While Empress Ling Shuang, accompanied by Yun Yun, strolled through the Jade Pool Immortal Palace.
On the other side of the Immortal Palace, a figure that almost blended into the environment stood silently beneath a spiritual plant.
It was Luo Shui.
The person her Master cared about was now being targeted by this Empress Ling Shuang, who had even moved in quite openly.
Before her Master arrived, she naturally had to pay close attention.
At this moment, her gaze followed the figures of Empress Ling Shuang and Yun Yun in the distance, attempting to capture the contents of their conversation.
Just as she was fully focused—
A trace of extremely subtle yet exceptionally pure ice-cold power, like an invisible spider silk, silently swept over the area where she was.
"Was I discovered?"
Luo Shui's heart jolted, but her expression remained calm, and even her gaze didn't change in the slightest.
She didn't immediately move or strengthen her concealment, as that would only make her presence more obvious.
Meanwhile, that probing force hovered slightly over her area, as if confirming something.
Then, it quickly receded like a tide, vanishing without a trace.
A moment later, a blue figure quietly appeared beside Empress Ling Shuang.
The newcomer was Lan Ling.
Empress Ling Shuang, who was talking to Yun Yun, paused her steps almost imperceptibly.
A glint of realization flashed through her eyes, then quickly faded, as if nothing had happened.
She turned her head slightly and spoke to Yun Yun beside her, her tone remaining flat:
"Thank you for leading the way and explaining things. This Empress is a bit tired and would like to return to rest for a moment."
Hearing this, Yun Yun immediately stopped and nodded gently:
"Senior, please suit yourself. If you need anything, just call at any time."
"Mhm."
Empress Ling Shuang responded and said no more, turning to walk slowly toward the East Courtyard guest quarters.
Female General Lan Ling followed silently, like a most loyal shadow.
Returning to the East Courtyard guest quarters, they stepped into the elegant and quiet inner room.
Empress Ling Shuang waved her hand casually, and an invisible barrier instantly opened, completely isolating the room from the outside world.
"Speak."
She turned around, her gaze falling on Lan Ling, her voice cold.
Lan Ling's expression was solemn, and her voice was kept very low, yet it was crystal clear:
"Reporting to Your Majesty, while familiarizing myself with the surroundings, I detected an extremely faint sense of prying."
"Initially, I thought it was someone from within the Immortal Palace, but upon careful sensing, that aura seems to belong to someone from the Qing Xuan Imperial Dynasty."
Empress Ling Shuang narrowed her eyes slightly:
"Someone from Qing Xuan?"
"Yes."
Lan Ling affirmed,
"I would never mistake it. When I followed Your Majesty to the Eastern Territory years ago, I fought against people from the Qing Xuan Imperial Dynasty many times."
"Moreover,"
Lan Ling paused and added,
"That sense of prying, although heavily disguised, is definitely not something an ordinary Cultivator could possess."
"I speculate that they are at least at the Late Stage of Undergoing Tribulation, or even... higher."
"Late Stage of Undergoing Tribulation... or even higher..."
Empress Ling Shuang's fingertips tapped lightly on the table, making a crisp sound.
Several names flashed through her mind instantly, finally settling on the most likely candidate.
Qing Xuan's most mysterious and trusted first disciple.
It was said that this person had already stepped into the ninth level of undergoing tribulation and was deeply trusted by Qing Xuan, especially excelling in concealment and investigation.
"Luo Shui..."
Empress Ling Shuang whispered the name, the corners of her lips curling into a cold and playful arc.
"She is actually here? And by the look of it, she has been here for a long time?"
Lan Ling lowered her head:
"After discovering her, I did not alert the enemy."
"You did well."
Empress Ling Shuang gave her an appreciative look.
Qing Xuan sending Luo Shui to the Southern Territory, and even having her stay at the Jade Pool Immortal Palace, her purpose was self-evident.
"It's nothing more than to figure out the background of this newly ascended Empress, and even more so to pass on information!"
It seemed her decision to temporarily stay at the Jade Pool Immortal Palace had indeed hit that woman's sore spot.
Thinking of this, Empress Ling Shuang sneered and said indifferently:
"Heh, she still likes hiding in the shadows like this, playing with those convoluted schemes."
"Your Majesty, do we need to..."
Hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in Lan Ling's eyes.
"No need."
Empress Ling Shuang raised her hand to stop her.
"This is the Jade Pool Immortal Palace, her territory. Besides..."
She paused, a glint of both cunning and dominance flashing in her eyes.
"Since Qing Xuan sent someone to monitor in secret, then let her watch."
"This Empress will not only let her watch but also make sure she sees everything clearly and unmistakably!"
She stood up and walked to the window, looking toward the Main Hall, a curve forming on her lips,
"This Empress shall discuss the Dao with her today."
Meanwhile, inside the Main Hall.
Gu Han was sitting cross-legged on the Cloud Bed, having just finished a round of cultivation, when Ah Yao's crisp voice drifted in from outside the hall.
"Master Mommy!"
The tiny figure skipped in, holding a bunch of freshly picked spiritual flowers.
"Look! These are the flowers Ah Yao picked by the Yaochi. Aren't they pretty?"
Gu Han turned to look at the bunch of light-purple spiritual flowers in Ah Yao's hand, the corners of her lips turning up slightly as she reached out to take them,
"They are very pretty. Our Ah Yao has great taste."
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