Lin Muxue didn’t have to wait long. Soon, an entrance appeared in the formation, and the host responded to her invitation.
She wasn’t worried about being trapped once inside; in this world, no one could manage such a feat.
Out of basic respect, Lin Muxue did not ride her sword to Luo Wuhen’s presence, but instead strode quickly, step by step, to the foot of Luo Wuhen’s stairs.
“I wonder what brings you, the Sect Leader of the Sword Sect, to pay me an uninvited visit? Furthermore, the Palace forbids blades and swords. I must ask Sect Leader Lin to sheath your weapon before speaking with me.”
Luo Wuhen rested her face on her hand, looking down at Lin Muxue from above, her tone flat, as though Lin Muxue’s arrival was nothing more than a trifling matter.
Lin Muxue did not want to argue over such things. With a simple motion, she placed her sword back in its scabbard.
Seeing Lin Muxue obediently sheathe her sword, Luo Wuhen continued her mocking tone, saying,
“Well then, considering your status, there’s no need for formalities. Speak. Why have you come to see me? As far as I know, the Sword Sect and the Ziyuan Kingdom have no quarrel. Or is it… you’ve come for that man’s sake?”
“He’s been dead for more than ten years. I’ve long since let go and have no desire to entangle myself with you, like some concubine vying for favor in the Household.”
Lin Muxue ignored Luo Wuhen’s mocking words and got straight to the point: “My disciple, Su Qianqian, has been kidnapped.”
“So you’re saying you suspect that I kidnapped your disciple? Hah, what a joke. Why would you think I’d go to the trouble of abducting your disciple?”
Luo Wuhen sneered again, as if mocking a lunatic lost in delusions.
Lin Muxue could not answer that question. Without mentioning Su Qianqian’s true identity, Luo Wuhen indeed had no reason to take her away.
And if she were to reveal Su Qianqian’s identity, that was not a wise choice either. After all, there was more than one suspect.
If she probed every single one like this, even if she did rescue Su Qianqian in the end, it would lead to endless complications.
Seeing Lin Muxue hesitate, Luo Wuhen’s smile grew deeper. This woman… truly is a bit naïve, just like the first time she met Su Ling…
“If you have nothing more to say, then allow me to see you out. I won’t pursue your intrusion, but I have many affairs to attend to, so I won’t escort you personally.” Luo Wuhen waved her hand.
Two ministers stepped forward and gestured for Lin Muxue to leave.
At this moment, Lin Muxue’s expression shifted like the changing sky. She stood with her sword in her arms, reluctant to leave. She seemed about to say something, but Luo Wuhen cut her off.
“Heh, since you refuse to go, it seems you harbor deep suspicions toward me. Let me guess why…”
“Hmm, Su Qianqian, Su Lingling. The two disciples you’ve taken on recently. You hold them in high regard, even granting them generous gifts during the Foundational Ceremony. That’s all public information.” As she finished, Luo Wuhen sat up a bit, her eyes full of amusement…
“Heh, I suppose you and I both have been sensing the increasingly strong resonance lately. So I won’t hide it—I too have searched because of this.”
“But unfortunately, I was a step too late. Whether that person faked their death and couldn’t keep it up, or has reincarnated, in the end, they must have fallen into someone else’s hands. I lost that competition and have long since stopped caring. But who is the victor…?”
Luo Wuhen’s smile grew even more playful. She stood from her throne and slowly approached Lin Muxue, speaking as she walked:
“From what I heard at the time, within the scope I narrowed down, there was a city where a mortal Su family had two daughters who were simultaneously chosen by an immortal. They left with this immortal, taking their parents with them. Tell me, who do you suppose that immortal was?”
While she spoke, Luo Wuhen had already come to stand in front of Lin Muxue.
She then sidestepped, walking around behind Lin Muxue as she continued, “Heh, don’t you think it’s quite the coincidence? The two disciples you took in happened to be there, the timing of their acceptance was suspiciously perfect, and even Su Qianqian’s age fits just right.”
After she finished, Luo Wuhen came around to Lin Muxue’s side and, seeing the expression on her face, added with even greater mockery: “And now you claim your disciple Su Qianqian was kidnapped, and immediately come to find me. I suppose you’ll visit the others next, or maybe you’ve already done so? Do I even need to summarize the result for you?”
Luo Wuhen had no interest in waiting for Lin Muxue’s confession. She returned to her throne and gazed down at Lin Muxue once again:
“Su Qianqian is Su Ling, isn’t she?”
“Yes.” In the end, Lin Muxue relented and replied through clenched teeth.
“Heh, you really are so simple. I remember back when Su Ling was with me, she would often mention her so-called master. She always brought you up, always praised you. When I was still somewhat naïve, she once said that I reminded her of her master, which made me quite curious about you at the time.”
“Now, it seems she was right. Strong and pure.” Luo Wuhen praised sincerely.
“So, is Su Qianqian here with you?” Lin Muxue asked calmly.
Lin Muxue’s question made Luo Wuhen cover her mouth and chuckle softly, then answer without hesitation:
“She’s not here. I already told you, when you succeeded, I let it all go. With so much state business to attend to, I have no interest in playing childish games with you any longer.”
“But Sect Leader Lin, even if someone really did hide your Su Qianqian away, do you think just asking would make them confess the truth?”
Seeing Luo Wuhen’s unflappable expression, Lin Muxue began to doubt herself. Was it really not her? Since she entered this kingdom and Palace, she had not stopped searching for a moment, yet there was truly no trace.
However, Lin Muxue sensed that there was a massive building complex at the back, shrouded by formations, which was a blind spot for her detection.
When Lin Muxue requested to search that area, Luo Wuhen’s expression turned icy, as if gravely insulted!
“Sect Leader Lin, do you know what that area is? That is my Household, where my consorts and future princes reside. Are you really going to turn my home upside down over such a ridiculous reason? Do you think this is righteous conduct?”
“Why do you think I would keep playing these pointless games with you? I have already married the Empress I love, while you, because of your own blunder, have lost the victory you once held, and now you come to trouble me again?”
“I’m sorry, though it may be rude, I must inspect that place. If this truly is a misunderstanding, I will offer my apologies and compensation.”
“And if I say no?”
“Then I must offend you.”
In the end, as they stared at each other, Luo Wuhen seemed genuinely rendered speechless by Lin Muxue, and let out a sigh:
“If you must, then go ahead. Once you’ve seen it, you’ll know just how infuriating you really are…”
Meanwhile, leaving aside the two who were still locked in debate, where was the real focus of this conflict?
At this moment, Su Qianqian was inside the royal Secret Realm, at a critical stage of her breakthrough.
She felt a Golden Core gradually forming inside her!
Su Qianqian did not feel particularly surprised; after all, achieving Golden Core was easy for her.
What was more, she was actually forming a Nine-patterned Golden Core—the very best kind. Su Qianqian was rather satisfied.
“Luo Wuhen did at least get this part right, actually giving me the time to break through. This Secret Realm isn’t bad, but for some reason, something feels a little off…”
Su Qianqian thought this, feeling as though she was about to grasp the key, but just then, a change within her body drew all her attention away!
Suddenly, the Golden Core within her became wildly unstable. She should have been at the final stage, with no chance of failure!
Su Qianqian hadn’t foreseen such a situation. She could only do her best to stabilize the Golden Core, for if it spun out of control, she would surely suffer severe injury!
While steadying her Golden Core, Su Qianqian also searched for the cause of the disturbance.
Bit by bit, she discovered that the Sword Embryo within her was also being affected!
“Is this the Sword Embryo’s doing? No, it doesn’t seem that way… It’s more like the Golden Core and Sword Embryo are both being influenced by something else… But what…?”
While she puzzled over this, Su Qianqian suddenly felt her soul tremble, and then—a lotus flower drifted out from within!
“Whoa, what’s this?”
Looking at the lotus, Su Qianqian realized—it was the Heavenly Medicine from the Sword Sect! Except it was a bit smaller than before!
“So this Heavenly Medicine wasn’t fully refined and used up to heal the heavens and for my reincarnation after all? But why has it appeared now?” Su Qianqian was baffled.
It had been fine for decades, and now it chose this key moment to make trouble?
Su Qianqian tried to control the Heavenly Medicine from the Sword Sect, but to no avail.
She could only watch as the lotus drifted toward her Golden Core.
The closer it came, the more violently her Golden Core and Sword Embryo trembled!
Unable to control the lotus, she tried instead to maneuver her Golden Core away from this deadly Heavenly Medicine.
But the Heavenly Medicine had its sights set—it was coming straight for her Golden Core, and even faster than before.
In an instant, Su Qianqian could no longer dodge!
With a bang, she watched in despair as her Golden Core collided with the lotus and shattered into dust…
Yet the expected backlash never came. In fact, Su Qianqian felt a wave of clarity and refreshment…?!
The shattered Golden Core didn’t dissipate. Instead, it was gradually absorbed by the Heavenly Medicine…
When the absorption was complete, the lotus folded up, becoming a bud, and Su Qianqian sensed her connection to the Heavenly Medicine growing stronger and stronger…
After waiting nervously for a moment, the lotus began to open again.
At its center, a pure white Lotus Seed emitting multicolored light hovered—and Su Qianqian could feel that this Lotus Seed was what her Golden Core had become!
“Hiss—my Golden Core turned into a Lotus Seed? So have I broken through to the Golden Core realm or not?”
But soon, the power and purity flooding out from the Lotus Seed and the lotus dispelled her doubts entirely…
“This power, this purity! Mmm~ So good~~!” As the overwhelming energy surged within her, Su Qianqian couldn’t help but let out a delighted hum!
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