Volume 1, Chapter 133 – Trouble Is Coming

News that the Lingxu Blessed Paradise had taken root within Yaochi Immortal Palace soon spread through the palace’s unique internal channels.

Yun Yun and Li Hanyi were naturally the first to know.

As Deputy Palace Master and Grand Elder, they were acutely sensitive to any spatial disturbance within the Immortal Palace.

The instant that independent little world was “stitched” into the Immortal Palace’s space, both women opened their eyes from meditation almost simultaneously.

“This is…”

Standing atop Cloudmist Peak, Yun Yun gazed toward the previously empty square to the west, a flicker of surprise crossing her eyes.

She could clearly sense that the spatial structure there had undergone a fundamental change.

An independent secret realm now floated quietly beside the Myriad-Phenomena Tower, seamlessly integrated into the Immortal Palace’s existing surroundings.

“The Palace Master’s handiwork.”

Li Hanyi’s cool voice rang out. At some point, she had appeared beside Yun Yun.

“It’s quite suitable.”

Yun Yun nodded, a smile gracing her gentle features.

“Indeed. The disciples need exactly this kind of place to temper themselves. It’s just…”

Her gaze sharpened slightly as she studied the faint spatial ripples at the secret realm’s entrance.

“This secret realm doesn’t seem newly created. It feels more like… it was moved here from somewhere else.”

Li Hanyi did not answer. She merely watched in silence.

She did not care where the secret realm had come from, only what it could bring to the Immortal Palace.

Meanwhile, in the main hall,

Gu Han had already stored the secret realm key in the system space and was teasing A-Yao, who had just woken up and was still a little groggy.

“Master Mama, A-Yao had a dream.”

A-Yao rubbed her eyes and said in her childish voice,

“I dreamed about a huge, beautiful valley. There were little birds that glowed and trees that could talk!”

Gu Han paused and regarded A-Yao thoughtfully.

The little girl had a special constitution, and her powers of perception far surpassed those of ordinary people.

Rеаⅾ оո ΚаtReаⅾіnɡCαfе

She had probably caught a few fragments of the spatial disturbance created when the Lingxu Blessed Paradise merged with the palace.

“That wasn’t a dream.”

Gu Han rubbed her little head.

“That was a secret realm Master prepared for A-Yao and your junior brothers and sisters.”

“A secret realm?”

A-Yao’s eyes lit up instantly, all traces of sleepiness vanishing.

“Really? Is it even more fun than home?”

“It’s more dangerous than home, but it’ll also be more interesting.”

Gu Han chuckled softly.

“When your junior brothers and sisters return, A-Yao will be able to see it.”

Just then, Yun Yun’s gentle voice came from outside the hall.

“Palace Master.”

“Come in.”

Yun Yun pushed open the door. When she saw A-Yao excitedly tugging on Gu Han’s sleeve and peppering her with questions, the smile in her eyes deepened.

She bowed to Gu Han before speaking.

“Palace Master, that new secret realm to the west…”

“That is the Lingxu Blessed Paradise.”

Gu Han spoke plainly.

“It’s a training ground prepared for the disciples.”

She briefly explained the secret realm’s basic features.

It was suitable for disciples from Foundation Establishment through the Nascent Soul stage, with diverse environments, demonic beast nests, ruined relics, and precious natural treasures.

Yun Yun listened intently, her eyes shining brighter by the moment.

She understood perfectly well what a secret realm entirely under the Palace Master’s control meant for the sect.

It meant the disciples of Yaochi Immortal Palace would have their own stable, safe, and resource-rich training ground!

Reαⅾ on КаtReadiոɡСαfe

“The Palace Master has thought of everything.”

Yun Yun praised her sincerely.

“With the Lingxu Blessed Paradise, the disciples’ practical combat abilities will improve by leaps and bounds. It’s just…”

She hesitated briefly.

“There’s no need to look into it.”

Gu Han naturally saw through her curiosity. Her tone was calm, yet left no room for argument.

“It belongs to Yaochi Immortal Palace now. That’s all that matters.”

Yun Yun immediately understood and asked no further questions. Instead, she changed the subject.

“Then has the Palace Master given any preliminary thought to the rules governing the secret realm’s use?”

“Of course.”

Gu Han had planned it all out long ago.

“First, the secret realm won’t be open to everyone.”

“Disciples must reach a certain cultivation level before they can enter to temper themselves. You may determine the exact requirement.”

“Second, the secret realm will be divided into zones.”

“The outer region is suitable for Foundation Establishment disciples. Only those at the Golden Core stage or above may enter the core region.”

“Third, all resources within the secret realm must be harvested sustainably. Overharvesting is forbidden.”

“Finally, and most importantly, private fighting between fellow disciples is strictly forbidden within the secret realm. Any disputes may be settled in the arena.”

“If anyone dares to use lethal force against a fellow disciple inside the secret realm, their cultivation will be crippled and they will be expelled from the Immortal Palace!”

Gu Han laid out the rules one by one, clearly and methodically. There were incentives, restrictions, and ironclad laws.

Yun Yun recorded them carefully, nodding inwardly as she did.

The Palace Master might appear aloof and easygoing, but when it came to managing the sect and nurturing its disciples, she was meticulous and knew precisely when to tighten or loosen the reins.

Rewards and punishments, tolerance and boundaries. Only by balancing them all could a sect endure.

“Yun Yun understands.”

She wrote down the final rule.

Rеaⅾ оn ΚаtReаdіոgСafе

“Once the disciples return, I’ll announce the details and begin selecting the first group to enter the secret realm.”

“Mm.”

Gu Han nodded, then added,

“During the initial opening, the requirements can be relaxed somewhat. Give every disciple at Foundation Establishment or above a chance to enter and familiarize themselves with the environment. We can adjust the rules later based on their performance.”

“Yes.”

Yun Yun accepted the instruction.

“There’s one more matter.”

Gu Han glanced toward the hall doors.

“How is Luoshui being treated?”

“As the Palace Master instructed, she has been placed in our finest guest residence, and everything provided to her is of the highest standard.”

Yun Yun replied,

“She seems very interested in the Immortal Palace. Today, with Elder Fushan accompanying her, she toured several areas and asked many questions about how we train our disciples.”

“However, she knows her boundaries. She never asks about anything she shouldn’t, nor does she approach any place she shouldn’t enter.”

Yun Yun paused, a flicker of admiration in her eyes.

“She has a steady temperament and knows exactly how far to go. As expected of Empress Qingxuan’s first disciple.”

Gu Han nodded slightly but said nothing more.

Qingxuan had sent Luoshui to deliver gifts openly and investigate in secret.

But since Luoshui was following the rules, Gu Han did not mind letting her see the surface of Yaochi Immortal Palace.

As for what lay beneath…

“You may go.” Gu Han waved a hand.

Yun Yun bowed and withdrew.

Silence returned to the hall.

A-Yao pestered Gu Han with questions about the “secret realm” for a while longer.

Only after Gu Han promised to take her inside to play before anyone else once the secret realm officially opened did the satisfied little girl run off to feed the fish by Yaochi.

Rеaԁ on ΚαtReaⅾіnɡСαfе

Gu Han sat alone on the cloud couch, her fingertips absently stroking the Profound Heart Bracelet on her left wrist.

“Qingxuan…”

Gu Han murmured the name, her eyes clouded with complicated emotions.

That peerlessly beautiful, languid yet domineering Empress of the Eastern Region had given her one of a matching pair of bracelets and left such an intimate voice transmission in the jade slip…

What exactly was she trying to do?

Gu Han was no fool. Of course she could tell that Qingxuan’s attitude toward her was anything but ordinary.

The way she looked at her, the things she said, those subtle, half-hidden flirtations…

But Gu Han was a genuine woman now…

Empress Qingxuan had ruled the Eastern Region for tens of thousands of years and had even traveled across the Xuanhuang Continent. What sights hadn’t she seen?

What handsome prodigies and beautiful women hadn’t she encountered?

Why single out Gu Han…?

Could that slap have somehow gotten to her?

Gu Han rubbed her brow, feeling that the matter was rather troublesome.

If Qingxuan were a man, Gu Han could simply reject him outright or ignore him altogether.

But Qingxuan was a woman, one whose status, strength, and beauty were in no way inferior to Gu Han’s.

More importantly, Qingxuan had never said anything outright. Everything had merely been an ambiguous probe.

If Gu Han overreacted, she would only make herself look presumptuous.

“What a headache!”

Gu Han sighed softly and set the matter of the bracelet aside for now.

Planning the Immortal Palace’s next stage of development was more important at present.

The disciples would return soon. Once the Lingxu Blessed Paradise opened, Yaochi Immortal Palace would enter a new stage of development.

And word of her title as the “Yaochi Empress” was spreading throughout the outside world. It would surely attract the attention of those old monsters before long.

“A storm is coming.”