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

Thus, led by several respected senior officials, a group of worried civil and military officials, guided by eunuchs, hurriedly went to the side hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Even before reaching the door, a faint, mouthwatering aroma of food wafted through the air.

Everyone found it even more absurd. What time is it? Are they really cooking?

They went to the small kitchen window and, through the half-open pane, witnessed a scene they would never forget, a scene that would leave them utterly astonished—

Inside the smoke-filled small kitchen, their Empress, Wu Minghuang, had shed her majestic black robes and phoenix crown, wearing only a simple plain dress with her sleeves rolled up, revealing a section of her fair arm.

She was standing in front of the stove, her movements a little clumsy but extremely serious as she stir-fried the dishes in the pot.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his cheeks were slightly red from the firelight.

In the corner of the kitchen, on a simple bamboo chair, sat the old man in blue robes who held absolute power outside the Iron Wall Pass and was revered as a god by countless soldiers.

Chen Xiang was leaning back lazily, holding an unknown ancient book in his hand, glancing at it idly.

What made the ministers' eyes nearly pop out was that, between stir-frying, their Empress actually picked up a palm-leaf fan, gently walked to Chen Xiang's side, and fanned him to dispel the slight heat in the kitchen.

That posture, that expression, where is there even a trace of the majesty of an empress ruling the world?

She was clearly a young woman who served her teachers and elders, even with a hint of being cautious and ingratiating!

"Holy Master, the food will be ready soon, please wait a little longer."

Wu Minghuang's voice came through, gentle and mild, completely different from the ruthless, cold, and authoritative voice she used in the court.

Chen Xiang hummed in response, without even lifting his eyelids, and continued reading the scroll in his hands.

The officials outside the window were all stunned, their minds blank.

What did they see?

Their ruthless and indomitable Empress, who even defeated the Immortal Sect...

Is she cooking and fanning a man...? Serving him tea?

Has the world gone mad?!

Just as everyone was stunned and didn't know what to do, Chen Xiang in the kitchen seemed to have sensed something, slowly closed his book, and casually glanced out the window.

That gaze, calm and undisturbed, instantly plunged all the ministers peeping outside the window into an ice cellar, their bodies stiffening and even their breaths stopping!

"It seems we have guests," Chen Xiang said calmly.

Wu Minghuang also turned around and looked out the window. Seeing those familiar faces filled with shock and confusion, her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she instantly regained her usual cold and dignified demeanor.

"What are you all doing here? Is the court assembly over?"

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."

The veteran officials snapped out of their daze, hurriedly straightened their clothes, but didn't know how to start the conversation.

Could it be that "we came to ask you to discuss how to deal with the threat from the Immortal Sect, but found you cooking for a man"?

Chen Xiang seemed to see through their thoughts. He put down his book, stood up, and walked to the window.

He looked out the window at the civil and military officials who looked anxious and fearful, and then looked up at the sky above the imperial city.

Those subtle auras, emanating from afar and filled with malice and threat, curled into a faint yet chilling smile at the corner of his lips.

These top-tier commodities have sent representatives.

Chen Xiang's words, "Let their masters come in person," were like sparks thrown into boiling oil, instantly igniting the already impatient top immortal sects.

Within a few days, the weather above the Imperial City of Tianfeng changed dramatically.

Powerful auras, some majestic, some cold, some domineering, and some ethereal, descended like swords from the heavens, locking onto the imperial city from afar.

Although it did not descend directly due to certain concerns, the invisible pressure had already made the people in the city terrified, and the cultivators with lower cultivation levels even had difficulty breathing.

On this day, ripples appeared in the air outside the main gate of the imperial city, "Chengtianmen".

Seven figures appeared out of thin air, ignoring the restrictions of the imperial city, and stood suspended in mid-air.

The three leaders possessed extraordinary bearing and exuded the most imposing aura.

The man on the left, dressed in a purple-gold Taoist robe embroidered with nine layers of cloud patterns, with an ancient and simple face and a disdainful look in his eyes, is none other than the envoy sent by the Nine Heavens Immortal Sect this time, the "Yunya True Man" with the cultivation of the Nascent Soul Great Perfection.

He held a scroll of purple-gold jade in his hand, and his voice, as resounding as a great bell, echoed throughout the imperial city:

"By the decree of the True Lord of the Nine Heavens!"

"Empress Wu Minghuang of the Heavenly Wind, and that madman who sheltered the rebel, immediately leave the city and kneel to receive the imperial decree!"

"If you remain obstinate, when my immortal army presses in, you will be annihilated, and the imperial city reduced to dust!"

The man in the middle, shrouded in black robes, with lightning crackling around him, was the Deputy Hall Master of the Punishment Hall of the Myriad Laws Heavenly Palace, also a Nascent Soul Great Perfection cultivator, known as the "Thunder Punishment Venerable."

His voice was like rolling thunder, carrying a strong aura of killing intent:

"Decree from the Heavenly Palace of Myriad Laws: Traitor Wu Minghuang, commit suicide immediately to atone for your sins!"

"That madman in green robes bound his own cultivation and went to the Heavenly Palace to receive the 'Ten Thousand Tribulations Thunder Punishment'!"

"The Heavenly Wind Dynasty must surrender all its national treasury reserves, mineral land deeds, and all boys and girls possessing spiritual roots, to be its slaves for eternity!"

"This is a final ultimatum. Failure to comply will result in the extinction of the nation and the extinction of the race!"

The person on the right, dressed in a five-colored robe, seemed to contain the birth and death of the five elements in his aura. He was the Five Elements Sect elder, "Master Five Elements," and also a Nascent Soul cultivator at the Great Perfection stage.

His tone was relatively calm, yet carried an undeniable arrogance:

"The Five Elements Sect, mindful of the difficulty of your cultivation, will make an exception for you."

"If the Empress abdicates, that madman will hand over the cultivation techniques and secret arts he has practiced, and the Tianfeng Dynasty will be reduced to a 'lower-class vassal state,' paying tribute every year and coming to court every year. In addition, it will cede the three eastern states and the mineral veins of the southern border. This matter may be resolved."

Behind the three were four other Nascent Soul cultivators from other sects, some sneering, some indifferent, and some with greedy eyes.

They looked down at the mortal city below, which they considered to be easily destroyed, as if it were a lamb to the slaughter.

Seven Nascent Soul cultivators!

Three of them were even at the late Nascent Soul stage!

This power is enough to easily sweep away any so-called "powerful country" in the mortal world, and even enough to make some small and medium-sized immortal sects bow down!

Inside the imperial city, whether ordinary people, civil and military officials, or even some low-level cultivators, everyone was pale and trembling with fear.

The palpable pressure, the undisguised killing intent and contempt, made them truly feel the difference between immortals and mortals, and the sorrow of being "like ants".

On the Chengtian Gate tower, Wu Minghuang, dressed in military uniform, held a phoenix-feathered spear, her face cold and her eyes resolute.

Behind her were the remaining elite Tianfeng Guards, still standing tall despite their injuries, and a few loyal generals.

However, facing those seven god-like figures in the air, even she felt a heavy sense of powerlessness. She could fight, and dared to fight, but the gap was too great.

"Your Majesty, we..."

The adjutant beside him trembled.

Wu Minghuang gripped her spear tightly, about to speak, preparing for a final, desperate battle.

Just then, a calm, almost languid voice drifted from the depths of the palace, clearly drowning out the rolling thunder and majestic pronouncements in the air:

"It's so noisy."

The sound wasn't loud, but it seemed to carry some kind of magic, causing the oppressive aura of the seven Nascent Soul cultivators in the air to momentarily falter.

All eyes immediately turned to the source of the sound.

A figure in a green robe appeared silently on the highest eaves of Chengtian Gate.

He remained as relaxed as ever, as if he had just woken up, and gently covered his mouth with the back of his hand, letting out a small yawn.

It was Chen Xiang.

"So you're the one who sheltered that rebellious madman?"

Master Yunya's gaze was sharp as a sword, locking onto Chen Xiang. He swept his divine sense over him, but it was like a mud ox sinking into the sea. He felt a slight chill in his heart, but his face remained dignified.

"Having seen the envoy from the superior sect, why don't you kneel down and accept your punishment?"

The Thunder Punishment Venerable's body crackled with even more lightning as he roared, "Playing tricks! I'll ask you one last time: will you bind yourself and accept your punishment, or will I personally extract your soul and refine it into a thunder pool to suffer eternal torment?!"

Master Wuxing frowned and said, "Fellow Daoist, cultivation is not easy. Why be buried with this mortal dynasty? Hand over your cultivation techniques, retreat from the world, and you will still have a glimmer of hope."

Although they were surprised and puzzled by Chen Xiang's silent appearance, they remained confident and arrogant, relying on their superior numbers, high cultivation, and the support of a Nascent Soul Ancestor.

Chen Xiang rubbed his temples, as if he was genuinely annoyed by their noise.

"Are you done talking?"

He raised his eyes, his gaze calmly sweeping over the seven people in the air, as if he were looking at seven noisy sparrows.

"That's all, then..."

He paused for a moment, then took a step forward.

This step is taken in the void.