Huaxia, south of Yanjing, west of Dongsheng State.

Tiandu Mountain summit.

Atop the resplendent golden palace.

Emperor Ziwei, adorned with a phoenix crown and robes of rosy clouds, sat on the Dragon Chair with an oppressive aura, stroking the dragon head with her hand, her fingernails long and somewhat chilling.

This individual was none other than the ruler of the Nine Provinces of Huaxia and the Five Great Divine Palaces, Emperor Ziwei.

"Xia'er…" she spoke softly.

"Here." The maid quickly came to her side and bowed in response.

"I've heard from those below that there has emerged a Saint Rank Doctor in Jiangzhou. Is this true?" Emperor Ziwei didn't seek verification from the audience in the great hall but from her maid, Xia'er.

"Replying to the Empress... it is indeed true."

Emperor Ziwei nodded slightly and said nothing, her gaze fixed straight ahead...

All the subordinates and ministers in the entire hall remained perfectly still, deeply respectful.

It was as if her very presence had frozen everything her eyes touched.

She parted her vermilion lips lightly and stated, "A Saint rank..."

It had been many years since a Saint rank had appeared.

At least among the cultivators under her rule, no Saint rank had appeared to date.

Be it an Alchemist, Array Master, or Doctor.

Her voice, calm and unhurried, resounded dignified and majestic: "How many years has it been since a Saint rank last appeared?"

"Replying to the Empress, it has been a thousand years since the last appearance of a Saint rank..."

"A thousand years..." Emperor Ziwei murmured.

The number made her pupils sharply constrict.

Suddenly, a familiar figure flashed through her mind.

This caused her eyebrows to suddenly furrow, her right hand's fingers clenched tight, knuckles whitening, and even trembling slightly.

"Tell me about this person's details." The Empress spoke faintly.

Below in the great hall.

A cultivator clad in armor bowed and said:

"Reporting to the Empress... this person is named Fang Yu, a resident of Jiangzhou. Born and raised in a bustling city, he stumbled into deep mountain cultivation by chance and, somehow gaining a fortuitous encounter, became a cultivator and is exceptionally skilled in medical skills. According to information from the Seventy-two Sects, this person used his superb medical skills to cure the daughter of Bai Ze's Tuoba Yong. From this, we can infer that he is likely a Saint Rank Doctor."

Hearing this.

Emperor Ziwei did not speak.

She seemed to be waiting for further reports from her subordinates.

"Not only is this person skilled in medical skills, but he also seems... adept at alchemy; he has concocted an Eighth Grade Soul Condensing Pill in a city where Spiritual Energy was sparse. A passing cultivator noticed the phenomenon of Heaven and Earth and the Dan Thunder."

"Also..."

At this point, the person hesitated, unsure whether to continue.

Seeing his unease.

The authoritative voice of Emperor Ziwei sounded—

"Continue."

The man then bowed again and said: "Additionally, this individual is also proficient in arrays. He often relies on arrays for self-protection... Bai Ze's Tuoba Yong had reported relevant information to the Divine Hall Masters. This man, within Jiangzhou's Ancient Life Hall, laid out an Array with his own strength, defeating one of the Supreme Heavenly Position's Xuanming Generals, Lu Qinghong."

At this point.

The man was already drenched in sweat.

All the subordinates and ministers present were well aware of what this information meant.

None dared to speak... fearful of the Empress's wrath.

After the report was complete, the great hall fell to extreme silence. Utterly still...

Everyone stood with bowed waists, waiting for the Empress to speak.

Unexpectedly to all—

The Empress actually said:

"He is indeed a talent... with the same gift as the Dragon Emperor of old."

Everyone drew in a sharp breath.

Because, they all knew, the "Dragon Emperor" was a taboo word in Tiandu Mountain, not to be uttered by anyone.

It had been more than ten years since the last person who mentioned the Dragon Emperor was torn apart by horses.

That man was an Elder from the Wind Divine Temple.

His status was revered, his seniority unparalleled.

In the Wind Divine Temple, he held an extremely honored position and had made great contributions. Every fifty years, some meritorious ministers whose time was nearing an end were granted Life Extension Pills.

But this revered elder, for reasons unknown... actually publicly criticized the Empress in the grand hall. He denounced the Empress's inaction amid the resurgence of Spiritual Energy in the urban areas today, calling it foolish, and he recalled the grand achievements made during the Dragon Emperor's governance over the Five Great Divine Palaces.

Stabilizing the Northern Desert.

Erasing the pirate threat.

Conquering the Western Church.

Pacifying the Southern Savages.

He spoke passionately about each and every one of these great achievements.

However...

The Empress reflected on herself on the spot, examining her inaction... but, she bestowed upon the elder four words—death by dismemberment by five horses.

Because, the Empress had once set down an iron rule—on Tiandu Mountain, anyone who mentions the words "Dragon Emperor" shall be sternly punished without mercy.

No matter who it is, should they touch upon this matter, they are certain to meet a grim end.

That was also the reason why the Cultivator who reported the information about Fang Yu earlier was sweating profusely.

This Fang Yu's talent was just too similar to that of the Dragon Emperor!

"Inform the Hall Master of the Wind Divine Temple... to go to Jiangzhou at once... If he truly is talented, recruit him for our use. I, the Empress, am desperately seeking wise individuals, embracing all like the sea accepts all rivers. I want to see for myself one day whether he has the ability or not. If he does, he shall stay by my side."

"Yes!" The subordinate in front of the grand hall bowed, then added, "Your Majesty, the Empress..."

"Speak."

"I've heard that this man is unruly and uncontrollable, and many from the Seventy-two Sects have already attempted to win him over, all to no avail... I fear he may not accept."

Upon hearing this.

The Empress's captivating eyes widened slightly, and with her lips parting, she said:

"If he refuses... then kill him."

"By your command!"

The subordinate bowed and backed away, continuing until he was outside the grand hall, where he slowly straightened up and left the main hall.

"If there is nothing else... you may all retreat for now."

"Yes!"

Everyone slowly exited the grand hall.

Soon, only the Empress and her personal maid Xia'er were left in the grand hall.

All was quiet.

It was no different from when all the subordinates were present.

After a long silence.

Emperor Ziwei finally spoke, "Xia'er, how many of the Five Great Divine Palaces are over a thousand years old now?"

Hearing this question.

The maid Xia'er was taken aback, realizing the seriousness of the question, and did not dare to answer lightly. She bowed and said:

"Your Majesty, Empress... Xia'er needs to check the exact number. However, it is estimated to be around two hundred people, all of whom are the core forces of the Five Great Divine Palaces. With lengthy lifespans and formidable strength. In recent years, with the recovery of Spiritual Energy, previously we distributed the Life Extension Pill every fifty years... now it's every sixty years."

Emperor Ziwei nodded, saying:

"Mmm..."

Her face was calm, as if pondering something, then she asked, "Did all these people once serve under the Dragon Emperor?"

"Your Majesty, Empress... yes, they did."

At the instant she heard this reply.

A visible tremble appeared in the Empress's fingers.

She dared not imagine how long this status quo could be maintained.

For over a thousand years.

She too had lived for over a thousand years.

After mulling it over for a moment—

Emperor Ziwei asked, "How long until the next distribution of the Life Extension Pills?"

"Your Majesty, Empress... three months from now."

"Good."

Emperor Ziwei slowly stood up, hands clasped behind her back, her eyes narrowed, "Starting today, stop the distribution of the Life Extension Pills..."

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