The Haven Envoy, his mission complete, turned and vanished into the swirling vortex, leaving behind a trail of whispers and envious glances. The Abyssal Convention had concluded.
"Congratulations." The elders from the other five kingdoms approached the Abyssal Kingdom's camp to congratulate them. They exchanged pleasantries for a moment before separating.
Yun Lintian's group returned to the Golden Qilin Profound Ark afterward.
"Elder Qi, I will take my leave from here. I plan to visit the Divine Light Kingdom. I will return when the time comes. Please tell His Majesty and Senior Lan about it," Yun Lintian said.
Qi Mu was slightly surprised and glanced at Xia Nongyue briefly. "Understood."
Yun Lintian bid farewell to Qi Mu, Qi Jian, and Qi Xun before heading to the Divine Light Profound Ark with Xia Nongyue.
Upon landing on the deck of the profound ark, a cold female voice suddenly resounded. "Who are you?"
Yun Lintian looked over and saw a tall, heroic woman staring at him coldly.
"This is my friend, Elder Tong. He wants to pay a visit to Her Majesty," Xia Nongyue said calmly.
The woman, Tong Jie, glanced at her with a frown. "Do you know what you are doing? This violates the rules."Xia Nongyue was unfazed. "I believe Her Majesty wants to see him as well... Perhaps I didn't state it clearly. He and I come from the same place."
Tong Jie's eyes flickered with surprise when she heard this. She took a deep look at Yun Lintian and nodded slightly. "Alright. I cannot guarantee whether you will have a chance to see Her Majesty."
"Many thanks," Yun Lintian cupped his fists.
Tong Jie raised her brow slightly. She was displeased with Yun Lintian's calm demeanor. It was as if he didn't care about the Divine Light Empress. However, she didn't make a fuss and ordered her subordinates to set off.
Soon, the Divine Light Profound Ark took off and soared into the starry sky, heading back to the Divine Light Kingdom.
Within a secluded chamber, Tong Jie, Yun Lintian, and Xia Nongyue sat around a polished wooden table, the only sound the gentle crackling of the fire in the hearth. Tong Jie, her expression a mix of curiosity and suspicion, regarded Xia Nongyue with a keen gaze.
"So, you journeyed through the Abyssal Rift?" she asked, her voice laced with skepticism. "Tell me, what did you encounter? What trials did you face?"
Xia Nongyue met Tong Jie's gaze with unwavering calm, her expression betraying no hint of the turmoil she had experienced within the Abyssal Rift. "The journey was as expected, Elder Tong," she replied, her voice even and measured. "The chaotic energies were turbulent, the terrain treacherous, and the creatures formidable."
Tong Jie leaned forward, her gaze intensifying. "And the Chaos Crystals?" she pressed, her voice sharp. "How many did you manage to gather?"
Xia Nongyue gestured toward a spatial ring on her finger, a subtle shimmer of light revealing its contents. A pile of Chaos Crystals, their crystalline structures radiating vibrant energy, lay within the ring.
"A modest amount, Elder Tong," she said, her voice carrying a hint of humility. "Enough to demonstrate our competence, but not enough to claim victory."
Tong Jie's eyes narrowed, her suspicion growing. The number of Chaos Crystals was indeed substantial, but for a cultivator of Xia Nongyue's caliber, it seemed...lacking.
"Tell me more about your encounters," Tong Jie pressed, her voice taking on an interrogative tone. "Did you face any particular challenges? Any encounters with the Chaos Knights?"
Xia Nongyue's expression remained unchanged, her gaze steady. "We encountered a few Chaos Knights," she admitted, her voice carefully neutral. "But they posed no significant threat. They merely passed by."
She paused, her mind crafting a believable narrative, a tale that concealed the truth of their encounter with the Gate of the Abyss and the Chasm of Uncreation.
"The deeper we ventured into the rift," she continued, "the more turbulent the chaotic energies became. We faced spatial distortions, temporal anomalies, and creatures warped by the chaotic influence."
Tong Jie listened intently, her keen eyes searching for any inconsistencies, any hints of deception. But Xia Nongyue's tale was carefully crafted, her words measured and precise, her delivery convincing.
Yun Lintian, observing the exchange from the sidelines, remained silent, his expression unreadable. He couldn't understand why Tong Jie seemed to be hostile toward Xia Nongyue. Tong Jie, despite her suspicions, could find no fault in Xia Nongyue's narrative. She had no concrete evidence to challenge her claims, no reason to doubt her words.
"Very well," she said, her voice carrying a hint of resignation. "I shall inform Her Majesty of your return. She will decide whether to grant you an audience."
With that, Tong Jie rose from her seat, her expression still laced with skepticism. She turned to leave.
Yun Lintian looked at Xia Nongyue doubtfully.
"Jealousy," Xia Nongyue said through a voice transmission. "The Divine Light Empress is everything to her. She probably feels unbalanced by the way the Empress treated me."
"I see," Yun Lintian nodded slowly. "What kind of person is the Divine Light Empress?" "She is unfathomable. I can't read her true intentions," Xia Nongyue replied with a frown. "On the surface, she is indeed kind, but I can sense a hint of deception from her." "Well, we will see soon." Yun Lintian took a sip of tea and looked at the scenery outside. A month later, the Divine Light Profound Ark landed softly on the expansive plaza of the Divine Light Kingdom's capital. The majestic city, bathed in divine radiance, was a sight to behold.
Yun Lintian and Xia Nongyue, along with Tong Jie, descended from the ark, their presence attracting curious glances from onlookers. Tong Jie, as a high-ranking official of the Divine Light Kingdom, received the necessary courtesies and arrangements for their stay.
"You stay here," Tong Jie said to Yun Lintian as they arrived inside a luxurious courtyard. She glanced at Xia Nongyue. "Follow me."
Xia Nongyue exchanged glances with Yun Lintian briefly and followed Tong Jie toward the palace.
Yun Lintian looked around briefly, found a place to sit down, and fed Gui Xiao some snacks.
In fact, the moment he stepped into this place, he sensed countless gazes sweeping over him. These people must have been the guardians. Their scrutiny was indeed rude and hostile. It
was quite strange.
Yun Lintian didn't care much. He was waiting to meet the Divine Light Empress and see what kind of trick she was hiding up her sleeve...
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