Ch. 34 - The Grand Empress

Everyone was stunned by the scene before them. The smooth crystal slowly dissipated, and from within emerged a shadowy figure.

This shadow seemed to traverse the heavens and earth, cutting across time and the river of fate.

All fell silent, utterly still. The immense imperial might swept across the entire Primordial Heartlands.

At that moment, whether ancient overlords who had cultivated for countless years or peerless geniuses with unmatched talent, they were all shocked by this overwhelming aura, their gazes instinctively drawn toward the direction of the True Martial Sacred Ground.

“It’s the Grand Empress!” someone shouted, and all members of the sect immediately dropped to their knees, reverently gazing up at the figure in the sky.

Endless radiance poured from the shadow, shrouded in a mist that concealed the Empress’s face. No one could see her clearly.

One of the inner court elders swallowed hard and exclaimed, “The Empress’s successor, she’s the one the Empress has chosen!”

The shadow glanced back at this world. Time and space seemed to freeze as it transformed into a beam of silver light, shooting straight into Baili Xiao’s body with an unstoppable momentum.

Then everyone heard a loud explosion, BOOM, and the inheritance crystal shattered.

A complete skeleton flew out from within. It radiated a silvery glow, surrounded by beams of lunar light.

“The Soaring Immortal Physique!” a shocked elder cried out. “It’s the Grand Empress’s Soaring Immortal Physique! She didn’t take it with her when she ascended, she left it behind!”

Everyone gasped in disbelief.

Those in the know understood just how enormous this opportunity was.

The Soaring Immortal Physique, ranked 7th among the Hundred Battle Physiques, was known as the ultimate physique for speed.

Among the four emperors of the True Martial Sacred Ground, only the Grand Empress had obtained the Soaring Immortal Physique. Grand Emperor Zhen Wu had acquired the 15th-ranked True Martial Sword Physique.

The other two emperors, despite bearing Heaven’s Will, never acquired any physique.

No one had expected that Empress Hongtian would leave her legendary physique behind.

The Soaring Immortal Physique fused into Baili Xiao’s body, and she collapsed to the ground, crying out in pain. Xu Zimo understood that pain, it was the agony of having one’s entire body reconstructed.

Elder Xiao Yuexuan quickly descended from the air to encourage her.

“Xiao’er, hold on. This is your chance to change your destiny. You must endure it,” she said.

Under everyone’s anxious gazes, Baili Xiao gradually calmed down. She sat cross-legged, suppressed her spiritual energy, and slowly exhaled.

“Aunt,” Baili Xiao greeted as soon as she saw Xiao Yuexuan.

“You child, truly blessed,” Xiao Yuexuan said with satisfaction. “You’ve inherited the Empress’s legacy and fused with the Soaring Immortal Physique. In this life, you’re qualified to contend for the Heaven’s Will.”

“I’ll work hard, I won’t disappoint you,” Baili Xiao nodded solemnly.

The entrance trials for new disciples had ended, and Baili Xiao had become the sole protagonist of the entire event.

Xu Zimo was now officially considered an outer court disciple of the True Martial Sacred Ground. According to sect rules, all outer disciples were required to complete three sect missions every month.

The sect had a Missions Chamber, where disciples accepted and submitted missions.

Xu Zimo didn’t concern himself with how much shock the trial had caused within the sect. He simply brought Lin Ruhu along to the Missions Chamber.

Whether accepting or completing missions, all transactions happened at the Missions Chamber. So when Xu Zimo arrived, the place was, as usual, extremely crowded.

Calling it a bustling marketplace wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

A long line stretched at the task counter. Xu Zimo couldn’t be bothered to wait, so he walked straight to the front.

A disciple was already at the counter, trying to accept a mission.

Smiling, he said to the senior brother manning the counter, “Senior Brother, I’d like to take a mission.”

“What’s your cultivation level?” the youth behind the counter asked without looking up.

“Fifth Stage of the Spirit Meridian Realm,” the disciple answered quickly.

“At Spirit Meridian Realm, you can only take Level 5 missions,” the youth replied indifferently, tossing out a wooden token.

The outer court disciple caught the token and read the details on it. His face changed, and he forced a smile, “Senior Brother, could I maybe switch to another Level 5 mission?”

Tasks in the Missions Chamber varied, slaying beasts, eliminating bandits, escorting caravans, mining rare ores.

Some were issued by sect elders, others by outsiders. As long as there was a spirit crystal reward and the task didn’t harm others, it could be posted.

Thus, even among the same level of missions, some were easier and others more difficult.

The one he received involved slaying a beast.

The youth behind the counter frowned and scolded, “You want to pick and choose? If I give all the easy tasks to people like you, who’s going to do the rest?”

The outer disciple shrank back, not daring to speak further.

These task distributors held real power. If they were offended, they could assign you the hardest missions every time, and you’d have no recourse.

Xu Zimo patted the outer disciple on the shoulder with a smile.

“Hey bro, mind if I cut in line?”

“Who are you?” the outer disciple scowled.

Because Xu Zimo usually lived on South Goose Mountain, many inner and outer disciples weren’t familiar with him.

Before Xu Zimo could answer, another disciple from behind suddenly kicked the outer disciple to the ground.

“Open your dog eyes and take a good look. This is the son of our Vice-Lord, Senior Brother Xu Zimo! If he cuts in front of you, it’s because he likes you. Don’t be ungrateful!”

The outer disciple’s face changed drastically. He quickly apologized and scurried off.

Xu Zimo glanced at the disciple who had spoken for him and asked with a smile, “What’s your name?”

“I’m Zhang Guilin, Senior Brother. You can call me Little Gui,” the disciple replied respectfully.

“Not bad, Little Gui. Stick with me from now on,” Xu Zimo chuckled.

Although he didn’t particularly like bootlickers, it never hurt to have a lackey around to deal with trivial matters.

“Thank you, Senior Brother, for granting me the honor of serving at your side,” Zhang Guilin grinned. “You may not know this, but I’ve admired you for a long time, like a river flowing endlessly, like the Yellow River flooding uncontrollably.”

Then he slammed his hand on the counter and shouted at the task distributor, “What the hell are you dawdling for? Senior Brother Xu is here to accept a mission, get out the good ones!”

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