Chapter 516: Luo Bingyao's Thoughts

Gu Yuan's thought stirred.

The Heaven-bearing Meridian of the 123rd Immortal Meridian trembled slightly.

A strand of aura, so weak it was almost undetectable, the purest heavenly Dao law from the external primordial immortal realm, following the unseen causal link, was precisely projected by him into Li Chengqian's sea of consciousness.

Boom!

Li Chengqian, who was painstakingly pondering and unable to find the entrance, felt as if billions of stars simultaneously exploded in his mind.

Countless profound and mysterious supreme truths of the Great Dao, like sweet dew anointing the crown, surged into his divine soul.

The bottleneck that had troubled him for years instantly collapsed before this vast law.

"I... I have understood!"

Li Chengqian raised his head and let out a long howl, his voice filled with ecstasy.

His inner mana began to frenziedly circulate, gathering toward the dantian qi sea, where the already perfectly polished Heavenly Emperor Dao Fruit resided.

Crack!

A clear ringing sound.

A fine crack split open on his Heavenly Emperor Dao Fruit.

Immediately after, a second, then a third...

The Dao Fruit shattered, reforging into a True Immortal!

A terrifying pressure, far surpassing the Heavenly Emperor Realm, shot up from his body and swept across the entire Xihun Province.

Countless laboring mortals, feeling this pressure, fell to their knees and kowtowed toward the direction of the high mountain peak.

"The Human Emperor... the Human Emperor has become an immortal!"

Li Chengqian hovered in midair, feeling the unprecedented powerful force within his body, tears streaming down his face.

He knew that all of this was someone's grace.

He straightened his robes, and respectfully performed the three bows and nine kowtows toward the void Heavenly Dome of the Divine Kingdom.

"The Divine Lord's grace of recreation, Chengqian will never forget!"

Gu Yuan withdrew his gaze, neither affirming nor denying all of this.

To him, this was merely a trifling effort.

His gaze fell upon the last name on the list, which was also the most important.

Luo Bingyao.

In the scene.

Divine Kingdom, Dongxuan Province, New Luoyang Imperial City.

Upon the resplendent golden hall, Luo Bingyao, clad in a black dragon robe and wearing an imperial crown, sat properly upon the dragon throne symbolizing supreme authority.

Her countenance was majestic, anger emanating without anger, as she listened to the reports of the officials below.

"Your Majesty, the spirit rice yield of the three southern counties of Dongxuan Province has reached a new high, expected to increase by thirty percent this year..."

"Your Majesty, the newly developed spirit puppet from the Ministry of Works has been put into use, capable of replacing mortals to complete most of the ore mining work..."

The imperial court presented a scene of flourishing prosperity.

Just then.

Luo Bingyao's ancient well‑still phoenix eyes suddenly narrowed slightly.

She abruptly rose, her gaze piercing the hall's ceiling and looking toward that empty sky.

There, she sensed a familiar aura that made her divine soul tremble.

It is the Divine Lord!

The Divine Lord... has descended!

She rose abruptly, not even having time to explain anything to the startled officials below.

She quickly descended the nine‑layer jade steps to the center of the main hall.

Then, under the astonished gazes of all the ministers.

The empress who had ruled Dongxuan Province for decades, her dignity deeply ingrained in the people, lifted the hem of her dragon robe and, facing the empty dragon throne, respectfully dropped to her knees and prostrated herself fully.

"Luo Bingyao, respectfully welcoming the Divine Lord's arrival!"

Her voice, clear and devout, echoed in the silent imperial court.

Before her words faded.

Upon the empty dragon throne, space rippled faintly.

A white‑clad figure appeared out of thin air, as if he had been seated there since time immemorial.

It was Gu Yuan.

He calmly looked down at the kneeling Luo Bingyao, then glanced at the civil and military officials frozen in place, their faces full of shock and bewilderment, and flicked his finger.

The pressure that had shrouded the imperial court instantly dissipated.

"Huff... huff..."

The officials, like drowning persons, regained the right to breathe, each gulping air, their bodies drenched in cold sweat.

They gazed at the overly youthful figure on the dragon throne, then at the empress kneeling on the ground, their minds utterly confused.

Divine Lord?

"Your Majesty the Empress... calls that young man the Divine Lord?"

Could he be the one who created this world, granted them rebirth, that legendary... creator god?

"All of you, retreat."

Gu Yuan's voice sounded, plain yet carrying an undeniable majesty.

The officials, as if pardoned, dared not linger, each bowing slightly and cautiously withdrawing from the main hall.

In the blink of an eye, the vast court was left with only Gu Yuan and Luo Bingyao.

"Rise." Gu Yuan spoke.

"Thank the God Sovereign."

Luo Bingyao rose slowly, but her head remained deeply bowed, not daring to look directly at the figure on the Dragon Throne.

Before Gu Yuan, she never dared to show the slightest imperial majesty.

She was merely a lowly follower rescued by the divine from the brink of destruction.

Gu Yuan looked at her, and a thought stirred.

A portal of light unfolded beside him.

Clad in blue palace robes, with a cool and aloof demeanor, the Moon Fairy stepped slowly out of the light gate.

She first curiously surveyed the resplendent palace, then her gaze fell upon Luo Bingyao.

As fellow True Immortals, she could sense that the woman before her, dressed in a dragon robe, possessed a cultivation far superior to her own!

She must already have reached the True Immortal realm!

Luo Bingyao also noticed the Moon Fairy.

Looking at the suddenly appearing stunning woman, a flicker of complex emotion crossed her phoenix eyes.

There was wariness, there was scrutiny, but more than that, an inexplicable... sense of crisis.

She could sense that this woman, like herself, was also a follower of the God Sovereign.

Moreover, she seemed... to have arrived at the God Sovereign's side a step earlier than she had.

No!

A thought, like lightning, flashed across Luo Bingyao's mind.

She cannot be outdone!

She governed East Xuan Province for the God Sovereign, establishing meritorious service.

But such service could be replaced by any capable administrator.

To forever follow at the God Sovereign's side, she needed to demonstrate her irreplaceable value!

And, even more absolute... loyalty!