Cultivation: Starting from a Mortal Bone

Beside the Empress Dowager stood a young maiden just in the bloom of her youth.

The girl’s features were delicate and three-dimensional, her eyebrows like distant ink; every line was drawn just right, petite and endearing.

Yet, over this nearly perfect face, there lay a faint, melancholic aura that instinctively evoked sympathy.

Her complexion sometimes appeared as pale as early snow, sometimes tinged with an unhealthy flush, like a flower most susceptible to withering in spring, making one want to gently embrace her, to protect her with care, letting no trace of worldly wind or rain reach her.

With just one glance, Qin Yu recollected that girl from Immortal Spirit Island... Zhao Ling’Er.

They were almost identical.

They seemed to overlap, so strikingly similar, like reflections in a mirror, perfectly alike, pure, celestial, graceful, beautiful, and lively.

With just one look, Qin Yu immediately lowered his head, though a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.

He still remembered the name Yan Yu called this maiden... Princess.

Moreover, with the Empress Dowager by her side, how did she get injured?!

”Who are you, where did you come from?!”

The Empress Dowager’s eyes glimmered with curiosity.

In those eyes shining with a clear radiance, the man before her was like a volcano lying dormant underground, or a blazing sun hanging high above.

Supreme Yang and Firm.

His aura was like a rainbow.

Even as the Empress Dowager, she had never met such a unique man.

Perhaps, only such a man could be called... a true man?!

”I am Qin Yu, greeting the Empress Dowager and the Princess.” Qin Yu bowed, displaying utmost humility in his demeanor.

”Qin Yu?”

The Empress Dowager pondered for a moment, as if she had heard this name somewhere before.

”Empress Dowager, may I first take a look at Yan Yu’s injury?”

Qin Yu bowed again.

This was the urgent matter at hand.

”You?”

The Empress Dowager raised her phoenix eyes slightly, a trace of doubt flickering across her gaze as she looked at Qin Yu, who bowed once more, her tone carrying a barely noticeable hint of surprise.

She was at a loss, what use could a cultivator in the Golden Core Realm be?

However, despite her misgivings, the Empress Dowager lightly moved aside, making a bit of space.

Upon seeing this, Yan Yu managed a faint smile on her pale cheeks, seemingly not wanting to add to Qin Yu’s worries, and softly whispered, ”It’s okay, I can still hold on for some days.”

Qin Yu said no more, gently taking her wrist, smooth as jade.

Initially, the Empress Dowager was worried he might be swatted away by Yan Yu, but then she noticed that the little Flame Guard, who never interacted with outsiders, not only didn’t resist but naturally leaned against him.

The Empress Dowager blinked her clear, pure eyes, full of puzzlement.

Where did this guy come from?

Why is he so close to little Yan Yu?

If it weren’t for sensing Yan Yu’s disordered aura, the Empress Dowager would have gladly dragged Qin Yu over and questioned him thoroughly on the spot.

”This little rabbit...”

Qin Yu sensed her condition and couldn’t help but feel a wave of heartache.

The little rabbit’s internal state could be described as a mess; the black Qi she was tainted with had an overwhelming devouring ability, and Qin Yu could sense her life’s vitality rapidly ebbing away.

Even if Yan Yu could rely on her strong cultivation to temporarily suppress it, at most it would be a few days, fearing that...

”I’ll help little Yan Yu suppress it and see if we can hold out until we reach the Imperial Capital.”

When the Empress Dowager spoke, even she lacked some confidence.

After all, this place was quite far from the Imperial Capital, and even she couldn’t reach it in a short time.

And during this time, whether Yan Yu could endure was truly uncertain.

”Empress Dowager, I have a way, perhaps we could try.” Qin Yu spoke timely, his voice steady, interrupting the worry in the Empress’s heart.

”Oh? Truly?”

The Empress Dowager, upon hearing this, her gaze suddenly brightened, and she urged, ”Then quickly proceed, do not hesitate.”

Originally, Qin Yu intended to explain, as his cultivation didn’t seem impressive, making it hard to believe. Yet unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager, with her simple nature, harbored not the slightest doubt about his words.

Qin Yu couldn’t help but suspect, isn’t this a fake Empress Dowager?!

How could she so easily trust others?

Luckily, she encountered him; if she were to meet a villain outside, what would become of her?!

She wouldn’t be abducted, would she?

Of course, Qin Yu didn’t know that the reason the Empress Dowager trusted him was because she could ’see’ the blazing blood flowing within him.

It was like the blazing sun, seemingly able to purify all evil and filth.

And most importantly... the so-called auspiciousness could turn misfortune into blessing.

Otherwise, on the day the Empress Dowager took this princess out of the palace, the Great Yan Empress would have already pursued her.

Apparently, in that Empress’s heart, there still existed a sliver of... hope.

What if this auspicious figure could resolve the hidden danger within Ling’Er?!

”Swish!”

With a soft sound, the Empress Dowager lightly raised her jade hand, as if plucking at the strings of time and space, and a majestic Flying Carriage suddenly floated in mid-air.

The entire frame seemed to be forged from Celestial Profound Iron, emitting a deep luster, intricately carved with a golden phoenix poised to fly; each feather was depicted with meticulous detail, lifelike, as if ready to spread its wings and soar to the ninth heaven at any moment.

Compared to this Flying Carriage, the flying ship Qin Yu had used before was simply a crude little boat with a roof.

”This...”

Qin Yu hesitated; Yan Yu’s injuries were close to critical, no further delays could be afforded.

Using that method to heal Yan Yu’s injuries inside this exclusive Phoenix Carriage of the Empress Dowager?!

Just thinking about it...

It was too thrilling!

In a moment of distraction, Qin Yu felt his body lighten, and in the next instant, he was already inside the Phoenix Carriage.

”Begin.”

The Empress Dowager said to Qin Yu, her eyes carrying a hint of expectation.

”Here?”

Qin Yu’s expression became somewhat unnatural.

In front of the Empress Dowager, and the Princess?!

Isn’t that improper?

”What?”

The Empress Dowager was a bit puzzled; she felt that the man’s expression looked a little odd.

”Empress Dowager, the process of my healing... isn’t suitable to be seen by others, please arrange a room for me instead.” Qin Yu said sheepishly.

Though he actually didn’t mind much, he hadn’t intended to court death.

The Empress Dowager’s capabilities were unknown to him, but just seeing her almost instantaneously vanquish that shadow indicated that this accomplished Empress Dowager was anything but simple.

The Empress Dowager didn’t speak, instead looking towards Yan Yu.

Seeing Yan Yu still nestled in Qin Yu’s embrace, the Empress Dowager agreed after all, ”You may choose any room you like.”

Heh heh.

Thinking that hiding in a room, she wouldn’t see anything?!

This little Golden Core was far too naïve.

This is her Phoenix Carriage!