89: The arrival of the Goddess Palace

This voice was like a pebble thrown into a lake with surging undercurrents, stirring up countless ripples. Countless gazes "swished" toward the palace doors.

Two rows of Guanghan Fairies in snow-white clothes entered, holding palace lanterns and walking with light steps, their demeanors remaining cold and ethereal.

Subsequently, two figures walked in side by side at a leisurely pace.

The one on the left was exactly the previously "missing" Palace Mistress of Guanghan, Li Yue.

She was still dressed in a moon-white palace gown, her face peerless and her aura as cold as ever, though her eyes held a bit less of her former disdain for the world and a bit more of an indescribable calmness and... submissiveness?

In her hands, she held a simple scroll that was neither silk nor cloth, with lunar radiance flowing upon it.

The one on the right was a middle-aged beauty with equally peerless features and a gentle yet dignified aura; she was Li Yue's Revered Master, the previous Palace Mistress of Guanghan, Cold Moon, who had been in seclusion for many years but had actually appeared now!

Cold Moon took a step forward, her voice gentle yet clear: "Hearing of Your Highness's birthday, our Guanghan Immortal Palace specifically offers the secret palace zither score—the original script of 'The Nine Shao Musical Movements of the Lunar Guanghan'."

She signaled Li Yue to present the scroll. "This score contains the true intent of the Dao of Lunar Radiance. Practicing it can calm the mind, communicate with the Taiyin, and has infinite wonderful uses. It is a closely guarded secret of our palace. We wish to use this piece to celebrate Your Highness's longevity and also... the peace of the world."

Li Yue lowered her head slightly and respectfully handed over the scroll. Her demeanor throughout was impeccable, cold and self-contained, vastly different from the rumored image of her "becoming a plaything" and "being at anyone's mercy."

This scene caused many who had heard the rumors and were now seeing it with their own eyes to be greatly surprised, and they couldn't help but feel shaken: Could those rumors really be groundless?

It seemed that Guanghan Immortal Palace had simply chosen a relatively low-key way of offering their core Legacy to express their stance?

Only a very few with sharp eyes and keen perception could capture an extremely minute, almost non-existent tension beneath Li Yue's overly perfect calmness.

As well as the fleeting, unreadable complex glimmer deep in her eyes when she occasionally glanced toward Chu Ye.

Before everyone could savor the surprise brought by Guanghan Immortal Palace, another heavyweight power appeared.

"Heavenly Secret Pavilion has arrived—!"

An old man in a simple gray robe with an ordinary face walked in slowly by himself.

He held no ornate gift box, only a palm-sized, sealed black box that was neither metal nor jade.

The old man walked to the center of the hall and bowed slightly to Chu Ye, his voice flat and emotionless: "Heavenly Secret Pavilion congratulates Your Highness on your birthday. Inside this box is a prophecy obtained by the Old Man of Tianji after personally calculating for three days. Heaven's secrets must not be revealed lightly; please read it alone after Your Highness returns."

He presented the black box.

The box had no Spiritual Qi fluctuations or any decorations, yet it possessed a sense of mystery that could not be ignored. A prophecy personally calculated by the Old Man of Tianji!

This gift was intangible and formless, yet it might be more gripping than any treasure present, its value immeasurable.

It represented a transcendent yet deeply meaningful attention from Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

Chu Ye sat high on the main seat, taking in everything below. He felt slightly amused by the flattery of the Divine Craft Workshop.

He nodded slightly at Madam Hua Yu's strange words; regarding the "good cop, bad cop" farce from the Myriad Dao Alliance, his expression remained flat, showing neither joy nor anger.

At the "superb acting" of the Revered Master and disciple from Guanghan Immortal Palace, the corner of his mouth curled almost imperceptibly; at the mysterious box from Heavenly Secret Pavilion, his gaze lingered for a moment before he signaled his subordinates to take it.

He lightly raised his hand, signaling the Revered Master of ceremonies to continue recording.

One by one, gifts that were precious, unique, or meaningful were presented and registered as their names were announced.

Other powers of the Central Region, the Dragon Clan sent perfunctory jewels, while Medicine King Valley, Tianjian Sect, and others remained conventional... Meanwhile, those powers that had a grudge against Chu Ye or held themselves in high esteem, such as several first-rate Sects, never showed up.

Chu Ye's gaze slowly swept across every face below—faces of awe, flattery, nervousness, complexity, or calmness.

He swept over the piles of rare treasures and mysterious boxes, as well as those peerless "special gifts" standing quietly to the side. Finally, his gaze seemed to pass through the palace hall, looking toward the directions of those absent powers.

In his heart, he kept a clear ledger.

For those who came, regardless of whether their gifts were sincere or fake, flattering or hiding sharp edges, a Legacy or a warning, at least they had arrived and given their gifts, providing the "rules" on the surface. He would temporarily note this favor of "showing up."

As for those who didn't come... a cold and clear sharp glint flashed deep in Chu Ye's eyes.

"I've accepted the sentiment of those who came; as for those who didn't... I've noted them as well."

After the various interludes, the atmosphere of the birthday banquet seemed to return to its surface bustle and noise.

Just as the noise of the banquet was reaching its peak and wine was flowing freely, the Revered Master of ceremonies at the palace doors suddenly seemed to have his throat seized; his announcements stopped abruptly, and an unbelievable look of shock appeared on his face.

An indescribable, ethereal aura that seemed to flow from ancient times quietly permeated the hall.

This aura was not pressure, yet it carried an ancient rhythm that made one's heart involuntarily become calm and solemn, even giving rise to a faint sense of humility.

Everyone's gaze was involuntarily drawn toward it.

At the palace entrance, a woman stood quietly at some unknown moment.

She looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, wearing a simple moon-white dress without any complex patterns, her long hair loosely held up by only a wooden hairpin.

Her face was not heart-stoppingly gorgeous, but she was matchlessly clear and beautiful, her eyes gentle and peaceful as if they had gathered all the dust of time, and a faint, soft halo like a lunar halo flowed around her.

Standing there, she was clearly right before their eyes, yet she gave off a sense of being far away in the clouds, like looking at flowers through a fog, detached and illusory.

She wore no insignia representing any power, but that unique aura and Dao Rhyme had already caused many experienced elders from the hall to turn pale.

"Go... Goddess Palace?!"

A senior from an ancient clan in the Central Region cried out in a low voice, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

These three words were like a thunderclap, instantly exploding in the silent hall!

Goddess Palace!

The oldest, most mysterious, and most transcendent Legacy in the Central Region, hailed as one of the "Origins of the Central Region."

They rarely appeared in the world and ignored worldly affairs; their existence was more like a mythical symbol.

No one expected that a birthday banquet for Chu Ye would actually "draw out" this legendary power!

The woman seemed not to hear the commotion in the hall; she walked with light steps, as if treading on clouds and walking on water, heading straight for the center of the hall.

Wherever she passed, the noise naturally subsided, as if even the air had become a bit clearer.

She stopped not far below Chu Ye's seat and nodded slightly, her voice like a clear spring striking stones, peaceful and pleasant, yet without much emotion: "Shui Yue of the Goddess Palace, by order of the Palace Mistress, has come specifically to congratulate Your Highness Chu Ye on your birthday."

As she spoke, she flipped her hand, and a scroll appeared in her palm.

The scroll was rolled with some unknown pale silver silk, its two ends inlaid with warm jade; it looked simple and elegant, yet without much Spiritual Qi leaking out, appearing far too "plain" compared to the many gifts with soaring treasure light present.

"This is a birthday gift; please accept it, Your Highness."

The woman named Shui Yue presented the scroll.

Attendants immediately stepped forward and respectfully took it, slowly unfolding it at Chu Ye's signal.

The painting unfolded, about three feet long and one foot wide.

The image came into view—it was a hazy and beautiful landscape background, with distant mountains tinted dark green and nearby water gurgling; amidst the swirling mist, the phantom image of Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix could be vaguely seen. The overall Concept was ethereal and lofty, and the brushwork was exquisite and unparalleled, a true masterpiece among paintings.