In that instant, the entire Purple Smoke City seemed as if time itself had solidified, eerily pausing for a moment. The clamor ceased abruptly, rendering the entire city so quiet one could hear a pin drop. Then, the noise erupted once again, but this time it was a cacophony of astonished gasps from countless people…creating the uproar!

"Imperial Master of Purple Smoke!"

"The Imperial Master of Purple Smoke has actually emerged from seclusion!"

"Good heavens, did I hear that correctly? Is it really the Imperial Master of Purple Smoke?"

"It's been so many years…" An elderly person couldn't help but shed tears.

Chu Mo was completely baffled, not understanding why this Imperial Master of Purple Smoke commanded such reverence in this city. But he knew one thing for sure, it was this very Imperial Master of Purple Smoke who had just acted, startling Zhuge Lang into fleeing!

As for the exchange of divine sense between the two parties, no one else apart from the individuals involved knew of it.

Chu Mo, along with everyone else, only saw the large, lustrous hand rise from the city, striking towards a certain point high above in the sky. Many didn't even catch a glimpse of the person who was sent flying.

The speed was simply too fast!

Even Chu Mo only saw a blur.

On the other side, Zhuge Lang, having been slapped away, didn't sustain serious injuries, but he couldn't help spitting out a mouthful of blood, his deep and dark eyes shooting out a venomous light. Staring grimly in the direction of Purple Smoke City, he said in a low voice, "Imperial Master of Purple Smoke, the next time I come, will be the day your Purple Smoke City falls!"

His voice boomed, and as the words were spoken, they held power.

His oath was a vengeful promise, a supreme being of the Emperor Realm making an oath that stirred the winds and the clouds, creating various heavenly phenomena in the sky.

"If that's the case, then you shouldn't leave." The woman's cold voice rang out, and once more, that lustrous hand appeared high in the sky, her finger like a sword, piercing towards Zhuge Lang who was now very far away.

This time, Chu Mo saw it clearly, it was indeed a woman's hand, but it was enormously large, each finger resembling a pillar holding up the sky. Had it been the normal size, it would have been beautiful. But at that moment, it only evoked an endless awe in the hearts of those who beheld it.

Is this the true power of an Imperial Master? Chu Mo wondered to himself.

After Zhuge Lang spoke those words, he vanished in the blink of an eye. Presumably, he'd utilized a dharma instrument for escaping, the speed of which was inconceivable. Turning into a streak of light, he disappeared into the void.

Yet, he was still affected by the force unleashed from that finger, vomiting a large mouthful of essential blood with a retch, which descended from the sky like a long river, forming a rainbow.

Thunderous rumbling!

The river of essential blood fell a million miles outside Purple Smoke City, instantly obliterating a vast expanse of mountains and rivers, forming a blood lake.

Zhuge Lang let out an earth-shattering roar of fury, and then his figure completely vanished.

For a time, Purple Smoke City was dead silent.

After a long while, suddenly someone shouted, "The Imperial Master of Purple Smoke is invincible!"

All the people together bellowed, "The Imperial Master of Purple Smoke is invincible!"

Their voices shook the heavens.

Chu Mo's heart was also full of awe. At the same time, he felt a surge of gratitude towards the Imperial Master of Purple Smoke.

Even though this Empress likely had no idea whom she had protected, Chu Mo's heart was still filled with gratitude. If not for her, Zhuge Lang would never have retreated, nor would he have given Chu Mo the time to advance his cultivation to the realm of Great Luo Golden Immortal here.

Now that Zhuge Lang had been injured, it gave Chu Mo a window of time to pause and think.

One question loomed before him, and that was: Should he take this opportunity to leave this place?

Just then, within the spiritual sea of Chu Mo's consciousness, suddenly rose a cold female voice: "Come to Purple Smoke Hut in the southern part of the city."

Chu Mo paused slightly, his eyes revealing a strong shock once again. It was at this moment that he suddenly had the feeling that the empress knew exactly whom she was protecting—it was after she knew it was him that she made her move against Zhuge Lang!

While Chu Mo hesitated, the cold voice spoke up again: "Don't worry, I won't harm you."

Chu Mo snapped back to his senses, a wry smile on his face. He was shocked, not afraid. Since he had been discovered, it was worth going there. He was curious to know who the Imperial Master of Purple Smoke was, and why she would help him.

He had originally thought that the other party disliked conflict arising in this area, but now it was clear that wasn't the case. It was time to figure out the reason behind her actions.

Chu Mo made his way towards the southern part of the city without attracting attention, employing the Shrinking Ground into Inches technique; he reached the southern city in the blink of an eye. Just as he was about to ask for directions to Purple Smoke Hut, he suddenly saw an ordinary-looking elder walking straight towards him.

Before Chu Mo could say anything, the elder spoke in a low voice, "Follow me," and took the lead.

Chu Mo followed the elder, turning left and right, quickly arriving in a quiet area where no other pedestrians could be seen.

Finally, the elder stopped in front of a small courtyard gate, turned back to Chu Mo, and said, "Go in, the young miss is waiting for you."

Chu Mo looked up to see an ancient plaque hanging above the courtyard. It read "Purple Smoke Hut." He nodded to the elder and then gently pushed open the gate, walking inside.

Upon entering, he felt a sense of sudden spaciousness. Different kinds of flowers and trees were planted inside the courtyard, looking very beautiful. A woman in a white dress was carefully watering a potted flower.

Seeing Chu Mo enter, she nodded slightly, "Hold on a moment," and then continued to water the flowers on her own accord.

Her movements were very gentle, as if she were afraid to startle the flowers. Each motion contained a strange beauty.

Chu Mo stood quietly, observing her. He didn't feel any strong aura coming from the woman. The more he looked, the more ordinary she seemed—not in appearance, as she was very beautiful, but in her demeanor which, after a while, gave the impression of the girl next door.

What surprised Chu Mo was that the young women's "moment" turned out to be over two hours long. These hours, stretching from noon until evening, the woman did only one thing—watering the flowers.

Finally, after she had watered the last plant, a fine layer of sweat appeared on her forehead. Her delicate face was somewhat flushed, as if she were exhausted.

It was only then that she seemed to suddenly remember Chu Mo, turned her head towards him, her clear, distinct, pure eyes landed on him, and she nodded lightly, "Not bad."

A bitter smile appeared on Chu Mo's face as he then made a saluting gesture with his fists, "I have seen the Imperial Master of Purple Smoke!"

"You should call me 'senior sister,'" the lady in the white dress said softly, then looking at Chu Mo said, "My Master is the Drifting Empress!"

"Ah?" Chu Mo was momentarily struck dumb, staring at the woman, his mind nearly losing the ability to think. His instincts told him that this was practically impossible!

If Qin Shi had become a disciple of the Drifting Empress, it would have been understandable. The Drifting Empress had a history with the Heavenly Realm's Qin family years ago. But this woman in front of him... she was an empress even more powerful than Zhuge Lang! How could she possibly be a disciple of the supreme Drifting Empress?

Moreover, could it be such a coincidence? Chu Mo had randomly entered a big city, and then he ran into a disciple of the Drifting Empress who saved him from a calamity?

"Don't believe it?" The woman looked at Chu Mo blandly and asked softly.

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Today is the 18th birthday of the Dao Alliance's lovely little sister, Feng Xiaoxiong. Wishing her a happy birthday and all the best in life.

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