The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

The movements of Tang Xixue and the others were all seen by the viewers through the huge water mirror.

The Palace Master of Guixu gazed at the slender figure reflected in the water mirror, the curve of her lips gentle yet profound.

The smile lingered on the corners of his lips, not reaching his eyes; it was like a carefully polished glass shell, bright and clear, yet nothing could be seen through it.

"Xuantian Pavilion".

He turned his head and whispered something to the figure standing beside him.

"Is that child still in the pavilion today?"

"Reporting to the Palace Master, the Pavilion Master of Xuantian Pavilion has not left his pavilion all day today."

The waiter's voice was flat and submissive.

"The records of the restrictions in the Ling Shu Hall show that the Pavilion Master has not left since entering the pavilion this morning."

"Um."

The Palace Master of Guixu nodded, his gaze returning to the water mirror.

"That's good. There shouldn't be any more unexpected changes in her life."

The scene reflected in the water mirror is frozen at the moment Tangxi Xue steps into the passageway.

Her profile was outlined by the cold light of the crystal lamp, creating a sharp, clean silhouette, like a thin blade polished by the night.

The Palace Master of Guixu Palace looked at it for a moment, then raised his hand and gently brushed it across the surface of the water mirror.

The image rippled like water for a moment, then vanished without a trace.

"Now that she's here, let her see the real Guixu Palace."

"It'll let her know that this city isn't one she can smash at will."

"Since she doesn't like the Ice Abyss I chose for her, then let her be buried in the Guixu Palace."

The passage was deeper than Tangxi Xue had imagined.

The stone slabs underfoot were very smooth, and every few steps there was a spirit crystal lamp embedded in the wall.

Tang Xixue walked at the front, her pace neither hurried nor slow.

Feng Zhuo followed closely behind, one hand on the hilt of the Crimson Flame Sword, his eyes scanning the walls on both sides of the passage warily.

The walls were covered with densely packed runes.

Mu Liang walked at the very back, her figure almost blending into the shadows of the passageway.

His gaze remained fixed on Shen Yan's back, like a knife ready to be drawn at any moment.

Shen Yan walked very slowly, each step filled with hesitation.

The blue cloak trailed on the ground, making a soft, rustling sound.

She could feel the gaze behind her, as cold as an ice blade pressed against the back of her neck, making her afraid to even breathe loudly.

How much further?

Tang Xixue's voice echoed softly in the passageway.

"Soon."

Shen Yan quickly replied.

"There is still a distance beyond the entrance; the true Guixu Palace is built deep underground. The entrances for the Heavenly Dao Apostles are all different, and only the guide can find the correct path."

Tangxi Xue did not ask any further questions.

Her gaze shifted from Shen Yan's back to the spirit crystal lamps that were gradually lighting up deep within the passageway.

The lights were spaced extremely evenly, with the distance between each one perfectly precise, as if they had been measured a thousand times with a ruler.

She even noticed that the lamps were not all facing the same direction.

Some are slightly to the left, some slightly to the right, intersecting with each other, illuminating every shadow in the passageway so that there is nowhere to hide.

"The builders of Guixu Palace certainly put a lot of thought into it."

She whispered something.

Shen Yan's back stiffened slightly.

This is a carefully calculated curve that leads them deeper underground.

Finally, the light at the end of the passage rushed towards us.

That light was completely different from the cold blue in the passageway.

The warm, ancient, and solemn golden light seemed to melt away the entire twilight and pour it onto the dome of this underground palace.

Tang Xixue squinted slightly, and after her eyes adjusted to the light, the scene before her unfolded without reservation.

It was an extremely magnificent hall, resplendent in gold and dazzlingly beautiful.

"Ah Xue, is this really the Guixu Palace? It looks like a temple."

Feng Zhuo couldn't help but gasp.

"The Guixu Palace prides itself on being the ruler of the Heavenly Way and has always liked to make itself so magnificent and bright."

Tang Xixue made a sarcastic remark, her gaze sweeping across the area ahead.

"There are Heavenly Dao Apostles from Guixu Palace ahead."

Between the pillars, several palace attendants dressed in dark gray robes stood with their hands at their sides, holding whisks, their postures bowed.

The moment Shen Yan stepped over the threshold, she straightened her back.

Her steps changed from hesitant and cautious to a composed and dignified demeanor.

She didn't even turn around to look at Tang Xixue.

Her gaze had already swept across the entire hall and landed on the Heavenly Apostles, who were lined up on both sides and dressed in silver-white armor.

"The Holy Maiden has returned..."

A deep, resonant voice came from the depths of the hall.

Before the words were even finished, the Heavenly Apostles, who had been standing as still as statues, moved at the same instant.

They all turned around, faced the palace gate, and knelt on one knee.

"Welcome back to the palace, Holy Maiden."

Shen Yan stood three steps inside the palace gate, slightly raising her chin.

Her hands remained hanging at her sides, her fingertips slightly curled, as if waiting for a moment she had been calculating for a long time, which had finally come to rest.

She turned to the side, glanced at Tang Xixue, and looked at her with a smug expression.

"The Holy Maiden has had a difficult journey."

The Heavenly Dao Apostle at the very front stood up.

His gaze lingered for a moment on the three cloaked figures behind Shen Yan before he looked away.

"The Palace Master is already waiting in the hall. Holy Maiden, please enter."

"Um."

Shen Yan responded.

"This holy maiden has brought guests. The palace master should already know. You don't need to ask any more questions, just lead the way."

The apostle paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over Tang Xixue and the others once more.

That gaze was scrutinizing.

But he didn't say anything in the end, he just stepped aside to make way.

Shen Yan strode forward.

Her steps were more steady than before, each step landing precisely on the black and white boundary line of the Yin-Yang symbol.

Tang Xixue followed three steps behind her.

Feng Zhuo's hand remained on the sword hilt, while Mu Liang's steps were slower, and she fell further away.

After passing through the hall, there is a wide passageway.

The walls on both sides of the passageway are inlaid with black jade reliefs, with intricate and exquisite carvings.

At the end of the passageway, a huge domed hall slowly unfolds.

The palace gate was cast from a single piece of black iron, and a complete star map was inlaid on the surface of the gate with silver wire.

Shen Yan stopped in front of the black iron gate.

"Your Highness, please."

She turned around, her tone still respectful, but the corners of her lips turned up, a smile that no longer needed to be suppressed.

Then she reached out and pushed open the black iron gate.