202: Chapter 202 Someone Wants to Harm the Empress?

"Tonight... I still request you grace the Morning Star Palace with your presence again."

She suddenly moved closer, her voice extremely soft, audible only to him.

"That's what I should be saying."

Su Rui gave a wry smile.

"Aren't they the same thing?"

Empress Wu's lips curved slightly, her smile like flowing water.

The Dragon Carriage slowly arrived at the foot of the mountain.

"Do you want to come up with me?"

Empress Wu slowly stood up and said with firm tone:

"No need. I will just watch from here."

Su Rui gently shook his head, his figure flickered, and he vanished, leaving only an afterimage that melted into the depths of the Dragon Carriage.

Yin Luoxia and Sikong Qianluo also boarded their respective carriages to accompany her. Moments later, Su Rui's figure reappeared. With a sweep of his sleeve, the two women rose into the air as if treading on the Void Realm.

Above the summit of Mount Tai, a strange cloud mass hovered silently, seemingly held in place by an invisible force.

On the cloud, Su Rui stood with his hands behind his back, two young women standing beside him.

"Master, is this... a cloud?"

The two girls widened their eyes, their faces filled with shock.

Although they had witnessed scenes of Su Rui transforming into a Giant Roc or a Heavenly God descending in the past—displays of power that were already earth-shattering—now, standing on floating clouds and moving through the air was a method of the legendary True Immortals.

Su Rui reclined lazily atop the cloud layer, casting his gaze down toward the mountain. A hint of confusion crossed his brow.

"Once you both step into the Divine Roaming Profound Realm, your Master will teach you the art of soaring through the air using Qi."

"Soaring through the air using Qi?"

The eyes of the two girls immediately lit up.

Although they had heard that one needed to reach the Divine Roaming Profound Realm to hope to learn this technique, knowing the threshold was extremely high, they found it understandable—after all, such a Realm was already close to the legendary True Immortal.

But what lay beyond that? What kind of scene was it?

"The situation down the mountain is a bit strange... Could this be the formation set up for the Fengshan Ceremony?"

Su Rui muttered under his breath.

Empress Wu had not mentioned any such arrangement to him before.

At this moment, the ceremony at the foot of the mountain had already begun.

Di Renjie held out the Jade Edict with both hands and respectfully presented it to Empress Wu.

She stood on the high platform and recited loudly, proclaiming her achievements to Heaven and Earth.

The sound rolled out, echoing for several miles.

Subsequently, Empress Wu, clad in magnificent robes, ascended the steps, climbing toward the peak one step at a time.

The civil and military officials and the ritual music attendants followed closely behind, their formation neat and solemn.

Originally, the Fengshan process was extremely complicated, with requirements like purification baths and setting up altars being indispensable.

But these had all been completed in advance; now, all that was needed was to ascend the peak to announce to Heaven, and the rites would be complete.

In the shadows, more than ten figures lurked stealthily. Seeing Empress Wu leading the crowd up the mountain, excitement flashed in their eyes.

"Can we try to win her over? Such a beauty, it would be a pity to kill her."

One person whispered, his tone laced with greed.

"Hmph, a person who has lived for several hundred years still thinking about this young girl?"

A cold female voice sounded, tinged with mockery.

"I just love young ones, what business is it of yours?"

The previous speaker immediately became annoyed and spoke provocatively.

"All of you, shut up!"

An icy voice abruptly cut in, suppressing the argument that was about to erupt.

"If anything goes wrong with this matter, the Great Deity will be furious, and no one will escape unscathed. I have no obligation to save you."

The crowd fell silent, and the atmosphere instantly became heavy.

"Let's make our move.

When she performs the sacrifice to Heaven, we reveal ourselves and seal off the entire Mount Tai. We absolutely cannot let her escape.

Her Heavenly Demon Arts are extremely adept at evasion and self-protection; be extremely vigilant."

"When will that Great Deity make a move?"

Someone couldn't help but ask.

"We trap her, and the Master will descend."

Hearing this, the expressions of the crowd eased slightly.

Their cultivation had indeed been forcibly elevated. If they truly fought head-on, even joining forces, they might not be a match for Empress Wu in a single move.

But now, with backing, their courage was naturally different.

The dozen or so people quickly dispersed, each taking up a position.

At noon, atop the mountain peak, Empress Wu held a new piece of jade inscribed densely with words of praise, all penned by the officials.

She briefly scanned one section before setting it down on the sacrificial altar.

Di Renjie and the others exchanged glances, smiling wryly, pretending not to see.

Just as the ceremony was about to conclude, Empress Wu's mind stirred, and a familiar voice suddenly sounded in her ear—

"Someone is about to make a move against you. Don't panic; I also want to see who it is."

Her eyes flickered, and she calmly surveyed her surroundings, but she could not see Su Rui's trace, nor did she sense anything unusual. A slight hesitation arose in her heart.

However, she already placed deep trust in that person.

In an instant, the wind and clouds drastically changed.

Thick fog churned, gathering layer upon layer from all directions, instantly engulfing the entire Mount Tai.

The common people below cried out in alarm as they saw this and retreated rapidly.

Yao Hua, the priestess from the Baiyue region, frowned deeply, her expression grave.

"Master, what is happening?"

Flame Spirit Princess looked up at the mist filling the sky, her eyes full of confusion.

"This mist is not naturally formed; it must be the result of someone casting a spell.

Either the spellcaster is extremely powerful, or multiple people are acting in concert."

Yao Hua said in a deep voice.

"Could it be... someone means harm to the Empress?"

Flame Spirit Princess's heart jolted, and her face changed slightly.

"I'm afraid so."

Yao Hua's eyes flashed. "You wait here; I will go investigate!"

Saying that, she turned to rush into the mist, but Flame Spirit Princess grabbed her arm.

"Master, perhaps we should just stay put!"

Flame Spirit Princess sighed, looking at the other woman's turning gaze, and shook her head helplessly.

Back then, the Empress entered the heartland of Baiyue alone, and no one could stop her. If even she were defeated, wouldn't you be walking into a trap by going now?

...

Yao Hua heard these words, and her face immediately felt a bit strained.

"It is precisely because of that that we must go and see.

If these people are no match for the Empress, and we step forward at this moment, we might leave a good impression in her heart."

"Then I will go with Master!"

When Flame Spirit Princess heard this, she felt there was some truth to the statement.

Before the words had even faded, the two leaped up, their figures disappearing into the depths of the dense fog.

The army at the foot of the mountain immediately advanced, surging like a tide into the churning white mist.

As for the common people left behind, they discussed amongst themselves, unsure of what had truly happened.

"Empress Wu! You usurped the throne and defied the Heavenly Dao; everyone is justified in executing you! Surrender quickly!"

A furious roar tore through the sky, and a giant figure shining with golden light manifested in the air.

The crowd below looked up, all stunned speechless.

Could it truly be a Heavenly God descending?

Empress Wu on the peak of Mount Tai also heard it clearly, her gaze turning sharply cold.

"Your Majesty!"

Di Renjie and the assembled ministers were horrified.

"You all quickly descend the mountain and do not hinder matters here. The enemy has arrived!"

Hearing this, Di Renjie's heart shook, and he immediately understood—with their level of cultivation, they could not interfere in this battle at all.

Even Shangguan Waner was sent back down the mountain directly by Empress Wu.

Empress Wu moved, soaring upward, seemingly intending to break through the light, ethereal mist.

But just as she was about to pierce through the mist, her expression changed slightly.

A fatal sense of crisis quietly washed over her.

Her figure halted mid-air, her gaze sweeping over the bizarre mist with gravity.

"Hahaha, Empress, there is no need to waste your effort. This 'Illusory Fog Annihilation Array' is a dead end. You can enter, but never think of coming out!"

More than ten figures suddenly materialized in the Void Realm.

"Your Clone technique has become increasingly proficient."

A woman looked toward the tall figure in the group, her tone carrying approval.

"Too bad the combat power is insufficient; otherwise, it might not be inferior to the True Body Dharma Idol."

The person, however, frowned slightly, showing a hint of regret.