Multicolored flowers burst into view, competing in beauty. A vermilion corridor stretched over the emerald lake water, winding and twisting.
A gentle breeze swept past, and petals scattered like rain.
Countless young palace maids wearing colorful clothes walked through the scenery, their laughter faintly audible.
"The Taiye Pond is straight ahead."
Cui Yuan pointed to the shimmering water ahead. "The Martial Temple is just north of the pond. Nobles often enjoy the scenery near the Taiye Pond. If we happen to offend someone..."
Before he finished speaking.
A group of people suddenly turned the corner of the corridor ahead.
Cui Yuan's body suddenly stiffened.
Oh my god!
Speaking of the devil!
"Your subject, Deputy General Cui Yuan of the Demon Suppression Division, greets Your Majesty!"
Cui Yuan, without thinking, moved aside to the edge of the path, cupped his hands, and bowed in salute.
His posture suggested he wished he could bury his head in his crotch.
Jiang Yuechu's expression shifted slightly.
The Great Tang Emperor?
Fortunately, according to the Great Tang laws, military officials meeting the Emperor do not kneel if they are wearing armor. The Demon Suppression Division, which patrols the world for demons, has the authority to execute first and report later, and thus only needs to perform a military salute.
She copied Cui Yuan's movement, cupping her hands and bowing, her expression neither servile nor arrogant.
"Your subject, Jiang Yuechu of the Longyou Commandery, greets Your Majesty."
The young Emperor paused his steps.
His gaze did not linger on Cui Yuan but fell instead upon Jiang Yuechu.
"From the Region?"
Cui Yuan was drenched in cold sweat and quickly rushed to answer: "Reporting to Your Majesty, that is correct. Commander Jiang was granted special permission to enter the capital to obtain a Spiritual Seal from the Martial Temple due to her outstanding achievements."
"Oh..."
The Emperor responded casually.
He slowly paced forward, stopping three feet in front of the two people.
"Raise your heads."
Cui Yuan's body trembled, and he desperately signaled to Jiang Yuechu with his eyes.
Jiang Yuechu, however, acted as if she hadn't seen him, slowly straightened her waist, and raised her head.
Their eyes met.
The Old Eunuch's eyelids twitched violently nearby.
What audacity this girl has!
In this situation, she dares to look directly at the Dragon's Visage?
The Emperor stared at her face, his brows slightly furrowed.
He didn't know why.
He felt that this woman looked somewhat familiar... as if he had seen her somewhere before.
But searching through his memory, he couldn't recall this person.
"Your name is Jiang Yuechu?"
"Yes."
"Have we... met somewhere before?"
Cui Yuan's heart tightened, and he subconsciously recalled the joke he had just made.
Holy crap!
It's over... It couldn't possibly be coming true, could it?!
The Old Eunuch nearby jumped in his heart, quickly stepped forward, and shrilly said: "Your Majesty, this..."
"Silence."
The Emperor waved his hand, his gaze never leaving Jiang Yuechu's face.
"..."
Jiang Yuechu was expressionless, her voice calm.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject has never entered the Imperial City. I believe Your Majesty must be mistaken."
"That's true."
The Emperor gave a self-deprecating smile and shook his head.
"I've been reviewing memorials these past few days until I'm dizzy, so everyone looks familiar."
Having said that, he scrutinized Jiang Yuechu again, pointed at her face, turned his head, and chuckled to the Old Eunuch beside him: "Look, this girl's eyes are like a tiger cub's. I bet she's cursing me in her heart while I talk to her."
The Old Eunuch was so scared that he plopped down onto his knees: "Your Majesty! This woman is highly disrespectful! This old slave will immediately have her apprehended..."
"Enough, enough. Always wanting to apprehend someone. I was just speaking casually."
The Emperor rolled his eyes, appearing somewhat listless.
After his words fell, he looked deeply at Jiang Yuechu again.
Although this girl's eyes were indifferent, for some reason, he didn't dislike looking at her.
In fact... he even wanted to look at her a couple more times.
"Alright, go on."
The Emperor waved his sleeve, appearing somewhat listless.
"The Martial Temple has heavy Yin Qi. Your Evil Qi can Just right offset it."
"If you obtain the Spiritual Seal, don't rush to leave Chang'an. If I have time another day, I will summon you back to the palace for a talk."
Having said that.
Without waiting for the two of them to say anything, the Emperor walked away leisurely, hands behind his back, leading his entourage into the distance.
Not until that bright yellow figure completely disappeared.
Only then did Cui Yuan let out a long breath, haphazardly wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.
"Oh, my dear ancestor..."
Cui Yuan gave a wry smile, lowering his voice: "It's only because Your Majesty is in a good mood today and didn't bother with you. If it were anyone else who dared to look directly at the Dragon's Visage like that, they would have long ago..."
Jiang Yuechu's expression remained calm, and she did not respond.
She withdrew her gaze and straightened her cuff.
"Lord Cui, it's getting late."
Cui Yuan was startled, then looked up at the sun overhead.
"Right, right, right. The main business is important."
...They bypassed the Taiye Pond and passed through a lush Imperial Garden.
The palace maids and eunuchs who were previously everywhere were nowhere to be seen here.
Only the slightly hurried footsteps of the two of them echoed on the empty path.
They walked for dozens more steps.
"We've arrived."
Cui Yuan stopped walking, his expression solemn.
Jiang Yuechu looked up.
She saw a towering, majestic building standing ahead.
The building was five stories tall, constructed entirely of black rock. Its eaves curved upward, hung with bronze bells.
Standing below and looking up.
The massive shadow cast down was suffocating.
Cui Yuan led Jiang Yuechu to the bottom of the steps.
He turned around, looked at the black-clad girl behind him, and sobered his expression.
"Commander Jiang, I will only escort you this far."
Cui Yuan pointed to the high and mighty temple gate.
"This final stretch of the road, you must walk alone."
As he spoke, he pulled something out of his sleeve and shook it in the Void Realm.
Buzz—
The tightly shut main doors slowly slid open to both sides.
Revealing the bottomless gloom inside.
"Commander Jiang, crossing this threshold is the difference between heaven and earth. You must be careful."
Jiang Yuechu cupped her hands and bowed deeply to Cui Yuan.
"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Cui. This subordinate has noted it."
Cui Yuan waved his hand, stepped aside, and cleared the path leading to the steps.
"Go."
Jiang Yuechu straightened her back.
She took a deep breath, expelling all the Foul Qi from her chest.
She reached out and swept her robe aside, stepping onto the stairs and walking toward the temple... As the two heavy black rock doors closed, the last sliver of sunlight was mercilessly cut off.
It wasn't the pitch black she had expected.
The main hall was extremely vast, and the dome was incredibly high, disappearing into the dimness.
Jiang Yuechu stood at the entrance, not rushing to step forward.
She squinted her eyes. Only after adapting to the dim light could she clearly see a massive offering table placed in the center of the main hall.
The table was bare, with neither memorial tablets nor divine statues.
There was only a prayer cushion, and a figure huddled in the shadows.
The figure had their back to the entrance, hunched over, seemingly doing something unknown.
Jiang Yuechu's pupils contracted slightly.
Now that she had achieved Perfected Core Formation, how keen were her senses?
When she first entered the door just now, she hadn't detected this person's aura in the slightest!
This was a Master.
And the kind of Master whose skill was boundless.
Jiang Yuechu held her breath, restrained all the Qi activity in her body, daring not to act rashly, and simply stood in place, waiting quietly.
After a long time.
The figure turned around.
"Young people these days actually have decent patience."