The mountain had been flattened. The forest was destroyed. The earth was now a desolate wasteland, covered in craters as if a meteor shower had struck.
Damaged automaton “maidservants” lay scattered across the land for miles. But over three thousand remained who still have combat capabilities.
“Elder Sister! You destroyed over a thousand mechanical puppets, and yet, Guiguzi doesn't seem to care at all! Could it be… that Nascent Soul Realm automatons are actually… worthless?!”
Empress Yao Guang's face darkened.
Mechanical puppets are worthless?
These high-grade mechanisms’ parts and materials were incredibly expensive to manufacture!
The resources required to replace them… It would likely take an entire mountain!
The Empress didn’t know that at this moment, Wang Ban was also sighing.
‘Alas… Thankfully, there are plenty of mountains in the Southern Ridge. After this battle, I'll have to ask His Majesty for a few days’ leave. I need to dig up a few mountains to replenish my maidservants.’
As he thought this, Wang Ban retrieved another bottle of pills and swallowed them.
“These pills from the Imperial Hospital taste terrible. I’ll have to speak with Yu Shenzi. How can he not consider the taste?”
Empress Yao Guang’s eyelid twitched.
How many bottles had he consumed?
Were Heaven-grade pills nothing more than cabbage to him? Did he truly eat them like snacks?
What was the true strength of the Great Jin Dynasty? Could they possibly be as wealthy as the Great Chu?
“Guiguzi! Once those puppets are gone, will you still face me with such composure?” Empress Yao Guang threatened him.
“Retreat, or die. I’m giving you one last chance.”
Wang Ban shook his head without hesitation. “Don’t worry. They’re coming. They should be here soon.”
Empress Yao Guang couldn’t believe that the Great Jin Dynasty could possibly have another expert of Wang Ban's caliber.
Aside from Great Ci, what other faction in the world possessed multiple Great Vehicle Realm cultivators?
“Guiguzi, you’re courting death!”
The Empress was enraged. She had been holding back, conserving her strength. Her true killing move was reserved for a worthy opponent.
Emperor Jiajing, for example. But now, she couldn't endure it any longer. As long as she killed Guiguzi here, her secret technique wouldn't be exposed.
“World-Purifying Palm of Great Compassion!”
Empress Yao Guang ascended into the sky with her hands clasped together. Behind her, a giant phantom image of a white-clad goddess appeared.
The goddess’s eyes were filled with tears and compassion. But her palms struck out towards Wang Ban without hesitation.
To purify the world, one needed karmic fire. Great compassion was also great enlightenment.
The goddess’s palms unleashed a torrent of karmic fire, as if trying to incinerate everything before her, to achieve absolute purification!
“This will be difficult to block!”
Wang Ban’s expression turned serious, he abandoned his usual languid demeanor. He estimated that even if he sacrificed all three thousand remaining maidservants, he might only barely survive.
“World-Purifying Palm of Great Compassion!”
Suddenly, the unexpected occurred! Another phantom image of a white-clad goddess appeared, this time behind Wang Ban.
This goddess also struck out with her palms, targeting Empress Yao Guang with her karmic fire.
The Empress’s voice was extremely angry. The moment the second goddess appeared, she knew it was Qing Qiu. She had returned!
The Sage Ruler of Law!
Unless she was restricted by blood ties or fate, Qing Qiu could replicate any divine ability or secret technique, as long as her cultivation was high enough!
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The Brahma Sound Pure Land’s Law Sage inheritance had an incredibly high ceiling and an incredibly low floor. It all depended on the Sage Ruler’s own strength.
In the past, Qing Qiu had concealed her true cultivation. She had appeared even weaker than Jin De. Her status as the Law Sage hadn't been noteworthy.
But an eighth-rank Great Vehicle Qing Qiu was a completely different matter!
The two streams of karmic fire collided until they finally canceled each other out.
Empress Yao Guang’s powerful attack had been neutralized.
“She… she’s so strong…” Jin De mumbled.
Although she had acknowledged the difference in their strength, seeing Qing Qiu effortlessly counter their Elder Sister's ultimate move shocked her to her core.
Empress Yao Guang’s voice was cold and dangerous. She was well aware of Qing Qiu’s strength.
That’s why she had initially sent Miaoyin and Jin De to attack, hoping to create an opportunity for a sneak attack.
But now, Qing Qiu had returned fully healed. And they, after a long chase and a battle against Guiguzi, were weakened.
They could still win, but it would be a difficult battle.
They had failed to capture Qing Qiu?
“Fight, or retreat?” Qing Qiu asked calmly.
A snow-white fox tail swayed behind her.
After a long silence, Empress Yao Guang finally made her decision. Some things were unavoidable. She couldn't force the issue.
“Elder Sister?!” Miaoyin and Jin De exclaimed in unison.
The Empress glared at them. She turned and left.
The strongest among them had retreated. Miaoyin and Jin De didn't dare linger. They quickly followed Yao Guang.
Qing Qiu was grateful. She knew Wang Ban had bought her time to recover from her injuries.
“It’s my duty. You’re welco— ”
Wang Ban hesitated. He wasn't sure what the relationship was between this beautiful fox demon and his Emperor.
Thankfully, he didn't have to ponder this for long. Fan Li arrived.
“Yao Guang has been driven back?” he asked with a smile. “Thank you for your hard work, Chancellor Wang.”
“It was my duty, Your Majesty,” Wang Ban bowed slightly.
He noticed that Qing Qiu had walked over to Fan Li’s side. Her face was expressionless, but her fox tail wagged excitedly.
Who was this woman to His Majesty?
Wang Ban was curious. It was human nature to be intrigued by gossip. He wanted to ask, but as an official, it was inappropriate to pry into the Emperor’s personal life.
“Shall we… go home?” Qing Qiu asked in a soft voice.
“Yes, let’s go home,” Fan Li replied naturally.
Wang Ban sighed with relief. So, that was it. He understood now. He felt a sense of satisfaction, his curiosity satiated.
“Your Majesty, I have a mechanical beast suitable for riding. Perhaps you and Her Ladyship would like to ride it back to the capital?”
As he spoke, Wang Ban retrieved two palm-sized mechanical beasts. They resembled tigers. He placed them on the ground and began chanting.
With a loud boom, smoke and dust came. Moments later, two massive mechanical tigers appeared, equipped with saddles.
“What did you call her? Her Ladyship?” Fan Li’s expression turned strange.
What was Wang Ban talking about?
To take advantage of Qing Qiu, Fan Li wasn't that bold.
He quickly corrected him. “Chancellor Wang, remember this: Qing Qiu… ahem, Miss Qing Qiu is a dear friend of mine. From now on, she is also a member of the Great Jin.”
Wang Ban finally understood. He was disappointed. The juicy gossip he had just enjoyed seemed to have vanished.
He bowed apologetically. “I was mistaken. Please forgive me, Your Majesty. And please, Miss Qing Qiu, do not blame me.”
“It’s fine. I don’t blame you,” Qing Qiu replied quickly. But her tail, which had been wagging excitedly, now swayed more slowly.
In the Great Jin palace, aside from Chancellor Wang Ban, who had taken leave to dig up a mountain and replenish his “maidservants,” Jing Wudi, Yu Shenzi, and Fan Yuehua were all present.
And, of course, Empress Lu Fubao.
“Everyone, from today onward, Miss Qing Qiu is officially a member of Great Jin,” Fan Li said with a smile.
He felt awkward. He was used to calling her “Sage Ruler Qing Qiu.” To suddenly address her as “Miss,” it felt strange.
They looked at each other.
Jing Wudi and Yu Shenzi were respectful towards Qing Qiu.
Fan Yuehua, however, seemed excited by the situation.
She glanced at Lu Fubao, then at Qing Qiu, winking at Fan Li.
He understood her intentions. He glared at Fan Yuehua and shook his head slightly. He and Qing Qiu were completely innocent.
Lu Fubao was now the Empress of Great Jin. But the Great Jin kingdom was anything but ordinary.
She didn’t wear the golden phoenix robes of an Empress. Instead, she wore a simple and elegant Confucian dress. Compared to Qing Qiu’s green attire, it was a harmonious blend of colors.
Fan Li responded instinctively. He realized that Lu Fubao only addressed him as "Your Majesty" during formal occasions.
Normally, she preferred to use terms like "husband" or "my lord."
“This subject requests your guidance, Your Majesty. Where should we accommodate Miss Qing Qiu?”
Seeing his confusion, Lu Fubao assumed he was unfamiliar with the newly completed palace.
“The Great Jin’s imperial harem is divided into several palaces: Xingle Palace, Liuyin Palace, Huayang Palace, Zhiyang Palace, Lanchi Palace, Yichun Palace, and so on.
Miss Qing Qiu was once a Sage Ruler of the Pure Land. Her status is high. I dare not make a decision without your guidance, Your Majesty.”
So, Lu Fubao also believed that Qing Qiu was one of Fan Li’s women.
To include Qing Qiu in the harem?
With her beauty and talent, what man wouldn’t be tempted?
But even if Fan Li desired her, he didn't dare act upon his feelings. Qing Qiu had never expressed any romantic interest in him. What if this was all a misunderstanding? What if he offended her?
Women were sensitive creatures.
Suddenly, Qing Qiu spoke.
“I have come to Great Jin to live as an ordinary citizen. I don’t need a palace. Simply grant me a piece of land, and I will build my own house.”
Her words shocked the others, especially Lu Fubao.
To be honest, the moment she saw Qing Qiu, she had felt a pang of jealousy. But for a man to have multiple wives was normal. She couldn't blame Fan Li.
Moreover, Qing Qiu was an extraordinary woman. She had willingly followed Fan Li. Even Lu Fubao believed he was the one who had climbed above his station.
She had tried her best to be magnanimous. But it seemed it was all a misunderstanding?
Lu Fubao felt ashamed, but then a brilliant idea occurred to her.
“A remarkable woman like Qing Qiu, she would be a great asset to Great Jin! But if she's not my husband’s woman… there’s no one else suitable for her, is there?”
Yu Shenzi was an old man. Jing Wudi was obsessed with revenge against Sage Ruler Miaoyin. Even Chancellor Wang Ban was more interested in mechanisms than in people.
If they wanted Qing Qiu to truly pledge her allegiance to Great Jin… perhaps the only solution was for her to become Fan Li’s woman?
Lu Fubao made a decision.
“Your Majesty, there’s a wooded area west of the palace. I had planned to use it as an imperial garden. Perhaps we could allow Miss Qing Qiu to live there for now?”
Fan Li was startled. “Is that… convenient?”
He was concerned about the location’s suitability for living.
Lu Fubao nodded repeatedly. “It’s very convenient. It’s just outside the west gate of the palace.”