Chapter 36 - ch 582-88

Chapter 582 The Ice and Waves Dynasty

"What's wrong with you?"

Luo Hanyan asked, displeased.

Liu Yunfeng subconsciously scratched her cheek, feeling the shame of being caught red-handed doing something wrong, her earlobes slightly flushed.

Fortunately, Luo Hanyan didn't pay too much attention: "Go gather those people from the Southern Border. It's time for us to depart!"

As she spoke, she waved her sleeve, and before Liu Yunfeng's shocked gaze, three Great Emperor battleships, vast and imposing, overshadowed the world.

"The Myriad Spirits Dao Domain is about to change!"

...Central Domain.

Ice Ripple Dynasty, within the Imperial City.

"Cough, cough."

"Are you saying that Luo Hanyan's true strength has reached the Quasi-Emperor Ninth Layer, and she used some mysterious method to cause the Myriad Dao Alliance cultivators to suffer a crushing defeat?"

From the high seat, the Ice Ripple Emperor's expression was grave as he looked at Zhao Kun, who was reporting truthfully from below. His voice was incredibly heavy.

In the resplendent and magnificent hall, the atmosphere was stiflingly oppressive.

The civil and military officials standing on either side all lowered their gazes, their breathing becoming much lighter.

Zhao Kun knelt beneath the cold jade steps, his clothes slightly disheveled, his face pale.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, it is absolutely true!"

"Luo Hanyan's strength is terrifying. She can unleash attacks comparable to a Half-step Great Emperor with her Quasi-Emperor Ninth Layer cultivation."

"Most importantly, she also possesses a mysterious trump card. I saw from afar a beam of light shoot out from Luoxia Mountain, instantly annihilating two Quasi-Emperors of the Myriad Dao Alliance, leaving them no place to be buried!"

Zhao Kun's words were like a heavy hammer, striking hard at everyone's hearts.

A collective gasp of cold air echoed in the hall.

The Myriad Dao Alliance was unlike the Ice Ripple Dynasty. They did not rely on human wave tactics but rather on their formidable individual strength to establish themselves in the Myriad Spirits Dao Domain.

Among them, Daoist Cang Xuan was also a well-known figure.

"I didn't expect Luo Hanyan to be so terrifying. It's a good thing our army's mobilization takes time; that's why the Myriad Dao Alliance took the blow for us."

"Indeed, if we had acted rashly, it would likely be us who would be heartbroken."

An old minister also spoke, still feeling lingering fear.

"Absurd!"

"Zhao Kun, before you departed, weren't you absolutely certain that this trip to the Southern Border was an opportunity for our Ice Ripple Dynasty?!"

"Is your Heavenly Secret Art only at this level?!"

A prince in python robes suddenly stepped forward, pointing at Zhao Kun and reprimanding him sharply, his voice filled with doubt and anger.

He was King Hanshan, ranked tenth among the one hundred and eight vassal kings of the Ice Ripple Dynasty, possessing a Quasi-Emperor Ninth Layer cultivation.

If not for Zhao Kun's disheveled return, he would have already led his Hanshan Army on the way to the Southern Border.

Zhao Kun's face paled, and he felt a bitter inability to speak. His tortoise shell divination had never been wrong, yet this time it had caused him to stumble badly.

"Please calm your anger, King Hanshan. This sudden unexpected change was indeed beyond my expectations."

"I suspect there's a powerful expert behind her, concealing Luo Hanyan's heavenly secrets."

"It's not surprising that an existence capable of leaving behind a trump card that can instantly kill a Half-step Great Emperor would possess means to shield heavenly secrets."

"Hmph, that's no excuse for you to shirk responsibility."

"If the other party has means to shield heavenly secrets, don't you, as an Imperial Astronomical Bureau inspector, have corresponding countermeasures?!"

"I think you are simply incompetent and have jeopardized military affairs! By law, you should be executed!"

King Hanshan was relentless, exuding a heavy pressure that almost suffocated Zhao Kun.

In terms of cultivation, he couldn't even compare to these vassal kings. If not for his Heavenly Secret Art, he wouldn't have any say in this imperial hall.

"Your Majesty, please see clearly. It is not that this subordinate is shirking responsibility. There must be a great deity standing behind Luo Hanyan, and we must not underestimate her."

"Hmph, in my opinion, this is merely an excuse Zhao Kun is making. Your Majesty, please do not believe him."

"Enough!"

The Ice Ripple Emperor on the high platform opened his eyes, his cloudy gaze showing fatigue: "Luo Hanyan has been hiding for a long time, and choosing this moment to reveal her prowess certainly has her reasons."

"Imperial Astronomical Bureau, where are you?"

"Your humble servant is here!"

An old man with white hair stepped forward, bowing respectfully.

"I want all of you to work together to divine and break through the heavenly secret concealment of the person behind Luo Hanyan!"

"As for military action, let's postpone it for now."

"Your Majesty!"

The Grand Astrologer was shocked: "Although Zhao Kun is young, his Heavenly Secret Art attainments are incredibly profound."

"Even he suffered a crushing defeat, and we..."

"Eat the king's salary, solve the king's worries."

"Does the Ice Ripple Dynasty keep you all just to eat without working?!"

The Emperor was uncharacteristically furious, and the court was in a state of alarm.

"Court dismissed!"

"If you cannot uncover Luo Hanyan's true background, then the Imperial Astronomical Bureau will no longer be necessary!"

...After court was dismissed.

Zhao Kun returned to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau in a daze. Others who saw him had eyes filled with repulsion and anger.

It was because of his arrogance that the entire Imperial Astronomical Bureau suffered an undeserved calamity.

However, no one had time to bother him now; the entire Imperial Astronomical Bureau began to operate, searching for a way to counter the heavenly secret shielding.

Zhao Kun walked despondently into his quiet room, closing the stone door behind him to cut off all external distractions.

"Pfft—"

A mouthful of fresh blood, no longer suppressed, suddenly spewed out, staining the floor in front of him.

He took out his tortoise shell. This time, this divine object, which contained all his hopes, actually had new cracks appearing on it.

"Why, why?! Why on earth?!"

He raised the tortoise shell heavily, then gently lowered it.

"Ding! The Child of Destiny Zhao Kun's Dao Heart is damaged, destiny value decreased by 1000 points."

"Brother Kun."

Just then, a clear voice suddenly rang out.

Zhao Kun quickly composed himself.

"I'm coming in."

With a creak, the door to the quiet room was pushed open by a pair of jade hands.

"Miss Xichi, you're here."

Zhao Kun forced a smile and said.

"I heard that you caused the entire Imperial Astronomical Bureau to be punished, and I was a little worried about you."

Han Xichi looked at Zhao Kun, a hint of worry in her eyes: "Are you alright?"

"Thank you, Xichi. I'm fine."

"It was my lack of skill that almost put the Imperial Dynasty in danger."

"His Majesty's decision is not without reason."

"Brother Kun, you know His Majesty values the Imperial Dynasty more than anything."

"Of course, he certainly still values you greatly. If you atone for your mistakes this time, Father... His Majesty will surely trust you again."

Under Han Xichi's encouragement, Zhao Kun finally cheered up again.

"Alright, I will definitely not give up."

"Miss Xichi, I need to perform divination now. I'll entertain you next time."

"It's alright, His Majesty's matters are more important."

Han Xichi left the quiet room, her expression instantly turning grim.

//573//

Chapter 583 The Great War in the North (Part 2, incomplete, to be completed at midnight)

Han Qichi quickly walked through the winding corridors of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau and went straight back to her bedchamber.

Dismissing her maids, she stood alone by the window, gazing at the ice crystal garden that symbolized the Ice Ripple Dynasty's majesty, her eyes shifting erratically.

"Zhao Kun's Heavenly Secrets Technique has gone awry, so my future..."

She was originally the most favored Seventh Princess of the Ice Ripple Dynasty, with extraordinary talent and countless supporters.

However, because the Ice Ripple Dynasty had never had a female ruler, she was unable to advance further.

It was laughable that among the Five Great Imperial Dynasties in the Three Thousand Dao Domains, two were ruled by women, yet she was born in this backward and isolated Ice Ripple Dynasty.

She was a very ambitious woman. These thoughts had always been suppressed deep within her heart. She also often worked to cultivate her own subordinates and forces, dreaming of one day soaring like a phoenix.

And Zhao Kun was an important part of her plan.

This person had an extraordinary talent for the Heavenly Secrets Technique and came from the mysterious Zhao family, making him a talent worth recruiting.

Most importantly, he was deeply devoted to her; if she told him to go east, he wouldn't dare go west, and if she told him to catch a dog, he would never chase a chicken.

Although he currently did not know her identity, once her identity was revealed, he would certainly become her best helper in the struggle for the throne.

These days, she had also been secretly building momentum for him, marketing him as the most outstanding Heavenly Seer in the history of the Ice Ripple Dynasty.

She had thought she could use this to control the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, but instead, she suffered such a huge setback in the matter of the Southern Border!

"Hmph, Luo Hanyan... Hundred Flowers Holy Land..."

"I remember you all."

"But possessing a trump card that can instantly kill a Half-step Great Emperor, what kind of existence is stirring up the winds and clouds behind this?"

Han Qichi's slender fingers tightly gripped the window frame, her knuckles white, as she looked at the scene outside. The situation was treacherous, and the world seemed to have changed color.

Vaguely, a giant hand seemed to completely control the situation in the Myriad Spirits Dao Domain.

Han Qichi felt a faint unease, yet also a thrill.

A golden carp is not a creature of the pond; once it encounters wind and clouds, it transforms into a dragon.

"If I could gain the support of the person hidden behind Luo Hanyan."

"Wouldn't the position of Ice Ripple Imperial Lord be within my grasp?!"

Her eyes gradually brightened. Han Qichi believed there was profit to be made; her and Luo Hanyan's demands did not conflict. In the Myriad Spirits Dao Domain, an Imperial Dynasty and a Holy Land could coexist.

For the Ice Ripple Dynasty, it was merely changing its cooperative partner from the Myriad Dao Alliance to the Hundred Flowers Holy Land; there was no difference.

The influence of sects could not extend throughout the entire Dao Domain, and Imperial Dynasties found it difficult to produce a large number of top-tier experts. Burdensome daily tasks would consume a lot of time, which was meaningless for most sect cultivators.

These were two different life choices.

Han Qichi believed there was room for cooperation. Her eyes gradually brightened, and her heart no longer hesitated; "Imperial Father, you should understand me, right? After all... a wise person submits to circumstances..."

The Imperial Family was the most heartless; when her Imperial Mother died, her father personally taught her this truth... Supreme Divine Dynasty, Northern Border.

The battle had been going on for an unknown period. Liu Tianhuang stood alone, holding a long spear, atop a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

Her gaze was disdainful, looking down on all heroes.

Heroic and valiant, unparalleled in the world.

"A mere formation, is this your reliance?"

"Who gave you the audacity! To dare invade my Divine Dynasty's border!!!"

She sneered, her aura erupting with a roar.

The aura of a Great Emperor of the Ninth Heaven burst forth without reservation, like a tangible tsunami, impacting the remnants of the Nine Heavens Dragon Lock Formation.

The already crumbling grand formation let out a groan of distress, and cracks spread rapidly like a spiderweb.

Several figures fell like shooting stars, all bearing more or less severe injuries. They looked at Liu Tianhuang as if she were a monster.

The Eternal Emperor's dragon robe was already stained with blood. As the main force against Liu Tianhuang, he bore the greatest pressure.

"I didn't expect your strength to have grown to such an extent that even the Nine Heavens Dragon Lock Formation couldn't trap you."

"Cough cough."

A trace of blood overflowed from the corner of his mouth. If not for the protection of dragon luck, he would have perished on the spot.

The eight Eternal Imperial Dynasty Emperors following him were also severely wounded. The Nine Heavens Dragon Lock Formation was now at the end of its strength, but it had succeeded in delaying Liu Tianhuang for a while, thus achieving their goal.

"However... do you think this is all?!"

"Liu Tianhuang, you are too naive."

"How could we not know the prestige of the Supreme Empress? To deal with you, we must use your arrogance."

"Evidently, without the slightest effort, you have already fallen into the trap."

Bai Zhi's figure slowly emerged.

PS: This chapter is not finished and will be reissued in the early morning.

//574//

Chapter 584 Mysterious Phoenix Heaven-Burning Halberd (Part 2)

"But it's a pity... Zhong Lingyu, you came out of seclusion too late!"

As Liu Tianhuang's voice fell, the air around her exploded, and the aura on her body once again surged without reservation.

Zhong Lingyu and the other Emperors, who were jointly maintaining the grand formation, suddenly felt the pressure on them increase sharply.

Her usually placid face finally showed a hint of surprise: "Supreme Empress, a lose-lose situation is meaningless."

"This formation is endless and flows ceaselessly. No matter what methods you use, it's impossible to escape!"

"What endless?"

"It's nothing more than insufficient power!"

Liu Tianhuang sneered. The divine light in her hand suddenly expanded, as if a miniature sun had been born in her palm. Endless light and heat surged forth, causing the space around them, which was already eroded by the power of annihilation, to twist and melt!

The original Phoenix-Patterned Divine Spear now released an indescribably terrifying pressure, which instantly poured out, enveloping all the Emperor-level experts present!

The Eternal Imperial Dynasty and the Ziwei Imperial Dynasty combined had dispatched eighteen Great Emperor-level powerhouses, who were situated on the periphery of the Annihilation Sky-Imprisoning Grand Formation. At this moment, all of them were shocked by the pressure released by Liu Tianhuang.

One by one, they groaned, their figures swayed, and their faces turned pale.

"This... what kind of power is this?!"

Bai Zhi's voice trembled, somewhat in disbelief. She felt her Emperor Dao laws wailing.

"Damn it, why do you still have more tricks up your sleeve!!"

Di Shitian's sinister smile froze, replaced by an expression of indescribable shock.

Before ascending the throne, he was also a well-known prodigy, yet after becoming a magnate, he had always lingered under a dark cloud named Liu Tianhuang.

He had thought that today, by gathering forces from all sides, he could strike a blow against Liu Tianhuang.

Unexpectedly, reality slapped him hard in the face. His own body trembled, and an instinctive fear emanated from the depths of his soul.

That... was a power not of his level.

—Immortal!!

At this moment, that word almost simultaneously appeared in everyone's minds.

Zhong Lingyu bore the brunt, her body swaying as a mouthful of fresh blood spurted from her lips.

"I didn't expect that you would also possess an Immortal Artifact!"

"It seems the Supreme Divine Dynasty is also hiding a lot. Are you trying to go a step further?"

Stabilizing her figure, Zhong Lingyu took a deep breath.

"A step further?"

"I am already standing at the pinnacle!"

Liu Tianhuang's voice was like a divine oracle from the nine heavens, carrying an icy indifference that looked down on everything.

The divine light in her hand completely condensed, and a long halberd, burning with blazing Eternal Dao Flames and inscribed with ancient phoenix patterns, suddenly appeared.

The might of the mystic phoenix sky-burning halberd was unleashed without reservation, carrying the supreme authority to incinerate all heavens.

Behind her, the phantom of the Ancestral Phoenix flickered in and out of existence, letting out resonant phoenix cries that shook the nine heavens.

Each cry resonated with the Great Dao, causing lotus flowers to bloom in the void and golden springs to gush from the earth, dispelling and purifying the aura of annihilation.

"I will break all laws with a single force!"

"Profound Phoenix—Sky-Burning!"

Without any flashy moves, the long halberd hung high, aimed at the cage formed by the eighty-one black pillars of annihilation surrounding her, and swept out!

Buzz—!!

The annihilated sky shattered, and the world seemed to lose all sound.

Wherever the halberd's light passed, the void was incinerated, all laws returned to one, and the black pillars of annihilation shattered in response, leaving only an irreparable dark trajectory.

One, two, three... The halberd's light seemed to advance slowly, but in reality, it transcended the limits of time and space.

In the blink of an eye, the dense black pillars of annihilation, connecting heaven and earth, melted and vanished like residual snow under the sun, without a sound, without even stirring a single basic energy ripple.

The "Annihilation Sky-Imprisoning Grand Formation" that had trapped Great Emperors became a complete joke in the face of this Immortal Artifact's power, which transcended the laws of this realm!

"Pfft—!"

As the core controller of the grand formation, Zhong Lingyu suffered the most direct backlash from the Dao laws.

The silver threads on her starry robe instantly snapped, countless phantom stars wailed and dissipated, and she herself was struck as if by lightning, continuously spitting out several mouthfuls of pale golden Emperor blood, which splattered across the sky. Her aura rapidly declined like a candle in the wind, and she directly fell from the air.

"Fifth Sister!"

Bai Zhi was utterly horrified and quickly flew forward to catch Zhong Lingyu.

"Run! We can't fight her!"

"Damn it, how could this Liu Tianhuang have an Immortal Artifact?"

The Eternal Emperor Di Shitian was utterly terrified. Under the might of an immortal, even a Great Emperor was no different from an ant!!

Didn't they see that the Annihilation Sky-Imprisoning Grand Formation, which even Liu Tianhuang herself was helpless against, shattered instantly under the power of this Immortal Artifact, unable to even hold for a moment?

His figure suddenly retreated, directly shielding everyone in front of him.

The other Great Emperors of the Eternal Imperial Dynasty followed suit, but they were not as lucky as Di Shitian.

Liu Tianhuang broke through the formation, and her figure arrived in an instant, immediately locking onto two Emperor-level experts from the Eternal Imperial Dynasty.

Terror appeared in the eyes of those two. In normal times, they were revered as high-ranking enshriners, enjoying the blessings of the Dynasty's destiny, with cultivation that reached the heavens. But in front of Liu Tianhuang at this moment, they were no different from ants.

Liu Tianhuang's figure swept past, not even sparing them a glance, merely making a casual slash with the mystic phoenix sky-burning halberd in her hand.

"Chih! Chih!"

Two chilling sounds rang out. The bodies of the two froze in mid-air, all their life-saving treasures shattering in response.

Their eyes lost all luster, their entire physical bodies and souls, and even the imprints of their existence, were turned to dust and smoke by this heaven-piercing strike.

They became two hollow husks, then silently dissipated into the world like weathered sand sculptures.

Body and soul annihilated!

In the blink of an eye, two Great Emperors fell!

These powerful beings, considered carriers of the Great Dao and imperishable for ten thousand years, were completely vulnerable in front of the current Liu Tianhuang!

A deathly silence swept across the entire battlefield. The remaining Emperor-level powerhouses all felt a chill run through them, as if falling into an ice cave. Their gazes towards Liu Tianhuang were filled with boundless fear.

The power of an Immortal Artifact was truly terrifying! A single halberd strike possessed the ability to obliterate Great Emperors and shatter all laws!

The Immortal Artifact gourd in Gu Changqing's hand once was endless and continuous, but it did not shock people as much as Liu Tianhuang's strike this time.

"Run! Flee quickly!!"

Someone, it was unclear who, first let out a shrill scream, breaking the suffocating silence.

The surviving Emperor-level experts no longer had any will to fight. They all transformed into streaks of light, frantically fleeing in all directions.

Dynasty dignity, alliance vows—in the face of absolute power and the threat of death, they all became laughable things.

Di Shitian ran the fastest. He had already burned his essence blood, used a secret technique, and torn open space to return to the territory of the Eternal Imperial Dynasty.

Only then did he let out a sigh of relief. A recording stone in his hand flickered with images of the northern border of the Supreme Divine Dynasty.

His pupils suddenly constricted. Of the nine Emperor-level experts he had brought, five had already been killed by Liu Tianhuang!

The remaining four were all injured, their auras weakened by two levels.

Such losses, for the Eternal Imperial Dynasty, could already be considered a severe blow!

Without deploying their old monsters, the number of Emperor-level experts the Eternal Imperial Dynasty could field across its entire territory would definitely not exceed thirty, and many of those were sect cultivators who answered calls but did not necessarily obey orders. Those who followed him here today were his most trusted confidants.

Now, with most of them lost, Di Shitian's heart bled.

"Damn you, Liu Tianhuang, I will make you pay the price one day!!"

Looking at that peerless figure in the recording stone, Di Shitian's eyes blazed with furious flames.

But just then, that figure suddenly slowly raised her head, her gaze piercing through endless space, accurately locking onto Di Shitian.

A magnificent and domineering voice exploded in his sea of consciousness: "You ran quite fast."

"Di Shitian, don't think this is over."

"I indeed cannot kill you once you return to the Eternal Imperial Dynasty, but it's still very simple to cause your Dynasty's people to suffer."

"Out of consideration for appearances, I seem to have given you too much face, to the point where some fellows no longer know the immensity of heaven and earth!"

Di Shitian's heart tightened, and he spoke angrily: "Liu Tianhuang, you dare to threaten me? Do you think I care about the lives of those commoners?!"

"If you want to deal with me, have the guts to come to my Eternal Imperial Dynasty's imperial palace!"

"My Di family is not to be trifled with!"

"You don't care about the lives of the common people, but what about the land?"

"You wouldn't think that after killing people, those places would still be yours, would you?"

"If you still think so, you can try. I guarantee that what happened today will happen again."

"Perhaps one day, as you wish, I will visit the Eternal Imperial Capital!"

"It's just that... I will bring the million-strong army of my Supreme Divine Dynasty!"

"Liu Tianhuang!!!"

Di Shitian gritted his teeth, but the situation was stronger than him. He had no choice but to suppress his towering rage, his voice squeezed out from between his teeth: "What exactly do you want?!"

"Cede the Sky Thunder Domain of the Eternal Imperial Dynasty to the Supreme Divine Dynasty."

"I will not pursue this matter any further."

Liu Tianhuang's voice carried a hint of mockery.

"Sky Thunder Domain?!"

Di Shitian's pupils constricted, almost spitting fire: "Liu Tianhuang, you're going too far!"

"The Sky Thunder Domain is one of the top ten major domains in my Eternal Imperial Dynasty. Compared to the six domains you previously encroached upon, its importance is more than ten times greater."

"So what?"

"You caused trouble in my Supreme Divine Dynasty and still expect to get away unscathed?"

"Di Shitian, aren't you thinking a bit too optimistically?!"

"Oh, and don't blame me for not reminding you, what I want... is the entire Sky Thunder Domain, not an inch less!"

After saying that, Liu Tianhuang directly cut off the communication.

His mind instantly quieted. Di Shitian furiously released a wave of pressure, leveling a nearby small hill.

"Liu Tianhuang!! You are too much of a bully!"

Di Shitian's roar echoed through the mountains, but it was nothing more than impotent rage.

After venting, he could only grit his teeth and accept the matter.

"Liu Tianhuang! You'd better remain invincible forever, otherwise, for today's humiliation, I, Di Shitian, will surely make you pay a terrible price!!"

On the other side.

Liu Tianhuang's expression was very calm. She turned around, her gaze falling on Zhong Lingyu and Bai Zhi.

At this moment, Zhong Lingyu's aura was weak. Supported by Bai Zhi, her face was incredibly pale and weak, unable to bear it, she had fainted.

Her magic robe was damaged, revealing scorched marks on her fair skin.

Bai Zhi was a little better, her imperial robe still dazzling, but her gaze towards Liu Tianhuang was also filled with shock.

"You guys..."

Liu Tianhuang was about to speak when her gaze swept in another direction.

In an instant, her eyes, like lightning, transformed into three sharp blades, shooting out.

"Ah—!!"

Screams rose and fell. Three figures all had an arm severed, barely saving their lives, and fled in haste.

"Daluo Imperial Dynasty, Chaos Imperial Dynasty, and Sacred Radiance Immortal Palace, hehe, my northern border is truly lively today."

With a single strike, these three hidden observers, all with cultivation above the sixth layer of the Great Emperor realm, were defeated. Liu Tianhuang's strike was not fatal, but it was enough to make them suffer.

More importantly, their identities were exposed, and Liu Tianhuang's true reckoning was yet to come.

"What, do you still want to return to the ten northern domains?"

Liu Tianhuang held the mystic phoenix sky-burning halberd. At this moment, her power reached its peak!

The number one person in the Three Thousand Dao Domains!!

This title might spread from now on. To single-handedly contend against twenty Great Emperors, and not only achieve a great victory but also kill five of them.

Such a terrifying feat, even in fictional novels, no one would believe it.

But it truly happened, without any carelessness, without any sneak attack. It was so open and brazen, stepping into the trap you prepared, and then... crushing you!!

For a moment, a sense of powerlessness welled up in her heart.

As fellow Female Emperors, the gap between them was like a chasm.

Proud as Bai Zhi was, she had to admit in her heart that this senior, whom she had admired since childhood, was still an object of her reverence.

"Liu Tianhuang, you won today."

Bai Zhi struggled to stand up, trying to maintain the dignity of a Female Emperor.

She represented the Ziwei Imperial Dynasty and could never bow her head to Liu Tianhuang.

"But... how much can you do alone?"

"The Supreme Divine Dynasty has made too many enemies; sooner or later, it will find itself in a situation of being attacked from both front and back!"

"Oh? In that case, will Ziwei Empress stab me in the back?"

Liu Tianhuang's lips curved into a faint smile. Bai Zhi had dragon qi protecting her body. Unless the Ziwei Imperial Dynasty was directly razed, it would be impossible to kill her, so she naturally wouldn't bother.

Now that she understood, besides getting in some verbal jabs, she would see what concrete benefits she could gain.

"Hmph, I disdain to do such things."

Bai Zhi snorted, preparing to leave with Zhong Lingyu.

But Liu Tianhuang directly stopped her: "Wait a moment, you can leave, but she... cannot!"

Saying that, she reached out and, before Bai Zhi could react, directly pulled Zhong Lingyu to her front.

Bai Zhi's arms felt empty, and her face suddenly changed: "Liu Tianhuang! What do you want to do?!"

Liu Tianhuang supported the unconscious Zhong Lingyu with one hand, gently tapping her forehead with a fingertip. An intricate phoenix imprint flashed and disappeared, sinking deep into her sea of consciousness, completely sealing her remaining Emperor Dao cultivation and soul.

"Do what?"

"Zhong Lingyu trespassed into my Supreme Divine Dynasty's territory and was captured by me on the spot. Do you have any objections?"

Her voice was calm, while secretly cursing in her heart: "Brat, since you've been here for a while, why don't you show yourself?!"

//575//

Chapter 585 Reunion of Master and Disciple, Chu Ruoyao (Two Chapters Combined)

"Liu Tianhuang!"

Bai Zhi was about to speak when a wisp of black mist suddenly flickered around her, and the next second she vanished from her original spot.

"Demonic energy?"

Liu Tianhuang raised her eyebrows slightly, a little surprised.

"Master is still as domineering as ever."

"Disciple is late in coming to Master's aid, I hope Master will forgive my offense!"

A clear voice, tinged with a hint of lazy amusement, suddenly sounded beside Liu Tianhuang.

Space rippled like water, and Gu Yun's figure quietly emerged, dressed in an immaculate white robe; after breaking through to the Quasi-Emperor Realm, his body was imbued with a hint of Dao principles.

His entire demeanor became even more ethereal and elusive, complemented by his flawless, peerless face, as if a Celestial King from the Nine Heavens had descended to the mortal world, untouched by dust.

Even Liu Tianhuang, who was accustomed to his appearance, couldn't help but be momentarily dazed, a fleeting, almost imperceptible hint of admiration flashing in her beautiful eyes.

This boy's looks were becoming more and more outstanding; even her resolute mind was swayed for a split second.

But she quickly composed herself, resuming her majestic Empress posture.

Glancing indifferently at Gu Yun, she coldly snorted, "Slick talker, do I still need you to rescue me?!"

"I thought you had long drowned in a land of tenderness, and the matters of the Northern Territory had been completely forgotten by you."

"What is Master saying?"

"Your disciple has been away these past few days, and has missed you terribly, Master."

Gu Yun took a step forward and embraced the majestic Her Majesty the Empress.

"Come, give me a kiss."

Gu Yun leaned in and directly captured Liu Tianhuang's fragrant lips.

Fortunately, there was no one else present, and Liu Tianhuang only struggled symbolically for a moment before passionately responding.

The young man's kiss grew more domineering, prying open her pearly teeth, exploring deeply; after a long separation, he seemed especially greedy.

A great battle had not been as tiring as this moment.

Liu Tianhuang let out a muffled groan, her delicate hand gently resting on his firm chest, fingertips slightly curled, eyes tightly shut.

After a long while, the two separated.

Liu Tianhuang's breathing was a little uneven: "You scoundrel, you have no sense of occasion at all! This is a battlefield, what if others saw us?!"

"What if they saw us?"

Gu Yun smiled and pulled Liu Tianhuang closer: "Wouldn't that be perfect? I'll just declare it to the world!"

"Supreme Empress Liu Tianhuang is not just my Master, but also Gu Yun's woman!"

"My most beloved woman."

"You..."

Liu Tianhuang's pretty face flushed: "When you can get past your mother, then say that. I don't care what the whole world thinks of me, but Lin Qiushui cannot be fooled."

"What, our fearless Supreme Empress also has such a flustered side?"

"You scoundrel, you think breaking through to the Quasi-Emperor Realm means you can lord it over me, don't you?!"

Liu Tianhuang could no longer tolerate Gu Yun's brazenness; her aura erupted, and she directly lifted him by his ear.

"Hey, Master, let's talk nicely, don't resort to violence at the slightest disagreement!"

"Violence?"

Liu Tianhuang's lips curved into a smile: "Don't worry, Master dotes on you too much to bear to lay a hand on you."

Her jade hand caressed Gu Yun's cheek, her movements gentle, yet possessing an undeniable force that held the young man in place.

"Master's 'doting' like this, your disciple fears he cannot bear it."

"How can that be~~ Who are you? You are the invincible Young Master of our Gu Family."

"How could there be anything you can't bear?"

Liu Tianhuang's smile grew more dangerous, making Gu Yun feel a pang in his lower back.

"Master..."

"Less nonsense, take me into the tower!"

..."Cough, cough, cough."

"How long have you been saving that up?"

Liu Tianhuang rolled her phoenix eyes at Gu Yun, speaking in an exasperated tone.

Gu Yun chuckled, propping his head to the side, appreciating his Master's rare, languid appearance: "Your disciple misses Master day and night, constantly worrying about not being able to satisfy Master. How was my performance today, wasn't it quite good?"

"Hmph, for a mere Quasi-Emperor like you, it was passable, I suppose."

Liu Tianhuang's face flushed, she said stubbornly.

"Is that so?"

Gu Yun showed a troubled expression, then became resolute again: "Don't worry, Master, your disciple will not disappoint you today, even if it costs him his life!"

Saying that, he made to lean in again.

His large hand had already caressed Liu Tianhuang's smooth back; her delicate body trembled violently, and she quickly turned around, her jade finger lightly touching his forehead, stopping his movement.

"You, you give me a limit."

"Master! Your disciple is truly sorry, I have tried my best but it's still not enough, your disciple doesn't want to disappoint Master again!"

Gu Yun's voice trembled, full of genuine emotion.

Liu Tianhuang's mouth twitched, cursing inwardly, *Damn little scoundrel, doesn't he know I was just looking for an excuse to stop?!*

She dared not continue; once things got out of control, the surging power would surely freeze Gu Yun into an ice sculpture.

At that point, wouldn't she be the one to suffer?

For the sake of future happiness, Liu Tianhuang still suppressed her restless emotions and changed the subject, asking: "Alright, stop acting so heartbroken and putting on a show here. Don't I know you well enough?"

"If you're not afraid of being frozen to death by the cold energy, you can try it!"

"So, Master admits she was a little carried away?!"

"Nonsense!"

"If you practiced for another hundred years, there might be a one in ten thousand chance you could challenge me!"

Liu Tianhuang turned her head away, her gaze falling on the unconscious Zhong Lingyu.

"Tell me, what is your purpose in wanting me to keep her?"

"I don't believe you still have the energy for that kind of thing right now."

Liu Tianhuang spoke with a hint of triumph.

"Master, what kind of person do you take me for?"

"Pah, what kind of character you have, how could I not know?"

"A fellow who bumps into trouble everywhere he goes, hoping you'll settle down is less likely than hoping the immortal lock will shatter on its own!"

Liu Tianhuang rolled her eyes at Gu Yun, taunting him.

"But this time is different; this Zhong Lingyu is a dangerous individual."

"In the Northern Territory, she caused the most trouble. That Annihilation Sky-Imprisoning Array was indeed extraordinary; if it weren't for the mystic phoenix sky-burning halberd, their plan might have actually succeeded!"

Liu Tianhuang's voice grew serious: "One Zhong Lingyu is already so troublesome; that Bai Zhi and her five senior sisters are probably all equally formidable!"

"Don't worry, Master, since I delivered the mystic phoenix sky-burning halberd into your hands at this time, I naturally have my own considerations."

"Whether it's Bai Zhi or Zhong Lingyu, your disciple will one day make them all submit to your will."

Gu Yun clasped Liu Tianhuang's delicate hand, speaking with a calm smile, his tone incredibly serene, as if he wasn't discussing figures at the pinnacle of this world, but merely pawns on his chessboard.

Feeling the warmth from the young man's palm, Liu Tianhuang felt a sense of peace for some reason.

"This scoundrel, when did he become so... reliable."

Her heart stirred; she tried hard to compose herself so Gu Yun wouldn't notice, her phoenix eyes still arrogant, glancing at him askance: "Stop being so mysterious."

"Tell me, am I also part of your calculations?"

Her jade finger lightly tapped Gu Yun's chest, carefully feeling his increasingly perfect and muscular physique.

Gu Yun took her hand, his smile open: "Master, do you think your disciple would harm you?"

He stared directly at Her Majesty the Empress's pretty face; she snorted softly, her aura spreading out, pushing Gu Yun back.

"Alright, if you want to find your beautiful darling, then go quickly. Stop bothering me here."

Liu Tianhuang turned her head away, trying hard not to let Gu Yun notice her discomposure.

Gu Yun smiled knowingly, leaned over, and in Liu Tianhuang's startled gaze, lightly pecked her lips again.

"Thank you, Master."

With that, he turned and left directly.

"Bastard!"

Liu Tianhuang touched her lips, gazing in the direction Gu Yun had left, muttering... Ziwei Imperial Dynasty.

"Second Sister! Why did you only take me and leave? Fifth Sister was taken by that Liu Tianhuang!"

Back in the imperial city, Bai Zhi's voice was urgent, her breathing finally stabilizing with difficulty.

Before her, a woman in a black dress slowly emerged. Her eyes were blood-red, and an eerie aura emanated from her entire body.

"Bai Zhi, calm down!"

"The way you are now, you don't look like an Empress of an Emperor Dynasty at all!"

The woman spoke coldly, her voice clear and icy, as if from the Nine Netherworld.

Bai Zhi instantly fell silent, her emotions calming slightly.

The seven senior sisters had grown up together. The eldest sister was the oldest and most mature, and after their Master left, she had always taken care of them. She was both a teacher and a mother, usually very gentle. Bai Zhi couldn't recall ever seeing her angry, and her attitude towards her was mostly respectful, without much fear.

But Chu Ruoyao was different. This Second Sister had been short-tempered since childhood, which was why she had chosen the path of demonic cultivation.

If words didn't agree, she would truly resort to violence!

Even though they were now in the Ziwei Imperial Dynasty, her own territory, this deep-seated fear was hard to change.

"Second Sister! How can I calm down? Fifth Sister has fallen into Liu Tianhuang's hands. With that woman's nature, how could she let her off lightly? We must find a way to rescue her!"

"Stop with the 'buts'! Even if you rush to the Supreme Divine Dynasty like a madwoman right now, will you be able to rescue Fifth Sister?!"

"Don't be naive! That's Liu Tianhuang. Unless you go to He Village now and ask Eldest Sister to come out, we simply cannot confront her head-on!"

Bai Zhi opened her mouth, but found herself speechless.

Outside the Ziwei Imperial Dynasty, she probably couldn't even withstand three moves against Liu Tianhuang.

Most of the Northern Territory's land was not part of the Supreme Divine Dynasty's ancient territory, and Liu Tianhuang could borrow very little of the Divine Dynasty's fortune there. Yet, even so, she had beaten them so badly they didn't know which way was up. If they truly went to the Supreme Divine Capital, what then?

"No... no, Second Sister."

Bai Zhi suddenly thought of something, and her eyes suddenly filled with terror.

"Don't worry, Liu Tianhuang, though seemingly mad, is actually very calculating."

"Unless she can completely take over the Ziwei Imperial Dynasty, she won't go too far."

"You go back and prepare. If we can redeem Fifth Sister at the cost of two or three Dao Domains, that might be the best outcome."

"No... Second Sister, you don't know..."

"Hmm?"

"That Liu Tianhuang has taken a new disciple, who is the direct descendant of the Immortal Ancient Gu Family."

"Speak properly. As a magnate, to be frightened into such a state by a junior, what sort of decorum is that!"

"He... he's a lecherous fiend!!"

"Liu Tianhuang captured Fifth Sister, perhaps not to exchange her for territory from my Ziwei Imperial Dynasty, but rather..."

"What did you say?!"

Chu Ruoyao's blood-red eyes suddenly constricted, and the demonic energy swirling around her instantly boiled, like an ignited sea of oil. The temperature of the entire hall plummeted, and tiny black ice crystals condensed in the air.

Killing intent overflowed. She couldn't imagine, if her cold and aloof, exceptionally intelligent Fifth Sister were truly defiled by such a person...

Bai Zhi took a deep breath: "Second Sister, calm down. There's no room for easing this matter now."

"The most urgent task is to invite Eldest Sister out, and then we can discuss countermeasures!"

"No, no, that won't do. By the time you find Eldest Sister, it'll be too late."

"If she's defiled by that kind of scoundrel, it would be worse than killing Fifth Sister."

"Given Fifth Sister's personality, she might not be able to bear it and would rather die to prove her purity!"

"No, we can't sit by and wait any longer."

"Second Sister, calm down."

"Calm down?! How can I calm down?!"

"No, I'm going to the Supreme Divine Dynasty right now!"

Chu Ruoyao said, and her figure vanished directly.

Bai Zhi was stunned. Her Second Sister, who had just told her to calm down, had lost control herself?

"Second Sister! Wait!!"

She hastily chased out of the hall, but only saw a dark demonic shadow tearing through the sky, carrying monstrous rage and killing intent, already disappearing into the western horizon, its speed so great that she was left in its dust.

"Don't worry, Third Sister, I have a sense of proportion. I won't attack Liu Tianhuang."

"With my concealment methods, as long as I don't actively expose myself, even Liu Tianhuang won't be able to discover me!"

"A disciple of the Immortal Ancient Gu Family? Hmph, I want to see what makes him harbor evil intentions towards Fifth Sister!"

The voice transmission in her ear made Bai Zhi even more worried. The last one who was so confident was named Zhong Lingyu.

"Second Sister, things are not as simple as you think. We still need to find Eldest Sister!"

But this time there was no reply; Chu Ruoyao had already disappeared.

"Sigh."

Bai Zhi couldn't catch up. Just as Chu Ruoyao had said, as long as she didn't want to reveal her location, no one could find her.

As the Third Sequence of the Demonic Sect, Blood Rakshasa had the capital to say such words.

"Third Master, what happened?"

"Why do I feel Second Master's aura?"

Yao Qingli, sensing the anomaly, walked out of the Empress's bedchamber, looking at the worried Bai Zhi, a little puzzled.

"Nothing."

"Little Qingli, what cultivation level have you reached now?"

Bai Zhi forced a smile and asked. This matter was not something Yao Qingli could get involved in, so she naturally didn't intend to tell her.

"Master, I am now at the peak of Great Saint cultivation."

"In the next few days, I should be able to prepare to break through to the Quasi-Emperor Realm."

Yao Qingli spoke.

"That's good. Little Qingli, you should focus on preparing for your breakthrough during this time. With your talent, you will certainly trigger the Quasi-Emperor Tribulation."

"You must take it seriously."

"Please rest assured, Master, Qingli will definitely do her best."

After sending Yao Qingli away, Bai Zhi sighed softly.

"It seems I must go find Eldest Sister."

...Supreme Divine Dynasty, Imperial Capital.

With the matters of the Northern Territory concluded, Gu Yun and Liu Tianhuang naturally returned to the imperial palace.

Zhong Lingyu was also placed in a side hall, left under Gu Yun's care.

About three or four days passed.

She finally slowly woke up.

//576//

Chapter 586 Zhong Lingyu (Two Chapters Combined)

The moment her consciousness returned, an intense pain surged from her limbs and bones, especially from the depths of her Sea of Consciousness in her glabella, causing her to let out a suppressed groan.

Struggling to open her eyes, Zhong Lingyu found herself lying on a soft, comfortable brocade couch in an elegantly furnished but unfamiliar side hall of a palace.

Her Emperor Dao cultivation had been sealed by a pure force, and she felt as if she was firmly bound by an invisible shackles, unable to even mobilize a trace of spiritual energy.

Memories flooded back like a tide—the Northern Border battlefield, the Annihilation Heaven-Imprisoning Grand Array, Liu Tianhuang's terrifying phoenix-patterned halberd, the destructive breach of the array, and the fatal backlash she suffered...

"It failed..."

Her heart was icy cold, filled with unspeakable bitterness.

Not only had the plan failed, but she had also become a prisoner.

However high-spirited she once was, that's how ridiculous she appeared now.

The power of an Immortal Artifact was indeed something she, in her current state, could not contend with.

Just as her thoughts were in turmoil, a voice with a hint of lazy amusement echoed in the hall: "Senior Zhong, you're awake?"

Zhong Lingyu's heart tightened, and she looked in the direction of the voice.

Gu Yun had appeared in the hall at some unknown time, leaning casually against the doorframe, watching her at his leisure.

He was still dressed in white, his face exquisitely handsome, a gentle smile playing on his lips.

"Ding! New Child of Destiny detected!"

"xuan qing treasure mirror, Page 43."

"Name: Zhong Lingyu."

"Age: 123,141."

"Affection: 50."

"Cultivation: Great Emperor Fifth Heaven."

"Identity: Female lead of 'After Her Dao Bone Was Dug Out, She Returned with Seven Grandmasters,' and female lead of 'Reborn into a Fantasy World, I Can Simulate Infinitely.'"

"Ding! Multiple Destinies merged. Reward for conquering Zhong Lingyu adjusted to Red Treasure Chest * 2."

After reviewing Zhong Lingyu's information, Gu Yun understood. In the original Destiny allocation, Zhong Lingyu should have only been a female lead in Yao Qingli's script.

However, the weight of the Seven Grandmasters had greatly reduced her proportion, and a tranquil, non-contending array master would indeed have less dramatic effect.

Her lower ranking was to be expected, but this newly introduced Child of Destiny had brought him an unexpected surprise.

"A simulator system, huh."

"I wonder which corner he's hiding in, secretly developing right now."

"Xi Tong, can his simulator simulate a true future, or a future constructed by Destiny?"

"Ding! This depends on the difference between the Host's system value and that Child of Destiny's system value. The Host currently has 4700 system points, which should be more than the opponent's."

"Should be?"

"Looks like you're not sure either."

"Hehe."

"Great Host, you know, I'm just a harmless little waste, and I need the Great Host's continuous support."

"Alright, stop your babbling!"

"I can't let this kind of protagonist grow up."

Gu Yun sneered inwardly. There was a real possibility that the one-in-fourteen-million failure chance could be tested by this kid. Such a powerful method, of course, had to be in his own hands.

"Don't worry, Host, this Child of Destiny won't appear before you until he's died a thousand or eight hundred times."

"If you want to find him, it's recommended to complete the great dao heavenly evolution diagram first!"

"The great dao heavenly evolution diagram, huh? It seems I'll have to return to the Myriad Spirits Dao Domain once more."

Gu Yun mused, conveniently remembering that he still had a hundred refinements great emperor tomb map that had yet to be used.

According to Yuwen Tian's star emperor script, that secret realm seemed to be near the Myriad Spirits Dao Domain.

"This secret realm has already been inherited by Zhao Kun, and the Heaven Fate Stone within it is also key to Zhao Kun's rise."

"This item, combined with the tortoise shell in Zhao Kun's hand, should be enough to complete the great dao heavenly evolution diagram."

Just as Gu Yun was deep in thought, a clear voice sounded: "Who are you?"

Zhong Lingyu struggled to sit up, her clear, cold eyes fixed on Gu Yun. Although her cultivation had been sealed, the composed demeanor of an Array Dao Great Emperor still remained.

In front of Gu Yun, who was clearly her junior, she tried her best to maintain her dignity.

Gu Yun chuckled softly, slowly walked closer, and sat down on a chair by the bed, as if it were his own.

"Perhaps you've heard my name."

"My name is... Gu Yun."

"Liu Tianhuang's disciple."

A faint shimmer flickered in Zhong Lingyu's eyes.

Gu Yun... the direct descendant of the Immortal Ancient Gu Family, the disciple personally recruited by Liu Tianhuang.

She had indeed heard of him, but she hadn't expected to meet him under such circumstances.

"That's right, my master instructed me to treat Senior Zhong well."

Gu Yun said with a smile, looking like a harmless young man.

Zhong Lingyu had been in seclusion in the deep forest for a long time and hadn't heard much about him. Seeing his gentle attitude now, her guard lowered somewhat.

As the direct descendant of the Immortal Ancient Gu Family and a disciple of Liu Tianhuang, his status was already paramount in the Three Thousand Dao Domains. What could he possibly want from her?

"Your Highness's words are somewhat laughable. Lingyu is inferior in skill and has become a prisoner. I cannot bear Your Highness's hospitality."

Her words were cool and distant. Although she didn't dislike Gu Yun much, their positions were different, so naturally, they couldn't see eye to eye.

"Senior Zhong, you are mistaken. All under heaven come for profit, and all under heaven go for profit."

"You and my master became acquainted through conflict; there may not be an opportunity for cooperation in the future!"

Gu Yun smiled and placed a cup of tea in front of Zhong Lingyu: "Try it. It's Clear Spirit Immortal Tea; it might be beneficial for your current condition."

"...Thank you."

Zhong Lingyu was startled at first, but was quickly drawn by the Dao rhyme of the tea. Her fair hand unconsciously reached out.

As she took the teacup, her fingertips brushed against Gu Yun's hand.

The cool touch made her pause slightly, but the young man didn't seem to notice, his face still bearing that gentle smile.

"Senior Zhong isn't worried we'll play some tricks?"

Zhong Lingyu paused, then gently blew on the tea.

The misty steam rose, making her clear, cold face appear somewhat delicate and charming.

"My cultivation has already been sealed."

"If Your Highness truly wishes to do something, Lingyu has no power to resist."

"Since that's the case, what is there to fear?"

With that, she parted her crimson lips, sipped from the rim of the cup, and slowly took a small mouthful.

An elegant fragrance lingered between her lips and teeth, and a gentle spiritual energy flowed down her throat, slowly nourishing her damaged meridians and Sea of Consciousness.

Her taut nerves actually relaxed a bit in this warm current.

"This tea... truly has miraculous effects."

Zhong Lingyu drank it all in one gulp, without any hesitation.

After setting down the teacup, her long eyelashes drooped slightly. The warmth of the tea circulated within her body, alleviating the pain, but also making her feel the powerlessness of her sealed cultivation more clearly than before.

This vulnerability was extremely unfamiliar to her, causing her to instinctively clench the fingers resting on the brocade quilt.

"It's good that Senior likes it."

"Although this Clear Spirit Immortal Tea cannot undo Master's seal, it has miraculous effects on nourishing the soul and healing Dao injuries."

"It should be able to heal most of the hidden injuries in Senior's body caused by the backlash."

His words were earnest, as if he genuinely considered her well-being.

Zhong Lingyu looked up at him, the young man's eyes clear and pure, making it difficult for her to associate him with Liu Tianhuang's decisive and ruthless disciple.

"Your Highness, if you have a purpose, please speak directly."

Zhong Lingyu asked directly. She didn't believe Gu Yun was just here to drink tea and chat with her.

Gu Yun did not answer directly; instead, a small, ancient bell, shimmering with a faint silver light, slowly floated in his hand.

Zhong Lingyu, who had maintained her composure, suddenly widened her eyes, almost exclaiming: "heavenly river chaos bell?!"

"Senior Zhong indeed knows the origin of this item. It seems I gambled correctly."

The big fish was hooked, but Gu Yun didn't show too much joy. He maintained his original demeanor, guiding her patiently.

"You... where did you get it?"

After a long while, Zhong Lingyu finally calmed her emotions.

Her Annihilation Heaven-Imprisoning Grand Array required an item as its core array eye to exert its maximum effect, but tens of thousands of years of arduous cultivation still hadn't allowed her to find a suitable item.

In the end, she could only settle for her own Natal Emperor Artifact.

Originally, this was enough to run rampant in the Three Thousand Dao Domains, but she hadn't expected to encounter a monster like Liu Tianhuang.

Her Natal Emperor Artifact was destroyed, she suffered severe injuries, and her cultivation was barely a tenth of what it once was. She hadn't expected to see new hope in Gu Yun.

The heavenly river chaos bell... a divine artifact only existing in ancient texts.

It had only briefly appeared in the Primordial Era, a divine artifact beyond Immortals, capable of stabilizing the Five Elements, regulating Yin and Yang, managing chaos, and forming its own array.

For her, this item's significance far surpassed any Emperor Scripture or divine material.

"I obtained it by chance. At the time, I felt this item was extraordinary, but asking everyone around me yielded no results. I never thought I'd find the answer with Senior Zhong."

Gu Yun smiled and placed the small bell on the wooden table.

Zhong Lingyu's gaze remained fixed on it, not moving an inch.

Gu Yun found it a little amusing: "Senior Zhong seems very concerned about this item?"

Zhong Lingyu finally composed herself.

"I am but a prisoner; I dare not harbor presumptuous thoughts."

A blush spread across her beautiful face. She hadn't expected to lose her composure so much in front of a junior.

But this fellow was a bit too uncanny.

She had never heard of Liu Tianhuang wielding an Immortal Artifact before. Could it also have come from this young man?

"If Senior Zhong truly likes it, it's not impossible for me to part with it."

"After all, to me, this item is merely a rare collectible. Perhaps in Senior Zhong's hands, it can unleash its true brilliance."

"Really?!"

"Cough, cough."

Zhong Lingyu's eyes sparkled, then she felt incredibly embarrassed, hastily coughing twice to regain her composure, but the blush on her fair cheeks became even more pronounced.

She turned her face slightly, avoiding Gu Yun's gaze that seemed to see through people's hearts: "Your Highness jests. How could such a divine artifact be given away so casually?"

"Naturally, not to others, but for Senior Zhong, I can part with it."

"There are not many people in the entire Three Thousand Dao Domains who can cause trouble for Master. With Senior Zhong's array Dao attainments, I believe you can make a greater contribution."

"Moreover, Senior... seems to need it very much right now."

Zhong Lingyu's heart skipped a beat. Her Natal Emperor Artifact had been destroyed, and her Dao foundation damaged. Even if Bai Zhi rescued her, without a fortuitous encounter, it would be difficult for her to recover to her peak within ten thousand years.

And her future path would be arduous!

This heavenly river chaos bell was the only hope she could grasp at the moment, and perhaps even... a step further.

The temptation was too great, so great that her Dao Heart, cultivated for many years, surged with intense ripples.

"What does Your Highness need me to do?"

There was no free lunch in the world, and the direct descendant of the Immortal Ancient Gu Family would certainly not do a losing business.

Zhong Lingyu naturally understood this principle. The other party came with bait, but she could only foolishly bite the hook.

This was an open scheme, an open scheme she couldn't refuse.

Even if her eldest sister arrived now, it would be impossible to forcibly seize the treasure from the hands of the direct descendant of the Immortal Ancient Gu Family.

She had only one choice left.

"Senior is a smart person."

"My request is very simple."

He leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between them, and lowered his voice: "I hope Senior... can stay by my side."

Zhong Lingyu's eyes narrowed: "To serve you?"

"Something like that."

"But..."

"Don't worry, the one who has a grudge with Ziwei Empress is my master. I won't get involved unless absolutely necessary."

"If you follow me, you won't turn against your sisters."

"On the contrary, you can continue to delve into your Array Dao, and I will provide you with all the resources you need, as well as the best environment for secluded cultivation."

"Of course... all of this must pass a test."

Gu Yun said with a smile.

"Is that all?"

This condition was so lenient that Zhong Lingyu found it surprising.

She had expected some harsh form of servitude or contract. After all, she was a Great Emperor. How could Liu Tianhuang and the Immortal Ancient Gu Family be so trusting?

"That's all."

Gu Yun nodded affirmatively: "Or, Senior, it's not too late to hear the test before making a decision."

"Tell me."

Zhong Lingyu hesitated for a long time, but ultimately couldn't resist the temptation.

Gu Yun smiled, leaned in, and whispered a few words into her ear.

Zhong Lingyu's beautiful face grew redder and redder, and she suddenly looked up: "No!"

"You're talking nonsense! How could such a thing be possible?"

"Senior, the world is vast, and there are all sorts of wonders."

"My physique is special, and the effects are quite obvious."

"No, no, that won't do."

"How about this, Your Highness, during the time I stay by your side, I will teach you, guaranteeing that you will comprehend the Array Dao laws in the shortest possible time?"

"With Your Highness's comprehension, you will surely succeed within three years."

"Three years?"

Gu Yun shook his head: "I can't wait that long."

"Senior Zhong, if you are truly so troubled, then let's drop this matter. When Senior Ziwei arrives, you can return to the Ziwei Imperial Dynasty."

As he spoke, he made to retrieve the floating small bell.

"Wait!"

Zhong Lingyu almost blurted it out. Gu Yun paused, looking at her at his leisure, waiting for her to continue.

"I... I agree."

Zhong Lingyu's chest rose and fell slightly, her clear, cold eyes now filled with struggle and shame.

She had lived for over 120,000 years, experienced countless trials, and never felt anything amiss being alone. She hadn't expected to... But the heavenly river chaos bell hung quietly before her eyes, making every inch of her Dao Bone yearn for it.

She... had no choice.

PS: Thank you to the great [Time Relic Hunter] for the explosive update and flowers! Thank you very much! There will be another chapter later, a special bonus update!!

//587//

Chapter 587 Test

"It seems Senior made the correct choice!"

Gu Yun stopped, a smile still on his face.

Zhong Lingyu seemed to lose all her strength, slumping onto the bed, and asked with a tremor, "Is there really no other way?"

"If that thing can work, then my essence blood... my essence blood should also work!"

As she spoke, she reached for her chest, but without any cultivation now, how could she force out the Great Emperor's essence blood containing primeval power?

Her collar was torn open, but it only left a few faint red marks on her fair skin, making her appear even more disheveled and helpless.

Gu Yun grabbed her wrist, casually gathering the sudden glimpse of skin.

"Senior, although the power of essence blood is strong, it would cause too much damage to your body."

"Moreover, that is your own essence and comprehension, carrying your unique Dao imprint. For me, the effect might not actually be better than..."

"What's more, forcing out essence blood and damaging your origin would undoubtedly be adding insult to injury to your current physical condition. I imagine this is not what either of us wishes to see."

His gaze was frank and sincere, which made Zhong Lingyu feel a little shy.

"I, I understand. You can take your hand away first."

"It's getting squeezed."

Gu Yun complied readily, withdrawing his hand.

Zhong Lingyu immediately pulled her collar closed and shrank back. The blush on her face had not faded. In all these years, it was her first time being like this in front of a man.

"Then, then you can go out for a bit."

"I, I'll be quick."

Zhong Lingyu's voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum.

Seeing this, Gu Yun turned and left, leaving a transparent crystal on the ground before he departed.

With her cultivation now waste, Zhong Lingyu naturally didn't notice anything.

Only after the young man left the room did she let out a long sigh.

"What Gu Family Emperor Child? He's just a philanderer!"

She pressed two fingers together, her eyes somewhat hollow and unfocused. This matter was truly too fantastical. If not for the immense temptation of the heavenly river chaos bell, she would absolutely not have agreed!

In her mind, the young man's figure lingered.

Zhong Lingyu was in an extremely agitated state, yet unexpectedly, her efficiency was countless times faster than usual.

"How is this possible?"

Snapping back to reality, Zhong Lingyu felt completely flustered.

What had she just done?!!

"No, I can't let him come in so early. He'll definitely think I'm fooling him."

"How about, one, two, three, four?"

"It seems about right."

No sooner said than done, Zhong Lingyu found a suitable solution.

After another flurry of activity, the blush on her cheeks still wouldn't fade.

"Are you done?"

"Almost, almost. Please wait a little longer."

"Senior, if you feel a bit lonely by yourself, I can also help you out."

Saying this, Gu Yun pushed the door open and entered directly.

On the bed, Zhong Lingyu's eyes widened instantly, and she shrank under the covers: "You, you, how did you get in!"

"Oh."

"I suddenly realized I accidentally left something inside, so I came to get it."

"How is it, Senior Zhong, do you need help?"

Gu Yun smiled as he walked to the bed and picked up a crystal shimmering with a faint glow from the ground.

After clearly seeing what the object was, Zhong Lingyu's eyes widened even further.

Her voice trembled: "You didn't turn it on, did you?"

"I don't know, probably not."

Gu Yun said, gently pressing the shadow recording stone. Soon, a melodious voice rang out, and the room instantly fell silent.

"Gu Yun!!"

"You big jerk, you big bad guy!!!"

"..."

"It turns out Senior has such strong opinions about me."

Gu Yun toyed with the shadow recording stone in his hand, his tone revealing no pleasure or anger, only a hint of playfulness.

"Turn, turn it off! Quickly turn it off!"

Zhong Lingyu's muffled voice came from within the covers. Her body had disappeared completely, as she had burrowed herself into the bedding.

Twelve ten thousand years of secluded cultivation, and never had she experienced such a mortifying moment.

Gu Yun's fingertips moved slightly, the light from the shadow recording stone dimmed, the sound abruptly stopped, and the hall fell into an eerie silence.

"This, this is what you wanted. Give me the shadow recording stone!"

A small hand emerged from beneath the covers.

After a long while without receiving a response, Zhong Lingyu had no choice but to poke her head out from the covers: "Gu Yun! What are you doing..."

Her eyes widened, only to see Gu Yun move incredibly swiftly, placing another shadow recording stone into his pouch.

"What did you do!!"

Zhong Lingyu said, trembling.

Gu Yun: "I didn't do anything."

"You're lying, I saw it! Quickly give me that shadow recording stone back."

Zhong Lingyu disregarded her lady-like demeanor and empress's bearing, speaking in a hurried tone.

Gu Yun placed the shadow recording stone in Zhong Lingyu's hand, took the small bottle, and then left directly.

"Wait a moment, there's another one."

"There isn't."

"Impossible, I clearly saw it."

"There really isn't. If you don't believe me, you can search."

"Then come a little closer."

Gu Yun stepped forward calmly, allowing Zhong Lingyu to search him.

"None, still none. How is that possible? I clearly saw it."

Zhong Lingyu was beginning to doubt her sanity. She had almost felt all over Gu Yun's body. 'He has a really good figure, bah, bah, bah,' she still hadn't found it.

"Where did you hide it?"

"No, no, you know spatial laws, don't you!"

"Senior Zhong, are you joking? I'm only a Quasi-Emperor cultivator, how could I possibly understand spatial laws!"

Gu Yun spoke with an innocent expression.

Zhong Lingyu paused: "Then, then where did it go?"

She retracted her hand. Could it be that she had really misjudged?

"I don't know. Perhaps it never existed at all."

Gu Yun was whistling and singing, preparing to leave the room.

"You wait a moment, I, I want to see if it's really effective!"

Zhong Lingyu called out to Gu Yun. It was less of a question and more of a final struggle, to see if this absurd transaction truly held any value.

Gu Yun walked back: "Since Senior Zhong wishes to see, then this junior has nothing to be stingy about."

Gu Yun directly sat down cross-legged, taking out the jade bottle as if no one else was there. The familiar scent emerged, making Zhong Lingyu's pretty face instantly flush red.

"You, what are you going to do?"

She stared intently at Gu Yun, very curious.

Gu Yun's lips curved into a smile. He lightly tapped his wrist forward, and a gentle force instantly leaked out, then enveloped the jade bottle.

The entire process was fluid and breathtaking. Soon, a mass of pure Heaven and Earth spiritual energy appeared between Heaven and Earth.

With a thought, Gu Yun's body swayed, and a profound Dao rhythm emanated from him.

The entire process did not exceed half an hour.

Zhong Lingyu stared dumbfounded at Gu Yun, who had reopened his eyes: "This, it's done?"

"Of course. What did you think, that it would be more troublesome?"

"It's already extremely pure energy. You just need to use the Myriad Transformation Power to purify it, then extract the array Dao comprehension, and that's it."

"How is it? I didn't lie to you, did I?"

"...Heh, hehe."

///588//

Chapter 588 Seven Female Emperor Masters, Jiang Lan's Special Talent (Two-in-One)

"The Myriad Transformation Power is truly terrifying."

After truly witnessing Gu Yun's abilities, even with Zhong Lingyu's extensive knowledge, she couldn't help but be amazed.

"Your supply this time is still too little."

"From now on, supply 300 times this amount. In about half a year, it should be enough."

"Three hundred times?!"

"Gu Yun!!! What are you thinking?!!!"

Zhong Lingyu was furious, wishing she could bite a piece of flesh from Gu Yun's body.

Did this scoundrel even know what he was saying?

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

"That would be troublesome."

Gu Yun looked troubled, then asked, "How about this, I have a space-time secret treasure, where the flow rate inside is a hundred times faster than outside. You can work hard in there on your own."

"I will check in periodically. Once you meet the conditions, I will hand the heavenly river chaos bell over to you, how about that?"

"Okay, but if that's the case, you must tell me in advance every time you come in. No more sudden attacks like this time!"

Zhong Lingyu was truly terrified by Gu Yun; she never wanted to experience that scene again.

Gu Yun heard this and chuckled, "Alright, I promise you."

"But Senior, you must promise me not to slack off."

"I know!!!"

Zhong Lingyu was choked with anger but helpless, so she gritted her teeth and said, "Quickly take me to that alternate space!"

"As you wish."

Gu Yun stopped teasing her. With a flick of his sleeve, the two entered the Great Luo Dao Pagoda.

A moment later, Gu Yun emerged from it.

"Why didn't Master just take Zhong Lingyu directly? Although she has the strength of a Five-Tribulation Great Emperor, she is now just a weak woman with no power. If Master were to act now, he could raise his cultivation to the Fourth Heaven of the Quasi-Emperor realm."

In his mind, Xi Tong's mischievous voice sounded.

"What are you saying, what is this?!"

Gu Yun was very displeased, "Am I that kind of person?"

"No… is he?"

Hong Yu & Shan Hai & Jiang Lan: "Meow meow meow?"

"To deal with different people, one must use different methods to achieve different senses of conquest."

Gu Yun's lips curled slightly. Yao Qingli's seven masters were all exceptional, but also very troublesome. One must eat bite by bite. Starting with Zhong Lingyu, he planned to play a big game of chess: "Boiling a frog in warm water, where there's one, there's two. A bottom line is something meant to be retreated from step by step."

"How long do you think Zhong Lingyu can last?"

"Hehehe, Master truly knows how to play. This system is impressed, truly impressed."

The man and the system let out the exclusive laughter of villains… "Did you take down that Zhong Lingyu?"

In the Empress's bedchamber, Liu Tianhuang lay on the bed, letting out a heavy sigh of relief.

Gu Yun rubbed his waist and sat up.

"Not yet, Master. Don't think of me as so depraved. The reason I want Zhong Lingyu is merely because I value her talent in formations."

"Oh, come on, don't I know your character?"

The Empress rolled her eyes, her slender fingers pinching his waist neither lightly nor heavily, her tone carrying a hint of reproach and understanding: "Still admiring her talent in formations? Speaking of formations, if I remember correctly, wasn't it your Gu Family's ancestor who sealed the creatures of the restricted zone in the Primordial Battlefield?"

"Ancestor is advanced in age, so it's naturally not good to trouble him," Gu Yun chuckled awkwardly.

"Alright, you now possess Quasi-Emperor cultivation. It won't be long before you can stand on your own. There are some things I won't tell you, but you'll understand."

Enjoying Gu Yun's service, Liu Tianhuang looked satisfied and comfortable: "However, there are still some things I need to remind you."

"This Zhong Lingyu is a ticking time bomb. That Bai Zhi is alright."

"As the Ziwei Empress, she has the vast Ziwei Imperial Dynasty behind her and bears the heavy responsibility of resisting the Beyond and the Demon Race. She won't go to extremes in her actions. My dispute with her was merely a matter of pride, nothing serious."

"But… the one who rescued her earlier, that's another matter."

"Bai Zhi and her sisters are seven in total. Bai Zhi ranks third, and Zhong Lingyu ranks fifth."

"The other five are also not to be underestimated. The fourth, Ruan Qing, is the Goddess of War of the Ziwei Imperial Dynasty, renowned for her ferocity on the Beyond battlefield. In the Three Thousand Dao Domains, perhaps only your second uncle can surpass her."

"The sixth, Xiao Biyan, is a Talisman Master, rumored to be as rich as a nation, traveling through the Three Thousand Dao Domains with no one knowing her whereabouts."

"The seventh, Gu Yue, is a healer, traveling across various battlefields, saving lives and healing injuries."

"From a reputation standpoint, they all have positive images."

"Only this second one."

Mentioning Chu Ruoyao, Liu Tianhuang showed a helpless expression.

"What, even the Blood Rakshasa of the Demonic Sect gives you such a headache, Master?"

"Oh? You actually know?"

"That's right, you went to the Demonic Sect a while ago, so it's normal for you to have some understanding of the Twelve Sequences."

"That Chu Ruoyao is proficient in stealth and assassination techniques. You must be careful in the future. If it's her, even I wouldn't be able to detect her proactively."

"The Blood Rakshasa isn't a Six-Tribulation cultivator. Is she truly that terrifying?"

"Six-Tribulations?"

"Hehehe, it's just that no one has been able to force out her stronger techniques!"

"The Demonic Sect runs deep. Don't think you understand it just because you visited two small branches."

"…"

Gu Yun's expression was somewhat silent. If that was the case, he still needed to meet that Demonic Son-in-law first to gather some intelligence.

"By the way, Master introduced the other six, but what about their Eldest Senior Sister?"

"Her…"

"You don't need to worry about her. She won't leave that place," Liu Tianhuang replied.

"What do you mean?"

Gu Yun was a little confused. When Children of Destiny like Yao Qingli reached their level, the script's protection was very strict, and Gu Yun could only know a general idea about many things inside. Now that he had Liu Tianhuang, who was like an encyclopedia, he naturally wanted to ask everything clearly.

"It's still too early to tell you about this now. Knowing too much when your strength doesn't match can instead invite disaster," Liu Tianhuang said seriously, "You just need to know that it's related to the immortal lock."

"immortal lock."

Hearing the familiar term, Gu Yun's brows furrowed deeper. Everyone said he was the key to unlocking the immortal lock, but no one had clearly told him what the immortal lock actually was.

Damn riddle-makers.

"Xi Tong."

"Heh heh, Xi Tong doesn't know."

"Forget it, asking is pointless."

Xi Tong had lost a lot of her power and couldn't help him much for now.

Gu Yun's mind quickly calmed down. He would take it one step at a time. His Master and elders wouldn't harm him. Once his strength reached the appropriate level, he would naturally know the truth.

"Alright, you brat, go wherever you want to go."

"I need to go into seclusion to suppress my cultivation."

"Sigh, I was a bit too reckless this time. Next time, I need to be more careful. Using one-tenth of my strength should be enough."

Liu Tianhuang left, leaving Gu Yun alone and bewildered.

"No… Master, you…!"

Gu Yun looked aggrieved. This woman just left on her own?

It was intentional, she was absolutely intentional!!

His figure flashed, directly executing Plan B… "Aunt, when do you think Brother Yun will come again?"

In the small courtyard, Jiang Qing looked up at the sky, where the stars seemed to connect and form Gu Yun's image.

She reached up, wanting to touch his face.

In front of Jiang Lan, a refining furnace was placed. In the flames, a jade pendant-shaped treasure gradually solidified.

She was fully focused at the moment, and in response to Jiang Qing's question, she only casually replied, "Xiao Qing'er, don't forget our identities."

"It's already a blessing that Master didn't kill us. How can we ask for more?"

"His Highness the Emperor Son is busy with countless matters, we should understand him."

Sometimes, one wrong step leads to many wrong steps.

"Sigh, I shouldn't have run away from the marriage back then. If I had known His Highness looked like this, how could I not marry him? Really, it's so annoying, so annoying."

Jiang Qing flopped onto the bed, burying her head deep in the pillow, her feet kicking wildly.

Jiang Lan seemed to suffer a heavy blow. Her body paused slightly, and the spiritual power controlling the fire in her hand became somewhat unstable.

The entire refining furnace began to stir, and blazing flames spread out.

"Oh no!!"

Jiang Lan paled with fright, hastily controlling her spiritual power to manage the fire, fearing that this power would affect Jiang Qing nearby.

Suddenly, a pair of large hands covered her own.

Gentle spiritual power infused into her body, and Jiang Lan felt as if she was filled with strength.

"Your Highness!"

"Brother Yun!!"

One mature and one childish voice, one large and one small, sounded almost simultaneously, but both were filled with joy.

Gu Yun did not respond but focused entirely on helping Jiang Lan stabilize the refining furnace.

Soon, the flames completely stabilized, and a jade pendant shimmering with three Emperor Runes floated out, settling in Jiang Lan's hand.

The latter looked at it, her face beaming with incomparable joy: "Three… three Emperor Runes?"

"It actually succeeded."

"Refining an Emperor artifact as a Quasi-Emperor, Lan'er, your refining talent ranks among the top three in the Three Thousand Dao Domains."

Gu Yun also praised her without reservation. Jiang Lan's talent was very rare. When refining the zhouxin bracelet, she had just stepped into the Quasi-Emperor realm, yet she was able to combine the laws of time with refining techniques to create a space-time treasure that even Great Emperor realm refiners found tricky. Her exceptional talent was evident.

Now she was refining artifacts across ranks. If she could be cultivated with sufficient resources, her future would undoubtedly be limitless.

"Lan'er…"

Jiang Lan's delicate body trembled slightly, and she tightened her grip on the jade pendant, a warmth welling up in her heart.

His Highness, in his heart, must still have a tiny place for her, just a tiny bit would be enough.

"Thanks to Your Highness's assistance, otherwise this jade would surely have been destroyed. Lan'er feels unworthy."

She lowered her head slightly, her voice soft.

"Brother Yun!"

Jiang Qing also ran over at this moment, hugging Gu Yun's arm without any reservation, looking up with her small face, her eyes full of dependence and joy, "You finally came to see us!"

Gu Yun smiled and ruffled Jiang Qing's hair, but his gaze remained on Jiang Lan.

"With ordinary materials, yet able to refine an Emperor weapon with three Emperor Runes, your control over heat and Dao Runes has reached perfection. There's no need to be modest."

"Then, does Your Highness like it?"

"What did you say?"

Gu Yun was slightly startled.

"This is specifically refined for Your Highness," Jiang Lan raised her head and offered the jade pendant.

Her arms were stretched out, trembling slightly.

Gu Yun was slightly taken aback, and he brushed away the beautiful woman's hair, which was damp with sweat, from her forehead.

"Lan'er knows that for Your Highness, a three-rune Emperor artifact might not be much."

"But this item is slightly different. Lan'er has infused a trace of the profound meaning of the law of time into it. When an enemy's technique approaches within half a meter of this jade pendant, it will be slowed down tenfold. Even if it can't play a crucial role, perhaps it can have a tiny effect in times of crisis."

Jiang Lan's voice was soft, with a barely perceptible tremor, as she offered the jade pendant forward again.

She didn't quite dare to look up, and Gu Yun didn't immediately take it, only looking at her deeply.

The woman's eyes were clear, carrying a hint of nervousness and anticipation, and a faint blush colored her gentle and charming face.

Under the starlight and the lingering glow of the furnace fire, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

"A very beautiful jade pendant, Lan'er, you are thoughtful."

Gu Yun suddenly smiled, bowing his head in front of Jiang Lan, and gently raising the beauty's lowered head with his finger: "You put it on for me."

"I…"

Jiang Lan was somewhat overwhelmed.

"What, unwilling?"

"Then how about letting Xiao Qing'er do it?"

"Okay, okay."

Jiang Qing chimed in from the side, but made no move.

Jiang Lan's pretty face flushed, "I… I'll do it."

With that, she took out a silk thread, threaded it through the jade pendant, and then stepped forward, carefully wrapping it around Gu Yun's neck.

"It's… it's done."

Admiring her masterpiece, Jiang Lan's lips curved into a smile.

"How is it? Does it look good?"

Gu Yun turned to Jiang Qing, deliberately avoiding Jiang Lan first.

"It looks too good, hehe, Aunt Lan's refining technique is indeed the best!"

Jiang Qing said with a smile.

"What do you think?"

The young man turned his head again.

"Good… good-looking."

"Look up and say it to me."

Jiang Lan mustered her courage and looked up: "Good…"

"Mm…"

Their lips met, and a large hand covered the back of her head.

After a long while, their lips parted.

Jiang Lan stumbled, and Gu Yun steadied her by her waist.

"Brother Yun is biased! He only kisses Aunt Lan!"

Jiang Qing jumped over at this moment, pouting her small mouth in protest, but her eyes were full of smiles.

Gu Yun chuckled, reaching out his other hand to rub her head: "Don't worry, little girl, you won't be left out."

He lowered his head again, looking at Jiang Lan: "I really like this gift. From now on, I'll always wear it."

"Mm… As long as Your Highness likes it."

Jiang Lan leaned into Gu Yun's other arm, her heart gradually settling down.

"Ding! The Child of Destiny Jiang Lan has completely fallen in love, rewarding 1000 villain value."

… (One thousand words omitted here)

"Lan'er, in these past days, have you only refined this one jade pendant?"

Gu Yun leaned against Jiang Lan, casually embracing the beauty's perfect body. The jade pendant became the link between them, connecting their hearts.

Jiang Lan was still a little dazed: "There… there are these too."

"They are all defective products, not presentable."

A small jade box appeared in Jiang Lan's hand, containing all Quasi-Emperor artifacts, including a few one-rune Emperor artifacts and one two-rune artifact, all meticulously polished.

Gu Yun reached out to touch them. Jiang Lan seemed to awaken, trying to take the items back: "Your Highness, these are not…"