The news of "Lingxu Grotto-Heaven" taking root in Jade Pool Immortal Palace quickly spread through the Immortal Palace's unique internal channels.
The first to know were naturally Yun Yun and Li Hanyi.
As the Vice Palace Master and Grand Elder, they were extremely sensitive to any spatial fluctuations within the Immortal Palace.
At the moment that independent Small World was "stitched" into the Immortal Palace's space, both of them opened their eyes from Cultivation almost simultaneously.
"This is..."
Yun Yun stood on Yunwu Peak, her gaze turning toward the area on the west side that was originally an empty square, a trace of surprise flickering in her eyes.
She could clearly perceive that the spatial structure there had undergone a qualitative change—
An independent Secret Realm was quietly floating next to the Myriad Phenomena Pagoda, perfectly Fusion with the Immortal Palace's original environment.
"It's the Palace Master's handiwork."
Li Hanyi's cold voice rang out; she had arrived at Yun Yun's side at some unknown point.
"Very suitable."
Yun Yun nodded, a smile appearing on her gentle face:
"Indeed, the Disciples happen to need such a place for tempering. Only..."
Her gaze narrowed slightly as she looked at the faint spatial ripples at the entrance of the Secret Realm.
"This Secret Realm doesn't seem newly created; rather, it looks like... it was moved from somewhere?"
Li Hanyi did not answer, merely watching quietly.
She didn't care where the Secret Realm came from, only what it could bring to the Immortal Palace.
Meanwhile, inside the Main Hall.
Gu Han had already stored the Secret Realm key into the System space and was teasing the recently awakened and somewhat dazed Ah Yao.
"Master Mother, Ah Yao had a dream."
Ah Yao rubbed her eyes and said in a milky voice,
"I dreamed of a big, beautiful valley with little birds that glowed and trees that could talk!"
Gu Han's movements paused slightly as she looked at Ah Yao thoughtfully.
The little one had a special Physique, and her perception abilities far exceeded those of ordinary people.
The spatial fluctuations produced when "Lingxu Grotto-Heaven" underwent Fusion earlier had likely been captured in fragments by her unintentionally.
"That wasn't a dream."
Gu Han rubbed her small head,
"That is a Secret Realm that Master prepared for Ah Yao and your Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters."
"Secret Realm?"
Ah Yao's eyes instantly lit up, her sleepiness completely gone.
"Really? Is it even more fun than home?"
"It's more dangerous than home, but it will be more interesting."
Gu Han chuckled,
"When your Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters return, Ah Yao will be able to see it."
Just then, Yun Yun's gentle voice came from outside the hall:
"Palace Master."
"Come in."
Yun Yun pushed the door open and entered. Seeing Ah Yao excitedly pulling on Gu Han's sleeve and asking questions, the smile in her eyes deepened.
She first bowed to Gu Han before saying:
"Palace Master, regarding that new Secret Realm on the west side..."
"That is 'Lingxu Grotto-Heaven'."
Gu Han spoke directly,
"It is a place of tempering prepared for the Disciples!"
She briefly explained the basic situation of the Secret Realm—
It was suitable for Disciples from the Foundation Establishment to Nascent Soul Stage, with diverse environments, Yao Beast dens, dilapidated ruins, and Heaven And Earth Treasures.
Yun Yun listened intently, her eyes shining with brilliance.
She knew very well what such a Secret Realm, completely under the Palace Master's control, meant for the Sect.
It meant that the Disciples of Jade Pool Immortal Palace would have a stable, safe, and resource-rich exclusive trial ground!
"Palace Master's considerations are thorough."
Yun Yun praised sincerely,
"With 'Lingxu Grotto-Heaven', the Disciples' actual combat capabilities can achieve a qualitative leap. Only..."
She hesitated slightly.
"There's no need to delve into it."
Gu Han naturally saw her curiosity; her tone was flat but left no room for doubt.
"It belongs to Jade Pool Immortal Palace now, and that's enough."
Yun Yun immediately understood and stopped asking, instead saying:
"Then regarding the rules for using the Secret Realm, does the Palace Master have any initial thoughts?"
"Naturally."
Gu Han had already thought it through,
"First, the Secret Realm will not be open to everyone."
"Disciples need a certain level of cultivation before they can enter the Secret Realm for tempering. You will draft the specific cultivation standards."
"Second, the Secret Realm will have partitioned management."
"The outer areas are suitable for the Foundation Establishment Stage, while the core areas require the Golden Core Stage or above to enter."
"Furthermore, all resources within the Secret Realm must follow the principle of'sustainability' and must not be over-harvested."
"Finally, and most importantly, private fighting between fellow Sect members is strictly forbidden within the Secret Realm. If there is a dispute, it can be resolved on the arena."
"If anyone dares to strike a lethal blow against a fellow Sect member within the Secret Realm, their cultivation will be stripped, and they will be expelled from the Immortal Palace!"
Rule after rule was clearly spoken by Gu Han, containing both incentives and constraints, and even iron laws.
While Yun Yun recorded them seriously, she nodded inwardly.
The Palace Master appeared cold and casual, but in terms of managing the Sect and nurturing Disciples, her mind was actually meticulous, balancing strictness with flexibility.
Having rewards and punishments, tolerance and bottom lines—this was the way to longevity.
"Yun Yun understands."
She noted down the last rule,
"When the Disciples return, I will announce the details and begin arranging the selection for the first batch of Disciples to enter the Secret Realm."
"Mm."
Gu Han nodded and added,
"In the Early Stages of the Secret Realm's opening, the conditions can be appropriately relaxed to give all Disciples at the Foundation Establishment Stage or above a chance to enter and familiarize themselves with the environment. Adjustments can be made later based on performance."
"Yes."
Yun Yun complied.
"There is one more thing."
Gu Han's gaze swept outside the hall,
"How is the hospitality for Luo Shui's side?"
"Following the Palace Master's instructions, she has been arranged in the best guest house, and all expenses are of the highest standard."
Yun Yun replied,
"That lady seems very interested in the Immortal Palace. Today, accompanied by Elder Fu Shan, she visited some areas and asked many questions about Disciple training."
"However, she is very discreet; she never asks what shouldn't be asked and never approaches places she shouldn't go."
Yun Yun paused, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes,
"This girl has a steady Heart-Nature and knows when to advance or retreat. She is truly worthy of being Empress Qing Xuan's first Disciple."
Gu Han nodded slightly and said no more.
Qing Xuan sent Luo Shui; sending gifts was the overt reason, while investigation was the covert one.
But since the other party followed the rules, she didn't mind letting Luo Shui see some of the surface of Jade Pool Immortal Palace.
As for the deeper things... "You may go." Gu Han waved her hand.
Yun Yun bowed and withdrew.
Silence returned to the hall.
Ah Yao pestered Gu Han for a while longer about the "Secret Realm."
It wasn't until Gu Han promised to take her in to play first after the Secret Realm officially opened that the little one ran off contentedly to feed the fish by the Yaochi.
Gu Han sat alone on the Cloud Bed, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the "Profound Heart Bracelet" on her left wrist.
"Qing Xuan..."
Gu Han whispered the name, a complex look in her eyes.
That peerless, lazy yet powerful Empress of the East Region, giving her a pair of bracelets and leaving such an ambiguous Jade Slip transmission... what exactly did she want to do?
Gu Han wasn't stupid; she could naturally see that Qing Xuan's attitude toward her was extraordinary.
That kind of look, those words, those seemingly non-existent flirtations... but she was a genuine woman now... Empress Qing Xuan had ruled the East Region for tens of thousands of years and had even traveled the Xuanhuang Continent; what kind of scenery had she not seen?
What kind of talented men or beautiful women had she not encountered?
Why her specifically... could it be that she was stimulated by that slap of mine?
Gu Han rubbed the space between her eyebrows, feeling that this matter was a bit troublesome.
If Qing Xuan were a man, she could simply refuse directly or just ignore him.
But the other party was a woman, and one whose status, strength, and appearance were not inferior to her own.
More importantly, Qing Xuan had never explicitly said anything; everything was just ambiguous testing.
If she overreacted, it would instead seem like she was being conceited.
"Too much trouble!"
Gu Han sighed softly, temporarily putting the matter of the bracelet out of her mind.
What was more important now was planning the Immortal Palace's next development.
The Disciples would be back soon, and once "Lingxu Grotto-Heaven" opened, Jade Pool Immortal Palace would enter a new stage of development.
And her title of "Yaochi Empress" was spreading in the outside world; it would surely catch the attention of those old fellows soon.
"A storm is brewing."
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