Wang Pai was the Chancellor of the current dynasty, deeply trusted by the Huangfu family. He was also the most loyal hound to An Qiyue before the situation in the Shuiyun Kingdom shifted. Chancellor Wang himself possessed the cultivation of the Eighth Heaven of Bagua Realm, and the Chancellor’s residence was teeming with masters; some said Wang Pai’s mansion housed more experts than the combined forces of the great aristocratic families.

Even Huangfu Zhu displayed no arrogance befitting a young prince when facing Wang Pai, addressing him with considerable respect while introducing Ji Changkong.

Wang Pai, however, seemed highly intrigued by Ji Changkong, subtly probing for information regarding the situation in the East Sea. It was unclear whether his interest was genuine concern for the East Sea or suspicion regarding Ji Changkong’s true identity.

Although Ji Changkong had never visited the East Sea, he possessed some fragmented knowledge of its affairs through indirect channels. Under Wang Pai’s persistent questioning, he skillfully wove in discussions about certain aspects of the East Sea, subtly guiding the conversation. This caused Wang Pai to nod approvingly in secret; it appeared his suspicions about Ji Changkong's identity had mostly dissipated.

Wang Pai did not linger in conversation with Ji Changkong. Prompted by Huangfu Zhu, Wang Pai wisely excused himself, extending a warm invitation for Ji Changkong to visit the Chancellor’s residence should he have time, claiming they had connected splendidly.

Ji Changkong maintained a facade of deference, feigning acceptance of Wang Pai’s suggestion; in front of Huangfu Zhu, he and Wang Pai appeared to get along exceptionally well.

“Island Master Ding. The Chancellor wields terrifying power within the Shuiyun Kingdom; aside from our Huangfu family, he can practically cover the sky with one hand. Most importantly, my aunt trusts him implicitly and delegates many domestic affairs to him. If you can foster a good relationship with him, it will greatly benefit your future,” Huangfu Zhu offered as a subtle reminder.

With a broad grin, Ji Changkong spoke carelessly, “I’ve heard of the Chancellor’s reputation, certainly. But with my own strength, I don't need to grovel before anyone. The world is vast; even outside the Shuiyun Kingdom, I can soar freely!” His tone of arrogance matched his assumed status, and these words, instead of sounding presumptuous to Huangfu Zhu, made him regard Ji Changkong with even greater importance.

Indeed, upon hearing this, Huangfu Zhu immediately plastered on a fawning smile, nodding repeatedly, “Quite so, quite so. With Island Master Ding’s realm and cultivation, you naturally are not bound by trivial constraints.”

As they spoke, they unconsciously traveled deeper into the Imperial Palace. Ji Changkong didn't need to deliberately release his divine sense to perceive currents of energy lurking in the shadows—energies that compelled even him to exercise extreme caution. The Shuiyun Kingdom’s Imperial Palace was naturally a gathering place for formidable experts. A quick mental calculation revealed at least three masters of the Eighth Heaven of Bagua, and no fewer than ten of the Seventh Heaven of Seven Stars!

This combined force was no less potent than any single major aristocratic family. If the might of the Huangfu family residing behind the palace were added, the power they commanded would be even more overwhelming!

The entire reason Ji Changkong sought entry into the palace on this trip was to gauge precisely how many hidden experts resided within, so he would have a clear picture should a conflict ever erupt between Xuanyuan Valley and the Huangfu family.

Having achieved mastery in the Star Cloud Soul Refining Art, his control over his divine soul had reached a level that bordered on the supernatural. Right there within the palace, Ji Changkong secretly unfurled his soul, stretching it out like minute, ethereal threads of profound energy, slowly permeating every corner of the palace grounds.

If anyone had attempted to use their divine sense to peer into Ji Changkong’s mind at that moment, they would have seen his consciousness as an intricate, finely woven net. These threads of soul-energy deftly mapped the very structure of the palace, radiating outward, constantly feeding him the diverse information they gathered.

A faint tremor ran through his mind. Ji Changkong suddenly realized that every niche and corner of the palace had been indelibly imprinted upon his consciousness by the subtle probing of his divine soul. In this mystical state, the palace walls and various obstructions seemed utterly incapable of hindering his investigation. The activities in every secluded corner, every private chamber, manifested vividly within his mind.

In a momentary trance, he felt as if he had suddenly gained hundreds, perhaps thousands, of eyes, capable of piercing through stone barriers. In this miraculous fashion, the entire scene of the palace was captured in his mind: every flower and blade of grass, every person, every exotic beast, every hushed conversation...

Everything transformed into waves of subtle energy, manifesting magically within his consciousness!

Huangfu Zhu abruptly halted before a stone pillar carved with massive dragons. Just as he was preparing to announce their arrival, a strange sensation washed over him. He turned to glance at Ji Changkong and froze, stunned.

Although Huangfu Zhu’s cultivation was not high, one look at Ji Changkong revealed an anomalous quality to his appearance, a subtle, indescribable strangeness emanating from him. Thinking deeply, a spark ignited in Huangfu Zhu’s eyes; he instantly realized that in that fraction of a second, Ji Changkong had merged seamlessly with the aura of the Imperial Palace itself.

“Island Master Ding!” Huangfu Zhu hesitated, then tentatively called out softly.

“Hmm?” Ji Changkong’s eyes were slightly narrowed, his divine soul continuing its unobstructed spread in all directions.

Boom! Rumble!

Suddenly, those incredibly faint threads of probing divine sense, located within the palace hall ahead, seemed to collide with an invisible spiritual barrier. Those threads of intrusive soul energy immediately recoiled—

A sharp, subtle pain flared in his mind. The slightly narrowed eyes of Ji Changkong snapped open, releasing a piercing cold light. Without waiting for Huangfu Zhu to speak, he moved his soul, secretly employing a soul-transformation technique often used by the Ghost Demon King of the Grayish Mountain Range. He gathered the scattered strands of his soul and violently reshaped them into a snarling, monstrous fiend, which roared within the palace hall ahead, extending razor-sharp claws toward the spiritual barrier.

He could keenly sense an immensely powerful vital fluctuation behind that barrier! Considering the direction from which Huangfu Zhu had led him and the opulent nature of the hall before them, the person inside was undoubtedly the target of this visit: Empress Huangfu Yue!

Riiip!

The sound of real jade silk tearing echoed from the palace hall. The spiritual barrier set up by the person inside was actually ripped apart by the soul-monster conjured by Ji Changkong’s divine sense! The fiend surged forward and immediately beheld the Empress of the Shuiyun Kingdom, Huangfu Yue, seated regally upon the throne.

Huangfu Yue’s expression was detached, but a glint of strange light flashed across her phoenix eyes. She flicked her fingers, and five beams of faint light shot forward like lightning, slicing the soul-monster conjured by Ji Changkong into five pieces.

“Magnificent technique!” Ji Changkong burst into laughter, suddenly proclaiming, “I have long heard that the Empress of Shuiyun is one of the foremost experts under heaven. Meeting you today, your reputation is truly well-earned!”

From behind the wall, a slight movement touched the corner of Huangfu Yue’s mouth. Her commanding voice drifted slowly out, “Island Master Ding’s divine soul is incomparably wondrous. Once materialized, it possesses such fierce offensive capability. Truly worthy of the Master of an East Sea island.”

“Auntie...” Before entering, Huangfu Zhu heard Huangfu Yue’s voice from within and exclaimed with pleasant surprise.

“You may withdraw now, and let Island Master Ding enter,” Huangfu Yue’s voice instructed, calm and measured, from inside.

Huangfu Zhu’s expression faltered slightly, but he shot Ji Changkong a subtle glance before bowing respectfully, “I understand.” As soon as the words left his mouth, Huangfu Zhu bowed deeply and slowly retreated.

His divine soul returned to his mind. Ji Changkong laughed heartily, strode confidently into the opulent hall, and looked up at the elevated Huangfu Yue, “I pay my respects to Her Majesty, the Empress of the Shuiyun Kingdom.”

Huangfu Yue waved a hand, the corner of her mouth curving into a rather amused angle. “Island Master Ding appears rough around the edges, but his thoughts are quite meticulous.”

Ji Changkong smiled nonchalantly, knowing full well that his prior soul-probing of the palace had not escaped her notice, yet showing not an ounce of embarrassment. “Your Majesty, please forgive my offense. I have a habit: wherever I go, I must first grasp the surrounding situation firmly in my mind.”

“Only when everything is clear can one adapt as needed and preserve oneself to the greatest extent possible,” Huangfu Yue nodded. “That is the habit of a true master. Island Master Ding acting this way demonstrates not only an astonishing realm but also the experience and disposition to match it. Only such experts can survive long in this world.”

“Masters who believe themselves invincible in this world often end up ganged up on and killed,” Ji Changkong grinned, his gaze briefly sweeping over the shadowed area behind Huangfu Yue before he chuckled, “Her Majesty, I have no desire to be that kind of master.”

Hearing this, a faint smile touched Huangfu Yue’s lips; she seemed to find this man somewhat interesting.

Huangfu Yue’s appearance was not stunning; in fact, among women, her features could only be called ordinary, with nothing particularly outstanding about her overall bearing. Yet, wherever she was, provided people were present, she would invariably become the absolute center of attention.

This was not due to her looks, but because of her presence! It was the air of complete, unshakeable composure that suggested everything in the world was held securely in her grasp.

When she refrained from consciously releasing the powerful aura unique to masters of the Eighth Heaven of Bagua, she gave the impression that nothing in this world could possibly trouble her. But when she chose to unleash the Emperor’s Aura she had cultivated over many years, she projected an unparalleled kingly majesty that suggested she could alter the heavens and command the world!

“What do you want?” Huangfu Yue gazed deeply at Ji Changkong, then suddenly inquired after a pause.

Ji Changkong’s expression shifted, becoming slightly complex.

“A figure like Island Master Ding would not come to see me unless he had a serious purpose, even if my Xiao Zhu pleaded for years,” Huangfu Yue smiled faintly. “Since you wish to see me, you must have matters to discuss. I wonder what those matters are? Heh heh, with your cultivation, worldly power probably holds no attraction for you, so I am genuinely curious. Curious about Island Master Ding’s objective.”

In her conversation with him, Huangfu Yue never referred to herself as “this Empress” or “I,” as if considering herself merely an ordinary cultivator. If Ji Changkong hadn't known her deep-seated ambition to confront the Ji family, he might not have believed she possessed such vast ambition coupled with such narrow-mindedness.

“The same as you all, I wish for the Xuanyuan Valley to be destroyed!” Ji Changkong’s mouth was wide in a smile, but his heart remained cautiously guarded.