The next day, early morning.
Throughout the Jade Pool Immortal Palace, the Disciples had already begun their day's Cultivation.
Sword Qi crisscrossed the Martial Arts Field, and the scent of medicine drifted from Danxia Peak. Everything was orderly, exuding a vibrant vitality.
However, many Disciples, in between their Cultivation, couldn't help but cast their gazes toward the Myriad Phenomena Pagoda on the west side, their eyes filled with anticipation.
The pagoda spirit had been born; once it awakened, their Cultivation speed would advance by leaps and bounds!
The list for the first entry into the "Lingxu Grotto-Heaven" had also been announced, posted on the jade announcement wall beside the Myriad Phenomena Pagoda.
The three True Disciples, Liu Ruyan, Gu Luoli, and Ye Ling'er, were naturally on the list.
More than twenty Core Disciples, including Li Zhiwei, Murong Xue, Zhao Ling'er, Wang Zhaojun, Wang Teng, and Xiao Ya, were also prominently featured.
Most notably, at the very end of the list, a name was added that made everyone take a second look—Ah Yao.
"The Eldest Disciple is also entering the Secret Realm?"
"Senior Sister Ah Yao just had a Breakthrough, right? Although the danger isn't great, is the Palace Mistress really at ease?"
"Didn't you read the note? The Eldest Disciple must be accompanied by Senior Sister Liu or Senior Sister Gu. With two Senior Sisters protecting her, what danger could there be?"
"That's true, but given the momentum of the Eldest Disciple's Breakthrough, I have a feeling that if she goes in, it might be the Yao Beasts inside that are unlucky..."
"Hehe, now that you put it that way, I'm even more looking forward to it!"
The Disciples gathered in front of the jade wall, discussing excitedly, full of longing for the upcoming exploration of the Secret Realm.
On Xueyue Peak, Li Zhiwei was wiping her "wang yu sword" over and over again.
She looked at her name, her eyes showing no ripples, only her usual calmness.
To her, the Secret Realm was a touchstone to hone her sword edge; that was all.
On Yunwu Peak, Yun Yun was handling the daily affairs of the Immortal Palace, spiritual light flickering at her fingertips as she methodically conveyed one instruction after another.
Arranging the Elders to lead the Secret Realm exploration, allocating resources, verifying contributions...
The vast Immortal Palace operated in perfect order under her management.
East Courtyard guest quarters.
Empress Qingxuan leaned lazily against the soft couch by the window.
Wearing a light purple casual robe, her dark hair was unbound, cascading down like a waterfall, making her skin appear as white as snow and her face even more radiant.
Her fingertips caressed the Profound Heart Bracelet, feeling the warm, smooth texture of the bracelet, and her lips curled upward involuntarily.
That "frankness" last night, although brought out by that girl Luoshui's questioning, made her feel a sense of clarity in her heart after speaking it aloud.
Over tens of thousands of years, she had seen too many sceneries and met too many people.
There were power-hungry overlords who ruled domains, Prodigies with stunning talent who looked down upon their generation, and strategists as gentle as jade with deep, hidden thoughts...
Yet, no one had ever been like Gu Han, making her feel "special" the moment she laid eyes on her.
It was not because of her unfathomable strength, nor because of her cold, otherworldly appearance.
But a kind of temperament.
A unique temperament that seemed to stand outside the long river of time, having seen through the ways of the world yet maintaining her original intent.
She was powerful, yet lacked an overbearing aura.
She was cold, yet held delicate tenderness for those around her.
She appeared to go with the flow, but in reality, she had her own plans and depth.
What she found even more interesting was Gu Han's embarrassment, helplessness, and the way she tried to feign composure when facing those "teasing" moments.
It was just like an innocent young girl who had not yet experienced the world.
Yet, she happened to be a powerful Ascension to Immortality expert with strength even greater than her own!
This contrast truly fascinated her.
"Sister Gu..."
Qingxuan whispered to herself, her fingertips gently stroking the bracelet, her eyes flashing with a look of determination.
"I have lived for so long, and it is rare for me to have a heartbeat for someone; you must... catch it well."
Meanwhile, in another guest quarter.
Empress Ling Shuang was not Cultivating as usual, but was rarely sitting in front of a mirror.
The mirror reflected a stunning yet cold face; her ice-blue eyes were like cold ice, deep and piercing.
Those words from Lan Xing last night still echoed in her mind.
"Treat her with sincerity, and proceed slowly..."
She looked at herself in the mirror, her brows slightly furrowed.
Sincerity... how should one express it?
In her past life, other than Cultivation and warfare.
It seemed she had never learned how to "sincerely" treat someone who made her heart flutter.
Giving gifts?
Gu Han clearly did not like her straightforward approach last time.
discuss the Dao?
That would be possible, but one cannot discuss the Dao every single day.
Doing intimate things like Qingxuan?
Empress Ling Shuang thought of the way Qingxuan held Gu Han's arm and whispered in her ear, and her earlobes uncontrollably heated up.
No.
That kind of action was too frivolous and did not suit her; it would likely make Gu Han feel repulsed.
Empress Ling Shuang fell into unprecedented confusion.
She realized she really didn't seem to understand these things.
"Your Majesty."
Lan Ling's voice sounded outside the door, respectful and restrained.
"Come in."
Empress Ling Shuang collected her thoughts and returned to her usual coldness.
Lan Ling pushed the door open and entered, carrying a jade tray in her hands, on which were placed several exquisite snacks and a pot of spiritual tea.
"Your Majesty, this was sent over by the Spirit Cuisine Hall of the Jade Pool Immortal Palace."
Empress Ling Shuang's gaze swept over the snacks; they were exquisitely styled and emitted a faint, fragrant scent of food and Spiritual Qi.
Her heart suddenly stirred.
"Lan Ling, if I were to prepare some snacks that Fellow Daoist Gu likes, what do you think?"
Lan Ling's hand trembled, and she almost dropped the jade tray.
She looked up abruptly, looking at her Majesty in disbelief.
Prepare snacks?!
Her Majesty ruled the Northern Region, governed hundreds of millions of living beings, froze ten thousand miles with a wave of her hand, and decided the rise and fall of countless Sects with a single thought...
And now she actually wanted to... make snacks?!
"Yo... Your Majesty,"
Lan Ling's voice was slightly distorted, and she tried hard to maintain her composure,
"You... you have never..."
"I know I have never done it before."
Empress Ling Shuang interrupted her, her tone calm but carrying a hint of unquestionable authority,
"Precisely because I have never done it, it shows my sincerity."
She paused and added:
"Moreover, Fellow Daoist Gu seems to dote on her Eldest Disciple Ah Yao quite a bit, often taking care of her personally."
"I have heard that making some Spirit Cuisine by hand in one's spare time is also a sentiment."
This sounded reasonable, but Lan Ling still felt it was somewhat unreal.
Her Majesty wanted to... learn to make snacks for the Yaochi Empress?
If this news were to spread back to the Northern Region, I fear those Elders would be shocked to the point of their jaws dropping!
"Then... shall I go to communicate with the Immortal Palace's Dining Hall?"
Lan Ling asked tentatively.
"No need."
Empress Ling Shuang stood up, her ice-blue palace dress brushing against the floor,
"I will go take a look myself."
If she was going to learn, she would learn the best.
Moreover, seeing the environment where Gu Han lived her daily life with her own eyes and understanding her preferences might also be a form of "sincerity".
Lan Ling looked at the rare, almost stubborn earnestness in her Majesty's eyes, sighed inwardly, and followed silently.
Inside the Main Hall.
Gu Han ended her Cultivation and slowly opened her eyes.
The profound dao rhyme of the Chaos Scripture circulated slowly within her body, keeping her mind clear; the slight disturbances of last night had long since settled down.
She was now at the Late Stage of Ascension to Immortality, and with such a Heaven-Defying Cultivation Technique like the Chaos Scripture, along with two quasi-immortal artifacts, the Donghuang Bell and the star river ancient mirror, in her possession.
Her strength was enough to look down upon the Canglan continent.
But precisely because of this, she needed to guard her original intent even more and not be disturbed by external objects.
She felt the sentiments of Qingxuan and Ling Shuang.
Surprised? A little.
Troubled? Indeed, a bit.
Qingxuan's lazy charm, her calculated steps, and the earnestness she occasionally revealed.
Ling Shuang's cold pride and straightforwardness, and the persistence hidden beneath her clumsy probing.
These two peerless Empresses appearing before her in such a manner, to say she wasn't moved would be a lie.
After all, both of them were rare in the world, whether in terms of appearance, temperament, or status.
But matters of emotion are better left to follow their natural course.
Right now, she had more important things to do.
"System,"
Gu Han called out in her heart,
"Pull up my attribute panel."
[Retrieving Host's current information...]
[Host: Gu Han (Gu Tianyi)]
[Age: 26]
[Identity: Palace Mistress of the Jade Pool Immortal Palace (Yaochi Empress)]
[Cultivation: Late Stage Ascension to Immortality]
[Cultivation Technique: Chaos Scripture (Entry Level), Artifact Refining (Perfection)...]
[Magic Treasure: Donghuang Bell (quasi-immortal artifact, refinement progress 25%), star river ancient mirror (quasi-immortal artifact, refinement progress 15%), Profound Heart Bracelet (quasi-emperor weapon · special)...]
[mastery dao value: 384,350 points (Eldest Disciple Ah Yao Breakthrough + 20,000) Total: 404,350 points.]
[Sect Reputation: 10,320 points (continuously growing)]
[Current Task: Teach Disciples (Long-term), Explore the Ten Directions World (Not yet unlocked), The Mid-State Pact (In progress)]
Looking at the abundant mastery dao value on the attribute panel, Gu Han was satisfied.
"System, how long will it take for the pagoda spirit 'Xiao Wan' to awaken and reopen the Myriad Phenomena Pagoda?"
Gu Han asked.
[Ding! Based on the pagoda spirit's current state and the recovery speed of its spiritual Origin, it is estimated that it will take about one month to fully awaken and restore all functions of the Myriad Phenomena Pagoda.]
"One month... that is just in time."
Gu Han nodded slightly.
One month later would be exactly when the Disciples returned from their first exploration of the "Lingxu Grotto-Heaven".
Ah Yao's Cultivation was already at Peak Foundation Establishment; she could consider preparing a Magic Treasure suitable for her.
Ah Yao had a special Physique and a Heart-Nature as pure; perhaps ordinary Magic Treasures were not entirely suitable for her.
In Gu Han's mind, a distant scene suddenly flashed—
That was the toy named "Radiant Lotus Platform" she had bought for Ah Yao at the Wanshan City market when she had just entered the Ascension to Immortality realm.
It was just a little trinket crafted by an ordinary artisan that could glow and spin.
When Ah Yao received it, the surprise and cherishing that filled her bright, sparkling eyes were still fresh in Gu Han's memory.
"Radiant Lotus Platform..."
Gu Han murmured, her fingertips tapping unconsciously on the cloud bed.
Ah Yao liked the design of that "Radiant Lotus Platform".
She was now an Artifact Refining Grandmaster capable of crafting Heaven Rank Magic Treasures.
Why not use that "Radiant Lotus Platform" as inspiration and personally craft a unique Magic Treasure tailored for Ah Yao?
It would both preserve that childlike wonder and beauty, fit Ah Yao's Heart-Nature, and be able to accompany her growth, becoming her Dao-protecting weapon!
Once this thought emerged, it quickly became clear and firm.
A look of eagerness flashed in Gu Han's eyes.
Crafting a Lifebound Treasure for her own Eldest Disciple was, in itself, a meaningful thing that she looked forward to.
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