After being jilted by the saintess at the beginning, why is she crying?

After saying this, she opened her mouth, her tongue touching the roof of her mouth, as if some words were already on the tip of her tongue.

It almost slipped out, but at the last moment it was swallowed back down, turning into a barely audible sigh.

She ultimately couldn't bring herself to say those words aloud, but simply cupped her hands in a gesture of respect to Lin Fengmian before turning and quickly leaving.

In that instant of turning around, this deputy commander of the imperial guards, who was known throughout the palace for his iron-fisted incorruptibility and icy coldness,

Above those earlobes, which usually appeared dashing and heroic against the backdrop of armor...

A faint blush appeared, like a red plum blossom quietly blooming on the snow, fleeting yet incredibly real.

Just because yesterday the Empress instructed her to take good care of Lin Fengmian,

When no one was around, I whispered a piece of advice in her ear—

"Lan'er, you've been stuck at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage for over ten years now, haven't you?"

The Empress's voice was unhurried, yet carried a hint of deep concern.

"We are like sisters, and I also hope that you can break through to the next level soon. If you don't mind... you might want to try your luck with Lin Fengmian."

His pure Yang body is a rare and valuable resource in the world, providing remarkable assistance to cultivators in breaking through bottlenecks.

For you, this may be an opportunity that has come many years too late.

Even so, how could Qin Lan dare to harbor such inappropriate thoughts?

Lin Fengmian was the Empress's husband, someone she needed to look up to and protect, a high and untouchable figure. How could she dare harbor even the slightest improper thought?

Moreover, even if she was completely innocent and had a clear conscience, in the eyes of others, she was still, after all, the wife of the current imperial advisor.

That's right, she and Ling Yuanshan were nothing more than a couple in name only; their marriage was just a charade to deceive people.

Even so, she didn't dare to even think about such absurd and outrageous things. As soon as the thought appeared in her mind, she would ruthlessly extinguish and crush it, like putting out a lamp that should not have been lit.

Qin Lan has lived an upright life, worthy of the Fengming Kingdom and the Empress's kindness. How could she do something so outrageous and immoral?

Lin Fengmian stood still, slightly turned his head, and his gaze fell leisurely on that dashing and handsome figure walking away into the distance.

He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, a playful and amused smile slowly curving his lips.

"Interesting..." He chuckled softly, a hint of interest and eagerness in his voice, like a hunter who had caught wind of something unusual.

"This empress's right-hand woman, the way she looks at me... seems to be hiding something else? Or is it just my imagination?"

He shook his head, his gaze deepening, a glint of light flashing in the depths of his pupils: "It seems the waters of Phoenix Cry Kingdom are much deeper than I originally anticipated—deeply interesting indeed."

……

The storm has now been brought to a close.

The next day, as dawn broke, a guard appeared in front of Lin Changge's cave. He had a long sword at his waist and a calm expression, clearly a well-trained palace guard.

Lin Changge could guess without even thinking that this must have been sent by Qin Lan to take care of his daily life.

With this guard by her side and taking care of chores, Lin Changge's life returned to peace.

It was so peaceful it was almost dull and uninteresting. Every day, besides instructing the young and beautiful fairies in the palace on breathing exercises and posture correction,

In his remaining free time, he would engage in routine dual cultivation with Empress Su Miaoxue.

This Empress is not only stunningly beautiful, but also possesses top-tier cultivation. The spiritual energy she receives after each cultivation session is so pure and abundant that it is astonishing, like a fine wine flowing into her limbs and bones.

But Lin Changge always felt that she was facing an exquisitely perfect porcelain doll, with beautifully drawn eyebrows and a sculpted figure.

Even the curve of each strand of hair is just right, but it lacks only the warmth of a living person, the heat of a soul.

The entire process was precise, efficient, and even flawless; every step followed the technique perfectly.

It was as if they were executing a fixed procedure that had been verified countless times, but it lacked the tenderness and affection that should have been there.

Recalling the complex and entangled emotions I felt with Cang Yuhan in that desperate situation,

Compared to Gu Qingge's moth-to-a-flame, reckless and determined passion... Lin Changge suddenly felt that everything before her was tasteless and bland.

The empress's movements in accordance with the technique were so precise they bordered on rigid and inflexible.

His eyes and brows were expressionless, as if he were completing a cold, fixed program.

Meticulous and flawless, even the rhythm of their breathing was perfectly timed.

That night, Lin Changge once again pushed open the door of the Empress's palace and stepped out. The night breeze caressed her face, and the stars hung low over the plain.

Although he felt physically and mentally refreshed and full of spiritual energy, he couldn't help but complain inwardly about this routine "going to and from get off work" life. He was truly fed up with it.

It's too bland.

It's so bland it's uninspiring, so bland it's not exciting enough.

The next day, he went straight to Su Miaoxue and asked to leave the palace temporarily to travel around and seek an opportunity for a breakthrough.

Of course, this was just the official explanation; the real intention was to take the opportunity to investigate whether there were other paths and methods to leave this secluded place.

Su Miaoxue didn't stop him much. She just raised her clear, cold eyes and looked at him deeply. Her gaze was calm and without a ripple, as if she had expected him to speak.

She readily agreed, and even arranged for Qin Lan to secretly accompany him and protect him along the way.

As soon as Lin Changge left the Phoenix Cry Imperial City, he immediately felt that even the wind blowing in his face was a bit fresher. The free air filled his lungs, and even his steps became much lighter.

He let out a long sigh, closed his eyes, and savored the long-lost feeling of freedom and boundless expanse, instantly clearing away all the pent-up emotions in his heart.

With his current powerful physique at the Lesser Completion stage of the Great Sun Floating Pagoda, his bones and muscles are like iron, and his blood and qi flow like a dragon. In addition, there is a large amount of pills and spirit stones he had previously taken from the palace.

As long as you don't court death and recklessly venture into those legendary forbidden zones where certain death is certain.

In this desolate land, he could walk freely without any hindrance or scruples.

Three days later.

Lin Changge traveled through cities and towns, gradually disappearing into the distance, until finally leaving the last densely populated human town.

They headed straight towards the distant, undulating, and misty mountain range that resembled a coiled dragon.

That is the Fallen Dragon Mountain Range, one of the ten most famous mountains in the Land of Absolute Spirits.

Although this mountain range is not officially included in the forbidden blacklist of the Spirit-Severing Land, it is by no means a place that ordinary martial artists dare to set foot in easily.