...

Dusk.

The sky gradually darkened, the night about to swallow the last threads of daylight.

At this moment.

In the Royal Capital, beneath the majestic North City Gate.

A magnificent horse, its body dark green like jade, with only four hooves pure white, named "Treading Snow Green Cavalier," trotted gracefully along the clean, snow-free official road, immediately catching the eyes of the city guards.

On horseback, a woman with an upright posture.

She wore an impeccably tailored long green dress underneath, accentuating her slender and elegant figure, her head adorned with a hood from which white gauze fell, hiding most of her face.

Only her delicately sculpted jaw line, lips of a faint cherry hue, and locks of hair, glossy as satin, were visible under the veil.

Though her full features remained unseen, the elegance emanating from that iceberg tip, along with her poised equestrian presence and naturally radiated aloof and exceptional demeanor, was enough to draw sidelong glances from the sparse passersby near the city gate.

The guards seemed unusually alert today, their gaze involuntarily drawn to this unique lady.

She bore no lavish ornaments, nor did her steed have any gaudy saddle, yet her innate nobility and sense of detachment compelled quiet reverence.

"Who might this noblewoman be? Just observing her stature and demeanor, she must undoubtedly be exceptionally gifted and beautiful!" a young city guard murmured to his companion, his eyes filled with admiration.

"Hush!" an older guard reprimanded softly, though his eyes followed the figure as well, whispering: "In these times, a woman with such outstanding demeanor, travelling alone! What ordinary woman could deserve such distinction? And in this freezing weather, she dons merely a spring-summer dress. She’s no average person! Moreover, the fabric of the dress—it’s Moonlight Brocade, a texture only achieved with top-grade materials like ice silkworm silk! Her background must be astonishingly grand!"

Upon hearing the elder guard’s words.

The young guard seemed shocked, understanding the meaning behind the elder’s words, then whispered: "Should we still verify her identity later?"

"Routine procedures must be observed! After all, this is the Royal Capital, and those in authority are watching! But remember to be polite and not to offend this lady!" the elder guard instructed softly, then briefed the surrounding guards further.

Moments later.

The woman arrived at the gates, along the official road.

Then, with a graceful leap, she dismounted.

She knew this was the Royal Capital, and only nobility could ride into the city.

Though eligible—being Princess Consort Qi—she preferred not to reveal her presence too early.

At least tonight, she desired a night of her own.

"Halt! To prevent court fugitives from entering the Royal Capital, please unveil your face!" an elderly city guard stepped forward, his tone filled with courtesy.

Upon hearing this, the woman hesitated momentarily, then slightly lifted the white gauze hanging from her hood.

As the white gauze hanging from her hood lifted.

Instantly, as if winter’s sunlight brightened manifold, or the bright moon suddenly descended upon the mortal world.

A stunningly beautiful face, fully revealed under the interplay of night and snow at the city gate.

Brows like distant mountains tinged with gray, naturally green without need of color.

Eyes like cold ponds reflecting the moon, clear and mesmerizing.

A nose straight and lips lightly hued yet perfectly curved.

Her skin fairer than new snow, yet not a trace of frailness, instead exuding jade-like warmth and crystal-like translucence.

A flawlessly refined face, forming a beauty beyond mundane words or description.

Her beauty, not only in her perfect features, but in her essence and aura.

Cold like millennium-old mysterious ice, lofty like plum blossoms atop icy peaks, her gaze carried an aloofness and insight beyond this world.

Not earthly beauty but a celestial Goddess!

Near the city gate, a momentary eerie silence fell.

Passersby merely glimpse her profile, and their minds conjure a goddess of unrivaled beauty.

While the soldiers, seeing her full face, were transfixed, eyes glazed.

"Is this sufficient?" the woman spoke with calm indifference, slightly lifting her clear eyes, her gaze serenely sweeping over the crowd ahead.

Her gaze eventually settled on a leader within the gate, wearing armor different from ordinary soldiers, more refined, seemingly the city gate’s commandant.

That commandant, too, was entranced, but upon encountering Lin Qingyi’s gaze, a chilling tremor jolted him, an icy sensation from his tailbone surging to his crown, instantly waking him.

Simultaneously, the dazed soldiers shuddered, as if plunged into an icy cave, promptly regaining clarity.

As he wanted to speak, the commandant snapped out of his daze and took two steps forward.

Immediately, he intended to bow in respect.

"Greetings..."

Before the words left his mouth, he found himself unable to speak.

"I visit the Royal Capital; do not spread the word yet!" the woman stated plainly.

Observing the veil dropping once more, the commandant promptly nodded slightly.

Holding the position of city gate guard was tough yet significant.

He naturally possessed perceptiveness, understanding what to say and what not to say.

He also recognized noteworthy figures within the Royal Capital.

The woman before him, albeit her aura and beauty had elevated from before, still maintained her accustomed dressing style.

Subsequently.

The woman passed through the gate, disappearing from sight.

"Sir, who might she be..." seeing the woman’s departure, a soldier couldn’t resist asking.

"What should remain unknown, stay unknown!" the commandant softly reprimanded, then added: "In the Royal Capital, as minor characters, knowing little can be too dangerous! Understand?!!"

"Understood!!" witnessing the commandant’s serious expression and tone, the soldier immediately bowed: "Thank you for the advice, sir!!"

...

Elsewhere.

In the National Master Mansion.

Jiang Ning, having finished his meal, satisfying his hunger, returned to his courtyard.

[Skill]: Spirit Platform Cave Illumination True Self Method (Second Limit Breaking 6337/30000)

After viewing his own status, his mood greatly improved.

In merely a day’s effort, such progress achieved.

At this rate, only two to three days more, this cultivation technique may yet again reach a breakthrough.

Efficiency, rather than waning, indeed soared.

Jiang Ning, his thoughts slightly heavy, once more introspected his own body.

Within the Spirit Platform, a silver flower hovered high, scattering points of silver light.

In his viscera, crimson flowers swayed, stirring the rise and fall of his Qi-Blood.

In his Dantian, a golden flower shone brightly, like a radiant sun.

Within his body, the three flowers faintly resonated, forming a small cyclic domain, accelerating the flow and sublimation of Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

He could clearly observe the Qi-Blood surging like a Red Dragon within his body roaring, True Yuan coiling and condensing like golden liquid in his Dantian Qi Sea, while his spirit permeated like silver light, commanding all transformations.

Yet, beneath this efficiency and power, a profound fatigue arose silently like an undercurrent from the deepest part of his Heart Spirit.

This was not bodily exhaustion nor depletion of True Yuan, but the toll of continuous days absorbed in the Inner Realm, where time almost seemed eternal, visualizing the birth and death of all things, merging fragments of True Spirit.

Even with the nurturing of Divine Flower’s silver light, the spiritual burden of confronting prolonged time, maintaining absolute true self, steadily accumulated.

"The Heart Spirit has borne a substantial toll..." Jiang Ning clearly realized. This fatigue, the inevitable cost of intense cultivation, was the residual echo of "overexertion" on the soul level.

It would not affect his foundation, yet it might diminish efficiency; if one persisted in forcing, could profoundly impact even more.

A brief evaluation flickered across his mind.

Outside the window, the final daylight was swallowed by night, within the National Master Mansion, lights gently flickered, illuminating the falling snow.

"But time... waits for no one." A trace of resolve displaced the fatigue in Jiang Ning’s eyes.

The aftermath of the East Sea battle lingered, hidden gazes continued like thorns at his back, Martial Saint’s two interventions had secured fleeting respite quickly dwindling. The efficiency surge from breakthrough in the Spirit Platform Cave Illumination True Self Method was crucial to narrowing the time to step into the First Grade Mixed Element Realm. To relent now would be to waste.

He gently inhaled, the courtyard’s icy air filled his lungs, bringing a slight refreshing clarity.

Consequently, he commenced his cultivation.

[Spirit Platform Cave Illumination True Self Method Experience Value +258]

[Spirit Platform Cave Illumination True Self Method Experience Value +261]

[...]