Volume 1, Chapter 149 – The Astonished Empress Lingshuang

The next day, at the first glimmer of dawn.

Eastern Courtyard, guest quarters.

Empress Lingshuang stood alone in the courtyard, frost dancing like a tiny sprite at her fingertips.

One moment, it became an ice butterfly spreading its wings; the next, it condensed into a snow lotus on the verge of blooming. Each form was exquisitely wrought and possessed a Dao Resonance all its own.

She was contemplating the unfathomable Dao Resonance Gu Han had displayed in yesterday’s battle, trying to grasp a trace of its true meaning.

“Your Majesty, the Deputy Palace Master of Yaochi Immortal Palace requests an audience.”

Lanling appeared soundlessly outside the pavilion and reported in a low voice.

Empress Lingshuang’s fingertip stilled. The ice butterfly shattered and dissolved into specks of frosty starlight.

“Let her in.”

Yun Yun entered the courtyard at an unhurried pace and inclined herself slightly toward Empress Lingshuang in the pavilion.

“Senior, have you found the accommodations comfortable?”

“They are adequate.”

Empress Lingshuang’s gaze settled on Yun Yun, a hint of scrutiny flashing through her cool eyes.

Peak of the ninth heaven of Tribulation Transcendence. Her sword intent was deep and enduring, her foundation terrifyingly solid. Rarer still was her poise.

Yaochi Immortal Palace truly was filled with hidden talents.

Even its Deputy Palace Master possessed such an extraordinary presence.

“Is Fellow Daoist Gu occupied today?”

Empress Lingshuang came straight to the point.

Yun Yun seemed to have expected the question and replied gently,

“The Palace Master is in secluded cultivation. If Senior has time, I can take you to her.”

“There’s no hurry.”

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Empress Lingshuang waved a hand.

“I would like to look around. Would that be permissible?”

After a moment’s consideration, Yun Yun agreed.

“Of course. Senior, please follow me.”

The two left the Eastern Courtyard, one leading and the other following.

Along the way, Empress Lingshuang appeared to be casually admiring the Immortal Palace’s scenery, but in truth, she was using her divine sense to examine every blade of grass, every tree, every brick and tile.

The more she sensed, the more astonished she became, and the graver her expression grew.

Profound runes could faintly be seen circulating among the upturned eaves and interlocking brackets of the pavilions and towers they passed.

Even the spiritual flowers and rare herbs growing freely beside the path were more vibrant than those in the outside world, their medicinal properties exceptionally pure.

Whenever disciples of the Immortal Palace encountered Yun Yun and Empress Lingshuang, they stopped and bowed respectfully from a distance.

They were respectful but not timid, their eyes clear and bright with pride in their sect and enthusiasm for cultivation.

What caught Empress Lingshuang’s attention even more was the natural discipline in their every movement. Their auras were calm and steady, wholly unlike those of ordinary sect disciples.

“The disciples of your palace have been trained well.”

It was rare for Empress Lingshuang to offer praise unprompted. Though her tone remained cool, it carried a trace of approval.

“Senior is too kind. It is all thanks to the Palace Master and the elders’ attentive guidance.”

Yun Yun responded gently, neither claiming credit nor resorting to false modesty. Her manner was perfectly measured.

The two gradually reached the relatively open area on the western side of the Immortal Palace.

In the distance, a majestic, ancient nine-story tower came into view.

Empress Lingshuang halted involuntarily. Her pupils contracted slightly, and her gaze fixed on the towering structure.

With her cultivation and breadth of experience, she instantly realized that this tower was anything but ordinary!

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It seemed to be more than a mere building. To her, it felt less like a structure than a mighty expert who had mastered the laws of time and space!

“This tower…”

For once, a note of curiosity entered Empress Lingshuang’s voice.

Yun Yun followed her gaze. A flicker of understanding and quiet pride crossed her eyes as she calmly explained,

“Senior, this is the Myriad-Phenomena Tower.

“Time flows approximately ten times faster inside than in the outside world, and the spiritual energy within is purer and denser. Most of the palace’s disciples cultivate inside the tower.”

“Time flows ten times faster?”

Even Empress Lingshuang, who had seen countless rare and precious treasures in her time, could not keep a storm of shock from surging through her at Yun Yun’s seemingly casual explanation!

Treasures capable of altering the flow of time did exist. Over the course of her long life, she had seen a scant few herself.

But without exception, they demanded a tremendous price to use, came with numerous restrictions, and affected only a minuscule area. None could possibly be displayed so openly as a “public facility” available to every disciple for cultivation!

This was clearly beyond the limits of her understanding!

What rank of artifact could it possibly be?

A quasi-immortal artifact? No!

She had seen quasi-immortal artifacts before. None possessed such a heaven-defying ability, one capable of practically remaking the world itself!

Could this be a true immortal artifact?!

The thought made Empress Lingshuang’s breath catch.

She suddenly recalled the mysterious dark-gold ancient bell Gu Han had summoned yesterday.

And now, Yaochi Immortal Palace also possessed a Myriad-Phenomena Tower with such an inconceivable function?

Almost instinctively, she extended her divine sense toward the Myriad-Phenomena Tower again, attempting to probe deeper inside.

However, the runes circulating across the tower brightened faintly and gently repelled her divine sense, preventing it from penetrating even the slightest bit.

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This undoubtedly confirmed her suspicions: the tower’s rank and defenses were far beyond anything she had imagined!

Empress Lingshuang slowly withdrew her gaze. Little emotion showed on her breathtaking face, but turbulent waves were already churning in the depths of her eyes.

She was beginning to understand how Yaochi Immortal Palace, despite having been established for barely over a year, had managed to produce disciples with such solid foundations who advanced at astonishing speed.

It possessed such a heaven-defying time artifact, along with the Enlightenment Tea Tree, an innate spiritual root, on the island at the center of the lake.

The cultivation resources and reserves of Yaochi Immortal Palace were so extravagant as to be outrageous!

Had that woman Qingxuan also been deeply shaken by these things when she first saw them?

Was that why she had…

Empress Lingshuang’s thoughts wandered for a moment before she swiftly reined them in.

Her curiosity about Gu Han instantly reached its peak.

“Your Palace Master… is truly unfathomable.”

After a long silence, those were the only words Empress Lingshuang finally uttered.

This time, much of the competitive edge was absent from her tone, replaced by a faint, almost imperceptible note of… admiration.

Yun Yun smiled slightly but did not respond. Instead, she continued leading the way.

“Senior, ahead is the entrance to the Alchemy Pavilion’s Myriad-Phenomena Medicinal Garden. It contains a self-contained space capable of simulating countless environments for cultivating spiritual plants.”

Empress Lingshuang looked in the direction Yun Yun indicated and saw a spatial entrance suspended quietly not far from the Alchemy Pavilion, shrouded in a hazy glow.

Despite the distance between them, she could still sense how extraordinary it was.

It was actually an independent pocket secret realm… devoted exclusively to cultivating spiritual plants.

Empress Lingshuang was already growing numb to the surprises.

Yaochi Immortal Palace not only possessed the heaven-defying Myriad-Phenomena Tower and an innate spiritual root that could aid enlightenment, but even had an entire secret realm dedicated to cultivating spiritual herbs!

How could such extravagance possibly belong to a newly founded sect?

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She felt her understanding of Gu Han and Yaochi Immortal Palace being overturned again and again.

Was Gu Han truly someone from Canglan Continent?

The mysteries surrounding her seemed far more complex than Empress Lingshuang had imagined.

Meanwhile, disciples throughout the Immortal Palace were quietly discussing the Empress of the Northern Region, who would be “staying temporarily” with them.

“Have you heard? Empress Lingshuang is apparently going to stay at our Immortal Palace for a while.”

“Seriously? Isn’t she from the Northern Region? How does she have time to come and stay with us?”

“Who knows… But the Deputy Palace Master is accompanying her personally, and the Palace Master hasn’t objected, so it must be true.”

“Wow, we might get to see the legendary Empress up close! Do you think she’ll give us some pointers on our cultivation?”

“In your dreams! Do you think everyone is like our Palace Master and willing to guide our cultivation?”

“You have a point… Still, her aura feels so cold. Even colder than the Grand Elder’s.”

“She’s the Empress who has ruled the Northern Region for tens of thousands of years. Of course her presence is formidable. But the Grand Elder is incredibly powerful too!”

The disciples chattered excitedly, curiosity, reverence, and yearning mingling within them. More than anything else, however, they felt a deep sense of collective pride.

Even the Empress of the Northern Region had come to visit their Immortal Palace!

Did that not indirectly prove the prestige and strength of Yaochi Immortal Palace and its Palace Master?

Although Gu Han was cultivating, the System had already informed her of everything happening outside.

When she saw Empress Lingshuang’s shock at the Myriad-Phenomena Tower, the corners of Gu Han’s lips curved upward almost imperceptibly.

After all, the Myriad-Phenomena Tower was not merely a tower capable of accelerating cultivation. It was also the Immortal Palace’s greatest trump card.

There was no harm in letting Empress Lingshuang see it.

At the very least, it would make her understand that Yaochi Immortal Palace was not a faction anyone could push around at will. It possessed more than enough strength and reserves to stand its ground.

It might also prompt the forthright yet stubborn Empress of the Northern Region to give more thought to her actions.