545: Ready!

Ye Lingxiao and the Cangxuan Great Sage also looked at Ling Xi, their eyes carrying a hint of inquiry.

Although they knew some of the inside story, they were not clear on the full picture of the Immortal Realm and wanted to hear Ling Xi speak the whole truth herself.

Upon hearing this, Ling Xi's expression slowly darkened. The softness in her eyes faded, replaced by sorrow, anger, and gravity.

After a moment of silence, she decided to tell everyone the truth.

She spoke slowly, her voice low and clear:

"As you all may not know, the enemies who have come to invade our world are all Immortals from the Immortal Realm."

"Immortals?" At these words, everyone was shocked.

"Yes, their purpose for this trip is to forcibly plunder our Canglan World Origin."

"Why would Immortals plunder the Origin of the Lower Realm?" someone asked in surprise.

"Because the Immortal Realm is shattered!" Ling Xi replied.

"The Immortal Realm is shattered?!"

These words exploded in the hall like a thunderclap, shaking everyone to their core, their faces filled with unbelievable horror.

The Immortal Realm—that was the supreme place of legend. How could it possibly be shattered?

"That is the Immortal Realm! How could it be so easily destroyed?"

The Xuanjia Great Sage, who had just asked the question, spoke with a trembling voice, his tone full of disbelief.

Ling Xi's gaze swept across everyone's horrified faces, a flash of sorrow and solemnity appearing in her eyes.

She nodded slightly, her voice low but clearly reaching everyone's ears:

"I do not know the specific reasons in detail either, but I can be certain that the Immortal Realm collapsed long ago, turning into countless fragments scattered within the boundless Chaos."

She paused briefly to let everyone digest this shocking secret before continuing:

"The Immortal Realm collapsed long ago, turning into countless fragments scattered within the Chaos.

Those Immortals occupy the larger fragments. With incomplete Laws and leaking spiritual energy, they view the great worlds of the Lower Realm as resources to survive, plundering their Origin to prolong their own lives."

"Their attack this time is to drain the Canglan World dry to sustain their broken Immortal Realm!"

As the truth came to light, a chill rushed straight to everyone's heads.

This truth was too shocking; it completely overturned their understanding of the Immortal Realm.

After a brief dead silence, the hall became like a boiling pot of oil, instantly submerged in the sound of fierce debate!

"Even if it's a shattered Immortal Realm, it is still the realm of Immortals!"

One Elder's face was ashen, his voice dry.

"How can we be enemies with Immortals? To have won by chance this time is already a blessing from the heavens. If they return..."

"Bullshit!"

Before he could finish, the Great Sage clad in black armor with a full beard slammed the table and stood up, his voice like a great bell, his Battle Intent soaring:

"So what if it's the Immortal Realm? So what if they are Immortals? If they dare to come, I'll dare to risk my life to knock out all their teeth!

To be afraid before the battle—it would be better to commit suicide to apologize to the world!"

The hall instantly erupted as the pro-war and pro-peace factions argued incessantly, the clamor rising everywhere.

Ye Lingxiao gave a sharp shout, his Emperor Might descending to suppress all arguments:

"Enough! This matter requires careful consideration!

You all withdraw first, appease your subordinates, and stabilize the situation. Today's matter shall not be spread for now, to avoid causing panic among the living beings!"

"We follow the Great Emperor's command!"

With heavy hearts, everyone left the hall one after another.

Once only the core members like Gu Changge, Ling Xi, and Ye Lingxiao remained in the hall, the atmosphere became solemn again.

Ling Xi looked at the gathered remains of the Quasi-Emperors and said softly:

"Little Leaf, it's time to send our Fellow Daoists home."

Ye Lingxiao's expression turned solemn: "As it should be."

A few days later, several Holy Lands and Imperial Dynasties of the Canglan World welcomed two special mourners.

Ye Lingxiao personally carried the remains or partial bodies of his comrades, while Ling Xi, dressed in plain white clothes, followed silently by his side without revealing her true identity.

They returned these Quasi-Emperors, who had died fighting to protect this world, to the Holy Lands or Imperial Dynasties they came from.

There was no grand procession, only a silent weight.

Inside the Ancestral Shrines of the Holy Lands where mournful bells suddenly rang, Ye Lingxiao personally offered incense, toasted with wine, and bowed deeply to his former comrades.

Ling Xi also stood by Ye Lingxiao's side and bowed to those spirit tablets, some familiar and some strange.

In her cold eyes, there was a hint of respect and grief.

Those Emperor Weapons that had accompanied their Revered Masters in battle for a lifetime and eventually shattered together were also solemnly returned.

They would be enshrined to witness and pass on the will to fight for protection.

"The Canglan World will remember your sacrifices."

Ye Lingxiao's voice rang out in every Holy Land, heavy and firm.

The news spread quietly, and the entire Canglan World was immersed in a tragic and heroic atmosphere.

People learned that supreme experts had fallen to protect this world. Amidst the sorrow, a feeling of shared enmity was also silently growing.

After seeing off the last comrade and on the way back to the Imperial Court, the night was like water.

Ling Xi looked at the towering Imperial Court, then at the magnificent mountains and rivers whose outlines were hazy in the night, a hint of complex and difficult-to-explain emotion appearing in her cold eyes.

"Little Leaf,"

She spoke softly, her voice sounding somewhat ethereal in the night wind, "I want to take a walk and see these mountains and rivers again."

Ye Lingxiao was slightly startled, then understood.

Having gone through life and death and returned through Reincarnation, her homeland remained the same, but things were no longer as they were.

What she wanted to see was not just the scenery, but also the traces left by these thousands of years on the land she protected, the breath of the world today.

"Alright." Ye Lingxiao nodded without any hesitation, "I will accompany you."

"Let's go together!" Xiao Ruobai said; they also wanted to see this brand-new world.

Ling Xi nodded, and the group hid their tracks, walking through the mountains and rivers of the Canglan World like ordinary travelers.

Seven days passed like a fleeting shadow.

They had walked into Mortal cities, felt the hustle and bustle of the marketplaces, watched children playing and the elderly chatting, the atmosphere of daily life washing over them.

They also set foot on famous mountains and great rivers, saw the sea of clouds churning, and watched waterfalls like Dragons.

They had seen young Disciples from two sects setting up an arena and fighting fiercely, each showing their Divine Ability, to compete for ownership of a Spirit Spring Mineral Vein.

Although they seemed immature in the eyes of Gu Changge and the others, that vibrant energy and determined spirit made Ye Lingxiao nod slightly and brought a flash of gratification to Ling Xi's eyes.

They had also quietly passed by several ancient ruins, where among the broken walls and debris, there were still extremely faint fluctuations of Restrictions from thousands of years ago.

During the seven days, they also heard many legends about Empress Ling Xi.

In tea houses, wine shops, fields, and marketplaces where Cultivators gathered, her name and deeds were embellished and passed down. Some were close to historical facts, while others were already unrecognizable, having turned into myths.

Every time they heard them, Xiao Ruobai, Fang Hanyu, and even Wang Xiaopang would subconsciously look at the cold woman in white walking silently, a sense of indescribable respect and pride welling up in their hearts.

This was their Junior Sister, who had once shone upon an era and was still remembered by countless people as a legend.

As for Ling Xi, most of the time she just listened and watched quietly.

Watching the mountains and rivers remain magnificent, watching the common people continue to live and multiply, watching her legend merge into the Bloodline of this land, becoming a lamp to inspire those who came after.

At dusk seven days later, the group's figures quietly appeared on the outskirts of the Imperial Court.

Looking at the towering and solemn palace complex in the sunset, Ling Xi stopped her pace and took a deep look, as if wanting to carve the final silhouette of this world into her heart.

Then, she turned and looked at Gu Changge, who had been accompanying her in silence. There was no more confusion or hesitation in her eyes, only clear determination.

"Revered Master, I am ready."

Gu Changge nodded. He knew that the preparation Ling Xi spoke of was to cross the Emperor Tribulation and prove herself as a Great Emperor.

I wasn't feeling well today and went to the hospital, so the update is a bit late!

Chapter 3 will be updated around 7:00!