296: Li Tongshen was dumbfounded, while Yan Yuzhu was happy.

The Ziwei Pavilion!

This was where the Empress would summon her cabinet ministers for important state affairs.

Only the most important officials of the court could enter this pavilion, with the lowest rank being a minister of one of the Six Ministries.

And Li Tongshen was fortunate enough today to be the only person from the court and wilderness, besides the cabinet ministers, to enter the Ziwei Pavilion!

"This is the Imperial Palace, it truly lives up to its reputation!"

"Although the Imperial Dynasty's power cannot compare to some of the top forces in the Sea of Buried Demons, its perfect system, the number of its personnel, and the execution of its commands are unmatched by those top Sects!"

"Tsk tsk, it's truly too luxurious. I never thought I would one day be able to enter the forbidden palace of the Imperial Dynasty and witness its splendor. It wasn't in vain that I rushed back from thousands of miles away."

Li Tongshen looked at the luxurious carvings around him, and some exquisite paintings hanging on the walls, which were clearly heirloom masterpieces. Each piece was extremely beautiful and priceless!

However, that was all it was. He was a Cultivator after all, walking a Heaven-Defying path. No matter how precious worldly things were, he would only glance at them a few more times.

"Your Majesty arrives!"

Suddenly, footsteps came from outside, along with the sharp cries of palace eunuchs.

Li Tongshen quickly stood up from his chair.

Although he had never met the Empress, he had heard of her prowess. Even a Heavenly Phenomenon Realm expert from the Holy Heaven Demon Sect was suppressed by her. The Empress's strength must be extremely terrifying, so naturally, he couldn't put on airs.

Creak!

The heavy main hall doors opened, and the Empress, clad in a Dragon robe and wearing a crown, walked in.

The first moment he saw the Empress, Li Tongshen's gaze froze, then he felt an overwhelmingly domineering and supreme Aura wash over him, startling him into quickly lowering his head.

But that single glance was enough to make Li Tongshen exclaim in his mind, 'Holy crap!'

A tall and graceful figure, an unparalleled beautiful face, coupled with that overwhelmingly domineering Aura—only four words could describe the Empress's demeanor in his mind!

Peerless grace!

"Holy crap! This is the Empress of Great Qi? Indeed, rumors don't do her justice; she's incredibly stunning. No wonder Lord Shen can't forget her!"

Li Tongshen had seen many beauties.

Xing Yao, Liu Xianyun, Liu Yueying, and countless other stunning beauties he had seen in other Imperial Dynasties of the Demon, Monster, and Human Race!

But none could be compared to the Empress!

Not only beautiful, but who could compare to that Aura of hers?

"Greetings to Your Majesty, the Empress of Great Qi!"

Li Tongshen quickly bowed, showing immense respect.

In the past, Li Tongshen would naturally not bow to an emperor of an Imperial Dynasty, but now that he followed Shen Tianxing and knew the relationship between Shen Tianxing and the Empress, he naturally dared not be negligent.

If Lord Shen knew that he had slighted the Empress?

He probably wouldn't be able to withstand the futuo saber in his hand!

"You may rise!"

"You are Li Tongshen? If this Empress's information is correct, you should be a Prodigy of the Heaven Refining Sect!"

"How did you obtain Minister of Justice Shen's token?"

Yan Yuzhu walked to the head of the hall, sat high on the Dragon throne, and stared down at Li Tongshen. Under the oppressive Aura that enveloped him, the air in the entire hall seemed to have solidified!

If Li Tongshen had any problems, he wouldn't be able to walk out of this door today!

Li Tongshen exclaimed in his heart, 'This Aura is too strong.' Even with his Divine Profound Realm Cultivation, he was so intimidated that he broke out in a sweat!

"Your Majesty, this is what Lord Shen asked me to deliver to you. You will know the truth once you see it."

Fortunately, Li Tongshen had already held the Jade Slip Shen Tianxing gave him in his hand, and now he could take it out.

He was truly afraid that the Empress would just deal with him without a word!

The Empress of Great Qi's renown was well-known even among the Demons, an existence no one dared to provoke!

He hadn't seen her, but he had heard of her.

Yan Yuzhu's eyes flashed. With a slender hand, she grabbed the Jade Slip.

It was a very ordinary Jade Slip, but Cultivators often used it for communication, which was very convenient.

It was carved with Divine Soul power, so it couldn't be faked.

Soon, Yan Yuzhu finished reading the contents of the Jade Slip and also learned all the words Shen Tianxing had left inside.

"You're not dead, that's great. I knew that fellow wouldn't die so easily."

"I didn't expect you to already be in the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm? It seems I won't need my help anymore."

Yan Yuzhu muttered to herself, feeling both joy and a touch of melancholy.

In just a few months, Shen Tianxing's experiences were like a book, enough to write an ordinary person's entire life!

He had not only resolved the danger of the Blood Soul Demonic Seal but also, by doing so, had entered the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm. She could finally rest assured.

"Xing Yao must have met Shen Tianxing. Is she already content and his companion now?"

"No wonder she doesn't want to come back from the Outer Sea. What a guy who forgets loyalty for beauty!"

Li Tongshen stood like a log, staring blankly as the Empress murmured to herself, somewhat at a loss.

He dared not eavesdrop. Eavesdropping in front of a powerhouse like the Empress was probably asking for an early death.

"Li Tongshen, you've worked hard to return across the sea. Sit down and speak!"

Can I finally sit?

Li Tongshen smiled wryly, feeling the domineering Aura around him finally disappear, knowing that he had passed the test.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Li Tongshen cupped his hands in a bow, then remembered something else he hadn't done and quickly took out a spatial ring.

"Your Majesty, this is what Lord Shen asked me to deliver to you."

"It contains some very precious resources that Lord Shen obtained in the Outer Sea, and he specifically ordered me to bring them."

Resources collected by Shen Tianxing?

Indeed, he still thought of Great Qi, or perhaps he remembered my kindness?

For some reason, Yan Yuzhu felt a little happy.

She knew a little about what the Sea of Buried Demons was—a place where experts roamed and vicious villains gathered. It was already difficult to establish a foothold there.

It was truly not easy for him to specifically collect Cultivation resources for her.

Yan Yuzhu put away the spatial ring, probed it with her Divine Soul power, and even as the ruler of a nation, she was astonished by the massive amount of Cultivation resources inside!

Even with the full power of a nation, it would be difficult to collect so many resources in a hundred years, wouldn't it?

This gesture was too grand!

Such a huge gift far exceeded the help she had given Shen Tianxing. How could she repay this favor?

By offering herself in marriage?

Bah!

Yan Yuzhu, what kind of nonsense are you thinking?

The thought flashed through her mind, and soon, she suppressed the tremor in her heart.

"Li Tongshen, Minister of Justice Shen said to entrust you with a heavy responsibility: to assist the Three Departments and the Eight Directions Dragon Suppressing Division in eliminating Demon, Monster, and Ghost Cultivators. You should meet Ye Qingyu on an auspicious day; she will arrange things for you."

Yan Yuzhu knew from Shen Tianxing's Jade Slip that Li Tongshen had now left the Heaven Refining Sect, so she didn't hesitate to assign him tasks.

"Yes, Your Majesty, then I shall take my leave."

"Go!"

After receiving the order, Li Tongshen left the Ziwei Pavilion and headed out of the palace.

His mission was not yet complete; he still had several people to meet!