Volume 1, Chapter 198 – Final Instructions

Over the next few days, the Longteng Dynasty appeared peaceful on the surface, but undercurrents churned beneath.

The Immortal Ascension experts who had decided to journey to the Xuanhuang Continent were all making their final preparations.

For the past two days, the Sovereign Longteng had summoned every high-ranking figure in the Longteng Dynasty, seemingly to give them his final instructions.

The Desolate God spent his days drinking his fill of the dynasty’s finest wines. Whenever he spoke of the Xuanhuang Continent, his words brimmed with curiosity and fighting spirit, as though he had long since put all thought of danger from his mind.

Venerable Baiyun, meanwhile, was the calmest of them all. He spent most of his time with Old Man Tianji, discussing matters known only to them.

Little emotion showed on his refined face, but the occasional gleam in his eyes betrayed the turmoil within.

Empress Qingxuan, by contrast, had become the most “idle” of them all.

She remained as languid as ever, occasionally wandering about to admire the scenery.

Most of the time, however, she stayed alone in the guest palace, and no one knew what she was doing.

Only Gu Han, through the Profound Heart Bracelet around her wrist, could vaguely sense that Qingxuan was nowhere near as calm as she appeared.

The fluctuations transmitted through the bracelet sometimes felt distant, sometimes like gentle ripples, as though Qingxuan were reminiscing or quietly making plans.

Empress Lingshuang had withdrawn into complete silence.

Since they had parted on the spirit peak that night, she had not sought Gu Han out again, as though she truly intended to give Gu Han time.

Gu Han, meanwhile, spent most of her time perusing the Longteng Dynasty’s Scripture Repository, uncovering many of the Canglan Continent’s secrets.

Now and then, she also exchanged voice transmissions with Qingxuan to confirm certain details regarding the void node and the Abyss at the Edge of the Star Sea.

Qingxuan’s voice came through the Profound Heart Bracelet, still carrying that languid note of amusement.

It was as though the perilous journey between worlds ahead of her were nothing more than an ordinary outing.

Yet beneath that amusement, Gu Han could hear a trace of barely perceptible solemnity.

And so time quietly passed amid an atmosphere that appeared calm on the surface but was taut with tension beneath.

On the evening of the sixth day.

The Sovereign Longteng hosted a banquet in Soaring Dragon Hall. Though ostensibly a feast, it was also an opportunity to confirm the final details and ensure everyone was of one mind.

The banquet was not extravagant, but it was exquisitely arranged.

The spirit wine was mellow and fragrant, the delicacies beautifully prepared, while immortal music drifted through the air and graceful dancers moved across the hall.

Yet there was little joy in the atmosphere.

Aside from the Desolate God, who remained as bold and high-spirited as ever, everyone else seemed somewhat distracted.

The Sovereign Longteng sat beside Sacred Lord Yaoguang. The two occasionally murmured to each other, their exchanged glances brimming with tenderness.

Venerable Baiyun sipped his wine slowly, though his gaze frequently drifted toward the starry sky beyond the hall.

Buddha Lord Wufa and Demon Lord Wutian sat in silence, one turning his prayer beads while the other rested with his eyes closed.

Old Man Tianji sat stroking his beard, his gaze profound as he calculated something known only to himself.

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Empress Qingxuan reclined against her jade seat, idly toying with her wine cup, her usual smile playing at the corners of her lips.

Yet as her eyes roamed the hall, they invariably swept, as if by accident, toward where Gu Han sat.

Empress Lingshuang sat opposite her, her expression cool as she drank alone. Whenever her eyes lifted, they too turned in the same direction.

Seated between the two of them, Gu Han felt their burning gazes coming from opposite sides and found it difficult to sit still.

Midway through the banquet, the Sovereign Longteng rose and lifted his cup, sweeping his gaze across those assembled.

“Fellow Daoists, tomorrow we will journey together to the Abyss at the Edge of the Star Sea and seek the road ahead.”

“We cannot know whether fortune or disaster awaits us, and the path before us is shrouded in uncertainty.”

“But for our paths of cultivation, for transcendence, and to open a sliver of possibility for future cultivators of the Canglan Continent, we cannot shirk this duty!”

“This cup is to the Great Dao, to the path ahead, and to the courage that allows us to take this step!”

“Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

Everyone raised their cups. Whether they were leaving or remaining behind, their eyes shone with the resolve and bold spirit of supreme experts.

Even those who had chosen to remain for the time being—Buddha Lord Wufa, Demon Lord Wutian, Old Man Tianji, Gu Han, and Empress Lingshuang—solemnly raised their cups.

Whatever the outcome of this journey, it would be recorded in the annals of the Canglan Continent.

The banquet ended in an atmosphere of somber resolve and soaring courage.

Everyone departed to make their final adjustments and preparations.

Gu Han returned to the guest palace and stood before the window, gazing at the bright moon and the countless brilliant stars scattered across the night sky.

The Abyss at the Edge of the Star Sea lay deep within that starry expanse, at its far northern reaches.

Tomorrow, she would witness with her own eyes the passage leading to an unknown world.

“Is Little Sister admiring the moon?”

Empress Qingxuan’s languid, smiling voice suddenly sounded behind her.

Gu Han did not turn around. She knew Qingxuan had simply passed through the barrier to enter.

To an Immortal Ascension expert, a barrier of this level might as well not exist.

“We leave tomorrow. Aren’t you going to make any preparations, Big Sister?”

Gu Han’s voice was calm.

“Everything that needed preparing was settled long ago.”

Qingxuan walked to her side and stood shoulder to shoulder with her, gazing out at the moon.

Moonlight spilled over her purple nightgown, bathing her in a hazy halo. She seemed less languid and alluring than usual, and more tranquil and otherworldly.

“But tomorrow, Little Sister will witness that passage with your own eyes. Is there anything you wish to ask me?”

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Gu Han was silent for a moment before asking:

“What does one encounter during the crossing?”

It was something she had always been curious about and had always found somewhat worrying.

The void node connected two worlds. Within it were turbulent void currents, fragments of time, storms of laws… Every one of them was lethally dangerous.

For Qingxuan to have crossed alone and returned all those years ago, both her strength and her luck had been indispensable.

But if Gu Han wanted to bring everyone in Yaochi Immortal Palace there in the future, would her strength alone be enough to protect so many people?

That was something she needed to consider in advance…

Empress Qingxuan turned her head slightly and looked at Gu Han’s cool profile, a trace of reminiscence flashing through her eyes.

“What does one encounter…”

She paused, then lowered her voice slightly.

“At the time, it felt as though I’d been thrown into a bizarre, dazzling space that was constantly shattering and reforming.”

“But this is different from ordinary travel through the void. The laws of two worlds intertwine and collide within that space. Anyone without sufficient strength would be torn apart in an instant.”

Her description was calm, but Gu Han could imagine how dangerous it had been.

“When I crossed back then, I lost two heaven-rank artifacts and only barely made it through.”

“But this time will be different. With the combined strength of the four of us, the risk should be far lower than it was back then.”

She turned over her hand, and the Red Emperor Heaven-Scorching Lotus appeared in her palm.

“Why don’t you sense it for yourself, Little Sister? See how the aura of this Imperial Armament differs from the heaven-rank artifacts of the Canglan Continent.”

Gu Han reached out and lightly touched the edge of the lotus platform with her fingertips.

In an instant, a scorching, ancient, and domineering aura, imbued with a completely different Dao Resonance, surged into her through her fingertips!

The aura was as vast as the sea, as though it contained the very essence of an entire world of flame. It was unlike any heaven-rank artifact on the Canglan Continent.

Gu Han’s heart jolted, and she quickly withdrew her finger.

“You felt it?”

Qingxuan put the lotus platform away, amusement glimmering in her eyes.

“That is the ‘Dao’ of a different world.”

“Even when both worlds possess the laws of fire, subtle differences exist in how they manifest and in the true meaning they embody.”

“Crossing the node is not merely a passage through space. It also requires one to adapt to and transition between different Daos.”

She looked at Gu Han, her tone turning serious.

“If you journey to the Xuanhuang Continent one day, Little Sister, you must prepare for this in advance.”

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Gu Han nodded slightly, committing Qingxuan’s warning to memory.

This was indeed a detail she had never considered before.

“Thank you for the warning.”

Empress Qingxuan smiled softly, then suddenly reached out and took Gu Han’s cool hand in hers.

Gu Han stiffened slightly but did not pull away.

“Your hands are always so cold, Little Sister.”

Qingxuan spoke softly as she enveloped Gu Han’s hand in her warm palm, gently rubbing it.

“Once I leave, I don’t know when I’ll be able to warm your hands again.”

A faint, almost imperceptible melancholy tinged her voice.

Gu Han’s heart tightened. The reluctance she had deliberately suppressed surged up once more.

She looked at Qingxuan’s peerlessly beautiful profile beneath the moonlight and at the undisguised tenderness and affection in her eyes.

Then she suddenly turned her hand over and clasped Qingxuan’s.

Qingxuan froze for a moment, and her eyes instantly lit with surprise and delight!

“Little Sister…”

“You must be careful in everything you do.”

Gu Han cut her off, her voice brimming with concern.

“No matter how many opportunities you find, none of them are more important than your life.”

“If you encounter something you can’t handle, hide first and wait for me to come find you.”

Empress Qingxuan stared at her, the light in her eyes flickering wildly before finally melting into a tenderness deep enough to drown someone.

She stepped forward, opened her arms, and gently drew Gu Han into her embrace.

Gu Han did not push her away and simply allowed herself to be held.

Qingxuan’s body was warm, carrying her unique fragrance mingled with a trace of scorching heat.

Her embrace was not tight, yet it conveyed an unquestionable sense of possessiveness and cherished devotion.

“All right. I promise.”

Qingxuan’s voice sounded beside Gu Han’s ear, her warm breath brushing over its rim.

“I’ll be careful. If I encounter anything I can’t resolve, I’ll wait for you to come.”

She paused, drew back slightly, then cupped Gu Han’s face in both hands and gazed intently into her eyes.

“But you must promise me something too, Little Sister. While you’re on the Canglan Continent, take good care of yourself.”

“And…”

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Her gaze flicked seemingly casually in a certain direction outside the window. She lowered her voice, her words carrying a hint of mischief and warning.

“Stay away from certain ice-faced women, understand?”

Gu Han did not know whether to laugh or cry. Qingxuan’s words dispelled some of the sorrow of their impending separation.

“You’re talking nonsense again.”

“I am not.”

Qingxuan spoke with perfect confidence.

“I saw it very clearly. The way that block of ice looks at you is far too tender.”

“After I leave, you’d better keep your wits about you. Don’t let someone coax you away with a few pastries.”

Gu Han shook her head helplessly and gently pushed at her.

“It’s getting late. You should go back and rest.”

But Qingxuan refused to move. Instead, she tightened her arms around Gu Han, rested her chin lightly on Gu Han’s shoulder, and spoke in a muffled voice.

“Let me hold you a little longer.”

“Just a little longer.”

Gu Han’s heart softened, and she did not push her away again.

Moonlight flowed quietly over them, stretching the silhouettes of their embrace across the polished floor.

The palace was utterly still. The only sounds were their soft breathing and the steady beating of their hearts.

At that moment, no words were needed. The sorrow of parting and the depth of their cherished feelings were all conveyed in silence.

After a long while, Qingxuan slowly released her.

She took a step back and gazed deeply at Gu Han, as though she wanted to carve her image into the depths of her soul.

“All right. I’ll head back now.”

With that, she lingered no longer. She turned, and her purple-clad figure transformed into a streak of light that vanished soundlessly from the palace.

Gu Han remained alone where she stood, gazing in the direction Qingxuan had disappeared. For a long time, she did not move.

The Profound Heart Bracelet around her wrist gave off a faint pulse, carrying both reluctance and resolve.

She raised her hand and gently brushed her fingertips over the bracelet.

“Stay safe…”

Her soft murmur faded into the stillness of the night.