146: Chapter 146 Empress Yuechan? Top-grade Jade Beast Locked in Ahead!

Meanwhile.

Across endless territories, tens of millions of miles away from Hehuan Province.

In the Northern Region of the Central Continent, lies the Great Yan Dynasty.

This was a vast land rich in Spiritual Qi.

Floating immortal mountains and islands were scattered like stars, and nine ten-thousand-foot-long golden Spiritual Veins lay coiled underground like true dragons, breathing out the majestic essence of heaven and earth.

Compared to this place, the former Qing Province was practically a stinking ditch in the eyes of Mortals.

Deep within the palace of the Great Yan Dynasty, inside a magnificent and luxurious bedchamber.

A stunningly beautiful woman was reclining on a soft couch carved from white jade.

She wore an extremely luxurious dark gold palace dress. The fabric was thin and form-fitting, unable to hide her dangerously exaggerated curves.

The neckline was cut very low, revealing a large area of dazzling snowy white skin.

A pair of slender jade legs were crossed together, her skirt sliding down along the rounded curves, half-revealing and half-hiding them.

Her eyes were slightly closed, and her long eyelashes cast faint shadows on her eyelids.

A touch of bright red cinnabar was marked between her eyebrows, adding a bit of inviolable sanctity and allure.

This woman was none other than the ruler of the Great Yan Dynasty in the Northern Region of the Central Continent, Empress Empress Yue Chan.

Not only did her beauty surpass all others, being hailed as one of the ten great beauties of the Central Continent.

Her cultivation was even more unfathomable, having already intimidated the masses a hundred years ago.

"Tap, tap, tap!"

A series of hurried footsteps broke the silence of the bedchamber.

The personal maid, Xiao Cui, ran into the hall holding her skirt, her expression filled with excitement.

"Your Majesty! Big news! Absolutely big news!"

Xiao Cui didn't even have time to catch her breath as she reported loudly:

"In a godforsaken backwater like Qing Province, a demonic Cultivator who doesn't play by the rules has actually appeared!"

"You will definitely be interested in this matter!"

Empress Yue Chan didn't even lift an eyelid.

Her slender jade fingers gently toyed with a strand of black hair hanging over her chest.

She spoke nonchalantly:

"Qing Province? What could happen in such a barbaric place with depleted Spiritual Qi?"

"At most, it's just some local tyrant at the Soul Transformation Stage. Is that worth you shouting like this?"

Her voice was seductive to the bone, carrying the casual indifference unique to those in high positions, making one's ears tingle.

"Oh, Your Majesty, this time is different!"

Xiao Cui took a breath and began to gesture vividly:

"That demonic Cultivator is named Cao Kun."

"His cultivation is barely at the Nascent Soul Late Stage, but his combat power is terrifyingly frightening!"

"In front of half the Cultivators in Qing Province, he actually used thunderous methods to crush that old monster of the Taiyi Dao Sect at the Half-step Void Refinement Realm, Dao Tae!"

Upon hearing the words 'Nascent Soul Late Stage crushing Half-step Void Refinement'.

Empress Yue Chan, who had been resting with her eyes closed, finally opened her soul-stirring beautiful eyes.

Nascent Soul Late Stage, crushing Half-step Void Refinement?

This gap was a bit too ridiculous.

Even within the Soul Transformation Stage, the distance was like a celestial chasm; every level's difference was as distinct as clouds and mud.

Not to mention crossing an entire major Realm and then some.

Even if placed upon the Saints of the top orthodoxies in the Central Continent.

Records of killing enemies across such a gap were indeed hard to find.

Seeing the Empress's reaction, Xiao Cui became even more enthusiastic.

"Not only that! This Cao Kun's methods are extremely cruel and shameless."

"After he won, he didn't just kill those Righteous Path Cultivators. Instead, he captured over ten thousand Righteous Path elites from Qing Province, including the Taiyi Dao Sect, and took them all underground into the Hehuan Sect!"

Empress Yue Chan raised an eyebrow: "Captured them for blood sacrifice?"

"No!" Xiao Cui shook her head repeatedly, her expression a bit strange.

"It's said he made them work in two shifts, providing Spiritual Qi as free labor for the Hehuan Sect twenty-four hours a day without interruption!"

"He even arrogantly renamed Qing Province directly to Hehuan Province!"

Even with Empress Yue Chan's Heart-Nature, she couldn't help but be stunned for a moment upon hearing about this operation.

Keeping over ten thousand high-and-mighty Righteous Path Nascent Soul and Golden Core experts like livestock to provide Spiritual Qi?

This method was mean enough, and poisonous enough.

"Now the rumors outside are getting more and more ridiculous."

Xiao Cui leaned in closer and whispered,

"Some say this Cao Kun isn't human at all, but some blue-faced, fanged, thirty-foot-tall ancient Devil Head who has undergone Rebirth through Possession."

"Others say he cultivates an evil dual-harvesting technique and keeps a large group of stunning demonesses in the Hehuan Sect, singing and dancing every night."

Listening to these ridiculous rumors, Empress Yue Chan couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle.

The scenery at her chest trembled slightly.

"Blue-faced and fanged? Utter nonsense."

She sat up straight, reaching out to tidy the stray hairs by her ear.

Her two long jade legs crossed elegantly, and a meaningful smile appeared on her cold and glamorous face.

She murmured as if to herself.

"In such a barren land, such a Prodigy could actually emerge."

"Calculating the time, the Contest of the Three Thousand Provinces Orthodoxy is about to begin."

"I've long grown tired of those so-called Genius young masters in the Central Continent."

"This one called Cao Kun is actually somewhat interesting."

"I really do want to meet him a bit."

Xiao Cui blinked, looking expectant: "Your Majesty, then should we send someone to contact him and recruit him?"

"No rush."

Empress Yue Chan withdrew her smile, resuming her cold and dignified posture, and casually ordered:

"Immediately send more people to Hehuan Province."

"I want to know everything about Cao Kun! I want to know exactly what kind of person he is, what he looks like, what Cultivation Technique he practices, and which women are by his side."

"Investigate everything for me, no matter how small!"

Xiao Cui's expression turned solemn, and she quickly knelt to take the order.

"Yes! This servant will go do it immediately!"

After saying that, Xiao Cui hurriedly withdrew.

Empress Yue Chan leaned back onto the soft couch and closed her eyes.

Although the Great Yan Dynasty dominated the Northern Region of the Central Continent, the top powers were complex and intertwined.

She needed a blade sharp enough to intimidate those old fogies for her.

This Cao Kun, who had appeared out of nowhere, might be a good candidate.

Not long after.

The sharp, thin announcement of a eunuch came from outside the hall.

"Your Majesty! Prince Bi Yuntao requests an audience!"

Hearing this name, Empress Yue Chan's beautiful brows furrowed slightly, and a flash of undisguised annoyance crossed her eyes.

But she quickly adjusted her emotions.

"Let him in." Empress Yue Chan's tone was flat.

"As you command!"

A moment later, a handsome young man dressed in a purple-gold python robe strode into the hall.

This man wore a jade crown and held a folding fan in his hand, looking somewhat suave and dashing.

He was the prince of a different surname of the Great Yan Dynasty, Bi Yuntao.

"Bi Yuntao pays respects to Your Majesty!"

Bi Yuntao walked to the foot of the jade steps and performed a respectful grand salute.

When he looked up,

His gaze inadvertently and greedily swept over Empress Yue Chan's graceful and fiery body on the couch.

His Adam's apple bobbed imperceptibly.

"Not seeing you for a day, Your Majesty seems to have become even more beautiful. All the jewels in this hall cannot compare to even a fraction of Your Majesty's frown or smile."

As soon as Bi Yuntao spoke, it was the standard, nauseating sycophancy.

Empress Yue Chan didn't even sit up.

She remained reclining, propping her chin with one hand.

Her tone was devoid of emotion.

"What important matter brings the Prince to the palace today?"

Bi Yuntao didn't feel embarrassed at all.

He had long since grown accustomed to the Empress's coldness.

Bi Yuntao stepped forward two quick steps and carefully brought out an exquisite sandalwood box from his sleeve.

The box opened.

Inside lay a bead emitting a soft seven-colored light.

A rich vitality and a strange fragrance instantly filled the entire hall.

"Your Majesty, I heard that the North Sea Abyss produced an extremely rare Face-Preserving Dragon Pearl."

"I spent three months, exhausted the Prince's Mansion's resources, and suffered dozens of casualties among my dead-sworn guards to finally seize this item from the nest of a ten-thousand-year-old flood dragon!"

Bi Yuntao held the wooden box high with both hands, looking at Empress Yue Chan with a face full of affection.

"This pearl can not only keep one's youth forever but also refine the Divine Soul."

"I know Your Majesty works day and night for state affairs, so I specially offer this treasure."

"As long as it can keep Your Majesty's health well, even if I am crushed to pieces, I am willing!"

He spoke these words with great emotion, so moved by himself that his eyes were even a bit red.

He practically had the words 'I am willing to give everything for you' engraved on his forehead.

However, after Empress Yue Chan finished listening.

She only gave a faint glance at that priceless Face-Preserving Dragon Pearl.

Her heart was completely unmoved.

Face-preserving?

She was the grand Empress of Great Yan; her cultivation had already reached the heavens, and her appearance was naturally ageless.

To her, such a thing was just an optional trinket.

"The Prince is thoughtful."

After saying that, Empress Yue Chan gently raised her hand.

The eunuch serving nearby immediately understood, walked down the steps, and took the wooden box from Bi Yuntao's hands.

"However, I am a bit tired today. If the Prince has no other urgent matters, please withdraw first."

She directly and cleanly dismissed him.

She didn't give Bi Yuntao any room to continue his performance.

The affection on Bi Yuntao's face stiffened for a moment.

He had thought Empress Yue Chan would at least praise him a couple of times or offer him a seat.

He had never even considered such an outcome.

But he hid it extremely well.

He quickly regained that affectionate and respectful appearance.

"Since Your Majesty is indisposed, I will not disturb Your Majesty's rest."

"Please take great care of your health, Your Majesty."

"I shall take my leave."

Bi Yuntao bowed deeply once more, then turned and strode out of the Qifeng Palace.

Just as he stepped over the threshold of the main hall.

Away from the range of Empress Yue Chan's Divine Sense.

The mask of deep affection and gentleness on Bi Yuntao's face instantly shattered.

Walking on the white jade steps, his handsome face now looked like a wolf ready to devour someone.

"This damned bitch!"

Bi Yuntao cursed frantically in his heart, gritting his teeth.

"What are you acting so high and mighty for!"

"Do you really think you're some pure, untouchable goddess?!"

Recalling the events of that year, the anger in Bi Yuntao's heart couldn't stop surging upward.

Back then, when the old emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty passed away, the princes fought for power, and there was constant internal strife.

It was Empress Yue Chan who had taken the initiative to find him.

The two reached a secret deal.

Bi Yuntao had exhausted all the resources, connections, and dead-sworn guards of his Prince's Mansion to spare no effort in clearing the obstacles for Empress Yue Chan.

He suppressed those rebellious imperial uncles.

He helped her step by step onto the throne of the Great Yan Dynasty's Empress.

And the condition at the time was.

As long as Empress Yue Chan's throne was secure, she would become Dao Companions with him, Bi Yuntao, announce the grand wedding to the world, and rule the Great Yan Dynasty together!

But what about now?

This woman's throne was secure, and her cultivation had become increasingly unfathomable.

She began to shamelessly burn the bridge after crossing it!

Every time he came to request an audience, she had this high-and-mighty, indifferent look.

Wanting to brush him off and kick him aside?

"Not a chance!"

"Without me! Could your throne be this secure?!"

He turned back, glaring fiercely in the direction of Empress Yue Chan's bedchamber.

In his mind, the image of Empress Yue Chan's high-and-mighty, peerless face and her maddeningly graceful figure surfaced.

The greed and lust in his eyes could no longer be hidden.

"You just wait!"

Bi Yuntao secretly grew ruthless.

"The Contest of the Three Thousand Provinces Orthodoxy is about to begin."

"Once I get a good ranking in this great competition and join a true top-tier Holy Land of the Central Continent! Let's see what excuse you bitch still have to push me away!"

"At that time, I will not only take the lands of Great Yan but also tear off your hypocritical and aloof mask!"

"I will definitely make you, this high-and-mighty Empress, find pleasure under me, crying and begging for mercy!"

Bi Yuntao took a deep breath, calmed his distorted facial expression, and flicked his sleeve.

He walked out of the palace with great strides.

He was going to enter secluded cultivation now, to plan.

For the upcoming Contest of the Three Thousand Provinces Orthodoxy.

To completely trample that arrogant woman under his feet!

Yu Linglong