The Empress's Troubles

Inside the Luohan Dynasty's grand hall!

"At present, our Luohan Dynasty has three Sage-realm Cultivators. Even if the Great Gan Dynasty has the Four Symbols Array, it won't be a problem!"

"If all three Sages strike together, even if they preside over the array, they can only hold back two of us. We still have one left!"

The leader, a middle-aged man clad in a golden Dragon Robe, wore a sinister expression.

"Once I destroy the Great Gan Dynasty, I must have that Empress. Not only is she stunningly beautiful, she also possesses the rare Dual Cultivation Physique!"

"Hahaha! Heaven favors our Luohan Dynasty. Unifying the realm is inevitable. Once the Great Gan Dynasty submits and offers tribute, then..."

"Urgent report! Urgent report! A three-thousand-li express dispatch!"

Ji Hong was overjoyed and immediately spoke.

"Read it! Let all the civil and military officials hear the glorious moment when Great Gan submits to our Luohan Dynasty!"

The man was high-spirited, already unable to wait.

Yet the soldier delivering the message appeared somewhat hesitant.

The Prime Minister frowned, seemingly sensing something amiss. "His Majesty has told you to speak. Speak!"

The atmosphere seemed to freeze, and Ji Hong furrowed his brow as well.

"Speak!"

"A secret report from the Great Gan Dynasty's imperial palace: at today's court assembly, Empress Ye Qinglian publicly broke through to the Void Shattering realm..."

"Ye Qinglian sent word to His Majesty: if His Majesty wishes to fight, then come. She will await him at any time..."

Inside the great hall, a pin could have been heard dropping!

The man's earlier smugness vanished instantly, replaced by a vicious expression!

"How is that possible?! How could she have broken through so quickly? She has cultivated for barely over a hundred years. I have cultivated even longer than her dead father, and just when I had arranged for Great Gan's Sage to be eliminated, another one appeared!"

Ji Hong was nearly beside himself with rage!

Everyone in court understood.

The Luohan Dynasty had had its eyes on Great Gan for far too long!

In the previous generation, Ye Qinglian's father had also been a Void Shattering Sage, suppressing the Luohan Dynasty at every turn.

With their Four Symbols Array, they needed only several hundred fifth-realm Cultivators, together with favorable timing and terrain, to contend against a Void Shattering Sage!

And if a Void Shattering expert presided over the array, it could crush another Void Shattering expert!

They had plotted to murder Great Gan's previous emperor, then plotted to assassinate the dynasty's Sage. Now that they were finally gone, they could finally expand their territory.

Yet another had appeared!

"Detestable! Tragic!"

"Why didn't that array appear in our Luohan Dynasty? Why did the Great Gan Dynasty have to obtain it? How utterly hateful!"

His pointless fury only showed that he had no solution at all.

He could only take things one step at a time...

Meanwhile, on the Tianxuan Continent, within one of the Three Great Holy Lands that stood above the Five Great Dynasties.

Inside Taixu Holy Land.

"That Big Figure from before seems to have remained in our Lower Realm..."

The Old Ancestor pondered with a frown. "A Big Figure like that should seemingly disdain remaining in the Lower Realm. This old man believes his cultivation is at least Dao Extreme, above the Heavenly Phenomenon realm..."

"There must be some purpose behind it, or perhaps he is simply playing among mortals?"

Everyone shook their heads.

"However, this old man seems to have seen the Python Robe he wore before. It should be a style used by one of the Five Great Dynasties..."

The Old Ancestor's eyes lit up. "In that case, we might as well investigate. Establishing a connection with such a Big Figure would be beneficial in itself."

"With a casual move, he already reached the limit of our Taixu Holy Land. This True Dragon can now forge two supreme divine swords from nothing alone, not to mention robes and pills. He merely lacked marrow, yet he directly elevated our Taixu Holy Land to a higher level!"

"If we can earn this Big Figure's favor, then even after our Taixu Holy Land reaches the Upper Realm, we may secure a place there!"

"But this matter must be carried out in secret. Do not lay a hand on anyone. Even if we truly find him, we must not disturb him. When the time comes, this old man will speak with him personally!"

"Your Majesty, the Luohan Dynasty has withdrawn its troops from the border..."

Within Mingde Hall, night gradually fell.

The news spread quickly.

With the Four Symbols Array and her presiding over it, even if the Luohan Dynasty produced two more Sages, they would absolutely not dare act rashly!

After all, losing even one Sage would be a tremendous loss to them. They were unwilling—and did not dare—to risk it.

Prime Minister Xu Zhengnian reported with cupped hands, and Ye Qinglian nodded.

"I understand. Prime Minister, go attend to your duties."

That fellow will probably be bringing food over soon. He can't run into him.

"Your Majesty, this official has another matter to present."

"What is it?"

The Old Man slowly spoke. "Whenever a ruler ascends the throne and founds a state, they should establish a consort to secure the foundation of the nation. Your Majesty is an Empress rarely seen throughout the ages, yet according to the ancestral laws, you must still appoint an Emperor Consort to continue the imperial bloodline."

"Your Majesty has set this matter aside for decades. Now that the Luohan Dynasty no longer dares invade, I hope Your Majesty will consider it. This is the wish of all the civil and military officials, the Imperial Clan, and the people of the realm."

The Old Man bowed deeply, showing utmost respect.

"This official knows that Your Majesty governs diligently and loves the people. Yet Your Majesty is also a cultivator. State affairs can be handled jointly by the Six Ministries and the officials; there is no need for Your Majesty to personally handle every matter. There are still many veteran officials in court capable of such duties. In that way, Your Majesty can devote more time to cultivation without constantly worrying over the state."

Ye Qinglian could see the Old Man's good intentions. He had served as Prime Minister across two reigns and was loyal to the dynasty, but the timing was not right for her.

It was simple: aside from the Prime Minister, she did not trust many people. They were all unfamiliar faces.

If she handed government affairs to them, she would constantly have to assess their character and ability. Wouldn't that be troublesome?

Wouldn't she still have to do it herself in the end? It was not as though she could not handle it.

Handling it herself was the most reassuring option.

"What you say is very reasonable, my minister. I understand."

You're right. I heard you. But I have no intention of doing it.

The Old Man sighed and slowly rose, somewhat helpless.

"Since Your Majesty insists, this official can only urge Your Majesty to take care of your health and not overwork yourself..."

Being an official in the Great Gan Dynasty was far too easy!

As long as local affairs were collected and submitted, they could simply dump everything on the Emperor.

It was not that they deliberately did so. It was what Her Majesty demanded.

Although all power was concentrated in the Emperor's hands, excessive toil truly delayed cultivation.

Which of the Five Great Dynasties was not a nation of cultivators? No matter how well one handled state affairs, what use was it if one could not defeat others?

Forget it. Since Her Majesty was unwilling to delegate authority, he could say nothing more.

The Old Man slowly departed, and Ye Qinglian sighed as well.

It was not that she was unwilling.

She simply could not trust others, and she also feared that imperial authority would be affected.

The previous Emperor had delegated power back then, allowing trusted court officials to oversee state affairs. The regions descended into chaos, and even the Prime Minister could not interfere.

What could she do? She still had to rely on herself.

No one else could be relied upon.

Knock, knock, knock.

"My minister need not persuade me. I know what I am doing. Please return."

"Your minister cannot return. Your minister still has to watch Your Majesty finish her meal..."

A head poked in through the door, its face wearing a smile.

It was none other than Chu Ning.

"Qinglian, have you eaten? If not, eat something?"

Ye Qinglian looked at him coolly.

How had he come over silently again?

Could it be that those people still had not noticed him?

Forget it. She was feeling a little irritated. She would eat first...

Yet when that thought crossed her mind, Ye Qinglian froze slightly.