Several days had passed, and the entire city of Qingyao was preparing for the long-awaited celebration organized specifically by the Tian Mansion.
"Did you hear? Apparently, people from the Imperial Capital are coming tonight for tomorrow's event, and they're extremely important."
"Yes, but that's strange. Are they coming because of the Tian Family rather than the Governor?"
"It seems the Tian Mansion is preparing to replace the Bai Family."
"But that can only happen if the Imperial Court approves it..."
"Something doesn't feel right."
Even ordinary people were expressing concern about the city's future. It was common knowledge that the City Lord was the one responsible for organizing events and receiving distinguished guests from the Imperial Capital.
For the moment, Qingyao was surrounded by uncertainty and suspicion.
It was no secret that the Tian Family had always been dissatisfied with its position within the city. Perhaps it was because the Emperor favored Bai Tianheng over them, despite the Tian Family possessing greater economic and military capabilities.
Inside a dark room within the Bai Mansion, a silhouette repeatedly inhaled and exhaled, absorbing external energy, transforming it into internal energy, and refining his physical body.
"This absorption method is excellent!"
The silhouette stood up happily.
Duty was calling.
It was Feng Qi, now at the peak of the 7th Layer of Body Refinement. His bones, flesh, and blood were becoming increasingly refined with each passing day. He felt that he could handle whatever problems might arise.
As he walked through the corridors, he encountered a long line of other servants and Bodyguards.
These people were different. They radiated power far beyond the mere Body Refinement Realm.
Feng Qi felt like a toy soldier. It seemed Bai Lan had taken pity on his situation and decided to give him a place to stay.
But he felt relieved when he saw the new recruits.
There were about eighteen of them, all still stuck in the Body Refinement Realm.
And among them was Luo Zixuan.
Feng Qi sighed in relief and smiled happily.
"What are you laughing about?" Luo Zixuan found his behavior strange.
"I'm happy! Happy that I'm not the only deadweight here. Excuse me."
"Who are you calling a deadweight, you rookie?"
Inside the Governor's residence, Bai Lan was being informed about the situation.
"Emperor?! Big Sister, please be more specific."
"That's exactly what you heard. We will make our move soon, but first, we need to wait for the Northern Region's attack... I have an idea of how to deal with it," Bai Lanyue explained.
"I... Father! You agreed to this?"
Bai Tianheng initially looked nervous, but he quickly straightened his posture and began to speak.
"Yes! If what your sister said is true... then it is only a matter of time before we can turn the situation around. I believe that, by then, the Emperor will look at me with deep hatred... but that no longer matters! The policies of the Southern Region must change. It is our duty to support the talent of the younger generation so that they may become the foundation of our nation's future."
Although resolute, Bai Tianheng also believed there would be difficulties.
Whether this would actually be possible, however, still depended on the force backing his daughter.
And that left him uneasy.
Should we really trust this person? If, by some chance, she decides to stop supporting us... our fate will be nothing but death.
He thought about it.
Not just mine, but the fate of the entire Bai Family...
Bai Tianheng cast a glance at his two daughters.
What worried him most was their fate.
"The idea of becoming the New Emperor comes from the current Emperor's shortcomings. And it isn't difficult to determine who would truly represent our Region better. Just look at this city. With each passing day, it becomes more prosperous and magnificent... and it would be even better if not for the Han and Tian Families. In fact, tomorrow, I intend to do something even more daring."
"Daring? What are you talking about, Big Sister?"
"You'll see soon enough."
Bai Lan was frightened.
Suddenly, it seemed as though the world itself had begun to go mad.
The fall of the current Empire, the invasion of the Northern Region, and the rise of her family as the new authority of the Region seemed so... scripted.
Pūtōng!
Her heart pounded.
She was overwhelmed by doubt and fear.
But what concerned her most was the way these events were unfolding. It felt as though something enormous was about to happen.
"There is one more thing we need to discuss: Feng Qi's fate."
"Huh? What does Feng Qi have to do with this?" Bai Lan asked.
"He is a free man. Therefore, we should let him leave as soon as possible. As for his secret, I will speak with him about it."
"Wait, Big Sister. I don't understand. What does his secret have to do with any of this? Did you discover what those symbols are?"
"Those Sanskrit symbols date back to an ancient era... but it may be much more than that. I believe what he carries within his body is connected to the World."
"The World?!"
Bai Lan was both surprised and incredulous. She had never imagined that mere Sanskrit symbols inscribed on someone's body could have such a profound history.
"Wait... are you saying that boy carries something of such magnitude? And you want him to leave the Family as soon as possible?"
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Bai Tianheng even considered the possibility of arranging a marriage between Bai Lan and Feng Qi to secure such an extraordinary talent.
"It is my Master's wish," Bai Lanyue replied. "She saw his Fate. He has something to do with the Great Truth behind the World."
"Great Truth?!"
Father and youngest daughter shouted in unison.
"What is this Great Truth?"
"Don't ask me. I only know that it is something shared among the Immortals. To discover it, we must at least reach the Nascent Soul Realm."
"Could this have something to do with the Demons?" Bai Tianheng asked.
"Demons?"
The name was familiar. However, to Bai Lan, Demons were executioners responsible for punishing and torturing sinful souls in the Demon World.
"But don't Demons live in Hell, punishing evildoers?"
"Not exactly. There are different types of Demons. In fact, the Infernal Executioners are known as Devils. Apparently, the Demon World is ruled by the Ten Kings of Hell, and the Demon World itself is enormous. There are countless forms of torture, which gave rise to the name of the Eighteen Hells."
Bai Lanyue explained.
"The souls are punished, purified, and finally sent into the Wheels of Reincarnation to live again."
"B-But that's only one of the local beliefs. I've heard of other religions where the equivalent of Hell tortures sinners eternally."
"Apparently, that is not how it truly works. The real Demon World has Eighteen Hells, each containing a different form of torture, and this place is ruled by the Ten Kings of Hell. But all of that is different from the Demons."
Bai Lanyue walked toward the window and discreetly observed the outside.
"Demons are actually evolved Monsters—more precisely, the final stage of their evolution: Aberrations. Aberrations do not merely change their appearance; they also elevate their power to an entirely different level. Demons, on the other hand, are known for possessing humanoid forms, and their cultivation methods are completely different. As for what those methods are... I still don't know."
"How... how do you know all of this, Big Sister?" Bai Lan asked.
"Being my Master's disciple is not merely about training the body. It also means training the spirit and the mind... It is only a matter of time before I discover what this so-called Truth is!"
Bai Lanyue's eyes were as sharp as blades as she surveyed the area with her Divine Sense.
It was still difficult for her to control this sense, but training her abilities was necessary.
Ever since the incident involving Feng Qi, Bai Lanyue had realized that it had been her mistake not to pay attention to her surroundings.
This had made her realize just how incredibly weak the Bai Family's military forces were.
It was no wonder so many of their secrets had become known to their enemies.
The only reason this place had remained safe was because of the Emperor's presence.
Now, with the invasion of the Northern Region...
"I believe things will become difficult over the next few days."
There were many small problems to deal with in this city.
As soon as she arrived, she had immediately subdued part of the Han Family, and now she was slowly devouring the Tian Family thanks to the gift her Master had given her.
Unfortunately, she said, this ability seemed ineffective against Core Formation Masters.
"Your Master... is she perhaps a Transcendent?" the Governor asked with a grim expression.
"Transcendent? What is that?"
Bai Lan had never heard the name before.
"I'm surprised! Surprised that my little sister doesn't have a habit of reading books."
Bai Lanyue smiled.
"Transcendent is the next Cultivation Realm above Soul Transformation. And to answer your question, Father... no, my Master is not a Transcendent."
"Then if she is neither a Transcendent nor a Soul Transformation cultivator... is your Master a Nascent Soul Immortal? What are we supposed to do, then? It is impossible to change the course of this battle with someone at that level. Our enemies may number in the dozens or even hundreds of Nascent Soul Immortals!"
Bai Tianheng was disappointed.
Although he kept it buried deep within his heart, he had hoped that the force supporting his daughter would truly be powerful.
Even so, Nascent Soul Immortals could be found in abundance throughout the Northern Region.
"I told you that you didn't need to worry about that. It is common for even ordinary Cultivators not to know this, and many even consider it a myth. But there is a Cultivation Realm beyond the Transcendent Realm!"
Bai Lanyue replied.
"What?!"
Father and daughter shouted in unison.
"My Master is a Spiritual King... the greatest powerhouse this World can produce."
Bai Lanyue paused.
"And from what I know, she is not an ordinary Spiritual King."
After this revelation, the room fell silent.
Bai Lan was shocked.
To her knowledge, Soul Transformation was the pinnacle of cultivation.
As for Bai Tianheng, he was terrified. He had never imagined such a possibility.
A Spiritual King?
He had never even heard of such a cultivation level.
To him, Transcendents were already practically mythical beings.
Confidential information from the Imperial Court stated that the Shanyue Continent was possibly one of the smallest Continents within an enormous cluster of much larger Continents.
Even the Tianlu Continent was tiny compared to those monsters.
Yet despite being considered small, rumors claimed that a mysterious force kept the Great Elders of the Immortal Sects—already Soul Transformation cultivators—in check.
These Elders appeared to respect a single individual known as the Lord of the Continent.
The information did not reveal much, but it provided a glimpse into how this force operated.
First, he was someone who claimed for himself not merely territories or Empires, but entire Continents.
And this single individual was said to possess a cultivation level above even Soul Transformation—the Transcendent Realm.
"Impressive! I never imagined something like this existed. The World truly is enormous," Bai Tianheng said.
"I never thought things would reach such an extreme... Big Sister, is it really possible to reverse this situation with the help of your Master?"
Bai Lan asked.
Even after hearing the explanation, it still sounded too fantastical to believe.
"Don't worry, little sister."
Bai Lanyue gently caressed her frightened sister's face.
"Everything I told you is true. To be honest, Spiritual Kings are essentially Gods. They can create entire Worlds. My Master can even create complex life. There are many humans and other species living within her Small World."
With a gentle smile, she continued:
"We could establish a new Empire inside it. There would be no need for us to worry about anything, and our only obligation would be to offer our Faith to her."
The information sounded radical.
Yet it was not only Spiritual Kings—even Transcendents were capable of gathering the Faith of ordinary creatures and using it for something greater.
No one knew exactly what could be accomplished with Faith, but there were theories that Faith could strengthen the foundation of a Small World.
"That..."
It was a tempting offer for Bai Tianheng.
Why struggle for something practically impossible when such an option existed?
Sigh.
"I could indeed take you with me. But taking an entire city... I don't want to abuse my Master's goodwill. Therefore, we must fight for these lands—lands that, by right, should already belong to us."
It was a shame, Bai Tianheng thought.
If something like that were possible, all of Qingyao could be relocated, perhaps even part of the Imperial Nation. An absurd amount of resources and manpower could be saved.
In this new place, the Qingyao Empire could reign forever.
"What a shame!" the Governor exclaimed.
He knew it was too good to be true.
Bai Lanyue noticed her father's disappointment. After sighing, she spoke with a sorrowful expression.
"It's not that we can't, Father. My Master is an extremely busy person. She lives bound by chains, and even moving is an arduous task. Besides, she holds the reins of the Floating Islands Region and the Cloud Palace... If something happens to her, we will be doomed."
Sigh.
"I understand."
Bai Tianheng approached the window and gazed at the lights outside.
"Everyone has their own problems. Even Gods have them. If we truly manage to drive out the Immortals of the North and depose the Emperor... the Southern Region will finally be able to breathe freely from its old shackles and face a new future!"
...
Several carriages entered the gates of Qingyao.
Despite the night, the sky was covered in heavy clouds, and drops of water frequently fell upon the world, leaving everything with a faintly shimmering appearance beneath the reflections of the artificial lights.
The air was cool and humid.
At the same time, many children happily played in the streets.
"Winter has arrived!"
"We'll have snow soon! I'm so excited! Hehehe."
Many people were scattered throughout the streets, admiring the beauty of winter's arrival.
When the carriages splashed through puddles on their way toward Central Plaza, the people cast worried glances in their direction.
The atmosphere suddenly felt different.
Cultivators and ordinary people alike sensed an inexplicable pressure.
The carriages were pulled by horses as black as night, and an overwhelming aura radiated from both the beasts and their riders.
"What is that?!"
"Mommy!"
"Who are those people?"
"I heard someone important was coming today..."
At Central Plaza, every Family, Clan, Sect, and merchant—the greatest forces in the city—had gathered there, waiting for someone extremely important.
Everyone was nervous.
According to the rumors, this person was extraordinarily powerful.
A Northern Region Immortal.
Merchants felt their legs trembling.
Sect leaders swallowed nervously.
Patriarchs of small Clans stood rigidly upright.
It was clear as day that everyone present had their own fears.
The Bai Mansion was no exception.
However, unlike most of them—especially Bai Lanyue—they maintained solemn expressions.
The Tian Family truly was a bunch of insolent fools.
It seemed the Governor Bai was no longer taken seriously...
Imperial orders and verdicts no longer frightened them.
The sound of carriage doors opening echoed through the plaza.
"Hmm, what wonderful weather. Perfect for a family outing, don't you think?"
A beautiful woman stepped out of the main carriage.
She carefully observed her surroundings before turning her gaze toward all the leaders and heads of the various forces.
The woman was smiling.
No one seemed willing to greet her.
It was obvious that this woman was no ordinary person.
But Tian Ming, the current head of the Tian Family, was the first to step forward.
"Lady Qin Xue, welcome to our humble city. This is Qingyao. It is not as special as the Imperial Capital, but I hope you enjoy your stay."
He bowed slightly in respect to the beautiful woman.
"Oh? I thought you were all going to leave me standing here... Tian Ming, right?"
"Yes, Lady Qin. We have been awaiting your arrival."
At that moment, Bai Tianheng's expression became ugly.
His fist clenched as veins bulged around it.
Inside his mind, he cursed Tian Ming and his family.
Traitor! Damn traitor! I hope you die and suffer the worst punishment imaginable! May your soul be thrown into Hell and tortured for thousands of years!
Little by little, Bai Tianheng began to tremble, consumed by his rage.
Noticing this, Bai Lanyue touched his hand, making him realize his mistake.
Before an existence as unfathomable as this woman named Qin Xue, even thoughts could be read...
...and indeed, they had been.
"Hehehe, interesting."
The smiling woman fixed her gaze upon the Bai Family.
At that moment, the Governor immediately lowered his head in reverence.
Inside, his body froze with fear and regret.
A bead of sweat rolled down his face as he realized that their plans might have been discovered.
Tian Ming noticed Qin Xue's gaze.
When he looked in the same direction, he saw his most hated rival.
With a sigh, he introduced him.
"This is Bai Tianheng... the Governor of Qingyao."
At the same time, he took the opportunity to introduce the other forces, seemingly afraid of giving his enemy too much attention.
However, Qin Xue showed no interest in anyone except the Governor's Family.
"My goodness!"
Qin Xue exclaimed.
She slowly approached Bai Lanyue and gently caressed her face.
"I have no interest in women, but I know a beauty when I see one. And among all of them, you are easily the most beautiful!"
Those words shocked Bai Tianheng.
Countless thoughts raced through his mind, making him swallow nervously.
Bai Lanyue's expression was far from pleasant.
Standing before her was someone capable of reducing Qingyao to ashes with ease.
She did not dare move even a single muscle.
Seeing this scene, Tian Ming stepped forward and explained:
"This is Bai Lanyue, the Governor's eldest daughter... She is also considered the most beautiful woman in all of Qingyao."
There was an impudent smile on his face.
"With beauty like that, she could easily be considered the most beautiful woman on the entire Continent... Well, lucky for you, young lady, those old geezers have peculiar tastes. They aren't interested in strong women like you."
Qin Xue cast a glance at Bai Tianheng as she moved away.
"They prefer young ladies who are fragile and delicate like children."