The aftermath of the Imperial Army's failure was felt throughout the entire empire. News spread quickly of the catastrophic defeat, and the Heavenly Imperial Court's reputation was shattered. What was once considered an unassailable force had been humiliated by two women who had once been nothing more than ancient legends. The Emperor, whose fear had driven him to mobilize the army in the first place, now found himself on the verge of losing everything.
In the grand throne room of the Heavenly Imperial Palace, the Emperor paced back and forth, his brow furrowed with a mixture of anger and frustration. His advisors stood in silence, their faces grim as they awaited his decision. Lord Zhang, the most trusted of the Emperor's ministers, had been the first to offer counsel after the defeat, but even he seemed unsure of the next move.
"Your Majesty," Lord Zhang said cautiously, "the Empresses' power is far beyond anything we had anticipated. The defeat of the Imperial Army was not just a loss of men—it was a devastating blow to our authority. We cannot afford to repeat this mistake."
The Emperor stopped pacing and turned to face his advisor. "What do you suggest?" he demanded. "I cannot simply ignore them. If I do, the entire empire will fall into chaos. The Celestial Dao Alliance, the Demonic Abyss League... they are already watching, waiting to take advantage of this weakness."
Lord Zhang hesitated before speaking. "We may have no choice but to look beyond conventional methods. The Empresses are not susceptible to threats or diplomacy. The only way to deal with such power is to match it with power of our own."
The Emperor's eyes narrowed, a cold gleam flashing in his gaze. "Are you suggesting we seek out... a weapon?"
"I am," Lord Zhang replied. "There is a legendary artifact known as the Crown of the Eternal Sky, said to grant its wielder unimaginable power. It is said to have been forged by the gods themselves, and it is rumored to be hidden in the Abyss of Shattered Dao."
The Emperor's gaze darkened. "The Abyss of Shattered Dao," he repeated. "It is a place of unimaginable danger. No one has ever returned from it."
Lord Zhang nodded gravely. "The risk is great, but the reward could be greater. If we can retrieve the Crown of the Eternal Sky, we may have the means to challenge the Empresses' power directly."
The Emperor stood silently for a moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he spoke. "Prepare the best of our cultivators. We will retrieve the Crown—and if it can be wielded, we will use it to bring the Empresses to their knees."
Meanwhile, in the Forgotten Celestial Valley, Bai Qingyu and Li Yuexin had been living their lives as they always had—calm, serene, and unbothered by the turmoil outside their sanctuary. Yet, both of them knew the Empire would not let their defeat stand for long. The Emperor, in his arrogance and fear, would never leave them to their peace.
"It seems the Emperor has learned nothing," Bai Qingyu said, her voice cold as she stared out across the valley. "He cannot accept that he is powerless in the face of us."
Li Yuexin stretched, her fiery energy crackling around her. "He's about to make a bigger mistake, isn't he?"
Bai Qingyu glanced at her with a faint smile. "Yes. He will seek a way to surpass us. And when he does, we will show him why he is not worthy."
Yuexin's grin grew wider. "I can't wait. Let's see what kind of trick he thinks will work against us."
As they spoke, the ripple of energy that surrounded the valley grew stronger—a sense that something was coming, a change in the world that would soon bring more conflict. Bai Qingyu closed her eyes, sensing the disturbance that was already beginning to unfold.
"They'll come again," she said, her voice tinged with both amusement and resolve. "But they are playing with fire."
Yuexin chuckled. "Let them burn themselves."
Back in the Imperial Palace, preparations were underway for the Emperor's bold plan. The Crown of the Eternal Sky was a long-forgotten relic of unimaginable power, said to be able to enhance the abilities of its wielder beyond even the peak of immortality. For centuries, it had been nothing more than a myth, a story passed down from one generation to the next. But now, with the Empresses standing as the ultimate threat to the Emperor's rule, it was the only hope he had left.
General Wu, who had survived the disastrous confrontation with Bai Qingyu and Li Yuexin, was summoned to the Emperor's chambers. His armor was scorched and broken from the battle, but his resolve had not wavered.
"General Wu," the Emperor said, his voice stern and commanding, "you have failed me once, but now you will have a second chance. You will lead the expedition to the Abyss of Shattered Dao and retrieve the Crown of the Eternal Sky."
General Wu bowed deeply, though his heart weighed heavily with the knowledge of the dangers ahead. "Your Majesty, the Abyss is said to be a place where even immortals fear to tread. Many have gone, but none have returned."
The Emperor's eyes flashed with cold fury. "I do not care for their fears. The Crown is the only way to ensure our victory. You will succeed—or you will die trying."
General Wu nodded silently, his face betraying no emotion, but inside, he was already preparing for the perilous journey ahead. He knew the Abyss would test him in ways he could not imagine, but he was bound by duty—and his loyalty to the Emperor remained unwavering.
Back in the Forgotten Celestial Valley, Bai Qingyu and Li Yuexin could feel the stirrings of this new plan. They could sense the growing darkness in the air—the desperation of the Emperor as he prepared to seek out the ultimate weapon to challenge them.
"They've decided to play their last card," Bai Qingyu said, her voice low. "Let's see if they are truly foolish enough to risk it."
Li Yuexin laughed. "Oh, they're definitely foolish enough. And when they fail... we'll be waiting."