Volume 1, Chapter 143 – The Dragonsoar Sovereign Has Arrived

At that critical moment…

A faint gleam flashed in Gu Han’s eyes. With a thought, she withdrew the Donghuang Bell’s remaining power.

The dark-gold sound waves slowly dissipated.

Aside from the lingering turbulence of laws and shattered fragments of stars, an eerie calm returned to the starry sky.

Empress Lingshuang stood frozen, the shock and grim resolve in her eyes yet to fade.

The Frostheaven Sword trembled faintly in her hand, as if echoing the heart-stopping peril of that final instant.

“You…”

She stared at Gu Han, her lips parting slightly. Her voice held a trace of hoarseness that even she failed to notice.

“Why did you stop?”

Gu Han gently ran her fingertips over the Donghuang Bell’s smooth, warm surface. The bell transformed into a stream of dark-gold light and vanished into her sleeve.

She raised her eyes to Empress Lingshuang, her gaze as calm as ever.

“Fellow Daoist Lingshuang was willing to burn away her lifespan for the sake of fighting with all her strength. I admire that.”

“But continuing this battle would do you no good, and I would find it equally pointless.”

“I established Yaochi Immortal Palace for no greater purpose than to cultivate in peace and teach my disciples. I have no intention of making enemies.”

She paused, turning her gaze toward the distant depths of the starry sky.

“Let us call today’s battle a draw. What do you say?”

Empress Lingshuang fell silent.

She stared fixedly at Gu Han. There was not the slightest trace of a victor’s pride on that cold, transcendent face, nor any hint of feigned pity.

There was only calm, as though that strike, powerful enough to suppress a river of stars, had been no more significant than brushing a speck of dust from her clothes.

That calm made her feel more defeated than any boasting or mockery ever could.

She had burned a thousand years of her lifespan and brought out the Frostheaven Sword, an artifact approaching quasi-immortal rank, pouring everything she had into the fight for the sake of one satisfying battle.

Yet her opponent had remained completely at ease from beginning to end. In the end, Gu Han had even stopped of her own accord, giving Empress Lingshuang a graceful way out.

What was this supposed to be?

Pity? Charity?

A fire smoldered in Empress Lingshuang’s chest, but she had nowhere to vent it.

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Yet she knew Gu Han was right.

If they continued fighting, she would undoubtedly lose and might even be gravely injured.

But to admit defeat just like that…

She clenched the Frostheaven Sword so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

Just as Empress Lingshuang was locked in a fierce inner struggle, unable to quell her humiliation and fury…

“Hum…”

Without the slightest warning, a vast aura spread from the depths of the starry sky!

It was neither frigid and piercing like Empress Lingshuang’s nor profound and natural like Gu Han’s.

Instead, it carried the majestic, righteous authority of an emperor ruling over all creation!

“What?!”

Empress Lingshuang’s expression changed sharply. She whipped her head around toward the source of the aura.

A flicker of understanding crossed Gu Han’s eyes.

He was here.

Just as she had expected.

When the System warned her that “an Immortal Ascension expert was observing from concealment,” she had already guessed who it was.

There was only one person on the entire Canglan Continent who could prompt such a grave warning from the System while remaining hidden from both her senses and Empress Lingshuang’s.

In the distant starry sky, ripples suddenly spread through what had appeared to be empty space.

A figure slowly stepped out of the void. He wore purple-gold imperial dragon robes and a flat-topped imperial crown. His features were incomparably handsome, and he possessed the imposing majesty of an emperor descending upon the Nine Heavens.

He appeared no older than twenty-seven or twenty-eight, yet his deep-set eyes seemed to hold the weight of countless ages.

Most striking of all was the longsword in his hand. It was dark green from hilt to tip, with a guard shaped like two dragons vying for a pearl, while natural patterns of mountains, rivers, and the realm adorned its blade.

It was the Canglan Continent’s only quasi-immortal artifact, the Dragon Soul Sword!

“Longteng, what are you doing here?”

A flicker of astonishment crossed Empress Lingshuang’s eyes.

Why had he appeared here?!

And he had been hiding nearby all along?!

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Empress Lingshuang abruptly turned to Gu Han, her eyes filled with shock and suspicion.

Could he also have come because of the “Yaochi Empress”?

Sovereign Longteng nodded to Empress Lingshuang in greeting before turning his gaze to Gu Han.

A trace of admiration flashed through those eyes that seemed capable of piercing through the ages, though even more evident was his curiosity.

“Fellow Daoist Gu.”

Sovereign Longteng spoke in a warm, resonant voice that nonetheless carried unquestionable authority.

“I must apologize for concealing myself nearby for so long.”

“I was simply delighted to encounter such a formidable expert and wished to see your true strength.”

“Given the strength you displayed just now, even I would not dare claim with certainty that I could defeat you.”

“Rarer still is your composure and your understanding of when to stop.”

“Such bearing is worthy of the title ‘Empress.’”

The moment he said this, Empress Lingshuang’s expression grew even darker.

Longteng was actually saying that even he might not be able to defeat the Yaochi Empress?

Gu Han regarded Sovereign Longteng as thoughts raced through her mind.

He clearly had not revealed himself merely to exchange a few pleasantries.

“You flatter me, Sovereign.”

Gu Han inclined her head slightly, her voice clear and calm.

“May I ask what brings you here?”

At her question, an enigmatic smile appeared on Sovereign Longteng’s face.

“I have come for three reasons.”

“First, naturally, is to meet a newly ascended peer.”

His gaze lingered on Gu Han for a moment before he continued slowly.

“Your breakthrough to Immortal Ascension a year ago shook the Five Regions, yet you then vanished without a trace.”

“Now that you have reappeared and displayed such strength, I naturally had to come and meet you in person.”

“Second…”

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He turned toward Empress Lingshuang, a note of persuasion entering his voice.

“Since Fellow Daoist Gu has no desire to fight you, Lingshuang, why must you remain so fixated on this battle?”

“The title of Empress is merely an empty name. The Canglan Continent is vast enough to accommodate all three of you.”

Empress Lingshuang pressed her lips tightly together and did not reply.

After all, she had entered Immortal Ascension only forty thousand years ago. Sovereign Longteng could be considered her senior.

Seeing that she remained silent, Sovereign Longteng knew she had accepted his counsel. He smiled faintly and continued.

“As for the third reason…”

His gaze returned to Gu Han, and his expression grew solemn.

“I would like to invite Fellow Daoist Gu to participate in a major undertaking concerning the future of the Canglan Continent.”

“A major undertaking?”

Gu Han arched an eyebrow slightly.

“Indeed.”

Sovereign Longteng nodded, his voice dropping lower.

“This matter concerns the mystery of the path to immortality.”

“If Fellow Daoist Gu is interested in the details, you may come to the Longteng Dynasty in Central Province to discuss them.”

“When the time comes, several fellow cultivators from the other four regions will also be present.”

Gu Han’s interest stirred at those words.

A gathering of Immortal Ascension experts?

The mystery of the path to immortality?

It seemed Sovereign Longteng knew quite a few secrets.

“Thank you for informing me, Sovereign.”

Gu Han pondered for a moment before replying slowly.

“Once I have settled matters at home, I will visit the Longteng Dynasty in Central Province.”

“Good.”

Sovereign Longteng nodded, his gaze sweeping over the distant streaks of light rapidly approaching them.

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Those were Tribulation Transcendence cultivators from the various regions who had been alerted by the shock waves of their battle.

“In that case, I will leave you both in peace.”

He cupped his hands slightly toward Gu Han and Empress Lingshuang.

“Until we meet again.”

With those words, he lightly swept the Dragon Soul Sword through the air.

A gateway silently opened in the void. Sovereign Longteng stepped inside, and his figure vanished.

It was as though he had never appeared at all.

Only the echo of his voice and the lingering imperial pressure remained in the starry sky.

Empress Lingshuang remained silent for a long while before slowly letting out a heavy breath.

She turned toward Gu Han, the emotions in her eyes more complicated than ever.

There was shock, resentment, and bewilderment, but more than anything else, there was an admiration she had no choice but to acknowledge.

Even Longteng had appeared in person and given Gu Han such a high appraisal.

If Empress Lingshuang continued to press the matter, it would only make her seem petty.

“Gu Han.”

Empress Lingshuang spoke slowly. Although her voice remained cold, some of the hostility had faded.

“Today’s battle… I will remember it.”

She gave Gu Han a long, searching look.

“You are strong. Stronger than I imagined.”

“You are worthy of the title Yaochi Empress.”

Gu Han smiled faintly, her smile light as a wisp of cloud, yet striking amid the ruins of the starry sky.

She said nothing more, merely inclining her head in acknowledgment of Empress Lingshuang’s candor.

The battle had begun abruptly and ended just as decisively.

With Sovereign Longteng’s appearance and mediation, as well as Gu Han’s decision to stop the fight, the tense, confrontational atmosphere had quietly dissipated.

All that remained were the lingering ripples of energy yet to subside in the starry sky and the turbulent thoughts surging through the minds of the two women involved.