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

Southern Xinjiang, Phoenix Terrace.

This is a huge palace suspended above the Hundred Thousand Mountains. It is made entirely of red-gold phoenix wood, with wind chimes hanging from the eaves. When the wind blows, they tinkle and ring out, clear and melodious.

Deep within the palace, in a spacious council chamber.

Wu Minghuang sat in the main seat, wearing a simple crimson-gold battle robe. Her long hair was simply tied up with a phoenix hairpin, and her face was without any makeup, yet she was still breathtakingly beautiful.

But those eyes were as cold as ice, making the temperature in the entire council hall drop several degrees.

Below, a woman in silver armor with a cold expression knelt on one knee; it was Shangguan Wan'er.

She was holding a jade slip in her hands, and the light projected onto the jade slip was the very text "Phoenix Nirvana".

She has already watched it three times.

But every time I see it, I still find it unbelievable.

"Your Majesty..." Shangguan Wan'er raised her head, cautiously looking at Wu Minghuang, "This autobiography, Your Majesty..."

"It's true."

Wu Minghuang interrupted her, her voice calm.

"But Your Majesty..."

Shangguan Wan'er opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found that she couldn't say anything.

She couldn't reconcile the dignified and aloof empress before her with the spoiled and arrogant fifteen-year-old girl in her autobiography who was whipped with a bamboo pole until her tears streamed down her face.

The difference is too big.

"What's wrong?"

Wu Minghuang glanced at her, her eyes devoid of any emotion. "You think I shouldn't have been that kind of person before?"

"No, Your Majesty... It's not Your Majesty..."

Shangguan Wan'er quickly lowered her head, "I was just a little surprised."

"Accident?"

Wu Minghuang's lips curled into a faint smile. "I was surprised too."

She paused, then continued:

"If I hadn't met him back then, I probably would have continued to be so arrogant."

"In the end, they will either die in some unknown corner, or be usurped by some ambitious minister, or become a tool for political marriage like other princesses of the dynasty."

She spoke calmly, as if stating something unrelated to herself.

But Shangguan Wan'er was terrified when she heard this.

She has been with the Empress for over three hundred years, and has been her most trusted minister ever since the Empress was a princess.

She knew how many hardships the Empress had endured, how much blood the Empress had stained her hands with, and how many times the Empress had teetered on the brink of life and death.

But she never imagined that the Empress's past would begin like this.

"alright."

Wu Minghuang waved her hand. "Now, let's get down to business."

Her expression turned serious again.

"The demon clan of Southern Xinjiang was wiped out. How are they being handled afterward?"

Shangguan Wan'er put away the jade slip, and her expression returned to its usual calm.

"Your Majesty, the main force of the demon race has been annihilated, and the remaining remnants have fled to the deep mountains and forests. They dare not cause trouble again for the time being."

"But the problem is that we don't have enough manpower."

She paused, then continued:

"The southern border covers an area of ​​three thousand li, with twelve cities, more than three hundred villages and towns, and a total population of over two million."

"The Tianfeng Army we brought this time only has 50,000 men, and they are already stretched thin as they are scattered and stationed in various places."

"Moreover, the terrain in the southern border region is complex, with many mountains and forests. If the remnants of the demon race break into smaller groups and harass others, it will be difficult for us to react in a short period of time."

"If something happens in any place, we won't be able to resolve it quickly."

Wu Minghuang frowned slightly.

"What did Lingxiao say?"

"Lingxiao originally agreed to send cultivators to assist in the defense, but Your Majesty..."

Shangguan Wan'er hesitated for a moment, "It seems there are some problems within Lingxiao, and it will take time to mobilize manpower."

"how long?"

"At least three months."

"Three months?"

Wu Minghuang sneered, "Three months from now, the Southern Frontier will be in complete chaos."

"Is there any other way?"

"Originally, Your Majesty..."

Shangguan Wan'er lowered her voice, "It's to have Lingyuan Sect stationed here."

"Lingyuan Sect?" Wu Minghuang's eyes turned cold.

"Yes."

Shangguan Wan'er forced a smile and said, "Lingyuan Sect is an ancient sect with a profound foundation and many Golden Core cultivators. If we send them to guard the Southern Frontier, they should be able to stabilize the situation."

"Moreover, the Lingxiao headquarters also favors this plan."

Wu Minghuang remained silent.

She knew perfectly well why Lingxiao favored this plan—Lingyuan Sect was an ancient and powerful sect with a rich foundation. Sending them to guard the southern border would not only stabilize the situation but also do Lingyuan Sect a favor.

Kill two birds with one stone.

but.

"No."

Wu Minghuang spoke slowly, her voice carrying an undeniable determination.

"Your Majesty?" Shangguan Wan'er was taken aback.

"The Lingyuan Sect is corrupt in its intentions, and its foundation is flawed."

Wu Minghuang stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the continuous mountain range outside. "Let them garrison the Southern Frontier. The Southern Frontier will be lost sooner or later."

She paused, then continued:

"And I have already destroyed the Lingyuan Sect."

Shangguan Wan'er: "........."

She then remembered that just a few hours earlier, the Empress had blocked the gates of the Lingyuan Sect, killed five half-step Nascent Soul elders with a single palm strike, and wiped out the entire Lingyuan Sect.

Sending a sect that has already been destroyed to guard His Majesty's southern border...

That's really not realistic.

"So what do we do now?" Shangguan Wan'er asked.

Wu Minghuang turned around and looked at her.

"Order the Heavenly Wind Army to select elite troops and form ten rapid reaction forces, each with a thousand men, led by Foundation Establishment cultivators."

"Issue orders to all cities in the southern border region to organize militias and strengthen city defenses. Report any traces of demons immediately."

"Finally, Your Majesty..."

She paused for a moment, then said, "Send an order to Lingxiao, instructing them to mobilize cultivators to assist in the defense within a month."

"A month?"

Shangguan Wan'er's expression changed. "Your Majesty, isn't this too hasty?"

"urgent?"

Wu Minghuang sneered, "If they're in a hurry, then let them negotiate with the demon race themselves."

"Tell them that if they don't come within a month, I will not defend the southern border."

"Let them clean up this mess themselves."

Shangguan Wan'er: "......."

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found that she couldn't say anything.

She knew that the Empress was truly angry.

Because of Lingxiao's hesitation, because of Lingyuan Sect's greed, and because of that man named Chen Xuan.

"Yes." In the end, she could only bow and accept the order.

"There's one more thing," Wu Minghuang called out to her.

"Your Majesty, please give your orders."

"Send someone to Qingzhou City to keep an eye on Chen Xuan."

Shangguan Wan'er was stunned.

"His Majesty......."

"Don't bother him, and don't get close to him."

Wu Minghuang said slowly, "Just keep an eye on him from a distance and make sure he's safe."

"If he gets into any trouble..."

Her voice gradually turned cold.

Tell me right now.

"I will handle it personally."

Most importantly, even with the facts laid bare, she still believed in her heart that Chen Xuan was the Holy Master!