The Peeping of the Dao Ancestor of the Way of Killing

Ye Jiuhuang stood right in front of Bai Qiangu, no more than three feet apart.

Her face was completely devoid of emotion, her gaze as calm as an ancient well, as if the sword strike she had just delivered had been nothing more than a casual, meaningless gesture.

"Miss Bai."

Ye Jiuhuang's voice was soft, yet it carried an undeniable, commanding pressure. "I'm calling you Miss Bai out of respect for my husband. That does not mean you are allowed to act wildly and disrespectfully in front of me."

"This is the Sword God Palace, not your Unparalleled Demon Sect. Here, you will abide by the rules of this place."

"Rules?" Bai Qiangu gritted her teeth, her eyes burning with unyielding resentment. "What rules?"

Ye Jiuhuang offered a faint smile, one that was cool and proud. "The rules are simple. When I am speaking, you do not interrupt. When I tell you to do something, you do it. If you cannot comply..."

She pushed her sword forward another inch, the cold blade nearly pressing against Bai Qiangu's skin.

"I would have no qualms about naming a new leader for the Unparalleled Demon Sect."

Bai Qiangu's face flushed bright red, yet she did not dare to move an inch. She could feel that the sword in Ye Jiuhuang's hand held terrifying power enough to snuff out her life in an instant.

If she so much as made a single reckless move, the fate waiting for her would be nothing less than being decapitated on the spot.

"You..."

Bai Qiangu bit down hard on her teeth, her eyes blazing with fury, but she could not utter another word.

"What? Not convinced?"

Ye Jiuhuang raised an eyebrow, her tone laced with a hint of teasing amusement. "If you refuse to accept it, you can fight me. Win, and I will step down and give you my place. Lose, and you will obediently follow my rules."

Bai Qiangu's expression grew even more grim.

She had already experienced Ye Jiuhuang's overwhelming strength just moments before.

She had used every last ounce of her power to block that one sword strike, yet she had not even been able to catch a glimpse of the sword itself.

Fight? How could she possibly fight?

Stepping forward to challenge would only be rushing to her death.

"Fine... I submit."

Bai Qiangu spoke those few words almost through grinding her back teeth. Her voice was thick with resentment, but there was nothing else she could do.

Ye Jiuhuang nodded in satisfaction and sheathed her sword.

"That's much better." She turned and walked back to Ye Xuan's side, slipping her arm through his, and looked up at him with eyes full of tender affection. "Husband, how did I handle that?"

Ye Xuan looked at her, a faint smile flashing across his eyes, and he reached out to ruffle her hair. "You did well. You carry the poise of a proper primary wife."

Watching the two of them being so affectionate, Bai Qiangu felt as if thousands of ants were gnawing at her heart.

She took a deep breath, forcing back the sour ache in her chest, and said coldly, "Palace Master Ye, may I leave now?"

Without even turning her head, Ye Jiuhuang waved a hand dismissively. "Go on then. Remember, be back at your guest quarters before the Rooster hour. The Sword God Palace has a curfew after dark, no wandering around freely."

Bai Qiangu gritted her teeth and turned to stride away.

Her back was held ramrod straight, her bright red long skirt flapping loudly in the wind, but once she was far enough away, her shoulders began to tremble faintly.

That trembling was born of anger, of unyielding resentment, of humiliation, and of heartache.

When had Bai Qiangu ever suffered such a disgrace in her entire life?

But for Ye Xuan's sake, she would endure it.

Once back in her guest room, Bai Qiangu shut the door behind her.

She did not give in to weakness as she usually would, when without warning, ripples of space began to spread behind her, and a wispy phantom figure slowly emerged. That phantom emanated a terrifying aura that made one's heart pound with dread — it was the legendary Killing Dao Ancestor.

Bai Qiangu turned around, her exquisite face twisted slightly with rage, and she spoke through gritted teeth. "I already inherited the Killing Dao, so why can't I even deal with someone like Ye Jiuhuang?"

The Killing Dao Ancestor glanced at her, a look of undisguised disdain on her illusory face. "You have received my legacy, but your cultivation is still shallow. What's more, you have no idea who that woman is. She is a True Immortal who has condensed the Sword Emperor Dao Fruit! Even in the Immortal Realm, such a character is a rare, peerless genius. How could you possibly hope to shake her with your current strength?"

Hearing those words, Bai Qiangu did not shrink back. Instead, her gaze grew even more fierce and vicious. "I don't care! No matter what it takes, Ye Jiuhuang has to die. I am going to take back my husband!"

"You cannot defeat Ye Jiuhuang any time soon."

The Killing Dao Ancestor sighed, her tone utterly calm and rational. "Even among True Immortals, her cultivation level is far from weak. But..."

Her tone shifted, and she spoke with unbridled pride. "With the Killing Dao legacy I have given you, it won't be long before you grow strong enough to threaten her life."

"But she and my husband are about to hold their wedding! I can't wait! I have to kill her right now!"

Bai Qiangu clenched her fists in frustration, staring fixedly at the phantom in front of her as she demanded, "You are a dignified Dao Ancestor, aren't you? Tell me right now, what can I do to kill her?"

The Killing Dao Ancestor let out a helpless huff at the sight of her disciple, who had been completely consumed by jealousy. She did not even bother to respond to Bai Qiangu's plea, instead shifting her gaze and changing the topic of her own accord. "I took a close look at that husband of yours earlier... The aura he carries feels very much like my own husband, Fang Yuan. It's a pity that he is not Fang Yuan."

Bai Qiangu's expression sharpened at once, and she tensed up like a protective wild beast, declaring coldly, "He is my husband Ye Xuan. He is not Fang Yuan."

The Killing Dao Ancestor nodded slowly, letting out a soft, wistful sigh. "Yes, that is such a shame."

Seeing the mysterious, terrifying Dao Ancestor show such a dejected expression, Bai Qiangu's simmering resentment faded a little, and she grew curious. She could not help but ask, "If you ever saw your husband Fang Yuan again, what would you do?"

The moment the name "Fang Yuan" was spoken, the void around the Killing Dao Ancestor erupted in icy, bone-chilling killing intent.

She let out a cold laugh, a sound that seemed to rise straight from the depths of the Nine Nether Hell, enough to make one's hair stand on end. "Naturally, I would make him taste the most horrifying torment this world has to offer."