Chapter 152: A New Dream, Princess Xue, Imperial Daughter of the Great Qin
Luo Xue slowly opened her eyes. After a moment of disorientation, she was once again greeted by familiar darkness.
However, having experienced this before, Luo Xue quickly calmed herself and adjusted her state of mind.
Her last memory was of slaying the deep space behemoth, but it felt like a distant memory, a fleeting moment stretched across a vast expanse of time.
However, Luo Xue couldn’t recall anything that happened in between, only emptiness and silence.
“Phew…”
Luo Xue exhaled softly and sat up.
“Splash…”
The gentle sound of water startled Luo Xue, but after a moment, she realized she was sitting in a shallow puddle.
She could feel the water with her hand.
“…Where is this?”
Luo Xue frowned slightly. The last time she entered this space, it shouldn’t have been empty.
She had previously speculated that this space was either the deep space above the Suspended High Tower or the void within a spatial rift, but now it seemed neither was the case.
However, Luo Xue couldn’t figure it out and gave up after a moment of thought.
There were more important things.
When she heard about “string theory,” Luo Xue had wondered if the Immortal Martial World overlapped with the post-apocalyptic world through a different kind of “string.”
But when she killed the deep space behemoth, she realized that “string theory” was probably wrong.
To discover the truth, Luo Xue had deliberately approached the deep space behemoth to examine it.
And at the moment of their mutual destruction, Luo Xue closed her eyes, focusing all her senses on her surroundings.
She wanted to know how she traveled between worlds, whether it was truly a dream, or a change in “string vibrations.”
Then, Luo Xue discovered that the death of the deep space behemoth did indeed trigger a strong “string vibration” phenomenon, similar to Qualcomm’s experiment in Suspended High Tower 132.
But the “string vibration” didn’t cause her to jump to another world, but instead triggered a more intense space-time collapse, and Luo Xue was caught in it.
The true cause of her death wasn’t the deep space behemoth’s final attack, but being annihilated in the space-time collapse, a death similar to Qualcomm’s, but more complete.
In other words, Qualcomm, the dictator, had been on the wrong path all along.
Even if his fifty-year plan succeeded, the result wouldn’t be salvation, but taking Suspended High Tower 132 to its grave, annihilated in the space-time collapse, without a trace.
“I can only be thankful… that I stopped Qualcomm’s plan. Otherwise, the consequences would have been terrifying.”
Luo Xue breathed a sigh of relief, then her thoughts turned to worry.
“I wonder… what will happen to Ling Ling after I leave.”
Based on her previous experience, the time of her return should be related to the time she spent in the Immortal Martial World.
If it was similar to last time, Ling Ling would probably meet her again in a few years. She should be able to see Ling Ling all grown up, right?
“It should be fine. Ceres promised to take care of her. Qualcomm is dead, so she should be able to have a happy childhood.”
Luo Xue composed herself. Although she looked forward to reuniting with Ling Ling, Xiao Yao in the other world was also waiting for her.
Thinking about it like this made her seem like a bit of a scumbag…
Ahem, better not to dwell on it.
Before entering the dream again, Luo Xue opened the panel and checked her current status.
[Current Realm: Foundation Establishment (Peak)]
[Survival Points: 950]
[Poison Resistance: 100]
[Strength: 100]
[Soul: 100]
[Cultivation Aptitude: Extraordinary Talent (Next Stage: Peerless Aptitude)]
[Divine Ability Aptitude: Barely There (Next Stage: Extraordinary Talent)]
[Obtained Law: Space-Time Sword Intent]
[Currently Possessed Laws: Sword Intent of Withering, Sword Intent of Space-Time]
She had used some survival points in the battle at the Suspended High Tower. Otherwise, she could have upgraded her divine ability aptitude again, which might have upgraded her “Double Pupils” talent.
There was a huge difference between the Calamity Poison Body and the Eternal Withering Body, but the latter’s side effects were too severe.
Although Phoenix Venerable had said that it could theoretically reach the Great Emperor Realm, the problem was… it required a time even Phoenix Venerable considered long.
For Phoenix Venerable, to whom tens of thousands of years were but a blink of an eye, “long”…
Luo Xue couldn’t even imagine how long that would be.
In the final battle against the deep space behemoth, Luo Xue had also comprehended the Sword Intent of Space-Time, the second law she had comprehended at the Foundation Establishment Realm.
If this were known, even the Peerless Summit Sect would revere her as a once-in-a-millennium Sword Immortal.
Although ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators possessed the power to control laws, most were still in the comprehension stage. Someone like Luo Xue, who could use it in actual combat, would have to be at least at the early stage of Nascent Soul.
Besides comprehending laws, Luo Xue’s cultivation had also reached the peak of Foundation Establishment.
She had already gained enough comprehension during the battle at the Blood Sea, and with the massive amount of spiritual power from the overloaded disaster engine, her cultivation advancement was natural.
However, since this wasn’t an advancement through the Calamity Poison Body, Luo Xue’s current cultivation was forcibly raised, and she needed some time to consolidate her foundation before attempting to form her core.
After sorting through her current situation, Luo Xue took a deep breath and looked at the option that appeared with her thoughts.
[Do you want to enter the dream?]
[Yes/No]
She didn’t know what would happen in this dream.
Would she awaken with her Eternal Withering Body, or appear in a new body?
And what would her identity be, her past, her experiences?
[Yes]
Luo Xue’s mind drifted, and she lay down, the shallow water beneath her submerging her body.
[“A thousand-year dream, finally awakening.”]
“Born on a rare day of heavy snow, this is an auspicious sign! She shall be named Xue, with the title of Princess Xue!”
—”Who do you think you are? You lowly thing! You disgust me!”
“Your servant greets Your Highness… Your father? Apologies, His Majesty is busy with state affairs.”
—”Beat her, beat this bitch to death! If not for your luck… you think you’re worthy?!”
“Slow down, Your Highness is so playful, this old servant can barely keep up… Wait, you can’t go this way, let’s go back, Your Highness.”
“Who am I?”
“You are, of course, Your Highness.”
“…Really?”
—”Heh.”
…
The heavy snow that had lasted for over a decade finally ended, and the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty welcomed the long-awaited warmth of the sun.
And on this auspicious day, another major event occurred within the dynasty.
Today was Princess Xue’s sixteenth birthday, also her coming-of-age ceremony, and lords and nobles from all over came bearing gifts to celebrate.
The palace complex of the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty stood atop a mystical, ethereal mountain, the light of the sun and moon flowing across its domes, like the eyes of a god opening and closing, casting down endless radiance.
Magnificent golden palaces stood among the clouds, surrounded by jade pavilions and towers, like stars embedded in the sky.
Exquisite carvings adorned every palace, showcasing the prosperity and glory of the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty.
Ancient auspicious beasts were everywhere, flying and circling amidst the clouds and mist, their every movement carrying an ethereal aura of good fortune.
They were the protectors of the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty, symbolizing its eternity.
The carriages traveling between the palaces were mostly large, spirit-stone-powered celestial boats, almost blotting out the sky, but on the mountain peak, they still seemed small.
The princess’s birthday banquet was held in the Sun and Moon Twin Halls, the heart of the Immortal Dynasty. This was the first time the Great Qin Immortal Emperor had held a banquet here, showing his love for this princess.
Therefore, the lords and nobles all showed their respect, almost all attending the banquet personally.
Within the banquet hall, celestial maidens in flowing robes, holding jade zithers, danced gracefully.
They wore colorful, feathered garments, like butterflies flitting among flowers.
The lords and nobles enjoyed the beautiful scene and chatted amongst themselves.
“Myriad Ghosts King! I didn’t expect you to come. I thought you would use illness as an excuse again.”
“Your Highness You Wang, long time no see… Don’t tease this old man, I am indeed old and frail, but… this is Princess Xue’s birthday, I had to come even if I had to drag my sick body here.”
The surrounding lords and nobles laughed. Everyone knew that the Myriad Ghosts King’s illness was just an excuse.
But this time… he couldn’t use that excuse.
Princess Xue’s name was enough.
Their gazes subtly shifted towards the light gauze beside the throne. The protagonist of this banquet sat within.
“The coming-of-age ceremony of the Great Qin Imperial Daughter… is not something one sees every day, especially since… she is His Majesty’s most beloved Princess Xue.”
Behind the gauze, Luo Xue sat, wearing a rare touch of light makeup, which enhanced her delicate features, adding a touch of elegance.
Coupled with her unusual silver-white hair, she already possessed a breathtaking beauty at such a young age.
But her expression…
Was complicated.
“This time… I’ve been reborn as a princess?”
Luo Xue raised her hand and rubbed her temples.
But she was immediately glared at by the elderly etiquette official, and she quickly stopped, resuming her dignified posture.
Luo Xue had no problem fighting life-or-death battles, but sitting still like a statue for several hours at a banquet… was torture.
In this life, when Luo Xue woke up, she was already in a luxurious palace, lying on a bed several dozen meters wide, surrounded by a dozen maids waiting to attend to her.
Luo Xue was startled, but after searching her memories, she discovered that she was a princess, granted a title at birth.
A titled princess was no ordinary person in the Immortal Dynasty…
This meant that Luo Xue, shortly after birth, had already received her own fief.
She didn’t have to do anything, just sit at home and collect her income.
Luo Xue’s memories were fragmented. She could only recall this much, just like in her previous life in the Peerless Summit Sect. It would take a few days for her memories to fully return.
But… shortly after waking up, she was brought here for her coming-of-age ceremony.
Fortunately, these court etiquettes had almost become instinct, and with the elderly etiquette official correcting her, no one noticed anything unusual about Luo Xue.
“Coming-of-age ceremony, sixteen years old… well, it’s a bit later than adulthood in the post-apocalyptic world.”
Luo Xue sat there bored. Even with the table filled with delicacies emitting a rich spiritual energy, she had no appetite—because she couldn’t eat yet, the banquet hadn’t started.
But where was she?
…Was she still within the nine provinces and four domains?
Probably… not…
Besides her memories, the only people Luo Xue had seen so far were the elderly etiquette official and the maids.
She couldn’t tell the etiquette official’s strength. Perhaps she was an ordinary person, or perhaps a powerful expert, like Nascent Soul or above.
As for the maids, she could tell their strength. They were mostly around Spirit Condensation, having embarked on the path of immortality.
At least within the nine provinces and four domains, Luo Xue had never heard of an empire or dynasty that used Spirit Condensation cultivators as maids.
She had come to the wrong place again…
Luo Xue sighed inwardly, but afraid of being glared at by the etiquette official, she could only endure and continue sitting there.
She was currently behind a light gauze curtain, which seemed to have a restriction placed on it, preventing outsiders from seeing clearly inside, only a blurry shadow was visible.
But Luo Xue could easily see what was happening outside.
“…I can’t tell these people’s strength. They should all be at Nascent Soul or above, right?”
Luo Xue looked at them one by one but didn’t dare to use her spiritual sense. What if she offended some big shot? Would her status as a princess be enough to protect her?
After watching for a while out of boredom, Luo Xue suddenly noticed that these lords and nobles who came to celebrate her birthday all had one or two handsome young men beside them, standing with a seemingly humble yet arrogant demeanor.
They all seemed to be around Luo Xue’s age, probably the descendants of these lords and nobles, occasionally glancing at Luo Xue curiously.
But behind the gauze, these young masters could only see a blurry, silver-haired figure.
Just then, Luo Xue finally realized something, her eyes widening slightly.
“Wait, could this be…”
Coming-of-age ceremony, lords and nobles, young masters…
And their strange gazes…
Damn, the classic marriage arrangement trope for princesses!
This wasn’t a birthday banquet, this was a large-scale matchmaking event!
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