Meanwhile, in the Main Hall of Jade Pool Immortal Palace.
Gu Han, who was sitting cross-legged on the Cloud Bed with eyes closed, her mind submerged in the vast dao rhyme of the Chaos Scripture, suddenly felt something.
It wasn't an external disturbance, but a subtle resonance and warning from within the void—the undisguised presence of a powerhouse at the same level!
Her closed eyes slowly opened.
"So soon..."
Gu Han murmured softly, her voice cool and clear, quietly echoing in the empty hall.
"The Northern Territory... Empress Ling Shuang..."
Gu Han slowly stood up, the hem of her moon-white palace dress flowing like liquid silver across the warm spiritual jade floor.
She walked to the window, her gaze seemingly piercing through the palace buildings, spiritual mist, and the layers of the Mountain Protection Formation, looking a hundred miles north of the immortal palace.
There, an icy, powerful, and undisguised Aura was suspended quietly, like the brightest North Star in the cold night.
"Just as Qing Xuan said, she is quite impatient."
Gu Han shook her head slightly, but a faint, almost helpless smile played at the corners of her lips.
What was meant to come would eventually arrive.
Since she held the title of "Yaochi Empress," she was destined to face the gazes and probes of beings at the same level.
There was no hiding from it.
Only facing it head-on.
In a flash, Gu Han had made her decision.
She did not appear immediately, nor did she order the immortal palace to be on alert.
That would only increase tension and seem petty.
She just stood quietly by the window, like a host waiting for a guest to arrive, looking in that direction.
She was waiting.
Waiting for the other party to follow basic etiquette and announce their arrival first.
This had nothing to do with strength, but was the most basic decency and tacit understanding between powerhouses.
If the other party disregarded even this bit of decency and insisted on intruding... that would be a different story.
A hundred miles outside Jade Pool Immortal Palace.
The ice jiao carriage floated quietly in mid-air.
Ten Female Generals stood solemnly around it, their Auras linked together like an indestructible barrier of cold ice.
Inside the carriage, Empress Ling Shuang looked through the window at the distant valley shrouded in poison mist, where the radiance of Formations flickered.
With her vision, she could naturally see the extraordinary nature of that Mountain Protection Formation.
Layer upon layer, interlinked, it could not only defend but also had effects of illusion and gathering Qi.
It even faintly contained an unknown dao rhyme that made even her feel threatened.
"An interesting Formation..."
Empress Ling Shuang murmured to herself, a glint of seriousness flashing in her eyes.
Although she was proud by nature, she was by no means brainless.
The attainments in the Dao of Formations of the person who could set up such a Formation were definitely not to be underestimated.
"Lan Ling."
She spoke coolly.
"Your Majesty."
A Female General commander at the Late Stage of Undergoing Tribulation immediately stepped forward and bowed behind the carriage curtain.
"Follow etiquette and announce our arrival."
Empress Ling Shuang's voice was flat, yet it carried an unquestionable majesty.
"Yes! Your Majesty!"
Lan Ling took the order solemnly, then turned to face the direction of Jade Pool Immortal Palace.
She took a deep breath, and the vast spiritual power of the Late Stage of Undergoing Tribulation slowly rose, mixed with a clanging Battle Intent.
It turned into a clear, loud, yet polite transmission that rolled towards Jade Pool Immortal Palace:
"Her Majesty the Empress Ling Shuang of the Northern Territory has arrived!"
"We hereby announce our arrival, wishing to meet Palace Master Gu of the Southern Territory's Jade Pool Immortal Palace!"
The voice was like the cracking of an ice river, or the clashing of metal, containing powerful spiritual power.
It instantly pierced the hundred-mile distance and clearly reached Jade Pool Immortal Palace.
"Northern Territory... Empress Ling Shuang?!"
"Heavens! It's really her! She actually came!"
"To meet the Palace Master? This tone... why does it feel a bit off?"
Some Disciples patrolling or cultivating on the outskirts of the immortal palace changed their expressions upon hearing this transmission, their hearts filled with a mix of shock and worry.
Although they had absolute confidence in their Palace Master, Empress Ling Shuang's reputation was far too great!
She was a peerless powerhouse who shared the same fame as Empress Qing Xuan of the Eastern Territory and had ruled the Northern Territory for tens of thousands of years!
Arriving in person now, she likely came with ill intent!
...Inside the Main Hall.
Gu Han naturally heard the undisguised transmission that even carried a bit of an announcement.
"Empress Ling Shuang..."
She repeated the title, her eyes still calm.
Although the other party's tone was direct and even carried a hint of provocation, they at least followed the basic rules.
Then, as the master of this place, she should also respond.
Gu Han looked north and spoke plainly.
Her voice was not loud, but it seemed to contain the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, ignoring spatial distance and sounding clearly and perfectly in front of the ice jiao carriage:
"Gu Han of Jade Pool Immortal Palace."
"Since Fellow Daoist Ling Shuang has come to my territory, then please come inside for a chat."
As her voice fell—
"Buzz..."
On the outskirts of the immortal palace, the thick poison mist and Formation radiance were slowly pushed aside as if by an invisible hand.
A straight "passage" condensed from pure Spiritual Qi extended from the depths of the immortal palace.
For the first time, a trace of surprise flickered in Empress Ling Shuang's eyes.
Not because of the "passage" Divine Ability itself—she could also perform such a feat.
But because of the other party's composure and the confidence and poise hidden in the gesture.
Facing the sudden visit of a Empress of the Northern Region like herself, who had been famous for tens of thousands of years and awed the continent.
This "Yaochi Empress" was neither panicked nor overly cautious.
Instead, she calmly opened the door to welcome her as if she were receiving an ordinary visitor.
This Heart-Nature alone was extraordinary.
"Heh..."
The corners of Empress Ling Shuang's lips curled slightly, revealing a smile as clear as ice crystals yet full of chill.
"Interesting."
She said no more, her mind moving slightly.
The ice jiao let out a low cry and pulled the luxurious carriage, slowly driving onto the passage built of Spiritual Qi.
Ten Female Generals followed solemnly on both sides of the carriage, their steps in perfect unison, treading on the passage with crisp sounds like light drumbeats.
The passage seemed to have its own spirit, slowly shrinking and rolling back as the carriage moved forward.
The magnificent scenery of Yaochi, the vast Spiritual Qi, the strange buildings, and those immortal palace Disciples who, although their cultivation was shallow, each had a solid Foundation and clear eyes.
All of this caused the eyes of the Northern Territory group, including Empress Ling Shuang, to flash with wonder.
Especially the misty Yaochi and the Enlightenment Tea Tree on the island in the center of the lake, which emitted a hazy dao rhyme.
It caused Empress Ling Shuang's ice-blue pupils to contract slightly.
"Innate Spiritual Root... enlightenment tea?!"
Such a divine object that only existed in legends actually existed in the world, and right here in Jade Pool Immortal Palace!
And that towering tower in the distance that emitted strange time fluctuations... the heritage of this Jade Pool Immortal Palace was indeed unfathomable!
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