Xie Wujiu did not speak.
His master was dead, and the Taihua Sword Sect had paid a devastating price because of it.
Yet the Grand Elder was telling him to let it go—to act as though nothing had ever happened.
How could he possibly swallow this breath of anger?
A moment later, he loosened his tightly clenched fists and bowed once more to the Grand Elder.
“This disciple understands.”
“I will surely focus on my cultivation from now on.”
“I definitely will not fail the expectations of Master and the Grand Elder.”
Having said that, Xie Wujiu turned around and walked out of the hall.
The Grand Elder sat in the main chair, watching his departing back.
“I hope he truly can.”
...
Eastern Region Imperial Palace.
Inside the spacious, solemn hall, Empress Xiao Yin sat atop the main seat.
Seated on both sides below her were high officials and consecrated elders of the Eastern Region Imperial Family.
The imperial children were all present as well.
Normally, these imperial offspring rarely appeared in the same gathering together. They each had their own supporters, and their relationships were hardly harmonious. On the surface, they managed to maintain a calm facade, but beneath it, overt and covert struggles were constant.
But today, no one dared to speak lightly.
Xiao Yin's gaze swept over everyone below one by one.
The atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly stifling.
After a moment, she finally spoke.
“I have summoned you all today regarding the matter of the Qingming Secret Realm.”
Everyone immediately straightened their posture.
Xiao Yin's tone was calm, yet forceful and resolute.
“Starting today, no one is permitted to privately discuss what occurred in the Qingming Secret Realm.”
“As for Yun Heng's true origins, no one is allowed to investigate them without authorization.”
As she spoke the final sentence, Xiao Yin's gaze fell upon the imperial children below. Her sharp eyes warned them not to do anything foolish in secret.
Xiao Yin understood her children all too well. In private, they would plot and fight for their own interests. As long as those matters did not cross the line, she could turn a blind eye.
But this time was different. Yun Heng was not someone they could scheme against. Should they anger Yun Heng, the imperial family might not be able to bear the consequences.
Looking down at the crowd, Xiao Yin's voice grew several degrees colder.
“I do not care how many doubts you hold in your hearts, nor do I care how many subordinates you command behind the scenes. Regarding Yun Heng and the family behind her, this matter ends here. If anyone disobeys my command and brings an enemy to the imperial family that we should not provoke, I will absolutely not clean up her mess.”
The expressions of those below turned stern.
Everyone in the hall stood up in unison and bowed to Xiao Yin.
“We obey Your Majesty's decree.”
The imperial children also lowered their heads.
“Your children obey Your Majesty's decree.”
“Five years from now will be the Five Domains Prodigy Gathering.”
Upon hearing these words, the expressions of the imperial children shifted simultaneously.
The Five Domains Prodigy Gathering was the most anticipated event among the younger generation across the entire Taiyan Continent. Although the Eastern Region was far less prosperous than the Central State, it still possessed spots to participate in the Prodigy Gathering. Every time the Prodigy Gathering commenced, the Eastern Region Imperial Family would select a few of the most outstanding members of the younger generation to travel to the Central State.
As long as one secured a good enough ranking at the Prodigy Gathering, not only would they make a name for themselves across the Five Domains, but even the Eastern Region Imperial Family would gain considerable prestige.
Xiao Yin's gaze rested on her children.
“During these five years, all of you had better cultivate diligently for me. The imperial family only has five spots to travel to the Central State. Whether you can get one depends entirely on your own ability.”
Everyone immediately stood up and responded:
“Your children obey Your Majesty's command.”
Seated in the primary position on the lower right was the Third Imperial Princess, Xiao Cen. She listened calmly to Xiao Yin's warning, showing no outward sign of emotion.
The First Prince and Second Prince had already been eliminated by her, so among the remaining imperial siblings, few truly possessed the qualification to vie with her for that throne.
Upon learning Yun Heng's identity, she had originally intended to send people to investigate as well. But after hearing Xiao Yin's words, Xiao Cen pondered repeatedly and ultimately abandoned the idea.
She understood her imperial mother. Since Xiao Yin had specifically gathered everyone here and publicly commanded them not to investigate, it proved that the force behind Yun Heng was far more dangerous than they imagined. Offending someone whom even her imperial mother feared so deeply, all for an uncertain benefit, was simply not worth it.
As for the Five Domains Prodigy Gathering five years later...
Xiao Cen lowered her eyes, a faint smile curling up her lips. She had long viewed a spot at the Prodigy Gathering as something already in her pocket.
The Fifth Prince, Xiao Jingheng, sat among the imperial children as well.
The imperial family had only five spots for this edition of the Prodigy Gathering. Yet the number of imperial offspring and young imperial cultivators qualified to compete for those spots far exceeded five. No one would step down voluntarily.
No matter what, he had to secure one of those spots.
...
Four and a half years later.
Inside the cultivation room of the Family Head Residence on the Main Peak, Yun Heng slowly opened her eyes.
The dense spiritual Qi around her gradually dispersed, and the faint layer of spirit mist covering her body slowly faded as her cultivation art ceased operating.
Sitting on the warm jade futon, Yun Heng felt the abundant spiritual Qi surging inside her.
In four and a half years, her cultivation had risen from late Nascent Soul to late Soul Transformation.
The Soul Transformation Lightning Tribulation had likewise been endured within the Guiyuan Spirit Domain. The entire breakthrough process had been exceptionally smooth, without any unexpected mishaps.
The reason her cultivation speed was so fast, besides possessing the Immaculate Heavenly Destiny Spiritual Root and a cultivation art perfectly suited to herself, was inextricably linked to the current environment of the Guiyuan Spirit Domain. Cultivating in seclusion here, Yun Heng hardly needed to worry about a lack of spiritual Qi. It was difficult for her to cultivate slowly even if she wanted to.
Apart from her cultivation breakthrough, the second and third chapters of the Tianheng Guiyuan Art and Profound Bone Body-Forging Art were both fully perfected. As the Profound Bone Body-Forging Art continuously tempered her, her current meridians, bones, and physical toughness were far beyond what they were four and a half years ago. Even without using spiritual Qi, attacks from an ordinary early Soul Transformation cultivator could hardly pose a true threat to her.
The second chapters of the Void-Stepping Movement Technique and Formless Concealment Technique were now perfected, while their third chapters had successfully reached initial mastery. If she actively concealed her aura now, ordinary cultivators would be utterly unable to gauge her cultivation level accurately.
Yun Heng slowly exhaled and stood up from the futon.
Having cultivated in seclusion for four and a half years, only six months remained before the opening of the Five Domains Prodigy Gathering. Traveling from the Eastern Region to the Central State would also take time.
It was time to set off.
Just as Yun Heng prepared to leave the cultivation room, the System's excited voice suddenly echoed in her mind.
【Host! Host!】
【Xie Wujiu has already departed for the Central State!】
Yun Heng paused briefly.
That works out perfectly.
“I was almost worried he wouldn't go.”
She wanted to see just how much Xie Wujiu, having received the special favor of the Heavenly Dao, had grown after four and a half years.
Yun Heng pushed open the door to the cultivation room.
The scenery in the courtyard had changed noticeably since before her seclusion. The canopy of the Qingming Mother Tree had grown even more lush, and the green and silver-white patterns on its trunk had become significantly clearer.
With a thought, Yun Heng vanished and reappeared directly on Refining Peak.
Four and a half years had passed, and Refining Peak had fully gotten on the right track. Lush spirit plants covered the mountain, and people frequently moved in and out of the Disciple Courtyard. Fires burned continuously inside the Large Refining Workshop, with the clinking sounds of forge furnaces and tools echoing from time to time.
The Taibai Profound Gold Mine had also begun extraction.
Sensing Yun Heng's arrival, nearby disciples hastily paused and bowed in greeting.
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