Martial Realm Matriarch, Qing Zhu

After arriving at the main hall, Sky Vulture Emperor looked around. Once he confirmed that no one had followed, he stamped his foot, and the surrounding space warped. His figure vanished from the spot in an instant.

A few breaths later, At the summit of a towering mountain deep within the Da Luo Territory, Sky Vulture Emperor's figure slowly emerged.

The mountaintop gleamed with brilliant, dazzling golden light. This was a mountain known as Golden Pool Peak.

The famed Great Lo Golden Pool of the Da Luo Territory was located atop this very mountain.

The world believed that the Great Lo Territory Lord had always been in seclusion at Great Lo Peak, the core of Da Luo Heaven. Yet only the Three Emperors knew that the Great Lo Territory Lord's true place of seclusion had always been this Golden Pool Peak, renowned for its boundless golden radiance.

After arriving at the summit of Golden Pool Peak, Sky Vulture Emperor did not hesitate. He headed straight for the golden lake at the center of the peak.

That was where the Great Lo Golden Pool lay.

A moment later, Sky Vulture Emperor arrived at the edge of the Great Lo Golden Pool. He cupped his hands and bowed toward it, saying respectfully, "Territory Lord, Sky Vulture has an urgent matter to report. Please show yourself."

As his words fell, the air became deathly silent.

Only the sound of the viscous lakewater churning on the golden pool's surface, along with the occasional pop of rising bubbles, could be heard. Other than that, there was no movement whatsoever.

Sky Vulture Emperor raised his head in confusion. Circulating his spiritual energy, he raised his voice and shouted again.

"Territory Lord, Sky Vulture has an urgent matter to report. Please show yourself!"

The golden pool still gave no response. Sky Vulture Emperor took a deep breath, spiritual energy surging throughout his body, and was just about to shout once more.

When a cold female voice suddenly entered his ears.

"Stop shouting. Your Territory Lord's old injuries have flared up, and he is at a critical juncture. He has no time to attend to you for now."

"Who?"

Sky Vulture Emperor's anxious expression changed drastically. He barked out a shout as his sharp gaze swept across the surroundings.

Before him, space slowly twisted, and a graceful figure emerged indistinctly.

She was a woman in a white dress, standing in quiet elegance. Her features were exceedingly beautiful, with a faint resemblance to Lin Jing. Her dark hair was gathered up, and her cool, aloof temperament was utterly breathtaking.

The woman in white glanced faintly at Sky Vulture Emperor. As if answering his earlier question, her lips parted slightly, and she calmly spoke several words.

"Martial Realm, Qing Zhu."

Upon hearing those words, Sky Vulture Emperor's aged face changed violently. He stared at the woman in white before him in disbelief and muttered, "The Martial Realm Matriarch, Qing Zhu?"

"A figure such as yourself, how could you..."

"Ever since Jing'er left the Martial Realm, I have been by her side."

"Otherwise, how could that girl have left the Martial Realm so easily, given her status?"

Qing Zhu explained calmly.

"So Miss Lin has had a protector by her side all along—and it was actually you. This old man was foolish and wrongly blamed Miss Lin."

Sky Vulture Emperor immediately understood. Then, somewhat awkwardly, he said, "Then regarding whether Miss Lin stays or leaves..."

At this, Qing Zhu's willow brows furrowed slightly. Recalling Lin Jing's aggrieved expression from earlier, as though she were about to cry, her heart softened.

A trace of pity appeared on her cool face as she sighed. "Let her stay."

"Since childhood, her father has forced her to cultivate diligently. She has never had the chance to relax. It was not easy for her to sneak out this time, so let her rest for a while."

"She can also gain some experience and broaden her horizons."

"It would be inconvenient for me to show myself. During this time, I must trouble you, Elder, to look after her."

With that, Qing Zhu bowed to Sky Vulture Emperor.

Sky Vulture Emperor hurriedly returned the bow. "You are too polite."

"For Miss Lin to train in our Da Luo Territory is the Da Luo Territory's blessing. I dare not accept such a grand gesture."

Qing Zhu smiled faintly and did not dwell on it. With a sweep of her sleeve, a flash of clear light passed by, and three items instantly appeared before Sky Vulture Emperor.

A Sumeru Bracelet, a purple Jade Slip, and a pale green leaf that glimmered with a soft, lustrous glow.

"The Sumeru Bracelet contains the materials Jing'er needs to cultivate her Supreme Sovereign Celestial Body. Give it to her in a few days."

"Tell her that I approve of her training here, but only for one year. After one year, she must return to the Martial Realm without delay."

"The purple Jade Slip is a gift for that little fellow named Lu Chen. Find an excuse to give it to him. Consider it my, Qing Zhu's, greeting gift to him."

"As for that Grand Purity Profound Ice Leaf, it is for your Territory Lord. It can suppress evil and calm the mind. It will be enough to remove your Territory Lord's old injuries."

"I'll have to trouble you for the coming year."

With that, Qing Zhu smiled slightly. Before Sky Vulture Emperor could react, her figure had already vanished into the air.

Seeing this, Sky Vulture Emperor looked at the three items before him, unsure whether he should be happy or worried.

He was happy because his Territory Lord could be saved. With the Grand Purity Profound Ice Leaf bestowed by the Martial Realm Matriarch, the Da Luo Territory would surely restore its former prestige.

But he was worried because this would not be an easy task. Judging by her meaning, he could neither reveal her existence nor fail to ensure that the little princess of the Martial Realm received proper training. That was no simple matter.

"Ah..."

Sky Vulture Emperor let out a sigh. Things had come to this, and that person had left so quickly, not giving him any chance to refuse.

There was nothing else to be done.

At the very moment Qing Zhu appeared in the Da Luo Territory.

Tianluo Continent, Profound Heaven Hall.

Profound Heaven Hall stood in the Extremely Northern Land of the Northern Region on Tianluo Continent. As one of the Northern Region's foremost powers, Profound Heaven Hall held an exceptionally lofty status there. The territory under its control stretched boundlessly; in terms of sheer area alone, even the Da Luo Territory could not compare.

Within this vast territory, Profound Heaven Hall was the sole ruler. Though some other factions existed beneath it, all of them survived by relying on Profound Heaven Hall, and every year, they had to offer up vast quantities of Sovereign Spiritual Liquid as tribute.

At this moment, at the heart of Profound Heaven Hall, an indescribably majestic golden palace stood tall. Clouds coiled around it, and golden radiance bloomed from it, making it seem like an immortal realm—solemn and ethereal.

Deep within the golden palace was an area suffused with spiritual light. At the center of that light seemed to be a lotus of light, upon which a figure sat quietly in meditation.

That figure was as still as a boulder. His breathing followed an extraordinarily steady rhythm, and with every inhale and exhale, the sounds of wind and thunder arose within the hall. Vast spiritual energy surged and howled like a spiritual sea.

Suddenly, the figure immersed in cultivation snapped open his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through them.

He extended his hand, revealing an ancient jade pendant in his palm. At that moment, dazzling light was flickering from the jade pendant.

The man swept the jade pendant with his spiritual energy, instantly taking in the message it carried. Then he abruptly rose to his feet, the spiritual light around him withdrawing as he muttered, "The Da Luo Territory Lord truly has suffered grave injuries. No wonder he has not shown himself for all these years. Since that is the case, it is time for my Profound Heaven Hall to make a move."

"Mandala, old debts and new grudges—it is time we settled them all."

This man was none other than the Hall Master of Profound Heaven Hall, a top expert renowned throughout the Northern Region of Tianluo Continent—Liu Tiandao.