Moon Gazing Continent was so vast that its breadth was beyond measure.
The Human Race and the Demon Race stood opposed, each holding half the world.
Among the Human Race alone, there were more than ten kingdoms of varying sizes.
The Human Race and the Demon Race were the two most powerful forces on Moon Gazing Continent.
Yet above both the Human Race and the Demon Race, there existed something even more terrifying.
It was not a race, but the legendary Four Forbidden Zones and One Absolute Territory.
The Four Great Forbidden Areas were all exceedingly bizarre, fraught with danger at every turn.
Even the emperors of the Demon Race did not dare set foot within rashly, lest they face the danger of death and the dissipation of their Dao.
The absolute territory among them was even more terrifying. It was called Heaven's End.
Even emperors who entered faced Ten Deaths Without Life.
Dangerous as they were, anyone who entered the Four Forbidden Zones and One Absolute Territory and emerged alive would obtain tremendous benefits.
The Four Great Forbidden Areas were covered in spirit herbs, and heavenly materials and earthly treasures were too numerous to count.
Legend had it that there was an Ascension Platform within Heaven's End. If one climbed it, one could ascend to the fabled Immortal Realm.
Xuanyuan Forbidden Area was one of those famed forbidden areas. Moreover, it lay within Nanqian Kingdom, less than a thousand li from Southern Qian Imperial City.
Unlike the other forbidden areas, Xuanyuan Forbidden Area was said to have formed from the tomb of a supreme expert.
The outskirts of Xuanyuan Forbidden Area were covered in supreme restrictions. Even emperor-level experts could not enter.
And now, Qi Yuan claimed that he had been grinding monsters in Xuanyuan Forbidden Area this entire time?
How was that possible?!
At first, Jin Li thought Qi Yuan was joking.
Still, she asked cautiously, "You aren't telling the truth, are you?"
"Why would I lie to you? I was even waiting to invite you to team up. Running a dungeon alone is too boring."
Jin Li still found it hard to believe.
"There were quite a lot of monsters in Xuanyuan Forbidden Area. It took me over half a year of grinding alone to clear them all out. I was exhausted to death."
Jin Li froze.
How could the monsters in Xuanyuan Forbidden Area merely be described as numerous?
Not only were there many of them, they were also extremely powerful.
Moon Gazing Continent had risen and fallen for ten thousand years, with geniuses emerging in endless succession, yet no era had ever conquered even a single forbidden area.
To slaughter one's way through Xuanyuan Forbidden Area—what kind of strength would that require?
Even a Supreme Emperor probably could not accomplish it.
"Then what is your cultivation level? An emperor?" Jin Li asked carefully.
"Emperor? What's that?
I'm already level 82 now."
"Level 82?" Jin Li was somewhat puzzled.
But she also knew that Qi Yuan had always spoken strangely.
For example, Qi Yuan had once said that he wanted to take a spaceship to see the stars in the sky, but he feared there would be no oxygen and that he would die on one of those stars.
How distant were the stars?
According to ancient records, the world contained the mortal realm, the Immortal Realm, and countless others.
And every world shared the same starry sky.
Legend said those starry skies were merely reflections cast across the heavens by great powers, not reality.
Landing upon the stars was even more illusory.
It was perfectly normal for Qi Yuan to say strange things.
After thinking for a moment, she asked, "How strong are the monsters in Xuanyuan Forbidden Area?"
"The strongest one in Xuanyuan Forbidden Area was a Mad Pen.
It was especially treacherous. It always liked turning into a pen at night and launching sneak attacks without any martial virtue.
It forced me to dig a pit and bury myself every time I went offline to AFK.
As for it, it was barely level seventy-something."
"Mad Pen? Level seventy?" Jin Li pondered.
If what Qi Yuan said was true, then level seventy should correspond to the level of an emperor, perhaps even a Supreme Emperor.
And in all of Nanqian Kingdom, the number of emperors could be counted on one hand—there were only two or three.
"I heard there are restrictions outside Xuanyuan Forbidden Area. It seems that even emperors cannot force their way in," Jin Li said.
"Xuanyuan Forbidden Area is easy to enter. It's just like going to the movies—carry a ladder on your back, and you can get in. The beasts inside won't attack you either," Qi Yuan said. "I've already cleared this Xuanyuan Forbidden Area dungeon."
"Alright, I won't talk anymore. I've arrived at Attire Forbidden Area. Let's chat next time."
After saying that, Qi Yuan cut off the communication.
Jin Li, who was bathing, felt a wave of loss upon hearing this.
Their exchange had been hurried, with very few words between them.
"Xuanyuan Forbidden Area and Attire Forbidden Area are separated by a hundred thousand li..."
How could he cross that distance in such a short time?
Even Supreme Emperors could not do it.
In the image that surfaced in Jin Li's mind, Qi Yuan became blurry once more, veiled behind a layer of gauze.
"Qi Yuan, what kind of person are you?"
Jin Li scooped up a handful of water and let it slide down from her snow-white fragrant shoulder. Her melancholy dispersed like water as well.
Did it matter what kind of person Qi Yuan was?
At the very least, they were wonderful pen pals, friends who had never met.
After finishing her bath, Jin Li dressed herself neatly.
She disliked having palace maids attend to her. Who knew whether Grand Chancellor Sima Ting had planted spies among them?
She returned to Phoenix Luan Hall and sat upright upon the Glazed Imperial Throne, where thick stacks of memorials had been placed.
As the night deepened, she picked up the memorials and began reviewing them.
From time to time, her delicate brows knitted tightly as her slender jade-like hand wrote something down.
"The southern war is urgent. The War Elephant Race has joined the battle as well..."
"The Southern Feng Crown Prince will arrive in the imperial capital in three days?"
Jin Li held her forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
The current Nanqian Kingdom was like a huge lump of fat meat, coveted by all.
As for what the Southern Feng Crown Prince intended by coming, Jin Li knew better than anyone.
Looking at the memorials, she felt an especially fierce headache for a time.
She thought of Qi Yuan. Only when chatting with him could she cast aside her identity and the responsibilities on her shoulders.
Of course, she also understood that since she enjoyed brocade robes and fine food and had become the Empress of Nanqian Kingdom, she ought to shoulder the common people of Southern Qian.
"Someone, go to the Library Pavilion and bring me every record related to Xuanyuan Forbidden Area," Jin Li said, having thought of something. She instructed the maid beside her.
"Yes." The maid withdrew, while Jin Li continued reviewing the memorials.
The Great General's Mansion stood in Blue Robe Alley. When the Grand General was still alive, it had enjoyed glory beyond compare, with visitors crowding its gates.
Now, however, its doors were as deserted as a sparrow's nest.
Yet at this moment, an uninvited guest had arrived at the Great General's Mansion.
The man had a broad frame and stood seven chi tall, with a beard. Most strikingly, the center of his forehead appeared somewhat sunken.
He was Southern Qian's Grand Chancellor, Sima Ting!
Looking at the Grand General's widow, he slowly said, "Madam Qin, are your injuries serious?"
Aunt Qin looked at Sima Ting, fury seeming ready to burst from her eyes. "Sima Ting!"
She shouted, and her face turned even paler.
No one knew better than her who had caused her injuries.
Yet Sima Ting still dared to come here.
Sima Ting did not grow angry. He said calmly, "Madam Qin, the overall situation has already been decided. Why must you remain so stubborn?
What future is there in following that little girl?"
"You dare disrespect the Empress!" Aunt Qin raged.
If she had not been ambushed and gravely injured, then with her peak King-level strength, Sima Ting would never have dared speak to her like this.
Sima Ting glanced at Aunt Qin, contempt flashing through his eyes. "A mere woman—if not for this old man back then, what virtue or ability did she possess to occupy such a lofty position?
On the day she ascended the throne, she actually tripped and fell on level ground. That was a sign from Heaven itself that her virtue did not match her position.
She has governed Southern Qian for ten years, and now Southern Qian suffers troubles within and enemies without. Without this old man, the kingdom would likely have ceased to be a kingdom long ago.
She is no longer qualified to remain in that seat."
Hearing this, Aunt Qin felt both anger and sorrow.
She had watched Jin Li grow up.
Jin Li had already worked very hard, but unfortunately, she had never become deeply skilled in imperial power and political maneuvering, nor could she toy with the entire court in the palm of her hand.
She was not an Empress skilled in the arts of imperial power, but she was absolutely a good ruler who governed diligently for the people.
Sometimes, Aunt Qin even thought that if Jin Li had not become Empress and had instead been an ordinary princess, how wonderful that would have been.
Unfortunately, once one held the imperial seal in one's hand, one could not retreat, nor could one refuse to fight.
To not fight was to die!
Before you continue