240: gathering

Yan Xiao grunted, and his body erupted with unique flames, directly shattering the floor beneath his feet. The flying rock fragments violently collided with the rock walls, creating several more large holes.

He broke free from the heavy pressure, holding a dark giant ruler wrapped in crimson unique flames. With a smirk, he walked step by step towards the Empress.

Just then, the infant suddenly opened its eyes.

Its originally transparent form gradually solidified, and Spiritual Qi surged in frantically from all directions, as if all the Spiritual Qi in the entire world had gathered here, forming a vortex.

Yan Xiao stumbled, almost losing his footing. He only managed to hover after manifesting his unique flame wings, but his face was filled with shock.

The Spiritual Qi was so dense it almost became corporeal, converging into different colors, as if all the Spiritual Qi of wind, fire, thunder, and earth rotated and formed a single entity, turning into a rainbow, and finally becoming pure white.

Within the vortex, the Empress infant became increasingly solid. Its open eyes calmly looked at Yan Xiao, yet with a hint of a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

"Go!"

Suddenly, his old master's voice echoed in Yan Xiao's mind.

He had been saved by this voice countless times during dangers. Even with immense hatred, Yan Xiao chose to trust his old master and immediately shot off into the distance.

The next moment.

The entire Immortal Cave collapsed, and a massive shockwave continued to spread in all directions. Pure white light swept out.

Yan Xiao exerted all his strength to use his movement technique, moving as fast as lightning. He barely managed to escape the underground world and finally reached the sky.

However, the impact continued to pursue him, and the dazzling light even overshadowed the sun's brilliance.

Yan Xiao could only continue to flee outwards, constantly depleting his fighting Qi.

At this moment, nearby players and natives also noticed the anomaly.

The Spiritual Qi vibrated violently, and a constant buzzing sound appeared in their ears, as if the air itself was being shaken along with it.

Soon, dazzling white light filled everyone's vision, and for a moment, it seemed as if nothing could be seen.

By the time Yan Xiao had flown several hundred miles and finally stopped, the white light also finally quieted down for a while, gradually becoming transparent.

Only then could the Cultivators who had rushed from all directions see the specific situation.

In a white glow, a tiny infant floated in mid-air, its limbs outstretched, a slight smile on its lips, filled with joy.

"Yan Xiao, you want to kill me?"

The infant did not open its mouth, yet a voice clearly emanated.

Hearing this voice, Yan Xiao's expression darkened.

During the process of shattering the Golden Core to form a Nascent Soul, it was impossible to communicate with the outside world, let alone transmit a voice.

Now that the Empress could transmit her voice in all directions, it could only mean that she had succeeded.

Had she really become a Nascent Soul?

"No, she's still one step away. She must have used some secret technique, taking a shortcut, but she hasn't fully succeeded yet. To kill her, we must seize this opportunity, but... how easy is that?"

Listening to his old master's analysis, Yan Xiao tightly gripped his giant ruler.

Perhaps this was his only chance to kill the Empress. Even if the other party had many tricks, he had to try.

Just then, streaks of light appeared in the distance, followed by Golden Core Cultivators stepping through the air.

Golden Core Loose Cultivators from Duan Kong Cave, Heshui Prefecture, and even some from the Great Desert, all gathered here.

They all looked at the Empress infant, silent, their eyes filled with solemnity.

The players who had heard the news were also shocked:

"What is that thing?"

"An infant?"

"I heard it's the Empress?"

"Did she really become a Nascent Soul?"

"What's going on? Did she succeed or not?"

The players discussed animatedly, but none of them knew the specifics.

As streamer players began live broadcasts, more and more people paid attention to this place.

But similarly, the player community knew nothing about Nascent Soul and had no idea what state the Empress was in now.

Had she succeeded, or had she failed?

At this moment, Yan Xiao suddenly erupted, crimson flames enveloping his giant ruler. His wings vibrated, and in an instant, he pounced.

Flames burned everything in the sky. The giant ruler, both wrapped in flames and seemingly cleaving through a sea of fire, struck down with a powerful blow towards the Empress infant.

But just then, the infant's lips curved into a smile, and with a flash of white light, she incredibly vanished from her spot.

Yan Xiao's attack missed, and he was momentarily stunned, not expecting the other party's speed to be so fast.

The surrounding white light flickered, and the Empress infant completely disappeared.

The surrounding Golden Core Cultivators looked at each other and flew towards the Great Jiang Imperial City.

Yan Xiao frowned deeply and also shot out, following them.

The other players and natives around were somewhat bewildered, not knowing what had happened. But unable to keep up with the Golden Core Cultivators' speed, and unable to see their direction, they didn't even know where to go for a while.

It wasn't until players near the Imperial City sent messages that everyone realized the Empress and the Golden Core Cultivators had arrived at the Imperial City... The Imperial City had been destroyed by Heshui Prefecture, and later Yan Xiao also went to vent his anger.

Currently, there were no buildings here, only a large pit remaining.

A white light flashed, and the Empress infant appeared in mid-air, looking at the ruins of the Imperial City with an expression of neither joy nor sorrow.

Suddenly, she waved her arm, and the surrounding void rippled.

A gold-inlaid jade seal quickly emerged from the void and hovered in front of the infant.

A Golden Core Cultivator frowned:

"I've long heard that the Great Jiang's 'state-stabilizing seal' is a fourth-grade Magic Treasure that can autonomously sink into the void. Now it seems, it's true."

"It is said that this state-stabilizing seal has an extraordinary origin, and may even contain the Legacy of a great power."

"The secret technique the Empress used for this Breakthrough likely comes from this state-stabilizing seal."

"It's truly astonishing that Heshui Prefecture dug three feet deep back then and still couldn't find this Magic Treasure."

The Golden Core Cultivators had extraordinary eyesight, but they were still surprised by the Magic Treasure the Empress summoned.

They could also see that the Empress had not yet achieved a Breakthrough; she was only halfway into the Nascent Soul Realm, not a true Nascent Soul.

They didn't need to act; if the Empress failed, she would die immediately.

At such a critical moment, she still came to seek the state-stabilizing seal. Clearly, this Magic Treasure was crucial to her, and her next Breakthrough could not be achieved without it.

"Should we make a move?"

"She dares to show her face so openly, she must have something to rely on..."

"A fourth-grade Magic Treasure, that's something Nascent Soul Seniors use for combat. Do you dare to go near it?"

"Eh, that kid really went?"

Yan Xiao's unique flames surged, and he glared furiously, fiercely smashing his giant ruler towards the Empress.

The Empress infant remained motionless, but the state-stabilizing seal beside her suddenly enlarged. In an instant, it transformed into a mountain, directly pressing Yan Xiao down, making him unable to move.

Boom!

Suddenly, there was another roar. It was unknown which Golden Core Cultivator abruptly made a move, and a golden sharp Spiritual Qi shot towards the infant.

Before it could even get close, the state-stabilizing seal emitted a serene jade-green light, like a shield, blocking the attack.

The Empress looked towards the attacker, but only saw a whirlwind. That person, having failed in one strike, directly left.

At this moment, Yan Xiao actually broke free from the suppression and flew away like the wind, also leaving the area.

"Teacher, why must we leave?"

"Something is strange. The wisp of remnant soul I left behind was refined, but it wasn't on the Empress; it was on the state-stabilizing seal..."