Deep within the imperial palace.
A stunning young girl dressed in imperial robes, adorned with a purple-golden dragon and phoenix crown on her head, her dark hair flowing down to the ground. Her phoenix-like eyes exuded a majestic aura, displaying the demeanor of a ruler.
This person was none other than the current Empress of the Immortal Nation.
The young girl, who held the power of the most powerful nation, had an indifferent gaze as she perused the documents on her desk.
One book after another was thrown away.
Finally, she stopped reading altogether, casually sweeping her hand and sending the documents falling to the ground. Then, with a wave of her spiritual energy, the scattered papers turned into nothingness.
"Who has angered your majesty to such an extent?"
Standing nearby and witnessing this scene was a figure wearing a mask patterned with dried leaves.
From the voice, it can be deemed that the other party who spoke is also a woman.
"Besides those courtiers who have nothing better to do, who else could it be?" The Empress snorted.
"Are they pressuring Your Majesty to choose a consort?"
"Hmph, my lifelong affair is not something they have a say in."
The Empress's face revealed a hint of displeasure, but she acknowledged the masked woman's guess.
Shaking her head gently, the masked woman spoke, "As a woman who reigns as Empress, although they don't say it aloud, they hold some resentment in their hearts. With the whereabouts of the late emperor still unknown, they have shifted their expectations to the possibility of Your Majesty bearing an heir."
"And as the sovereign who has been delaying on choosing a consort for a long time, it has become a thorn in the side of those Old Bones who keep clamoring about the collapse of decorum."
Upon hearing these words, the Empress furrowed her brow slightly.
"What about you, Wutong? Do you also intend to persuade me to choose a consort?"
"I dare not, Your Majesty."
Wutong, the masked woman referred to as such, lowered her head.
"Very well, you are one of the trusted confidantes I rely on, especially for managing the Six Gate Bureau during these past two years." The Empress didn't want to be angry with the masked woman and instead lightly tapped the desk. "But you, too, share the same thoughts— Why don't you tell me who you think is worthy of being my consort?"
Wutong obviously didn't expect Her Majesty to say that, and when she raised her head, a hint of confusion flickered in her eyes beneath the mask.
However, she dared not show it and, after a slight moment of contemplation, began to speak:
"If we consider the matter of qualifications, it is likely that there are few individuals in the world today who can match Your Majesty's talent. Considering that Your Majesty had achieved the Nascent Soul stage level before the age of thirty, there is probably only the best genius from the Three Ancient Sects capable of such an achievement."
Listening to Wutong's analysis, the Empress nodded slightly.
With no further response from Her Majesty, Wutong continued, "For the Buddhist Sect, they are too mysterious. Even if they have such a peerless genius among them, their fame wouldn't be known to the outside world. Moreover, their disciples have long abandoned worldly desires, so they naturally lack the qualifications to become Your Majesty's consort."
"We need not mention the Taoist Sect. Although they have an outstanding and brilliant Chief Disciple who is not inferior to Your Majesty, their Chief Disciple is a woman..."
For some reason, Wutong felt that when she mentioned the Chief Disciple of the Taoist Sect, her Majesty's expression became somewhat strange.
But she didn't dare to ask further and began analyzing the last Ancient Sect.
"As for the Demon Sect... The talent of their Demon Sect's Holy Saint is equally terrifying. Although he has a relatively short cultivation time, breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage before the age of thirty would be a matter of course."
At this point, Wutong paused for a moment before continuing, "However, this Demon Sect Holy Saint is truly unpredictable—"
"If we go by the information obtained by the Six Gate Bureau in the past, this Demon Sect Holy Saint is comparable to the cultivators of the Buddhist Sect. He solely focuses on cultivation and, at most, has an interest in collecting rare stones."
"But since his arrival in our capital, his actions have been completely different from what the intelligence reports would suggest."
"He displayed a terrifying talent in Artifact Refining, attracting a Five-Colored Tribulation Lightning in the capital. According to his own words, it was his first attempt at Artifact Refining. His movements within the capital are also quite mysterious. We don't know if his true mission is to reorganize the Demon Artifact Pavilion."
Wutong fell into deep thought.
But then she heard the Empress's seemingly indifferent voice, "Today, I heard that the Taoist Artifact Pavilion intends to suppress the Demon Sect's Artifact Pavilion using Mortal Artifacts imbued with Taoist Mark on the Trial Martial Arena. Is that true?"
"The fact that Your Majesty is aware of this matter surprises me," Wutong's gaze beneath the mask was filled with astonishment.
"It has become widely known throughout the city, so how could I be unaware of it?"
"Well, that's true— But this matter is unlikely to bring about any significant changes. After all, Mortal Artifacts infused with Taoist Mark are incomparable to others. I have also witnessed the unique Mortal Artifact of the Demon Artifact Pavilion. Although they have their special qualities, they are hardly suitable for major use."
As Wutong spoke, she noticed her Majesty shaking her head lightly.
"I don't think it's that simple."
From the Empress's words, Wutong sensed a slightly different meaning.
"Is Your Majesty interested in the matter regarding the Demon Sect Holy Saint?"
"Not really, I just find him somewhat intriguing— But think no further of this, me having a slight interest in his situation doesn't mean that I have any particular romantic interest towards him. I have no interest in marrying a man who is younger than myself."
Wutong couldn't quite understand, as she hadn't mentioned anything about her Majesty being romantically interested in the Demon Sect Holy Saint.
After a brief consideration, she decided not to delve too much into it and changed the subject.
"If Your Majesty is concerned about the outcome of today's events, I can go to Night Crow and obtain the intelligence report regarding him."
"No need— Forget it, you may go."
In the end, the Empress agreed to Wutong's proposal.
As she watched the figure of the masked woman disappear from her sight, the Empress let out a sigh.
"That Demon Sect Holy Saint is not so simple..."
In fact, through her own means, she had already learned the outcome of today's events.
The Demon Artifact Pavilion achieved a resounding victory.
They defeated the cultivator who used the Taoist Artifact Pavilion's Taoist Marked Mortal Artifact, they even defeated the cultivator who wields the Mortal Artifact with the [Sky Manifestation] mark.
They truly became the most renowned Artifact Refining Pavillion in the capital.
......
— Taoist Artifact Pavilion —
Lin Qingfeng, the Pavilion Head, had a gloomy expression on his face.
After learning about the defeat of the first group of cultivators he had sent out, he immediately dispatched a second group after gathering information about the situation. The cultivators in this group had cultivation levels on par with the officers of the Demon Artifact Pavilion, and they even used their proudest [Sky Manifestation] Taoist Marked Mortal Artifact.
Due to the intelligence they received about the enemy's 'Gun' long range speciality, Lin Qingfeng specifically instructed this group of cultivators to engage in swift and decisive battles, aiming to close the distance quickly and defeat the opponents as soon as possible.
However, they still failed.
The second half of the intelligence report brought back this time was revealed.
As long as the combatant is seven steps away, this 'Gun' is both fast and accurate.
Lin Qingfeng's face turned green with anger.
Why? Why could the Demon Artifact Pavilion create such a strange Mortal Artifact in such a short period of time? Why were the effects exerted by those Artifacts so mysteriously powerful?
Ordinary Qi Refining cultivators were unable to withstand those special effects. Even if they barely managed to resist with their willpower, their combat effectiveness would still greatly decline, allowing the opponent to strike them several times more.
Thinking about how the Demon Artifact Pavilion would now completely surpass the Taoist Artifact Pavilion and how he would become the scapegoat of the Taoist Artifact Pavilion, Lin Qingfeng's face turned pale once again.
He regretted it.
He regretted how he let his judgment be clouded and resolved to oppose the Demon Artifact Pavilion.
Yes... Why did he oppose the Demon Artifact Pavilion in the first place?
He had no bad blood with them, so why did he do it?
Thinking it more deeply, he wasn't even sure why he became so angry at them in the first place.
Lin Qingfeng widened his eyes.
"You— It's you! What have you done to me! What have you done to me!"
He roared madly, his bloodshot eyes staring fixedly at a corner of the room.
A small patch of blood mist drifted up from the previously empty corner.
"Tsk, is the effect already over? This 'Delusion Attachment' given by that baldy is truly a useless thing."
A sharp voice came from the blood mist.
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