Three punches shattered the demonic soul, young hero, I'm an honest man!

Deep within the imperial city lies the Zichen Palace.

The incense burner was filled with the calming fragrance of ambergris.

The sandalwood incense wafted upwards, its smoke spiraling like dragons and pythons.

Finally, it dissipated beneath the high and empty palace roof.

A figure sat upright on the throne.

Her face was indistinct, as if veiled by a thin layer of golden mist, hazy and indistinct.

It was only vaguely discernible that it was a woman.

Dressed in a black phoenix robe, with nine phoenixes soaring above, lifelike.

What's most impressive are those eyes.

Even through that layer of golden light, one could still feel the depth and majesty of that gaze.

Calm, indifferent, looking down upon all living beings.

It was an indescribable quality.

Do not offend, do not tempt, do not waver!

It is the vicissitudes of time, but also the absolute imperial majesty of ruling the world.

The Empress of the Great Ying Immortal Dynasty.

Luo Qingyi knelt on one knee, bowing her head and standing respectfully below the palace.

The flowing skirt of her flying fish dress cascaded behind her, outlining her tall and slender figure.

Especially those breathtakingly long legs, which remained eye-catching even in such a somber atmosphere.

But at this moment, no one dared to look at it for long.

She succinctly reported the shocking events that had just occurred at the Northern Garrison Command.

"...That's roughly how things went."

"The remnants of the previous dynasty have resurfaced, having been in hiding for many years, and have recently reappeared in the capital."

"Based on Pei Yun's interrogation and deduction, the theft of the Star-Gazing Sand is very likely a case of collusion between this force and the Candle Shadow Sect, using the evil monk of the Joyful Zen Sect as a smokescreen."

"Pei Yun has destroyed his stronghold at Wangchuan Ferry, intercepted some of his men and tokens, and confirmed his identity."

The report was concise and clear, without any unnecessary descriptions.

Everything that needed to be said has been said.

The figure on the throne remained motionless.

Golden light swirled around them, and those deep eyes seemed to be gazing into some distant part of the void.

A moment later, a calm and composed voice, yet imbued with supreme authority, rang out.

"Remnants of the previous dynasty?"

His tone was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"A bunch of cowards who don't even dare to display their own banner."

"They couldn't stir up any trouble back then, and now they're just barely surviving..."

"Does it even deserve to be called a 'resurrection'?"

The Empress's voice carried an indifferent quality that seemed to come naturally.

"Skin and scabies are nothing to worry about."

She didn't seem to care much about the heavy history represented by those four words.

She paused, her gaze seemingly piercing through the void, landing on Luo Qingyi.

The conversation turned.

"But... Pei Yun?"

The Empress softly uttered the name, the last syllable rising slightly, carrying a hint of inquiry.

"I remember this name."

"A year ago, you, Qingyi, did your best to protect this person and advocate for his merits."

Jin Huihou's gaze fell on Luo Qingyi.

"You said at the time that although this child was severely injured and had lost all his cultivation,..."

"But his temperament and intelligence are both top-notch; given time, he may be able to find a new path."

"Now it seems you weren't wrong about me."

"A mere commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who had lost his cultivation was able to solve a case that even the Imperial Observatory was helpless against, and even unearthed these rats from the gutter."

"interesting."

The Empress's voice finally carried a faint hint of interest.

"Tell me, how is this young man doing these days?"

Luo Qingyi's heart stirred slightly.

His Majesty seems to be more interested in Pei Yun than in those remnants of the previous dynasty.

She raised her head, her eyes clear, but her tone remained respectful:

"Your Majesty, Pei Yun is indeed a man of some extraordinary qualities."

"Although he lost his cultivation, he did not become despondent."

"He is meticulous and insightful, often able to discover clues when no one is around."

"In this case of Yinxingsha, if he hadn't taken a different approach, starting with Zuilongxiang, and seen through the feint attack, it would have been much better."

"I'm afraid we're still being kept in the dark by that wicked monk from the Joyful Zen sect."

"Although their methods are unconventional, they often achieve remarkable results."

Luo Qingyi carefully considered her words, recounting Pei Yun's wisdom and the key points in solving the case.

Of course, she cleverly omitted the fact that someone had a penchant for slacking off, listening to music, and lingering among flowers.

Only say the good things.

After all, this is about recommending talented people for His Majesty, not just having casual conversation.

The Empress listened quietly, and a faint, ambiguous smile seemed to appear on the corners of Jin Huihou's lips.

The gaze that fell on Luo Qingyi carried a hint of mockery.

"Oh?"

"Judging from what Qingyi said, she speaks highly of this person."

The Empress's tone carried a subtle hint of teasing.

"It's rare to see someone praise someone like you, Luo Qingyi, so highly."

Luo Qingyi's pretty face tightened almost imperceptibly, and she quickly lowered her head.

There seemed to be a slight warmth at the base of my ears.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty is merely stating the facts."

Her voice lowered slightly, carrying a rare hint of muffledness.

"When recommending capable individuals to Your Majesty, I dare not harbor any personal bias."

This posture, in the eyes of the Empress on her throne, only added to her amusement.

He chuckled softly.

The atmosphere inside the hall seemed to ease slightly because of that soft laugh.

Luo Qingyi composed herself and quickly steered the conversation back on track, her expression turning serious again.

"Your Majesty, the Holy Maiden of the Candle Shadow Sect has now infiltrated the capital, and her purpose remains unknown."

"The remnants of the previous dynasty are stirring up trouble in the shadows again, and there seem to be signs of collusion between the two forces."

"Furthermore, the Imperial Observatory recently observed an ominous celestial phenomenon: 'A malevolent star invades the Purple Palace, and a fiery aura points towards the capital'..."

She paused, her tone revealing deep worry.

"I am worried that something may happen during the Imperial Weapon Ceremony on the fifteenth of next month."

The Imperial Weapon Ceremony.

This was not an ordinary sacrificial ceremony.

It is an annual grand event of the Great Ying Immortal Dynasty.

At that time, the Empress will personally visit the Imperial Ancestral Temple and offer up the imperial artifact of the Celestial Dynasty that suppresses the nation's destiny, interacting and resonating with the vast fortune of the Celestial Dynasty.

This is not just a perfunctory gesture, but a genuine measure to ensure favorable weather, abundant harvests, and national peace and prosperity for the Immortal Dynasty.

It can further solidify the nation's destiny and deter villains from all directions.

On that day, the entire capital city will be decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, just like a festival, with all people celebrating together.

This is a crucial moment for the Immortal Dynasty to demonstrate its national strength and legitimacy.

If something goes wrong on such an important occasion, the consequences would be unimaginable.

However, to Luo Qingyi's surprise...

Upon hearing this, the Empress on her throne showed no concern whatsoever; instead, she let out a clearer chuckle.

The laughter was faint, yet it seemed to carry a powerful, sweeping force.

Confident, and domineering!

"You clown, how dare you covet my imperial weapon?"

The Empress slowly stood up.

As the golden light shimmered, the nine phoenixes on the robe seemed to come alive, poised to take flight.

Although his face was still not clearly visible, his domineering aura instantly filled the entire Zichen Palace.

"Let them come if they want to."

She walked up to Luo Qingyi, her gaze softening as she looked at her.

"A few petty scoundrels, not worth mentioning."

"not to mention……"

The Empress reached out and gently patted Luo Qingyi's shoulder.

The gestures were intimate, yet carried an unquestionable level of trust.

"Isn't it you who's in charge in the capital?"

A single sentence carries immense weight.

Luo Qingyi's heart skipped a beat.

I could feel the weight of that trust, and the absolute confidence and domineering aura emanating from his words.

It was as if even if the sky were to fall, His Majesty could hold it up with one hand.

All worries and doubts seemed to vanish at this moment.

She suddenly straightened her back, her eyes sharp as knives.

His Majesty trusts her.

This is enough.

She suddenly knelt on one knee, placed her right hand on her chest, and spoke with unwavering resolve.

"Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail in your trust!"

"We must wipe out all evil spirits and monsters from the capital before the Imperial Weapon Ceremony!"

The Empress looked at her and nodded slightly.

As the golden light shimmered, a hint of approval seemed to flash across his deep eyes.

"Go."

"I await your good news."

"My lord, I obey your order!"

Luo Qingyi stood up and bowed respectfully.

He then turned around and strode away from Zichen Palace.

The skirt of the flying fish dress drew a sharp arc behind her.

His steps were firm, carrying a chilling aura of killing intent.

……

The once empty Zichen Palace has returned to silence.

Only the sandalwood incense remains, and the candlelight flickers.

The empress sat down on her throne again, her figure disappearing into the golden light.

She slightly raised her hand, her fingertips brushing against an inconspicuous, ancient pattern on the armrest of the throne.

The patterns resembled neither dragons nor phoenixes, exuding an indescribable sense of ancient desolation.

It seems to have existed since the beginning of time.

"Imperial Artifact..."

She murmured softly, her voice so low it was almost inaudible.

A complex light, incomprehensible to anyone, flashed across those deep eyes.

Then, the stillness of an ancient well returned.

The night remained deep.

However, undercurrents were already quietly brewing in the capital.

A storm is brewing.