The next day, the morning light was faint.
East Courtyard, Guest House.
Empress Ling Shuang stood alone in the courtyard, the cold Qi condensing at her fingertips dancing like spirits.
At times it transformed into ice butterflies spreading their wings, and at others, it congealed into snow lotuses waiting to bloom; it was exquisite, naturally generating dao rhyme.
She was deducing the unfathomable dao rhyme Gu Han had shown in yesterday's battle, attempting to capture a sliver of its true meaning.
"Your Majesty, the Vice Palace Master of Jade Pool Immortal Palace is outside requesting an audience."
Lan Ling appeared silently outside the pavilion and reported in a low voice.
Empress Ling Shuang's fingertips paused slightly; the ice butterfly shattered, dissipating into dots of cold starlight.
"Let her in."
Yun Yun walked into the small courtyard with a composed pace and bowed slightly to Empress Ling Shuang inside the pavilion:
"I wonder if Senior is accustomed to staying here?"
"It is acceptable."
Empress Ling Shuang's gaze fell upon Yun Yun, a hint of scrutiny flashing in her cold eyes.
The Peak of the ninth level of undergoing tribulation, with a long and vigorous Sword Intent and a terrifyingly solid Foundation; what was even rarer was that level of bearing.
This Jade Pool Immortal Palace truly hides dragons and crouching tigers.
Even a Vice Palace Master possesses such an Aura.
"Is Fellow Daoist Gu occupied today?"
Empress Ling Shuang asked straightforwardly.
Yun Yun seemed to have expected this and said warmly:
"The Palace Master is in quiet cultivation. If Senior has the leisure, this Junior can lead you there."
"There is no rush for now,"
Empress Ling Shuang waved her hand,
"This Empress wishes to look around. I wonder if that is permissible?"
Yun Yun pondered for a moment before responding:
"Naturally. Senior, please follow me."
The two left the East Courtyard, one after the other.
Along the way, Empress Ling Shuang seemingly admired the scenery of the Immortal Palace casually, but in reality, she was using her Divine Sense to perceive every plant, tree, brick, and tile here.
The more she perceived, the more solemn and amazed she became.
Among the pavilions and buildings seen along the way, between the flying eaves and bracket sets, profound runes vaguely circulated.
Even the spiritual flowers and exotic grasses growing randomly by the roadside appeared more vibrant and their medicinal properties more pure than in the outside world.
The Immortal Palace Disciples encountered on the road would stop and bow from a distance upon seeing Yun Yun and her.
Their posture was respectful but not subservient, and their eyes were clear, revealing pride in their Sect and enthusiasm for their Cultivation.
What caught Empress Ling Shuang's attention even more was that their movements possessed their own order, and their breathing was steady and solid, completely unlike ordinary Sect Disciples.
"Your Palace's Disciples are well-trained."
Empress Ling Shuang took the initiative to speak, her tone light but carrying a hint of approval.
"Senior overpraises them. It is all due to the diligent teaching of the Palace Master and the various Elders."
Yun Yun responded warmly, neither taking credit nor being overly modest, handling the propriety perfectly.
The two gradually walked toward the western side of the Immortal Palace, a relatively open area.
From a distance, a towering and primitive nine-story pagoda entered Empress Ling Shuang's sight.
Her footsteps stopped involuntarily, her pupils shrinking slightly as her gaze locked firmly onto that high pagoda.
With her cultivation and experience, she instantly sensed the extraordinary nature of this tower!
That tower did not seem to be just an ordinary building; in her eyes, it was more like a powerhouse who had mastered the Law of time and space!
"This tower..."
A rare ripple of inquiry entered Empress Ling Shuang's voice.
Yun Yun followed her gaze, a flash of understanding and faint pride appearing in her eyes as she introduced it calmly:
"In response to Senior, this is named the 'Myriad Phenomena Pagoda'."
"The flow of time inside the tower is approximately ten times that of the outside world, and the Spiritual Qi is even more pure and dense. Most Disciples in the palace Cultivate within the tower."
"Ten times the time flow?"
Even though Empress Ling Shuang was used to seeing the world's rare treasures, hearing Yun Yun's seemingly plain introduction caused a storm of shock to rise in her heart!
Treasures that could change the flow of time were not non-existent; she had seen a few during her long life.
But every single one came with a massive price, many restrictions, and a very small range. It was absolutely impossible for one to be used so openly as a 'public building' for all Disciples to Cultivate in!
This clearly exceeded her scope of knowledge!
What grade of Magic Treasure must this be?
A quasi-immortal artifact? No!
She had seen quasi-immortal artifacts as well, and they absolutely did not possess such world-changing, almost Heaven-Defying effectiveness!
Could this be a true Immortal Artifact?!
This thought made Empress Ling Shuang's breathing hitch.
She suddenly remembered that mysterious dark-gold ancient bell Gu Han had summoned yesterday.
Now, within this Jade Pool Immortal Palace, there was actually another 'Myriad Phenomena Pagoda' with such a Heaven-Defying effect?
She subconsciously extended her Divine Sense toward the Myriad Phenomena Pagoda again, attempting to perceive its interior more deeply.
However, the runes circulating on the tower's body brightened slightly, gently pushing her Divine Sense away, preventing it from intruding even a fraction.
This undoubtedly confirmed her suspicion—the grade and protection of this tower were far beyond imagination!
Empress Ling Shuang slowly withdrew her gaze. Her beautiful face showed little emotion, but deep within her eyes, waves were surging.
She seemed to understand a bit why the Jade Pool Immortal Palace, established for only a little over a year, could have Disciples who each had a solid Foundation and made rapid progress.
With such a Heaven-Defying time treasure, plus that 'Enlightenment Tea Tree' on the island in the middle of the lake...
The cultivation resources and heritage of this Jade Pool Immortal Palace were simply extravagant to a hair-raising degree!
Was that woman Qing Xuan also shocked out of her wits by these things back then?
That's why she... Empress Ling Shuang's thoughts drifted for a moment before she quickly pulled them back.
At this moment, her curiosity toward Gu Han instantly climbed to its Peak.
"Your Palace Master... is truly unfathomable."
Empress Ling Shuang remained silent for a long time, finally uttering only those words.
This time, her tone lacked much of its competitive edge and gained a few hints of hard-to-detect... admiration.
Yun Yun smiled slightly and did not respond, simply continuing to lead the way:
"Senior, ahead is the entrance to the 'Myriad Phenomena Medicine Field' of the Pill Refining Pavilion. It contains its own space and can simulate all sorts of environments to Cultivate spiritual plants."
Empress Ling Shuang looked in the direction she pointed and saw a spatial entrance shimmering with a hazy glow floating quietly not far from the Pill Refining Pavilion.
Even from a distance, she could sense its extraordinary nature.
It was actually an independent small Secret Realm... a dedicated spiritual plant cultivation ground.
Empress Ling Shuang was already becoming somewhat numb.
This Jade Pool Immortal Palace not only possessed the Heaven-Defying Myriad Phenomena Pagoda and the Enlightenment Tea Tree that helped people realize the Dao, but it even had a Secret Realm specifically for cultivating Spirit Medicine!
How could such a grand scale be the style of a newly established Sect?
She felt her understanding of Gu Han and the 'Jade Pool Immortal Palace' was being refreshed over and over again.
Is this Gu Han truly a person of the Canglan Continent?
The mysteries surrounding her seemed much more complex than she had imagined.
Meanwhile, discussions about this 'temporarily staying' Empress of the Northern Region were quietly spreading among the Disciples throughout the Immortal Palace.
"Have you heard? That Empress Ling Shuang seems to be staying in our Immortal Palace for a while?"
"Is it true? Isn't she from the Northern Territory? Why does she have time to stay here long-term?"
"Who knows... but seeing the Vice Palace Master personally accompanying her and the Palace Master not objecting, it should be true."
"Wow, seeing this legendary Empress up close! I wonder if she will give us pointers on our Cultivation?"
"You're dreaming! Do you think everyone is like our Palace Master, who would give us pointers on our Cultivation?"
"That's true... but I feel the Aura on her is so cold, even colder than the Grand Elder."
"That's the Empress who has ruled the Northern Territory for tens of thousands of years; her Aura is naturally staggering. However, our Grand Elder is also very powerful!"
The Disciples discussed fervently, their curiosity, awe, and yearning intertwined, but more than that was a sense of pride in sharing the honor.
Even the Empress of the Northern Region has come to our Immortal Palace as a guest!
Doesn't this indirectly prove the prestige and strength of our Jade Pool Immortal Palace and Palace Master?
Although Gu Han was Cultivating, she already knew everything happening outside through the System.
Seeing Empress Ling Shuang's shock at the Myriad Phenomena Pagoda, the corners of Gu Han's lips curled up almost imperceptibly.
After all, the Myriad Phenomena Pagoda was not just a tower that could accelerate cultivation; it was also the greatest trump card within the Immortal Palace.
It was fine to let her see it.
At least it would make her understand that Jade Pool Immortal Palace was not a power that could be easily manipulated, and it possessed sufficient confidence and heritage.
It would also make this straightforward and stubborn Empress of the Northern Region consider her actions more carefully.
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