If this happened in court, a courtier would have stood up on the spot to reprimand this woman for her brazenness. However, when the woman's voice rang, no one from the Mountain Breaking Army and Yan Cloud Calvary stepped forward.
This was not an issue of military responsibility and discipline.
This was because of a tattoo on her chest. An unassuming tattoo of a tower with two characters on top.
Ling Yun!
These were two simple characters. However, when everyone saw such a tattoo, no one dared to question her authority or arrogance.
Yan Qianli frowned tightly as he finally took a step forward. He said, "The Emperor is in the palace right now!"
"Oh, so he isn't dead?" The woman nodded. Following which, she then looked in the direction of the palace and said, "I'll wait here for him. I'll give him thirty minutes."
Thirty minutes.
This was what the woman said. However, she had no intention of letting someone inform Lin Mubai about her arrival, as though what she was expecting would happen naturally.
"Are… are you mother?" Ping Yang's voice rose at that moment. Her breathing had become faint over the past few minutes as her face paled. However, she kept her gaze firmly on that woman.
The woman then turned her gaze towards Ping Yang before she looked away. She did not utter a single word nor give any form of confirmation to Ping Yang's question.
"I… I am Ping Yang. Mom said that she would fetch me. Are you… are you my mother? Or someone that she sent?" Ping Yang stared at the woman and asked once again.
This woman did not turn her head. She merely stood at her original position as Ping Yang's words fell into nothingness.
As the rain fell, the long red dress on Ping Yang's body looked extremely conspicuous.
It was sinisterly quiet.
Yan Qianli clenched his fist rightly though he remained silent.
Fang Zhengzhi grabbed Ping Yang with both his hands. He knew exactly how Ping Yang felt. That was also the reason why he allowed Ping Yang to ask the same question a second time.
However, this woman's attitude and reply were unexpected.
Fang Zhengzhi did not think that Ping Yang was lying. Ping Yang mentioned that she had seen her mother and she would come and fetch her. Why then was this woman displaying such an uncaring attitude?
Did Ping Yang get the wrong person?
That could not be.
This was because this woman knew Yan Qianli and Lin Mubai by name. What in the world was happening?
"I… I am Ping Yang…"
"Ping Yang, stop asking. She is not your mother!" Fang Zhengzhi pressed his hands lightly on Ping Yang's shoulders and stopped her from asking.
"But she…" Ping Yang bit her lips expectantly.
"He is not wrong. I am not your mother. Also, one more thing. If you still want to see your father one last time. I suggest that you shut your mouth," The woman finally spoke, interrupting Ping Yang in the middle of her speech.
"Seeing my father one last time… can I see my mother as well?"
"You are almost dead. Why do you want to see your mother?" The woman said in a calm tone. Following which, she seemed to be reminded of something as she said, "If you are hoping for your mother to save you. I suggest that you give up on the thought. She would not."
"No… I just want to see her. I do not need her to save my life…" Ping Yang's chest rose slightly as a mouthful of blood spurted from her mouth.
"If you truly wish to see your mother, why did you give up on your life? You had the chance to see her, though it is all for naught now," The woman replied.
"I… I…" Ping Yang felt like explaining herself but her serious injuries caused her body to tremble involuntarily. Her pink and supple lips were starting to turn purple.
"You have enjoyed wealth and comfort your whole life. As a princess, you never had to worry about food or clothing. What more do you want? If you have already decided to stay ordinary your entire life, you should do so. Why do you have to follow in other's footsteps? It is preposterous how you use your own life to exchange for your mother's protection. It is not a crime to be weak. However, why will a weakling like you push yourself beyond your own limits?"
After the woman was done, she cast her gaze back onto the palace.
Fang Zhengzhi trembled as he stared at the woman accusingly. What did she mean when she said that Ping Yang was a weakling? How could she say that when Ping Yang was putting her life on the line?
"You arrived a long time ago?" Fang Zhengzhi said as he was suddenly reminded of something.
"Yes," The woman merely nodded and stayed expressionless.
"When did you arrive?" Fang Zhengzhi asked.
"When the stars lit up," The woman replied after thinking for a moment.
"Stars? Do you mean the pendant on Ping Yang's neck?" Fang Zhengzhi stared at Ping Yang's neck as he said. The beautiful pendant she wore had shattered into smithereens.
"Yes," The woman curtly nodded.
"I understand. If I am not wrong, you are here to fetch Ping Yang?"
"That's right."
"If Ping Yang did not use those stars to attack King Xieluo, she would not have to die. Am I right?" Fang Zhengzhi fell silent for a moment before asking.
"Yes."
"Why would you not stop her despite knowing all his? Unless your main motive is for her to die?" Fang Zhengzhi frowned as he said those words.
"You are indeed a smart person," The woman finally turned around and stared at Fang Zhengzhi's crystal clear eyes. She smirked as she said, "It is such shame that both of you suffer the same fate. If I am not wrong, you have less than half a year left to live?"
"Less than half a year?"
"What is she talking about? Fang Zhengzhi has less than half a year to live?"
"What is going on? "
After the Mountain Breaking Army and Yan Cloud Calvary heard those words, they were completely startled. They stared at Fang Zhengzhi and the woman with a confused expression.
This applied to even Yan Xiu, Shan Yu, Yan Qianli and Xing Yuanguo.
Less than half a year?
How could Fang Zhengzhi only have less than half a year left?
"Who said that Fang Zhengzhi only has half a year left?" At that moment, a crisp voice echoed across the area. Following which, a black figure landed beside Fang Zhengzhi.
It was Wu Yuer. There was a golden pearl in her hands, a pearl that was originally floating in the air.
It was a Demon Pearl.
The Demon Pearl that belonged to King Xieluo.
"Oh, a Demon Pearl, let me think about it…" The woman stared at Wu Yuer before she muttered, "Your Tree of Dao will no longer bear fruit. Your world is damaged and your bloodline tattered. It may be possible to simply lengthen your life using the power of the vast world. However, the source of your power will no longer recover. Your powers should have been gone."
The woman then stopped at cast her glance at Fang Zhengzhi. She then continued, "Hm, you have used artificial pills to forcibly concentrate your power source. It is a decent attempt. However, the powers of the vast world do not belong to you. Furthermore, your vast world powers come from a Demon Pearl, which is the remnants of a Demon King. Three years, that is the time this pearl will buy you."
"Although you still have a slight chance. If you can attain the level of a saint in three years and receive the baptism of the heaven and earth, your world might recover in the process."
"Furthermore, you are quite the talented individual. It might be possible for you to go from the Supernatural State to the Saint state in three years. However, it will be impossible in half a year? Haha, it has been over a few thousand years since anyone attained the saint state from a Supernatural State in such a short time. Don't even think about it."
The woman chuckled as she finished her speech. Her laughter was painful to listen and sarcastic. It felt as though she was looking down on the low-life from above.
As the Mountain Breaking Army and Yan Cloud Calvary heard those words, they fell silent. They did not like the woman's attitude, though they could not go against what she said as well.
Attaining the level of a saint in less than half a year.
This was an impossible task even with the Demon Pearl. Furthermore, Fang Zhengzhi's Tree of Dao was barren.
He was talented.
However, if reaching the level of a saint merely took talent to achieve, there would be countless saints walking amongst them. After all, one's lifespan would be extended indefinitely the moment they reached that stage.
In other words, the lifespan of a saint was at least hundred times that of an ordinary human.
However, there had only been five saints in the entire history of the Great Xia Dynasty. Apart from talent, luck and fate played a huge role as well.
For example, Yan Qianli had already reached the pinnacle of the Rebirth State many years ago and had only attained the level of a saint recently.
Another example would be Prince Li of the First Rank. He was already the legend of the battlefield when the previous Emperor was present, a powerful individual reaching the pinnacle of the Rebirth State. However, what happened?
Even with the best resources in the entire Great Xia Dynasty and countless hours of meditation, he was still only a half-saint.
It was too difficult!
Fang Zhengzhi was merely a Supernatural State. Even if he was in the Rebirth State, it would be impossible to reach the Saint State in half a year.
"This is not funny at all!" Wu Yuer's voice rose as her black dress fluttered in the cool night breeze. She still had that seductive look on her face, though her expression was extremely serious. She shouted, 'Fang Zhengzhi, even if no one had accomplished this in over a thousand years, I still believe in you! I believe that you can do it!"
"I believe in you as well. Fang Zhengzhi, you can do anything if you set your mind on it!" Shan Yu echoed Wu Yuer with conviction.