Deep within the Hundred-Thousand Mountains.
As the Death Qi faded, a thin veil of Spiritual Qi slowly spread across the world. Yet, the desolate surroundings could not be disguised.
The winds raged, sweeping up clouds of sand and gravel; the sky hung low, gray clouds like a thousand-pound burden weighed heavily upon the hearts of all.
On the chaotic horizon, a mysterious Ruins Rift stretched across, black as an abyss, like a bottomless maw, quietly suspended in the void.
The Empress’s dragon robe billowed despite the still air, and her slender, flawless legs appeared and disappeared beneath. Her gaze was cold as she stared at the Ruins Rift above, expression solemn.
This Ruins Rift was far too wide—even she couldn’t seal it by sheer force alone.
But if she allowed it to remain, Ruins Beasts inside would break through the spatial barrier and descend upon the Hundred-Thousand Mountains, surely bringing terrifying calamity to the land.
This was why her brow remained furrowed.
[Cultivation: Early-stage Nascent Soul (66%)]
[Root Bone: Top Grade Dao Bone (Flame Point 850620/1600000)]
[Spiritual Power: Middle Tier (Flame Point 850620/400000) (Breakthrough possible)]
Qin Yu glanced at the small flame—after slaying Ruins Beasts in the Ruins Rift, he had harvested another wave of Flame Points.
Not bad.
When all was said and done, his strength just wasn’t enough. Otherwise, after slaying several sixth-tier Ruins Beasts, or Half-Venerable Ruins Beasts, perhaps Flame Points would already be sufficient for his Root Bone to break through.
But with the Empress Dowager injured, he had no intention of staying to slay more Ruins Beasts in the Ruins Rift.
Maybe another time.
At this moment, the Empress lightly raised her fair wrist, removing the dragon-shaped Jade Hairpin nestled in her dark hair.
The Jade Hairpin was translucent and flawless, its golden dragon motif exquisitely carved—each scale carefully crafted, shimmering with faint golden light, so lifelike it seemed ready to break free and soar to the heavens.
"Wong——"
As a distant, grand vibration sounded, a profound Power of Origin poured from the Empress, gold and thunderlaced radiance entwining the hairpin. In that instant, the golden dragon on the hairpin seemed imbued with life; its roar thundered, splitting clouds and stone, dragon eyes abruptly opened, shining with soul-shaking brilliance.
"Suppress!"
With a clear shout, her wrist flicked, sending the golden dragon soaring from the hairpin. It grew in size as it caught the wind, becoming a hundred-zhang-long golden dragon, majestic and powerful, carrying sovereign might straight for the Ruins Rift overhead.
The golden dragon spiraled, its body winding; streaks of golden lightning spread out, faintly locking down the entire Ruins Rift.
After all was done, even the Empress’s face paled slightly, her aura visibly depleted.
Still, her gaze remained sharp as a blade.
"Your Majesty."
The Empress Dowager’s beautiful eyes surged with worry, yet her arms tightly hugged Qin Yu.
This helped ease her pain somewhat.
As soon as she let go of Qin Yu, the black markings on her shoulder emanated an aura she hated intensely—icy cold, deeply uncomfortable.
"I am... unharmed."
The Empress shook her head. After slaying two Half-Venerable Ruins Beasts in succession and then using Power of Origin to temporarily suppress the Ruins Rift, she made it look effortless; but, even with her unrivaled power, she felt the strain keenly.
"As long as no Half-Venerable Ruins Beasts assault the spatial barrier, this array can seal the Ruins Rift for a hundred years."
She murmured, yet deep within her majestic eyes, there was an anxiety she could not hide.
This was the most conservative estimate. If Ruins Beasts inside kept attacking the spatial barrier nonstop, the seal might not even last fifty years.
If a Half-Venerable Ruins Beast appeared, the period would be even shorter!
For now, there was no better way; she could only return every few years to reinforce it.
The Empress Dowager hesitated a bit, raising her hand to add a Moonlight Power seal to the Ruins Rift.
"For now, avoid using Moonlight Power as much as possible."
The Empress’s brow furrowed slightly, stopping her movements.
The bloodline curse was extremely sinister. If not for Qin Yu, she dared not imagine the pain the Empress Dowager would suffer.
She feared...
"I’m fine..."
The Empress Dowager whispered, meeting the Empress’s gaze, but finally weakly halted her actions.
Seeing her so, the Empress couldn’t help but sigh softly inside.
This foolish auspice...
She didn’t understand why the Empress Dowager, as an auspicious being, chose Great Yan; even the other Great Immortal Countries were all similarly puzzled.
No doubt, it was a tremendous boon.
Though unrest plagued affairs inside the Immortal Country, compared to others, Great Yan was much more stable; many hidden dangers had been snuffed out at the outset.
Thinking this, the Empress’s gaze softened greatly.
Yet, seeing the Empress Dowager almost leaning completely against Qin Yu, her brows creased slightly.
They couldn’t let her cling to Qin Yu like this forever, could they?
It wasn’t that the Empress worried whether Qin Yu minded—after all, this fellow looked honest and respectful, but, judging by that barely raised robe, it wasn’t hard to see what went on in his head; with the Empress Dowager, he probably...
Was suffering!
Moreover, if outsiders saw the dignified Empress Dowager of Great Yan hugging a man, what kind of decorum would that be?
Especially... Little Ling’Er.
"Let’s return to the Imperial Capital."
The Empress took out a Sound Transmission Stone, relayed instructions to Yan Ruo, then spoke to the two.
"Alright!"
The Empress Dowager nodded obediently, producing the Phoenix Carriage.
"Whoosh!"
Once inside the Phoenix Carriage, the three turned into a streak of light, rapidly cutting across the sky.
Shortly after they departed, Yan Ruo and Yan Lin appeared beneath the Ruins Rift; gazing at the looming dragon shadow, reverence welled in their eyes.
Such a giant Ruins Rift sent constant spatial ripples surging—only the Empress could wield such Divine Techniques, using Power of Origin to suppress it.
Yet, judging by the Ruins Rift’s state, it seemed to have no intention of closing up.
Yan Ruo and her companion exchanged glances, then sat down in meditation.
The Ruins Rift must not allow any accidents now.
At the edge of the Hundred-Thousand Mountains, a black-robed figure watched the Ruins Rift hovering in midair with blazing eyes, thoughtful, then quietly slipped into the shadows.
...
In the gray, colorless heavens, only endless pallor and gloom remained.
With Qin Yu and the others gone, the edge of the rift gradually teemed with countless beast shadows, like an undertow stirring in the night. They occasionally looked up, spectral eyes fixed on the shattered spatial barrier; low, powerful howls echoed endlessly in that dead space.
Even through the spatial barrier, one could still sense a sublime imperial might, needle-like as it seeped in unnoticed.
A force capable of easily crushing all things, transcending all beings.
Every Ruins Beast that ventured closer was instantly pulverized by this overwhelming imperial might.
Countless Ruins Beasts regarded it warily, yet couldn’t bear to leave; circling and wandering at the edge, they gathered ever more, as if waiting for something or compelled by an unknown force, reluctant to disperse.
Suddenly, a graceful figure approached quietly from afar.
She wore plain clothes—simple and unadorned, yet spic-and-span, strikingly out of place amid this gray world.
Strangely, she walked leisurely among the Ruins Beasts; those usually ferocious, terrifying creatures seemed not to notice her at all, continuing their aimless wandering.
Some Ruins Beasts brushed past her, as if passing through an invisible breeze, utterly unaware of her presence—so natural, so calm.
The woman in plain attire stood quietly before the spatial fissure, as if listening, or sensing the lingering aura.
In an instant, a faint sorrow climbed her brows.
"It’s you... At last, I’ve found you."
She whispered softly; though gentle, her voice seemed laden with the weight of ages and endless thoughts, echoing in the empty, lonely space.
Countless Ruins Beasts sensed something, suddenly restless yet not daring to howl, only letting out suppressed whimpers.
The woman in plain attire stepped slowly to the rift, her clear eyes piercing the chaotic void as if seeing the other side—wasteland, but vibrant, a new world.
She walked barefoot, heading toward the Ruins Rift; the sovereign imperial might suffusing the area seemed not to notice her existence in the slightest—no anomaly at all.
"Shua!"
Just so, she passed through the Ruins Rift with effortless grace, feeling the change in surroundings. Her eyes sparkled anew: "So, you’re in the Ancestral Land..."
"Hm?!"
Yan Ruo and Yan Lin both looked toward the Ruins Rift, yet seemed to see nothing.
Was it an illusion?
But the seal set by Your Majesty was intact and running smoothly. Nonetheless, out of caution, the two reported the matter to the Empress.
...
"Whoosh!"
The luxurious Phoenix Carriage, like a flowing light, sped across the heavens.
"Qin Yu, can you hold me?"
"Qin Yu, can you help me knead a little more?"
"..."
Inside the room, the Empress Dowager was like a sickly little girl—especially clingy.
Qin Yu remained unmoved.
He wanted to agree; so long as it eased the Empress Dowager’s pain, these requests were no problem.
But, weighing up the dignified figure meditating nearby, Qin Yu could only suppress the impulse.
Because of the black markings, the Empress Dowager felt unwell, showing such a clingy side; but he couldn’t ignore the imperial might and do anything inappropriate.
He didn’t know how much time had passed; the Empress Dowager, seemingly exhausted, held onto Qin Yu’s arm, leaned her head gently into his elbow, and fell sound asleep.
The splendorous phoenix robe was a bit disheveled; her hands, like sculpted white jade, clung tightly to Qin Yu’s sleeve, as if afraid he’d leave—she wouldn’t let go even in her dreams.
Her breath gradually steadied, long lashes fell gently, porcelain skin emitted a faint glow, delicate as snow.
Qin Yu’s gaze dropped, looking closely at the Empress Dowager’s beauty—like a Fairy from the moon; the subtle fragrance clinging to her made him restless.
And, worst of all, as her body relaxed, the full weight of the Great Phoenix pressed down on his arm, making Qin Yu quite stiff.