Chapter 1170 The Possibility of a Closer Relationship, the Top Among Peers in the Imperial Immortal Palace  

"Greetings, Saintess."

Although Chu Gucheng harbored resentment over being repeatedly turned away during his previous visits to the Saintess of Xiyuan, he would not be discourteous now, nor would he show his displeasure. Instead, he smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Saintess, there's no need for such formalities," Elder Jin also smiled and said.

Although he was a senior to the Saintess of Xiyuan, his current strength might not necessarily surpass hers, so he did not act arrogantly.

The Saintess of Xiyuan nodded slightly and said little, leading the two into the Xiyuan Sacred Hall. Along the way, she began to inquire about Elder Jin's purpose for visiting.

Elder Jin sighed and explained that he was worried about the sudden appearance of the wisp of black mist, fearing that the past might repeat itself. Therefore, he had taken the opportunity of attending Chu Gucheng's birthday banquet to come to the Prime-Origin Civilization and discuss with her how to respond.

After all, the Saintess's master was no longer in the Xiyuan Sacred Hall. If the Black Calamity were to break out again in the Prime-Origin Civilization, it would fall to the Saintess to suppress it.

The Saintess was slightly moved by Elder Jin's concern but then shook her head and explained that she had already used the Mirror of Reincarnation to divine the future fate of the Prime-Origin Civilization, and it would not be affected by that wisp of black mist.

Elder Jin, aware of the profound mysteries of the Mirror of Reincarnation, could not help but sigh in admiration. Among the famous supreme treasures of the Vast Expanse, the Mirror of Reincarnation could be considered one of the foremost. After all, it was a treasure from the primordial era of civilizations, not something that could be compared to later imitations.

When he mentioned the Mirror of Reincarnation, he began to lament that those who had reached the end of the path and sealed the source of the Black Calamity had long since disappeared, perhaps no longer existing in the myriad worlds. It was likely that countless cultivators in the world had forgotten the era when darkness loomed over all, and people lived in the shadow of fear.

For the cultivators and beings living in the Vast Expanse, the era of the Black Calamity's outbreak was now a distant memory, separated by countless epochs. To ordinary cultivators, it was akin to ancient mythology.

At the beginning of the Vast Expanse, it was a primitive and chaotic era, known as the Innate Era, where the first innate clans and innate gods appeared. Later, there were the Mythical Era, the Creation Era, the Ancient Era, and many others.

However, these were just simplified terms. Even those old scholars who studied the ancient history of the Vast Expanse could not clearly say how many eras had passed to this day. In even more distant times, there were eras with strange names like the Era of Burying Immortals and the Era of Destroying the Dao.

Each era spanned an immeasurable river of time, encompassing countless epochs. The Black Calamity Era was what Elder Jin and others called the time when darkness brought chaos to the myriad worlds, though some also referred to it as the Era of Black Mist.

This was because the chaos began with a wisp of black mist. That wisp of black mist was born from the Lord of the Black Calamity's source and, because of him, brought chaos to the heavens.

The Saintess of Xiyuan did not share Elder Jin's sentiments. Instead, she apologized to Chu Gucheng for not being able to meet him during his previous visits, explaining that she had been in a critical stage of seclusion and could not receive guests. Elder Jin's status was special, and he had a history with her master, so she had no choice but to emerge from seclusion to meet him.

Chu Gucheng smiled noncommittally at the Saintess's explanation, but inwardly he sneered, not believing her at all. However, he would not press the issue now.

With Elder Jin by his side, he intended to bring up the matter of borrowing the Mirror of Reincarnation and see how the Saintess would respond. With the help of the Mirror of Reincarnation, the calamity facing the Immortal Chu Dynasty would surely be resolved.

The Saintess of Xiyuan had already guessed Chu Gucheng's purpose for coming. However, she was currently at a critical juncture, and her relationship with that formidable enemy surnamed Gu in the simulated future had the potential to grow closer. Naturally, she could not lend out the Mirror of Reincarnation.

Moreover, the fall of the Immortal Chu Dynasty was already a matter of fate. If she interfered, all the effort she had put into the Mirror of Reincarnation during this time might be wasted.

---

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Immortal Palace.

In a grand and majestic hall, several tall and indistinct figures stood. Around them, stars rotated, emitting the rumbling sounds of worlds colliding. Fragments of Dao principles intertwined, and immortal mist and chaotic energy sources scattered, as if this place had existed since the beginning of time.

Many elders who had received the summons were rushing back from their respective Dao fields with their disciples, heading toward this place.

The Palace Master of the Imperial Immortal Palace, Ling Qiuhan, was also in the hall. He had a scholarly appearance, with a medium build and deep, wise eyes. He looked to be in his forties, dressed in a jade-white Daoist robe with wide sleeves embroidered with cloud patterns, as if the mysteries of heaven and earth flowed within them.

The figures around him were elders who had been summoned by Ling Qiuhan from various Dao fields of the Imperial Immortal Palace, along with their disciples.

Although the Imperial Immortal Palace currently had thirty-six Dao fields, not every Dao field was overseen by an elder with at least True Dao Realm strength. Even during the most glorious and prosperous times, such a situation would not have been possible.

The strength of these elders varied, but even the weakest among them had reached the Dao Realm and had lived for a long time.

The hall was vast and quiet, with no one speaking, creating a heavy atmosphere. Ling Qiuhan occasionally glanced toward the entrance, his expression showing a hint of gravity and worry.

"How many elders have yet to arrive?" he asked the disciple beside him.

"Reporting to the Palace Master, twenty-four elders have arrived so far. The others are still on their way," the disciple respectfully replied.

Ling Qiuhan shook his head slightly and began pacing in the hall without saying a word. Seeing this, the elders who had gathered looked puzzled. They did not know what had caused the Palace Master to appear so troubled, and they remained unaware of the reason.

It seemed as though he was anxious, but what major event had occurred?

Ling Qiuhan did not explain to the crowd, so naturally, no one asked. However, at this moment, many young disciples secretly glanced toward a graceful figure standing on the other side of the hall, their eyes filled with admiration.

She was a stunning woman wearing a soft battle robe and a deep red cloak. Her features were delicate, her eyes bright, and her skin as white as porcelain, surpassing even snow. Her hair was tied with a black ribbon, revealing a clean and elegant neckline. Her slender waist and long, straight legs gave her a heroic and spirited aura.

She was the top among her peers in the Imperial Immortal Palace, a towering figure who overshadowed all others of her generation.

Ling Yuxian.