On a land strewn with jagged strange rocks and covered in metal, a towering demonic pillar so high its top could not be seen stood conspicuously.
In one corner beside the demonic pillar, a grove of purple bamboo swayed without wind, adding a touch of vibrant life to this land.
The bamboo leaves were crystal-clear, casting mottled shadows across the ground beneath the faint glow.
Within the bamboo grove, a graceful figure wielded a sharp sword, transforming into countless sword shadows.
Chop, point, strike, thrust, lift, lash, slash...
The simplest of moves unfolded with astonishing beauty, stirring wisps of sword wind as fluid as silver snakes gliding through the air.
Bamboo leaves danced along with the sword wind, drifting melodiously through the sky.
After a long while, the sword rang with a clang as it returned to its sheath. The bamboo leaves fell, forming a perfect taiji pattern beneath her feet.
"After contemplating for so long, relaxing once in a while isn't bad either."
Empress Ruthless found a stone and sat down. To her, practicing swordsmanship like this was no different from leisure.
Though Swallowed Star carried the label of science fiction, it was actually more fantasy than anything else.
The principle that the Great Dao was simplest also applied to Swallowed Star. Thus, Empress Ruthless often had to revisit certain fundamentals; perhaps she could gain some special insight from them.
Feeling the breeze gently brush through the purple bamboo grove, Empress Ruthless closed her eyes.
This grove of purple bamboo had been casually created by Gaia while she contemplated the Dao of Life. It displayed her ultimate understanding of the Dao of Life and added a touch of beauty to the barren land within the Black-Veined Stone Pillar space.
It was not a treasure, but purely natural scenery.
On