Deep within the Empress's bedchamber in the Qingxuan Dynasty.
Unlike the magnificent, solemn, and majestic Imperial Palace the outside world imagined, this place was extremely elegant and secluded.
The ceiling was high and distant, using a Formation to simulate a deep starry sky, with bits of starlight falling softly.
The floor was paved with warm Spiritual Jade, polished so brightly it could reflect a person, yet without any sense of cold hardness.
In the center stood a tea table carved from ten-thousand-year-old warm jade, accompanied by two prayer mats.
Empress Qing Xuan and Gu Han sat opposite each other.
On the table, a small purple clay stove was boiling spring water, making a faint "gurgle" sound. The steam curled up, carrying the unique crisp scent of snow-capped mountains.
Two jade cups, thin as cicada wings and transparently moist, were placed quietly to the side.
The environment was quiet, and Spiritual Qi filled the air.
However, at this moment, within this silence, there was an indescribable subtlety.
Empress Qing Xuan personally poured the tea.
Her slender jade fingers lifted the purple clay teapot, and a stream of tea soup with a faint luster fell precisely into the two jade cups.
In an instant, a fresh fragrance permeated the air.
"The Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Soul Spirit Tea Tree sprouts once every thousand years, yielding only nine tender leaves at a time."
Empress Qing Xuan pushed one of the cups toward Gu Han, her voice ethereal, and a faint smile on her peerless face.
"Palace Master Gu, please."
"The Empress is most thoughtful."
Gu Han nodded slightly in thanks, picked up the jade cup, and took a shallow sip.
As the tea soup entered her throat, it was initially icy cold, then transformed into a warm current that reached her four limbs and hundred bones. Furthermore, a sense of spiritual clarity rushed into her Sea of Consciousness.
Although it couldn't compare to her own enlightenment tea tree, it was indeed a rare and good thing.
"Excellent tea."
Gu Han put down the teacup, offered a word of praise, and looked calmly at the person opposite her.
"The Empress invited me here, surely not just for tea tasting?"
Empress Qing Xuan also took a sip of tea. Hearing this, her beautiful eyes fixed on Gu Han, and she gave a soft laugh.
"Palace Master Gu is a straightforward person, so this Empress will speak plainly."
"Firstly, regarding today's events, it was the Ye Family and the Azure Dragon Guard who were ignorant of the heights of heaven, and it was also due to this Empress's lax management."
Gu Han nodded slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
The other party's attitude was excellent, so she couldn't say much more.
"As for the second matter..."
Empress Qing Xuan's tone shifted slightly, her gaze lingering on Gu Han with undisguised scrutiny and curiosity.
"This Empress is... truly very curious about Palace Master Gu."
"This Empress has governed the Eastern Region for thirty-five thousand years. While I wouldn't dare claim to know every secret of this Realm, I have heard of most top figures and hidden orthodoxies."
Empress Qing Xuan looked directly at Gu Han and continued,
"In the Southern Region, ever since that 'Star River Sword Venerable' left this Realm to seek the immortal path twenty thousand years ago, no new Ascension Realm cultivator has been born."
"But as for you, Palace Master Gu,"
Her tone took on a hint of profound meaning.
"Although this Empress cannot precisely judge your bone age, the feeling you give me is not like someone who has lived for tens of thousands of years."
"It is more like... rising rapidly in a short period of time..."
"And in the Canglan Continent, there is no Opportunity that allows someone to Breakthrough to the Ascension Realm in such a short time."
Empress Qing Xuan leaned forward slightly, her gaze seemingly able to penetrate the human heart.
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