From the horizon, a unicorn with colorful wings on its back stepped through the air. Demonic Qi circulated around its body, revealing it to be a Late Stage Demonic Core Strange Beast, equivalent to a Human Race Cultivator in the Late Stage Core Formation Realm.
There were four such powerful Strange Beast, and together they pulled a phoenix carriage, shimmering with rainbow light. Upon reaching Lingjian Sect, it hovered in the air.
Only when the phoenix carriage stopped could everyone glimpse its true appearance.
With thousand-year-old Wutong wood as its frame, the carriage was entirely gilded, its surface carved with a hundred birds worshiping a phoenix. Each feather was outlined with gold thread, flowing as if alive.
The roof was covered with a canopy woven from five-colored divine silkworm silk, adorned with luminous pearls and Eastern pearls, shimmering brightly in the sunlight and resembling a pouring galaxy in the night sky.
After being astonished by the exquisite beauty of the phoenix carriage, everyone instantly realized that this must be the Xuanyuan Empress’s personal carriage.
It was rumored that this "Hundred Birds Worshipping Phoenix Carriage" was a top-tier Low Grade Magic Treasure, excelling in both offense and defense, capable of traveling eighty thousand li per day in the air, and its value even surpassed some ordinary Medium Grade Magic Treasures.
Thirty thousand Black Armored Soldiers surrounded Lingjian Sect. Given the speed of the "Hundred Birds Worshipping Phoenix Carriage," the Xuanyuan Empress could have arrived at Lingjian Sect much earlier.
However, ordinary Black Armored Soldiers only possessed the cultivation of the Body Refining Heavenly Human Realm. To make an example and completely annihilate Lingjian Sect, the Empress personally led the expedition, sending the thirty thousand Black Armored Army ahead.
She would then arrive at Lingjian Sect in the "Hundred Birds Worshipping Phoenix Carriage" when the Black Armored Army was about to reach their destination.
Lingjian Sect had known for half a month that the Empress would personally lead the expedition. The current Sect Leader had dispersed Lingjian Sect's centuries of accumulated wealth, secretly sending the Core Disciple and outstanding talents to various parts of Qingyun State.
He knew that the Xuanyuan Empress had been merciful by waiting half a month before coming to annihilate Lingjian Sect.
But he still didn't understand. He wanted Lingjian Sect's Legacy to continue in this familiar place.
So he stepped out of the mountain gate and faced the Xuanyuan Empress's carriage from afar, asking calmly, "Your Majesty, may I know the reason for your esteemed presence?"
The Empress snorted coldly, her voice like a grand bell: "Lingjian Sect, relying on a bit of sword skill, has committed evil deeds in the Sanshan City area, harming the common people, and colluding with rebels. Your crimes are unforgivable!"
"Today, I grant you all death. Lingjian Sect shall be removed from the records!"
The Sect Leader's face instantly turned pale. He didn't understand why the Empress was so resolute, and even more so, he couldn't comprehend which colossal entity Lingjian Sect had provoked to be framed to such an extent.
"Your Majesty must have listened to slander. My Lingjian Sect has always acted righteously…"
The Empress had no intention of listening to his excuse. In an instant, the winds and clouds changed color, and a massive beam of spiritual energy descended from the sky, directly striking Lingjian Sect.
The deafening roar shook the ground. Lingjian Sect's buildings collapsed under this powerful force, and the Disciples screamed repeatedly.
The once unbreakable mountain-guarding Formation, under the powerful force of a Fourth Realm attack, was as fragile as an eggshell pierced by an iron rod.
In just a moment, the once glorious Lingjian Sect was reduced to ruins. Those who were still alive within Lingjian Sect no longer had any Battle Intent.
Seeing that the time was ripe, General Tian Ce, Cheng Zhu, immediately led the thirty thousand Black Armored Army to charge into Lingjian Sect from all directions, executing the Empress's will by killing all living beings without mercy.
At the Luoning Inn, the water mirror had already dissipated.
Because the Formation set up near Lingjian Sect had been destroyed by the aftershocks of the Empress's attack, the three people in the Luoning Inn had not seen the subsequent events after that strike.
After regaining his composure, Qin Li looked at Zhou Fan, who had a calm expression, and asked with lingering fear, "Zhou Dage, that strike just now, was it a Fourth Realm technique?"
"From a power perspective, it indeed had the destructive power of a Fourth Realm attack."
"Then, Zhou Dage, can you withstand that strike from the Empress?"
Qin Li was very curious about Zhou Fan's current strength.
"If I stood still and took it head-on, I might sustain some injuries."
Zhou Fan spoke truthfully: "The power of that strike had already reached the Middle Stage of the Fourth Realm. Although my Physical Body is formidable and my talent is extraordinary, I am, after all, only at the Early Stage of the Core Transformation Realm, so taking it head-on would still result in some injuries."
Qin Li was stunned. He had only known that Zhou Dage was very strong before, but he had no concrete concept of Zhou Dage's strength.
Now, seeing the Empress's single strike annihilate the vast Lingjian Sect, and Zhou Dage being able to withstand such a terrifying impact with his Physical Body, Qin Li finally understood the huge gap between him and Zhou Fan.
Ning Shuying sat beside Zhou Fan. She looked at the man's calm profile and suddenly felt that Zhou Fan was truly handsome.
"So you were always accommodating me. Thank you, Zhou Fan."
When Ning Shuying was initially strongly impacted by Zhou Fan, she thought he was doing it on purpose, using all his strength to deal with her, wanting her to show embarrassment.
Now, realizing how powerful Zhou Fan's Physical Body was, Ning Shuying finally understood that Zhou Fan had always been holding back his strength when teaching her.
Otherwise, with Zhou Fan's terrifying Physical Body, if he had truly gone all out, Ning Shuying felt that she would definitely have been penetrated.
Zhou Fan didn't think that much. At his Realm, he could control his strength at will.
He was currently recalling the Empress's strike in his mind, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt something was amiss.
"That Xuanyuan Empress's cultivation may not have reached the Fourth Realm."
Zhou Fan analyzed logically: "The power of the impact was indeed very strong, but the quality was not high enough."
"The power was indeed Fourth Realm, but the Realm had not truly reached the Fourth Realm level. It could only be considered as barely touching the threshold of the Fourth Realm."
"The Xuanyuan Empress's cultivation is most likely only in the Late Stage of the Third Realm. The reason she could cast such a Fourth Realm Spell is probably because she has some amplification methods, such as Dynasty Luck, on her."
Qin Li and Ning Shuying, sitting beside Zhou Fan, were surprised to hear that Zhou Fan had deduced so much from just one fragment. They couldn't help but admire Zhou Fan even more.
Ning Shuying moved even closer to Zhou Fan, her fiery figure pressing tightly against him, and her delicate hands explored Zhou Fan's muscular body.
Zhou Fan noticed Ning Shuying's little movements, but he didn't stop her, only spoke.
"Great Sun Essence is currently useful for Cultivators below the Early Stage Core Formation. If you consume more, you will quickly reach the Third Realm, just like the Xuanyuan Empress."
When Qin Li first heard Zhou Fan's words, he didn't understand what they meant.
He felt that he couldn't consume Zhou Dage's Great Sun Essence anyway, so why did Zhou Dage suddenly bring this up?
Then he noticed Ning Shuying, whose face was flushed with spring. He saw her rubbing against Zhou Dage through her clothes, and in her heroic eyes, there was only a woman's infatuation with a powerful man.
"Shuying, why have you become like this? Isn't it still broad daylight?"
Ning Shuying didn't look at Qin Li, only replied simply.
"The night is too short. I want to spend more time with Zhou Fan."
Seeing this, Qin Li still wanted to say something.
But seeing that Ning Shuying had already leaned down, preparing to go further, Qin Li could only run back to the next room in a state of embarrassment.
Sitting cross-legged on the lonely, cold small bed, the "Qing Ni Jue" once again began to circulate rapidly.