Empress Qingxuan smiled faintly, light flowing within her palm.
A lotus pedestal, red as blood, appeared in her hand.
The lotus pedestal was only the size of a palm, but the moment it appeared, the temperature inside the xuan huang chariot skyrocketed!
It was as if a cluster of inextinguishable divine fire had ignited out of thin air.
The lotus pedestal rotated slowly, divided into nine petals, each one crystal clear.
It seemed to be condensed from the purest Law of Fire, exuding a vast and ancient pressure of the Imperial Dao!
This pressure was different from the Donghuang Bell's suppression of all things, different from the dragon soul sword's majestic grandeur, and even more different from the sharp edge of ordinary Heaven Rank Magic Treasures.
It carried a heat that burned everything and a dominance that incinerated all creation.
Even though Gu Han had seen many Magic Treasures, seeing this lotus pedestal now still brought a sense of novelty.
This was an aura distinct from Heaven Rank Magic Treasures!
Empress Ling Shuang's pupils constricted suddenly, and for the first time, her habitually calm face showed an irrepressible look of shock.
She could clearly feel that the grade of this lotus pedestal was definitely not inferior to the frost heaven sword!
"This item is named the 'red emperor burning heaven lotus'."
Empress Qingxuan's voice rang out, carrying a rare solemnity and sentiment.
Her fingertips lightly brushed over the lotus petals as if touching a long-buried memory:
"This was obtained by Big Sister in a place called the 'Blazing Fire Great Marsh' when I first entered the Xuanhuang Continent."
"That Blazing Fire Great Marsh is rumored to be formed after the fall of a 'Red Emperor' from the ancient era who had one foot in the Immortal Realm."
"At that time, Big Sister had just arrived at the Xuanhuang Continent and didn't know any of this."
"This red emperor burning heaven lotus was hidden deep within the 'Burning Heaven Fire Eye' at the core of the marsh, protected by layers of seals."
"Big Sister spent an entire century and went through countless life-and-death situations before finally obtaining it."
She paused, her aura suddenly becoming much more sharp and murderous:
"However, how could such a great treasure be taken away without a sound?"
"Just as Big Sister tucked the red emperor burning heaven lotus away and prepared to leave the Blazing Fire Great Marsh..."
"Two Great Emperors appeared and blocked the exit of the marsh."
"They claimed to be from the 'Liyang Ancient Clan,' descendants of the Red Emperor."
"They even said this red emperor burning heaven lotus was their clan's sacred object and demanded I hand it over immediately, or else it would be a fight to the death."
"Two Great Emperors... Heh."
She gave a light laugh, her eyes full of disdain.
"Big Sister worked hard to get it, so naturally I wouldn't hand it over. Thus, that battle lasted for three whole days."
"The Blazing Fire Great Marsh was shattered, the scope of the battle was extremely wide, and countless Sects and noble families in the surrounding areas suffered."
Empress Qingxuan's tone remained calm, but Gu Han and Ling Shuang could feel the tragedy and danger of the battle beneath that calmness.
One against two, on the opponent's home turf, facing Great Emperors of an ancient clan with deep foundations and heritage!
"Big Sister was naturally no match for the two of them combined. I used a secret technique to tear through the void and escape temporarily, but I paid a significant price."
Empress Qingxuan's fingertips brushed over the lotus pedestal. The fiery red light seemed to flicker slightly, reflecting her exquisite profile.
"And since then, I have been in a blood feud with that Liyang Ancient Clan."
"Their clan has a long heritage, and their influence in the Xuanhuang Continent is deeply entrenched."
"When Big Sister later traveled the Xuanhuang Continent, I was frequently 'looked after' by them, both openly and in the shadows."
She looked up at Gu Han, her eyes carrying a hint of playfulness and a deeply hidden sharpness:
"If Big Sister hadn't been lucky, I might have actually met my end over there."
"So, Younger Sister..."
Empress Qingxuan's voice lowered, carrying a tone of heartfelt advice:
"The Xuanhuang Continent has countless opportunities, but it is also... fraught with danger."
"It is a world far more dangerous than our Canlan Continent."
"Without sufficient strength and backing, going there rashly is no different from walking into a tiger's den."
She slowly put away the red emperor burning heaven lotus in her palm. The scorching aura dissipated, and the temperature inside the chariot returned to normal.
"This Imperial Weapon is one of Big Sister's greatest sources of confidence."
Empress Qingxuan looked at Gu Han with a serious gaze:
"When the time comes in the Central State, when Big Sister takes this out and recounts this experience..."
"Do you think they... won't be tempted?"
"A new world with a complete Great Dao, a potentially continuing immortal path, yet also filled with powerful enemies..."
"Compared to performing that Heaven-Defying act in the Canlan Continent, which one is more seductive?"
Gu Han listened quietly, her heart already clear.
Qingxuan was showing her the "bargaining chips" and also giving her peace of mind.
With this Imperial Weapon and her personal experience...
The claim that "the void node leads to another world" would no longer be empty talk, but a heavy bargaining chip with immense weight!
It was enough to make any Ascension to Immortality powerhouse who still yearned for a higher Realm consider it seriously, or even... be moved.
"Big Sister has good methods."
Gu Han praised sincerely.
Empress Qingxuan smiled faintly and leaned back lazily on the soft couch:
"It's just that I've lived a bit longer and seen a bit more."
She glanced at Empress Ling Shuang, who had been silent opposite her, a flash of mischief in her eyes:
"What does Younger Sister Ling Shuang think? Is this little toy of Big Sister's worth a look?"
Empress Ling Shuang was expressionless, her voice cold:
"The Magic Treasure is good, but it is ultimately an external object."
She paused, turning her gaze to Gu Han, her tone softening slightly:
"Gu Han, the Xuanhuang Continent is exceptionally dangerous. Even if there truly is a passage, one must be cautious."
Empress Qingxuan was not annoyed upon hearing this; instead, her smile deepened:
"Younger Sister Ling Shuang is letting her concern cloud her judgment."
"As long as the three of us join forces, it's not impossible to retreat safely or even grab some benefits."
"The key lies in how to make them willingly become the 'vanguard'."
Gu Han nodded slightly; Qingxuan's line of thinking was very clear.
Using the Imperial Weapon and personal experience as a lead, throw out the temptation of a broader world.
Then, in the name of "collaborative exploration," guide everyone to shift their attention from "defying fate" to "opening a new path."
By then, opening the passage would become the common aspiration.
And as the information providers and "guides," they would naturally hold the initiative.
"The plan is feasible."
Gu Han finally made the decision.
"As for the specific details, we still need to refine them."
"Especially regarding the stability of that void node and the protective measures during the crossing, we need to prepare thoroughly in advance."
"Don't worry,"
Empress Qingxuan smiled confidently.
"Since Big Sister dared to suggest it, I naturally have preparations."
"I still remember some insights and protective methods from when I passed through the void node back then."
Her eyes rippled as they fell on Gu Han's cold profile, her voice softening again:
"However, with Younger Sister traveling together, Big Sister feels much more at ease."
Gu Han felt her ears heat up slightly under her gaze. She gave a light cough and changed the subject:
"There's still some distance to the Central State. Why don't you two rest for a while?"
"Once we reach the Central Region, I'm afraid it won't be this quiet."
Time passed quietly as the nine black birds flew at high speed.
Inside the xuan huang chariot, Gu Han, Qingxuan, and Ling Shuang were either meditatively adjusting their Qi or discussing the details of the plan in low voices.
Five days later, the xuan huang chariot crossed the boundary sea between the Southern Region and the Central Region.
When that world appeared before her eyes, even Gu Han, who was mentally prepared, felt a slight flicker of surprise in her eyes.
This was the true core of the Canlan Continent—the Central State!
It was different from the spiritual beauty of the Southern Region and the prosperity of the Eastern Region.
The heaven and earth here exuded a magnificent, heavy, and nearly primal aura of the Origin!
Looking out, the veins of the mountains and rivers were incredibly clear, like sleeping giant dragons winding and coiling, breathing in and out vast amounts of Spiritual Qi.
The clouds in the sky were five-colored, not from magical illusions, but a phenomenon formed by Spiritual Qi so dense that it naturally blended with the sunlight.
The purity of the Spiritual Qi flowing in the air was several times higher than that of the Southern Region!
Cultivating here for one day was likely equivalent to three to five days of work in the Southern Region!
Even more striking was the distribution of Sects, noble families, and cities among the mountains and rivers below.
They were not built against mountains or by the water like in the Southern Region, but instead followed some profound pattern.
They either occupied Spiritual Vein nodes or guarded terrestrial Qi hubs, their auras connected to each other, faintly forming an invisible "network" covering the entire Central State.
Even the smallest city on the outskirts had city walls glowing with a faint spiritual light, clearly inscribed with protective Formations.
Cultivators moved to and fro within the cities, their auras generally much stronger than those of Southern Region Cultivators. Golden Core Stage and Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators could be seen everywhere, and there were quite a few Nascent Soul Cultivator as well.
It truly lived up to the saying: Nascent Souls are as common as dogs, and Soul Transformations are everywhere.
"As expected of the Central Region..."
Gu Han stood by the chariot window, looking at the magnificent mountains and rivers flashing by below, sighing softly.
Empress Qingxuan walked to her side and stood shoulder to shoulder, her purple martial attire making her figure look even more upright.
She had a smile on her lips as her gaze swept below:
"What does Younger Sister think of this place? Is it worth a look?"
"A land of spiritual grace where the Great Dao manifests."
Gu Han evaluated truthfully.
"Spiritual grace is true, but as for the Great Dao manifesting..."
Empress Qingxuan laughed lightly, her words carrying a hidden meaning,
"It also hides many killing intents."
She raised her hand and pointed toward the distant horizon, where a faint phantom of a ten-thousand-foot-tall, entirely crimson giant tower could be seen. Its tip was lost in the sea of clouds, exuding a scorching and violent aura.
"That is the 'Burning Flame Tower,' the landmark of the 'Blazing Fire Palace,' one of the nine great Sects of the Central State."
Qingxuan's voice was lazy but carried an undetectable coldness.
"The previous Palace Master of the Blazing Fire Divine Palace was also an Ascension to Immortality powerhouse tens of thousands of years ago."
She pointed to another place, shrouded in mist, where a cluster of immortal mountains and pavilions suspended in the air was faintly visible, with spiritual cranes circling and ten thousand streaks of rosy light.
"That is the 'Yin Yang Holy Land,' also one of the nine great Sects, with a long heritage and unfathomable foundations."
"Most of its Disciples Cultivate using Dual Cultivation methods; the Hehuan Sect is its subordinate Sect."
Finally, her gaze fell on the core of the Central State, the area where the Spiritual Qi was most majestic.
There, the outline of an unimaginably towering Imperial Dynasty loomed within the dense purple Qi and dragon-shaped spiritual energy.
The city walls were a thousand feet high, seemingly carved from an entire mountain range, with dragon-scale-like patterns naturally condensed upon them, exuding an imperial pressure that commanded the eight directions.
Countless palaces and pavilions were built against the mountains, layered upon one another, reaching straight into the clouds, shimmering with a gold-and-jade luster under the sunlight.
There was even a "Heavenly River" completely formed from liquefied Spiritual Qi, falling from the Nine Heavens and encircling the Imperial Dynasty, making a roaring sound and nourishing all things.
Above the Imperial Dynasty, nine golden dragon phantoms, formed purely from the nation's destiny, wound and swam, guarding the four directions.
"That place is the Long Teng Imperial Dynasty."
Empress Qingxuan's voice rarely carried a hint of solemnity.
"The undisputed number one power of the Canlan Continent, the home base of the Long Teng Emperor."
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