After a week had passed...
Seven days had gone by since the encounter with Dugu Xiaoye, and her visits to the residence had become nearly daily occurrences, as if she had become an inseparable part of Xichen's new routine. Despite the rising tension in the imperial capital, Xiaoye never abandoned this habit; rather, she seemed to find a mysterious comfort in his presence, far from the watchful eyes of guards and authority. She would smile gently whenever she met him, as if something inside her had begun to slowly change.
On the other side of the city, Jun Zhantian had transformed into a whirlwind of rage and bloodshed. Senior officials and ministers began disappearing one by one—some were killed in public, while others simply "vanished" without a trace. His old sword, which hadn't been drawn in decades, had now become an instrument of vengeance, reaping the heads of those who dared to look upon the Jun Family with contempt or hostility.
Such behavior warranted execution according to the empire's laws, but… the Emperor raised no objection. On the contrary, his features showed signs of deep satisfaction. Perhaps he saw in this madness a precious opportunity to rid himself of the parasites that had nested in the corridors of power. He even granted Jun Zhantian a "paid leave"—an official permission to search for his missing grandson, as if silently blessing the bloodbath with eerie approval.
However, it was clear that this apparent calm concealed darker intentions. The Emperor's gaze carried something undeniable… something that boded no good for the Jun Clan.
As for the cause of all this chaos, he lived as if the world did not concern him. He roamed all across the capital with Xue'er, Zhuqing, and the others, along with Xiaoye, who visited them daily and joined them in playing and wandering throughout the imperial capital.
Then, on one of the days of that week…
They were flying high in the sky, the golden domes of the imperial buildings sparkling below them like jewels scattered upon an emerald carpet.
"Where are we going this time?" Yuechan asked in a calm tone as she flew beside him, her silver hair fluttering behind her like a comet's tail.
Xichen replied with a mysterious smile, his eyes gazing at the distant horizon:
"We are going to see your new disciple."
She slowly raised an eyebrow, her purple eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"My disciple?"
He nodded quietly.
"I found an exceptionally talented girl. Not only is she intelligent, but she also possesses the Absolute Yin Body… a body that hasn't been seen for a century. This means she can learn the Frozen End Divine Arts, even the forbidden technique that no one has been able to touch for a thousand years."
"Really?" Yuechan was slightly surprised. Although there was already someone who could learn the Frozen End Divine Arts, there was no harm in gaining an additional person, especially one so remarkably talented, according to Xichen.
As for how Xichen knew about the Frozen End Divine Arts, she did not ask. After all, he was the prince of the Divine Phoenix Empire—the most powerful empire on the continent, with a history dating back over five thousand years. It was obvious that they possessed records documenting everything since the empire's founding.
"You will find out soon, for we have arrived," Xichen said calmly, gazing down at the Jun Family estate and at a specific courtyard where a beautiful woman in her early twenties, with long grey-black hair cascading down her back and a pair of lovely purple eyes, was quietly playing the zither.
"She is truly talented. From her appearance, she is still in her early twenties, yet she has already reached the 3rd Earth Profound Realm," Yuechan remarked, examining Guan Qinghan with her spiritual senses. "And not only that—her aura is extremely stable and strong, meaning she did not rely on treasures or pills to reach her level of power."
"If she is taken to the Asgard as a disciple, she will become a name that shakes the continent in the coming hundred years," Yuechan added as she descended into Guan Qinghan's courtyard without even attempting to hide her presence.
"Who goes there?!" Guan Qinghan suddenly opened her eyes and unleashed a wave of energy from her zither toward Yuechan. Regardless of the other party's intentions, it was clear they were sneaking into someone's home.
But Yuechan did not move from her place. She merely raised her hand gently, and the oncoming wave from the zither dissipated like bubbles in the wind.
"Your composure is beautiful, but your reaction is faster than I expected…" Yuechan remarked with a faint smile as she landed lightly on the ground in front of Guan Qinghan, her cold aura enveloping the area as if she had brought a silent winter with her.
Guan Qinghan had already risen, standing firmly as she held the zither gently in her left hand, her right hand pulled back, ready to play the strings of death if needed. Her long grey hair flowed freely over her shoulders, swaying with the autumn breezes, and her purple eyes held a caution that was not without pride.
"Who are you?" she asked in a cold voice, her tone carrying a mixture of wariness and dignity.
"Chu Yuechan of the Frozen Cloud Asgard in the Blue Wind Empire," Yuechan said quietly. "I was passing by here and noticed your talent. It would be a waste to remain in this place without proper training. So, would you like to come with me to the Asgard and become a disciple there?"
Guan Qinghan's eyes widened slightly, unable to hide a flicker of surprise in her expression.
Although the Frozen Cloud Asgard was in another empire, it was very famous for accepting only female disciples, and every girl there was a top-tier beauty. Even Qinghan had dreamed of joining the Asgard in her childhood.
"I appreciate your offer, but I do not intend to leave my husband's home," Qinghan suppressed her excitement and clasped her hands together respectfully, refusing Yuechan's offer as politely as she could. "I have not been able to fulfill my marital duties, but that does not mean I will abandon the family that has sheltered me for more than three years."
...
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