Two months have passed in the Great Han Divine Dynasty's capital, Chang'an City. The relationships between the four major powers in the Western Frontier remain relatively stable.
After the incident of Crown Prince Yu Xian of the Azure Profound Immortal Dynasty plotting rebellion, the Azure Profound Immortal Dynasty gradually calmed down. However, the farce of Yu Xian's rebellion became a laughingstock among the many beings in the Western Frontier.
The complete annihilation of two million troops from the Azure Profound Immortal Dynasty by the Black Tortoise and White Tiger Legions was handled by Kuai Tong and Lan Yu with minor adjustments, successfully deceiving the imperial court. The Azure Profound Immortal Dynasty paid no heed to the loss of two million-strong armies, as they possessed many such forces.
In the Imperial Study, Yang Hao meticulously reviewed Princess Zi Yi's academic progress. Due to his demanding schedule, he rarely had time to attend to his daughter. Earlier, Crown Prince Yang Chen could still take her out to play, but now, Yang Chen was solely focused on state affairs. Without anyone to accompany her, Zi Yi caused trouble throughout the palace, all in an effort to attract Yang Hao's attention.
"Divine Emperor, Xia Xin Yu requests an audience!"
Half an hour later, Wei Zhongxian arrived at the entrance of the Imperial Study. He stopped outside, bowed respectfully to Yang Hao within, and said solemnly.
"Xia Xin Yu?"
Yang Hao rose from Zi Yi's side, his brow furrowed. Two months ago, he had received a memorial from the Primordial Divine Mountain stating that Xia Xin Yu had matters to discuss.
Xia Xin Yu, who had disappeared for nearly a decade, had suddenly returned to the Western Frontier. He pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice, "Proceed to the Xuanzheng Hall!"
With the Undying City about to open, Xia Xin Yu's sudden return to the Great Han Divine Dynasty made Yang Hao apprehensive. Yun Shan had informed him that Xia Xin Yu had been lingering near the Undying City all these years. Yang Hao speculated that Xia Xin Yu had left the Western Frontier for the Undying City, and now that the time was right, why had she returned to the Western Frontier?
"Yes!"
Wei Zhongxian bowed and then withdrew.
"Father Emperor, you promised you would play with me!"
Zi Yi looked up, her face full of grievance.
"Be good, Zi Yi. I'll be back soon!"
Yang Hao smiled bitterly, shook his head, gently patted Zi Yi's head, and then walked out of the Imperial Study, heading towards the Xuanzheng Hall.
Soon, led by Wei Zhongxian, the woman he hadn't seen in decades reappeared in Yang Hao's sight.
"Xia Xin Yu, greetings, Immortal Emperor!"
Unlike their last encounter, the Xia Xin Yu before him was adorned with five-colored radiant light, and her eyes blazed with two streams of blood-red flame.
From the moment Xia Xin Yu entered the palace, Yang Hao could clearly perceive her true cultivation.
Supreme!
Yang Hao knew that the woman before him was the legendary Undying Immortal Phoenix of the Primordial Divine Mountain, a being from the era of the Immortal Lord, immensely powerful. She had merely undergone a Nirvana rebirth.
Sooner or later!
Xia Xin Yu would undoubtedly reach the pinnacle of the Three Thousand Dao Provinces!
This era would surely have a place for Xia Xin Yu!
"You are too kind, young lady."
Yang Hao, without assuming any airs, spoke with great composure.
Xia Xin Yu smiled lightly, but internally, she was still deeply shocked. When she had first met Yang Hao, he was merely a Saint. Now, thirty years later, he had reached the Saint Lord realm. Moreover, from the moment she entered Chang'an, she had sensed the auras of no less than four Supreme beings.
In just a few decades, Yang Hao, whom she had long considered beyond the caliber of an emperor, had still managed to surprise her significantly.
Although Hong'er and the other two had, with her help, reached the Quasi-Supreme realm, she felt Yang Hao's extraordinary nature even more in comparison.
"May I ask the reason for your visit, young lady?"
Yang Hao did not dally but asked directly.
Their relationship was not deep enough for pretense.
"Seeking aid!"
Xia Xin Yu smiled faintly. She was not angered by Yang Hao's directness and replied in a calm tone.
"Seeking aid?"
Yang Hao's eyebrows rose as he looked at Xia Xin Yu. After all, Xia Xin Yu was a formidable figure from the previous era, undoubtedly possessing many trump cards. Who would dare to provoke such a living fossil like her?
Furthermore, her own cultivation realm was already at the peak Supreme level!
Yang Hao guessed that the ancient elders of the Eight Great Families in the Central Continent would surely know Xia Xin Yu and would show her some respect.
Yang Hao looked at himself. The strongest among the heroes he currently possessed were only a few like Meng Tian, and he had only six Supreme beings at his disposal. If Xia Xin Yu could not resolve something, he would likely find it difficult as well.
Honestly speaking, Xia Xin Yu had played a significant role in the Primordial Divine Mountain's peaceful surrender to the Great Han Divine Dynasty. In essence, he owed her a favor.
"Does the Divine Emperor know of the Undying City?"
Xia Xin Yu's expression suddenly changed, and she looked at Yang Hao with gravity.
"I know a little about it, but my understanding is still quite vague!"
Yang Hao shook his head. He was not lying to Xia Xin Yu. The Great Han had only gathered fragments of information about the Undying City. After all, the current Great Han's focus was still on the Western Frontier, and it was still too early to venture into the Three Thousand Dao Provinces.
"The Undying City was known as Chang Sheng City in ancient times!"
"During the period when the Immortal Lord unified the Northern Nether and led his troops to the Eastern Far, in his pursuit of the Great Dao, he established Chang Sheng City in the Eastern Far. Later, when the Immortal Lord intended to sweep across the Three Thousand Dao Provinces and open the Path to Immortality to ascend to the Immortal Realm, he bestowed this city to the Wang family!"
"The War of the Gods erupted, shattering the Three Thousand Dao Provinces. The Undying City was the most terrifying battlefield of that era, without exception. Countless powerhouses perished, and great figures who had reached the pinnacle of their realms bled across the void. The wills of countless powerful beings clashed in the void above Chang Sheng City!"
"After the Immortal Lord unified the Three Thousand Provinces, he directly acted to cripple his best brother, Zhulong. The exact reason for the Immortal Lord's action is not entirely clear to me. At that time, my soul was severely damaged, and I was forced to undergo Nirvana!"
"Chang Sheng City housed the wills of countless great figures, which could further suppress Zhulong. Thus, the Immortal Lord sealed Zhulong's soul within Chang Sheng City. Later, to prevent Zhulong from escaping, the Immortal Lord acted again, sealing him along with thirty fragments of Dao Provinces!"
"After the Immortal Lord ascended to the Immortal Realm, the Wang family constructed an even more magnificent city, named Undying City, thirty li north of where the Immortal Lord had sealed Zhulong's soul!"
"The Undying City is about to open. However, to prevent the grand array from weakening over time, the Immortal Lord had set up numerous lethal arrays both inside and outside the formation. These arrays are only effective against beings at the level of a Small Heavenly Venerate or above!"
"I have endured countless ages, and the Primordial Divine Mountain has declined and cannot be relied upon. Therefore, to enter and exit the Undying City more safely, I have come to seek the Divine Emperor's aid!"
"Supreme beings?"
Yang Hao felt a bit hesitant. He could help Xia Xin Yu and repay the favor, but he also did not wish to draw the attention of the top powers in the Three Thousand Dao Provinces too early.
"Within the Undying City are many traces of the Immortal Lord's path to the Immortal Realm. Currently, the Path to Immortality has fallen, and the passage to the Immortal Realm from the Three Thousand Dao Provinces has been completely severed."