The spiritual energy was restored, and he became a mortal immortal in two days.

To be honest, Chen Xuan actually had a rather unpleasant meal.

Wu Minghuang's eyes would glance over from time to time, staring straight at him without any attempt to hide it; it was absolutely unbelievable.

This woman is simply unreasonable. She hasn't even admitted it herself, so how can she be so sure that she is Prime Minister Chen?

Fortunately, although the meal was unpleasant, the drinks were quite enjoyable.

I never expected this woman to be so innovative, brewing a new kind of wine. It's really good.

"Holy Master, this bottle of wine is for you. Drink it slowly."

"After we finish drinking, I'll come and have dinner with you."

Wu Minghuang took out a small jade bottle, placed it on the table, and then got up to take her leave.

Chen Xuan looked at the bottle of wine, unsure whether he should drink it or not; he was sure he would have a lot of trouble later.

After finishing their meal, Ye Li and Lin Xiaoman bid each other farewell and prepared to return to Lingxiao to report back.

The Holy Maiden of Lingyuan Sect, Yue Qingyi, died here. This is a major event. Those old guys who heard the news are probably scratching their heads, wanting to know the cause and effect.

"Senior brother, are you really not the Empress's Daoist partner?"

Lu Yao was clearing away the dishes when she suddenly stared at them.

Chen Xuan nodded firmly: "No."

Lu Yao asked suspiciously, "But why do I feel like you've known the Empress for a long time? And your relationship is definitely not ordinary."

Chen Xuan: "What makes you say that?"

Lu Yao immediately saw through the secret: "Because the Empress just put food on your plate! The key is, you didn't dodge it!"

"......"

For a moment, Chen Xuan was speechless.

Are these women's intuitions really that terrifying?

........

Qingzhou City, Lingxiao Headquarters.

The atmosphere in the main hall on the first floor of Lingxiao Pavilion was so heavy it seemed like it could drip water.

The old Taoist priest stood in the center of the hall, his hands behind his back, his brows furrowed.

Behind him stood more than a dozen high-ranking members of the Lingxiao sect.

There were branch deacons, headquarters special envoys, elders in charge of intelligence, and several enshrined figures who rarely appeared in public.

Everyone stared at Ye Li and Lin Xiaoman, who were standing in the center of the hall.

Both of them looked tired.

They had just returned from the Taoist temple and hadn't even had a sip of water when they were summoned here.

"Speak."

The old man spoke slowly, his voice low and deep, "Tell me the details of what happened."

Ye Li took a deep breath and began to tell her story.

From Su Yanhan's return to the Taoist temple, to Yue Qingyi's arrival, to Chen Xuan's intervention, to the Empress's appearance... she recounted every detail clearly, without omission or embellishment.

The hall was completely silent when she spoke.

Everyone listened intently, their expressions growing increasingly grave.

When they heard that Yue Qingyi had been reduced to nothingness by Chen Xuan's palm strike, someone gasped.

When they heard that Su Yanhan had been touched on the forehead by Chen Xuanyi, some people turned pale.

But when the Empress appeared and personally admitted that she was Chen Xuan's Daoist partner—

The entire hall erupted in chaos.

"What?!"

An elderly man in a purple Taoist robe suddenly stood up, his eyes almost bulging out of their sockets. "The Empress... the Empress is Chen Xuan's Daoist partner?!"

"This...how is this possible...?"

Another middle-aged man in a blue long gown muttered to himself, his face filled with disbelief.

"The Empress... the Empress who ruled the cultivation world in her previous life... one of the strongest warriors in the world... is Chen Xuan's Daoist partner?"

Someone asked in a trembling voice.

Ye Li nodded.

"The Empress herself said it."

She added, "And judging from her attitude, she has great respect for her husband."

Respect.

She spoke those two words very softly, yet they struck everyone like thunderbolts.

Empress, do you respect Chen Xuan?

That peerless empress, whom even the Lingxiao headquarters received with the highest honors, and one of the world's strongest warriors, actually respected Chen Xuan.

"This is outrageous..."

Someone slumped in a chair, muttering to themselves.

Compared to that, the deaths of Yue Qingyi and Su Yanhan seem like minor incidents.

The death of the Holy Maiden of Lingyuan Sect is troublesome, but Lingxiao can still find a way to mediate.

But what if the Empress really is Chen Xuan's Daoist partner...?

Then the nature of this matter is completely different.

"The Lingyuan Sect will not let this go."

A middle-aged man dressed in black said in a deep voice, "Yue Qingyi is their saintess. She's dead just like that. They'll definitely demand an explanation."

The old man nodded.

"really."

He said slowly, "Lingyuan Sect is, after all, an ancient sect with profound foundations."

"Although they are currently limited by the constraints of nature and can only unleash the full power of a Golden Core cultivator, once these restrictions are lifted..."

He didn't continue, but everyone understood what he meant.

Once the restrictions of heaven and earth are lifted, the elders of the Lingyuan Sect who have been in seclusion for a thousand years will be able to reach the Nascent Soul stage in an instant.

Even with the Empress's support, Chen Xuan might not be able to withstand the pressure.

"So, we have to do something."

The old man continued, "At the very least, we can't let this matter escalate too much."

He paused, then looked at the crowd.

"I suggest that I ask Elder Lingxu, a high-ranking official, to intervene and negotiate with the Lingyuan Sect."

If he goes to negotiate, the Lingyuan Sect will at least give him some face.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

That is indeed a solution.

Seeing that no one objected, the old man prepared to turn and leave.

But just then—

"etc!"

A voice suddenly rang out.

Everyone turned to look, and it was An Changmin who was speaking.

He was staring at the communication jade slip in his hand, his expression strange, as if he had seen something incredible.

"No need to go."

An Changmin said slowly.

"What?"

The old Taoist priest frowned. "Why don't you need to go?"

"because......."

An Changmin raised his head, looked at everyone, swallowed hard, and said with difficulty, "The Empress... is gone."

"Gone?" The old man was taken aback. "Where did they go?"

"Lingyuan Sect".

An Changmin's voice trembled slightly, "After leaving Xianyun Temple, the Empress did not return to the Southern Frontier first, but went directly to Lingyuan Sect."

He paused, then continued:

"Right now, she's blocking the entrance to the Lingyuan Sect."

"What did she say... that the Lingyuan Sect threatened her Daoist partner and that she's here to collect a debt?"

The moment the words fell—

The entire hall was deathly silent.

Everyone's expression changed.

Some people were shocked.

Some people are afraid.

Some people are...excited.

"The Empress... blocked the gates of the Lingyuan Sect?"

Someone muttered to themselves, their voice filled with disbelief.

The usually aloof Empress not only publicly acknowledged Chen Xuan as her Daoist partner, but also went to block the gate of Lingyuan Sect without saying a word for him.

"No, she's not crazy."

The old man spoke slowly, a complex light flashing in his eyes, "She's just telling everyone—"

"Chen Xuan is her Daoist partner."

"Whoever touches Chen Xuan is touching her."

After he finished speaking, he let out a long sigh.

"This has really blown up."

Everyone in the hall fell silent.

They looked at each other, at Cang Laodao, at An Changmin, at Ye Li and Lin Xiaoman.

Then, they realized something—

Even if Chen Xuan had no strength, with his identity and background alone, he would be someone who could do whatever he wanted in the Divine Continent!

"Speaking of which, aren't you concerned about the situation at Lingyuan Sect? The Empress is still blocking the gate!"

An Changmin suddenly spoke, and for some reason, his words contained a mixture of excitement, agitation, and schadenfreude.