang family's intervention might not be a bad thing for a chaotic world; on the contrary, it's like a divine intervention that can quickly quell the unrest.

Gai Nie glanced at Xiang Shaoyu, who was innocent and naive compared to the young Tianming.

Zhao could not hide the Xiang family's ambitions from him.

However, the Xiang family is far inferior to the Zhang family.

Even though Xiang Shaoyu was not weak, and even possessed the qualities of a tyrant, the Zhang family's strength was even more unfathomable.

Not to mention Zhang Xiaoshan, who is at the Celestial Realm, even just a few Grandmaster-level experts and peerless masters on the Black List are not something the Xiang family can handle.

"Perhaps the Zhang family will become another empire, another tyrant!"

tyrant?

Upon hearing this, Gai Nie shook his head again.

Not to mention that what Zhang Xiaoshan did was something no tyrant could do.

The Zhang family's style of doing things—free corvée labor and high salaries—is a qualitative difference; they could never become a tyrant like the Dragon Emperor.

In terms of style, they are different series.

Moreover, the Xiang family is a bunch of brutes. They may be good at leading troops and fighting battles, but when it comes to governing a country, they are probably completely clueless.

If we're talking about who's more likely to become the next tyrant, Gai Nie would choose the family.

"Alright, those are things from long ago."

Moreover, the Zhang family is not something that the Guigu, Mohist, or Xiang families can handle. Our primary task now is to meet with Brother Xiaoyaozi and Zifang to discuss the grand plan of slaying the dragon, and then we can discuss the Zhang family's ambitions!

"Indeed, without the Dragon Emperor's life, everything is just empty talk. Let's set off as soon as possible and reunite with everyone."

Chapter 753 The Zhang Family and the Empire's Growing Discord

"The Heavenly Ranking Asks the Way, the Black Ranking Grandmaster, the Rising Star of Dragon and Phoenix, the Hero of the Chivalrous World!"

The Dragon Emperor looked at the five lists before him, and beside him was a scroll woven from white jade—the Dragon and Phoenix List.

Compared to Gai Nie's vision, the Dragon Emperor did not have a high opinion of the forces in the martial arts world.

Outlaws of the martial world, heroes who use their martial arts to break the law!

Therefore, the emergence of five candidates is both a good thing and a bad thing.

The good thing is that the fighting among martial arts masters can weaken the power of the martial arts world and strengthen the empire's rule over the Nine Provinces.

The bad thing is that the Zhang family's control over the martial arts world of Kyushu will inevitably reach a new level through the Five Rankings.

Previously, the Zhang family did not interfere in matters of the martial arts world, but in reality, the Zhang family's influence has changed.

Now that the Zhang family has made their move, they have turned the martial world into a chessboard, beginning to lay out their strategies and make their moves. And on this chessboard, there is no one who can challenge or compete with the Zhang family.

"Meng Yi, do you think there are many unknown and terrifying beings hidden besides the experts on this list?"

Apart from Zhao Gao, there were no other experts from any of the empires on the list.

According to Zhang Xiaoshan, the Empire's trump card would not be revealed without the Empire's consent.

In this respect, the Dragon Emperor was extremely satisfied with Zhang Xiaoshan's "pragmatism".

As for Donghuang Taiyi and Zhao Gao?

One was a wolf in sheep's clothing from the Yin-Yang School, and the other was also constantly making underhanded moves, but the Dragon Emperor did not take them seriously.

After all, Zhao Gao was the head of the Luo Wang organization. Without some strength and prestige, how could he have managed it?

Being eighth on the Black List already makes one a top-tier, unparalleled master.

It should be noted that even a swordsman as formidable as Gai Nie is only ranked sixth on the Black List.

Surprisingly, the Black Swordsman, who was originally under the Luo Wang organization, ranked third on the Black List.

But after seeing the description of the perfected Wedding Dress Divine Skill, the Dragon Emperor understood the Black Swordsman's trump card.

With the perfected Wedding Dress Divine Skill, the Supreme Giant Sword, and the Farmer's Secret Technique, it's normal for the Black Swordsman to undergo a complete transformation. He might even be able to hold his own against Ghost Yama for a short time.

"Your Majesty, the release of these five lists will inevitably throw the martial world into chaos, but it will not be a good thing for the empire!"

"Oh, tell me!"

The Dragon Emperor looked at Meng Yi with curiosity, seemingly lost in thought:

"Your Majesty, the Zhang family's ambitions are now obvious. They seem to be sitting on the sidelines, observing the changing winds of the world."

But Your Majesty must not forget that none of the Zhang family members are the type to act rashly and greedily. Their move at this time must have been premeditated.

"You mean the five lists are just the surface, and there's a hidden secret within?"

The Dragon Emperor's heart stirred, and he vaguely sensed a conspiracy brewing.

Even though the Dragon Emperor didn't take the empire's rebels, or even the Yin-Yang School members, seriously, Zhang Xiaoshan was different.

But if there is truly anyone within the Nine Provinces who could threaten him, it would be the Zhang family.

Therefore, a gloomy feeling also settled over the Dragon Emperor's heart.

"This is just my guess. The Zhang family will not easily interfere in the affairs of the martial world. Since someone from the Zhang family has become a player in the scheme of the martial world, they must have some purpose."

"Does Your Majesty truly believe that this young master Zhang's goal is to become the leader of the martial arts alliance?"

Leader of the martial arts world?

The Dragon Emperor shook his head, dismissing his earlier whistle.

Indeed, does Zhang Xiaoshan even deign to accept the title of Martial Arts Alliance Leader? No!

Therefore, Zhang Xiaoshan's plan is definitely not simple.

"Meng Yi, how should we handle this matter?"

"Once the five lists were released, the Zhang family took the initiative, and it was too late for the empire to stop them."

Even though the empire holds the Dragon and Phoenix Ranking, the real initiative still lies with the Zhang family. In particular, the Dragon and Phoenix Ranking is not the Black Ranking. No matter how many experts are on it, they are no match for the true experts on the Black Ranking.

After all, the masters on the Dragon and Phoenix Ranking lack time.

Moreover, none of the experts on the list are from the Empire; instead, many are traitors to the Empire.

"Should we just let the Zhang family continue like this?"

The Dragon Emperor's tiger eyes shot out a terrifying light, causing Meng Yi's heart to tremble.

This is someone who holds the reins of the entire empire. Not to mention that the Dragon Emperor is already at the pinnacle of his power, even an ordinary person would have enough aura to intimidate Meng Yi.

Otherwise, the Dragon Emperor would not be the Dragon Emperor.

"It's difficult, mainly because the Zhang family has too much control over the martial arts world!"

Your Majesty should know the strength of Ghost Street and Zhang Family Merchants. Even the Ghost Palace in the Western Regions is a hidden hand planted by the Zhang family. Who knows how many more hidden hands each member of the Zhang family has?

Even if His Majesty wanted to plot against the Zhang family, no matter how secretly he did it, he would never escape the Zhang family's notice.

Conversely, if the Zhang family were to target the Empire later…

The Zhang family's power can be united, but the empire cannot.

Especially the Zhang family's reputation; if the empire wants to strike at the Zhang family, it must at least first eliminate the Zhang family's channels of communication.

Xingyun Manor, Guiyun Manor, Happy Forest...

These are no easy characters to deal with; in the martial arts world, they are top-tier forces.

If they wanted to eliminate these forces silently, the Zhang family would get wind of it as soon as they made a move.

Then came the Zhang family's counterattack.

Moreover, the Zhang family's rule of conduct is that once it is discovered who committed the crime, the entire family and clan will be exterminated.

Therefore, anyone aware of the Zhang family's power would not cooperate with the Empire. And if the Empire intervenes, the Zhang family's strength will not allow the Empire to let the treacherous hand escape.

Black Ice Platform? Shadow Guard? Net of Deception?

The Zhang family's power in the martial arts world is not in vain. On the surface alone, they have Xuan Nu, Liu Sheng Piao Xu, Xing Yin the Great Monk, the Commander of Special Forces, and Gui Yanluo. In the shadows, Zhang Yuan and his son have at least seven Grandmasters.

Even within the empire, there are only three Grandmasters.

"I know!"

At least for now, it's not the right time for the empire to deal with the Zhang family.

A plot against the Zhang family?

No matter how well it was done, it couldn't escape the Zhang family's notice.

"Your Majesty, I feel that Young Master Zhang is not a reckless person."

The internal strife between the Zhang family and the empire will inevitably result in mutual destruction, and the Zhang family's indestructible status will collapse.

Similarly, which member of the Zhang family would easily confront the Empire, and their blatant expansion shows no intention of concealing anything from His Majesty.

Perhaps Young Master Zhang is warning us about something?

"Warning?"

The Zhang family and the empire have always maintained a delicate balance.

Neither he nor I would easily disrupt this balance and bring disaster to Kyushu. The fact that the Zhang family has suddenly accumulated power is no accident; it may indeed be a warning.

"Meng Yi, I'm leaving this matter to you to investigate."

"Your Majesty, I will certainly live up to your expectations!"

After gazing at the distant city walls, the Dragon Emperor's deep eyes flashed with a terrifying killing intent.

It's unclear whether the Zhang family's actions this time are truly driven by treacherous ambitions or a warning to the empire.

The Zhang family's rapid expansion is driven by its wolfish ambitions.

It's not just this major event in the martial arts world, but also the plains beyond the Great Wall, Loulan in the Western Regions, the Mo Clan's mechanical city...

The Zhang family's blatant expansion clearly indicates that they have sensed something.

Chapter 754 Untitled

"Xia Ke Island will be overseen by two grandmasters. To prevent infiltration, Zhang plans to activate two hidden grandmasters from the Zhang family."

As for the specific personnel arrangements, Zhang planned to recruit some wandering swordsmen who were preparing to retire to the mountains:

First, being familiar with the affairs of the martial arts world allows one to judge right and wrong and conspiracies within it;