Listening to the conversation between Wan Huaiyu and Qin Hao, An Ran felt her heart pounding with fear. She hadn't noticed any so-called old monsters at Xiao Zhe Manor, and from the sound of it, there had been ten or twenty old-timers watching from the shadows. Thinking about it carefully now, it was truly terrifying.
To be unable to sense their presence—if they had decided to make a move against her, she probably wouldn't even have known how she died.
"Besides Canyang Mountain and the Nine-Star Ancient Cave Mansions," An Ran asked, "exactly how many experts are hiding in the Great Northwest?"
"Many," Wan Huaiyu replied. "But they rarely show themselves, so few know of them. They are old monsters who have cultivated for who knows how many years, or great powers who are reincarnated True Immortals. Their Primordial Spirit Dharma Aspects are ever-changing, profound and wondrous, with divine abilities born of their own cultivation. Among them are those who have endured dozens of tribulations, even centenarian elders who have weathered a hundred."
If the earlier conversation had made An Ran's heart race, hearing about 'ever-changing, profound and wondrous, self-formed divine ability' Primordial Spirit Dharma Aspects made her scalp tingle.
Primordial Spirit Dharma Aspects, ever-changing, profound and wondrous, with divine abilities born of their own cultivation...
Although this realm was not that of an Earth Immortal, their strength was absolutely not inferior to one. Especially that phrase 'dozens of tribulations, centenarian elders'—it was utterly terrifying.
The path of cultivation spoke of three calamities, six hardships, and nine tribulations.
Leaving aside the three calamities and six hardships for now, the so-called nine tribulations were not just nine, but immeasurable, endless. Each person's fortune was different, and so were the tribulations they encountered.
The most common tribulations included the life-span tribulations that must be crossed every ninth year, the transformation tribulations during Primordial Spirit metamorphosis, the heart tribulations during Dao-heart tempering, the profound tribulations when the Dharma Aspect reached wondrous levels, and so on.
Beyond these, if one had great fortune—such as a Nature's Color Spirit, or reaching the eighty-first level of Transcendence—they would also face Color Spirit Tribulations.
Treasure Physiques and other forms of fortune all had corresponding tribulations.
These were the so-called Fortune Tribulations.
Only by overcoming the corresponding tribulations could one become more refined, more powerful. This applied to cultivation base, and Fortune was no exception.
An Ran had seen people who had endured ten tribulations, twenty, thirty... but she had never met anyone who had surpassed fifty tribulations. As for the legendary centenarian elders, she hadn't even heard of them.
Could it be that the old monsters hiding in the Great Northwest were all elders who had endured dozens, even a hundred tribulations?
What left An Ran even more speechless was hearing Wan Huaiyu say that even so, these old monsters still didn't dare to act rashly against Gu Qingfeng.
Was Gu Qingfeng truly so powerful as to be invincible under heaven?
"Miss An Ran, I told you that Young Lord Chiyan's strength is far, far more terrifying than you can imagine," Qin Hao said.
Wan Huaiyu added, "What's even more frightening is that the Great Northwest also hides several individuals who are just as mysterious, just as unknown, just as bizarre as Young Lord Chiyan."
"You're saying there are several more bizarre, supremely powerful people like Young Lord Chiyan in the Great Northwest?"
An Ran had lost count of how many times Wan Huaiyu's words had shocked her. She had always thought she understood the Great Northwest fairly well, but now, listening to Wan Huaiyu, she realized she had been a frog at the bottom of a well all along.
Wan Huaiyu nodded. "Yes. At least four or five that I've encountered."
"That many? Who are they?"
"Edict Envoys."
Hearing 'Imperial Edict,' An Ran felt as if struck by lightning, both stunned and horrified. She had heard of the Imperial Edicts and knew what Edict Envoys represented. In her mind, so-called Edict Envoys were akin to gods—even Immortals had to show them deference.
What An Ran found unimaginable was that there were four or five Edict Envoys in the Great Northwest, yet she had never seen one, hadn't even heard of their presence.
"If my guess is correct," Wan Huaiyu's voice came again, deepening An Ran's astonishment, "among those coming from the Immortal Dynasty this time, there should be an Edict Envoy."
"Whether they are Dharma Aspect Grand Venerables, reincarnated great powers, centenarian elders, geniuses of Fortune, Immortals, or Edict Envoys—they have all come for the Heavenly Destiny. And if the Heavenly Destiny truly manifests in the Great Northwest, it is destined to stir up a storm of bloodshed."
"Miss An Ran, I know your An family has always aspired to foster peaceful coexistence between the Immortal Office and the Chizi Head, while also bestowing favors upon the many sects of the Great Northwest. That is a noble aspiration, but unrealistic. Especially with the appearance of the Heavenly Destiny, the Immortal Office will inevitably be drawn in. As a member of the Immortal Office, you will be no exception. However, once you are caught up in the commotion surrounding the Heavenly Destiny, life and death will no longer be in your hands."
"Take care."
With these words, Wan Huaiyu and Qin Hao departed one after another, leaving An Ran alone, her emotions in turmoil, unable to regain her composure for a long time.
On their journey, Wan Huaiyu and Qin Hao rode the wind, their speed sometimes fast, sometimes slow, their figures flickering in and out of sight—truly profound and wondrous.
Suddenly, both men stopped simultaneously.
Then a calm voice slowly drifted over: "Heh. The two of you have always kept a low profile and avoided contact with others. Why this sudden show of kindness in advising the young lady of the An family? Could it be that you two have also been moved by mortal desires? Hmm? Hehehe..."
As the voice faded, a dim radiance bloomed in the air like a flower, and a figure abruptly appeared.
It was a woman in black.
A woman veiled and holding a black cat.
Neither Wan Huaiyu nor Qin Hao showed any surprise; they both recognized this woman.
Since their reincarnations, the two had seen many reincarnated great powers in the Great Northwest. But the most mysterious, most bizarre, most unfathomable among them was undoubtedly this woman before them. Besides knowing her name was Ruying, they knew nothing else about her.
"It's been a while. I trust you've been well?"
Ruying stood in the air, her form as ethereal and indistinct as mist, both real and illusory, giving a feeling of extreme instability—as if she might vanish or dissipate at any moment.
"Miss Ruying, we meet again," Wan Huaiyu and Qin Hao each responded.
"My, your words truly gave Miss An Ran quite a fright," Ruying said softly, stroking her black cat as she gazed in the direction An Ran had departed. "But why did you tell her to leave the Immortal Office? Are you so certain the Immortal Office is doomed to fall?"
"Whether the Immortal Office falls or not, I do not know. I only know that staying there will inevitably entangle one in the strife over the Heavenly Destiny."
"Heh. Heavenly Destiny..." Ruying looked up at the sky, a strange glint appearing in her eyes, as if filled with many doubts. After a long moment, she asked, "If the Heavenly Destiny truly manifests in the Great Northwest, will the two of you make a move to seize it?"
Wan Huaiyu shook his head. "The Great Northwest is a place where tigers crouch and dragons hide. Even if we had the desire to contend, we would lack the capability. Rather than inviting ridicule upon ourselves, it's better to stay far from the conflict."
"Hehe. The two of you are far too modest."