Chapter 337: A Secret Meeting with Empress
Chapter 337: A Secret Meeting with Empress
Xiang Ling found herself walking the quiet halls of the Heavenly Palace. Her steps were purposeful as she made her way to a secluded chamber where the Heavenly Empress awaited her.
She noticed how Her Majesty held a calm but inquisitive expression as she entered the room. Despite the fact that they were meeting in such a secretive manner, they both appeared way too calm.
"High Immortal Xing," the Empress greeted her with a graceful nod. "I trust your journey here was uneventful?"
Xiang Ling lowered her head in respect while officially greeting the Empress. "It was. Thank you for meeting with me on such short notice, Your Majesty."
The Empress gestured for her to sit as her piercing gaze watched Xiang Ling carefully. "You mentioned you had two requests. What is it that you seek from me?"
Xiang Ling took a deep breath, her heart steadying as she prepared to speak. These requests would change everything, and once they were made, there would be no turning back.
Looking straight into the Empress’ gaze, she spoke, "I might have found a way to end this war. But I have a condition and it needs your help."
If it had been the High Council where she would have said these words, almost everyone would have ridiculed her for saying something so audacious. However, the Heavenly Empress showed no such reaction. She remained calm and just observed Xiang Ling in silence, not responding immediately.
After certain long moments of silence had passed, the Heavenly Empress finally asked, "How sure are you that your plan will work?"
The faintest smile possible spilled on Xiang Ling’s, not because of the Empress’ question but at the confirmation that she didn’t make any mistake when she chose to confide with the Empress with such an important matter despite knowing the consequences.
Taking in a deep breath, she answered, "I’m fully confident that my plan will work. I will be joining our army in this war and I will be the one to kill the Shadow Lord. I need something for you... something that belongs to the Heaven Realm’s treasury."
Once again, the Empress showed no immediate reaction and just sat there while studying Xiang Ling. This time, she asked another question when she finally spoke - "So, you are going to inform them about your plan too."
It wasn’t a question and Xiang Ling knew excatly whom the Empress was talking about. "I will tell them about my plan to join the war. But they don’t need to know all the details. Let’s keep this between us... until or unless you think doing the otherwise will be for the best."
A spark of curiosity finally filled the Empress’ eyes and she asked, "Why are you putting so much trust in me? Our past records... they haven’t been that great for you to trust me with something like this. Do they?"
Xiang Ling smiled at the Empress’ words, recalling the so-called past records. "You are Li Xian’s mother and someone he respects and trusts a lot. Also, whatever you did in the past, it was for the best. And most importantly, you are the Mother of the Five Realms, you will do what’s best for everyone."
With a soft smile playing on her lips, she continued, "I think these are enough reasons for me to trust you."
This time, a smile lifted the corners of the Empress’ lips as well. Pointing her gaze, that had turned slightly soft compared to before, she spoke, "I might finally understand why my son is so deeply in love with you. Maybe I’m no longer that opposed to the idea of you being my future daughter-in-law."
Xiang Ling suddenly felt her cheeks turning warmer. She wasn’t prepared for such a statement from the Empress, and thus, she had nothing to say in response. She just sat there awkwardly while a part of her was busy celebrating the acceptance.
Few moments of silence passed between the two before the Empress spoke again, her voice back to its usual calm and serious tone that held authority and power in it. "Tell me, what do you want from the treasury."
Xiang Ling looked up at the woman sitting across her and relief finally washed over her at the confirmation that the Empress had agreed to help her. She immediately revealed the item that she needed and saw as a flicker of shock crossed the Empress’ eyes.
"Why do you need that?" The Empress demanded.
"I know that the Shadow Lord needs to die for this war to end once and for all. But..." Xiang Ling tried to collect her scattered thoughts, but it wasn’t that easy to admit the betrayal she had received. "... please trust me, Your Majesty. I will not do anything that will endanger the peace of the Five Realms and the lives of the innocents. I will use this item wisely."
The Empress didn’t reject or accepted her request immediately, instead, she looked deep in her thoughts as if she was pondering her decision. After what seemed like an eternity, but were merely five long minutes, she finally answered, "Alright. I will give you what you want. But you might need another treasure if you are going to kill the Shadow Lord."
"You know how to kill him?" Xiang Ling asked.
"I have been trying to study this matter for centuries as I feared weight face the current predicament one day. Though I wasn’t too hopeful, I finally found something of great importance." The Empress answered much to Xiang Ling’s surprise.
The reason the Gods failed to kill the Shadow Lord during the last battle was not only because the Shadow Lord was extremely powerful, but also because they found it impossible to destroy the Shadow Lord’s primordial spirit. Since then, everyone had believed that the Shadow Lord was the true Immortal.
That’s why Xin Cheng and Dao Ming were trying to seal the Shadow Lord back in the Abyssal Lands. No one even thought about killing him.
However, there might finally be a way of killing him...!