Wu Guo’s expression grew serious.
Before him stood that colossal figure, its entire body jet black, save for a pair of blood-red eyes. Yet the true source of his oppressive power was not the giant itself but the frail youth perched upon its shoulder. A mere glance from the boy caused the Vajra guardian behind Wu Guo to flare its eyes wide in alarm and assume a defensive stance.
The youth, however, showed no interest in Wu Guo. He merely looked once, then sat down on the giant’s shoulder and strode off toward the horizon.
As their figures vanished in an instant, Wu Guo could not help but register a flash of disappointment. His path demanded forward motion without retreat—only by striking stronger foes could one grow stronger oneself. Even knowing he could not win, he had still wanted to test his strength. But his opponent had never intended to indulge him. Hence his disappointment.
Still, he quickly dispelled the gloom from his face. Gathering his power, he shot southward as gold light flared around him. Where «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» there was evil, it must be immediately dispelled!
...
Night had fallen in the Celestial Realm. Inside the Wu Wei Tower, when Li Ruowang stepped through the gates once more, storm clouds gathered overhead and the temperature around her plummeted. An Immortal Emperor-level cultivator’s aura was immensely powerful, capable of warping the surrounding heaven and earth. It was plain to see that Li Ruowang was furious—truly, truly enraged.
She had been “led” into a secret realm for days without cause. Her anger could not be contained. Of course, the notion of “without cause” was Li Ruowang’s own perception; she cared little what anyone else thought.
“Sisters, are you ready to feel my wrath?” she muttered.
But then she paused. Where had everyone gone? Why was the ordinarily bustling sect now empty? Had they all gone out somewhere?
Li Ruowang frowned and swept her divine sense overhead. Soon she located her target: the back courtyard.
In a flash of rainbow light, she arrived in the rear garden—more precisely, the specialized artifact-and-elixir research pavilion belonging to Feng Yingzhi. All the sisters were gathered there, holding their breath as if awaiting something of grave importance. Even Li Ruowang’s arrival went unnoticed. It seemed that nothing in heaven or earth mattered as much as the experiment about to be unveiled.
Just as she moved to step forward, Ye Nian raised a hand to restrain her. Transmitting by thought, he said, “Mother Empress, please do not disturb them. They are conducting critical research. Come with me—I will explain.”
Though curious, Li Ruowang followed him aside. Then Ye Nian recounted the events of the past few days. When he mentioned that Ye Yu had formally bonded Feng Yingzhi and Ban Xia as Immortal Companions, Li Ruowang raised an eyebrow but did not appear overly surprised. After all, once one entered the Wu Wei Tower sect, how could one ever leave?
But what came next struck her mind more deeply. According to Ye Yu, barring the unexpected, within a month he would shatter the void and step into the Divine Realm. At that time, he and his Immortal Companions would again be separated by distance. That was unfair to many—some had only just ascended to the Celestial Realm, others had only recently joined the sect. Their time together had been so brief; the thought of parting pained them deeply.
Moreover, the Divine Realm differed from the Celestial Realm. How many Celestial-Realm immortals had ever succeeded in crossing into the Divine Realm? Perhaps none in ten thousand years! This meant that their parting was likely permanent.
Ye Yu was seeking a way to bring them all into the Divine Realm with him. Feng Yingzhi had proposed a solution: an artifact capable of transporting people or objects. For example, at the moment Ye Yu shattered the void to enter the Divine Realm, the entire Wu Wei Tower sect could be conveyed at once. Would that not be akin to uplifting one’s whole family into the heavens? There would be no more heartbreak of separation.
The question of converting Celestial Realm power into Divine Realm power need not be overly feared. If they sealed the Wu Wei Tower and stocked it with abundant Celestial-Realm energy, the sisters could continue their cultivation there, albeit with some restrictions on movement. But compared to eternal separation, such constraints were trivial.
Of course, this was only a preliminary concept. If they truly could shatter the void and step into the Divine Realm together, they could solve the myriad subsequent issues one by one. After all, if they had conquered the hardest obstacle, what little challenges remained?
That was why the sisters clustered around here now—awaiting Feng Yingzhi’s success in creating the necessary artifact. This critical moment was why Ye Nian had urged Li Ruowang not to disturb them.
Having heard the explanation, Li Ruowang’s heart stirred. Though she had ascended later than any—having been Earth’s final arrival—in the Wu Wei Tower sect her strength ranked first among the women. As an early-stage Immortal Emperor, putting aside Ye Yu, she was the one most likely to shatter the void and ascend to the Divine Realm. But how long would that take? A thousand years? Two? Ten thousand? Even she could not say. From early-stage to perfected Immortal Emperor was a vast distance.
The thought of parting from Ye Yu for so long saddened her, though she concealed the emotion entirely. If there were a shortcut before her, how could she refuse? She glanced toward Feng Yingzhi and silently prayed for her new sister’s success.
Just then Ye Nian spoke again: “Mother Empress, your son has something to say.”
At the formal address, Li Ruowang raised an eyebrow, flicked her sleeve, and clasped her hands behind her back. In a low voice she said, “Speak.”
“I have not seen Your Majesty in some time,” Ye Nian began, “so I inquired of the other consorts as to your whereabouts. They told me you had gone to calm your thoughts. Yet I have observed certain matters myself. Since your arrival, you have been overbearing in siding with the Emperor, giving the consorts little time. That is not right. Therefore I wish to offer this admonishment: you, too, should abide by the rules like the other consorts. Only then will you show your capacity to tolerate others, and the Emperor will be pleased.”
Ye Nian finished and bowed. Li Ruowang’s gaze instantly froze. Those consorts had lied—she had not sought solitude by her own volition but had been tricked into it! Even so, Ye Nian’s words were not without merit: abiding by the rules was indeed the path to lasting harmony.
After some thought, Li Ruowang spoke in a deep voice, “If Feng Yingzhi can indeed produce the artifact, I will consider your counsel.”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than a radiant glow descended from the heavens.
