636: The Elder's Reflections

Leaving He Dong's Office, the Elders, dressed in Imperial attire, were departing in an orderly fashion, their steps imbued with the solemnity and urgency granted by their new status.

The Grand Elder, however, deliberately slowed his pace. His gaze swept through the crowd, quickly locking onto Lin Jing not far away, and he hurried toward her.

"Well, well, Elder Lin!"

The Grand Elder's voice carried a hint of feigned annoyance. As he reached Lin Jing, he intentionally lowered his volume, yet the realization in his tone was unmistakable.

"I wondered why you seemed strange when I saw you on the flying boat, always emanating an inexplicable sense of detachment in your words and actions. Turns out, you had already joined the Empire ages ago!"

As he spoke, his withered finger lightly tapped Lin Jing's shoulder. His eyes held a trace of exasperation at having been "kept in the dark," but no real anger.

After all, they were now Comrades. The former distinctions of seniority within the Lingxiao Immortal Sect had become insignificant under the glory of the Empire.

Hearing this, Lin Jing turned around, a composed smile spreading across her face, her eyes gleaming with understanding.

Facing the Grand Elder's "interrogation," she showed no panic whatsoever, appearing instead completely at ease.

"Haha, Grand Elder, you can't blame me for this."

Her tone was light and teasing.

"Back on the flying boat, you were still the Lingxiao Immortal Sect's authoritative Grand Elder, focused entirely on the Sect's interests. If I had rashly exposed my identity, wouldn't I have been asking for trouble?"

She paused, then added.

"Moreover, you know the Empire's Rules: any act of exposing one's identity is forbidden before the target's allegiance is fully secured. I was merely following the Rules."

Hearing this, the Grand Elder first let out a soft 'hmph,' pretending to be displeased, but quickly composed himself, his tone now filled with genuine emotion.

"You certainly know how to talk. But speaking of which, I should thank you."

He looked up toward the distance, his gaze seemingly piercing the high walls of the Forbidden Ground and reaching the farther Sea of Stars, his eyes filled with undisguised anticipation and longing.

"If you hadn't brokered this connection, I probably would never have had the chance to encounter such a great Empire in this lifetime, let alone become one of its members."

After personally witnessing the Empire's Technological Marvels and learning about its territory spanning countless Star Domains and its brilliant civilization over the past ten days, the Grand Elder's sense of belonging to the Lingxiao Immortal Sect had completely vanished.

Now, his mind was filled with longing for the outside world. He wished he could immediately break free from the constraints of this realm, personally witness the truly vast and boundless Universe, and feel the Empire's more magnificent power.

Lin Jing watched the fervor in his eyes, and her smile became even more sincere.

"Grand Elder, you jest."

Her tone was earnest.

"The Empire's greatness speaks for itself. Its power, its civilization, its order—they are all unattainable by this world. I believe that even without those auxiliary Potions, simply by truly understanding the Empire's Foundation, anyone would sincerely wish to become a part of it."

"That is certainly true."

The Grand Elder nodded in deep agreement, the longing in his eyes intensifying. He raised his hand and patted Lin Jing's arm, his tone growing eager.

"Alright, I understand what you mean. Let's go. That fellow Xu Yuan is probably eager to hear about our gains. It's a good chance for us to help him too, so he can break free from the limitations of the Lingxiao Immortal Sect and join the Empire's embrace sooner."

As the name "Xu Yuan" was uttered, Lin Jing paused slightly, then a suppressed smile surfaced in her eyes.

She mused internally that the Grand Elder had only just joined the Empire, yet he was already calling the Sect Master by his Given Name.

Back in the Lingxiao Immortal Sect, who would dare call the Sect Master by his full name so directly? Even the Grand Elder had to respectfully refer to Xu Yuan as "Sect Master."

This small detail perfectly confirmed the complete shift in their Self-Perception.

Everything related to the Lingxiao Immortal Sect was already in the Past Tense, and their future would be closely linked to the great Empire.

Lin Jing suppressed her smile and nodded slightly toward the Grand Elder.

"Alright. I also have a few things I want to tell the Sect Master... oh no, tell Xu Yuan."

She deliberately corrected herself, her tone slightly playful.

"Let's go back together and let him witness the Empire's glory too."

The Grand Elder nodded in satisfaction. The two walked side-by-side toward the outside of the Forbidden Ground... On the open ground outside the Forbidden Ground, the Morning Light spread out like gold leaf, illuminating the gigantic, silver-white flying boats.

The decks and cabins of the flying boats were already piled high with uniform Supplies. Boxes of perfectly sealed Potions were reinforced by specialized Formations.

Even more eye-catching were the Lingxiao Immortal Sect Disciples standing around the flying boats and on the decks.

They had long since swapped their former Daoist Robes for the standard Imperial uniform, identical to those worn by the Elders.

On the faces of these young Disciples, there was no trace of nostalgia for their old Sect; instead, there was unconcealed excitement and fervor, their eyes bright like burning flames.

After all, if even a venerable and unfathomably powerful figure like the Grand Elder willingly joined the Empire, these Disciples naturally had no resistance whatsoever.

Compared to the gradual influence the Elders experienced over ten days, the transformation of these young Disciples was much swifter.

The immense power, novel Artifacts, and the seemingly reachable vast future displayed by the Empire had completely captured their hearts.

In their eyes, the Legacy of the Lingxiao Immortal Sect was merely the constraint of a Frog in a Well, while the Empire was the true destiny worth following.

The Grand Elder slowly walked up to the highest Viewing Platform of the flying boat, his clothes flapping in the morning breeze.

He surveyed the neatly lined-up Disciples and Elders below, his gaze sweeping across every face filled with fervor and reverence. An unprecedented Sense of Mission rose within his heart.

In the past, he was merely the Guardian of the Lingxiao Immortal Sect; now, he would become the spreader of the Empire's glory. This change in identity filled him with strength.

"Set sail!"

The Grand Elder's voice, laced with a trace of Spiritual Energy, was steady and powerful, exploding like thunder across the open ground and reaching every corner.

He raised his hand and waved, pointing toward the Lingxiao Immortal Sect, his tone impassioned.

"Upon returning to the Sect, all of you must spread everything you have seen and heard over these ten days—the greatness and glory of the Empire! Let every Disciple of the Sect, let every Faction in this world, know of the Empire's existence! Let the Empire's light shine upon every person in this realm!"

He paused, spreading his arms wide, his voice filled with extreme fervor and conviction.

"For the Empire!"

"Loyalty!"

A deafening roar erupted instantly, like a landslide and a tsunami, shooting straight into the sky.

Their voices held no hesitation, no falsehood, only heartfelt loyalty and resolve, as if they were dedicating their entire being to the great Empire.

The shouts echoed over the open ground for a long time, causing the distant trees to rustle.

The Grand Elder nodded in satisfaction, then turned and signaled to the flying boat's Operator.

The Operator immediately nodded, rapidly forming hand seals to activate the flying boat's Power Core.

In an instant, the hull slowly lifted off, carrying a full load of Supplies and followers filled with loyalty, and sped toward the Lingxiao Immortal Sect...