Deep in a mountain in the southern region, where spiritual energy abounds.
Jiang Li sat cross-legged on a huge blue stone, surrounded by a faint red light, consolidating her Mahayana realm. Her aura was more refined than before, showing faint signs of breaking through to the mid-Mahayana stage.
"Your Majesty." Xiao Zhan's spirit appeared beside her, his tone tinged with urgency, "According to my investigation, thirty percent of the former imperial forces have gathered on the western border to suppress the rebellion. As long as Your Majesty gives the order, they can be regrouped."
"The Great Era of Contention is approaching. The Central Region is in turmoil, the Northern Region is eyeing us covetously, and high-dimensional projections are appearing from time to time. This is the best time for us to rebuild our empire!"
Jiang Li slowly opened her eyes, a complex emotion flashing within them: "Rebuild the empire...and then what?"
"And then?" Xiao Zhan was taken aback, then said excitedly, "Then lead the imperial cavalry to sweep across the four regions, tread the Heavenly Road again, break through the damned gatekeeper's blockade, go to the higher-dimensional world, and restore Her Majesty the Empress's glory!"
His voice was filled with deep-seated hatred: "Your Majesty, have you forgotten how powerful our empire was back then, only one step away from ascension? It was because of the gatekeepers of the Heavenly Road, those high-dimensional beings who call themselves 'Guardians of Order,' who feared our growth and acted ruthlessly, that the empire fell apart, Your Majesty the Empress..."
Jiang Li fell silent.
Of course she remembered. Among those fragmented memories were scenes of cataclysmic destruction, the roars of countless soldiers, and a majestic figure standing before her, locked in a bloody battle with the terrifying "gatekeepers"...
The path to ascension has long since collapsed. The only way to reach higher dimensions now is the Heavenly Path, firmly controlled by the gatekeepers. The Empress's Empire of yesteryear met its demise precisely because it attempted to forcibly pass through the Heavenly Path.
“The Heavenly Road…gatekeeper…” Jiang Li murmured softly, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the blade of the rusty iron sword, “How easy is that?”
"Even if it's difficult, we must try!" Xiao Zhan said firmly. "Your Majesty is the reincarnation of the Empress, shouldering the mission of reviving the empire! Only by returning to the higher dimensions can we truly control our own destiny and no longer be manipulated by those higher-dimensional beings!"
Jiang Li gazed at the distant horizon, her eyes gradually becoming deep and thoughtful.
She knew Xiao Zhan was right. The Great Era of Strife was approaching, the four realms were about to descend into chaos, and the shadow of the higher dimensions was closing in step by step. To protect herself, to safeguard those around her, and to uncover the truth of what happened back then, she had to become stronger and gather enough power.
Rebuild the empire, embark on the heavenly journey...
Perhaps, this really is the path she has to take.
The wind from deep in the mountains, carrying fluctuations of spiritual energy, blew across Jiang Li's red dress and also stirred up the long-dormant remnants of the imperial palace.
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