Volume 1, Chapter 203 – Home at Last

“Palace Master, you’ve had a long journey. Why not go back and rest first?”

Yun Yun asked gently, her gaze shifting between Gu Han and Empress Lingshuang with just the right degree of concern.

Gu Han shook her head and swept her gaze over the assembled disciples.

“No need. Now that I’m back, tell me how the disciples have fared over the past year.”

Li Hanyi stepped forward, her cool voice ringing clearly across the square.

“Palace Master, with the aid of the Myriad-Phenomena Tower, eighty-seven disciples of the Immortal Palace successfully formed their Golden Cores over the past year.”

“Furthermore,”

Yun Yun continued, a gratified smile on her face,

“Liu Ruyan and Gu Luoli have both reached the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. I expect it won’t be long before they break through to Spirit Transformation.”

“Ye Ling’er also successfully broke through to the Nascent Soul stage a few days ago. She only emerged from seclusion today.”

Gu Han’s gaze settled on her disciples.

Liu Ruyan remained as gentle and graceful as ever, though there was now a touch more resolve in her expression.

Gu Luoli’s double pupils were deep and unfathomable, with the faint vision of a star river forming and fading within them.

Ye Ling’er stood beside the other two, her ice-blue hair stirring in the morning breeze. A trace of barely perceptible nervousness showed on her lovely face.

The greatest surprise for Gu Han, however, was A-Yao.

The little girl now looked around ten years old. Though she still retained her childish air, her cultivation had already reached the peak of Golden Core!

The profundity of the Primordial Unity Immortal Scripture, combined with the Myriad-Phenomena Tower’s time acceleration, had allowed her to make an astonishing leap in just one year.

“Very good.”

The corners of Gu Han’s lips lifted slightly, her eyes full of approval.

Empress Lingshuang stood at Gu Han’s side, her gaze passing over every tree and blade of grass, as well as the disciples brimming with youthful vigor.

Though she had only been staying here temporarily, this place had truly given her a sense of tranquility she had not experienced in a very long time.

She tilted her head slightly and looked at Gu Han’s cool profile, a faint ripple stirring in her heart.

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It was time.

She had seen what there was to see and discussed what there was to discuss. As for what she had been… waiting for, it seemed she had also received an answer of sorts, at least for now.

“Gu Han.”

Empress Lingshuang’s cool voice rang out, breaking the joyful, peaceful atmosphere in the square.

At the sound of her voice, Gu Han turned to look at her.

“Lingshuang?”

The disciples and elders also stopped talking, turning respectful and curious gazes toward the Empress of the Northern Region.

Meeting everyone’s eyes, Empress Lingshuang remained as composed as ever. She simply said to Gu Han,

“Now that matters here are settled, it is time for me to return to the Northern Region.”

The announcement was abrupt, yet not entirely unexpected.

Gu Han paused for a moment before understanding dawned on her.

Of course. Lingshuang was, after all, the ruler of the Northern Region and governed a territory spanning hundreds of millions of li. Staying here for so long was already an exception for her.

Now that Qingxuan had departed for the Xuanhuang Continent and their journey to the Abyss at the Edge of the Star Sea had concluded for the time being, Lingshuang truly had no reason to remain.

A faint reluctance that even Gu Han herself did not examine too closely flickered through her heart, but she quickly reined in her emotions and nodded.

“You govern the Northern Region and shoulder immense responsibilities. You should indeed return.”

Seeing that Gu Han genuinely had no intention of asking her to stay, disappointment flashed through Lingshuang’s eyes, though she quickly regained her composure.

Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but after glancing at the people around them, she forced the words back down.

In the end, she merely raised her hand, and a jade box no larger than her palm appeared in it.

“This is for you.”

Empress Lingshuang held the jade box out to Gu Han. Her movements still carried a hint of stiffness, but her expression was exceptionally earnest.

“It isn’t a pastry.”

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A little surprised, Gu Han accepted the jade box.

It felt icy cold in her hand and was extremely light.

She could sense that the box itself was a fairly high-ranking artifact, and whatever it contained seemed even more extraordinary.

“This is…?”

Gu Han looked at her questioningly.

“Just a little something.”

Empress Lingshuang averted her gaze toward the distant horizon, her voice even.

“Ten-Thousand-Year Iceheart Marrow from the depths of the Nether Sea. It is somewhat useful for steadying the mind. You may find it helpful.”

Ten-Thousand-Year Iceheart Marrow!

Gu Han’s pupils contracted slightly.

This was a genuine precious natural treasure, an extremely valuable resource even for Immortal Ascension experts.

Not only could it aid cultivation, but it was also remarkably effective at warding off heart demons.

And Lingshuang was giving it to her?

“This is far too precious…”

Gu Han instinctively tried to refuse.

“Take it.”

Empress Lingshuang cut her off, her tone carrying unquestionable resolve.

“I do not take back what I have given away.”

She looked at Gu Han, a trace of complex, unreadable emotion passing through her eyes. Lowering her voice so that only the two of them could hear, she said,

“I need to deal with some minor affairs when I return. I probably won’t be back for quite some time. You…”

After a brief pause, she added quickly and quietly,

“If you figure out the answer to that question, you may come to the Northern Region and find me at any time.”

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With that, she turned without waiting for Gu Han’s reply and signaled to Lanling and Lanxing, who stood nearby.

“Your Majesty.”

The two female generals immediately bowed.

“We return to the Northern Region.”

Empress Lingshuang’s voice resumed its usual cool authority.

“Yes!”

Lanling immediately sent a message. Before long, the familiar Ice Jiao Chariot slowly descended into the square outside Yaochi Immortal Palace.

Empress Lingshuang gave Gu Han one last, lingering look, as though she wished to carve Gu Han’s image into the depths of her heart.

Then, without allowing herself to linger any longer, she turned and boarded the Ice Jiao Chariot.

The hem of her ice-blue court dress brushed over the chariot steps, leaving behind one final trace of cool fragrance.

“Depart.”

The chariot slowly rose into the air. The ice jiao wheeled around and sped toward the northern horizon, soon vanishing into the distance.

Silence returned to the square of Yaochi Immortal Palace.

Holding the jade box, Gu Han gazed at the northern sky. The faint reluctance in her heart finally came into focus.

Lingshuang’s personality truly was just as she had described: direct and straightforward.

Even her farewell had been clean and decisive, leaving no room for lingering sentiment.

Yet her awkward concern and her gift remained, undeniably real.

“Palace Master?”

Yun Yun called softly, a questioning look in her eyes.

Gu Han withdrew her gaze and carefully put away the jade box, then said to Yun Yun and Li Hanyi,

“It’s nothing. Continue handling the palace’s affairs. I’ll return to the main hall first.”

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“Yes, Palace Master,” the two replied.

Gu Han offered Liu Ruyan and the other disciples a few more words of encouragement before turning and walking slowly toward the main hall.

A-Yao wanted to follow, but Liu Ruyan gently held her back and shook her head.

The little girl blinked her large eyes. Though she did not quite understand, she obediently remained where she was.

Upon returning to the main hall, Gu Han was enveloped by its familiar atmosphere.

She walked to the cloud couch and sat down. The hall doors closed soundlessly behind her.

The clamor faded away, leaving her alone.

First, she took out the jade box Lingshuang had given her and opened it.

Inside lay a crystal roughly the size of her thumb, as clear and lustrous as the purest sapphire.

It emanated an exceedingly pure Dao Resonance of ice, accompanied by a refreshing chill that seeped deep into the heart.

It was indeed Ten-Thousand-Year Iceheart Marrow.

Gu Han could sense that it would also benefit her cultivation of the Chaos Scripture. Chaos could transform into all forms of power, naturally including ice at its absolute pinnacle.

Lingshuang’s gift was exactly what she needed.

She carefully stored the Iceheart Marrow away, planning to use it during future cultivation.

Then she slowly exhaled and pushed every thought from her mind for the time being.

Now, it was time.

So many of her disciples had broken through this time. She wondered just how generous the System’s rewards would be.

“System, where are the rewards for my disciples’ breakthroughs?”

Gu Han asked silently, anticipation stirring within her.