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

"Young Master Lin... this... this is for me?"

Qin Lan's voice trembled slightly, her eyes even reddened a little, and her fingertips hovered above the sword sheath, both longing and afraid to touch it.

"This...this is too valuable...how could I possibly accept it..."

She looked up at Lin Fengmian, and a hint of helplessness and embarrassment appeared in his usually decisive and ruthless eyes.

The once incorruptible and strictly disciplined deputy commander of the Imperial Guards now resembled a young girl who had received an excessively valuable gift.

I don't know how to respond to this unexpected generous gift.

Seeing this, Lin Fengmian's heart softened slightly.

However, he still appeared indifferent, reaching out to grab the green bamboo sword and, without a word, shoving it into Qin Lan's arms, laughing:

"Alright, it's just a sword. Don't worry about its value. We've been traveling together for a long time, and we've even faced life and death together. Just keep it."

Qin Lan looked down at the green bamboo sword that had been forcibly stuffed into her arms, her fingertips gently tracing the delicate bamboo leaf patterns on the scabbard.

Feeling the warm, spiritual light emanating from my fingertips, I was speechless for a moment.

After a long while, she looked up at Lin Fengmian, a rare, gentle smile spreading across her face, and said softly, "Yes, young master. Qin Lan... will remember this."

She solemnly wore the green bamboo sword at her waist. The sword complemented her military uniform perfectly, giving her an even more sharp and otherworldly aura.

"Alright, no need to thank me."

Lin Fengmian waved his hand, then turned to look towards the distant imperial city, raising an eyebrow slightly.

"Let's go, let's get back to Fengming Palace as soon as possible. Oh, right—"

He turned to look at Qin Lan, his tone carrying a serious tone of admonition:

"I'm a rather low-key person and don't like to show off."

"Once we arrive in the capital, if any fools dare to cause trouble, Qin Lan, you must shield them for me and help me maintain order."

Upon hearing this, Qin Lan's eyes flashed with a sharp light. She straightened her back, clasped her hands in a fist salute, and said loudly:

"Rest assured, young master! Qin Lan will certainly not fail your trust! If any villain dares to disrespect you, they will first have to ask the sword in Qin Lan's hand if it will allow it!"

Lin Fengmian nodded in satisfaction at her loyal appearance.

He then summoned a silver flying boat, which grew taller with the wind, eventually becoming three zhang long. The boat was covered with intricate array patterns and hovered steadily in mid-air.

The two boarded the boat one after the other.

Lin Fengmian stood with his hands behind his back at the bow of the boat, his gaze piercing through the layers of clouds as he looked towards the direction of Fengming Imperial City, pondering to himself:

"With the full recovery of spiritual energy, those old monsters that have been dormant for countless years will surely awaken one after another."

On the surface, Phoenix City appears calm and peaceful, but beneath the surface, undercurrents are surging, and various factions harbor their own ulterior motives. "I'll see—"

A cold smile slowly crept onto his lips, a chilling glint flashing in his eyes:

"Who will be the first to succumb to the temptation and jump out to their death among those lurking demons and monsters in the shadows?"

The next moment, the flying boat transformed into a streak of silver light, tearing through the sea of ​​clouds and speeding towards the Phoenix Cry Imperial City.

A long trail of silver light was left behind him, like a shooting star streaking across the sky.

……

Inside the main hall of the Phoenix Palace.

Dressed in a snow-white phoenix robe, Su Miaoyun sat in the main seat, her jade hand supporting her chin, her beautiful face shrouded in an unusual solemnity.

Her clear, cold phoenix eyes gazed towards the direction of the Fallen Dragon Mountain Range, her fingertips unconsciously squeezing a jade slip so hard it made a cracking sound, her knuckles turning white from the force.

Just moments ago, a raging torrent of spiritual energy swept across the entire imperial city like a tidal wave, and the spiritual power within her body was stirred by that immense spiritual energy.

It began to churn violently like boiling water, and the spiritual light within its meridians surged, almost spiraling out of control.

"The spiritual energy... has truly fully recovered..."

Su Miaoyun parted her red lips slightly and murmured softly. There was no joy in her voice, but rather a sense of urgency that she herself was unaware of, or even... fear.

She stood up, her white dress trailing on the ground, and walked step by step to the palace gate, looking up at the sky outside.

The sky was still azure, the clouds drifting lazily, seemingly no different from any other day. But Su Miaoyun could sense...

The long-lost, powerful, and vibrant spiritual energy between heaven and earth...

Just like a tide, it surged in from all directions, nourishing this land that had been parched for thousands of years.

This is certainly a good thing.

The Demon Abyss Seal, which was on the verge of collapse, finally has a chance to be completely stabilized;

The cultivation bottlenecks faced by cultivators from all sides have found an opportunity to loosen;

The entire Land of Extinction may be about to usher in an unprecedented period of prosperity.

But the bad news was just as heavy.

Those old monsters forced into a long slumber due to the depletion of spiritual energy,

Those madmen who have long since betrayed the righteous path and fallen into the demonic path,

Those ancient beasts that had been lurking deep within the forbidden lands... have all awakened.

Back then, when spiritual energy was waning, everyone was still able to barely maintain a balance and eke out a living.

The heavy responsibility of suppressing the Demon Abyss and maintaining the foundation of this world almost entirely fell on her and the nine immortal sects' shoulders.

Although it's tough, I can still manage.

But now that spiritual energy has returned, the rules of heaven and earth have loosened, and various forces are eager to make their move—if all of this is the work of the envoy from the upper realm, then the envoy from the upper realm will surely be able to suppress the whole situation, so she doesn't need to worry too much.

But what if... it's not?

If the revival of spiritual energy is merely a chaotic anomaly of heaven and earth, then the entire Land of Severed Spirits will inevitably be plunged into an unprecedented bloodbath.

In the struggle for resources and to seize spiritual veins, all sides will inevitably engage in bloody battles, causing mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and turning the world upside down!

Su Miaoyun clenched her fists tightly, her phoenix eyes flashing with a cold light.

"Issue the Emperor's decree."

She turned and walked back to the center of the hall, her phoenix robe trailing on the ground. Her voice was clear and cold, resolute and firm, echoing throughout the entire hall.

"The Phoenix Cry Kingdom is hereby placed on the highest state of combat readiness! The Imperial City's grand formation is activated immediately, all city gates are to be strictly inspected, and all Imperial Guards are to be suspended from leave and patrol the Imperial City in three shifts, day and night!"

"Furthermore, in my name, I urgently send a message to the nine great immortal sects."

The strange changes in the Fallen Dragon Mountains may trigger a shift in the world's power structure. All sects are requested to immediately dispatch their elite elders to Phoenix Cry Imperial City to discuss countermeasures. Delay is unacceptable! Any delay could lead to unforeseen consequences!

The ministers and guards in the hall were greatly shocked. They responded in unison and left to carry out the order. Their footsteps were hurried and heavy, and the entire hall was emptied in an instant.

Su Miaoyun stood alone in the empty hall, her breath rising and falling slightly. The "Supreme Forgetfulness Technique" she had cultivated for many years should have made her heart as still as water, undisturbed by any waves.

But at this moment, Lin Fengmian's carefree, smiling face involuntarily appeared in her mind.

That guy, of all people, went to the Fallen Dragon Mountain Range without saying a word at this critical moment of upheaval!

"