191: Chapter 191 You'll definitely be in trouble then.

The Three Provinces Realm has nine cultivation Realms: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Soul Transformation, Body Integration, Void Refinement Stage, Undergoing Tribulation, and Mahayana.

In the Body Integration Stage, the Primordial Spirit and the Physical Body completely merge, transforming into a Dharma Body. In the Void Refinement Stage, a nascent Void Realm (without life) is opened within the body, allowing the Cultivator to mobilize the power of the Void Realm and shatter the void.

However, after passing the Nine-Nine Minor Heavenly Tribulation and reaching the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, the situation becomes completely different.

With every step forward, a Heavenly Tribulation descends.

Advancing to the fourth level of Tribulation Transcendence: Four-Nine Great Heavenly Tribulation (Physical Body Tribulation).

Advancing to the seventh level of Tribulation Transcendence: Six-Nine Great Heavenly Tribulation (Primordial Spirit Tribulation).

Advancing to the Mahayana Stage: Nine-Nine Great Heavenly Tribulation (Void Realm Tribulation).

A Loose Immortal specifically refers to a Cultivator who failed the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, lost their Physical Body, luckily escaped, and only had their Primordial Spirit (Soul and consciousness) remaining.

Such Cultivators must use Soul energy as a core to re-condense an energy-based Physical Body to continue Cultivating; the Realm of this initial re-condensed body is equivalent to the Body Integration Stage.

The path of a Loose Immortal is even more arduous, requiring them to withstand a tremendously powerful Loose Immortal Lightning Tribulation every thousand years. If they fail to pass, they truly die, with no possibility of reincarnation.

A First-Tribulation Loose Immortal is a Cultivator who has passed the first Loose Immortal Lightning Tribulation, with strength equivalent to the Void Refinement Stage. A Second-Tribulation Loose Immortal has strength equivalent to a Tribulation Transcendence Stage Cultivator, and a Third-Tribulation Loose Immortal has strength equivalent to a Mahayana Stage Cultivator.

Fengling Sect, Green Wood Peak Lecture Hall.

Inside the Lecture Hall, the Dao rhythm circulated, and mist swirled. Dozens of new female Disciples of the Fengling Sect held their breath and focused intently.

Sitting on the lecture platform was a woman. She wore a water-blue wide-sleeved flowing cloud dress, the hem of which spread out like a tranquil lake, making her posture look gentle and calm.

Her long, black hair was loosely tied up with a simple white jade hairpin, with a few strands of hair falling by her cheeks. Her face was beautiful, her skin like jade, and her temperament held a serenity born of having experienced the vicissitudes of life.

She was explaining the subtle changes in water-element techniques, her voice soft, like a clear spring in a mountain stream.

"Water has no constant form, and the Dao follows nature. The key to controlling water lies in the Fusion of one's mind and spiritual power, moving as freely as an arm moves a finger, nourishing all things silently..."

As she explained, the tiny water droplets condensed in the air were guided by an invisible hand, flowing lightly around her, sometimes turning into babbling streams, sometimes condensing into clear ice crystals, perfectly manifesting the spiritual charm of water.

The Disciples were captivated, immersed in the mysteries of the Water Dao.

At the edge of the Fengling Sect's Creation Floating Island, Ling Hao stood in mid-air, his gaze piercing through the clouds and mist, quietly watching the scene in the Green Wood Peak Lecture Hall.

The gentle woman giving the lecture was none other than the newly appointed Grand Elder of the Fengling Sect, Shui Wanqing.

Name: Shui Wanqing

Age: 5045

Spiritual Root: Heavenly Spiritual Root (Water)

Physique: Yellow Spring Holy Body

Cultivation: First-Tribulation Loose Immortal (Void Tempering)

Loyalty: 50

The lecture ended, and the Disciples bowed respectfully before dispersing. Shui Wanqing moved slightly, floating towards a spot not far from Ling Hao like a flowing cloud, and performed a graceful bow:

"Sect Master."

Her voice was gentle and calm, neither servile nor overbearing. Within this Moonshadow Sect system, there was only one man; his identity was self-evident.

Ling Hao nodded, praising, "Elder Shui's lecture was profound yet accessible, with the true meaning of the Dao contained within the trickling streams. The Disciples have benefited greatly."

"Sect Master is too kind. It is my duty, I dare not claim credit." Shui Wanqing's expression was tranquil, without a trace of arrogance.

Ling Hao looked at her, a flash of brilliance in his eyes: "Elder Shui once reached the Realm of Undergoing Tribulation, with deep insights. With your abilities, even in a single province, you should have been illustrious. Why have I never heard of you before?"

Ripples appeared in Shui Wanqing's gentle eyes, and after a long while, she slowly spoke:

"I... am not from the Cangwu Province."

Ling Hao raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"

Shui Wanqing met his gaze:

"I come from the Central Province."

...

Wutong Divine Dynasty, Qifeng Palace.

Empress Su Fengyi sat high on the crimson gold Phoenix chair, dressed in a crimson gold Phoenix court gown, majestic and sacred.

Gu Qingyao stood with her head bowed at the foot of the steps.

"Your Majesty."

Su Fengyi's voice was calm,

"Your Senior Sister sent word that the Northern Main Rift is frequently experiencing anomalies, and the True Demon Realm may be taking action. I must return personally to oversee it. You shall take charge of all matters in the imperial court. The Four Great Families... keep a close watch on them for me."

Her Phoenix eyes lifted slightly, a trace of coldness flashing through,

"Even though their Old Ancestors are all serving on the Northern Wutong front line, there is no lack of people with ulterior motives within their clans. Convey my decree: without a summons, no member of the Four Great Families may step into the hundred-mile restricted zone of the Wutong Divine Tree."

"I obey the decree."

Gu Qingyao responded solemnly.

Su Fengyi unconsciously tapped her fingertips on the armrest of the Phoenix chair, a trace of annoyance flashing across her brow, and she waved her hand:

"You may go."

Gu Qingyao bowed and was about to withdraw.

"Wait."

Su Fengyi's voice came from behind. Gu Qingyao paused and turned back: "Your Majesty?"

Su Fengyi's gaze fell upon her:

"That matter... has there been any progress?"

Gu Qingyao understood, sighed inwardly, and shook her head:

"Replying to Your Majesty, the Nine-Turn Corridor trial of the Moonshadow Sect... is too strange. Among the people we sent, there was no lack of brilliant and talented individuals, yet... to this day, no one has been able to pass the test and enter the Sect."

Hearing this, Su Fengyi's irritation grew, and she flipped open a memorial on the desk, though her gaze did not fall on the words. The atmosphere in the hall condensed slightly.

As if suddenly remembering something, she closed the memorial, lifted her eyes, and asked:

"Has it been verified that the Linglong Blessed Land is indeed a branch of the Moonshadow Sect?"

Gu Qingyao immediately replied:

"Yes. Verified by multiple sources. First, the Moonshadow Sect's Deputy Sect Master, Yu Lingshuang, shares the surname Yu with the upper echelon of the Linglong Blessed Land; second, according to information obtained, Yu Lingshuang is indeed from the Linglong Blessed Land and was once the Sect Master of the Linglong Blessed Land."

"Third, Yu Linglong and the others are extremely familiar with Yu Lingshuang's words, actions, and identity, not like it is faked; fourth, the Linglong Blessed Land, like the Moonshadow Sect, is..." (All-female Sect)

Gu Qingyao's words stopped abruptly. She quickly looked up and, sure enough, met Su Fengyi's suddenly sharp gaze!

It's over! Gu Qingyao lamented in her heart.

How could she dare to poke at that thorn in Her Majesty's heart?!

Su Fengyi was expressionless, but the rhythm of her fingertips tapping on the armrest became slower and slower, and an invisible pressure permeated the area. After a long while, she spoke coldly, her voice devoid of joy or anger:

"Qingyao, come forward."

Gu Qingyao stepped forward a few paces as instructed.

"Let me see if your cultivation has been slack during these days."

As Su Fengyi spoke, her jade hand lifted casually, and a stream of pure Phoenix True Fire instantly enveloped Gu Qingyao.

This was no check of cultivation! It was clearly taking out her anger!

Gu Qingyao felt her entire body tighten; the fire did not truly harm her, but the pressure was not easy to bear. She smiled bitterly in her heart, but dared not use her power to resist, and could only bow her head and endure it.

"Your Majesty..." she managed to say with difficulty.

Su Fengyi stared at her for a moment, and then the True Fire pressure receded like a tide.

"Hmph, acceptable. But do not slack off."

Su Fengyi withdrew her hand, her tone indifferent.

Gu Qingyao breathed a sigh of relief, with only one thought left in her mind.

From now on, she would never participate in the affairs of those two again! Go play by yourselves!

"Your subject... will keep it in mind."

Gu Qingyao replied in a low voice, full of helplessness.

When Gu Qingyao returned to her residence, Yue Qianqian, dressed in goose-yellow feathers, leaned over:

"Second Senior Sister! Why are you so dejected? Did Her Majesty say something?"

Gu Qingyao steadied herself and said irritably:

"Her Majesty said to watch the Wutong Divine Tree well! Keep a close eye on the Four Great Families! Do not let them get within a hundred miles! If something goes wrong, you definitely won't have good fruit to eat then!"

"What? No good fruit to eat?!" Yue Qianqian's round eyes widened instantly.

Gu Qingyao: "..."

Her temple twitched, and she really couldn't help it; she raised her hand and gave Yue Qianqian a crisp flick on the forehead!

"Ouch!" Yue Qianqian covered her flicked forehead, looking aggrievedly at her Second Senior Sister, and asked in a low voice,

"Senior Sister, the Four Great Families have been getting more and more outrageous lately. Why doesn't Her Majesty just... snap them away? Is it... afraid that killing them will damage the Foundation of the Wutong Divine Tree?"

Gu Qingyao looked at Yue Qianqian with some surprise; this Junior Sister wasn't entirely empty-headed at critical moments.

Her expression softened slightly, and she said in a low, ambiguous voice:

"The Wutong Divine Tree is tied to the Luck of the Divine Dynasty, and one move affects the whole situation. Her Majesty... has her own considerations." She patted Yue Qianqian's shoulder, "You and I just need to strictly follow the imperial decree and do our part. As for the rest, don't ask or think too much."