The world has always harbored such a legend: The requests of Zhao Chenlu, the City Lord of Golden Jade City, have never been refused by anyone — of course, this proposition is rather mystical, as Zhao Chenlu rarely "requests" anyone for anything. Her words are commands, and commands must be executed.

The "gold" of Golden Jade City is the same as the Chinese idiom "golden words." On the night of April 15, when Shen City’s populace of a million descended into chaos, it fully attested to her practical abilities.

If I, Zhao Chenlu, say I’m taking the blame, no one can fight me for it, not even the parties involved who might want to prove their innocence!

This kind of unrivaled dominance, only Zhao Chenlu has this in present-day Xiangzhou. Such terrifying execution power, where words are as law, is truly unique.

Of course, practically speaking, Golden Jade City’s infiltration into Shen City is far from omnipotent — not to mention Shen City’s own underlying strength, even the Saint Sect wouldn’t permit Golden Jade City to reach such extremes.

Yet many matters don’t require external enemy infiltration; as long as one’s own people descend into chaos, outsiders can do as they please. It wasn’t the people of Golden Jade who incited Shen City’s populace but Shen City’s own people. Forty-seven families holding the most confidential information of Shen City used all their wisdom and intelligence to incite internal strife, achieving far better results than if the Golden Jade people had acted directly.

The saying that fortresses fall from within perfectly describes the unrest in Shen City.

Zhao Chenlu didn’t even utilize the undercover agents Golden Jade City had planted in Shen City over the years. She merely mentioned Shen Ruoshi’s plan to ruin his own reputation to Shen Yueying and proposed taking all the responsibility herself. Everything else fell into place naturally.

Shen Yueying, who has peacefully served as Deputy City Lord under Shen Ruoshi’s leadership for over a decade, had no hesitation in choosing to cooperate with Zhao Chenlu once she confirmed her sincerity. In a preposterous way, she preserved Shen Ruoshi’s dignified ending.

Even though this was far from Shen Ruoshi’s own wishes.

If Shen Ruoshi were still the reclusive yet respected leader he once was, Shen Yueying might not have dared to go this far, as the shadow he cast over his children’s childhood was too profound. But his absurd performance at his hundredth birthday celebration, along with a series of subsequent actions, greatly diminished his own prestige. Thus, his once oppressed children began to harbor bold ideas. Especially after Gu Yueqin emerged, which significantly impacted Shen Ruoshi’s authority and smoothly transitioned Shen Yueying’s mindset.

Finally, Shen Ruoshi retreated into seclusion, seemingly unlikely to emerge again. Meanwhile, Shen Yueying perfectly guided the furious anger of millions of people, launching a massive campaign for revenge against the Golden Jade people. Of course, the steps were all consulted with the Golden Jade people, ensuring there would be no substantive conflict between the two sides. After a series of protests and demonstrations, the overly abundant energy of the populace would be the only thing consumed, causing no real impact on the two cities separated by thousands of miles.

——

Having witnessed the entire process, Shen Qingming felt a chill rising in her heart.

But it wasn’t the ugliness of politics that chilled her — as the daughter of the Cyan Cloud Li Family, she was exposed to such political filth from an early age. Like a certain seemingly responsible Sword Cultivator middle-aged man who, instead of bearing his obligations, pushed all the work onto his wife, who stood only 1.4 meters tall. The severity of his neglect was deplorable. Or the 1.4-meter-tall woman who controlled most of the resources of the Cyan Cloud Li Family, praised by many as a giant of Cyan Cloud. When handling affairs concerning the livelihoods of thousands, she would flip a coin to decide policy due to a bad mood; the severity of her recklessness was also deplorable.

What concerned Shen Qingming was Zhao Chenlu’s execution power, which could be deemed terrifying.

From mentioning this in front of Shen Ruoshi to inciting unrest involving millions, Zhao Chenlu only took half a day!

The capability to act upon words with such effect is truly terrifying to consider.

If such a person were to unleash a full-on offensive towards Wang Jiu... could she really have any chance?

There might be, as matters of the heart aren’t solely reliant on strength; they also rely on fate. After her resurrection, she searched for Wang Jiu for decades with no results. Yet, when buying a practice sword at the market, she happened upon the Celestial Divine Sword; is this not fate?!

Moreover, what’s even more astonishing is the question of why a legendary woman like Zhao Chenlu would be enamored with someone like Wang Jiu.

Even though the Celestial Divine Sword indeed possesses a unique charm unparalleled by anyone in the world, such allure is vastly different from the attraction between men and women, isn’t it? From a romantic perspective, Wang Jiu is practically at the worst level.

Even falling for a heartless rake at least allows enjoying the skilled techniques of a seasoned player at the start of romance. But the Celestial Divine Sword can be infuriating from the first moment of acquaintance, and even after nearly a year, there’s no sign of improvement, proving that nature is hard to change. Anyone with normal intelligence should maintain a respectful distance.

Shen Qingming reflected on herself; she met Wang Jiu in the lowest point of her life. Though their journey was bumpy, it was with his support that she rebounded. Not only did she break through her cultivation bottleneck, but she also resolved misunderstandings with her family and then excelled in the Cyan Cloud competition... which is also partly because she’s not very bright, so she fell and stayed down.

But what about Zhao Chenlu? Before she met Wang Jiu, she was already a significant figure in the Myriad Immortals Alliance, a title as the most beautiful woman in Jiuzhou well-known before meeting him.

Someone like her, what talents and charming figures hasn’t she encountered? Why be so persistent about a Celestial Divine Sword?

Is it because as the most beautiful woman in Jiuzhou, she’s become jaded with the world’s splendor, feeling all men beneath her notice? Only the Immortal Celestial Divine Sword can endure the test of time?

Or is it that Wang Jiu’s Sword Spirit True Form has a charm so high that it produces a permanent enchantment effect on some, making them unforgettable at first sight?

Perhaps it’s because Zhao Chenlu is naturally inclined towards Divine Swords as a Sword Cultivator?

Moreover, there’s a technical issue here that’s always been perplexing: How does one maintain and even elevate the emotional connection between a person and a sword?

Or, to put it more explicitly, if Zhao Chenlu indeed wins Wang Jiu’s favor and marries him, how does she intend to exercise her rights as a wife?

Is it by having Ah Jiu use some Immortal Technique to create a flesh-and-blood body? But then how is that vessel any different from a meat lingzhi mushroom, banana peel, or dried squid? With Zhao Chenlu’s taste, such obsession seems unlikely. But if she lets Ah Jiu use his true form... wouldn’t that be dangerous? And it’s far too awful an idea!

Shen Qingming was really puzzled by this issue, but now there were no better problems to ponder except for this terrible one. After all, the situation was so dire, and her abilities were so limited, thinking too much would only add to her worries.

Unconsciously, Shen Qingming suddenly noticed the morning light before her.

It turned out she had been wandering alone on the street until dawn.

After all, she was indeed homeless last night—the Divine Sword Tower housed carnivorous beasts, and she had spent a lot of effort escaping that den of demons. The other place, the City Lord’s Mansion in Shen City Inner City, was also unsuitable due to the disturbance, and since she went out without change, Shen Qingming could only wander the streets like a homeless ghost until dawn.

As the morning light began to fill Shen City, Shen Qingming finally sighed softly, "I really want to go home."

"Oh, are you going back?"

The next moment, a voice suddenly sounded behind her, sending a shiver down Shen Qingming’s spine.

"Ah Jiu!?"

Wang Jiu greeted her warmly, "Good morning."

"What are you doing here?!"

Wang Jiu said, "I’ve been here all along."

"What!? Since when?"

Wang Jiu had a good memory, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "Since you started mumbling to yourself, ’It’s over if it’s over.’"

"Haven’t you been there all along!?"

Wang Jiu replied, "That’s exactly what I meant, I’ve been here all along."

"...Why have you been here all along?"

Wang Jiu said, "Li Wanqing saw you wandering alone on the streets and felt it was really unsafe, so she asked me to look after you."

Shen Qingming continued to gasp, "Sister Wanqing!? When did she come!?"

Wang Jiu said, "She arrived at the same time as me. She said you were wandering alone in the city late at night, and it might be dangerous with the city-wide disturbance, so she brought me along to find you. And using the positioning function of the Master-Servant Contract..."

"..." Before Shen Qingming could finish listening, she already felt her face twitching, "So, she heard all the things I said?"

Wang Jiu said, "No, at that time, she saw you were lost in thought and talking to yourself, so she said it would be too rude to eavesdrop, so she covered her ears and left."

Shen Qingming suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, her good impression of Li Wanqing rising sharply.

Although her orientation problem is really severe, one must admit Li Wanqing is truly a gentlewoman beyond reproach... well, a lady.

Then Wang Jiu said, "So, she asked me to record what you said and send it to her secretly later, without letting anyone find out. So, don’t make a fuss for now, let me just deliver this recording talisman..."

As Wang Jiu spoke, he reached out and pulled out a delivery flying sword left by Li Wanqing, fixed the already recorded talisman onto it, and then...

Then he was punched into powder by an angry Shen Qingming.

"You two bastards!"

As she spoke, Shen Qingming strode forward.

Wang Jiu followed unhurriedly, saying as he walked, "Strictly speaking, Li Wanqing and I are indeed one person and one sword..."

"Ahhhhh! Please go annoy Zhao Chenlu in Golden Jade City, I don’t want you anymore!"

Almost at the same moment Shen Qingming shouted this, a golden flying sword streaked across the sky.

It carried an invitation with the highest authority, written by City Lord Golden Jade himself.