Cultivation: Starting from a Mortal Bone

Fire Miao Hall.

Endless Fire Domain.

As far as the eye could see, this vast region seemed to be warped by the high temperature, with flames like the tongues of demons, omnipresent, wantonly licking away at everything around, turning them into ashes.

No one knew why the flames in this area were unending.

The sky was tainted with a blood-like crimson, and the occasionally passing wind, instead of calming the blaze, acted like an accelerant, making the flames even fiercer, roaring deafeningly like a hungry beast, determined to devour everything in the world.

In this Fire Domain, everything was scorched red, with traces of high temperature melting the ground everywhere. Scorching magma flowed recklessly, like angry fire dragons, slowly snaking across the scorched earth, converging into a vast sea of flames.

”Swish!”

A rainbow-colored light whistled down from the sky, its speed sharply reducing as it approached this heaven and earth, finally stopping slowly in the outer region.

The light dispersed, revealing a figure standing in the air, gallant and spirited, with that unique mask, further proving her identity.

”Flame Guard, my lord.”

As Yan Lin appeared, an aged figure immediately floated up below.

This person was precisely the Hall Master of Fire Miao Hall... Yang Yuzhe.

”Speak of the situation.”

Yan Lin nodded, her voice indifferent, seemingly devoid of any emotion, completely different from when in front of Qin Yu and the Empress.

”The Fire Domain has expanded more than thirty miles outward in the past year, nearly ten times faster than in previous years.”

Yang Yuzhe’s attitude was respectful. Although he was noble as the Hall Master, in front of Flame Guard, there was not a hint of arrogance.

Flame Guards, not only were each of them immensely powerful, but more importantly, they represented the will of the Great Yan Empress.

Is this why Qin Yu always went to find trouble with Little Bunny?!

Cough!

”Did anything unusual occur in the Fire Domain yesterday?”

Yan Lin’s gaze was distant, looking into the depths of the Fire Domain, her voice chilly, and under the mask, no emotion could be discerned.

”Unusual?”

Yang Yuzhe pondered for a moment and shook his head.

He hadn’t felt any unusual occurrences, and the cultivators always guarding outside the Endless Fire Domain hadn’t noticed any anomalies either.

Even after receiving a transmission from Flame Guard, he did not quite understand why Flame Guard would suddenly descend upon the Endless Fire Domain.

Seeing this, Yan Lin knew there was nothing to be gained from asking and realized she still needed to venture into the Fire Domain personally to figure out the cause.

”Flame Guard, my lord, do you need me to accompany you?”

Seeing Flame Guard ready to enter the Fire Domain without a word, Yang Yuzhe’s expression tensed, and he asked.

”No need.”

Leaving one sentence behind, Yan Lin’s figure moved, like a beam of light, sweeping through the sky.

”Hall Master, Flame Guard actually went in alone?”

Waited until Yan Lin’s figure disappeared before Yang Yuzhe descended, and a cultivator guarding here couldn’t help but exclaim.

They were already cultivators at the Lotus Platform Realm, yet only dared to guard at a distance; only when the Hall Master personally came each year would they accompany him to inspect the outer region once.

Even so, every time they returned from the Fire Domain, they needed to spend some time to expel the unwittingly caught flame toxins.

Looking at Flame Guard’s demeanor, her target was undoubtedly not just the outer region.

”Flame Guard surely has her assurance.”

Yang Yuzhe shook his head, not wanting to discuss this topic.

In recent years, the expansion trend of the Endless Fire Domain was becoming more and more intense, and they had been worried all along.

Perhaps, the arrival of Flame Guard was a good thing for them.

...

In the blink of an eye, three days had passed.

Because the Empress Dowager was confined to the Jade Flower Palace, Qin Yu had to come with Little Ling’Er every morning to accompany her.

For some unknown reason, every time they arrived, the Empress would summon him into the bedchamber to ”examine” him.

However, even with the Empress’s permission, Qin Yu consistently restrained himself, not daring to show the slightest disrespect in front of the Empress.

That day, as usual, Qin Yu was using True Essence to nurture the Empress.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the door.

”Come in.”

The Empress slightly opened her eyes and said blandly.

With these words, Yan Zhi gently pushed open the door to the bedchamber.

Seeing Qin Yu half-sitting on the bed, a look of surprise flashed in her beautiful eyes hidden beneath her mask.

And when she saw his palm actually resting on the Empress’s wrist, a wave of intense shock arose in her heart.

In Yan Zhi’s memory, aside from the Empress Dowager and Little Ling’Er, no one had ever come into contact with the Empress.

Furthermore, it was a member of the opposite sex!

It seemed this newly appointed tributor was deeply favored by the Empress.

Of course, these thoughts only flashed through Yan Zhi’s mind and were not shown outwardly.

”Your Majesty, Yan Lin has replied.”

Yan Zhi said respectfully.

”Speak.”

The Empress nodded slightly, her eyes slowly closing.

”The temperature of the Endless Fire Domain suddenly soared, starting from the inner region, almost transforming it into a sea of fire and magma, and this trend is spreading outward.”

Seeing the Empress did not intend to have Qin Yu avoid the topic, Yan Zhi did not find it strange and immediately said.

”Have you found out the reason?”

The Empress was not surprised by this.

”Yan Lin did not enter the core region, however, she observed that the flame energy erupting in the inner region of the Fire Domain is being absorbed by the core region.”

Yan Zhi reported truthfully, without any superfluous speculation.

In the presence of the Empress, she only needed to report the intelligence.

The Empress nodded slightly, her brows gently furrowing.

It seems her intuition was right.

Something must have changed in the core region of the Endless Fire Domain.

However, the specific reasons have yet to be determined.

”Could there be any traces of those secretive intruders?”

The Empress asked.

”None.”

Yan Zhi replied.

The Empress became even more solemn.

If it’s not those secretive intruders, could it be a natural anomaly of the Endless Fire Domain?

Even as the Great Yan Empress, she found this absolute region to be daunting.

However, this issue cannot be ignored.

”Have Yan Lin continue to stay there and keep an eye on the situation in the Fire Domain. Report to me immediately if there’s any anomaly.”

The Empress commanded.

”Yes.”

Yan Zhi responded softly, bowing as she left.

The palace returned to silence.

Qin Yu was curious, but did not ask further questions, knowing that even the Flame Guard had not completely uncovered the cause, he wouldn’t presumptuously speculate.

In the quietness, Qin Yu slightly raised his head to cautiously glance at the figure on the bed, only to be astonished to find the Empress gently rubbing her forehead with her left hand, her brows furrowed.

Qin Yu hadn’t expected to see emotional vulnerability in the Empress.

Seeing such a side to the Empress, typically unparalleled in her majesty, he suddenly felt an impulse to share in her burdens.

”Your Majesty, would you like me to massage your head?”

Qin Yu tentatively broke the silence.

”Hmm?”

The Empress glanced over, seeing Qin Yu still respectfully bowing his head.

”You may.”

As Qin Yu nervously wondered if he had been too bold, the Empress replied softly.

Subsequently, the Empress sat up partially, turning her back to Qin Yu by the side of the bed, clearly permitting his forthcoming actions.

Seeing this, Qin Yu dared to look up, noticing the Empress’s black hair arranged like dark clouds, adorned with pearls and jade, gently swaying like black ribbons in the breeze. Her straight back evoked the image of a towering Cyan Mountain, as if her petite stature could bear the weight of the entire Immortal Country.

On her magnificent dragon robe, the Golden Dragon seemed poised to soar, her entire silhouette exuding inviolable solemnity and majesty.

Qin Yu took a deep breath, casting aside inappropriate thoughts, and slowly stretched out his hands, somewhat trembling due to internal apprehension.

The Empress did not speak, allowing Qin Yu’s hands to proceed.

”Uhm~”

As his fingers gently massaged, the Power of True Essence slowly spread forth, bringing a sense of complete bodily and spiritual comfort that caused the Empress to unwittingly emit a soft moan.

His technique was extraordinarily proficient.

In comparison, the Empress Dowager’s perfunctory approach was utterly unremarkable!

At this moment, the Empress felt like pulling the griping Empress Dowager from outside, urging her to learn Qin Yu’s method diligently.

However, recalling the Empress Dowager’s solicitous behavior in front of Qin Yu, the Empress dismissed the thought.

As Qin Yu’s hands gently massaged, the Empress felt an unprecedented sense of comfort.

The Empress suddenly wondered if she had been too harsh on Qin Yu in the past, causing him to dare not showcase his wonderful skills before her.

After a long while, the Empress felt her mind clear, as if the weight on her shoulders had significantly eased.

”You may leave now.”

Noticing the peculiar energy in Qin Yu’s palms had somewhat diminished, the Empress instructed.

In the Lifebound Space.

Watching the scene of Qin Yu exiting the palace, the Beauty Clan Leader was deep in thought.

Through the view from the Lifebound Space, she clearly saw the expression of inexplicable enjoyment surfacing on the face of the Great Yan Empress, usually indifferent and reserved, under Qin Yu’s gentle massage.

She was aware of some Great Yan Immortal Country Royal Family secrets, including those about the powerful Empress.

The Great Yan Empress, with her lofty aspirations and transcendence beyond the mundane, rarely revealed emotional complexity unless needed to exhibit authority to deter threats.

However, this scene before her completely overturned her perception. This extraordinary Empress expressed genuine enjoyment under Qin Yu’s touch?

Reflecting on this, she couldn’t help but feel a complex and subtle emotion towards this Human Race man.

These past few days, she had suffered considerable disrespect.

After Qin Yu and his lovely wife finished cultivation every day, he would seek her out, yet she found nothing peculiar about Qin Yu’s hands.

In fact, every interaction filled her with resistance and repulsion.

”Could he be acting for my benefit?”

The Beauty Clan Leader was exceedingly vigilant, sneering dismissively.

Although she knew the Great Yan Empress wouldn’t act for Qin Yu, she refused to acknowledge any special aspect of the audacious man who disrespected her.

Even if he possessed something special, she had no interest whatsoever!