My Wife Turns Out to be an Empress of the Dynasty

Gu Lan looked puzzled as the token Xuan Feng had given him seemed to hold no immediate significance. Without giving it much thought, he placed it into his storage ring. The weight of the situation lay elsewhere, and the mysterious token was just another trinket in his collection for the time being.

His footsteps quickened, and soon, he arrived at the majestic Jing Nation Imperial Palace. As they entered, Gu Lan was too preoccupied with his thoughts to notice the pair of eyes that had been watching his every move as he left.

In the darkened void above, Xuan Feng's lips curled into a meaningful smile, his eyes gleaming with a hint of something far beyond mere curiosity.

A figure standing beside him asked, confused, "Dark God, why are you helping him?"

Xuan Feng's voice was calm, but there was a certain weight to it as he answered, "Do you think I'm helping him?"

The person beside him nodded, sensing the underlying complexity in Xuan Feng's words. With a soft chuckle, Xuan Feng explained further.

"I have no interest in seizing the Great Path qi, but this Gu Lan... he has great use for me and the Dark God Palace."

Xuan Feng's gaze turned cold as he recalled how he had been observing Gu Lan for a long time. At first, he thought Gu Lan wasn't strong enough to interest him, but after years of scrutiny, he realized just how unpredictable Gu Lan's potential truly was. It was no wonder that even the River of Time couldn't offer clarity on his final outcome.

Xuan Feng's voice darkened with resolve.

"The Dark God Palace has been in decline for years. I need to rise again, and Gu Lan is the opportunity I've been waiting for. It's a chance I can't afford to miss."

Despite his admiration for Gu Lan's potential, Xuan Feng wasn't naive enough to place all his hopes on him. After all, the uncertainties surrounding Gu Lan were still too great, and even the River of Time couldn't predict the outcome.

"Now, Gu Lan faces the joint opposition of the gods. Though his strength is impressive, even he may struggle against the collective might of the gods—especially the Wizard God from the Wizard Clan. If things go wrong, it will be disastrous."

Xuan Feng's eyes flickered with both intrigue and concern as he made his plans.

"Be careful. Don't let him detect your presence. If you are discovered, I will not intervene."

With his cryptic warning, Xuan Feng vanished, leaving only the silence of the void behind him.

Meanwhile, in the Jing Nation Imperial Palace, Gu Lan stood with a darkened expression. His mind was preoccupied with the movements of the Wizard Clan. They had been acting more boldly of late, and the ominous signs pointed to trouble on the horizon.

His fists clenched, and his eyes blazed with killing intent as he spoke low, almost to himself.

"Perhaps it's about to begin."

With a sharp motion, Gu Lan called upon his true energy, and the Hongmeng Sword materialized in his hand. He could feel it—the approaching storm.

Seeing the change in Gu Lan's demeanor, Ding True Man and Zhongren instinctively mobilized their energy, preparing for whatever was to come. However, Gu Lan raised a hand to stop them.

"Stay here. The void needs only me for now."

With that, he took off into the skies, his form vanishing into the clouds. His eyes scanned the distant horizon, his vision piercing through thousands of miles. The Hongmeng Sword in his hand buzzed with energy, and with a single swing, the sound of its blade tearing through the air rang like thunder.

The sky trembled as Gu Lan's sword energy split the heavens, and a massive formation materialized above him, radiating immense power. The array was unlike anything ordinary, its sheer energy overwhelming the surroundings. The entire sky seemed to dim in its presence.

As Gu Lan focused his gaze, the formation flickered, and the Hongmeng Sword returned to his hand, humming with energy. His eyes glinted with a cold light as he steeled himself for what was to come.

"I don't have time to waste here. But some things must be dealt with."

Gu Lan wasn't interested in lingering in the palace any longer. Instead, he had a much bigger target in mind—the Wizard Clan. This formation wasn't just for show; it was a message, a deadly one.

And he hoped the Wizard Clan wouldn't disappoint him.

---

Elsewhere, in the grand hall of the Lava Clan, Lava God's expression darkened as he sensed a familiar presence in the air. His brows furrowed as he rose, his eyes narrowing as he peered through the layers of space.

"I didn't expect you to wake up so soon," Lava God muttered to himself, his voice cold.

A blood-red glow flickered in the distance, and Blood God materialized, his face wearing a sinister smile.

"It's been a long time, Lava God. I see you've grown stronger, but tell me—why are you in my territory?"

Blood God's words were laced with meaning, and Lava God's lips curled into a mocking smile. "You come here to talk about cooperation, but I'm not interested."

Blood God's eyes darkened, and he spoke with quiet determination.

"Of course, you are aware that the Great Path qi is in Gu Lan's hands, right? His strength is... unusual. I can't defeat him alone, but together, we might have a chance."

Lava God's expression remained unmoved. "That's not my concern. We'll see who gets the Great Path qi. You handle your side, and I'll handle mine."

Blood God's smile faded as he realized the conversation was going nowhere. Lava God was a man of action, and he wasn't one to form alliances lightly. He'd probably already planned his own course of action, with or without Blood God.

"I suppose you won't change your mind," Blood God said, a faint bitterness in his tone.

"No, I won't," Lava God replied, his voice cold as steel. "Whoever gets the Great Path qi, we'll each rely on our own strength."

Blood God didn't argue further. His plans were already in motion, and Lava God's refusal only meant one thing: Blood God would act alone. He didn't need Lava Clan's help.

"Very well," Blood God muttered. "We'll see who comes out on top."

With that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows.

Meanwhile, in the distance, Gu Lan remained hidden, sensing the shifting energies around him. His expression darkened as he felt the arrival of more powerful forces.

"They're here," he whispered, his grip tightening around the Hongmeng Sword.

In that moment, a dark presence loomed in the distance—Mo Xuan.

Gu Lan's heart tightened with hatred. If it weren't for Mo Xuan, his time in the Blood Clan would have been far less difficult.

"Come on," Gu Lan muttered under his breath. "This time, you won't make it out alive."

With a swift motion, Gu Lan prepared for battle. He wasn't going to waste time with Mo Xuan. The Wizard God's arrival was imminent, and he was eager to test his strength against him.

His mind raced with plans. He was curious about the Wizard God's power and had been for some time. But there was no time to waste pondering. He'd face the Wizard God head-on, and nothing would stop him.