After the celebration of her leadership, Yunxihua now secluded herself in the palace of Xuliang City (the Lotus Flower Palace), and assigned tasks to Xu Bailong and Xu Fangyu.
Everything returned to normal, and activities resumed as usual.
The 6th Elder was responsible for guarding the Holy Maiden, while the 4th Elder blended in among the city residents in disguise. Xu Bailong and Xu Fangyu searched for information about the Meimei Clan in the city.
Yunxihua secluded herself to perfect the Emotionless Sword, assisted by the Primordial Dragon.
"Boy, this city used to be a barren land and extremely dangerous to pass through. I never thought it would now become the largest trading city in the Qin Empire," said the Primordial Dragon.
"Senior, it seems this city has become prosperous as it is now, perhaps supported by a secret formation," replied Yunxihua.
The Primordial Dragon laughed and praised Yunxihua.
"Boy, you noticed it too. Indeed, I faintly feel spiritual energy gathering and concentrating within this city," replied the Primordial Dragon.
"But where does the spiritual energy come from? The aura in this region is extremely thin," the Primordial Dragon asked in confusion.
"Senior, I sense the city residents' energy weakening, and even their spiritual roots—many of them are dim," replied Yunxihua.
The Primordial Dragon and Yunxihua began searching for information about the spiritual energy gathering in the city and the residents who possessed very little spiritual energy.
Not long after, Xu Bailong and Xu Fangyu appeared, teleporting in to report that the Meimei Clan had already begun moving, followed by the Zhang Clan.
"The Zhang Clan?" Yunxihua asked.
Suddenly, the Primordial Dragon whispered to Yunxihua and told her that the Zhang Clan were experts in formations on this continent.
Yunxihua fell silent for a moment and concluded that the spiritual energy gathering formation was created by the Zhang Clan.
"Holy Maiden? Why are you silent?" asked Xu Bailong.
"It's nothing. Xu Fangyu, monitor the Meimei Clan. And you, Xu Bailong, investigate the Zhang Clan," Yunxihua ordered.
"Yes," replied Xu Bailong and Xu Fangyu.
After Xu Bailong and Xu Fangyu departed, that night Yunxihua ordered her female servant to disguise herself as the Holy Maiden, while Yunxihua would secretly investigate the Zhang Clan.
Yunxihua infiltrated through the roof of the Zhang Clan residence, using the Lightning Dragon Steps technique to sneak in.
The Zhang Clan guards were patrolling but had not yet noticed Yunxihua's intrusion.
"These Zhang Clan guards are all at the perfected Core Formation Realm," said the Primordial Dragon.
"Senior, sneaking behind the wooden wall, I sense a detection formation here. It seems rather troublesome to go deeper," replied Yunxihua.
"Leave it to me. Forbidden Formation Technique," replied the Primordial Dragon.
The detection formation disappeared, but one of the Zhang Clan elders immediately realized that the detection formation had gone inactive, indicating that someone had infiltrated the residence.
"Young Master (Zhang Fei), it seems a master has infiltrated our residence," said one of the elders.
Smiling faintly, "It seems someone wants to obstruct our plans. Quickly activate the Yin Illusion Formation," ordered Zhang Fei.
"Yes," replied one of the elders while activating the formation.
Back to Yunxihua, while she was studying the terrain and calculating her chances of escape, she suddenly sensed something strange.
"Boy, this is the Yin Illusion Formation. The Zhang Clan is truly troublesome," said the Primordial Dragon.
Yunxihua used the Nine-Path Dragon Eyes to search for weaknesses in the formation.
"Senior, the weakness is at the four corners of this formation," replied Yunxihua.
Yunxihua used the Lightning Dragon Steps and Void Severing Slash to destroy the Yin Illusion Formation.
"Truly a troublesome formation," Yunxihua said.
Back to the Zhang Clan elder, he immediately spat out blood.
"Master, the Yin Illusion Formation has been destroyed. What should we do?" asked the elder.
Angrily, "Mobilize all guards!" ordered Zhang Fei.
"Yes," replied the elder.
Yunxihua began moving and silently killed the guards without alerting the others.
Suddenly, someone appeared (Zhang Hai) and attacked Yunxihua, but Yunxihua immediately evaded the attack.
"Bastard, who are you?! You dare enter my Zhang Clan residence!" shouted Zhang Hai.
Yunxihua did not respond and, without hesitation, attacked Zhang Hai.
Zhang Hai blocked Yunxihua's sword attack and counterattacked using the Earth-Devouring Dual Axes.
Yunxihua avoided the attack using the Lightning Dragon Steps and instantly beheaded Zhang Hai with the Emotionless Void Severing Slash technique.
After killing Zhang Hai, Xu Bailong suddenly appeared and attacked Yunxihua. Xu Bailong did not know that the person he faced was Yunxihua, as she was in disguise.
Not wanting to deal with Xu Bailong, Yunxihua left using the Lightning Dragon Steps, moving deeper into the Zhang Clan residence.
Seeing this, Xu Bailong immediately realized that the person he attacked was Yunxihua, the Holy Maiden.
"That technique belongs to our Xu Clan. Could it be… the Holy Maiden?" 😳😳 regretful and terrified, said Xu Bailong.
Back to Yunxihua—when she reached the Zhang Clan hall, Zhang Fei suddenly appeared, followed by the elders and guards of the Zhang Clan.
"Who are you?! How dare you enter the Zhang Clan residence!" shouted a Zhang Clan elder.
Yunxihua smiled faintly and immediately attacked the guards and elders before her.
The guards were instantly annihilated. Seeing this, the Zhang Clan elders immediately formed a Sword Slaughter Formation.
Yunxihua was trapped and attacked endlessly by incoming swords. She only blocked and evaded the attacks.
"Boy, just use the Lightning-Eroding Dragon Rotation. Consider it a test of the technique you forged," said the Primordial Dragon.
"Yes, Senior," replied Yunxihua.
The Lightning-Eroding Dragon Rotation technique was unleashed, soaring upward and destroying the Sword Slaughter Formation. Several elders controlling the formation were instantly killed.
Seeing this, Zhang Fei became extremely anxious and terrified.
"So… so strong. Who are you?" asked Zhang Fei.
Yunxihua did not answer and bound Zhang Fei using the Dragon Binding Chains technique.
After Zhang Fei was bound, Yunxihua interrogated him about the Zhang Clan's purpose in gathering the city residents' spiritual energy.
"What is your purpose?" Yunxihua asked coldly.
"Release me, please. I will give you the information if you let me go," replied Zhang Fei.
Yunxihua pointed her sword at Zhang Fei, and Zhang Fei revealed information regarding their plan to gather spiritual energy.
"We collect spiritual energy to refine spiritual pills and sell them back to the city residents for profit," replied Zhang Fei.
"Oh… we?" So that's how it is," replied Yunxihua.
"D-don't kill me, please. All of this is the Meimei Clan's plan. I only cooperated, nothing more. Spare my life," begged Zhang Fei.
After learning the plan, Yunxihua beheaded Zhang Fei and burned down the Zhang Clan residence to erase her tracks.
She then returned to her residence and recovered.