At this critical moment—
Gu Han's eyes flickered slightly. With a thought, she withdrew the subsequent power of the Donghuang Bell.
The dark-gold sound waves slowly dissipated.
In the starry sky, apart from the residual Law turbulence and broken star fragments, a strange calm returned.
Empress Ling Shuang stood frozen in place, the remnants of shock and determination still lingering in her eyes.
The frost heaven sword in her hand hummed softly, as if recounting the heart-stopping moment just now.
"You..."
She looked at Gu Han, her lips moving slightly, her voice carrying a hint of hoarseness she hadn't noticed herself.
"Why did you stop?"
Gu Han's fingertips lightly brushed the warm body of the Donghuang Bell, and the bell transformed into a streak of dark-gold light, disappearing into her sleeve.
She looked up at Empress Ling Shuang, her gaze as calm as ever.
"Fellow Daoist Ling Shuang did not hesitate to burn her Lifespan just for an all-out battle; This Gu admires that."
"But if this battle continues, it will be of no benefit to you, and no interest to me."
"I established the Jade Pool Immortal Palace only to seek quiet cultivation and teach my Disciples, not to make enemies of anyone."
She paused, looking toward the deeper reaches of the starry sky.
"Today's battle shall be considered a draw. What do you say?"
Empress Ling Shuang fell silent.
She stared intently at Gu Han. On that cold and otherworldly face, there was not a hint of a victor's pride, nor any feigned pity.
There was only a sense of calm, as if the strike that was enough to suppress the galaxy just now was merely brushing dust off her clothes.
This calm made her feel more... defeated than any boasting or mockery.
She had burned a thousand years of Lifespan and summoned the frost heaven sword, which was close to being a quasi-immortal artifact, giving her all just for a satisfying fight.
But the opponent had been at ease from beginning to end, and even took the initiative to stop at the last moment, giving her a way out.
What was this?
Pity? Charity?
A fire burned in Empress Ling Shuang's chest, but it had nowhere to be released.
But she knew Gu Han was right.
If they continued, she would undoubtedly lose and might even be seriously injured.
But to just admit defeat like this... She gripped the frost heaven sword tightly, her knuckles turning white.
Just as Empress Ling Shuang was struggling with her inner conflict and shame—
"Buzz..."
A vast aura spread out from the depths of the starry sky without any warning!
This aura was not cold and piercing like Empress Ling Shuang's, nor deep and natural like Gu Han's.
Instead, it was a majestic and grand aura of an emperor who ruled over all directions!
"What?!"
Empress Ling Shuang's expression changed drastically, and she suddenly turned her head toward the direction the aura was coming from.
A flash of realization crossed Gu Han's eyes.
He's here.
As expected.
When the System reminded her earlier that "an Immortal Ascension powerhouse is hiding and watching," she had already guessed who it was.
Only one person in the entire Canglan Continent could make the System give a solemn warning and hide from both her and Empress Ling Shuang's perception.
In the distant starry sky, the previously empty Void Realm suddenly rippled.
A figure wearing a Purple-Gold Dragon Robe and a Flat-top Crown, with an incomparably handsome face and a majestic bearing like an emperor descending to the Nine Heavens, slowly stepped out from the Void Realm.
He looked to be only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, but his deep eyes seemed to contain the vicissitudes of eternal ages.
Most notably, he held a long sword that was dark green throughout. Its guard was in the shape of two dragons competing for a pearl, and its blade was naturally engraved with patterns of mountains, rivers, and the state.
It was the only quasi-immortal artifact in the Canglan Continent—the dragon soul sword!
"Longteng, why are you here?"
A hint of astonishment flashed in Empress Ling Shuang's pupils.
Why would he appear here?!
And he had been hiding nearby the whole time?!
Empress Ling Shuang suddenly turned to look at Gu Han, her eyes filled with suspicion.
Could he also be here for the "Yaochi Empress"?
Longteng Emperor nodded to Empress Ling Shuang as a greeting, and his gaze then fell upon Gu Han.
In his eyes, which seemed able to pierce through eternal ages, a trace of admiration flashed, but there was more of an inquiry.
"Fellow Daoist Gu."
Longteng Emperor spoke, his voice warm and mellow, yet carrying an unquestionable authority.
"This Sovereign has been impolite, hiding nearby for quite some time."
"I was truly delighted to see such talent and wanted to see Fellow Daoist's true strength."
"With the strength Fellow Daoist just displayed, even this Sovereign cannot say for certain that I could defeat you."
"Even more rare is that Fellow Daoist has a steady Heart-Nature and knows when to stop."
"Such bearing is worthy of the title 'Empress'."
As soon as these words were spoken, Empress Ling Shuang's expression became even more unsightly.
Longteng actually said that even he might not be able to defeat the Yaochi Empress?
Gu Han looked at Longteng Emperor, her thoughts racing.
This person appearing now was clearly not just to say a few polite words.
"The Emperor overpraises me."
Gu Han nodded slightly, her voice clear and calm.
"I wonder for what matter the Emperor has come?"
Hearing this, a meaningful smile appeared on Longteng Emperor's face.
"This Sovereign has come for three things."
"First, naturally, is to see a new fellow Cultivator."
His gaze lingered on Gu Han for a moment as he slowly said:
"Fellow Daoist achieved a Breakthrough to Immortal Ascension a year ago, shaking the Five Regions, yet then vanished without a trace."
"Now that Fellow Daoist has appeared and shown such strength, this Sovereign naturally had to come and see for himself."
"Second..."
He looked at Empress Ling Shuang, his tone carrying a bit of persuasion:
"Since Fellow Daoist Gu has no intention of fighting you, Ling Shuang, why must you be so persistent about this battle?"
"The title of Empress is merely an empty name. The Canglan Continent is vast and can accommodate three Empresses."
Empress Ling Shuang pursed her lips and did not respond.
After all, she had only stepped into the Immortal Ascension realm forty thousand years ago; Longteng Emperor was her Senior.
Seeing that she didn't speak, Longteng Emperor knew she had taken the advice. He smiled slightly and continued:
"As for the third..."
His gaze fell back onto Gu Han, his expression becoming solemn:
"This Sovereign wishes to invite Fellow Daoist Gu to participate in a major event concerning the future of the Canglan Continent."
"A major event?"
Gu Han's brow twitched slightly.
"Indeed."
Longteng Emperor nodded, his voice lowering a bit:
"This matter involves the mystery of the immortal path."
"As for the specific details, if Fellow Daoist Gu is interested, you may come to the Longteng Imperial Dynasty in the Central State for a discussion."
"At that time, several Fellow Daoists from the other four regions will also be present."
Hearing this, Gu Han's heart stirred.
All the Immortal Ascensions gathering together?
The mystery of the immortal path?
It seems this Longteng Emperor knows quite a lot.
"Thank you for informing me, Emperor."
Gu Han pondered for a moment and then slowly said:
"Once I have settled things at home, I will naturally pay a visit to the Central State."
"Good."
Longteng Emperor nodded, his gaze sweeping over the streaks of light rapidly approaching in the distance—
Those were the Cultivators Undergoing Tribulation from various regions who had been startled by the battle's fluctuations.
"In that case, this Sovereign shall not disturb you further."
He slightly cupped his hands toward Gu Han and Empress Ling Shuang:
"Ladies, until we meet again."
As he finished speaking, he made a light stroke with the dragon soul sword in his hand.
A portal silently split open in the Void Realm. Longteng Emperor stepped inside, and his figure vanished.
As if he had never appeared.
Only his lingering voice echoed in the starry sky, along with the imperial pressure that had not yet completely dispersed.
Empress Ling Shuang remained silent for a long time before slowly exhaling a breath of turbid air.
She turned to look at Gu Han, the complexity in her eyes deepening.
There was shock, unwillingness, and doubt, but more than that, there was a type of... admiration she had to admit.
Even Longteng had appeared in person and given such an evaluation.
If she continued to be difficult, it would instead make her seem petty.
"Gu Han."
Empress Ling Shuang spoke slowly. Although her voice was still cold, it lacked some of its previous hostility:
"Today's battle... this Empress will remember it."
She gave Gu Han a deep look:
"You are strong, stronger than this Empress imagined."
"The title of Yaochi Empress—you are worthy of it."
Gu Han gave a faint smile. That smile was as light as a cloud, yet it was exceptionally striking amidst the ruins of the starry sky.
She didn't say much, only nodding slightly as a response to Empress Ling Shuang's forthrightness.
This battle had come suddenly and ended just as abruptly.
The tense atmosphere had quietly dissipated for the most part with Longteng Emperor's appearance and mediation, as well as Gu Han's initiative to stop.
All that remained were the energy echoes in the starry sky that had yet to subside, and the churning thoughts in the hearts of the two involved.
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