Inside the main hall, the Divine Statues were all shrouded in Black Mist. Looking at them, one saw only pure darkness—strange and grotesque, enough to make one's heart tremble.
Yet people came and went like a weaving stream, and no one noticed the statues had changed. It was as if they had always been shrouded in this dense darkness. Everyone continued with the usual rituals of bowing, making wishes, and offering incense.
At that moment, Pei Ling said evenly, "From now on, stay here and take the form of an ordinary person. Don't leave any trace of yourself."
"One day, your opportunity will surely come. When it does, you'll be rewarded."
Xiao Ci immediately bowed. "Yes! This servant will guard this place well for her master!"
Pei Ling nodded slightly. The Divine Statue before him was the one in which he had left the strongest portion of his divine consciousness.
After he ascended, Xiao Ci would be able to obtain that portion of the laws and power... That would be enough to carry her across many major realms!
Having settled the servant girl who had followed him from the Qi Refining Stage until now, Pei Ling vanished in an instant.
The imperial palace's rear quarters.
Inside a luxurious palace, Ruan Xilu held a brow pencil and fussed over her reflection in a bronze mirror. In the end, she decided to draw crescent-shaped brows today.
Two maids attended her, their hands never still, their mouths never quiet. They were saying, "...Virtuous Consort surely thinks she can finally outshine Her Ladyship this time. It's laughable—what does she have to compare with Her Ladyship?"
Ruan Xilu nodded in deep agreement. "That old woman dares compete with me..."
As they spoke, she and the maids all fell asleep without warning.
The next moment,