Empress Liu Yue

Lu Feng felt that the scene was rather shameful.

"Forget it, let's focus on improving our cultivation first. When Lu Shuang returns, I'll ask her if there are any clothes in the capital that automatically change size according to one's body shape."

Having thought of this, Lu Feng no longer hesitated and silently recited in his heart:

"System! Upgrade the Nine Extremes Essence Condensation Art to the fifth level, perfect!"

[Upgrading the Nine Extremes Essence Condensation Art to Level 5 (Perfect) requires 170 million Demon Points; Upgrade now?]

"Promote!"

The moment the words fell, streams of True Essence surged forth from his dantian.

Lu Feng's aura surged dramatically!

Great Mid-Stage Grandmaster, Late Great Grandmaster, Great Grandmaster Perfection!

After reaching the Great Grandmaster Perfection, the True Essence within his dantian was once again frantically compressed, turning into drops of True Essence liquid, and his cultivation level subsequently declined.

Ultimately, the amount of True Essence in his body increased to a full two thousand drops. And his cultivation level also dropped back to the Great Early Grandmaster.

Lu Feng slowly opened his eyes.

Feeling the surging True Essence within his body, like a mighty river, a smile appeared on his face.

Although his cultivation level was still at the Great Early Grandmaster, the total amount of True Essence liquid in his body had doubled!

Let's look at the panel again:

[Main character: Lu Feng;]

[Cultivation Level: Great Early Grandmaster]

[Cultivation Techniques: Nine Extremes Essence Condensation Art (Level 5) Progress 100%; Six-Zhang Golden Body (Level 3); Spirit Condensation Art (Not Yet Entered); Nine Extremes Heaven-Breaking Slash (Level 9);]

[Perfect Martial Arts: Phantom Sword Formation; Phantom Sword Art; Startling Thunder Flash; Hundred Beasts Body-Tempering Art; Walking on Air;...;]

[Formation: Four Symbols Formation;]

[Demon Points: 80 million]

With 80 million Demon Points remaining, Lu Feng decided not to make any more moves.

He calmed his mind and began to consolidate his cultivation, familiarizing himself with the surging power within his body.

Meanwhile, in the imperial palace.

In the main hall sat a beautiful woman in palace attire, wearing a nine-tailed phoenix crown and a pale yellow long dress. On the hem of her dress, a phoenix with outstretched wings was embroidered in gold thread.

Her skin was as white as snow, her figure exquisite, and her stunning face bore a striking resemblance to Lu Shuang.

His cultivation level, at the Celestial Person Realm Third Layer, emanated without any concealment, filling the entire hall.

Beside her stood dozens of maids, all of whom were Grandmaster in cultivation.

Two maids were gently massaging her shoulders behind her. On the table in front of her were various kinds of spiritual fruits.

Just then, a guard announced loudly outside the palace gate:

"Your Majesty, the princess has arrived outside the palace!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yue's face lit up with joy, and she abruptly stood up, a dignified voice emanating from her lips:

"Xingshuang has arrived? Send it quickly!"

A moment later, Lu Shuang entered the hall.

As soon as Liu Yue saw her, she jogged over to greet her, pulled her close, and looked her up and down with a loving expression.

"It's been three years since I last saw you, and you've lost so much weight. Xingshuang, you must have suffered a lot these past three years."

As she spoke, tears welled up in Liu Yue's eyes.

"Liu Yue, I'll say it again, my name is Lu Shuang, not Lu Xingshuang."

Lu Shuang spoke with an icy expression.

"My child... still won't call me 'Mother'?"

A look of heartache immediately appeared on Liu Yue's face.

"Enough with the nonsense. What did you call me here for?"

Seeing that Lu Shuang was losing patience, Liu Yue gave a wink to the maids beside her.

The maids understood and bowed as they withdrew from the hall.

Then, Liu Yue took out a storage bag from her bosom.

"You are now at the Mid-Stage Grandmaster realm. Here are some Heavenly Yuan Pill, Dao Comprehension Pill... and one hundred High-Grade Origin Crystal, a small token of my appreciation."

"As long as you come to me, I guarantee a continuous supply of cultivation resources! Within three years, I can help you break through to the Celestial Person Realm!"

"By the way, you're not young anymore, it's time to talk about marriage."

"You know Xinghan, he's about your age, and he's already Great Grandmaster Perfection his cultivation, just one step away from entering the Celestial Person Realm..."

Before Liu Yue could finish speaking, Lu Shuang coldly interrupted her.

I had actually expected this to happen.

Hearing these words spoken by Liu Yue still caused Lu Shuang a sharp pain in her heart.

Immediately, her face turned cold, and she said, word by word:

"With all that stuff you have, you think you can get me married? Dream on!"

"Liu Yue, do you think everyone is like you? For resources and status, you'd throw away all shame!"

"You... you..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yue's face showed a look of disappointment and frustration.

"You're still young and don't understand, so I don't blame you. You'll understand when you grow up! Everything I've done is for your own good!"

"For my own good? For my own good, does that mean abandoning my father? For my own good, does that mean making me recognize a thief as my father?!"

Upon hearing the words "recognizing a thief as one's father," Liu Yue's face suddenly darkened.

"Don't mention that good-for-nothing to me! If it weren't for the favors I had for him back then, he would have been dead somewhere long ago!"

"Xingshuang, look at your mother! I am now the Empress of the Great Qian Dynasty, the mother of the nation! My cultivation has reached the Celestial Person Realm Third Layer! How many Celestial Person Realm cultivators are there in the entire Great Qian?"

"Power, status, cultivation... I can have them all with ease!"

As she spoke of these things, Liu Yue looked utterly delighted, as if savoring some unparalleled delicacy.

"So for all of this, you abandoned your father and me?" Lu Shuang stared intently at her and said coldly.

"I never intended to abandon you!"

"Your talent is even better than Xinghan's! If you had come to me earlier, you would have broken through to the Celestial Person Realm long ago. Why are you still stuck at the mere Mid-Stage Grandmaster!"

Lu Shuang quietly looked at the woman in front of her.

She's still the same.

Exactly the same as three years ago, ten years ago! Not a single thing has changed.

"I already have someone I like. Give up on that idea."

Lu Shuang casually uttered those words, then added:

"Besides, after all these years, why don't you have another obedient child of your own?"

After saying that, she turned and left without looking back.

After Lu Shuang left, a female general in armor entered the hall and knelt on one knee. Her cultivation level was clearly that of Great Grandmaster Perfection of his cultivation.

"Your Majesty, should I go and kill that person...?" The female general made a throat-slitting gesture.

"No need," Liu Yue waved her hand.

"Wan'er, just find out his identity."

"Xingshuang is at the age where she is just beginning to experience love. If you really kill her, it will only make her more devoted to you."

"In a few days, the Ten Thousand Swords Tomb Secret Realm will open. Once she enters the Ten Thousand Swords Tomb, she will witness Xinghan's brilliance firsthand and see for herself what a true prodigy is."

"At that time, she will naturally understand the vast chasm between the wild boy she chose and Xinghan."

Liu Yue picked up the spiritual tea on the table and took a small sip.

"Yes! I hope the princess... will soon understand Her Majesty's good intentions."

After Wan'er finished speaking, she clapped her hands lightly.

The palace doors opened silently, and the maids filed in, gathering around Liu Yue once more to begin a new round of service.