Rise of the Sword Son-in-Law

Chapter 526: The Great Path Stele

"Welcome, everyone, to the palace for this grand banquet. The sole purpose of this feast is to showcase the talents of our Great Flame Immortal Dynasty."

"Additionally, I have an opportunity to offer you all tonight, which depends on whether you have the fortune to seize it," said the Great Flame Emperor with a smile.

The voice was deep and commanding, carrying an invisible sense of authority and dominance.

"An opportunity?" The talents around them all showed a hint of surprise; they hadn’t expected there to be an opportunity at tonight’s banquet.

Anything termed as an opportunity by the Great Flame Emperor was certainly not trivial.

Situ Xingfeng also harbored a trace of anticipation.

However, Xu Ping’an didn’t exhibit much emotional fluctuation.

Compared to these, he was more concerned about which distinguished figure from the Heavenly Spirit Realm had come this time.

"Haha, I’m sure you’re all curious. Actually, the opportunity isn’t provided by me, but by a prominent figure from the Heavenly Spirit Realm. Bring forth the envoy from the Heavenly Spirit Realm Immortal Palace," announced the Great Flame Emperor.

The next moment, an incredibly graceful figure dressed in an extremely ornate gown, stepped toward the great hall, bringing forth lotuses with every step.

Her feet were bare, yet with every step upon the void, she emanated an ethereal and celestial aura.

"Is it her?" Xu Ping’an was startled, puzzled by the identity of the newcomer.

He had never imagined that the envoy from the Immortal Palace would be her.

This woman, Xu Ping’an actually knew her.

Not just knew her, but was very familiar with her.

Because in his previous life, this woman was one of his personal servant maids, named Qiu Lu.

Back then, he had four personal servant maids: Chun Cao, Xia He, Qiu Lu, and Dong Xue.

All four women were rare beauties, yet Xu Ping’an never touched them.

Now, unexpectedly, he encountered her here.

Had she also pledged her allegiance to Ling Qingyao?

Indeed, what choice did a minor servant maid like her have?

"Five hundred years have passed, and Qiu Lu’s cultivation has only reached the Tenth Rank Peak. Her appearance hasn’t changed, looking like she has been an immortal for many years," Xu Ping’an mused to himself with some puzzlement.

In fact, the innate talent of the four maids wasn’t bad, and he occasionally rewarded and guided them.

Thus, they had already reached the Ninth Rank in cultivation five hundred years ago.

That Qiu Lu now possessed just the Tenth Rank Peak level of cultivation was somewhat surprising to Xu Ping’an.

Could it be that Qiu Lu’s talent had been exhausted, stuck at the Tenth Rank, unable to progress to the Eleventh Rank?

It was indeed a possibility.

After reaching the Tenth Rank, each breakthrough becomes extremely difficult.

Countless individuals get stuck at this realm, and Qiu Lu might be one of them.

Seeing Qiu Lu now, Xu Ping’an felt as if he was experiencing a life from another era.

Many talents around him gazed at Qiu Lu, their expressions filled with amazement.

This envoy of the Immortal Palace, so beautiful!

Even Situ Xingfeng was somewhat stupefied.

"As expected of the Immortal Palace Envoy, truly a celestial maiden descended to earth," exclaimed Situ Xingfeng wistfully.

Xu Ping’an laughed, "She may be older than your grandmother."

Upon hearing this, Situ Xingfeng instantly looked embarrassed.

"After reaching the Tenth Rank, one’s appearance remains unchanged, and they can live for a million years. Compared to her long life, her age is indeed youthful," Situ Lie laughed and said.

Xu Ping’an smiled and said nothing more.

At the Seventh Rank, one can live for a thousand years.

At the Eighth Rank, five thousand years.

The Ninth Rank can live for ten thousand years.

At the Tenth Rank, they can live for a direct hundred thousand years.

With such a long lifespan, five hundred years indeed was not much.

"I wonder what brings Qiu Lu here this time?" Xu Ping’an murmured to himself.

He had a feeling that Qiu Lu’s visit this time was related to his aunt.

"Great Flame Emperor, you don’t have to be polite. I’m just a maidservant under the Empress, not quite an envoy. Just calling me Qiu Lu is fine," said Qiu Lu, her tone flat yet dignified.

Upon hearing this, the surrounding prodigies marveled.

A maidservant with a cultivation level of the Tenth Rank Peak?

Just how powerful was this Immortal Palace?

The Great Flame Emperor was also secretly alarmed upon hearing this.

The strength of the Immortal Palace was indeed unfathomable.

"Envoy Qiu Lu, may I know if you have come on the Empress’s orders this time?" the Great Flame Emperor inquired.

"Yes, I have come by the Empress’s command to attend the grand ceremony of the imperial dynasty, to offer the Empress’s congratulations. Moreover, the Empress has heard of Your Majesty’s daughter being a natural-born divine maiden, and she would like to take her as a Direct Disciple. What do you think?" Qiu Lu said with a smile.

To take her as a Direct Disciple?

Everyone was immensely shocked.

The Empress of the Immortal Palace in the Heavenly Spirit Realm wants to take the Thirteenth Princess as her disciple?

If it were true, it would definitely be an earth-shattering event.

For a moment, everyone exhibited expressions of envy and jealousy.

Xu Ping’an’s brows furrowed deeply.

Ling Qingyao wanted to take his aunt as a disciple?

This was absolutely unacceptable.

If his aunt really became Ling Qingyao’s disciple, it would be troublesome later on.

"This can’t happen, I must stop it," Xu Ping’an thought to himself.

"Ha-ha, the Empress taking a disciple is a wonderful matter, but I must ask Chan’er herself. Envoy Qiu Lu, what you don’t know is that my daughter has always had her own ideas; she cannot be compelled to do anything she doesn’t want," the Great Flame Emperor said with a chuckle.

"Good, then let’s wait for the Thirteenth Princess to come out, and I’ll ask for her opinion too. But I believe she will be tempted," Qiu Lu stated.

"Of course, Envoy Qiu Lu, please take a seat and witness the talents of the Great Flame Immortal Dynasty. You mentioned giving them an opportunity earlier—they are all looking forward to it," the Great Flame Emperor said with laughter.

Hearing this, the prodigies all became eager, their eyes filled with anticipation.

Meanwhile, Xu Ping’an sighed with relief in his heart.

Thankfully, the Great Flame Emperor hadn’t agreed straight away; he still sought his aunt’s opinion.

There was still room for maneuver in this matter.

If the Great Flame Emperor had agreed immediately, it would have been trouble later on.

It seemed that the Great Flame Emperor truly cherished his aunt.

"Yes, this time my arrival is indeed on the command of the Empress. I have brought two precious artifacts, one of which is a gift to Your Majesty for the ceremony and has already been given to Your Majesty," Qiu Lu said.

The Great Flame Emperor nodded.

"These two are prepared for the prodigies of the Great Flame Immortal Dynasty, containing an abundance of opportunities. Whether they can obtain these opportunities depends on their own fate," Qiu Lu continued.

After finishing her words, she waved her hand, and a massive stele appeared in the hall.

The moment the stele appeared, the space of the hall twisted and shattered abruptly.

A terrifying primordial pressure emitted from the stele.

"What is this stele? It’s terrifying, it actually crushed the space." As they looked at the stele hovering in the hall, everyone showed a surprised expression.

They felt incredibly insignificant.

Even the Great Flame Emperor’s face showed surprise and gravity.

"What is this object that contains an extremely terrifying celestial force? It’s so powerful that even space can’t bear it?" Situ Lie couldn’t help but exclaim in shock.

"It’s a Dao Principle Stele, from the Source Ground of Dao Principle, an Ancient Times relic. I didn’t expect her to bring this object here," Xu Ping’an said.

Surprise filled his eyes as well.

Dao Principle Stele, this was as close to a Divine Object as it gets.

What was Ling Qingyao’s purpose in having Qiu Lu bring this object?