Volume 1, Chapter 172 – Changes in the Two Empresses

The following morning.

Across the Immortal Palace, the disciples had already begun their daily cultivation.

Sword qi crisscrossed the martial practice ground, while the fragrance of medicinal herbs drifted from Danxia Peak. Everything proceeded in orderly fashion, brimming with the vitality of a new day.

Yet even as they cultivated, many disciples found themselves glancing toward the Myriad-Phenomena Tower on the western side, their eyes filled with anticipation.

The tower spirit had already been born. Once it awakened, their cultivation speed would advance by leaps and bounds!

The list of those entering the Lingxu Blessed Paradise for the first time had also been announced, posted on the announcement jade wall beside the Myriad-Phenomena Tower.

The three personal disciples, Liu Ruyan, Gu Luoli, and Ye Ling’er, were naturally on the list.

Li Zhiwei, Murong Xue, Zhao Ling’er, Wang Zhaojun, Wang Teng, Xiao Ya, and more than twenty other core disciples were also prominently listed.

The name that drew the most attention was the final one on the list, a name that made everyone look twice: A-Yao.

“First Senior Sister is entering the secret realm too?”

“Senior Sister A-Yao just broke through, didn’t she? There shouldn’t be much danger, but is the Palace Master really at ease?”

“Didn’t you read the note? First Senior Sister has to enter with either Senior Sister Liu or Senior Sister Gu accompanying her. With two Senior Sisters protecting her, what danger could there be?”

“That’s true. But the momentum of First Senior Sister’s breakthrough was incredible. I have a feeling that once she enters, the unlucky ones might be the demonic beasts inside…”

“Heh, now that you put it that way, I’m even more excited!”

The disciples gathered around the jade wall, discussing the matter excitedly. They were filled with anticipation for the secret realm expedition that was about to begin.

On Snow Moon Peak, Li Zhiwei was wiping the Silent Words Sword in her hands over and over.

She looked at her name, but her eyes held no particular emotion, only their usual calm.

To her, the secret realm was merely a whetstone for honing her sword. Nothing more.

At Cloudmist Peak, Yun Yun was handling the Immortal Palace’s daily affairs. Spiritual light flickered at her fingertips as she relayed one order after another with methodical efficiency.

Arranging the leading elder for the secret realm expedition, dispatching supplies, reviewing contributions…

The enormous Immortal Palace ran with perfect order under her direction.

Eastern Courtyard guest quarters.

Empress Qingxuan lounged by the window, lazily reclining against a soft couch.

She wore a pale-purple robe, her black hair unbound and cascading like a waterfall. Against it, her skin appeared whiter than snow, and her already beautiful features looked even more radiant.

Her fingertips stroked the Profound Heart Bracelets, savoring the warm, smooth sensation of the jade. The corners of her lips lifted slightly before she even realized it.

Although last night’s “frank conversation” had been coaxed out of her by that girl Luoshui, once she had said the words aloud, she had instead felt a profound clarity settle over her heart.

Over tens of thousands of years, she had witnessed countless sights and encountered countless people.

There had been tyrants whose power could overwhelm an entire region, prodigies of astonishing talent who looked down on their peers, and strategists who were as gentle as jade yet deep and calculating…

But no one had ever made her feel “special” at first sight the way Gu Han did.

It was not because of Gu Han’s unfathomable strength, nor because of her aloof, otherworldly beauty.

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It was a quality.

A unique bearing that seemed to stand outside the river of time, seeing through the ways of the world while remaining true to herself.

She was powerful, yet never overbearing.

She was aloof, yet possessed a subtle tenderness toward those around her.

She appeared to take things as they came, yet in truth, she had her own plans and ambitions.

What Qingxuan found even more amusing was the way Gu Han became flustered and helpless whenever Qingxuan “teased” her, while still forcing herself to appear composed.

She looked exactly like an innocent young maiden who had never experienced the ways of the world.

And yet, she was a mighty expert of Immortal Ascension whose strength surpassed even Qingxuan’s own!

That contrast truly captivated her.

“Little Sister Gu…”

Qingxuan murmured to herself. Her fingertips brushed gently over the bracelet, and a determined gleam shone in her eyes.

“I’ve lived this long, and it’s rare for me to fall for someone. You’d better… know how to take it.”

At the same time, in another set of guest quarters.

Empress Lingshuang was not cultivating as usual. Instead, she was sitting before a mirror, which was a rare occurrence.

The mirror reflected a face of breathtaking beauty and icy coldness. Her ice-blue eyes were like frozen depths, profound and piercing.

Lanxing’s words from the previous night continued to echo in her mind.

“Treat her sincerely, and pursue her gradually…”

She looked at her reflection, her brows drawing together slightly.

Sincerity… How was she supposed to show it?

Throughout her life, aside from cultivation and warfare,

she had seemingly never learned how to treat someone who stirred her heart with “sincerity.”

Give her a gift?

Gu Han clearly had not liked the blunt approach she had taken last time.

Discuss the Dao?

That was certainly possible, but they could not discuss the Dao every day.

Make intimate gestures like Qingxuan?

Empress Lingshuang recalled the sight of Qingxuan holding Gu Han’s arm and leaning close to whisper in her ear. The tips of her ears heated despite herself.

No.

That sort of behavior was too frivolous. It did not suit her, and it would likely make Gu Han uncomfortable as well.

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Empress Lingshuang fell into unprecedented confusion.

She realized that she truly did not understand any of this.

“Your Majesty.”

Lanling’s voice came from outside the door, respectful and restrained.

“Enter.”

Empress Lingshuang gathered her thoughts and returned to her habitual cold composure.

Lanling pushed open the door. She carried a jade tray bearing several exquisite pastries and a pot of spirit tea.

“Your Majesty, these were sent over by the Spiritual Cuisine Hall of Yaochi Immortal Palace.”

Empress Lingshuang’s gaze swept over the pastries. Their shapes were delicate, and they gave off a faint fragrance of food mingled with spiritual energy.

Suddenly, an idea occurred to her.

“Lanling, what do you think of my preparing some pastries that Fellow Daoist Gu enjoys?”

Lanling’s hand trembled, and she nearly dropped the jade tray.

She abruptly raised her head and stared at her Empress in disbelief.

Prepare pastries?!

Her Majesty ruled the Northern Region and governed countless living beings. With a wave of her hand, she could freeze ten thousand li; with a single thought, she could determine the rise and fall of countless sects…

And now she actually wanted to… make pastries?!

“Your Maj… Your Majesty…”

Lanling’s voice had even changed pitch, though she struggled to maintain her composure.

“You… You have never…”

“I know I have never done it before.”

Empress Lingshuang interrupted her. Her tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable firmness.

“Precisely because I have never done it, it will demonstrate my sincerity.”

She paused, then added,

“Besides, I hear that Fellow Daoist Gu is rather fond of her first disciple, A-Yao, and often takes care of her personally.”

“I have also heard that personally preparing spiritual food in one’s spare time is a way of expressing one’s feelings.”

The explanation sounded perfectly reasonable, but Lanling still found it difficult to believe.

Her Majesty wanted to learn how to make pastries for the Yaochi Empress?

If this news reached the Northern Region, the elders would surely be left speechless with shock!

“Then… should this subordinate go and discuss it with the Immortal Palace’s Spiritual Cuisine Hall?”

Lanling asked tentatively.

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“No need.”

Empress Lingshuang rose to her feet, her ice-blue palace robes sweeping across the floor.

“I’ll go and take a look myself.”

If she was going to learn, she would learn to make the best.

Besides, seeing the environment where Gu Han lived with her own eyes and learning about her preferences might also be a form of “sincerity.”

Lanling looked at the rare, almost stubborn seriousness in Her Majesty’s eyes. With a silent sigh, she followed after her.

Within the main hall.

Gu Han finished cultivating and slowly opened her eyes.

The profound Dao Resonance of the Chaos Scripture circulated gently within her body, leaving her mind clear. The slight disturbances from the previous night had long since settled.

She was now at late-stage Immortal Ascension. With a heaven-defying cultivation technique like the Chaos Scripture, as well as the Donghuang Bell and Ancient Star River Mirror, two quasi-immortal artifacts, in her possession,

her strength was enough to look down upon the entire Canglan Continent.

But precisely because of this, she needed to guard her original heart even more carefully and avoid being disturbed by external things.

She had sensed Qingxuan’s and Lingshuang’s feelings.

Was she surprised? A little.

Was she troubled? Indeed, somewhat.

Qingxuan’s languid charm, her calculated advances, and the seriousness that occasionally showed through.

Lingshuang’s cold pride and straightforwardness, along with the persistence hidden beneath her clumsy attempts to test the waters.

These two peerless Empresses had appeared before her in such ways. To say that she felt nothing would be a lie.

After all, whether in appearance, bearing, or status, the two of them were rare to find anywhere in the world.

But when it came to matters of the heart, it was still best to let things take their natural course.

For now, she had more important things to do.

“System,”

Gu Han called inwardly,

“Bring up my attribute panel.”

【Retrieving the Host’s current information…】

【Host: Gu Han (Gu Tianyi)】

【Age: Twenty-six】

【Identity: Palace Master of Yaochi Immortal Palace (Yaochi Empress)】

【Cultivation: Late-stage Immortal Ascension】

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【Cultivation Techniques: Chaos Scripture (Beginner), Artifact Refining Level (Perfection)…】

【Artifacts: Donghuang Bell (quasi-immortal artifact, refinement progress: 25%), Ancient Star River Mirror (quasi-immortal artifact, refinement progress: 15%), Profound Heart Bracelets (quasi-Imperial Armament: special)…】

【Master Dao Points: 384,350 points (First Disciple A-Yao’s breakthrough +20,000), Total: 404,350 points.】

【Sect Reputation: 10,320 points (continuously increasing)】

【Current Missions: Teach disciples (long-term), Explore the Ten Worlds (not unlocked), Central Province gathering (in progress)】

Looking at the abundant Master Dao Points on the attribute panel, Gu Han felt satisfied.

“System, roughly how long will the tower spirit ‘Xiao Wan’ need to awaken and reopen the Myriad-Phenomena Tower?”

Gu Han asked.

【Ding! Based on the tower spirit’s current condition and the rate at which its spiritual essence is recovering, it is estimated that it will take approximately one month to fully awaken and restore all the functions of the Myriad-Phenomena Tower.】

“One month… That should still be soon enough.”

Gu Han nodded slightly.

In one month, the disciples would be returning from their first exploration of the Lingxu Blessed Paradise.

A-Yao’s cultivation had already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment. It might be time to prepare an artifact suited to her.

A-Yao possessed a special physique and a mind as pure as jade. Ordinary artifacts might not be entirely suitable for her.

A distant scene suddenly flashed through Gu Han’s mind.

It was from when she had first reached Immortal Ascension, in the marketplace of Wanshan City, where she had bought A-Yao a toy called the Flowing-Light Lotus Platform.

It was merely a little trinket made by a mortal craftsman, something that glowed and spun.

The delight and tenderness that had filled A-Yao’s bright, sparkling eyes when she received it remained vividly etched in Gu Han’s memory to this day.

“The Flowing-Light Lotus Platform…”

Gu Han murmured softly, her fingertips tapping unconsciously against the cloud couch.

A-Yao loved the design of the Flowing-Light Lotus Platform.

Gu Han was now a grandmaster artifact refiner capable of crafting heaven-rank artifacts.

Why not use the Flowing-Light Lotus Platform as inspiration and personally create a one-of-a-kind artifact tailored to A-Yao?

It would retain that childlike charm and beauty, suit A-Yao’s nature, and accompany her as she grew, becoming an artifact that protected her on her path!

As soon as the idea occurred to Gu Han, it rapidly crystallized into firm resolve.

An eager gleam flashed in her eyes.

Crafting a bonded artifact for her first disciple would be deeply meaningful in itself, and the prospect filled her with anticipation.