Chapter 165: Xue’er, Another Person
Several months passed in a flash.
During this time, Luo Xue’s cultivation at the peak of Foundation Establishment had completely stabilized, and she could start preparing for Core Formation.
However, Core Formation required Heavenly or Earthly Vein energy, which wasn’t available in the imperial palace. She had to leave the palace again.
Luo Xue’s formation skills had improved considerably during this period. She could already construct Foundation Establishment level spirit-gathering formations, and the model for a Core Formation level spirit-gathering formation was also complete.
But she was worried about causing too much commotion, so she didn’t dare to set them up within the palace.
And the mysterious mortal who had appeared in her bedroom hadn’t shown up again. Luo Xue had set up surveillance formations throughout her palace, but they yielded nothing.
The mysterious mortal seemed to have vanished into thin air.
The etiquette official hadn’t acted strangely during this time. She didn’t seem to notice Luo Xue’s formations, still teaching her court etiquette as before.
Just as Luo Xue was racking her brains, trying to find an excuse to leave the palace and the Imperial Capital to search for a Core Formation secret realm, an unfamiliar palace guard suddenly arrived.
“His Majesty… requests your presence today.”
The palace guard didn’t kneel, just bowed slightly to Luo Xue.
He was the Immortal Emperor’s most trusted personal guard, said to possess strength above the Tribulation Immortal Realm.
“Hmm?”
Luo Xue was stunned upon hearing this.
This father, who supposedly doted on her, she hadn’t even seen him in months.
At least the Empress had the etiquette official, constantly reminding Luo Xue of her existence, but the Immortal Emperor had completely ignored her, and Luo Xue had almost forgotten she even had a father.
The etiquette official’s eyes flickered with a complicated emotion upon hearing this.
She looked at Luo Xue and said softly,
“Go, it’s just a private meeting, there’s no need to be so formal.”
“Oh…”
Luo Xue glanced at the etiquette official, her expression strange. Seeing the madam’s expression, she couldn’t help but feel that her father didn’t seem to care much about her…
Could the rumors be false?
Luo Xue’s memories of the past were just fragmented images, and she had to rely on rumors and speculation for many things within the palace.
She couldn’t just ask directly…
However, since the Immortal Emperor had summoned her, she couldn’t refuse.
This was an imperial decree, and probably only the Empress could ignore it in the entire Great Qin Immortal Dynasty.
“Should I go now?” Luo Xue asked.
“Yes,” the palace guard nodded. “Because His Majesty will soon be leaving the palace for a southern tour.”
“Oh, I see…”
Luo Xue nodded blankly. Having been focused on cultivation within the palace, she didn’t know about this.
The news of the Immortal Emperor’s southern tour had been announced half a month ago, causing a great commotion.
This was the first time the Immortal Emperor had embarked on a southern tour since founding the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty.
He had previously signed a contract with the tribes in the southern barbarian lands, recognizing the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty as their overlord, but the imperial family wasn’t allowed to interfere in the tribes’ internal affairs.
Therefore, the Immortal Emperor’s influence in the southern barbarian lands wasn’t even as great as that of their recently appointed young leader.
Perhaps it was because of this, or perhaps because the chaos that had plagued the barbarian tribes since ancient times had suddenly ended, that the Immortal Emperor decided on this southern tour.
And since this southern tour would last for at least a hundred years, keeping him away from the imperial palace, if he didn’t see his most beloved daughter now… it wouldn’t be appropriate.
After Luo Xue agreed, the palace guard, ignoring the etiquette official, cast a technique, enveloping himself and Luo Xue in a white light. In an instant, they vanished.
The etiquette official looked at the spot where they disappeared, her expression turning even more complicated.
She looked up at the formations in Luo Xue’s bedroom and was secretly surprised.
“How could Her Highness have such talent for formations… without any cultivation, yet able to set up Spirit Condensation level formations…”
Luo Xue hadn’t used any of her cultivation when setting up these surveillance formations. At her level, she didn’t need to.
The etiquette official had reported this to the Empress, but the reply she received was to ignore it. The little princess could do as she pleased, as long as she didn’t kill herself.
“The Empress doesn’t seem surprised…”
The etiquette official’s eyes flickered, a deep meaning in her gaze.
It seemed that this current Princess Xue… her origins weren’t as simple as the Empress had said.
It was said that those who were exceptionally skilled in formations… were the ancient humans.
…
When Luo Xue reappeared from the white light, her surroundings had changed.
Compared to her palace, this place was much simpler, just layers of pavilions and palaces, seemingly stretching endlessly inwards.
“This is His Majesty’s side palace, where the imperial study and the council hall are located,” the palace guard introduced. “This is the first time His Majesty has brought you here. Perhaps he intends to entrust some of the Immortal Dynasty’s affairs to you?”
Luo Xue looked at the palace guard and found that he was no longer as cold and aloof as before, his expression much gentler.
She also remembered that when the guard appeared, the etiquette official’s expression had also become colder.
From this small detail, it could be seen that the Immortal Emperor and the Empress… weren’t exactly on good terms.
“Hmm… thank you for telling me.” Luo Xue said with a faint smile.
“There’s no need to be so polite, Your Highness.” The palace guard smiled faintly. “Please go inside, His Majesty is waiting for you in the imperial study. I’ll be waiting here. Just inform me when you leave.”
With that, the palace guard stepped aside.
This was a private matter between the Immortal Emperor and the little princess. Even if His Majesty hadn’t said anything, he knew he should excuse himself.
Luo Xue naturally understood this. She nodded slightly at the palace guard and walked towards the depths of the side palace.
Just as the palace guard said, Luo Xue had never been to the side palace before. There were no memories of it in her fragmented mind.
So she walked slowly, carefully searching for the imperial study, while also observing her surroundings. Perhaps it would be useful sometime.
The location of the imperial study was obvious, and Luo Xue found it quickly. She suppressed her desire to explore and walked towards it.
Just then, after several months, Luo Xue once again sensed that familiar aura, belonging to the mysterious mortal who had secretly been in her bedroom, and it was stronger than ever.
“Who!”
Luo Xue’s pupils constricted, and she immediately looked back, but saw nothing.
Wait…
It wasn’t behind her.
Her gaze slowly returned, falling on the unassuming yet imposing building before her.
“It’s… in the imperial study.”
“Xue’er,” at the same time, a calm yet authoritative voice came from the imperial study, “Come in.”
“Yes, Father.”
Luo Xue could only suppress her doubts and pushed open the door.
Upon entering the imperial study, Luo Xue finally confirmed… her senses hadn’t deceived her. This mysterious mortal had definitely spent a long time here recently.
Just who could stay in the imperial study for such a long time…
Even the Immortal Emperor’s personal guards could rarely approach the imperial study, and even officials who needed to discuss matters privately would usually do so in the council hall.
The imperial study was filled with rows of bookshelves, mostly filled with ancient books and carefully preserved jade slips, mostly records and classics, not many cultivation techniques.
The Immortal Emperor sat at the back of the bookshelves, reading a book. Seeing Luo Xue approach, he looked up slightly and said softly,
“Xue’er, come, sit down.”
He put down the book and gestured to the seat in front of his desk.
“Okay.”
Luo Xue nodded and sat down.
The chair seemed to have been adjusted for her, slightly raised, so she could reach the desk. This also allowed Luo Xue to see the book in the Immortal Emperor’s hand.
“Interesting Records of the Barbarian Forests… are you preparing for your southern tour?”
Luo Xue’s gaze was fixed on the book, while the Immortal Emperor looked intently at his daughter. After a while, he said slowly,
“I’ve been busy lately and haven’t had the time to see you… Xue’er, you’re not blaming Father, are you?”
“This child wouldn’t dare.”
Luo Xue lowered her head slightly, hiding her gaze.
The Immortal Emperor was silent for a moment, then said softly,
“Today, just stay here and accompany me for a while…”
For some reason, Luo Xue heard a hint of bitterness in his voice.
However, she couldn’t leave today and could only obediently stay in the imperial study with the Immortal Emperor.
“Yes, Father.” Luo Xue nodded, then after a moment of thought, continued, “Can I look at the books in the imperial study?”
A hint of surprise flashed through the Immortal Emperor’s eyes, then he replied,
“Of course… but Xue’er, can you understand them?”
“I can at least read, can’t I?”
Luo Xue felt that this was a strange question, but unexpectedly, her words made the Immortal Emperor even more silent.
“Relax, there’s no need to be so formal, this is also your home, and the time we can spend together… is still long.”
The Immortal Emperor smiled faintly, but the smile seemed forced, which Luo Xue could tell at a glance.
Although Luo Xue was puzzled, she couldn’t figure it out, so she could only suppress her doubts for now.
It seemed the rumors weren’t entirely false. The Immortal Emperor’s attitude towards her was indeed quite good, but not to the point of doting.
Having received the Immortal Emperor’s permission, Luo Xue walked around the imperial study. She could feel a gaze constantly following her.
But this was normal, it should be the Immortal Emperor. Luo Xue didn’t think much of it.
The aura of the mysterious mortal hadn’t weakened. Luo Xue even suspected that the person was still in the imperial study, but besides her, there was only the Immortal Emperor, and the Immortal Emperor couldn’t be a mortal…
Besides, this aura clearly came from a young woman, so it couldn’t be the Immortal Emperor.
“There are copies of Hundred Solutions to Formations and Compendium of Talismans here… the versions seem a bit different, like the content is for after Soul Transformation…”
“Ah, there’s even The Art of Puppetry. This ancient text probably only exists in the imperial study… It’s a pity that the records here seem to be for the Ascension Realm and above…”
Too advanced, Luo Xue couldn’t understand them and could only give up on the idea of borrowing them.
“Xue’er…”
Just then, the Immortal Emperor suddenly called out, his tone filled with an inexplicable complexity.
“Hmm?” Luo Xue turned around in confusion, but saw that the Immortal Emperor’s gaze was fixed elsewhere. “Father… what is it?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
The Immortal Emperor seemed to have just come back to his senses. He looked up at Luo Xue, a faint smile appearing on his dignified face.
“Just… couldn’t help myself.”
Luo Xue didn’t know how to respond and could only nod.
“Thank you for your concern, Father.”
“…”
The Immortal Emperor remained silent. As Luo Xue turned around and continued browsing the bookshelves, his gaze fell on an invisible chair beside the desk.
A white-haired girl sat there with her eyes half-closed, a faint smile on her lips, as if sleeping.
“I really want to agree to you, to treat her as you from now on…”
“But, Xue’er… she’s ultimately not you…”
The Immortal Emperor’s southern tour was partly for the reason stated to the outside world, to meet the mysterious girl, “Luo Xue,” who had united the barbarian tribes.
And also, to find a way to save Xue’er’s life.
He had met Concubine Min in the south, although it was some distance from the barbarian lands.
The Immortal Emperor hadn’t considered this before, until Concubine Min suddenly mentioned Luo Xue in her conversation with their daughter, even trying to have Xue’er leave the imperial palace and seek refuge with this person.
This made the Immortal Emperor turn his attention to the southern barbarian lands, which had always been in a state of war, and this mysterious girl, who, with just Nascent Soul cultivation, could unite the tribes that revered strength above all else.
The strongest tribe leaders were all at the Sea Crossing Realm. If they joined forces, even the Immortal Emperor would find them troublesome.
The Immortal Emperor even had a faint, impossible hope. Perhaps this girl could save Xue’er’s life?
“Father, I’ve chosen.”
Just then, Luo Xue returned to her seat, holding two ancient books.
The Immortal Emperor looked up and saw that they were just two books about the Nangong clan, so he nodded with a smile, not paying much attention.
Luo Xue sat down and started reading intently.
Just as the Immortal Emperor’s expression softened, Luo Xue suddenly looked up and called out,
“Xue’er…”
The Immortal Emperor was stunned, his pupils constricting.
But the next moment, Luo Xue smiled.
“The name Father gave me… is truly beautiful.”
“Is… is that so…”
The Immortal Emperor forced a smile, relieved, thinking she hadn’t noticed anything…
But beneath Luo Xue’s calm exterior, a storm was brewing.
“I didn’t expect… this…”
“Xue’er… there really is another one…”
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