Volume 1, Chapter 177 – Finally Out of Seclusion

“First Senior Sister!”

“Senior Sister Ye!”

Everyone crowded around them.

“Oh, you’re finally out!”

Zhao Ling’er hurried over and looked A-Yao up and down.

“First Senior Sister, are you all right? You look full of energy!”

“I’m fine!”

A-Yao answered brightly, even raising her little arms to demonstrate.

“There were a few fire-breathing birds inside, and some really fast wolves, but Fourth Junior Sister and I chased them all away!”

Her words sent everyone into peals of laughter, while also earning Ye Ling’er a host of admiring looks.

Protecting their youngest First Senior Sister for an entire month in the secret realm was impressive enough. Keeping her this cheerful throughout made Ye Ling’er truly remarkable.

Ye Ling’er shook her head slightly, a trace of warmth flickering in her eyes.

“First Senior Sister is very capable. She was a tremendous help.”

She wasn’t merely being polite. First Senior Sister’s pure spiritual power and the wondrous abilities of the Flowing-Light Lotus Platform had indeed played a crucial role in breaking the maze formation.

Another half hour or so passed before the light screen in the direction of the core region rippled again.

Liu Ruyan and Gu Luoli emerged side by side.

Their clothes were relatively neat, but a faint weariness lingered on their faces after the intense battles and exploration they had endured.

“Senior Sister Liu! Senior Sister Gu!”

The disciples saluted one after another, their eyes filled with reverence.

Venturing deep into the core region and returning unharmed was proof enough of their strength.

Liu Ruyan smiled gently and swept her gaze over all the returning disciples. When she saw that no one was missing, she visibly relaxed.

“You’ve all worked hard. It seems everyone has gained something.”

Gu Luoli nodded slightly. Her cool gaze settled on A-Yao, and when she saw the girl bouncing around with energy, a hint of delight flashed through her eyes as well.

With that, all thirty-three disciples in the first group to enter Lingxu Blessed Paradise had returned safely.

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As the disciples gathered in the square, excitedly trading stories about their experiences in the secret realm and comparing their gains…

“Buzz…”

The invisible barrier that had shrouded the main hall for the past month quietly dissolved like ripples on water.

Immediately afterward, a Dao Resonance that seemed capable of embracing all things slowly spread outward, enveloping the entire Yaochi Immortal Palace in an instant!

It carried an aura of supreme majesty.

Every disciple who sensed it, regardless of their cultivation, felt awe rise within them. They stopped talking without thinking and turned as one toward the main hall.

Yun Yun, who had been speaking with the returning disciples, grew solemn for a moment before delight lit her face.

“The Palace Master has emerged from seclusion!”

In the Western Courtyard guest quarters, Empress Qingxuan paused with one finger resting on the book she was reading by the window. Its pages closed without a sound.

She lifted her gaze toward the main hall, an unusual gleam passing through her languid eyes.

“She’s finally out…”

In the Eastern Courtyard, Empress Lingshuang paused in the middle of another attempt at making pastries. Her gaze turned involuntarily toward the main hall.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the doors of the main hall opened soundlessly.

A figure with snow-white silver hair, dressed in moon-white palace robes, slowly stepped out.

It was Gu Han, who had been in seclusion for more than a month.

Her features remained as cool and otherworldly as ever, but a closer look revealed subtle changes.

Her eyes had grown even deeper, as though they held the destruction and rebirth of an entire galaxy.

Her aura was more restrained and harmonious, and Dao Resonance seemed to flow around her with every gesture and movement.

Clearly, Gu Han had made significant progress in refining the Donghuang Bell over the past month, and her cultivation had advanced along with it.

Gu Han’s calm gaze swept over the disciples gathered in the square, pausing briefly on Liu Ruyan, Gu Luoli, Ye Ling’er, and A-Yao, whom they kept protectively between them.

Although the disciples looked slightly travel-worn, each was full of energy, their auras steady and solid. Their expedition had clearly served them well.

A satisfied smile flickered in her eyes.

“It seems you haven’t wasted this past month.”

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Gu Han’s clear, melodious voice rang out, reaching every person present.

“Greetings, Palace Master!”

The disciples saluted in unison, their resounding voices filled with heartfelt respect and excitement.

The Palace Master had emerged from seclusion!

And her aura seemed even stronger than before!

“At ease.”

Gu Han raised a hand slightly, then turned her gaze toward Yun Yun.

“Yun Yun, what were the results of this expedition?”

Yun Yun stepped forward and reported,

“Palace Master, all thirty-three disciples in the first group to enter Lingxu Blessed Paradise have returned safely, and every one of them has made considerable gains.”

“The injured disciples have also been sent to Danxia Peak for treatment.”

“Very good.”

Gu Han nodded and swept her gaze over the disciples once more.

“The greater share of whatever you obtained during this expedition belongs to you. You earned it.”

“But remember, while advancing your cultivation and acquiring resources are important, so are tempering your character, forging bonds with the fellow disciples who fight beside you, and deepening your understanding of your own path.”

Her voice was calm, yet every word struck home.

Many disciples who had been absorbed solely in the joy of their gains grew solemn, their expressions turning thoughtful.

“Go and rest.”

Gu Han concluded,

“The Myriad-Phenomena Tower will reopen in two days.”

“When it does, I hope you can turn everything you gained in the secret realm into an even firmer foundation.”

“Yes! We will heed the Palace Master’s teachings!”

The disciples answered in unison, their voices brimming with determination.

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The Myriad-Phenomena Tower was reopening!

They were about to get their tenfold cultivation time back!

Filled with excitement and anticipation, the disciples gradually dispersed, leaving the square empty once more.

Just as Gu Han was about to turn and leave, two figures appeared at the edge of the square almost simultaneously.

One in purple and one in blue, both peerlessly beautiful.

Empress Qingxuan approached at a leisurely pace, her long purple gown trailing across the ground and her dark hair cascading like a waterfall. Her customary languid smile graced her face.

But her ardent gaze remained fixed on Gu Han, lingering for a moment on the Profound Heart Bracelet around her wrist. Her smile deepened.

“Congratulations on emerging from seclusion, Little Sister. Your cultivation has advanced another step.”

Qingxuan’s voice was soft and captivating, carrying sincere congratulations as well as a hint of intimate curiosity that only Gu Han could understand.

Empress Lingshuang was still dressed in ice-blue palace robes, her expression cool and distant. Yet when her icy blue eyes met Gu Han’s, they wavered almost imperceptibly.

She nodded slightly, her voice seemingly gentler than usual.

“Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Gu.”

Looking at the two women arriving together, Gu Han felt the sense of ease she had gained upon leaving seclusion instantly turn complicated.

Her month in seclusion had certainly been peaceful, but what had to be faced would have to be faced eventually.

“Thank you both for your concern.”

Gu Han calmly returned their greetings.

“I must also thank you for your consideration while I was in seclusion and for causing no disturbances.”

Her words were polite, but they contained a veiled reminder.

You behaved yourselves while I was in seclusion. Good. I hope you’ll keep it that way.

Empress Qingxuan acted as though she hadn’t caught the implication. Smiling brightly, she stepped forward and naturally moved closer to Gu Han’s side.

“Whatever do you mean, Little Sister? I’m a guest, so of course I must abide by my host’s rules.”

“Now that you’ve emerged from seclusion, I have so much I’d like to tell you. Why don’t we go to my place and sit for a while?”

Empress Lingshuang watched Qingxuan all but press herself against Gu Han’s side, and her brows drew together almost imperceptibly.

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But remembering Lanxing’s advice to take things slowly, she forced down her displeasure and said coldly,

“Qingxuan, Fellow Daoist Gu has only just emerged from seclusion. Why must you be in such a hurry?”

Qingxuan turned her head and glanced at Lingshuang. The smile in her eyes didn’t fade, though her tone took on a teasing edge.

“How considerate of you, Little Sister Lingshuang.”

“But Little Sister Gu has just emerged from seclusion and needs time to properly absorb what she’s gained.”

“Besides…”

She turned back to Gu Han and lowered her voice to an intimate murmur only the three of them could hear.

“Is there any need for Little Sister Gu and me to draw such clear boundaries between us?”

The pointed remark instantly reminded Gu Han of everything that had happened the night Qingxuan barged into the main hall. The tips of her ears reddened despite herself.

Empress Lingshuang didn’t know the details, but when she saw Gu Han’s ears flush and caught Qingxuan’s smug expression, she guessed that something unusual must have happened.

The agitation in her heart surged once more.

Sensing that the atmosphere was about to turn awkward again, Gu Han drew a deep breath and decisively cut them off.

“I just remembered that I still have something to take care of. As for everything else, we can discuss it another day.”

With that, she nodded slightly to them. Giving them no further opportunity to pester her, she turned and walked back into the main hall.

The doors slowly closed behind her, shutting out both Qingxuan’s knowing smile and Lingshuang’s somewhat stiff, frosty expression.

Empress Qingxuan gazed at the tightly shut doors, a faint smile curving her lips.

“You can hide today, but you can’t hide forever, Little Sister Gu…”

Empress Lingshuang gave a cold snort, determination flashing in her eyes.

“It seemed that waiting alone wouldn’t work. She would have to think of another way.”

“Perhaps… it was time to give Gu Han that box of Snow Lotus Pastries she had spent so long perfecting?”