Chapter 62: Revealing Identity

People gossip about the winds and clouds; the Holy Mother of Jade Pool rarely appears, and everyone wishes to see her graceful bearing.

Jade Pool accepts only female disciples, each as beautiful as a celestial maiden, especially the Holy Maiden of Jade Pool, who ranks among the top three in the entire Eastern Wasteland.

When the Holy Mother of Jade Pool was still a Holy Maiden, she was also a peerless beauty of her generation, unknown how many regarded her as a confidante, not to mention her suitors.

After all these years, word is her charm remains! "It's a pity I couldn't see her in person; truly regrettable!"

Jade Pool kept its usual style, not too ostentatious; under everyone's anticipation, only a few divine lights flashed into the main hall, without even a silhouette seen.

"It's the aura of a great power; definitely not mistaken!"

Someone exclaimed, involuntarily shaking their head and sighing, only able to continue admiring the scenery and tasting the delicacies with regret.

At the main hall gate, several figures approached—the Holy Maiden of Jade Pool with two Jade Pool disciples, accompanying a woman; needless to say, this is the Holy Mother of Jade Pool.

The Holy Mother of Jade Pool wore her hair in a high bun adorned with nine phoenix feathers, mist and rosy clouds cascading down; she was extremely dignified and pure, strikingly beautiful, with myriad graceful manners.

She showed no sign of aging, her skin crystal clear like sheep fat; compared to the Holy Maiden of Jade Pool, she was hardly inferior.

Besides that, her temperament was calm and refined, immensely powerful yet not oppressive, instead moistening the soul, making one feel like basking in spring breeze.

"Queen Mother of the West."

Yang Zhu rose to salute; this is the bare minimum of respect.

"Good, good, good, you needn't stand on ceremony; be as casual as you like."

The Queen Mother of the West smiled warmly, gesturing kindly with her hand, indicating Yang Zhu should sit.

She did not take the main seat but chose a spot closer to Yang Zhu, completely devoid of any airs of a great power.

"You all step back first."

The Queen Mother of the West dismissed her attendants; the Holy Maiden of Jade Pool was included, and soon only the two of them remained in the main hall.

The Jade Pool Holy Land was founded single-handedly by the Queen Mother of the West, who herself is an innate Dao fetus; thus her lineage has always favored this constitution.

The Queen Mother of the West originally intended to win over the Holy Body Dao fetus, but that was unnecessary; given her status, a mere friendly gesture sufficed.

But just now, a major incident occurred within Jade Pool; the Queen Mother of the West knew it might concern Yang Zhu, hence her unusually cordial demeanor.

Yang Zhu's body was entwined with an invisible, murky chaotic qi, making it hard for others to discern reality from illusion.

"Your constitution is the purest I have seen in all these ages."

As a Dao fetus constitution, the Queen Mother of the West shares a primal resonance with Yang Zhu; even one as mighty as a great power cannot help but be astonished.

If the Holy Maiden of Jade Pool's bloodline were likened to a radiant gem, Yang Zhu would be like a rising sun, emitting dazzling divine light! "Do you know what happened inside Jade Pool before Yue'er came to find me?"

"I don't know." Yang Zhu shook his head.

"Just now, the Xi Huang Ta..."

The Queen Mother of the West's expression turned grave; this matter concerns the Extreme Dao Imperial Armament, allowing no negligence.

According to the Queen Mother of the West, half an hour before the Holy Maiden of Jade Pool returned to Jade Pool, the Xi Huang Ta hovering above Jade Pool suddenly trembled! The imperial armament quivered slightly, then countless streams of divine radiance poured down, each as thick as a silver waterfall, at least a hundred zhang wide, mighty and vast, completely inundating Jade Pool.

This is the first time in tens of thousands of years, without anyone activating it, that the imperial armament has shown such a reaction.

This commotion directly woke many elders, all assuming a major event was imminent, and they all went to investigate the details.

As the ruler of Jade Pool, the Queen Mother of the West has, over the years, developed a slight resonance with the imperial armament, from which she sensed a hint of joy.

Exactly, it is a kind of emotion akin to that of a person!

But soon enough, the Xi Huang Ta returned to normal, as if it had been restrained.

"Now I understand."

Yang Zhu nodded, already comprehended.

In fact, even when he was still ten thousand li from Jade Pool, he already felt a resonance.

The Xi Huang Ta, as an Extreme Dao weapon, is better regarded as a companion than merely the Great Emperor's imperial armament; it has long possessed sentience. Yang Zhu deliberately kept his distance from Jade Pool, surely for some reason, and since the Xi Huang Ta is in tune with his mind and spirit, it naturally sensed him, thus quickly returning to normal.

"So I dare to ask, are you related to the Queen Mother of the West?"

The Queen Mother of the West noticed the abnormality of the imperial armament, already vaguely guessing some things, hence her courteous attitude toward Yang Zhu.

Yang Zhu came here without intending to conceal anything, speaking frankly: "The Queen Mother of the West is my grandmother."

As soon as these words were spoken, the space in the great hall froze for an instant; then the Queen Mother of the West sprang to her feet, utterly incredulous.

"Is… is this true? Are you really a descendant of the Great Emperor?"

She lost her usual composure, her voice trembling somewhat.

"Yes." Yang Zhu's face remained calm, without much fluctuation.

"The Holy Mother of Jade Pool has seen the Imperial Son."

The Queen Mother of the West brushed her sleeves, tidied her bearing, and performed a grand salute with utmost respect.

"Close kin of the Great Emperor"—the weight of these four words needs no further explanation.

"Descendant of the Queen Mother of the West"—that qualifies as the true master of Jade Pool; a single command and tens of thousands of disciples will obey without exception.

"Please rise."

Yang Zhu's heart was at peace; he had kept the Divine Source sealed for tens of thousands of years, his tempering far beyond that of ordinary people—even facing a forbidden zone would not arouse fear, let alone this situation.

"I heard the former Queen Mother mention that the Great Emperor might have an empress; I never expected it to be true."

Such matters in Jade Pool are top‑level secrets; only successive Holy Mothers may know them, not even the Grand Supreme Elder has the right to learn.

"As for why we meet here……"

Afterwards, Yang Zhu shared his thoughts with the Queen Mother of the West; toward this ruler of Jade Pool, he still felt he could trust.

"Now I understand, Imperial Son, you have gone to great trouble."

After hearing this, the Queen Mother of the West kept nodding, and her address to Yang Zhu naturally changed.

Thereafter the two talked at length, Yang Zhu revealing many secrets; some things needed to be made known to Jade Pool.

"Regarding my origins, let others not know for now."

"Understood."

The Queen Mother of the West nodded in agreement, then continued speaking.

These days the Imperial Son has been waiting, it would be better to stay here temporarily; we will certainly entertain him wholeheartedly.

Good.

After discussing everything, the Queen Mother of the West finally left, went out the main hall's great doors, and the maidservant who had been waiting long came immediately from afar.

The Queen Mother of the West glanced at the Holy Maiden of Jade Pool, then ordered: "Yue'er, you must wholeheartedly entertain Young Master Yang, treat her as you would treat me."

I... I don't quite understand.

The Holy Maiden of Jade Pool was somewhat stunned; she could still understand the first two sentences, but as for the latter sentence... its weight is too great, he fears he cannot grasp it well, so he specifically asks.

He represents the Jade Pool; anyone who targets him targets the entire Jade Pool.

After saying that, the Queen Mother of the West turned into a rosy light and departed, soon disappearing into the horizon.

Among the several great immortal forces, the Jade Pool is the most low-key, rarely taking part in disputes.

However, its inheritance spans the longest time; to speak without exaggeration, whether in strength or foundation, it is absolutely the strongest among the several great holy lands.

The Jade Pool does not like to engage in strife, but that does not mean it dares not; one wonders, over all these ages, has any force dared to openly provoke it?

(End of chapter)