Chapter 32: The Master’s Aura

At this moment, after obtaining a new means to preserve her life, Lu Ning thought inwardly: [The most important thing right now is to break free from these ropes!]

Lu Ning took a deep breath and began trying to mobilize the suppressed Foundation Establishment stage true essence within her body.

Though the imitation Binding Immortal Rope was formidable, it was, after all, a mere imitation—its suppression of power was not absolute.

She could feel the true essence within her body struggling like a fish trapped in a quagmire, each attempt to break free unimaginably arduous.

But she refused to give up, crashing against that invisible shackle again and again.

Sweat trickled down her forehead, soaking her temples.

In the end, having exhausted all other options, Lu Ning decided to use that trial card.

However, just as she was about to activate the “Fifty-Fifty Experience Card,” a thought made her pause.

[Wait, the prerequisite for using this card is to copy the cultivation level of the strongest person within a hundred meters. If there’s no expert nearby, wouldn’t I be at a huge loss?]

Thinking of this, Lu Ning hurriedly gave a command to the system.

[System, immediately detect the cultivation level of the strongest person within a hundred meters!]

[Ding! Scanning in progress……]

[Scan complete. Within a hundred meters, the strongest is: Qi Refining Level Two (Patrolling Palace Maid).]

Lu Ning: “……”

Lu Ning was utterly dumbfounded.

This meant her trump card was now entirely useless.

If she used it, her own cultivation would be forcibly dragged down to Qi Refining Level Two, making any escape even more impossible.

A trace of unwillingness flickered in Lu Ning’s eyes.

She began calmly analyzing her current predicament.

Although Ji Liuyun had her imprisoned, she wouldn’t kill her immediately.

For now, she was safe.

What she needed was an opportunity.

An opportunity to come into contact with a powerful figure.

As long as the birthday banquet ended and she could meet Ji Liuyun, she would be able to use the “Fifty-Fifty Experience Card.”

With this thought, Lu Ning’s mood gradually settled.

She no longer struggled in vain but instead closed her eyes to rest, doing her utmost to recover her strength and prepare for the game to come.

Grand Desolate Imperial Palace, Qilin Hall.

At this moment, within this grand hall symbolizing imperial authority and majesty, lanterns blazed and immortal melodies floated in the air.

Civil and military officials of the Grand Desolate Dynasty, imperial kinsmen and nobles, as well as emissaries from sects and representatives of aristocratic families from all directions, gathered together to celebrate the birthday of the Eldest Princess Ji Linglong.

At the top of the hall, two splendid thrones carved from whole blocks of Phoenix Blood Divine Wood sat side by side.

Upon the left throne, the Grand Desolate Empress Ji Liuyun sat with regal poise.

She had donned a profound black imperial phoenix robe, making her already cold and elegant features appear even more dignified and untouchable.

The throne at her side, however, remained empty.

Everyone’s gaze kept flitting to that empty seat, their hearts filled with curiosity and speculation.

Why had today’s main character, Her Highness the Eldest Princess, not yet appeared?

Just as the murmurs in the crowd were reaching their peak….

“Her Highness the Eldest Princess arrives——!”

A high-pitched ceremonial announcement echoed from outside the hall.

The grand hall instantly fell silent.

Everyone turned in unison to look at the entrance.

There, Ji Linglong, adorned in golden palace attire and surrounded by two rows of palace maids, walked in at a measured pace.

She was splendidly dressed today, her already breathtaking face set off by ornate hairpins and jewels, making her beauty almost suffocating.

A perfectly poised smile graced her lips, her steps calm and unhurried, the innate nobility and assertiveness within her on full display.

“Congratulations to Her Highness the Eldest Princess on her auspicious birthday! May Your Highness’s path to immortality endure forever, and may you enjoy endless longevity!”

After a brief silence, a thunderous chorus of blessings erupted within the hall.

Ji Liuyun looked at her dazzling imperial sister, a slight flicker in her cool, clear gaze.

“Elder Sister, you are late.”

Ji Liuyun spoke in a calm, indifferent tone.

“Forgive me for making Your Majesty and everyone wait.”

Ji Linglong walked to her throne and sat down gracefully, an apologetic smile on her face.

“On my way here, I was captivated by the beautiful scenery of the Imperial Garden, so I was delayed for a time. I ask Your Majesty and all present for your understanding.”

Ji Liuyun gave her a long, searching look but did not press further.

She knew now was not the time to pursue the matter.

“It’s of no consequence. Your health is what matters.”

Ji Liuyun raised the jade cup before her.

“Today is your birthday. I offer you a toast.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Ji Linglong also raised her wine cup, clinking it with Ji Liuyun’s across the air, and then downing it in one go.

Soon, the banquet officially began, with music and dance filling the hall.

Yet beneath this harmonious façade, undercurrents swirled.

Ji Liuyun appeared to be cheerfully conversing with the various emissaries, but her attention remained fixed on Ji Linglong by her side.

“Elder Sister.”

Ji Liuyun set down her wine cup and spoke in a seemingly casual manner, “I heard you brought back quite the extraordinary ‘trophy’ recently?”

At these words, the smile on Ji Linglong’s face stiffened for an instant but quickly returned to normal.

She replied lightly, “Just a reckless demon—nothing worth mentioning.”

“Oh?”

A sharp glint flickered in Ji Liuyun’s eyes.

“I heard that demon gave you quite some trouble. Now that he’s in your hands, how do you intend to deal with him?”

Ji Linglong picked up her wine cup, gently swirling the amber liquid within, her eyes lowered so her expression could not be seen.

“Just a condemned prisoner.”

Her voice was soft, yet it carried a chilling undertone.

“I will, of course, let him taste every torture this world has to offer—unable to live, unable to die.”

“And in the end, I will extract his soul and refine it into an ever-burning Soul Lamp, to be placed in my bedchamber as an eternal slave, day and night, forevermore.”

At these words, the temperature in the grand hall seemed to drop a few degrees.

Upon hearing “refine into a Soul Lamp,” Ji Liuyun finally felt the heavy stone in her heart fall away.

She knew this was one of the imperial family’s most common methods for dealing with serious offenders, and also the most effective means of venting one’s anger.

It seemed her elder sister truly felt nothing but hatred for that demon.

She had been overthinking it.

“This is for the best.”

A genuinely pleased smile finally appeared on Ji Liuyun’s face.

“Then allow me to wish you vengeance fulfilled in advance.”

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s kind words.”

Ji Linglong also smiled, though a hint of guilt lurked in her expression.

At this moment, only one thought filled her heart.

When would this tedious banquet finally end?

Her Ah Ning was still waiting for her in the Phoenix Palace.

She couldn’t wait to return, to give the flower bracelet she had made in the Imperial Garden as a gift, to see that little beauty she had so carefully dressed up, to embrace her in her arms.

At that moment, a gentle, melodious voice rang out in the grand hall.

“This humble woman, Su Yuexi, Master of Hundred Flowers Valley, presents the valley’s treasure, the ‘Nine Yang Fusion Blood Flower,’ to congratulate Her Highness the Eldest Princess on her birthday!”

Su Yuexi, Master of Hundred Flowers Valley, walked to the center of the grand hall under the gazes of all the guests.

In her hands, she held a jade box.

As it was opened, an extraordinary flower burning with golden flames lay quietly within.

At the same time.

The palace, outside Phoenix Palace.

A black figure appeared soundlessly atop the roof of the bedchamber, like a phantom.

It was none other than Gu Qinghuan.

She looked down at the bedchamber below, shrouded in golden runes, and in those cool, clear eyes, an icy murderous intent flickered.

She could sense her master’s lingering aura within the barrier.

Raising her hand, a sword of pure frost coalesced in her grasp.

Without the slightest hesitation, she struck with her blade!

The already-cracked golden barrier shattered instantly before the ice sword suffused with Taiyin origin power.

The doors of the bedchamber exploded open, blasted apart by the violent sword energy.

Gu Qinghuan’s figure flickered inside like teleportation.

She gazed at the disheveled jade bed, the exquisitely wrought shackles scattered on the floor, and the torn breast binding…

A wave of uncontrollable fury and murderous intent erupted from the depths of her heart!

“Ji! Ling! Long!”

She pronounced the name syllable by syllable, her voice as cold as the frost of the Nine Netherworlds.

At that moment—

“An assassin!”

“Quick! There’s an assassin in Phoenix Palace!”

Panicked shouts from countless guards rang out outside.

Powerful auras rushed from all directions in the imperial palace toward Phoenix Palace at top speed.

Gu Qinghuan knew she had been exposed.

She glanced at the empty bedchamber, unwilling and half-mad.

She could not just leave like this!

She would make the Grand Desolate Dynasty pay!

She once more raised the ice sword in her hand, pouring all her Taiyin power into it without reservation.

She would erase this palace that had imprisoned her master from the world entirely.

Yet just as she was about to swing down with that world-shattering sword…

A contract within her glimmered faintly.

In the next instant, her spiritual sense suddenly caught a faint, yet incredibly familiar, aura.

It was her master’s aura.

And this aura was coming from another direction within the palace.