Chapter 508 - 305: Departing for Celestial Treasure Continent, A True Gentleman Watches in Silence, The Four Sages of the Confucian Temple

"This surge of Vast Righteous Qi... It seems Mu Xue has broken through her bottleneck."

Above the Imperial Palace, Lu Mingyuan and Sui Yuqing stood side-by-side, having stopped mid-air. He gazed toward the grand hall, where he saw Vast Righteous Qi pouring from Qi Muxue like a torrent of golden light.

"To break through two entire realms consecutively from the Ninth Realm... It seems the Empress has experienced a great deal these past days."

Sui Yuqing’s beautiful eyes shone brightly, and she looked down at Qi Muxue with a hint of indescribable envy.

Both Qi Cultivators and practitioners of the Confucian Dao were heavily dependent on epiphanies and one’s state of mind.

This was especially true for the Confucian Dao. As long as one could achieve an epiphany of the Dao or break free from their personal shackles, their future cultivation would undoubtedly be a smooth path forward.

Qi Muxue had clearly just passed that stage.

Before she was eighteen, she had already entered the Gentleman Realm.

She had spent several years in the Middle Fifth Grade, her cultivation stagnating, but now her bitterness had finally turned to sweet reward.

Even though Sui Yuqing’s realm was currently higher than Qi Muxue’s, it was hard to say who would be stronger in the future.

She didn’t know when she would be able to overcome the hurdle of her Heart Demon.

It could be a year, ten years, or even a hundred.

The most nightmarish possibility was that she might remain stuck at her current realm for the rest of her life.

While Sui Yuqing’s thoughts raced, Lu Mingyuan wasn’t thinking so deeply about it.

He stared at the Ritual Saint Jade Hairpin in Qi Muxue’s hand and quickly discerned the source of the phenomenon before him.

The Saint’s Destiny carried by the ancient Confucian Saint’s relic had allowed Qi Muxue to take this crucial step.

This was also why Qi Muxue was able to achieve a breakthrough without having to establish a new school of thought.

The Confucian Dao she inherited was both Li Sheng’s Tongtian Dao and Qi Xingyan’s Dao of ’Humble Scholars Soaring Like Dragons’.

She only needed to follow their paths to achieve extraordinary things in the future.

Lu Mingyuan was naturally happy from the bottom of his heart that Qi Muxue was able to break through to the Great Scholar realm.

He descended.

Soon, he landed at the entrance of the grand hall.

Lu Mingyuan smiled. "It seems your time as the Great Nether Empress has allowed you to think many things through."

Qi Muxue turned her head and saw him. With a grand wave of her hand, she absorbed the sky-filling Vast Righteous Qi back into her body, landed gently, and said:

"Yes. The Artifact Spirit of that Demon Artifact told me many things. In a way, you could say we were discussing the Dao."

"At the same time, I also learned many truths about the Holy Netherworld and the fundamental nature of this world. For the past month, I have been in seclusion in my chambers, and I’ve finally figured everything out."

Qi Muxue’s face no longer held its previous gentleness and sweetness. Instead, it showed a new seriousness and determination.

Ever since her father’s death, she had been in a daze, shutting herself in her room, melancholic and unhappy. She had even lost her title as the number one talent of the Imperial Capital to a newcomer.

As the saying goes, the new generation replaces the old.

The Qi Muxue from three years ago was, without a doubt, the true number one talent.

Before she was eighteen, she had already become a Gentleman and was a Female Scholar at the Academy.

Now, her more common title was simply the Empress of Dayan.

No one regarded her as a prodigy anymore.

In three years, she had been surpassed by other prodigious talents.

Of course, Qi Muxue couldn’t care less about such empty titles.

At this moment, she truly needed to do something.

And she now had the qualifications and the ability to do it.

"Husband, Great Yan is currently beset by tiger-like threats from without, and the world is in turmoil. You’ll be leaving the Imperial Capital soon, won’t you?"

In private, Qi Muxue addressed Lu Mingyuan softly, her eyes indescribably earnest as she asked her question directly.

Lu Mingyuan heard her and nodded. "Yes. The situation in the Nanli Dynasty and the Song Dynasty is far from optimistic. Soon, I must set out for the Celestial Treasure Continent, not just for the people of Great Yan, but also for the old gentleman, and indeed, for the entire Human Race."

’The Ascension Platform is too important. It absolutely cannot fall into the hands of the Demon Race.’

"Let me go with you."

Qi Muxue’s gaze was fixed on Lu Mingyuan, unwavering and filled with determination.

"You want to accompany me to the Celestial Treasure Continent?" Lu Mingyuan asked, his expression one of surprise as he sought to confirm.

"No. It’s too dangerous there. This journey is no trivial matter. Even though you’ve broken through to the Great Scholar realm, you’re still not strong enough to face the numerous Wilderness Great Demons, let alone the Throne Great Demons. I don’t want to see you meet with even the slightest misfortune."

Lu Mingyuan tried to dissuade her, his tone firm and serious.

’The Celestial Treasure Continent has now become the gathering point for the entire military might of the Wilderness World.’

’In terms of strength, the Demon Race there is a hundred times more powerful than what we faced in the Wilderness Cave Heaven.’p>’Unlike the Central Plains World, which just suffered from internal strife...’

’...the Wilderness World is at its peak strength and completely united against us.’

’Several Throne Great Demons have been mobilized already.’

Qi Muxue sighed. "I already feel incredibly guilty about the War of the Seven Kingdoms. Husband, can you please not make me live in regret and self-reproach again?"

"I know you’re doing this for my own good, but every time I’m here in the Imperial Palace, thinking of you risking your life on the front lines with no news of your safety, my heart is filled with anxiety."

"I’m well aware that my previous strength was insufficient, but now I have the ability to protect myself. Even if I can only watch you command the Central Army from a distance, my heart will be at ease!"

Lu Mingyuan could feel the resolve in Qi Muxue’s words.

’She clearly can’t bear the loneliness of waiting alone in the Imperial Palace and wants to stay by my side.’

At this thought, warmth filled his heart, and he said softly:

"Have you thought this through? The expedition to the Celestial Treasure Continent will be even more dangerous than the War of the Seven Kingdoms."

Qi Muxue nodded emphatically. "I want to do something for my father, too."

"This is my responsibility as well."

"Alright."

Seeing that Lu Mingyuan had agreed, a look of joyful surprise appeared in Qi Muxue’s eyes.

"Thank you, Husband."

Qi Muxue threw her arms around Lu Mingyuan, pulling him into an embrace.