270: Chapter 270 The Empress's Thought Process is Unique! You call this ordinary?

"I... although I've studied the theory, I have no experience. I don't know if I can take you deep inside..."

Xiang Qingyue's small face flushed red again. She looked at Gu Han with shyness in her eyes, thinking to herself that this Cloud Mist Sect Grand Elder spoke quite elegantly.

She had no backing. If she could make Gu Han her patron, she would surely be able to restore the Heavenly Snake Empire to its former glory, or at least ensure the imperial family was no longer bullied and manipulated by the Heavenly Serpent Mansion.

No matter how she looked at it, being with Gu Han wasn't a loss. As an Empress, she didn't need romantic entanglements; she only needed to ensure loyalty and prevent betrayal.

Xiang Qingyue kept convincing herself in her heart, biting her lip in increasing shyness, though she felt a hint of regret.

Her whole life seemed to be controlled by others; in the end, she wouldn't even have the love found in storybooks.

The only thing worth celebrating was that this time, she was the one making the choice, without being forced.

"What are you thinking about?"

Gu Han watched Xiang Qingyue's expression change repeatedly, feeling as though she wasn't very bright.

He used the Mystic Armor Heaven-Peering Art briefly to divine her intent. After confirming she held no malice, he didn't care to pry further and directly stated his purpose.

"I want to enter your Heavenly Snake Empire's Legacy site. It requires a specific method and the essence blood of a direct descendant of your imperial line to open, correct?"

It was precisely because of this that Xiang Qingyue was allowed to live. While there were still many members of the imperial family, she was the only direct descendant left.

Furthermore, she possessed a special Physique, making it unsuitable for her to lose her virginity before breaking through to Dou Zong. Otherwise, she would have long since been forced into marriage to bear children.

"Enter the Legacy site?" Xiang Qingyue dazed for a moment, blinking softly. "Is that all?"

"Yes. I can tell you directly: there is a Legacy left by the Heavenly Snake Great Emperor there. Although it's not the core Legacy, it is useful to me." Lines appeared on Gu Han's brow, his tone becoming oppressive. "I assume you won't refuse to cooperate."

"I can take you there, but that place is currently guarded by two Elders from the Heavenly Serpent Mansion, both at the Peak Dou Zong strength." Xiang Qingyue couldn't tell if she was relieved or disappointed, but she smiled and directly revealed the truth.

To her, Gu Han—who had slain Hui Wen and helped her avenge her parents—was currently the best and most trustworthy person in the world to rely on.

The Heavenly Snake Empire's imperial Forbidden Ground? The Legacy related to the Heavenly Snake Great Emperor?

None of it mattered to her!

"Are you talking about these two?"

Gu Han raised his hand and brought out the Yin-Yang Great Void Map. Two figures covered in wounds flew out from it. They were two women of vastly different styles with graceful figures, now looking incredibly wretched.

"Greetings, Master." The two immediately knelt before Gu Han, their expressions trembling with fear.

Not long ago, Gu Han had suddenly appeared before them, his Soul pressure pinning them directly to the ground.

When they tried to crush a spatial Jade Slip to contact the Heavenly Serpent Mansion's Dou Zun, the phantom of a supreme Divine Beast appeared, transforming into a mark branded into their Souls, making them feel the threat of death.

Gu Han only needed a single thought to make their Souls collapse.

"You... you... how did you do it?" Xiang Qingyue's eyes widened in shock.

These two women were named Qing Liu and Hei Yun. The former was the Fourth Elder of the Heavenly Serpent Mansion, and the latter was the former's contracted Serpentine magical beast in human form.

If the two cooperated, they could hold their own even against an ordinary Dou Zun Expert, though defeating one would be nearly impossible.

Furthermore, the Heavenly Snake Empire's Imperial City possessed a Formation passed down through generations, the control of which had now fallen into the hands of the Heavenly Serpent Mansion.

Within the Imperial City, with Qing Liu and Hei Yun working together, they truly did not fear an ordinary Early Stage Dou Zun Expert.

But now, they had been captured by Gu Han in such a miserable state and were calling him "Master."

And before this, there hadn't been the slightest disturbance within the Imperial City.

This meant that Gu Han's handling of these two was a complete crushing victory!

"This wasn't difficult," Gu Han replied indifferently as he savored the monkey wine. "It's just a matter of having enough strength and enough means."

He had already upgraded the Yin-Yang Great Void Map to the eighth rank, allowing it to directly seal the Void Realm.

By executing a Divine Ability to augment the Black Tortoise phantom, he became the Dominator of everything within that space.

Appearing suddenly and using his Heaven State Soul to exert absolute suppression, taking down two Peak Dou Zong was effortless.

"Can we go now?" Gu Han looked up at Xiang Qingyue.

"Yes." Xiang Qingyue nodded immediately, her gaze sweeping over Qing Liu and Hei Yun as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Gu Han acted as if he didn't see it, casually putting the two back into the Yin-Yang Great Void Map before opening a spatial tunnel.

"Let's go."

Xiang Qingyue: !

How did his opening of a spatial tunnel feel even more practiced and effortless than a Dou Zun Expert's?

"Gu Han, can I ask what your current cultivation level is?" Xiang Qingyue asked curiously as she stepped into the spatial tunnel.

"Nine-star Peak Dou Zong," Gu Han answered casually, as if speaking of something insignificant.

If nothing unexpected happened, he could use the energy within the mark to Breakthrough to Dou Zun within two months.

He wouldn't stay at the Dou Zong level for long.

"How are you so strong?" Despite her guesses, Xiang Qingyue couldn't help but be shocked. "You aren't even nineteen yet, are you?"

"Another half year until I'm nineteen." Gu Han nodded calmly.

"If only I were as amazing as you," Xiang Qingyue lamented.

"Being a Peak Dou Huang at twenty-two is also quite good," Gu Han said, looking at her.

"Given my status, this can only be considered average." Bitterness flashed in Xiang Qingyue's eyes. "And on the day I Breakthrough to Dou Zong, my fate will be even less my own. I might even become a crippled person from then on."

Thinking of this, she suddenly looked at Gu Han and asked, "Do you want to Breakthrough to Dou Zun immediately?"

Gu Han glanced at her and said, "We've arrived."

Stepping out of the spatial tunnel, the two appeared before a massive lake at the bottom of a valley.

There was a huge whirlpool in the lake ahead, its cause unknown.

Gu Han had already been here and found that he couldn't force his way in.

Strictly speaking, he couldn't enter forcefully without making a sound.

If he used his full means, he might be able to force open a path, but there was a risk of failure and it would attract countless enemies.

Rather than that, it was better to bring Xiang Qingyue—the key—to make a trip and enter easily.

"Empress, please." Gu Han gestured forward.

Xiang Qingyue had been here as a child with her parents. It was the imperial Forbidden Ground, guarded by experts.

But many years ago, the experts guarding this place became people from the Heavenly Serpent Mansion. While they guarded it, they also watched over it, preventing members of the imperial family from entering frequently.

Her father once said that the greatest secret of the Heavenly Snake Empire's imperial family was hidden inside.

However, she had never been to the world behind the spatial portal deep within the whirlpool.

She did, however, know the method to open the portal.

Xiang Qingyue cut her palm, letting the blood flow and drip onto the lake's surface, then she formed hand seals.

"Heavenly Snake's Legacy blood brands my palm; I humbly request the Great Emperor to open the profound yellow!"

"The reverse scale of the Nine Heavens Scale Abyss appears; a rainbow of scarlet silk pierces the eight wildernesses."