The continent was abuzz with excitement. Descendants from all the major cultivation sects and holy lands were entering the mortal realm, signaling a true golden age for this era. This sudden fervor was all due to the reappearance of the legendary Immortal Slayer Sword, brought forth from obscurity by a mysterious young man. This youth, Jason Ji, had accomplished the incredible feat of defeating a higher-ranked opponent, securing his place as the first on the Azure Sky Ranking.
A single sword and a single youth had sparked a wave of movement, with young heroes from both righteous and demonic sects entering the fray. Such was the allure of the Immortal Slayer Sword and the temptation of the Azure Sky Ranking's summit.
Yet, on this day, an unexpected announcement sent ripples throughout the land: someone had placed a 30 million gold bounty on Jason Ji's head, issued to the continent's foremost assassin organization, the Heavenly Assassins Pavilion. Strangely, the client wanted only Jason's life—not the Immortal Slayer Sword.
The peculiar nature of this bounty intrigued everyone. Who could possibly harbor such a grudge against Jason without desiring the sword itself? Many speculated that it could be none other than Livia Dong's younger sister, Lucia Dong, as Jason's recent actions had publicly slighted her in Luoyang before he ultimately became her sister's fiancé. Such a scandalous situation could push any woman to extremes, and few on the continent had the wealth and influence of Lucia Dong.
In the residence of the Dong family within Chang'an City, Duke Raymond Dong Dong sat at the head of the table, his expression inscrutable. To his left and right sat his daughters, Livia and Lucia, each wearing a vastly different expression.
Lucia, her head downcast, looked troubled. She was aware of the rumors circulating that she was the one who hired assassins to kill Jason. While she knew she hadn't done such a thing, she couldn't deny that the assumption made sense. Her current distress, however, stemmed not from the rumor, but from her feelings of guilt toward her sister. After all, it was Livia, not she, who was now bound by a marriage of duty to preserve the family's honor.
Meanwhile, Livia sat serenely, sipping her tea with an air of indifference, as if untouched by the affairs of the world.
"Unbelievable! That Heavenly Assassins Pavilion dares to target the son-in-law of the Dong family!" Duke Raymond Dong's anger erupted as he crushed the teacup in his hand. He then cast a stern gaze at Lucia. "Lucia, I'll ask you directly—did you or did you not place that bounty on Jason's life?"
Lucia met her father's gaze firmly, replying with absolute conviction, "Father, you know I would never do such a thing."
After a brief silence, Duke Raymond Dong nodded, his anger cooling. Though proud and headstrong, he knew his daughter wouldn't stoop to hiring assassins.
"Very well…" he murmured, waving a dismissive hand. "But this situation has escalated. We must decide how to handle it."
"Oh?" Livia, with a faint smile, finally looked up. "And what does Father plan to do?"
Duke Raymond Dong glanced at his eldest daughter, a mix of pride and exasperation flashing in his eyes. Though he often felt troubled by her rebellious ways, he couldn't deny his deep affection for her. Secretly, he wondered if Lucia's brilliance had unintentionally pushed Livia to extremes, striving to stand out.
Arranging her marriage with Jason, the Immortal Slayer Sword's master, seemed a perfect match. The thought of it filled him with satisfaction.
"Rest assured, Livia," Duke Raymond Dong declared confidently. "I will do everything in my power to protect my son-in-law."
"Oh?" Livia's eyebrow arched slightly, and a playful smile danced on her lips. "Then, Father, do make sure he's well-protected. After all, he's my future husband."
With that, Livia stood gracefully and left, leaving Duke Raymond Dong and Lucia in stunned silence.
Duke Raymond Dong: "I will protect my daughter's happiness at all costs!"
Lucia: "Could it be that my sister truly… doesn't resent that scoundrel?"
Word of the assassination plot spread quickly. Beams of light, messengers from across the continent, streaked towards Chang'an City, bearing urgent news. Rumors swirled that Tom White, the deputy head of the Heavenly Assassins Pavilion, would personally hunt Jason down at the gates of Chang'an.
Excitement filled the city as onlookers gathered, eager to witness the duel between the Immortal Slayer Sword's master and a legendary assassin. Would Jason emerge victorious, cementing his legend, or would he meet an untimely end?
The majority of onlookers sought nothing more than entertainment. Yet many others arrived in Chang'an with hopes of capitalizing on the chaos. After all, the Immortal Slayer Sword was a weapon that no cultivator could ignore.
Meanwhile, within the palace, Adrian Long, a high-ranking royal official, gave a cold smile as he addressed the kneeling chief eunuch.
"Chang'an hasn't seen a spectacle like this in a while. Let's ensure this one doesn't end too quickly, shall we?"
With that decree, all royal experts of legendary rank concealed themselves, signaling that the imperial family would remain neutral and allow events to unfold freely.
Outside Chang'an City, a crowd had already gathered, including noble heirs and wandering cultivators alike. Within hours, hundreds of people filled the area, eagerly awaiting the confrontation.
The crowd grew restless as a middle-aged man in a blue robe arrived, sparking murmurs.
"It's Master Tian Xing, the chief artist from the Celestial Pavilion!"
"He's here to capture the fight between Jason and the Heavenly Assassins Pavilion's legend, clearly anticipating a clash!"
Just as the murmurs of awe died down, a shadow tore through the sky, arriving before the city gates. Gasps filled the air as people recognized the newcomer.
It was him. He had come too!
Xavier Lo, the demonic sect's chief disciple, stood before them, his black attire ornate and eerie, his piercing black eyes exuding a chilling aura. With his unparalleled demonic physique and purest demonic energy, Xavier had long reigned as one of the Azure Sky Ranking's top talents—until Jason dethroned him.
Not long after, a dust-covered young monk arrived, his robes simple yet unmistakable. Master Tian Xing's eyes gleamed as he greeted him.
"Why, if it isn't Skylar Do, chief disciple of the Great Thunder Temple!"
The crowd eyed the unassuming monk with shock. The Great Thunder Temple, leader of the righteous sects, was represented by this unremarkable young man? Appearances were indeed deceiving.
Suddenly, a rainbow streaked across the sky, heralding the arrival of a tall, cold young woman. The crowd gasped in recognition.
Dragon Princess Sarah Long of the Misty Peak Sect, also known as the Princess of the Sacred Tang Empire, had arrived.
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