Myth Beyond Heaven

Chapter 2532: Return (2)



"Hmm?" Xi Xurou suddenly perceived a familiar aura, making her abruptly stand up.

"What's wrong, Senior?" Cai Xieren quickly asked.

"The Divine Light Empress... She has returned," Xi Xurou said in astonishment and quickly rushed toward the hall. She didn't forget to remove her disguise.

Yun Lintian exchanged surprised glances with Xia Nongyue and Cai Xieren before chasing after her.

As Xi Xurou rushed through the palace corridors, her heart pounded with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. The familiar aura, the one she had not felt in countless years, was unmistakable. It was the aura of her master, the Divine Light Empress, Xi Baihe.

She burst into the grand hall, her eyes immediately falling upon the figure standing in the center of the room. It was a woman of ethereal beauty, her long, silver hair cascading down her back like a waterfall of moonlight.

Her eyes, the color of molten gold, radiated an aura of serene power, and her presence filled the hall with an almost tangible sense of tranquility.

"Master!" Xi Xurou exclaimed, her voice filled with a mixture of joy and relief. She rushed forward, dropping to her knees before the Divine Light Empress, her head bowed in reverence. "You have returned!"

Xi Baihe, the Divine Light Empress, turned her gaze towards Xi Xurou, her golden eyes softening as she regarded her loyal disciple. A faint smile graced her lips as she extended a hand, gently lifting Xi Xurou to her feet.

"Rise, Xurou," she said, her voice soft yet filled with an undeniable authority. "It is good to see you again."

At that moment, Yun Lintian, Xia Nongyue, and Cai Xieren arrived at the hall, their eyes widening in surprise as they beheld the Divine Light Empress. They had heard tales of her legendary beauty and power, but to witness it in person was a different experience altogether. Xia Nongyue and Cai Xieren, despite their doubts and the recent events, couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and respect towards the woman before them. She was, after all, one of the six regents, a being of immense power and authority.

Yun Lintian, however, remained skeptical. His intuition, honed by countless battles and sharpened by his encounters with powerful beings, screamed at him that something was amiss. There was a subtle dissonance in the Divine Light Empress's aura, a faint disharmony that he couldn't quite place.

Despite his doubts, Yun Lintian, along with Xia Nongyue and Cai Xieren, stepped forward and offered their respects. "Greetings, Your Majesty," they said in unison, bowing their heads in deference.

Xi Baihe acknowledged their greetings with a nod, her gaze sweeping over them before settling on Yun Lintian. Her golden eyes seemed to pierce through his facade, as if she could see the doubts and suspicions that lay hidden within his heart.

"You must be Yun Lintian," she said, her voice calm and measured. "I have heard much about you."

Yun Lintian met her gaze, his expression carefully neutral. "The honor is mine, Senior," he replied, his voice betraying none of the turmoil within him.

Xi Xurou, eager to explain the situation, stepped forward. "Master, much has happened during your absence," she began, her voice filled with urgency.

Xi Baihe raised a hand, silencing her disciple. "I am aware of the situation, Xurou," she said, her voice serene. "There is no need for explanation."

Xi Xurou hesitated, surprised by her master's response. "But Master, where have you been all this time? We were so worried."

Xi Baihe's gaze shifted towards the distant ceiling, as if she were looking at something beyond the confines of the palace. "I did not leave the Divine Light Kingdom," she said, her voice taking on a distant quality. "I entered a secret realm."

Xi Xurou's brow furrowed in confusion. "A secret realm? Here, in the Divine Light Kingdom?"

Xi Baihe nodded. "Yes. A place that has remained hidden for eons, even from me. It was only recently that I discovered its existence."

Yun Lintian, listening intently, felt his suspicions deepen. A secret realm that even the Divine Light Empress was unaware of? It seemed highly improbable. Moreover, her explanation felt too convenient, too simplistic.

"Master, what did you find in the secret realm?" Xi Xurou asked, her curiosity piqued.

Xi Baihe's lips curled into a faint smile. "Knowledge, Xurou," she replied, her voice enigmatic. "Knowledge that will change everything."

Yun Lintian, unable to contain his doubts any longer, decided to interject. "Forgive my boldness, Senior," he said, his voice respectful yet firm. "But may I ask what kind of knowledge?"

Xi Baihe turned her gaze towards Yun Lintian, her golden eyes piercing. "Knowledge of the past," she said, her voice taking on a cryptic tone. "And knowledge of the future."

Yun Lintian's intuition screamed at him that she was lying. The way she answered, the way she looked, it was all too familiar. It was the same as when 'Xi Xurou' answered him earlier.

Xi Baihe's gaze shifted from Yun Lintian to Cai Xieren, her golden eyes lingering on the young woman for a moment longer than necessary. A faint, almost imperceptible flicker of something unreadable crossed her serene expression.

"You must be Cai Xieren," she said, her voice soft yet carrying an undercurrent of something that sent a shiver down Yun Lintian's spine. "I sense a darkness within you, a remnant of the chaos that once threatened to consume you."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Cai Xieren responded.

Xi Baihe nodded slowly. "The Lord of Chaos is a being of immense power," she said, her voice taking on a grave tone. "He is proficient in every law, every power, every element. He is the master of chaos, and his influence is far-reaching."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the assembled group before settling on Yun Lintian. "It is said that he can control the creatures of chaos," she continued, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "That he can bend them to his will, using them as his pawns in a game that spans across realms."

Yun Lintian, his suspicions growing with each passing moment, met her gaze unflinchingly. "Is that merely a speculation, Senior?" he asked, his voice carefully neutral. "Or do you have proof to support this claim?"

Xi Baihe's lips curled into a cryptic smile. "Proof is often elusive when dealing with beings of such power, Yun Lintian," she replied, her voice enigmatic. "But sometimes, speculation is all we have to guide us... Don't you think so?"

Yun Lintian raised his brow slightly as he looked at Xi Baihe. For some reason, he felt as though this woman knew everything about him...