Cultivation: Starting from a Mortal Bone

"Steady your mind, do not let it be affected."

The Empress’s words were concise and forceful. As she finished, she gently swept her sleeve, and a gentle yet irresistible force instantly enveloped Qin Yu.

In the next instant, Qin Yu felt his body rise into the air. There was no howling of fierce winds by his ears, only the scenery before his eyes retreating rapidly like an unfurling scroll, every frame vanishing in a blink.

In just a single breath, he found himself outside the Imperial Capital. The majesty of the city walls and the bustle of the markets were left far behind.

This speed was indeed even faster than the Phoenix Carriage of the Empress Dowager.

"Eh?!"

At that very moment, within Jade Flower Palace, the Empress Dowager, who had been listless and plagued by worries, suddenly stood up, her eyes filled with confusion and puzzlement.

Why did the Tyrant return only to take Qin Yu away immediately?!

A cold, clear brilliance flickered in the Empress Dowager’s eyes.

It seemed His Majesty was neither angry, nor intended to punish Qin Yu.

Only then did she feel somewhat relieved.

After all, she was a responsible Empress Dowager—at worst, she’d just suffer another bout of scolding from the Tyrant.

In any case, she was long accustomed to it.

At her side, Little Ling’Er still slept soundly, but her brows were slightly furrowed.

So long as she was separated from Qin Yu, the two Dao Rhymes of ice and fire within her grew restless; the farther the distance and the longer the time, the more certain it was to relapse.

...

Qin Yu felt as if he was not traveling, but leaping through space.

If judging by the naked eye alone, it would be nearly impossible to make out the surroundings.

"Your Majesty, where are we heading?"

Qin Yu hesitated a moment, but still asked aloud.

The matter had come so suddenly.

Earlier, both the Sect Leader and Liu Zixiao had planned to attempt their Lotus Platform breakthroughs.

It seemed they would have to postpone for now.

"Purple Mist Hall."

Up ahead, the Empress’s voice drifted back, carrying a subtle, nearly indiscernible heaviness.

"Purple Mist Hall?"

It sounded like it was a place akin to Cyan Mist Hall.

However, facing the aloof and exalted Empress, since she gave no explanation, Qin Yu dared not inquire further.

Standing behind the Empress, Qin Yu couldn’t help but cast a glance forward.

From his vantage, he naturally caught the outline of the Empress’s unparalleled silhouette from behind.

Even clothed in the loose Dragon Robe, which radiated imperial majesty, it could not conceal the faint curves of her graceful figure. Especially those full, rounded hips—veiled by flowing robes, yet all the more inviting to the imagination.

Her dark hair cascaded like a river of stars, flowing down like azure clouds, giving this dignified back a hint of transcendent immortal charm.

Just this single glimpse of her back was enough to stir the heart, sending one’s thoughts adrift. And yet, one could not summon even a trace of profane intent.

With only a glance, Qin Yu quickly averted his gaze.

The Empress naturally sensed that look, yet as he had only looked for an instant before looking away, she could not tell if it was intentional or not.

Seeing no improper reaction from him,

The Empress did not pursue the matter.

She explained, "The Ancient Array of Purple Mist Hall has suffered a sudden calamity. At this moment, it nears destruction, utterly shattered."

"On the verge of destruction?"

Qin Yu’s pupils contracted at these words, a grave light flickering in his eyes.

He had once entered the Secret Realm of Cyan Mist Hall, and was well-acquainted with the terror of the Malice Spirits within.

If the Ancient Array fell, then it meant...

"When I sent the Flame Guard, the Hall Master of Purple Mist Hall had already perished..."

The Empress did not look back, yet seemed to see straight into Qin Yu’s thoughts. Her words paused, carrying an anger and suppression she could not fully conceal: "Not a single living thing survived within a hundred miles of Purple Mist City..."

At these words, Qin Yu shuddered uncontrollably, a sudden chill creeping into his heart.

No wonder the Empress had been so furious a few days ago.

So this was the reason!

The Empress’s speed was astonishing. By the first light of dawn, when only a line of pale white crested the horizon, a wasteland entirely cut off by layers of arrays and devoid of any vitality—the Death Domain—had already come into view.

The Empress did not pause, striding through the intricate arrays directly. Her figure became a ray of streaming light, shooting toward Purple Mist City.

Purple Mist City at this moment was a ruin, utterly unlike its former glory—a land of devastation and chaos.

From a distance, it looked like an abandoned, derelict ancient city. Amid the lifeless stillness, only the keening of wind sounded from time to time.

The once splendid city gates had long since been smashed and vanished without trace.

All within the city lay in wretched ruin, as if something massive had crushed everything beneath its weight. Broken walls and collapsed remnants strewed the area, while flagstone streets were riven with deep, yawning cracks.

The ancient trees standing on either side had shed their leaves and bark, their branches exposed—like dried, withered hands, appearing twisted and menacing.

And yet, throughout the entire city, not a single corpse could be seen—no doubt, this had already been dealt with.

Qin Yu followed in the Empress’s wake to the front of the shattered Hall Master’s Mansion.

This building, which once represented supreme authority, now had only a few broken columns left, trembling as they barely kept the roof from collapse. Surrounding it were layers of visible energy barriers, glimmering like dewdrops at dawn, swaying gently and emitting a mysterious, profound Dao Rhyme that spread slowly outward.

Through the Sealing Array, the scenes within could just be glimpsed: bands of black and crimson Malicious Qi intertwined, curling like venomous serpents beneath the night, nearly devouring the entirety of the sealed space, radiating a stifling, deeply unsettling air.

"Your Majesty, Tributor Qin!"

As soon as the two arrived, a silhouette seated cross-legged outside the City Lord’s Mansion immediately rose and bowed in salute.

It was one of the Flame Guard—Yan Lin.

As Qin Yu looked over, his gaze happened to meet Yan Lin’s.

This Flame Guard seemed quite curious about him too.

After all, he’d taken away their youngest, Yan Yu, right from under their noses.

Yan Lin likewise wore a mask, but the Flame Guard attire still accentuated her perfect figure, curvaceous and slim-waisted. It was not hard to imagine that beneath the mask lay a stunning face.

Yet at this moment Yan Lin’s aura seemed unsteady—it was clear that maintaining this array was taxing her greatly.

This made Qin Yu’s expression grow even more serious.

He had witnessed the Flame Guard’s strength firsthand; even the youngest Yan Yu had easily resolved the Ruins Rift crisis.

It spoke to just how dire matters here must be.

Could it be that the calamity in the region of Purple Mist Hall was connected to the masked assailants from the flying ship attack?

The Empress motioned for Yan Lin to withdraw, then turned to Qin Yu and asked, "Tributor Qin, do you have a method for dealing with the Malicious Qi here?"

The reason this place remained as it was, was only because the Empress had personally sealed all the rampaging Malicious Qi from a hundred miles around within these boundaries.

It was plain to see that if it lost control, the consequences would be far graver.

Qin Yu was, after all, only at the Golden Core Realm. Did he really possess the means to purify this Malicious Qi?!

"A mere Malicious Qi is no trouble."

Qin Yu had been waiting for this moment!

This was a rare chance to swiftly gain Flame Point, after all.