Little Yu hurriedly looked at Fang Chen and exclaimed, "Mr. Fang? It's already come to this. If you don't take action now, our heads are going to roll!"

Not far away, Xu Tianmu also stared blankly at Fang Chen. If his elder brother couldn't protect a few lives today, wouldn't Mr. Fang be in full opposition to the Hejian King?

"Then Big Brother and the others... are doomed..." muttered Xu Tianmu.

Someone capable of turning a person into a Heaven Profound Realm expert overnight was on a completely different level than Sword Poetry Immortal Wang, whose most shocking feat was a flashy entrance on a sword. After nearly a year of contact, he was certain that Mr. Fang's abilities surpassed anything a normal human could imagine. If he weren't so sure that Immortals didn't exist in this world, he would have suspected the man was one.

The ground began to tremble. The armored Yama Army marched with perfect, synchronised steps. Each stride felt like a shockwave. The terrifying aura was more than the villagers could bear. Some screamed in terror, while others tried to flee. But with the Yama Army surrounding them from all sides, where could they go?

"Don't be in such a hurry. Even if someone needs to strike, it isn't my turn yet," said Fang Chen while shaking his head slightly at Little Yu.

Suddenly, everyone saw Lady Li raise her hand.

Boom!

In a single instant, the ground before the Yama Army collapsed, and a ring-shaped trench several yards deep formed, blocking their paths.

"One more step, and you die," challenged Lady Li with a victorious smile.

The Yama Army instantly stopped. Even though they were battle-hardened veterans, they were cowed by the sight before them. Many of the young scholars present, who practiced martial arts alongside literature, let out involuntary gasps of shock.

"The... the Heavenly Maiden is also a Grandmaster!?"

"No... this isn't the skill of a Grandmaster. This level is equivalent to the Earth Immortal Eunuch Zhang!"

"Is this the Ceasefire Realm that Grandmaster Wang mentioned earlier?"

"I finally understand... why she is the future Empress..."

At this moment, everyone realised why the Heavenly Maiden held such a transcendent status in the capital, and why the emperor had announced to the world that she would be his empress.

The county official and the nobles who had defected to the Hejian King turned pale.

"Did I... see that correctly?" muttered Xu Tianhuan, feeling as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

As a peak Earth Profound Realm expert, he could vaguely sense just how terrifying that move was.

Xu Tianmu was stunned. He muttered, "Has Mr. Fang... always known that the Heavenly Maiden possessed such transcendent cultivation?"

Even the guards Lady Li had brought with her were staring at the trench in disbelief.

Little Yu's eyes widened. "So that big sister... is this powerful..."

She was overjoyed. With Lady Yi being this strong, Peach Blossom Village wouldn't be bathed in blood. She didn't even worry about her brother-in-law, knowing Xu Tianmu was there.

"Heh... hehe..."

The Sword Poetry Immortal, Wang Yi, suddenly let out a soft laugh that sounded slightly crazed. He said, "You've truly managed to fool the world. Heavenly Maiden? You've already reached the Ceasefire Realm. Dongsheng actually has another master of that level! Have you been treating us like fools this whole time? Toying with us? You knew that after the old eunuch died, we would strike again. So you were waiting for this day to come? Did you really have to come in person... just to watch us make fools of ourselves..."

He trailed off.

The county official stepped forward. "Grandmaster Wang, we still have a chance to win! If you just—"

"We lost. A Grandmaster can't last a single move against a Ceasefire Realm Expert," Wang Yi interrupted, waving his hand despondently. "If I die, these tens of thousands of soldiers won't be enough for her to kill. It's pointless. I think I'll return to wandering the world as I please. I'll meddle in these affairs no longer."

Having said that, he cupped his fist toward Lady Li and bade farewell.

Everyone was frozen in place, a chill creeping through their hearts. If Wang Yi left, would any of them survive? Xu Tianhuan couldn't believe his master had just given up. If that was the case, the Hejian King's operation had utterly failed. At the thought of the incoming purge from the capital, his face went deathly white.

The thousands of members of the Xu Family... will we be exterminated down to the last man?

"Poetry Immortal Wang, don't be in such a rush to leave. I came today specifically for you. If you leave without composing a poem, wouldn't that be a shame?" said Lady Li casually. "How about this? You will recite a poem. If no one here can beat you, you may leave in peace. But if someone's poem is better than yours... you will be buried here in this sea of peach blossoms. When I have time, I'll come visit your grave."

Wang Yi was silent for a while, then asked, "Will the one I had my disciple recite earlier suffice?"

"Sure, if you and your disciple recite it together," responded Lady Li. "The name of the Sword Poetry Immortal is known even to the common laborers. Seeing both of you recite together would make this trip worthwhile."

The scholars' eyes lit up. Such a scene was indeed rare!

Wang Yi and his disciple looked at each other, their expressions grim. Being forced to recite together in this manner was a humiliating insult.

The boy gritted his teeth. "Master, why don't we—"

"You start the tone," interrupted Wang Yi flatly.

The boy looked hesitant, but he soon gave in and began the rhythm. The crowd listened as the master and disciple recited the poem with perfect cadence and emotion. When they finished, a long silence fell over the field.

Many scholars sighed. Rebel though he may have been, Wang Yi's talent was undeniable.

"To hear the Sword Poetry Immortal recite in person... makes this trip alone worthwhile."

"Does anyone here wish to challenge this poem?" asked Lady Li with a smile.

The scholars looked away. Who would dare compete against the renowned Sword Poetry Immortal? Wang Yi remained expressionless, but a trace of contempt flickered in the depths of his eyes. He believed that no one could surpass his poem for at least a decade.

Suddenly, Fang Chen gave Little Yu a nudge and encouraged, "Little Yu, weren't you planning to make a name for yourself at the poetry festival? Go ahead and try."

Little Yu was startled, looking like a child who had been caught doing something wrong.

"Aww, Mr. Fang, how did you know?"

Fang Chen chuckled. "You've been rambling about it for weeks on end. I couldn't help but know."

Lady Li looked at Little Yu. "This little girl knows about poetry?"

She waved her over. "Come, give it a try. See if you can beat the Sword Poetry Immortal."

Seeing it was Little Yu, Wang Yi's expression turned very strange.

Little Yu suddenly lost her nerve and shrank back shyly. "Big Sister... I don't think I can do it..."

"It's fine. Just try," encouraged Lady Li.

"Okay, here it goes!"

Little Yu cleared her throat and recited a poem that was utter nonsense.

It wasn't even about peach blossoms. In fact, it included the word 'snow', even though it was currently a warm spring day with flowers in full bloom.

Li Dazui and the villagers understood nothing, but they knew how to cheer. Faces red with excitement, they exclaimed, "Great!"

Only the scholars looked at each other in confusion.

What... was that?

"Is it really good?" asked Little Yu in disbelief. She became excited and looked at Lady Li. "Big Sister, how was it? Is my poem better than his?"

Lady Li nodded with a smile. "Yes, it is much better than his."

Wang Yi, who hadn't known how to react to such a terrible poem, finally blurted out, "Heavenly Maiden, this is going too far! Putting aside whether her poem relates to peach blossoms, she used the word 'snow.' Does that even fit the occasion? It is spring now. Where is the snow?!"

"Who says it can't snow in spring?" asked Fang Chen calmly. "Look, isn't the snow here?"

Suddenly, everyone felt a chill on their cheeks. When they looked up, they saw snowflakes fluttering down from the sky. In an instant, the hills of peach blossoms were covered in white.

"It's... it's snowing!?"

"It's actually snowing!?"

Even the Yama Army's troops touched the snow on their armor in shock. It was cold to the bone. It was real snow!

Wang Yi stared at Fang Chen, his eyes filled with terror. "How..."

If the Ceasefire Realm was something he couldn't understand, this current scene was beyond his imagination. Manipulating the weather, was that something a human could do?

Lady Li was also stunned, her gaze fixed on Fang Chen.

Fang Chen smiled at Little Yu. "The poetry festival is over. Let's head back,"

He led Little Yu and Li Meiyan away. As they left, he called out to Xu Tianmu.

Xu Tianmu didn't forget to shout to his elder brother, "Brother, let's go! I told you there was no future with the Hejian King, but you had to try. From now on, I'll be the one helming the Xu Family."

Xu Tianhuan was still frozen with shock. Seeing this, Xu Tianmu surged with energy, grabbed his brother, and followed after Fang Chen.

That surge of energy allowed Wang Yi and the others to realise that the young man was... a Grandmaster.

A Grandmaster so young?

Lady Li didn't stop them from leaving. After a long while, she looked at Wang Yi. "Does the poem fit the occasion now?"

Wang Yi's face was deathly pale. No matter how much grievance he felt, he couldn't speak. It felt as if a bone were stuck in his throat.