Inside the great hall of the Luohen Empire.
“Right now, our Luohen Empire has three Saint Realm cultivators. Even if the Great Qian Empire has that Four Symbols Formation, it won’t be a problem!”
“If three Saints attack at the same time, then even if they hold the formation, they can only hold back two of them. But we will still have one left!”
The man at the head of the hall was middle-aged and dressed in a golden dragon robe. A sinister look appeared on his face.
“Once I destroy the Great Qian Empire, I must obtain that empress. She is beautiful, and she also has a rare dual-cultivation physique!”
“Hahaha! Heaven is helping my Luohen Empire. We are destined to unify everything. Once the Great Qian Empire submits and pays tribute, then…”
“Urgent report! Urgent report! 1,500-kilometer urgent report!”
Ji Hong was overjoyed and immediately said, “Read it! Let all the civil and military officials of my court hear this glorious moment when Great Qian submits to my Luohen Empire!”
The man was full of pride and could barely wait.
However, the soldier delivering the message looked somewhat hesitant at this moment.
The prime minister frowned, as if he had sensed something was wrong. “His Majesty told you to speak, so speak!”
The atmosphere seemed to freeze. Ji Hong also furrowed his brows.
“Speak!”
The soldier said, “According to a secret report from the Great Qian Empire’s royal palace, during today’s court assembly, Empress Ye Qinglian publicly broke through to the Void Sovereign Realm…”
“Ye Qinglian sent a message to Your Majesty. If Your Majesty wants to fight, then come. She will be waiting at any time…”
Inside the great hall, it was so silent that even a falling needle could be heard.
The man’s earlier pride instantly vanished, replaced by a vicious, resentful look.
“How is that possible? How could she break through so quickly? She has only cultivated for a little over 100 years. I have cultivated even longer than her dead father! I had just schemed to get rid of the Great Qian Empire’s Saint, and now another one appears!”
Ji Hong was almost furious.
Everyone in the court knew very well that the Luohen Empire had been eyeing Great Qian for far too long.
In the previous generation, Ye Qinglian’s father had also been a Void Sovereign Saint, and he had suppressed the Luohen Empire in almost every way.
With their Four Symbols Formation, they only needed a few hundred fifth-realm cultivators, along with the right timing and terrain, to resist a Void Sovereign Saint.
If a Void Sovereign presided over the formation, then they could crush another Void Sovereign.
They had schemed to murder Great Qian’s previous emperor, then schemed again to kill the empire’s Saint. Now, that obstacle was finally gone. They were finally about to expand their territory.
Yet another one had appeared!
“Hateful! How tragic!”
“Why did that formation not appear in my Luohen Empire? Why did it have to fall into the hands of the Great Qian Empire? Truly hateful beyond measure!”
His sudden rage also showed that he no longer had any solution at all.
Meanwhile, on the Heavenly Mystic Continent, among the three great Holy Lands that stood above the five great Empires.
Inside the Great Void Holy Land.
“That great figure from before seems to have remained in our lower realm…”
The ancestor frowned in thought. “A great figure like that should have no interest in staying in the lower realm. This old man feels that his cultivation is at least above the Heavenly Manifestation Realm, perhaps even at the Supreme Dao Realm…”
“He must have some purpose. Or perhaps he is traveling through the mortal world for amusement?”
Everyone shook their heads.
“However, the python robe he was wearing looked somewhat familiar to this old man. It should be the same style as those worn in one of the five great Empires…”
The ancestor’s eyes lit up. “In that case, we might as well investigate it. Being able to form a connection with such a great figure would itself be a benefit.”
“If he casually makes a move, it would already reach the limit of what our Great Void Holy Land can achieve. That true dragon alone can now be used to forge two ultimate-level divine swords, not to mention magical robes, pills, and the like. It only lacks the bone marrow. It can directly allow our Great Void Holy Land to step into a higher level!”
“If we can obtain this great figure’s appreciation, then even after our Great Void Holy Land reaches the upper realm, we may still be able to claim a place there!”
“But this matter must be carried out in secret. No one is allowed to harm anyone. Even if you truly find this person, you must not disturb him. When the time comes, this old man will personally go and speak with him!”
…
“Your Majesty, the Luohen Empire has withdrawn its troops from the border…”
Inside Bright Virtue Hall, night gradually approached.
News spread very quickly.
With the Four Symbols Formation and her presiding over it, even if the Luohen Empire gained two more Saints, they would absolutely not dare to act rashly.
After all, losing even one Saint would be a huge loss to them. They were unwilling, and they did not dare.
Prime Minister Xu Zhengnian cupped his hands and reported the matter. Ye Qinglian nodded.
“I understand. Prime Minister, you may go handle your duties.”
That guy was probably about to bring food over. They could not run into each other.
“Your Majesty, this official still has something to report.”
“What is it?”
The old man slowly said, “For any ruler who ascends the throne and establishes a state, a royal consort should be appointed to stabilize the foundation of the Empire. Your Majesty is a rare empress seen once in thousands of years. However, according to ancestral law and court rites, you must still establish a royal consort to continue the royal bloodline.”
“Your Majesty has set this matter aside for several decades. Now that the Luohen Empire does not dare invade, I hope Your Majesty will consider this matter. This is the wish of the officials, ministers, and royal clan, and it is also the wish of the world.”
The old man bowed deeply, his manner completely respectful.
“This official knows that Your Majesty is diligent in governance and loves the people. However, Your Majesty is also a cultivator. State affairs can be handled jointly by the Six Ministries and the court officials. There is no need for Your Majesty to personally attend to every single matter. There are still many old officials in court who possess such ability. In this way, Your Majesty can spare more time to cultivate in peace and need not constantly worry about the Empire and its people.”
Ye Qinglian could see the old man’s good intentions. He had served as prime minister for two reigns and was loyal to the Empire. But to her, the timing was still not suitable.
The reason was very simple. Aside from the prime minister, she did not trust many others. Those people were all new faces.
If she handed government affairs to them, she would have to constantly assess their character and ability. Would that not be troublesome?
Would it not be better for her to handle it herself? It was not as though she could not manage it.
“My beloved official’s words are very reasonable. I understand.”
What you said is right. I heard it, but I do not plan to do it.
The old man let out a long sigh and slowly rose, feeling somewhat helpless.
“Since Your Majesty insists on this, this official can only ask Your Majesty to take care of your health and not overwork yourself…”
Being an official in the Great Qian Empire was far too easy.
As long as local government affairs were collected, they were all handed over to the emperor in one go.
This was not something they did on purpose. It was what Her Majesty demanded.
Although all power was concentrated in the emperor’s hands, excessive exhaustion truly delayed cultivation.
Among the five great Empires, which one was not a nation of cultivators? What use was handling government affairs perfectly if they could not defeat others?
Forget it. Since Her Majesty was unwilling to delegate power now, he could not say much.
The old man slowly left, and Ye Qinglian also sighed.
It was not that she was unwilling.
It was simply that she could not trust them. She was also worried that royal authority would be affected.
Back then, the previous emperor had delegated power and allowed his trusted officials in court to oversee state affairs. As a result, chaos broke out in the local regions, and even the prime minister could not interfere.
What could she do? In the end, she had to rely on herself.
No one else could be relied upon.
Knock, knock, knock.
Ye Qinglian said, “My beloved official, there is no need to persuade me. I know what I am doing. Please return.”
“My beloved official can’t return. My beloved official still has to watch Your Majesty finish eating…”
A head peeked in, with a smile on his face.
It was Chu Ning.
“Qinglian, have you eaten? If you haven’t, eat a little?”
Ye Qinglian looked at him indifferently.
How had he come over silently again?
Could it be that those people still had not discovered him?
Forget it. She was feeling somewhat irritated. She would eat first…
However, when she thought of this, Ye Qinglian froze slightly.
Hm?
How had she so naturally thought of that?