Rebirth in Against the Gods with The Ultimate System

Upon the vast skies, atop the mountain opposite the Blue Wind Imperial City, a medium-sized ark awaited the impending battle. Xiao Wuyi and Xiao Wuqing, accompanied by their sect master Xiao Juetian, stood on its deck, surrounded by Sky Profound Realm elders. The atmosphere was tense as the higher-ups of the Xiao Sect prepared for the promised confrontation, armed with newfound confidence in their upgraded weapons.

The disciples on the ark diligently scanned the surroundings, searching for the primary target of their vengeance.

Xiao Wuyi's face bore the scars of conflict, a charred left cheek hidden beneath an eye patch, a testament to the fury that burned within after receiving Dracule Mihawk's message.

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In the early hours of the day, the Xiao Sect's higher-ups were confronted with a shocking reality. Every soldier, elder, and suitor they had dispatched to acquire Cang Yue returned unconscious, their ark landing in the Xiao Sect's courtyard. Xiao Heng, the sole survivor, delivered the unsettling news that reverberated through the sect.

The three great sects shared the same humiliating fate, but the Heavenly Sword Villa and the Burning Heaven Clan chose not to pursue the matter further, fearing damage to their reputations. The Xiao Sect, however, found itself entangled in a situation reminiscent of Gao Ling City.

Gritting his teeth, Xiao Juetian muttered, "This...," reliving the nightmares of men incapacitated and only one survivor standing.

"What happened?!" thundered Xiao Wuyi, his frustration palpable.

Xiao Heng bowed his head, his voice stuttering as he recounted the dreadful encounter. "Dracule Mihawk... He... returned."

The shocking revelation echoed through the courtyard, disbelief etched on Xiao Juetian's face. Dracule Mihawk, a name that instilled fear in the hearts of the empire, was once again a player in their affairs.

"The princess is his disciple. We offended him, and he asked me to deliver this to you." Xiao Heng presented the Profound Imagery Stone, a tangible link to Mihawk himself. As the higher-ups took the stone and listened to its contents, Mihawk's commanding voice echoed, delivering a message that left them with a chilling realization.

"So... it seems that someone targeted my disciple. Tell you what, let's meet at the snowy mountain opposite the Blue Wind Imperial City at noon and settle this. I am talking about you, Xiao Wuqing. You and your brother. Do be in time as I don't like waiting."

His authoritative tone grated on the elders, who bristled at being ordered around.

"Should I be defeated, I can tell you the secrets of my will technique and even give out the treasures of the Moon Empress's Tomb."

The mention of secrets and treasures seized the attention of the ancestor and his brother, their greed momentarily overshadowing their animosity. This was the moment they had long awaited, a chance to reclaim what they believed rightfully belonged to the Xiao Sect—the treasures of the Moon Empress.

"That caught your attention…" Mihawk's voice held a hint of satisfaction, as if he had anticipated their reaction.

"Your mission, should you accept it, is to defeat me, and the treasures and secrets will be yours. You can even use that secret weapon of yours. Yes, I know about those orbs."

Xiao Wuyi widened his eyes, realizing Mihawk was referring to the coveted Heaven Decimating Orbs. These orbs, creations of the Xiao Sect's Armament Sect, surpassed even the renowned Heaven Decimating Bomb in terms of singular destructive power. Though well-known, the specifics of their creation were a closely guarded secret within the Xiao Sect. Astonishingly, Mihawk seemed privy to this information, highlighting a level of knowledge that sent a chill down their spines.

"Maybe I'll leave a bomb of my own for you. Do tell me what you think."

As Mihawk's voice trailed off, an ominous message played, "This message will self-destruct in five seconds." The challenge of impending danger was lost on the Xiao Sect, the English message causing confusion. The beeping persisted until...

BOOM!

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"That bastard! I swear if I find him, I'll kill him over and over again." Xiao Wuyi's shout resonated, his left face charred and left vision lost due to the exploding stone. He had suffered greatly from Dracule Mihawk's clever trap, and the pain fueled his anger.

"In time, brother, this time. We will kill him together." Xiao Wuqing gritted his teeth, also bearing the injuries caused by the explosion, affecting his hearing. Dracule Mihawk had orchestrated a devastating blow.

"Hawk Eyes… If I find you…" Xiao Wuyi's teeth-gritting intensified, crushing the remains of his sitting in his hand.

"You don't have to look far."

All eyes turned toward the source of the voice, revealing the man himself—the self-proclaimed Strongest Swordsman of the Empire, casually sitting on top of the control helm of the ark. His left leg rested on top of his right, and his intimidating golden black sword loomed behind him, casting a menacing shine. The swordsman's yellow eyes glared down at them, exuding an air of dominance.

"Guess you took the bait."

"Hawk Eyes!" Xiao Wuyi's stood up and his shout echoed, expressing his desire to tear the swordsman apart. Xiao Wuqing's glare matched his brother's intensity. This swordsman had not only taken the treasure of the Moon Empress, rightfully belonging to the Xiao Sect, but had also caused them to lose two elders of the Sky Profound Realm. The humiliation extended to three great sects involved.

Xiao Juetian swallowed a mouthful of saliva, the memory of their humiliating defeat in Gao Ling City vivid in his mind. This man before him was the cause—the one who had stripped their sect of its dignity, leaving them humiliated alongside the Burning Heaven Clan and the Heavenly Sword Villa. They lost the treasure, and two elders, and he, himself, was forced into unconsciousness against his will.

Now, facing the same swordsman here, he hesitated. The confidence he held in the ancestor and his brother wavered. This swordsman had proven he could defeat several Emperor Realm cultivators effortlessly, and with a single slash, he had decimated their entire pursuit.

The higher cultivation men around them swiftly assumed battle stations, knowing they were confronting the strongest swordsman in the empire. Ignoring their tense readiness, Yun Che smirked as he surveyed the flying arks. "Flying arks are convenient."

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[Ding… The system has assimilated the complete structure of the ark. The host can utilize the apple to implement numerous enhancements.]

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"Nah… I'll craft my own design using the Blueprint and Creation Mode. Just replicate the Profound Engine system and jot down some notes for potential improvements. I aim to construct an even more formidable ark than this one."

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[Ding… discarding design.]

[Profound Engine System successfully copied.]

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"Sorry, you were saying?" Yun Che smirked, embodying the essence of Mihawk's persona, provoking the men before him.

"You dare insult us with this insolent behavior?" This time, it was Xiao Juetian who shouted back at him. Despite his fervent desire to kill Yun Che for humiliating the sect, he knew his own presence wouldn't matter much to this formidable foe. He could only hope the elders possessed the power to defeat him. The sect master himself had suffered no injuries from the bomb, having been sent flying before any shrapnel could reach him. As for the delivery man, he had sustained a few shrapnel injuries that required surgery.

"*Chuckle… It draws you out, doesn't it?" Yun Che provoked them again.

"This is it, Hawk Eyes! You're going to die, and I'll dig the secrets and the treasure out of your cold, dead body!" Xiao Wuyi shouted, but his brother raised his arm in front of him.

"Hmph… Hawk Eyes… Your reputation precedes you." Xiao Wuqing smiled as if he was blocking his brother from rampaging on the swordsman.

"Thank you. You're much softer than your brother," Yun Che spoke, maintaining his calm composure but the same couldn't be said for Xiao Wuyi.

"How do you know of me? My existence has always been a secret except to my brother," Xiao Wuqing tried to sound calm despite losing his left hearing to the bomb trap.

"Well, I do know of you, Xiao Wuqing, Ancestor of the Xiao Sect. Never mind how I know; all I want is to defeat you and your brother and be done with it," Yun Che spoke, concealing the fact that the system's database contained all the information he needed.

"I agree with my brother. By the end of the day, you are going to die," Xiao Wuqing smirked as the men around him drew their swords and weapons.

Unfazed, Yun Che spoke with a calm tone. "You're serious?"

"You can see how serious we are in killing you!" Xiao Wuyi drew his own profound energy as he unsheathed his weapon.

"I guess you clearly underestimated me," Yun Che sighed as the men before him trembled at the sight of the strongest swordsman.

"You might be stronger than most Sky Profound Realm elders, but that doesn't mean anything to the realms beyond them," Xiao Wuqing threatened.

"*Sigh… Very well. Then do your worst," Yun Che smiled, fully embracing his Mihawk persona.

"Get him!!" Xiao Wuyi bellowed, and the men on the ark surged towards Yun Che, attempting to overwhelm him. Yun Che deftly dodged attack after attack, showcasing his mastery of hand-to-hand combat. He effortlessly evaded their strikes and martial skills, causing some of them to question their chances of victory.

One by one, Yun Che dispatched his opponents using a combination of hand-to-hand combat and disarming techniques. The men, growing increasingly doubtful of their ability to defeat him, started to back away. To add a twist to the situation, Yun Che disarmed one of his adversaries with a long hammer, wielding it skillfully to send some flying before hurling it precisely at an approaching elder, launching him through the air.

Yun Che smirked, relishing the challenge as he continued to fend off the onslaught. Suddenly, he heard Retsu's voice from his inner world.

"Yuu-kun… Are you there?"

"Retsu? … Yeah, I am here," Yun Che replied, slashing another opponent with Yoru.

"We're ready to bring Nemu-chan with us. Are you in the middle of something?" Retsu's voice echoed from his inner world.

"Yeah, just killing some time," Yun Che said while effortlessly dispatching his opponents with Yoru, sending several early Sky Profound Realm elders soaring through the air. He wasn't interested in killing them, wanting to ensure the Xiao Sect would still have some fighters left for the tournament and to prevent the event from becoming dull. He focused on targeting the more formidable opponents.

Inside the inner world, Retsu and her sister Nemu, alongside the others, watched Yun Che's exploits through his third-person perspective. The system played along, adjusting the camera angles to create a cinematic experience rather than a simple observation.

Despite the odds, the people on the ark remained relentless, their determination unyielding even in the face of certain defeat.

"Small fries," Yun Che remarked with a smirk, unleashing his Haoshoku No Haki once again. The shockwave knocked out the Earth and Sky Profound Realm disciples and elders, leaving only Xiao Wuyi, Xiao Wuqing, and Xiao Juetian conscious. Yun Che could have incapacitated Xiao Juetian as well, but someone needed to pilot the ark back.

Sensing him using the technique again, Xiao Wuyi leapt towards Yun Che, brandishing his Xiao Sect arts. "You!!!"

Yun Che effortlessly sidestepped Xiao Wuyi's attacks, reminiscent of his agile maneuvers during the Moon Empress's selection tournament. The relentless assault continued, with Xiao Wuyi launching strikes without remorse, and Yun Che adeptly dodging each one.

"Looks like I keep you on the run, huh?" Xiao Wuyi taunted as he continued his relentless assault.

"Hardly…" Yun Che smirked.

Reaching into his robes, Xiao Wuyi produced a black orb, swiftly pulling the pin and hurling it at Yun Che. Anticipating the move, Yun Che slapped the orb back at him with Yoru. The orb exploded in a cloud of smoke, concealing Xiao Wuyi's movements. Emerging from the smoke, Xiao Wuyi bore the aftermath of the blast, visibly bleeding.

"Rarrrgghh!!" Xiao Wuyi roared in frustration, his attack having backfired.

"Quite cheap using hand grenades like that," Yun Che remarked calmly. He noted that Xiao Wuyi's use of armaments, like the hand grenade, showcased a level of combat ingenuity. Unbeknownst to Xiao Wuyi, grenade battles were a common occurrence in Yun Che's former world, but that was a detail he didn't feel obliged to share.

"You are not half the man you used to be. Let's take it down below," Yun Che taunted, storing Yoru behind him before leaping to the edge of the ark. Xiao Wuyi, taking the bait, followed the Hawk Eyes down towards the mountain peak.

Meanwhile, Xiao Wuqing, witnessing the exchange, gritted his teeth. Turning to Xiao Juetian, the sect master of the Xiao Sect, he urgently advised, "Juetian, you have to bring them back. These people are the cores of our sect. If they die, so will our sect."

Xiao Juetian, torn between duty and fear, asked, "Grand Sect Master, you and Grand Elder Wuyi can defeat him, right?"

"We will try… we have the Heaven Decimating Orbs from the Armament Sect and even some Heavenly Decimating Bombs. We can defeat him. Just go! You can't do anything here!" Xiao Wuqing shouted, leaping off the ark to join the fray.

Gritting his teeth, Xiao Juetian reluctantly turned the ark around, hoping against hope that the Grand Sect Elder and his brother could somehow prevail against the formidable swordsman. The fate of the sect hung in the balance, and Xiao Juetian feared they might be losing either way. As he steered the ark away, he hoped for the best but couldn't shake the sinking feeling that their main backing might be slipping away.

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Yun Che smoothly landed on the mountain peak, sliding down the snow before coming to a stable position. The expansive area was perfect for a duel, fitting for the self-proclaimed Strongest Swordsman of the Blue Wind Empire, Dracule Mihawk.

Xiao Wuyi and Xiao Wuqing touched down on the peak, standing side by side as they faced the enigmatic swordsman.

"How does it feel, Hawk-Eyes!! Fighting two Emperor Profound Realm cultivators at the same time?" Xiao Wuyi taunted, confident that their combined strength could overcome the swordsman.

"Doesn't sound like much of a challenge," Yun Che retorted.

"You!!!" With that, the brothers initiated a tag team assault, launching a coordinated attack against Dracule Mihawk. The swordsman deftly parried their strikes with his black sword, skillfully evading martial skills and grenades alike.

Growing frustrated, Yun Che raised Yoru and effortlessly sliced through the incoming hand grenades. He then teleported, swiftly disarming both opponents and holding their swords together. With a bored expression, he remarked, "If you two had theme music, it would've stopped by now."

A simple press of his hand shattered their swords, and a powerful kick sent them both flying. Undeterred, Xiao Wuyi refused to give up. Jumping toward Yun Che, he unleashed a barrage of black orbs or grenades, but the swordsman deftly deflected each one with his blade.

"You two are like frogs. Croaking in the well…" Yun Che quipped, effortlessly blocking an attack from Xiao Wuqing before delivering a powerful palm strike sending him crashing on a nearby rock formation.

"Croak…" He slapped away another grenade.

"Croak…" And another.

"Croak…" And yet another.

"Shut up!!!" Xiao Wuyi shouted in frustration, hurling another grenade at him. However, Yun Che effortlessly sliced it into two pieces, rendering it harmless. Xiao Wuyi gritted his teeth, visibly agitated, before retrieving a familiar glowing purple orb. This was his secret weapon—the Heaven Decimating Orb. Rather than showing fear, Yun Che smirked in anticipation.

"Take this for this father and die!!!" Xiao Wuyi roared, hurling his Heaven Decimating Orb towards Yun Che. In an instant, the orb activated in a green flash and exploded, unleashing a cloud of poisonous gas that enveloped the swordsman.

"Hahahahaha!" Xiao Wuyi's laughter echoed through the air, joined by a smirking Xiao Wuqing. They believed the swordsman, formidable as he was, would finally succumb. The Heaven Decimating Orb possessed the power to severely wound or even kill a throne, making it a potent weapon against opponents in the Emperor Profound Realm.

However, their triumphant laughter came to an abrupt halt when they witnessed Yun Che casually walking out of the poison cloud. He nonchalantly pinched his nose and waved away the lingering smoke.

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[Ding… Great Way of the Buddha Experience +0]

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"Hmmm… not what I expected," Yun Che mused internally. Despite the formidable reputation of the orbs, they had proven ineffective against his newfound invulnerability.

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[Ding… you have a Lower Rank Saint Body. You are basically invulnerable in the mortal realm. What do expect? Your Sky Poison Pearl even negated the damages by the poison gas.]

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"Oh, totally forgot about that," Yun Che admitted with a sweat drop, realizing he had achieved the Lower Rank Saint Body or Great Way of the Buddha Fourth Stage. However, there was no need to reveal this information.

"How!?" Xiao Wuyi shouted, bewildered. Yun Che simply responded, "You two are brave. I'll give you that."

In a desperate attempt, Xiao Wuyi and Xiao Wuqing launched a coordinated assault on Yun Che, determined to break through his seemingly invincible defenses. However, to their dismay, their efforts proved futile. Yun Che effortlessly deflected their attacks and skillfully dodged every move they made, making their strikes with the deadly black orbs appear like mere child's play.

Their Heavenly Eagle Art, renowned for its unparalleled speed, was utterly useless against the swift swordsman. In a single fluid motion, Yun Che's sword sliced through the air, effortlessly intercepting and redirecting their movements with precise waves of his blade.

Unfazed, Xiao Wuqing closed in, swiftly deploying a mysterious blue orb. Anticipating another explosive device, Yun Che confidently struck it with his sword. To his surprise, instead of an explosion, the orb burst into a peculiar blue goo that ensnared him on the spot.

Momentarily caught off guard, Yun Che found himself immobilized just as the Xiao brothers seized the opportunity to strike a decisive blow. Xiao Wuyi hurled two Heavenly Decimating Orbs, and his older brother simultaneously unleashed two Heavenly Decimating Bombs at Yun Che's feet.

"Please die, Hawk Eyes!" they shouted in unison, triggering a colossal explosion on the mountain. The deadly mixture of poisonous gas and destructive force swept across the terrain, shrouding the mountain top in an ominous green smoke visible from a distance.

"Did we get him?" Xiao Wuyi questioned with anticipation as they believed their deadly combination of treasures would finally bring down the high-ranked swordsman. However, just as they were on the verge of celebration and preparing to hurl insults, the once-green smoke surrounding them transformed into a purifying blue. As the air cleared, the sight that met them was both astonishing and infuriating – Dracule Mihawk stood unharmed, patting his shoulders as if brushing off mere dust.

Xiao Wuqing and his brother couldn't comprehend the scene unfolding before their eyes. The explosions and poisonous gas they had unleashed were potent enough to repeatedly kill Emperor Profound Realm cultivators, yet this swordsman not only survived but appeared completely unfazed.

Who was this man, and what mysterious power shielded him from their deadliest attacks?

Yun Che, in the guise of Mihawk, couldn't help but find the situation rather dull. Internally, he mused on the irony of tanking so much damage without feeling a thing, drawing a comparison to the seemingly invincible characters in video games or god mod cheats for cheaters.

"You cheat! Where's your honor?!" Xiao Wuyi spat out a desperate insult, accusing Yun Che of lacking honor. However, Yun Che merely glanced sideways, acknowledging the accusation with a smirk. True, he was using the system to his advantage, essentially cheating reality. The real Yun Che would have struggled against Xiao Wuyi in the original story, but the current version of himself had earned his near-invulnerable state through enduring hits from a Divine Origin Realm dragon. It may be despicable, lacking honor, but in this chaotic confrontation, survival took precedence over principles.

Sort of.

"Heavenly Eagle Domain!!" Upon the mountain peak, Xiao Wuyi, initiated his Emperor Profound technique. The very space around them transformed, countless eagles materializing and soaring in a breathtaking display. The domain, a manifestation of his command over these majestic birds, altered the landscape with their ethereal presence.

With a swift command, Xiao Wuyi orchestrated the eagles to dive towards Mihawk, the great swordsman, with unparalleled precision. The eagles, transformed into kamikaze bombers, descended upon Mihawk, exploding upon impact with devastating force. Yet, Yun Che, in his persona as Mihawk, leaped from eagle to eagle with unparalleled agility, turning the onslaught into a daring dance across the sky.

Simultaneously, Xiao Wuqing, seizing the opportunity, targeted Mihawk with his Extreme Wind Slash—a windstorm with silhouettes of several swords slicing through the air. The swordsman, however, displayed unparalleled skill, skillfully dodging each attack with an elegant dance.

As Mihawk gracefully landed at the heart of the domain, he unleashed a powerful emerald sword wave using his black sword, slicing through the eagles in a single, masterful stroke. The domain crumbled as if struck by a force of nature, leaving Xiao Wuqing and Xiao Wuyi bewildered. The great swordsman's prowess had not only decimated the eagles but shattered the Heavenly Eagle Domain entirely, leaving an expression of astonishment on the faces of Xiao Wuqing and Xiao Wuyi. The battlefield, once dominated by eagles and windstorms, now lay in stunned silence, a testament to the unexpected turn of events orchestrated by the enigmatic Mihawk.

Yun Che, in his Mihawk persona, descended gracefully onto the snowy mountain peak before the Xiao brothers. The air crackled with the aftermath of their clash.

"Seems like each sect boasts its own domain techniques," Yun Che mused inwardly. The vivid memories of the world of sword domain wielded by the Heaven Mighty Sword Region, the chilling beauty of Little Fairy's Ice domain, and now the spectacle of Xiao Wuyi's Heavenly Eagle Domain replayed in his mind. He pondered what other awe-inspiring techniques the cultivators of the Emperor Profound Realm had up their sleeves, a world of wonders waiting to be unraveled.

The Xiao brothers found themselves speechless, reduced to hurling futile insults in their desperate situation. Xiao Wuyi caught a glimpse of a shadow lurking behind a nearby rock. As he extended his senses, his eyes widened—it was indeed Princess Cang Yue, still dressed in her regal attire, observing from a safe distance.

An evil smile carved across Xiao Wuyi's face as he shouted, "If I couldn't take you down, you can see her in hell once I am done!"

Pulling out his fourth Heaven Decimating Orb, Yun Che prepared to counter it. However, instead of hurling it at him, Xiao Wuyi threw the bomb towards the hiding princess. The explosion unleashed a cloud of poisonous gas, and Xiao Wuyi smirked, satisfied by the silent demise of the princess.

Reacting swiftly, Yun Che leaped towards the brothers, attempting to slash them, but they managed to block his black sword showing a relaxed expression despite Cang Yue died.

"It's a shame that a beauty and a potential disciple like that had to die. If she had come to the Xiao Sect, she would still be alive. Shame..." Xiao Wuyi taunted.

"Well done, little brother," Xiao Wuqing chimed in, smirking. "Looks like losing your disciple hurts, right?" he added, taunting Yun Che.

"I was hoping you would do that," Yun Che smiled, revealing that they had fallen into his trap.

"What?" Both brothers were bewildered, only for Yun Che to press his right palm on the top side of Yoru. He smirked and uttered the words that sent chills down their spines.

"Getsuga Tenshou..."

In a split second, emerald energy engulfed their surroundings, forming a giant sword wave that shot towards the heavens at a rapid pace. The sky turned momentarily green as the massive sword wave surged upwards, engulfing everything in its path, yet leaving nothing obliterated in its wake.

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The emerald energy slash soared into the heavens, catching the attention of a graceful figure.

"This... It's him. This is his energy! I am close..." Chu Yueli declared, her determination evident as she pressed on toward the source of the energy.

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"Arrrghh…." The aftermath of the Getsuga Tenshou was overwhelming. Xiao Wuyi, unable to evade the slash, was caught by its edge. His current state revealed the cost — a lost left arm and left leg. As for his ancestor brother, a cost of his right arm. He had initially smirked, thinking he had successfully blocked Mihawk's sword, only to face the unleashed Getsuga Tenshou. Mihawk, tapping his fingers on the upper part of Yoru, split the heavens once again, reminiscent of the Tomb Selection in Gao Ling City.

The imperial city became the witness to the heavens being split for the second time, revealing the swordsman's incredible power near the Blue Wind Imperial City. Cang Wanhe, observing from his palace, widened his eyes in awe. The heavens splitting, a phenomenon recounted in stories, now unfolded before him. Initially worried for the swordsman facing two Emperor Profound Realm cultivators, he no longer harbored concerns.

Xue Ling's reaction was equally palpable. The power displayed by the Strongest Swordsman of the Blue Wind Empire solidified his position as her mistress's master. Intriguingly, she found herself contemplating what kind of woman such a man might choose to be the mother of his daughter.

Xiao Wuyi's remaining body fell onto the snowy mountain, still conscious. Mihawk, Yun Che in his persona, descended and stood before him.

"*Chuckle… Looks like your disciple is now dead. Even if you killed me, it won't bring her back." Despite his dire condition, Xiao Wuyi smirked and laughed, as if claiming victory.

Yun Che's Mihawk Persona maintained a calm composure as he chuckled. "Who said she's dead?" Something then transpired, causing both brothers to widen their eyes in disbelief. Cang Yue's supposedly charred body slowly disappeared, as if it had never been there. Suddenly, she reappeared, and then another, and another until the entire mountain peak is surrounded by copies of Cang Yue.

"You… How?!?" Xiao Wuyi shouted in disbelief.

Yun Che's persona squatted before Xiao Wuyi, speaking with a calm tone as multiple illusory Cang Yues surrounded them. "Illusions, a fantastic way to make someone drop their guard, isn't it? She's safely in the Imperial Palace, and two frogs think she's here?" The swordsman demonstrated the illusion by attempting to touch Cang Yue, but it simply phased through her. Then, with a snap of his fingers, the illusion vanished, as if nothing had been there in the first place.

Xiao Wuyi and Xiao Wuqing couldn't believe what they were witnessing. They had been completely deceived by the swordsman the entire time.

"You….you….." Xiao Wuyi coughed up blood, realizing he had been tricked into thinking his disciple was here, hoping to break the man, only to be broken himself. Yun Che's Mihawk persona slowly took Xiao Wuyi's spatial ring and examined it. The injured Xiao Wuyi couldn't believe it – he was heavily wounded, and the swordsman had just robbed him?

As Yun Che examined the spatial ring, he retrieved the Heavenly Decimating Orb from Xiao Wuyi's ring. By his count, the assailants had used one to attempt to kill him initially, followed by two more futile attempts. Another was utilized to eliminate the illusion of Cang Yue, and now, he had one last orb remaining. In total, they had brought out five orbs with the sole purpose of ending his life.

"One last orb? I was hoping you had another, but I suppose one will do," Yun Che spoke as he activated the Heaven Decimating Orb. Xiao Wuyi widened his eyes in fear as the swordsman dropped the orb beside him before walking away.

"Might want to look into it," were the swordsman's parting words before he walked away.

"No… no!!!" Xiao Wuyi shouted before the orb exploded, killing him instantly. Xiao Wuqing couldn't believe that his brother had been killed by the swordsman using his own orbs, and there was nothing he could do. He glared at Mihawk but also knew there was nothing he could do; they had targeted the swordsman's disciple and even planned to dissect her for her technique. Now, they could only blame themselves, as Mihawk had targeted the heads of the dragon itself.

"Ooohhhh Jackpot!!" Yun Che exclaimed internally, as Xiao Wuyi's spatial ring contained numerous monster cores. Although it lacked more of those Heavenly Decimation Orbs, which he needed for the system to reverse engineer, the monster cores might be the boost Nemu needed to reach the cultivation level before entering the fighting phase. His yellow eyes turned toward Xiao Wuqing, who suffered an arm loss from being hit by his Getsuga Tenshou earlier.

"Please… spare me... have mercy," Xiao Wuqing begged. Yun Che was about to do the same to him, but he sensed a familiar energy approaching.

"It's her... Not quite ready to see her." He recognized the energy and knew its owner. Due to Jasmine's earlier warning back at the vault, he hesitated to confront this woman immediately. Moreover, her sister was following close behind, someone extremely familiar to the current persona he assumed. Seeing the younger sister's relationship with him might trigger something from the elder sister.

"Such a disappointing final gambit," Yun Che relented, deciding not to pursue the confrontation with the old man at this moment. He could settle the score another time. Xiao Wuqing's eyes widened as he quickly stood up, ready to take flight. However, before he could do so...

"Might want to leave that thing behind," Yun Che's Mihawk persona's voice warned. A dreadful aura surrounded the Xiao Sect ancestor as the swordsman referred to his spatial ring.

"You…," Xiao Wuqing gritted his teeth. His spatial ring held grand treasures, including some of the Heaven Decimation Bombs.

"I am a pirate after all," Yun Che Mihawk's persona declared, crossing his arms. In the end, Xiao Wuqing reluctantly pulled out his spatial ring and tossed it toward Yun Che before hastily retreating, his life preserved for future revenge.

As Xiao Wuqing retreated with his tail between his legs, Yun Che leisurely walked to one of the mountain peaks. He cleared away the snow, revealing the hidden Apple of Eden. A smirk played on his lips as he contemplated the successful ruse he'd played on Xiao Wuyi. The illusion of Cang Yue, created by the Apple, had fooled Xiao Wuyi into thinking he could kill her by throwing a Heaven Decimating Orb. It even shows the orb exploded on her giving the illusion of her being killed by it. Simultaneously, the system disarmed the orb. Picking up the disarmed Heaven Decimating Orb, Yun Che mused internally.

"I could make some improvements to this," he smiled, realizing the gains not only from Xiao Wuyi but also from Xiao Wuqing. The Heaven Decimation Bomb from the spatial ring provided an opportunity for Yun Che to reverse engineer its plans and merge its design into futuristic 22nd-century weapons. The possibilities excited him, and he contemplated visiting the Armament Sect to explore the arsenal of weapons they had crafted.

His motives for challenging the Xiao brothers were clear — to obtain the Armament Sect's advanced weaponry for himself.

"I suggest you bolt right now unless you want to meet them," Jasmine's sudden voice advised him, sensing the approaching Chu sisters. Not yet prepared to face them, he swiftly stored the weapons, enabled the Apple's invisibility function, and teleported away from the scene.

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Moments later, Chu Yueli's silhouette graced the mountain's pinnacle, her eyes frantically scanning the surroundings as she gasped for breath.

"Huff….huff… where… That person was here... where are you? Why aren't you here?" She murmured to herself, extending her senses in all directions, desperately trying to locate him.

Her voice echoed through the desolate mountain, but there was no response, no sign of the elusive swordsman. The realization hit her, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"No way… I spent a long time looking for you… but… Why aren't you here? What kind of fate is this…?" Chu Yueli sobbed, her emotions overtaking her.

Just as the weight of disappointment threatened to consume her, her heightened senses caught a distant disturbance. Someone or something was swiftly moving in a particular direction. Without a moment's hesitation, she wiped away her tears, her determination returning, and she bolted towards that elusive presence.

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"That Dracule Mihawk… If I can't target him, I can target those he cares about." Xiao Wuqing, having been spared and robbed penniless by the swordsman, flew as fast as he could. The secrets of the Heavenly Decimation Orbs were now in the possession of the swordsman, and the humiliation burned within him. An evil smile crept onto Xiao Wuqing's face as he plotted revenge. If he couldn't directly target Mihawk or Princess Cang Yue, he'd go after someone the princess cared about—the emperor.

"I swear I'll bring down the whole palace if I have to. Even if I die, he could still suffer!" Xiao Wuqing vowed in his heart. His determination to make Mihawk pay grew with each passing moment. As he continued his flight, ready to use everything the sect had to target them, he was suddenly confronted by a figure, causing him to halt his escape.

A momentary blush crossed Xiao Wuqing's face as he gazed upon the fairy who stood before him. He had never seen such a breathtaking beauty. The bluish-white robes she wore marked her as a disciple of the Frozen Cloud Asgard. Her silver-grey hair flowed in the wind, her silver eyes staring into his soul. Her porcelain face, cute nose, and soft red lips embodied the ultimate beauty of the Frozen Cloud Asgard disciples.

For a moment, Xiao Wuqing was speechless. This encounter marked the first time he had seen an Asgardian fairy without her veil. Suddenly, realization struck him, and he connected the features of this fairy to someone he hadn't seen in years. She was younger, which meant one thing.

Frowning, Xiao Wuqing finally recognized her. "You… Fairy Chu Yueli of the Frozen Cloud Asgard."

Chu Yueli, the second strongest beneath her sister Chu Yuechan, was one of the seven guardian fairies of the Frozen Cloud Asgard. The question lingered in Xiao Wuqing's mind: why was she standing in front of him?

Without warning, Chu Yueli grabbed his neck and put him in a chokehold. "Arrghh…"

Chu Yueli's astounding speed left Xiao Wuqing in shock; he couldn't even react before she put him in a chokehold. As he struggled to break free, Chu Yueli demanded answers with urgency and anger evident in her low voice.

"Where is he?"

"Who….?" Xiao Wuqing attempted to use his strength to break her hold, but it proved futile. It dawned on him that if she could restrain him without being affected by his aura, then her strength had surpassed his by a significant margin. His attempt to sense her cultivation confirmed his fears – Chu Yueli was at the Peak Emperor Profound Realm, a half-step into the legendary Tyrant Profound Realm. Her strength alone surpassed the Guardian Sect Elder like himself, a powerful ancestor of the Xiao Sect, currently at the Fourth Level Emperor Profound Realm. Dracule Mihawk's strength had already surpassed him, and now this young fairy? It felt as if the heavens were conspiring against him.

"Don't play with me!! Him…!! the man with the Hawk Eyes!!" Chu Yueli forced him to answer.

"He spared… me… He just killed my brother…" Xiao Wuqing gasped between breaths.

"It seems that you offended him. Now, talk… where is he?" She asked again, loosening her grip on his neck.

"I don't know…" Chu Yueli tightened her grip, dissatisfied with the response. Xiao Wuqing quickly added, "He took the rest of our Heavenly Decimation orbs and just disappeared. That's all I know…"

Upon hearing this, Chu Yueli's eyes lost their spark, replaced by a haunting lifelessness. The man before her had not only provoked Mihawk but had caused him to vanish mysteriously. In her heart, a sense of duty emerged—it was now her responsibility to confront and put an end to this filth.

Just as any devoted spouse would.

"I see… Then, I should kill you instead for offending him." Chu Yueli increased her grip, and her Frozen Cloud Arts began to encroach, attempting to freeze him. Fear consumed Xiao Wuqing, yet he couldn't help but wonder why this woman was fervently seeking the swordsman, willing to kill the ancestor of the Xiao Sect merely for offending him. It was as if she were obsessed with him.

"You…" Chu Yueli intensified her grip, ready to freeze the old man to death. However, another beauty suddenly appeared before them, carrying an aura similar to Chu Yueli.

"Li'er, calm yourself down…" The silvery-grey beauty with mature grace spoke as if commanding her sister to regain composure. Her voice had a soothing effect, and Chu Yueli withdrew her power, calming herself.

Upon seeing her beloved sister standing there, Chu Yueli took a deep breath and, with determination, released the ancestor of the Xiao Sect. The sound of her sister's voice seemed to inject life back into her eyes. "Onee-san... Yes..."

The simple command instantly calmed the raging Chu Yueli. Xiao Wuqing coughed violently before turning towards his savior. "Thank…" Before he could finish, his eyes widened again as he properly saw the savior's face. "You! Frozen Cloud Asgard, Chu Yuechan!"

Xiao Wuqing's reaction was palpable as Chu Yuechan's beauty was unlike anything he had seen before. She carried the aura of a mature beauty, surpassing that of a flower or a fairy. Her twin braids beside her porcelain face slowly flowed through the wind alongside her main braid behind her. Momentarily stunned, Xiao Wuqing felt like he was awaiting execution with two heavenly beauties standing before him, a sight that would be heavenly for men around the world, but for him right now, it felt more like a dire judgment.

Little Fairy's beautiful silvery-grey eyes widened as she saw the man her sister was trying to kill. Hidden rage resurfaced within her as old memories flashed back—memories of when she once fought this old man just to escape from him.

"Xiao Wuqing… we meet again. How I waited for this moment…" Little Fairy's eyes darkened as her Frozen Cloud Arts flared in the air.

"Onee-san… do you know this one…" Chu Yueli was in confusion, seeing her sister suddenly raging.

Little Fairy released a breath of anger as she recalled memories from her younger days. "Yeah… this Xiao Sect ancestor and I once fought against each other. He tried to force me to become one of his women, and I formally declined. I was just a young woman back then. I cursed myself for being too weak. He even managed to poison me when I escaped from him. It took months for me to dispel that poison. Back then, I was just an Earth Profound Realm against a Sky Profound Realm. I was entirely outmatched."

"This… Is this the reason you refused to come out of your room back then?" Chu Yueli spoke, slowly raging from what this old man did to her sister.

Little Fairy forced a smile as she remembered the vile memories from back then. "Yes, I am sorry for that time. I just didn't want to delay your cultivation because of me."

"You, the one who made my sister suffer back then. You expect no mercy from me!" Chu Yueli's face was full of rage as she summoned her Tachikaze katana from her spatial ring and was about to deliver her killing blow, only for Little Fairy to raise her hand to stop her.

"Li'er… Let me deal with this…." Little Fairy slowly hovered towards the ancestor, and the latter slowly backed away. At the same time, he was prying into Chu Yuechan's cultivation and widened his eyes in fear. He spent his whole life trying to get to his current level, and this woman, who was younger than him by a large margin, was somehow entirely stronger than him.

Too strong.

"P…Peak Emperor Profound Realm?! How?! When?!!" Xiao Wuqing shouted, as the Chu sisters, who were once mere ants back then, were now Half-Step Tyrant Profound Realms. If this were known, the Frozen Cloud Asgard could be considered the strongest within the Blue Wind Empire.

"It's none of your business." Little Fairy coldly replied as her icy aura flared to its zenith, the man who had caused her suffering back then now fearing her.

Xiao Wuqing cursed his luck. If he had some of his Heavenly Decimation Orbs, he could use them to escape and cause some serious damage to these fairies. As if it were planned all along for the swordsman to strip him of his weapons, now he met someone who wished for his death.

The ancestor desperately tried to escape, only for Chu Yueli to teleport and block his path. It wasn't long before he employed his Heavenly Eagle Art to boost his speed and run away. To his surprise, the Chu sisters easily caught up to him.

"This is impossible…Impossible!!!!" Xiao Wuqing cursed, realizing that the Heavenly Eagle Art, renowned for its unmatched speed in the Emperor Profound Realm, was futile against the combined prowess of the Chu sisters. Unbeknownst to him, the older sister infused her flight with Haki, while the younger sister used her rage as fuel to boost her speed, rendering both almost equivalent to high-level speed arts and making the Heavenly Eagle Art pale in comparison.

Chu Yueli smiled as the two sisters worked together for the first time in a while against an opponent. She swiftly boosted her speed toward the front, swinging her katana towards the ancestor. He anticipated the attack and dodged above her strike, only for Little Fairy to teleport above and deliver a palm strike. Her training in Kenbunshoku No Haki for the past month had borne fruit, allowing her to glimpse seconds into the future, giving her the ability to move before an opponent's move was even made.

Xiao Wuqing coughed up a mouthful of blood, feeling the unfairness of the situation. From one perspective, two peak Emperor Profound Realm fairies bullying a Fourth Level Emperor Profound Realm seemed like overkill, but considering the ancestor's history of bullying, it seemed justified.

In a desperate move, Xiao Wuqing unleashed the Extreme Wind Slash, conjuring a tempest of silhouetted swords slicing through the air toward the formidable Chu sisters. Swiftly, Chu Yuechan and Chu Yueli gracefully maneuvered through the onslaught, their Frozen Cloud Arts deflecting the windstorm with an icy elegance.

In a panic, Xiao Wuqing mustered the Heavenly Eagle Limitless Strike, launching an aerial assault with the silhouette of a majestic eagle. Little Fairy anticipated his every swoop and glide, evading his strikes with her Haki, while Chu Yueli executed a calculated strike based on her sister's instruction. In the end, the Xiao ancestor was sent flying by the latter's palm strike to his chest.

"Domain!" Amid the intense battle, Xiao Wuqing recognized the need for a decisive move. Gathering his profound energy, he conjured a powerful domain, bending the very space around them to his will. The world warped and transformed, becoming an eagle's nest under his command, granting him control over a legion of ethereal eagles.

"Let's see how you fare with countless eagles attacking you!" With a commanding gesture, he directed the eagles to launch a relentless assault on the Chu sisters. The fierce and precise birds swooped down with lethal intent. However, Little Fairy, foreseeing his strategy, swiftly countered with her own domain, a manifestation of Peak Emperor Profound Realm prowess. The battleground morphed into a domain of ice and snow under her control.

As the domains clashed, the fabric of space seemed to tremble. Little Fairy's icy realm shattered the eagle's nest, freezing the conjured eagles mid-flight. The sudden shift left Chu Yueli, who had yet to master the art of domains, utterly shocked. She watched in awe as her sister effortlessly dismantled the powerful domain of the Xiao Sect ancestor, revealing a depth of proficiency that surpassed all expectations. Little Fairy's mastery over her domain not only neutralized the threat but also showcased the incredible power concealed within the Chu sisters' Frozen Cloud Arts.

"This is unfair!!! The heavens are unfair!! Take this and you can take your sister to hell!" In a last resort, Xiao Wuqing unleashed the Fleeting Strike, his strongest move, aiming to carve an escape path. Instead of dodging it, Little Fairy deployed an icy shield to protect herself and her sister. His strike hit, producing a deafening boom. However, his smirk turned into a frown as he witnessed the ice shield intact and devoid of any scratches or cracks. He vividly saw Little Fairy's hands turn black for a moment before returning to normal.

"Impossible! How are you so strong?!" Xiao Wuqing shouted in disbelief, only for the younger sister to deliver a vertical slash with her katana from his right shoulder to his waist, spurring blood high above the air. His body fell into the forest below before the sisters slowly descended.

"This is blatant bullying. Have you no shame as cultivators?" Xiao Wuqing spoke between breaths as he stood up with gushing wounds.

"You can say the same for trying to kill me just because I refused," Little Fairy replied with an icy tone, remembering the nightmares and sleepless nights caused by the poison back then.

Xiao Wuqing smirked, realizing he had become a target for Chu Yuechan. They wouldn't spare him. If they did, they would just cripple him, and he refused to live a cripple's life. "Then, I won't beg for my life. The Xiao Sect is already done. That swordsman killed my brother, and you finally have your vengeance."

"It won't do you any good." Little Fairy was about to end his life, but the Xiao ancestor severed his own life veins before she could. In the end, Xiao Wuqing fell on his own pool of blood. Little Fairy took this moment to freeze his body and shattered it into millions of pieces, preventing hollows from feeding on his body and gaining power from it.

"Consider this an act of mercy for what you did back then," Little Fairy spoke as she froze the Xiao Sect Ancestor. Xiao Wuqing, once the source of nightmares during her youth, was finally dead. With this, she and her rascal had dismantled the power of the Xiao Sect entirely.

With this, Xiao Wuqing, Xiao Sect Grand Sect Master has fallen.

============================

"Did you get what you came for?" Little Fairy turned toward her sister, and the latter shook her head.

"Mihawk spared him, and apparently that swordsman stole all of his possessions alongside his brother's," Chu Yueli spoke, relaying the information she gained from Xiao Wuqing before her sister froze his body and soul.

"More like 'willingly gave away,'" Little Fairy spoke internally, knowing her rascal quite well.

"Then, he just disappeared. Muuu… Looks like I came here for nothing," Chu Yueli sighed in disappointment, despite racing here as fast as she could only to miss him. She controlled her emotions once more, surprised at the power of this new 'heart' of hers. Her desires to see him fueled her profound energy, somehow boosting her speed. Even Little Fairy was surprised at her sister's newfound speed, employing haki to her own speed just to catch up.

Observing her sister's cute face, Little Fairy sighed; this lovestruck sister of hers really defied all odds. She went close to her sister before offering a solution. "Not entirely. Our scouts did say that he is Princess Cang Yue's disciple."

Normally, the alternate version of Little Fairy would have just dragged her sister back, but instead, she was willing to help. Chu Yueli turned her beautiful eyes towards her with confusion. "Onee-san… you meant…"

Little Fairy smiled, seizing the opportunity to introduce her to Cang Yue. "Why don't you be friends with Princess Cang Yue? You might get the information you need. I am sure she is willing to help you."

"Then... Let's..." Chu Yueli spoke with excitement, preparing to bolt to the Imperial Palace, but her sister held her shoulders firmly.

"Calm your horses, dear sister. You don't want the girl to be suspicious of you. Do remember we are from Frozen Cloud Asgard, one of the four great sects. She might think you're trying to recruit her for her Hak… I meant, her mysterious technique," Little Fairy advised her sister, who fell silent. Approaching them now might make Mihawk misunderstand her, and she would lose her only chance of meeting him or gaining his trust.

Little Fairy patted her adorable sister's head, suggesting, "Let today's matter die down first. We can stay in the city for the time being. Let's wait a few days and then approach Princess Cang Yue as guests. I am sure mother won't mind if we're missing for a few days."

Chu Yueli nodded, realizing that approaching now might be a bad idea. She decided to wait a few days, calm down, and then approach Princess Cang Yue as a guest. Thanking her sister, she smiled and said, "Yes... Onee-san… Thank you for accompanying me."

"Really though, what was your plan if you see him today?" Little Fairy raised her beautiful eyebrows at her sister.

"I…" Chu Yueli blushed and twiddled her fingers. Her beauty showed what it meant to be a maiden in love. She hadn't thought of a plan; she just wanted to see him. She didn't think of what she wanted to say or do. She just wanted to see him that badly.

Little Fairy sighed; this was indeed her sister. Her love for her rascal's alternate self was strong enough for her to discard everything and travel 500 kilometers to this place just to meet him. If only they had arrived a bit earlier, they might have met and greeted him. She also admitted she wanted to meet her rascal but somehow hesitated since she had kissed his cheek in their last meeting.

"Rascal, sister Yue… You two owe me for this," Little Fairy declared before leading her sister into the Blue Wind Imperial City.