255: Chapter 255 Western Emperor Tower, Jade Pool Secret Realm

Lin Ye stood before the teleportation array at the Jiang Family ancestral grounds.

He looked at Su Qingyue.

3 seconds.

He spoke.

Yaochi Holy Land, Lin Ye said.

Are you sure?

Su Qingyue looked at him.

Those ice-blue eyes reflected his figure.

Vast Cold Spirit Body, she said.

It has ties to the Western Empress.

Lin Ye was silent.

He knew.

The Western Empress, founder of Yaochi Holy Land.

The legendary leader of the female immortals.

The western empress pagoda she left behind is one of the seven great imperial weapons.

I will go with you, Lin Ye said.

Su Qingyue shook her head.

Purple Mountain is more important, she said.

Blood Prince is waiting for you.

Lin Ye did not speak.

She walked up to him.

Held his hand.

This time, it was 17 seconds.

After letting go, she said.

Wait for me to return.

She turned.

Stepped into the teleportation array.

7th minute.

Outskirts of Yaochi Holy Land.

This is a fairyland floating in the Void Realm.

Countless floating islands dot the starry sky, each covered with exotic flowers and rare herbs.

Under the starlight, those flowers and herbs emitted a faint fluorescence.

A sweet fragrance filled the air; it was the scent of Yaochi immortal brew.

[Yaochi Holy Land · 7th Forbidden Zone of Big Dipper Star Field]

[Rank: Saint-Grade Faction]

[Guardian: Yaochi Saintess (Rank 85) + Yaochi Elder Council (17 members, 82-87 Rank)]

[Core Legacy: Western Empress Scripture]

[Imperial Weapon: western empress pagoda projection (Stored in Yaochi Secret Realm)]

[Entry Condition: Female / Ice-type Physique / Obtain Yaochi recognition]

Su Qingyue stood at the edge of the first floating island.

In front of her was a white jade archway.

Three ancient characters were engraved on the archway: Yaochi Realm.

She took a step.

Stepped into the archway.

1st step.

She felt a warm power surge into her body.

It was the recognition of Yaochi.

The aura of her Vast Cold Spirit Body resonated with the Legacy of the Western Empress.

[System Prompt: You have entered Yaochi Holy Land]

[Obtained Status Friend of Yaochi: Initial reputation with all Yaochi NPCs +3 Rank]

3rd minute.

She stood before the Jade Pool Sacred Hall.

The hall doors were wide open.

Inside the hall stood 17 women in white.

The leader had a breathtaking face and a cold, elegant temperament.

[Yaochi Saintess · Qingyue]

[Rank: 85]

[Age: 3,700 years old]

[Identity: 73rd Generation Saintess of Yaochi Holy Land]

[Status: Friendly]

She looked at Su Qingyue.

Looked at those ice-blue eyes.

3 seconds.

She smiled.

The smile was very faint.

Vast Cold Spirit Body, she said.

It has been 470,000 years, finally seeing another one.

Su Qingyue did not speak.

You came to retrieve the western empress pagoda projection, Qingyue said.

It was not a question.

Yes, Su Qingyue said.

Qingyue was silent.

3 seconds.

She turned.

Follow me, she said.

17th minute.

Yaochi Secret Realm · Entrance.

It was a door made of seven-colored light.

Behind the door was a completely different world.

[Yaochi Secret Realm · Location of western empress pagoda]

[Rank: ★★★★★]

[Description: A trial space left behind by the Western Empress, the interior is a purely spiritual world. The Trial Taker must pass the Seven Emotions Test to gain the recognition of the western empress pagoda projection.]

[Test Rules:]

[1. Cannot use any skills, equipment, or items upon entry]

[2. Can only use Dao Heart to withstand the impact of the seven emotions]

[3. Seven Emotions: Joy, Anger, Sorrow, Fear, Love, Hate, Desire]

[4. Each emotion passed grants one layer of Western Empress Protection]

[5. Those who pass all seven emotions can obtain the recognition of the western empress pagoda projection]

[6. If lost midway, you will be permanently trapped in the illusion]

Su Qingyue looked at that light door.

3 seconds.

She took a step.

Stepped in.

[System Prompt: You have entered Yaochi Secret Realm · western empress pagoda]

[Current Environment: Seven Emotions Illusion]

[Time Flow: 1 second outside = 1 minute inside]

[Skills/Equipment/Items: All disabled]

[Available: Dao Heart Strength 27,000 points]

[Current Inner Demon Tribulation: 1st Emotion · Joy]

She opened her eyes.

Found herself standing in a sea of flowers.

The sun was bright.

Birds sang and flowers were fragrant.

Her parents stood before her.

Smiling.

Little Yue, Mother said.

We are home.

Su Qingyue was stunned.

Her parents passed away when she was 7.

This was her deepest longing.

She walked toward them.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

4th step.

She stopped.

Because she saw it.

Mother's smile was fake.

Father's eyes were empty.

[Dao Heart Judgment · Passed]

[1st Emotion · Joy · Broken]

The sea of flowers dissipated.

She stood in a void.

2nd Emotion · Anger.

She saw Lin Ye.

He stood before her.

But he was smiling.

That smile was very cold.

Very strange.

Su Qingyue, he said.

You are too weak.

I do not need you.

She clenched her fists.

Anger surged in her heart.

But she did not move.

Because she knew, this was fake.

[Dao Heart Judgment · Passed]

[2nd Emotion · Anger · Broken]

3rd Emotion · Sorrow.

She saw Shi Potian.

He lay in a pool of blood.

His left fist was shattered.

Sister-in-Law... he murmured.

I am sorry... I failed to... protect Boss...

Her eyes turned red.

But she did not cry.

Because she knew, this was fake.

[Dao Heart Judgment · Passed]

[3rd Emotion · Sorrow · Broken]

4th Emotion · Fear.

She saw herself.

An aged version of herself.

A lonely version of herself.

Floating in the endless void.

No Lin Ye.

No friends.

No one at all.

Her heartbeat accelerated.

Her breathing became rapid.

But she did not shrink back.

Because she knew, this was fake.

[Dao Heart Judgment · Passed]

[4th Emotion · Fear · Broken]

5th Emotion · Love.

This was the hardest one.

She saw Lin Ye.

Not the fake Lin Ye.

The real Lin Ye.

Standing before her.

Looking at her.

Qingyue, he said.

I have waited for you for a long time.

She looked at him.

Looked at those transparent eyes.

3 seconds.

She smiled.

That smile was very light.

Very faint.

You are real, she said.

The Illusion paused.

The real Lin Ye, she continued.

Would not call me Qingyue.

He calls me Su Qingyue.

The illusion dissipated.

[Dao Heart Judgment · Passed]

[5th Emotion · Love · Broken]

6th Emotion · Hate.

She saw the person she hated most.

Blood Prince.

He stood before her.

Sneering.

Su Qingyue, he said.

Lin Ye is already dead.

Killed by my own hands.

She felt no anger.

No fear.

Just looked at him.

3 seconds.

She smiled.

He will not die, she said.

Because you cannot kill him.

Blood Prince's figure dissipated.

[Dao Heart Judgment · Passed]

[6th Emotion · Hate · Broken]

7th Emotion · Desire.

This was the last level.

And the hardest level.

She saw the thing she wanted most.

A palace.

In the palace, there were her parents.

There was Lin Ye.

There was Shi Potian.

There were all her friends.

They were together.

Smiling.

Stay, a voice said.

Stay here forever.

No need to fight again.

No need to lose again.

No need to... suffer again.

She stood at the palace gate.

Just one step forward, and she could enter.

Could get everything she wanted.

But she did not take the step.

She stood at the door.

Looking at those people inside.

3 seconds.

She smiled.

That smile was very light.

Very faint.

You are all fake, she said.

The real ones are waiting for me outside.

The palace dissipated.

[Dao Heart Judgment · Passed]

[7th Emotion · Desire · Broken]

[System Prompt: Congratulations on passing the Seven Emotions Test]

[Time Taken: 17 minutes (Outside)]

[Dao Heart Strength: 27,000 -> 37,000 (Permanently increased)]

[Obtained Status Western Empress Protection: Immune to all spiritual attacks]

She opened her eyes.

Found herself standing before a tall tower.

[western empress pagoda · Projection]

[Height: 1,700 meters]

[Floors: 17 floors]

[Material: Seven-colored glaze]

[Status: Awaiting master binding]

The tower gate opened slowly.

She took a step.

Walked into the tower.

1st floor.

Empty.

Only a stone tablet.

Words were carved on the tablet.

[Western Empress Scripture · First Floor · Ice Heart Art]

[Cultivation Condition: Vast Cold Spirit Body]

[Cultivation Effect: Ice-type damage +100%, Ice-type resistance +100%]

She extended her hand.

Touched the stone tablet.

Golden light surged into her body.

[System Prompt: You have comprehended Ice Heart Art]

[Ice-type damage +100% (Accumulated +600%)]

[Ice-type resistance +100% (Accumulated +400%)]

2nd floor.

3rd floor.

4th floor.

17th floor.

She stood at the top of the tower.

In front of her, a palm-sized seven-colored small tower was floating.

[western empress pagoda projection · Main Body]

[Type: Imperial weapon projection / Quest Item]

[Quality: Mythical Grade]

[Description: The imperial weapon projection left behind by the Western Empress, containing the Origin Law of the Western Empress Scripture. Although this projection lacks the power of the main body, it is enough to set up a corner of the Big Dipper Killing Array.]

[Effect:]

[1. When setting up the Big Dipper Killing Array, it can provide a Spiritual Imprisonment effect]

[2. Holder can obtain Western Empress Protection: Immune to all spiritual attacks]

[3. Holder can activate Western Empress Illusion once, causing the target to fall into an illusion for 3 seconds (Limit 1 time)]

[4. Can resonate with other six imperial weapon projections to activate the Big Dipper Killing Array]

[5. Can combine with void mirror projection to form the Time-Space Illusion Prison effect]

[Binding Condition: Pass the Seven Emotions Test (Completed)]

She extended her hand.

Touched the small tower.

Seven-colored light surged into her body.

[System Prompt: You obtained western empress pagoda projection × 1]

[imperial weapon projections collection progress: 3/7]

Her body began to glow.

That was the sign of a Breakthrough.

[Rank: 79 -> 80 -> 81 -> 82 -> 83]

[Vast Cold Spirit Body: Tier 2 -> Tier 3 (Fully Awakened)]

[Vast Cold Spirit Body · Tier 3 Effects:]

[1. Ice-type damage +800% (Accumulated +1,400%)]

[2. Ice-type resistance +800% (Accumulated +1,200%)]

[3. Unlock new skill Vast Cold Immortal Domain · Ultimate: Within a 1,000-meter range, all enemy units take 100,000 Ice-type damage per second, movement speed -99%, lasts 60 seconds, cooldown 7 days]

[4. Unlock new skill Moonlight Baptism · Ultimate: Restore 100% HP, remove all negative statuses, cooldown 12 hours]

[5. Unlock new skill Vast Cold Incarnation · Ultimate: Create 3 Moon-light Clones, each possessing 80% of the main body's combat power, lasts 60 seconds, cooldown 24 hours]

[6. Unlock passive Vast Cold Sacred Body: When taking damage, 30% chance to trigger Absolute Freezing, freezing the attacker for 3 seconds]

[7. Unlock passive Moon God's Blessing: In moonlight environments, all attributes +100%]

She opened her eyes.

Those ice-blue eyes had now become transparent.

The same seven-colored transparency as the western empress pagoda.

She walked down the tower.

Walked out of the Secret Realm.

Saintess Qingyue was waiting for her at the entrance.

Looked at her.

Looked at those seven-colored transparent eyes.

3 seconds.

She smiled.

Rank 83, she said.

Vast Cold Spirit Body Tier 3.

Higher than me.

Su Qingyue did not speak.

Qingyue took out a token from her bosom.

[Yaochi Ally Token]

[Type: Faction Token]

[Quality: Legendary Grade]

[Description: The highest-level ally token of Yaochi Holy Land, the holder can enter Yaochi Holy Land at any time and obtain the full support of the Yaochi Elder Council.]

[Effect:]

[1. Within Yaochi Holy Land, all NPC reputation is locked to Exalted]

[2. Can call upon all resources of Yaochi Holy Land (including Medicinal Pill, equipment, Cultivation Technique)]

[3. Can summon Yaochi Saintess to assist in battle at any time (Limit 3 times)]

[4. Can share Yaochi intelligence with Heavenly Court faction]

[5. Bound to: Su Qingyue]

Su Qingyue took the token.

Put it away.

She turned.

Walked toward the teleportation array.

1st step.

2nd step.

3rd step.

7th step.

She stopped.

Did not look back.

Thank you, she said.

She stepped into the teleportation array.

Disappeared in the light.

47th minute.

Chaos Valley.

Lin Ye stood before the teleportation array.

He watched Su Qingyue walk out of the light.

Watched those seven-colored transparent eyes.

Watched the moonlight flowing on her body.

3 seconds.

He smiled.

Rank 83, he said.

2 Ranks lower than me.

Su Qingyue walked up to him.

Held his hand.

This time, it was forever.

[Chapter 255 · End]