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

However, the strength of those who make it onto the blacklist is not as simple as you might imagine; it is far more terrifying than you can imagine.

For example, Gai Nie, the sixth-ranked swordsman on the Black List, once slaughtered the empire's most elite three thousand Dragon Elephant Iron Cavalry on the banks of the Wei River with just his sword. His special skill, "Hundred-Step Flying Sword," can almost instantly kill ordinary martial arts masters, especially those like you who have taken an unorthodox approach and whose foundation is unstable.

That's why I don't let you use this martial art to absorb other people's internal energy.

While the Northern Darkness Divine Art appears profound, it is only considered somewhat domineering in the eyes of experts.

The masters on the Black List are all possessing top-tier martial arts skills, no less than the Northern Darkness Divine Art.

Therefore, the reason I let you absorb a lot of power the first time is to build a solid foundation for you, and then through continuous refinement, finally make it completely your own.

If during this period, one continuously absorbs the internal energy of others to strengthen oneself.

While it may seem that the true qi is becoming more and more abundant, in reality, the fusion of so much true qi is like a hodgepodge, and the foundation will become increasingly unstable.

Against ordinary experts, they might be able to crush them, since they haven't cultivated top-tier martial arts techniques.

However, if 19 were to face a master with the strength of the Black List, whose internal energy is refined, it wouldn't be insurmountable, but even a technique similar to the 'Hundred-Step Flying Sword' could kill you with a single strike.

She said so much in one breath because she didn't want Lü Zhi to fall into the demonic path and turn the Northern Darkness Divine Art into a power-absorbing technique.

Empress Lü Zhi was also shaken, her beautiful eyes sparkling.

One man with a sword slaughtered three thousand Dragon Elephant Armored Soldiers of the Empire?

Previously, Lü Zhi had neither the inclination to listen to nor the interest in such matters of fighting and killing.

But once you become an expert, you'll naturally realize that these aren't just rumors.

Moreover, she had seen the Dragon Elephant Steed and knew its size; its back alone was seven feet tall, and its whole body was nearly ten feet tall. It was no wonder that it became the elite of the Dragon Elephant Cavalry.

Gai Nie, alone with his sword, was able to slaughter these three thousand iron cavalry, demonstrating his terrifying strength.

After hearing Manager Feng's admonition, Lü Zhi vaguely understood that it was all for her own good, since she was now the Zhang family's daughter-in-law.

"Furthermore, the levels of martial arts masters are also divided into:"

Third-rate, second-rate, first-rate, and top-tier masters—these are all acquired realms, primarily focused on opening the twelve main meridians and the Ren and Du meridians, and they account for 99.9% of the martial arts world.

The Innate Realm is divided into Initial Innate, Minor Completion, Major Completion, and the Ultimate Grandmaster.

The masters on the Black List are all at an unparalleled level, half a step into the Grandmaster realm.

Those above the Innate Realm are called Celestials, and they are extremely rare throughout the entire Nine Provinces. The Zhang family only has a handful of Grandmasters on the surface.

Another drawback of the Northern Darkness Divine Art is that the more internal energy one absorbs, the lower the chance of breaking through to the Celestial Realm.

"Grandma, I wonder what level Zhi'er's cultivation is at?"

Upon hearing about the three stages and nine realms, Lü Zhi looked at the two old women above with curiosity.

You should know that she now feels that her true qi is very strong, and she could kill even a large worm with a single palm strike.

"When I was helping you transform the Northern Darkness True Qi, I also helped you open up the eight extraordinary meridians in your body and step into the ultimate realm."

The internal energy you have absorbed adds up to at least three hundred years, but you still cannot fully control it.

If it were fully utilized, even just one-tenth of it would allow one to quickly reach the pinnacle of power.

When Lü Zhi heard that she was now a top-tier expert, she couldn't help but marvel at the domineering power of the Northern Darkness Divine Art.

It should be noted that the acquired realm accounts for 99.9% of all martial arts practitioners. In other words, she surpassed 99.9% of the masters in the martial arts world in just one day.

Moreover, it can quickly make one a master of the highest level.

It should be noted that among the million armored soldiers of the empire, only those at the level of commander of ten thousand or commander of the Imperial Guard are at the peak of physical training, equivalent to top-level masters.

Similarly, the Northern Darkness Divine Art also has its drawbacks.

Even if a different kind of internal energy is transformed into Northern Darkness True Qi, it is still impure and requires constant refinement to be used by oneself.

Otherwise, against those Black List masters who cultivate top-tier divine skills, with their mixed and impure true qi, coupled with their decades of arduous cultivation, which have already reached a level of unparalleled external skill, Lü Zhi would only be crushed.

"What about the Nine Yin Manual that Su Su practiced?"

"The Nine Yin Manual is a pure Taoist mental cultivation method, and there is no shortcut to it."

Moreover, Su'er's mind is pure and innocent, making it easier for her to cultivate Taoist mental techniques. Furthermore, when combined with Ping An's Pure Yang Divine Skill, her cultivation speed is doubled.

This is a martial arts technique that your husband taught you, tailored to your different states of mind.

Zhi'er, your ambition is immense, and your future path does not lie in martial arts. Therefore, the quickly mastered Northern Darkness Divine Skill is most suitable for your self-defense.

Just now, Sister Lingyue said you resemble someone. Do you know who you resemble?

"Who?"

"The former supreme ruler of the ancient capital of Wu Tang—Emperor Wu!"

hiss~~~

Upon hearing this, Lü Zhi gasped.

Unexpectedly, the person that Tianji Tower Master and Shopkeeper Feng were talking about seemed to be the same person, who turned out to be the former Martial Emperor, the only female emperor.

If it weren't for the rise of the Dragon Emperor and his unification of the nine provinces...

This Empress Wu, universally acknowledged throughout the land as surpassing even the Li Tang imperial relatives, was undoubtedly a true female emperor.

I never expected that the Master of Tianji Pavilion and Manager Feng would give him such high praise.

"Mother-in-law, you flatter me too much. I am but a mortal, how dare I compare myself to the Empress!"

"Don't underestimate yourself, or worry that the Zhang family will be wary of you."

Since he chose you as the future wife of the Zhang family of 780, it is because he saw your destiny as an empress, and that you can help Sheng'er take that step.

There was only one Emperor Wu, no second one; you are merely a likeness.

At this moment, Princess Taiping suddenly spoke up, and even though Lü Zhi was unwilling and resentful, she did not refute her.

Does that mean we should oppose it?

If she were to become the second Martial Emperor, she would not overthrow the current Qin Dynasty, but rather the Zhang family dynasty.

"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore."

Next, Zhi'er, you will go into seclusion here to transform the foreign internal energy within your body into the Northern Darkness True Qi, making it completely your own.

"When the final battle takes place in Ping'an, observing the battles of the Black List masters will greatly benefit your cultivation."

As the head manager of the Red Mansion, how could Manager Feng not notice Lü Zhi's psychological changes?

Manager Feng was well aware of Lü Zhi's ambitions.

Even today, Empress Lü's transformation bears the shadow of Emperor Wu.

But this is not what Zhang Xiaoshan wanted.

Only the awakened Lü Zhi is the best mistress of the Donghai Prince's Mansion and the future empress who will rule the world.

This is Zhang Sheng's best wife.

As for becoming the next Emperor Wu?

As Princess Taiping said, there is only one Emperor Wu in the world, and there will never be a second one. Lü Zhi's ambition is not at all a concern for Zhang Xiaoshan.

Chapter 822 The Test by the Two Famous Confucian Constables, Zi'an and Zi'an

The decisive battle has finally arrived!

At the summit of Mangshan Mountain, the area was already packed with people before Chenshi (7-9 AM).

Representatives from the nine major sects of the martial arts world and various top forces came to watch the battle, and even the empire sent several groups of experts.

The assassins Liu Jiannu from the Luo Wang organization, Guo Jing, Tie Shou, and Zhui Ming from the Divine Marquis's Mansion, and Zhang Han from the Shadow Guard... all came to arrest the Black Swordsman and bring him to justice, in order to uphold the dignity of the empire.

Last time, the Black Swordsman fought against Zen Master Juexin in the capital.

Firstly, the empire was unprepared at the time, and the battle was decided in a single sword strike, allowing the Black Swordsman to preserve most of his strength.

To capture the Black Swordsman, not only is it impossible for him to directly confront a Grandmaster, but the imperial rebels alone would not allow them to take him away.

Secondly, the Black Swordsman's final challenge is against Zhang Sheng.

The empire's high-ranking officials were eager to meet the Zhang family's incredibly mysterious eldest son.

Besides verifying the identity of the Confucian scholar Zian, they also need to confirm the strength of the number one on the Black List.

Ideally, the eldest son of the Zhang family and the black swordsman would both suffer heavy losses.

With so many martial arts practitioners present today, if the Zhang family loses its composure, it will inevitably reveal its weaknesses.

After various powerful forces appeared one after another at Mangshan, although no experts from the Zhang family showed up, an unexpected figure appeared in the crowd—

'Confucianism is about peace'.

He is Miyamoto Musashi, the 'stand-in' who guards the mechanical city.

Miyamoto Musashi appeared here, posing as the Confucian scholar 'Koyasu,' with the intention of deceiving the true culprit.

It should be noted that Zian, a Confucian scholar, ranked fourth on the blacklist.

And the top ten masters on the Blacklist—

Zhang Sheng of the Zhang family, Zen Master Juexin, the Black Swordsman, Zian of the Confucian school, Ding Peng of the Demon Blade, Song Que of the Heavenly Blade, Gai Nie (Wei Zhuang) the Sword Saint, Ximen the Sword God, the White-Clad Sword Saint, and Shangguan Jin Hong—basically all of them are here.

If a Confucian scholar named Zian is missing, wouldn't that be telling everyone that Zian is Zhang Sheng of the Zhang family?

At this time, there were indeed rumors circulating in the martial arts world.

However, the best way to dispel rumors is for both to appear simultaneously; naturally, the rumors will crumble on their own.

Even if the major powers knew the secrets behind it, the Confucian scholar Zian was only saving people and was not the main expert who assassinated the Dragon Emperor. It was merely for the sake of the Zhang family's reputation, so the empire would not dwell on this point.

Therefore, the emergence of 'Confucian Zian' was to dispel the 'rumors' circulating in the martial arts world at that time.

As for Ximen Chuixue, who is seventh?

It was after Zhang Wuji was pushed down by the Confucian scholar Zian that Zhao Gao was promoted to Grandmaster.

Originally, the Demonic Sect arranged for Xie Xiaofeng, the Sword God of Divine Sword Manor, to be on the list to eliminate dissidents, but later they discovered that Xie Xiaofeng had completely mastered the Fifteen Deadly Swords and advanced to the Grandmaster realm.

Therefore, Ximen Chuixue, who came after him, was included in the list, even above the White-Clad Sword Saint.

After all, the White-Clad Sword Saint was ultimately a Japanese.

In terms of ranking, the Demonic Sect dropped the White-Clad Sword Saint, who was seventh on the Black List, to ninth place.

"Confucian scholar Zian, why don't you surrender now!"

With a loud shout, several figures rushed forward.

Iron Hand, with its ninefold fist force like surging waves and its blood-red sword energy radiating cold-blooded killing intent, simultaneously attacked Miyamoto Musashi from both the front and rear.

Guo Jing, however, disdained the three-on-one attack and blocked the retreat of this 'Confucian Zian'.

Ultimately, he knew that this person was innocent and was just a substitute.

This move by the three was merely a test.

This sudden attack caught the experts present off guard, and by the time they reacted...

But then, Iron Hand's ninefold surging fist force and Cold Blood's incomparably sharp killing sword simultaneously pressed against the fourth-ranked Confucian scholar, Zi An, a foot away.

Their energies clashed, and sword energy filled the air!

Those experts who couldn't dodge in time all suffered the consequences.

Those severely injured by the qi had their meridians badly damaged, while those less severely injured were simply swept away by the force.

Within a radius of five zhang, only the three people facing off remained.

However, at this moment, it was not a stalemate between the three, but rather that Iron Hand and Cold Blood's attacks were blocked outside the one-foot-wide aura wall around 'Zi'an', unable to advance even an inch.

Even the other experts on the blacklist had their pupils shrink.

It should be noted that both Guo Jing, who was at the pinnacle of martial arts, and the Four Great Constables were top-tier masters, with combat power comparable to those on the Black List.

At this moment, the sudden attack from the two top masters was so effective that they could not even get close?

The strength of just being fourth on the blacklist is terrifying.

Apart from Zhang Sheng, who has yet to reveal his full strength, the strength of the top four on the Black List can almost be described as terrifying.

After all, this was a surprise attack from two top experts. 'Confucian Zian,' ranked fourth on the Black List, didn't even make a move, but blocked them a foot in front of him with his protective aura.