After the thunderous response, the lines began to move in an orderly fashion.
Under the leadership of their respective peak Elders, over a hundred Human Race Disciples and twenty Yao Race Disciples.
Stepped one by one into the pagoda gates that emitted profound fluctuations.
Li Hanyi, dressed in white, led the way, taking the two True Disciples, Li Zhiwei and Murong Xue, inside.
Yun Miaoyi gave a gentle smile, followed by her two Personal Disciples, Zhao Linger and Wang Zhaojun, as well as ten Disciples from Danxia Peak, close behind.
Butterfly Dance's seven-colored rainbow garments fluttered dreamily as six Disciples, led by Xiao Ya, followed closely.
Everyone's eyes were filled with a desire to explore the changes in the Formations within the pagoda.
Ink Scale, Fu Shan, Golden Peak, Green Vine, Cang Hai, Red Cherry, and Profound Elegance—the eight Elders—likewise led their respective Disciples and disappeared into the light of the pagoda gates.
Liu Ruyan, Gu Luoli, and Ye Linger, as Gu Han's Personal Disciples.
The three of them led those Disciples who had not yet officially joined any peak into the pagoda.
The pagoda gates slowly closed.
On the plaza, only Gu Han, Yun Yun, and the nominal Senior Sister of the Immortal Palace, A'Yao, remained.
"Master-Mommy, everyone has gone in to Cultivate, A Yao wants to go in and play too!"
A Yao looked up with her small face, tugging at Gu Han's sleeve.
Gu Han bent down to pick her up and tapped her nose:
"A Yao is still small, and the flow of time inside the pagoda is different from the outside."
"When you grow a bit bigger, or after you reach the Foundation Establishment Stage, Master will let you go in, okay?"
"Oh..."
Although A Yao was a bit unhappy, she still nodded obediently.
"Then A Yao will wait outside for everyone to come out! But... I will also Cultivate hard!"
"Good girl."
Gu Han rubbed her head, set her down, and leaned over to whisper:
"A Yao, you go back to the Main Hall first. Master has prepared your favorite spirit fruits for you."
"Really? That's great!"
A Yao's eyes lit up, and she ran toward the Main Hall with her short legs.
Watching A Yao's cheerful figure disappear around the corner of the corridor, the soft smile on Gu Han's face slowly faded.
She turned around, her gaze falling on Yun Yun, who stood silently beside her like a painting.
Gu Han looked at the deep part of her eyes, noticing a faint trace of weariness born from days of hard work.
A complex emotion suddenly surged in her heart.
Since Yun Yun took over the position of Vice Palace Master, everything in the Immortal Palace—from personnel scheduling and resource allocation to external negotiations.
Even the opening and operation protocols of the myriad phenomena pagoda... every single matter, no matter how complex, had been managed by her in an orderly fashion.
As the Palace Master, Gu Han had truly become a "hands-off manager" most of the time, except for making occasional final decisions.
She could Cultivate in peace, drink tea and enjoy the scenery, and even find time to go to the Eastern Region to "pick up" a Disciple.
Behind all this stability and smoothness was Yun Yun's immense effort.
"Yun Yun."
Gu Han suddenly spoke, her voice softer than usual.
"Palace Master."
Yun Yun turned slightly to look at her, waiting for her to continue.
Gu Han fell silent for a moment, seemingly weighing her words.
Moonlight fell on her silver-white hair, shimmering with a cold luster, yet it softened her usual cool silhouette.
"These past few days... you've worked hard."
Gu Han's voice was very soft, but it fell clearly into Yun Yun's ears.
"The Immortal Palace has just been established, and all sorts of trivial matters are weighing on your shoulders alone."
"I, the Palace Master, have ended up quite leisurely."
As she spoke, the corners of her lips curled into a very faint, apologetic smile.
"If it weren't for you, let alone going out, I'm afraid it would be difficult for me to even Cultivate with a quiet mind."
Yun Yun was slightly stunned, clearly not expecting Gu Han to suddenly say these words.
A warm current quietly washed over her heart, dispelling the slight fatigue brought by days of busy work.
She shook her head gently, a gentle and shallow smile spreading across her lips, like an Udumbara flower blooming under the moon.
"The Palace Master overstates it."
"Management and scheduling are what I am good at."
"To have the Palace Master's trust and be entrusted with such heavy responsibilities is my good fortune."
"What's more, seeing the Disciples full of vitality and striving hard, I also feel fulfilled and happy. How can it be called hard work?"
She paused and looked toward the myriad phenomena pagoda standing quietly in the distance, which currently carried the future hopes of the Immortal Palace.
"The trust and support given by the Palace Master are the Foundation upon which I can keep everything in order."
"Without the Palace Master presiding over us, and without such deep heritage and resources, even if I had some experience, I would be like a tree without roots or duckweed without water."
Her tone was calm and frank, without any hint of arrogance, only a clear awareness of the situation and sincere respect for Gu Han.
Listening to her words, Gu Han's heart was full of admiration and gratitude.
She felt lucky that the System had summoned such a partner with outstanding ability, steady Heart-Nature, and such clear-headed reliability.
"In any case, I still want to thank you."
Gu Han spoke again, her tone more serious.
"With you here, I am very much at ease."
These words were spoken naturally, yet they carried more weight than any formal praise.
Yun Yun turned her head to look at Gu Han.
"Did the Palace Master have any other gains from this trip to the Eastern Region?"
She asked tactfully, but Gu Han heard the concern in her voice.
She was asking about matters related to Empress Qing Xuan.
Gu Han pondered for a moment and did not hide it:
"Empress Qing Xuan... her strength is already at the Mid-stage Ascension Realm."
"Furthermore, she has left the Canglan Continent before and visited another world called the 'Xuanhuang Continent'."
A flash of shock appeared in Yun Yun's eyes.
Mid-stage Ascension Realm? Other worlds?
This information was undoubtedly extremely shocking.
"She mentioned a void node connecting the two worlds and suggested we could explore it together in the future."
Gu Han continued in a calm tone.
"But there's no rush for this matter. We'll wait until the Immortal Palace's Foundation is more stable and the Secret Realm matter is settled before planning further."
Yun Yun processed the information and nodded slowly.
"The Palace Master's considerations are thorough."
"Exploring another world is certainly tempting, but the risks are unknown, and we need to be fully prepared."
Gu Han turned to meet Yun Yun's concerned and steadfastly supportive gaze, her heart filled with comfort.
No matter how the winds and clouds changed in the outside world, no matter where the future led, within the Immortal Palace, she had someone she trusted most.
"Yes, we must be fully prepared!"
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