Cultivation: Starting from a Mortal Bone

”This guy!”

The Great Yan Empress paused slightly. With her Heaven-Reaching Cultivation, she clearly sensed a blazing gaze sweeping past just now.

Although it was just a moment.

It made the Empress of Great Yan a little incredulous.

This guy, merely at the Golden Core Realm, where did he get the courage from?!

Indeed.

This guy even when he was just a small Loose Cultivator at the Qi Refining Level, dared to covet the Immortal Sect Saintess, and even acted on it.

Moreover, after joining the Cyan Mountain Sect, he didn’t spare even the Sect Leader and Elders.

Those were his two masters!

Betraying his masters, an unforgivable sin!

If Qin Yu had abandoned all those women and came alone to the Imperial Capital... even if he was special, the Empress wouldn’t have granted him the status of Tributor.

This guy has flaws, and obvious ones at that, but he has strong principles and a sense of responsibility, not the kind who starts with passion and ends with abandonment.

The Empress still remembers, among Qin Yu’s Dao Companions, there was even a woman who initially didn’t have any Root Bone for cultivation, yet he treated her equally.

These were naturally observed by Yan Yu at the time.

The Empress’s eyes slightly narrowed.

Then, she sat back at the desk, pulling her long, jade-like beautiful legs back into the Dragon Robe.

After pondering for a moment, she spoke, ”If Tributor Qin has some free time, he may go to the Jade Flower Palace to accompany Ling’Er.”

In the second half of the night, the Power of Dao Rhyme within Little Ling’Er started to stir again, most likely because she had been away from Qin Yu for too long.

So, even though the Empress felt a bit conflicted, she had no other way.

Surely, she can’t let Ling’Er fall into endless torment again, can she?!

Fortunately, Qin Yu may be restless, but he still understands rules and respects them, so he shouldn’t do anything harmful to Ling’Er.

Moreover, the Empress Dowager is also there, so she won’t just watch Qin Yu bully Ling’Er, right?!

However, in the long run, it seems it’s not a solution either; it’s uncertain if there’s a once-and-for-all solution.

There might be, but...

After Qin Yu and Yan Yu left, the Empress resumed her languid posture.

The return of the Empress Dowager and Ling’Er provided her some reassurance, but she’s increasingly tired lately.

”Your Majesty.”

From the shadows, a graceful figure emerged.

It was Yan Zhi, the head of the Flame Guard.

The Empress asked casually, ”What impression do you have of Qin Yu?”

”He... is very bold.”

Yan Zhi pondered slightly before responding.

Just now, she witnessed with her own eyes, Qin Yu’s brief fervent gaze when he saw the Empress’s jade-like legs.

Knowing that, even unintentionally, if it were someone else, they would already be in deep fear and trepidation, unlike Qin Yu, who still lingered for a moment before retracting his gaze.

These observations were derived from subtle changes in expression.

”That’s not what I’m asking.”

The Empress’s voice, although cold, carried an imperceptible fluctuation, even lifting her head to glance at Yan Zhi.

Yan Zhi, after all, is also a person of the Great Yan Royal Family.

She is absolutely trustworthy, otherwise, the Empress wouldn’t have made her the head of the Flame Guard.

”What I’m asking is, do you find his denial of noticing any anomaly with the Divine Bell believable?”

”Believable.”

Yan Zhi replied almost without hesitation.

Even she didn’t notice it, so how could Qin Yu, merely at the Golden Core Realm?

She is one of the people who understands Qin Yu the most.

This guy is so busy at night, how could he be involved with the anomaly of the Divine Bell?!

”Oh?”

The Empress was somewhat surprised, obviously not expecting such certainty from Yan Zhi.

Of course.

The Empress herself thought the same.

Throughout these long years, countless cultivators have tried to affect the Divine Bell, yet no one succeeded.

But...

This exactly indicates that what can affect the Ancient Divine Bell is neither comprehension nor cultivation.

The Empress’s suspicions were not reduced.

...

Jade Flower Palace.

Ling’Er sat quietly at one side of a stone table, surrounded by blossoming flowers and flitting butterflies. However, she was not in the mood to appreciate them, instead, she occasionally glanced in a certain direction, with thoughts hidden in her gaze that no one knew about.

”Little Ling’Er, do you think these flowers are pretty?”

Suddenly, a fragrant breeze carried the Empress Dowager, holding a large wreath made of various fresh flowers, to Little Ling’Er.

”Pretty.”

Little Ling’Er’s lips curled into a faint smile, as she lightly raised her fair arm, savoring the fresh aroma from nature, as if her soul was also intoxicated by this fragrance.

”Do you miss Qin Yu?”

The Empress Dowager seemed to perceive her thoughts, hesitated a bit, but soon her gaze became firm: ”Come, I’ll take you to find him.”

”But, Her Majesty said not to let the Empress Dowager go to Zhongling Palace.”

Little Ling’Er’s clear eyes flickered with joy for a moment, but soon dimmed again.

Although she wanted to find Qin Yu, she didn’t want to see the Empress Dowager reprimanded for disobeying orders.

”As the Empress Dowager, I cannot be restrained by that Tyrant!”

The Empress Dowager steadied herself, gathering her courage, her words both resolute and somewhat self-reassuring. She muttered, ”That Tyrant just forbade me from approaching Qin Yu’s residence, Huayang Hall, Zhongling Palace has many other chambers, I’ll just avoid Huayang Hall.”

”Empress Dowager, Ling’Er is fine.”

Little Ling’Er shook her head, even trying to comfort her.

”Little Ling’Er, perhaps you can wait a bit longer, I’ll go to the Imperial Study to plead with Her Majesty.”

The Empress Dowager, seeing she couldn’t persuade her, had to think of another way.

”This...”

This time, Ling’Er didn’t refuse; her clear eyes also showed some expectation.

Actually, she knew Her Majesty elder sister was usually very busy, yet had taken time to accompany her yesterday. She didn’t want to bother the Empress with her matters, but...

It’s only been a day, and she already dearly misses Brother Qin Yu.

”You wait here for my good news!”

The Empress Dowager, resolute in her decision, went out.

”Ouch!”

Shortly after, a pained exclamation came from outside the palace gates.

”Who dared to bump into me!”

The Empress Dowager rubbed her plump Great Phoenix, looking up angrily.

Hearing the voice, Little Ling’Er supported her slightly weak body and walked over quickly.

”Em... Empress Dowager.”

Qin Yu seemed yet to regain his senses, somewhat dumbfounded.

Usually, the Empress Dowager was dressed very modestly, although the curves outlined were very prominent, he had never been in contact, so unsure if they were real.

But just now, he truly felt it!

The Empress Dowager’s Great Phoenix, definitely not inferior to Beautiful Master’s Little Watermelon!

”Oh, it’s you!”

”Why are you here?”

The Empress Dowager was about to scold, but upon seeing who it was, all anger vanished, replaced by joy.

”Her Majesty instructed me to come to Qian Ning Palace, unexpectedly I bumped into the Empress Dowager, I seek your pardon.”

Qin Yu, snapping back to reality, immediately bowed.