My Wife Turns Out to be an Empress of the Dynasty

Chapter 166 The Strengthened Stone Array

"In general, the Spring Exam usually takes place in the latter part of February at the Ministry of Rites' Examination Hall. The palace examination follows within the next two months. Her Majesty selects an auspicious day to test the candidates.

Those who pass become scholars entering the Hanlin Academy, while those who don't may still find positions in the Ministry of Personnel," Zhang Qingwei spoke leisurely, his gaze drifting to the bamboo curtain on the window lattice as if reminiscing about his own scholarly years.

"The palace examination is that late?" Gu Lan shook his head.

Madam is so dedicated to pulling strings for me; she probably wants me to be the top scorer, and then confess my identity during the palace examination, right?

Gu Lan didn't want to wait that long.

Although playing tricks on Madam was fun for now, he didn't want to keep her in the dark for too long...

Maybe just a few more days!

During these days, he would surprise Madam a bit more, to make up for it, so that when they meet candidly later, she wouldn't be too angry to have a frank conversation on the dragon bed.

"Not late, just the maximum deadline! In the history of emperors, if they encounter a truly talented individual, they can arrange the palace examination for the day after the Spring Exam are posted," Zhang Qingwei explained, then glanced at Gu Lan with a puzzled expression.

"Huh? Didn't you say you didn't want to be an official? Why do you find this timing too slow?"

"I have a friend who wants to participate..."

Gu Lan brushed it off, suddenly hearing a friend's voice in his mind.

"Gu Lan, the teleportation array is ready."

"So soon?"

Gu Lan knew it was the strand of divine consciousness left by Bright Sun Saint Sovereign in the System Space, amazed at his speed.

"I personally forged it back then, so naturally, it's faster," Bright Sun Saint Sovereign urged, "Come take a look. There seems to have been some activity in the array within the past four thousand years, causing some other changes..."

Gu Lan was taken aback, sat up from the rattan chair, and quickly transmitted, "Alright, I'll come over right now. You've worked hard. Rest in the coffin for a while."

Bright Sun Saint Sovereign's voice disappeared. Gu Lan bid farewell to Zhang Qingwei with a gentle smile.

"It's getting late today, so I'll take my leave, Master. Oh yes! I regret not having the chance to learn Her Majesty's chess skills that day. If there's an opportunity, please set up another match. I'll surely use all my skills to learn from Her Majesty's techniques!"

Gu Lan finished speaking, and his gaze subtly swept over Xiao Fei'er.

She trembled slightly, her heart tightening! Zhang Qingwei thought Gu Lan had come to his senses and smiled with satisfaction.

"Good! I'll find Su Hua again when I have time, and I'll call for you then!"

Gu Lan smiled, bowed politely, and left the Warm Pavilion without haste.

He soared into the sky, transforming into a streak of light heading towards the Western Mountain Range of the city...

Moments later...

In the Western Mountain Range of the city, a shimmering blue stone array came into view, with a bronze coffin lying quietly at its center, mysterious and eerie.

"Saint Sovereign, you're amazing. It's only been a day and a half, and the Saint-Grade teleportation array is already repaired!"

Gu Lan stood in mid-air, feeling the power created by the array's alignment with the laws of heaven and earth, sparing no praise for it.

Bright Sun Saint Sovereign's voice sounded again, "Hmm..."

"You mentioned there was a problem. Where is it?"

Gu Lan landed and checked the array with his divine consciousness but didn't notice any issues.

"The array is still functional?"

"It is."

"So, it can't pinpoint the location of the Blissful Immortal Palace, and we need to find it after reaching the Desert North?"

"No! More precisely."

"...?" Gu Lan felt that this guy was playing games. Did he come all the way here just to mess with him?

"The problem is... this array has been enhanced. Look at these runes. When I added the Heavenly Demon back then, I didn't carve them out. This teleportation array has now surpassed the Saint-Grade level," Bright Sun Saint Sovereign explained.

Gu Lan paused, not yet feeling excited. Then, he understood another layer of meaning in Bright Sun Saint Sovereign's words.

"The array has been strengthened, which means it's meant for use... Are you saying that someone quietly reinforced this array, intending to use it to teleport to a farther place... even a different plane?!"

"That's the only possibility, and this person is likely from my era. Otherwise, they probably wouldn't know the location of this stone array," Bright Sun Saint Sovereign said.

What a surprise! Someone from the same era as the Saint Sovereign... Gu Lan was amazed that such a person still existed on this continent.

And they could engrave runes on the stone array, turning a Saint-Grade teleportation array into an Emperor-Grade one?

"Wait! This stone array was still unrepaired when it arrived, so the person only enhanced the array but couldn't use it..."

Gu Lan voiced his confusion, but as he spoke, he suddenly stopped.

His eyes narrowed abruptly as if he had realized something!

Bright Sun Saint Sovereign sighed at the right moment.

"You guessed it right. That person can't repair the array. They could only enhance it by engraving runes to strengthen it secretly. But this person knows I'm still alive and is betting that if I encounter the array from back then, I'll repair it..."

"They're waiting for me to fix it, so they can benefit from it!"

Damn! The schemes of an old-timer from thousands of years ago are quite extraordinary.

Youngsters who are too impatient will fall into their trap... Gu Lan cursed the old fox in his heart.

However, now that he had guessed the other party's intentions, Gu Lan wouldn't panic.

After all, on this continent, his strength was enough to crush all existence, and the old-timer was no exception!

Twelve pieces of Heavenly Treasures, accounting for a quarter of the loot! There are even several treasures with unknown grades!

"I have a technique for dividing my soul. You can monitor like I do, as long as you don't control the human body, it won't affect your main body. This way, you can wait and see." Bright Sun Saint Sovereign said.

A clear light entered Gu Lan's brow. After accepting the soul-splitting technique, Gu Lan was slightly stunned, then revealed a pleasantly surprised expression.

"Damn! You have quite a few treasures. This thing is much more useful than controlling souls and Soul Searching!"

"I ruled nearly half of the territory on this continent four thousand years ago, so it's normal to have some things... " Bright Sun Saint Sovereign smiled.

He thought Gu Lan was abnormal! At the age of twenty, the treasures in his storage space were powerful enough to make him feel fearful.

Moreover, he was able to rescue him from the suppression of the Heavenly Demon...

This guy shouldn't be this powerful even if he practiced from the womb!

Following his guidance, Gu Lan divided his divine consciousness and placed it in a flower leaf of an ancient locust tree.

"Are you going to destroy the Blissful Immortal Palace now?" Bright Sun Saint Sovereign asked.

"Now?"

"I've adjusted the direction. As long as you say the word, I can teleport you precisely to the location of the Blissful Immortal Palace... I've long been displeased with those demonic cultivators who rely on cultivation through depravity but still think they're extraordinary!"

"Haha..." Gu Lan's eyes flickered, but he shook his head.

"No need! I have a better idea. We don't need to act personally, yet it will be foolproof. Let this filthy place be wiped out completely..."