Blurred Identity

“That absolute b*stard! When I catch you, I’m going to cut you into pieces!”

Deep within the restricted palace where no outsiders were permitted, Di Yao was stomping her feet in a state of sheer exasperation.

Beside her, a talisman emitting a faint glow floated in mid-air. A skeptical voice drifted from it.

“You said you had urgent business back at the palace and asked me to wait… and this is the urgent business? Throwing a tantrum?”

Di Yao snorted, gritting her teeth. “I couldn’t exactly get angry inside Liuli Hall. If anyone saw or heard me, it would be humiliating… though it’s already embarrassing enough. That guy Lin Shao—just you wait!”

The talisman remained silent for a moment before a cold voice, thick with suppressed fury, spoke.

“You made me wait all this time just so you could go back to your palace to stomp your feet like a child?”

The voice sounded as if it came from the depths of the underworld, sending a chill down Di Yao’s spine. She knew her Second Senior Sister had a terrible temper. Her anger had clouded her judgment earlier, but now, seeing her sister truly annoyed, she hurriedly apologized.

“Change back to your imperial form,” the voice commanded impatiently, ignoring the apology.

Di Yao gave an awkward smile and obeyed. With a shimmer, she transformed from a sixteen-year-old girl into a mature woman of twenty-seven.

‘One look to topple a city, a second to topple an empire.’ These words seemed written specifically for her. She possessed a noble beauty that didn’t belong to the mortal realm. Her skin was perfectly fair, and her dragon-and-phoenix embroidered robes could not hide her staggering curves. Through the side-slit of her gown, one could catch a glimpse of her alluring, slender legs.

She radiated an imperial aura—a majesty possessed only by those who have long held supreme power. Even if she wore commoner’s clothes or a mask, this inextinguishable dignity would make her stand out instantly.

This was the monarch the world knew as the ruler of Great Shang: The Eternal Empress, Di Yao.

“I am ready,” she spoke. Her tone and pitch were entirely different from her younger state, carrying a hint of laziness and absolute dominance.

The talisman gave a cold laugh. “Go on then. Stomp your feet. Throw your fit.”

Di Yao shook her head with a light smile. In this form, she was accustomed to facing court officials or sect leaders; she had long developed the habit of hiding her emotions. To maintain her rule, every word and action was calculated. She truly could not replicate the little girl’s tantrum now.

“Second Senior Sister, do you think this is a possibility?” Now in her Empress form, Di Yao’s thinking was much more analytical, and she felt more confident presenting her own views to her respected sister. “That man named Lin Shao might actually be a hidden powerhouse living in seclusion. Perhaps he practices a unique, independent technique that Master never cataloged.”

The voice replied, “Highly unlikely. Almost zero. First, Master has already become an immortal; no one can hide from him, especially not a powerhouse at the ‘half-step immortal’ level as you described. If such a person existed, Master’s personality would have dictated a meeting.”

“Second, cultivation techniques aren’t that arbitrary. You can’t just manifest a Level 9 or higher technique out of thin air.”

Di Yao narrowed her eyes. “But my Emperor’s Pupil truly failed to work on Lin Shao. How do you explain that, Sister?”

“A specialized treasure used for concealment,” the Lord of Spiritual Laws answered immediately. “I have many such artifacts in my possession that could block your Emperor’s Pupil.”

“Besides treasures, there is one other possibility, but…”

Di Yao smiled. “This is the first time I’ve heard Sister hesitate.”

The voice sighed. “Fine. There is another scenario: Lin Shao is the reincarnation of our Master.”

Boom. It felt like a bolt from the blue. Even in her Empress state, Di Yao’s expression faltered. She grabbed the floating talisman and asked tensely, “What did you say?”

“If Master is indeed still alive, Lin Shao could be his reincarnation,” the other side analyzed. “Master is an immortal. In reincarnation, his status remains unchanged. The effect of the Emperor’s Pupil is tied to status. If Lin Shao truly possesses the status of an Immortal, then it is perfectly normal for your Pupil to be ineffective against him.”

Cold sweat broke out on Di Yao’s forehead. She clutched the talisman tightly. “How likely is it that Lin Shao is Master’s reincarnation?”

“Calm down!” the talisman barked. “Don’t lose your head the moment you hear about Master!”

The thunderous shout jolted Di Yao back to her senses. she circulated her true qi to suppress her volatile emotions and slowly regained her composure.

“Di Yao, let me remind you of something very serious,” the voice from the talisman said solemnly. “The thing most deserving of our attention right now is that woman calling herself the System. She stole Master’s remains. That is the body of an Immortal; we must recover it immediately.”

“Furthermore, the news that Master didn’t die but reincarnated came from her. Whether we can trust it is another matter entirely. She might be using this to distract us, making us waste energy searching for a ‘reincarnated Master’ while we ignore her.”

“So, leave the matter of Master aside for now. Concentrate all your strength on dealing with the System. Once we have her under control, we can discuss the reincarnation.”

Di Yao remained silent for a long while before asking, “What are your plans, Sister?”

“I am going into seclusion. I intend to advance the [Immortal Talisman] from the middle stage of Primordial Desolation to the late stage.”

Di Yao was stunned, then delighted. “That means ascending to Level 9! Sister, are you confident in breaking through?”

“I have considerable confidence. I’ve thought a lot since returning from the immortal island, and I’ve used the crystal coffin for research. I finally found the opportunity.” The voice remained flat. “I will be in seclusion for a while. Once I break through to Level 9, I will contact you to plan our move against the System.”

“Before that, do two things for me.”

Di Yao nodded. “Name them.”

“First, collect more information on the System. I feel this thing has a significant background, likely involving secrets of the Great Thousand World.”

“Second, find out the truth about Lin Shao. He has much information on the System, but we must first ensure its authenticity. If he is actually the System’s accomplice, eliminate him early to prevent future trouble.”

Di Yao nodded. Suddenly thinking of something, she asked, “What if Lin Shao really is Master’s reincarnation?”

The voice on the other side pondered for a moment. “Then stay away from him. I’m not joking.”

“Enough. I must prepare for my seclusion.”

With that, the talisman ignited. This time, the flames consumed the paper entirely. As it burned, space distorted. A massive blade radiating murderous intent and an umbrella emitting thick black aura—as if it could blot out the sun—emerged through the void. Behind them followed a white token.

Di Yao recognized them: the Immortal-grade artifacts [Qiongqi] and [Hundun]. The white token was a tool to forcibly summon her Second Senior Sister in times of dire peril, not to be used unless absolutely necessary.

“Sending these things… Sister is afraid I’ll run into trouble.” Di Yao smiled and collected the items. She turned her gaze toward the east, where the antique street lay. Behind the scholar tree was Guyue Residence. Lin Shao was there.

‘A charlatan of the martial world, an accomplice of the System, or the reincarnation of Master.’

‘Which one will you be?’