Chapter 354: Luo Wusheng Is Getting a Bit Too Full of Himself
The Sword Fairy finally emerged from the safety of her blanket cocoon.
She seemed to have calmed down—at least on the surface—but her cheeks still carried a faint, rosy glow.
After sitting in thought for a while, she pulled the blanket off the bed and wrapped it tightly around herself, as if that was the only way she could truly feel secure again.
She let out a long, deep breath.
The flush on her face faded a little more.
Only then did she start to actually observe her surroundings.
The room was plain—no excessive decorations, nothing too luxurious. Just a simple recovery chamber.
"Since I lost consciousness around the time the Sword Ancestor's inheritance activated, it must've been just Bai Xiaoyao and him afterward…"
Raising her small hand, she gently tapped her brow—the exact spot that had peeked out of the blankets earlier—before quickly pulling it back and giving a little shake of her head, looking more than a bit disheartened.
"I don't know what exactly happened with that chicken Netherkin… I can't believe I lost control at such a critical moment. But… even if I had been awake, my strength back then probably wouldn't have helped him much anyway."
"If it were now, though, things might've gone differently…"
She snuggled deeper into the blanket wrapped around her, as if indulging in some pleasant fantasy.
Her lips curled up ever so slightly.
Though the trial had been harrowing—the dreamscape cruel and relentless—what she'd gained from the Sword Ancestor's legacy was beyond generous. So generous, in fact, that her mind still couldn't fully grasp the extent of the power now coursing through her.
Well… if that guy had been able to kill the chicken Netherkin, then maybe that monster hadn't been all that strong to begin with?
Still, next time—when he's in real danger—she would be there. Not just as a bystander, but as someone who could truly make a difference.
Her dazzling eyes narrowed, as if struck by a flawless plan.
(Though chances to prove myself like that weren't exactly easy to come by… and besides, the Human Immortal List was fast approaching…)
The young girl gave a tiny shiver.
A blanket could only do so much against the cold that seeped from within.
Don't panic… don't panic… it was just a dream, just a dream…
She repeated the words like a mantra, slowly banishing the shadows of that nightmare from her mind.
Then, she quickly filled that void with thoughts of yesterday's events—reviewing everything that had transpired in an attempt to reorganize her racing thoughts.
"That broken sword… could it be the one he mentioned before? The Sword Emperor's broken sword from Sword Province, the one that connected to the Sword Ancestor?"
"It's not quite how I imagined it…"
The sword had felt far too sentient, almost alive.
Hmm… if she had to guess, the Sword Ancestor probably used her current wooden sword to shatter the Sword Emperor's sword in the past. That would certainly explain why the broken sword had reacted so aggressively when it first encountered her and the wooden blade.
But that raised an even more baffling question:
Just how powerful was the Sword Ancestor?
The Ancient Heavenly Gate's Sword Emperor must have been at the Peak of the Tribulation Crossing Realm. Yet he was defeated in a single strike, and his sword shattered completely.
And that same Sword Ancestor… had left her this legacy?
Thinking back to the previous "inheritance" she'd received from the Sword Ancestor—the one with such a comically mismatched style—Little Yuli wasn't sure how to feel.
"If only that episode had lasted a little longer, maybe I could've learned more…"
Just then, her train of thought abruptly stopped.
Her inky-black pupils spun slightly, catching a bright gleam of light.
Moments passed. Then she finally freed herself from the blanket, extended a slender hand, and knocked lightly on the headboard.
. . . . . .
Meanwhile, deep within the imperial palace—at the Imperial Pool.
A rare and breathtaking scene unfolded.
A young man and woman sat within a pavilion surrounded by divine beauty, perfectly framed by the idyllic scenery.
Their beauty surpassed even the view itself, and their conversation advanced slowly—but each word was precise, every phrase striking at the heart of the matter.
Luo Wusheng sipped another mouthful of spiritual tea.
He was drinking faster now—much like he did back in Daybreak City when he mooched off his wife's collection of Sword Nurturing Tea.
He was getting a little too comfortable.
The main reason for Luo Wusheng's slightly floaty mood?
Well, it had to be the tea His Majesty had served.
This stuff was legit.
Just from the few cups he'd drunk so far, his spiritual energy had already recovered by nearly half.
Half!
That was practically miraculous.
(This tea is a treasure…)
If someone from the lower realms were to take even a few sips, they'd probably be bursting at the seams—literally, their meridians exploding from an overload of spiritual energy.
But for someone like him, and for the elegant Empress before him? It was just the right strength.
Still, he couldn't shake the growing feeling that something was off.
The more he drank, the more… light-headed he felt?
(No way… It's just tea. It's not like I'm drinking wine.)
(Even if it were an immortal brew, it's not like I could get drunk that easily anymore…)
Trying to rationalize the sensation, his gaze drifted—involuntarily—to the Empress seated opposite him in her flowing crimson dress.
Unlike her Mortal Alter Ego, Miss Kirin, this version of the Empress didn't wear the usual chest-wrapping robe.
And without the oversized royal cloak covering her, the palace gown she had on now subtly accentuated the elegant curves of her chest.
He couldn't help but compare.
(Little Yuli still ranks highest in… um, 'abundance.' Yao Ji isn't far behind. As for the Empress… maybe around the same level as Shuangxue?)
Wait.
(Hold on—does that put my well-proportioned junior sister all the way down in fifth place among the main cast?)
(…No worries, at least the white-haired loli cushions the bottom of the rankings)
(Wait! What the hell am I even thinking!?)
Luo Wusheng felt his mind go blank for a moment.
Yes, he had just revealed nearly the entirety of the Netherkin Race's hidden plans to the Empress. The main goal of today's visit had been achieved, so he had relaxed a bit.
But had he really relaxed this much!?
Steadying himself, he reluctantly moved his gaze upward, finally resting his eyes on the Empress's face—undeniably stunning and now showing the thoughtful look of someone deep in consideration.
After all, she was an Empress. Though she was a woman, she had ruled a nation for three years on her own.
Smart, decisive, dignified.
She hadn't asked him where all this confidential information came from. Not even once.
As if… she simply didn't care.
Which was a bit disappointing, to be honest—he'd already prepped his classic excuse: "It's all from my super shady master."
Now it had no use.
What a waste of a perfectly good scapegoat…
Just as he was having these useless thoughts, the Empress softly exhaled and emerged from her moment of contemplation.
"At least one Nascent Soul expert, over ten Golden Core Grandmasters, and a number of Foundation Establishment elites. Even if all their Nether Formations are uncovered and destroyed, they could still use the blood of a stronger Netherkin to quickly create makeshift Formations on the spot… The Netherkin Race was well prepared this time."
On paper, that force didn't seem all that terrifying.
On an open battlefield, with the full might of the Immortal Nation behind her, she could likely wipe them out without much trouble.
But if they appeared within the capital city?
Within the boundaries of the Royal City, where her every move was restrained—then it would be chaos.
The power of the Human Emperor Sword, no matter how overwhelming, still had its limits.
Unless it was wielded by that genius of a former Emperor… there was no way it could protect the entire city for long.
"But… Your Majesty," Luo Wusheng said with a light smile, "Judging by how calmly you speak, you've already made countermeasures, haven't you?"
The Empress shook her head gently.
"Battlefields are ever-changing. The strategies I've prepared today may not be effective tomorrow. One accident, one overlooked detail—and everything we've worked toward could come crashing down."
"The Netherkin Race may have spent three years laying out their scheme. But in those same three years… I have built my countermeasures."
"Both sides have risked much. The outcome depends on who flinches first."
Her crimson eyes narrowed.
"But there will always exist a power strong enough to shatter all expectations."
She looked directly at him.
"Like you… who exposed the entire Netherkin Race plan to the Immortal Nation."
A pause.
"Or… the sudden shift in the heart of a cultivator standing at the very peak of the world."
<+>
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https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lkIcPnCxeyuyZA4Kkb621dPC05UvWjhD[1]
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[1] https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lkIcPnCxeyuyZA4Kkb621dPC05UvWjhD
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