115: Xuansheng Empress

Nalan Mingyue stood with her jade hands clasped behind her back, her phoenix eyes gazing at the Dragon Qi that was inches away.

Her expression seemed calm, but in reality, the Spiritual Qi within her body was surging violently, and a faint, silvery flying dragon appeared behind her.

A moment later, Nalan Mingyue chuckled softly: "Such dense Ancestral Dragon Emperor Qi. It seems your recovery during this time has been quite good, Fellow Daoist."

As soon as she finished speaking, the Ancestral Dragon Emperor Qi dissipated into nothingness, and a clear, ethereal voice like heavenly music drifted from the Fengzao Pool.

"I must thank the Xuan Sheng Empress for your assistance in allowing me to recuperate here; otherwise, my injuries would not have recovered so quickly."

Nalan Mingyue laughed softly: "Fellow Daoist, the word 'thank you' is too distant. I only wish to know why someone with your heaven-defying, world-shaking cultivation would end up in such a state."

"This is a long story, and it is difficult to explain it all to you at once. Has the Empress heard any news regarding the whereabouts of my other two sisters?"

Nalan Mingyue shook her head: "I apologize, Fellow Daoist. I cannot speak for other Realm Boundaries, but within the borders of the Sacred Domain, there is no news of the two sisters you mentioned."

"In that case, this is troublesome."

The voice from within the Fengzao Pool was clearly tinged with a trace of disappointment.

Nalan Mingyue: "Fellow Daoist, there is no need to be discouraged. If your two sisters possess a Foundation as deep as you claim, I imagine nothing will happen to them. Since ancient times, good people have their own heavenly fortune; you need not worry."

"Sigh..."

A resentful, soft sigh drifted from the Fengzao Pool.

Nalan Mingyue seemed to discern the mood of the person in the pool and asked softly: "Your sigh, Fellow Daoist, seems to be mixed with many emotions. Are you missing your husband?"

"Over five hundred years ago, a mysterious shock occurred in the universe beyond the heavens. My husband expended too much mental energy repairing the lost Dao Rhyme, so I imagine he is currently in seclusion recuperating. Having not met for many years now, it is inevitable that I feel some concern."

Nalan Mingyue: "Given your stature, Fellow Daoist, I imagine your Dao Companion must also be a dragon among men. I wonder, who exactly is he?"

"It is not convenient for me to disclose my husband's identity..."

A sigh of regret followed, but there was no further explanation.

Nalan Mingyue: "Very well. Since you do not wish to say, then we shall not speak of it. May I ask how much of your strength you have recovered now?"

"Barely half a percent. Why does the Empress ask?"

Nalan Mingyue frowned: "Half a percent? Then consider it as if I never asked."

"Empress, if you have something to say, feel free to speak plainly. Perhaps there is something I can help with."

Nalan Mingyue: "It is nothing major, merely some internal matters of my Immortal Dynasty. You should just focus on recuperating here."

"Is the Immortal Dynasty unstable internally?"

Nalan Mingyue was taken aback upon hearing this: "How did you know, Fellow Daoist?"

"To be honest, in another world, my status was the same as yours—I was a monarch of a nation. What a monarch worries about is nothing more than their own country and society. I imagine it is the internal and external troubles of your Immortal Dynasty that prevent your heart from finding peace."

Nalan Mingyue: "In that case, you were once a monarch as well. Since that is so, it would not be improper for me to speak to you to resolve my doubts. Currently, within the Xuan Sheng Immortal Dynasty, there are three factions keeping each other in check. One is my Immortal Dynasty, ruling over hundreds of millions of subjects. Another is the Haoyang Sect faction located in the southern Sacred Domain, led by Lin Yu and assisted by Sima Jinghan and Lin Qianqiu. Hundreds of years ago, the Haoyang Sect openly wreaked havoc in the Sacred Domain under the banner of overthrowing the Immortal Dynasty, and they have always been a thorn in the side of the Immortal Dynasty. Finally, there is my imperial younger brother, Prince Jing Nalan Shu. He appears amiable and indifferent to politics on the surface, but in reality, he is deeply scheming and could overthrow my throne at any time. I cannot gauge the depth of his cultivation either, as it has been a long time since I last saw him make a move after we finished our apprenticeship together. This situation has persisted for many years. I have racked my brains trying to destroy one of them, but I have never succeeded. I had hoped to have you lend me a hand, Fellow Daoist, but unfortunately, your strength has not recovered, so it is truly difficult to ask you to intervene."

The Fengzao Pool was silent for a moment, then the voice sounded again: "Then, may I ask, Empress, of the two factions you must face, which one poses the greatest threat to you?"

Nalan Mingyue: "The Haoyang Sect has numerous Disciples and has fought the Immortal Dynasty several times, with both sides suffering casualties. However, Prince Jing has always remained in a dormant state, using Prince Jings Estate as a base to secretly buy over capable and strange people, like a viper. In my view, both these factions are major threats to the Immortal Dynasty."

"Then, which faction does the Empress wish to eradicate first?"

Nalan Mingyue was silent for a long time before replying: "It is said that open spears are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against. The Haoyang Sect's every move can be anticipated, but it is very difficult to guess the specific movements of Prince Jings Estate. I intend to deal with Prince Jings Estate first, then turn back to deal with the Haoyang Sect with all my might, but..."

"You seem to have doubts?"

Nalan Mingyue sighed: "Prince Jing's conspiracy has not yet been revealed. If I were to rashly take action against him, I fear it would arouse suspicion among the people in the court."

"Then find a way to lure the snake out of its hole, to let Prince Jing's conspiracy be exposed. That way, the people in the court will not have anything to say."

Nalan Mingyue frowned upon hearing this: "If I break ties with Prince Jings Estate and internal war breaks out within the Immortal Dynasty, and the Haoyang Sect takes advantage of the situation to attack, what then?"

"Empress, you can first appease the Haoyang Sect, agreeing to all reasonable demands they make as much as possible. If you can draw the Haoyang Sect into fighting the Prince Jings Estate until they both suffer, and then the Immortal Dynasty steps in to clean up the mess, that would naturally be the best outcome for the Immortal Dynasty. If you cannot win them over, you must at least ensure that the Haoyang Sect remains neutral while you target Prince Jings Estate. Once you have finished dealing with Prince Jings Estate, you can then focus all your energy on the Haoyang Sect, and the situation in the Immortal Dynasty will be quickly pacified."

Nalan Mingyue ruminated on the words of the person in the pool, and finally nodded: "I can try that. Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for clearing up my confusion. I will not disturb your recuperation any further. Farewell."

After speaking, Nalan Mingyue transformed into a silver dragon and left the Fengzao Pool, and everything returned to silence...

Just after returning to the Linxian Hall, Shangguan Xiong came to pay his respects.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Rise. Shangguan Xiong, how did the matter of you going to negotiate with the Xie Family of Yuntian City go?"

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty, but I fear no one can complete this matter."

"Hmm? What happened?"

Shangguan Xiong replied: "Your Majesty, the entire City Lord's residence in Yuntian City was wiped out overnight."

"What did you say?"

Nalan Mingyue was taken aback upon hearing this.

"Wiped out? Who has the audacity to dare even touch people from the Xie Family?"

Shangguan Xiong took out a projection jade stone and handed it to the Empress: "Your Majesty, this is the situation at that time. Not only was the City Lord's family wiped out, but even the three Primordial Chaos Realm Elders sent by the Xie Family were suppressed and killed by this person."

Nalan Mingyue immediately activated the projection stone to watch.

When she saw the image of that arrogant figure easily suppressing and killing the three Xie Family Elders, her eyes couldn't help but light up.

"Who is this?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, this person is named Shen Lian. It was he who wiped out their entire household on the eve of the wedding held at the City Lord's residence. According to my investigation, this person also seems to have a grudge against the Ice and Snow Sect. I personally saw him knock out the current Sect Master of the Ice and Snow Sect, Liu Yixue, and take her away."

Nalan Mingyue curled her lips: "Very good. There are not many Cultivators in the world with such courage. Have you investigated Shen Lian's background?"

Shangguan Xiong: "It is still being investigated. I believe there will be results soon."

Nalan Mingyue looked at Shen Lian's wild and uninhibited demeanor in the image, and her eyes brightened: "Investigate carefully for me. What I need most by my side is exactly this kind of person!"

Shangguan Xiong replied: "Shen Lian said that as long as the Sacred Domain can help him obtain the Six Profound Heavenly Mushroom, he is willing to serve the Immortal Dynasty."

"Impossible!"

Unexpectedly, when Nalan Mingyue heard this, she refused without even thinking.

"The Six Profound Heavenly Mushroom is a supreme treasure of the Sacred Domain. I absolutely cannot hand it over just because I appreciate Shen Lian. Since he is unwilling to serve the Immortal Dynasty, then let this matter rest."

"This... sigh, as you command!"

Shangguan Xiong felt very regretful about missing out on such a talent as Shen Lian, but the imperial decree could not be defied, so he had to let it go.