Immediately following, a strange spatial fluctuation quietly rippled through the meditation room in front of her.
It was not a grand commotion, but rather like the gentle swaying of water ripples, carrying a supreme rhythm of laws.
With Gu Han's Ascension Realm cultivation and her keen perception of space, she could clearly "see" it.
The Void Realm before her was quietly torn open by an invisible, mighty force, creating a narrow rift.
Beyond the rift lay a hazy stretch of Chaos, as if connecting to some unknown dimension or space-time.
A blurred figure, being pulled by an invisible force, slowly emerged from that Chaos, moving toward the real world.
This process was extremely brief.
In but an instant, the spatial ripples settled, and a figure stood solidly before Gu Han.
The newcomer was dressed in snow-white robes, completely spotless.
Her figure was tall and upright; even standing still, she was like a peerless divine weapon about to be unsheathed, carrying an aloof, cold, and piercingly sharp Aura.
Her face was extremely beautiful, yet not soft or charming; instead, it was as if carved from ice and snow, with a lingering indifference and detachment within her brows.
Her eyes were clear and bright, the corners slightly upturned, and as her gaze shifted, it seemed as if thousands of strands of Sword Intent were hidden within.
Her long black hair was partially tied up with a simple white jade hairpin, while the rest cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall.
Most striking was the sheathed longsword she held in her arms.
The scabbard was simple and unadorned, yet it possessed a heavy, profound Dao rhythm that faintly echoed her cold temperament.
Gu Han's gaze fell upon her face, and a flicker of surprise flashed in her eyes.
This face, this temperament... it actually bore a striking resemblance to that Snow Moon Sword Immortal, Li Hanyi, from a certain Anime in the memories of her past life!
In particular, that aloof, transcendent, and frost-cold Aura was almost identical.
Except that the person before her was real, and her cultivation was impressively at—Undergoing Tribulation Nine Heavens!
Such cultivation, even if placed in the Canglan Continent, would definitely be a top-tier existence capable of shaking the world with a single step.
At this moment, this white-robed female Sword Cultivator seemed to have just been awakened from some sort of slumber or special state.
Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and those eyes, brimming with Sword Intent, slowly opened.
At first, there was a trace of confusion, but almost the instant she saw her surroundings and sensed Gu Han's presence, the confusion vanished, replaced by extreme vigilance and scrutiny!
A vast, boundless, and incomparably sharp Sword Intent soared from her body!
The air in the meditation room seemed to freeze instantly, the temperature plummeted, and invisible Sword Qi filled every inch of space, emitting a faint humming sound.
She tightened her grip on the sword in her hand, her gaze like lightning as she locked onto the unfathomable Gu Han on the Cloud Bed.
"Who are you? And where is this?"
Her voice was cold and pleasant, like ice and jade striking each other, yet it carried an unquestionable tone of inquiry and wariness.
Facing this terrifyingly sharp and chilling Sword Intent, Gu Han's expression did not change in the slightest.
She merely looked up calmly, meeting those vigilant eyes.
An even more vast, more ethereal invisible pressure, as if as high as the heavens and earth, silently spread out.
There was no clashing Sword Qi, nor any deliberately activated spiritual power.
It was simply a natural suppression brought about by an absolute difference in life level and Realm.
The white-robed female Sword Cultivator's soaring Sword Intent quickly dissolved and retracted under this silent pressure.
Her heart was profoundly shaken!
The pressure brought upon her by the silver-haired woman before her was actually so terrifying!
"I am Gu Han."
Gu Han spoke, her voice still calm but carrying an unquestionable majesty that echoed clearly in the hall,
"This place is the Yaochi Immortal Palace."
"Since you have come here, it is fate. From this day forward, you shall be the Grand Elder of the Yaochi Immortal Palace."
"Yaochi Immortal Palace... Grand Elder?"
The white-robed female Sword Cultivator frowned slightly, clearly confused by this unfamiliar Sect and the sudden appointment.
But in the dark, she could feel that between herself and this unfathomable Palace Master,
there existed a faint but solid connection.
This connection was not a forced slavery contract, but more like a subordinate relationship based on the recognition of rules.
She fell silent for a moment, seemingly digesting this massive amount of information and weighing her options.
Eventually, she retracted all her outward Sword Intent and Aura, though that cold detachment that warned others away still remained.
Holding her sword, she nodded slightly, and her cold voice rang out again:
"I am called... Li Hanyi."
Upon hearing this, a flicker of a smile crossed Gu Han's eyes; as expected.
"Li Hanyi... a good name."
She nodded slightly in acknowledgment,
"Elder Hanyi, the Immortal Palace has just been established, and everything is waiting to be done."
"Since you are the Grand Elder, you will need to put in much effort regarding the teaching of Sect Disciples and the handling of external affairs in the future."
"It is my duty; I shall do my best."
Her answer was concise and direct; even when facing Gu Han, whose cultivation was far higher than her own, she did not show humility or fear.
She still maintained that aloofness and adherence to principle characteristic of a peerless Sword Cultivator.
This Heart-Nature and bearing made Gu Han even more satisfied.
A submissive Undergoing Tribulation Nine Heavens expert was far less useful than a Sword Cultivator who maintained their original heart and clear principles.
"Very well."
Gu Han raised her hand and sent a streak of spiritual light into Li Hanyi's forehead,
"These are the Sect rules and regulations of the Immortal Palace, as well as basic information about this continent. Familiarize yourself with them first."
Li Hanyi closed her eyes, quietly receiving the information, her ice-like face showing little emotion.
Only her slightly trembling long eyelashes betrayed the lack of calm within her heart.
A moment later, she opened her eyes again, the vigilance mostly gone, replaced by a deeper sense of confusion.
"Yaochi Immortal Palace... Canglan Continent... Five Regions..."
She repeated in a low voice, her brow furrowed slightly,
"I... seem to have no impression of these things."
She raised her hand, looking at her well-defined fingers, and then at the longsword that seemed connected to her Bloodline.
"I only remember... my name is Li Hanyi."
"I remember this sword. I remember some insights into the Dao of the sword. Beyond that..."
She shook her head, a trace of almost imperceptible confusion and emptiness leaking into her cold voice.
Gu Han looked at the Sword Immortal before her, who possessed an aloof temperament yet showed a hint of fragility due to her missing memories, and understood.
Characters summoned by the System did not seem to fully carry the memories of their original worlds.
They were more like a "new life" or a "projection" in a sense.
She rose from the Cloud Bed and walked slowly to stand before Li Hanyi.
The two were of similar height, and Gu Han's silver hair formed a sharp contrast with Li Hanyi's ink-black tresses.
"Do not worry."
Gu Han's voice softened a bit, losing some of the majesty of a Palace Master and gaining a touch of reassurance,
"Since you have come here, the Yaochi Immortal Palace is your home, and everyone here is your fellow Sect member."
She reached out, not in her capacity as Palace Master, but with a peaceful kindness, and gently took hold of Li Hanyi's slightly cool wrist.
"Come, sit and talk."
Li Hanyi's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.
She had a cold nature and was not used to being close to people; even a simple touch like this was a rarity for her.
But the warmth coming from Gu Han's hand strangely smoothed over her instinctive urge to pull away.
Following Gu Han's lead, she sat down on a futon conjured from spiritual power, the longsword still held securely in her arms.
Gu Han also sat back on the Cloud Bed, her posture more relaxed as she continued:
"The path of cultivating immortality and seeking the Dao is long; the past is like drifting smoke, but the future can be anticipated."
"Hanyi, you only need to remember that from now on, you are the Grand Elder of the Yaochi Immortal Palace and family recognized by me, Gu Han."
"Family..."
Li Hanyi repeated the word in a low voice, her fingertips unconsciously brushing against the cold scabbard.
This word was strange and distant to her, yet strangely, it did not make her feel repelled.
The kindness and acceptance conveyed in Gu Han's words and attitude were like a trickling stream, moistening her heart, which had become somewhat cold and lonely due to the blank space in her memories.
She looked up at Gu Han.
In those eyes, clear as cold stars, the ice seemed to show signs of melting.
She nodded gently, and although she still said nothing, the aloofness that warned others away had clearly faded quite a bit.
"Let us go,"
Seeing this, Gu Han smiled slightly and stood up again,
"I will take you to meet the other two current members of the Immortal Palace, who can be considered your... Junior Disciples."
Li Hanyi hesitated for a moment, then stood up with her sword and silently followed behind Gu Han.
One after the other, they crossed the grand but empty plaza in front of the Main Hall and walked toward the banks of Yaochi Lake.