From cute to empress

Chapter 238 The Blood Blade Sect Changes Owner

"The Netherworld Sect..." I repeated in a low voice, but there was no memory of it. There were countless sects in the martial arts world, but I had never heard of such a name. Could it have only emerged in recent years?

"Old man, do you know what the purpose of the Netherworld Cult is?" Zhen Youcai asked, his brows furrowed.

The old man shook his head, a trace of fear flashing in his cloudy eyes. "I only know that they are ruthless and will do anything to achieve their goals. If you want to know more, you can go to Luocheng and ask around. That's their base..."

Luocheng? My heart skipped a beat. Isn't that the Blood Blade Sect's territory? Could it be that... the Blood Blade Sect has already defected to the Netherworld Sect?

After bidding farewell to the old man, Zhen Youcai and I immediately set off for Luocheng. Along the way, we disguised ourselves and proceeded cautiously, fearing to alert the enemy. However, even before we entered Luocheng, we sensed a strange atmosphere enveloping the city.

There were few pedestrians on the streets, most shops were closed, and an unsettling sense of depression hung in the air.

"It seems that Luocheng has fallen into their hands." Zhen Youcai said in a low voice, with a sharp gleam in his eyes.

We sneaked into the city and found that the city defense was lax, but the soldiers guarding the city had expressionless faces and empty eyes, like zombies.

"They are controlled by soul-stealing." My heart sank, and I became more certain of my guess.

In order not to alert the enemy, we decided to explore the Blood Knife Gate at night. Under the cover of darkness, we sneaked into the Blood Knife Gate, only to find that the place was already deserted, leaving only the mess on the ground and the sickening smell of blood.

Just as we were about to leave, we suddenly heard a sinister laugh coming from the secret room. Zhen Youcai and I exchanged glances, cautiously approached, and peered through the crack in the door.

In the secret room, the leader of the Blood Knife Sect was kneeling on the ground, and in front of him stood a mysterious man wearing a black robe and a mask, whose face could not be seen clearly.

"How's the matter going?" The man in black robe had a hoarse voice, and his tone revealed an unquestionable majesty.

"Reporting to the master, everything is going according to plan. We have provoked the Jianxin Sect and the Lingjiu Palace to fight. Young Master Xiaoyao and the Tiexue Escort have also joined our camp. I believe that in the near future, the entire martial arts world will submit to you!" The leader of the Blood Knife Sect spoke in a flattering and servile tone.

The black-robed man nodded in satisfaction and continued, "Very good. Once we control the entire martial arts world, we can march north, overthrow the empress, and establish a new order!"

Hearing this, my heart sank, a chill running through my body. It turned out their target wasn't just the Jianghu, but the entire world! And I, as the Empress, was their biggest obstacle!

"You did a great job. This is a reward for you." The man in black robe said as he threw a black pill to the leader of the Blood Knife Sect.

The leader of the Blood Knife Sect took the pill and swallowed it without hesitation.

"Remember, only by obeying me can you get everything you want, otherwise..." The man in black robe spoke in a cold tone with chilling murderous intent.

"I understand!" The leader of the Blood Knife Sect was so frightened that he trembled all over and kowtowed quickly.

I clenched my fists, anger burning within me. Who was this black-robed man? Why was he so determined to overthrow me?

"Let's go!" I pulled Zhen Youcai up and prepared to leave this troubled place. However, just as we turned around, my foot accidentally kicked a piece of gravel.

"Who?!" The man in black robe suddenly turned his head and shot his eyes at us like lightning... "Oh no, we've been discovered!" My heart instantly rose to my throat. Before I could react, Zhen Youcai grabbed me, jumped onto the roof, and fled into the night.

"Want to run? Not that easy!" The man in black robe snorted coldly, and his figure chased after him like a ghost.

We ran all the way, the shouts and screams behind us getting closer and closer. To protect me, Zhen Youcai turned back and fought with the pursuers. In the flash of swords, several men in black fell to the ground.

"Hurry up! I'll hold them back!" Zhen Youcai shouted and pushed me away.

I gritted my teeth, knowing this wasn't the time to hesitate, so I could only bear the pain and turn around to continue fleeing. However, before I had run far, I heard Zhen Youcai's painful groan behind me.

I was so anxious that I turned around suddenly and saw a dagger stuck in Zhen Youcai's chest, his clothes stained red with blood. He was kneeling on one knee, but still holding his body, waving his sword to drive back the black-clad men who were besieging him.

"Talent!" My eyes were bloodshot and I wanted to rush back, but I was blocked by several men in black who suddenly appeared.

"Don't worry about me, just go!" Zhen Youcai shouted with his last bit of strength, his voice hoarse but firm.

I was surrounded by men in black, but I was helpless and could only watch Zhen Youcai fall in a pool of blood, heartbroken.

"Hahaha, the empress is nothing but this, still at the mercy of others!" The leader of the men in black laughed arrogantly and approached me step by step.

I closed my eyes, waiting for fate to come, but the expected attack did not come. I opened my eyes in confusion and found that the leader of the men in black suddenly stopped and his face turned very ugly.

"What's going on?" I was puzzled and looked in the direction he was looking. I saw black fireworks rising in the distant sky and exploding in the night sky, forming a strange pattern.

"Oh no, it's the signal from the Netherworld Cult! Retreat quickly!" The face of the leader of the men in black changed drastically, and he hurriedly ordered a retreat.

I watched them fleeing in panic, feeling even more uneasy. It seemed the Netherworld Cult was even more powerful than I'd imagined, and even the Blood Blade Sect was merely a pawn in their hands.

Meanwhile, the emergence of the Netherworld Cult unleashes a turbulent tide in the martial arts world. Notable figures such as the Sword Heart Sect Leader, the Blood Blade Sect Master, and the Vulture Palace Master face unprecedented pressure, and signs of internal divisions begin to emerge within the major sects. Some, tempted by the Netherworld Cult's promises, betray their masters and join the forces of darkness, while those who uphold justice face the danger of isolation and persecution.

"It seems a bigger storm is coming..." I muttered to myself, my heart filled with anxiety and uneasiness. Just then, a blood-soaked figure stumbled in front of me and said in a hurried tone, "Oh no! Your Majesty, the Empress, Master Xiaoyao, and Master Tiexue..."

"What happened to Master Xiaoyao and Master Tiexue? Tell me slowly!" I hurriedly supported the person who came, feeling extremely anxious.

"They... they're trapped in the Fallen Maple Valley outside the city by the Netherworld Cult. The situation is extremely critical!" The visitor spoke breathlessly and haltingly. "The Netherworld Cult somehow learned about Young Master Xiaoyao's escort, so they came prepared. They have a large number of people, and each one is highly skilled in martial arts. We... we are no match for them..."

"Falling Maple Valley..." I gasped. The terrain there is complex, easy to defend but difficult to attack. Once trapped, escaping is incredibly difficult. Young Master Xiaoyao and Master Tiexue are both renowned figures in the martial arts world, yet now they find themselves in dire straits. This demonstrates the terrifying power of the Netherworld Cult!

"Pass the order down, summon all the imperial guards, and follow me to Luofeng Valley for the rescue!" I made a prompt decision, with a determined light flashing in my eyes.

"Your Majesty, no!" the guard leader hurriedly advised. "The Netherworld Cult is full of cunning schemes. They're probably trying to lure you out of the city and then ambush you along the way! You're worth a fortune, don't put yourself in danger!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, if anything happens to you, how can we explain it to the people of the world?" Other ministers also knelt down to give advice.

I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down. I knew they were right, but how could I bear to leave Master Xiaoyao and Master Tiexue alone?

"Pass on my order. Seal the city gates and strengthen the city defenses. No one is allowed to enter or leave without my permission!" I ordered decisively. "Also, immediately send a message to Sect Leader Jianxin and Palace Master Lingjiu, requesting they send reinforcements as soon as possible!"

"Yes!" The guard commander took the order and left.

I stood in the center of the hall, looking at the empty surroundings, feeling powerless. I felt like a bird trapped in a cage, helpless to do anything but watch the danger approach.

"Youth Sect, what on earth do you want to do?" I clenched my fists and roared in a low voice.

Time passed by minute by minute, and my heart became heavier and heavier. Just when I was almost in despair, I suddenly heard a burst of hurried footsteps outside the hall, and then a familiar voice rang in my ears:

"Mengmeng, don't be afraid, I'm back..."

I turned around suddenly. Against the light, I couldn't see the person's face, but I could feel that familiar breath. It was like a clear spring in the desert, instantly moistening my dry heart.

"Talented!" I ran over and threw myself into his arms.

His chest was still as warm and strong as ever, as if it could dispel all fear and anxiety. I hugged him tightly, greedily breathing in his scent. At this moment, I truly felt that he was still alive. How great!

"I'm back." He stroked my hair gently, his tone as gentle as if he was coaxing a child, "I'm sorry for making you worry."

I let go of him and looked at him carefully. He had lost a lot of weight, and his once fair face looked a bit more weathered, but his eyes were still firm, with the same confidence and composure as before.

"Your injury..." I noticed the faint bloodstains on his clothes and my heart tightened.

"It's okay now." He smiled nonchalantly, "It's just a minor injury, no problem."

I then remembered what I was doing and hurriedly asked, "Why are you back? How's the battle going at the border? How are Master Xiaoyao and Master Tiexue going?"

He held my hand, a cold look flashing in his eyes. "The border is temporarily stable. The Netherworld Cult is making a feint to the east and attacking in the west. Their target is you and the entire martial arts world."

"What?!" I was shocked. Could it be that...

He pulled me aside and sat me down, then slowly began, "I rushed back to the imperial capital overnight and found the city gates locked. I guessed something had changed. Later, I learned from the secret guards that you had already sent people to Falling Maple Valley. Young Master Xiaoyao and Master Tiexue are both among the best in the martial arts world. If the Netherworld Cult wants to capture them, they'll definitely send out all their forces. I suspect their true purpose is to seize this opportunity to capture the imperial capital!"

I gasped. His analysis made sense. The Netherworld Cult was secretive and ruthless. If they truly took control of the Imperial Capital, the consequences would be disastrous!

"What do we do now?" I asked anxiously. "How should we respond?"

He pondered for a moment, a gleam in his eyes: "Instead of sitting and waiting for death, it is better to take the initiative..."