My Wife Turns Out to be an Empress of the Dynasty

Shadow Slave had indeed severed his connection with the Dark Clan, but that did little to calm his unease. He feared that once they entered, he might not be able to leave again.

He trusted Gu Lan's strength, but he knew his own limitations. He was all too familiar with the Dark Clan's ways. When facing external enemies, they showed no mercy. The thought of being trapped within this place made him anxious.

Seeing his apprehension, Gu Lan gave him a calm look. He then summoned the Linglong Pagoda, which instantly appeared before him.

"You don't need to show yourself. This will shield your presence," Gu Lan said nonchalantly.

In truth, Shadow Slave did not want to follow Gu Lan's orders, but given the circumstances, he had no choice. He couldn't reject Gu Lan's offer, so he quickly entered the Linglong Pagoda.

His fear was not without cause, and Gu Lan didn't blame him. But now that they were already here, there was no turning back. Gu Lan had no intention of leaving until he had seen this matter through.

From what he had heard earlier, Dark Master intended to revive the Dark Clan's guardian. Gu Lan was intrigued to see exactly what kind of creature this Dark Master was.

In an instant, Gu Lan disappeared into the black fog. At first, Shadow Slave paid little attention, but before long, he furrowed his brow. He noticed that the ominous energy surrounding them was highly corrosive.

If an ordinary person entered this place, they would almost certainly die. But fortunately, Shadow Slave's cultivation level was high enough to endure the environment.

After navigating through the thick fog for a long time, he finally stopped on a cloud and looked down. Below, there were dozens of grand palaces.

Moreover, there were many people in this area, and most of them had reached the Imperial Spiritual Realm.

"This is the Dark Clan. It doesn't seem weak at all," Gu Lan murmured to himself, eyes narrowing.

Turning toward Shadow Slave, who was inside the Linglong Pagoda, Gu Lan asked, "Do you know where the guardian is?"

As he spoke, a black aura shot out in the distance. Without hesitation, Gu Lan transformed into a blur and chased after it.

His speed was incredible, and within moments, he arrived at the entrance of a very ancient palace. Inside, two towering statues stood, surrounded by black mist and emanating a faint aura of life.

At first glance, one might think they were just statues. But to Gu Lan, there was something far more sinister about them.

These two had once been Imperial Realm-level cultivators, possibly even stronger.

His heart sank. He knew immediately that these statues could not be allowed to awaken. If they did, it would be a great threat to Lanyan Royal School.

A cold expression crossed his face as he summoned the Rule of Five Elements. His gaze turned sharp, and he prepared to strike. But just as he was about to act, Shadow Slave's voice echoed urgently, stopping him in his tracks.

"Master, you can't!"

Gu Lan paused, confused. This was the perfect opportunity to strike. Why should he hold back now?

"You don't understand," Shadow Slave explained hurriedly. "These statues have absorbed the power of the Dark Clan. Their consciousness is dormant, but if you act rashly, it will only hasten their awakening."

Gu Lan wasn't the type to take such warnings lightly, especially from someone like Shadow Slave. But there was a time for caution, and he wasn't going to make a reckless move without thinking it through.

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Gu Lan asked, his voice low and calculating.

Shadow Slave fell silent. He hadn't expected Gu Lan to ask that question, and now his expression was filled with hesitation.

He had spoken the truth, but it seemed the situation was more complicated than either of them anticipated.

As Gu Lan pondered the next step, he suddenly sensed a terrifying presence. Dark Master.

Gu Lan was no stranger to this power, but now, he could feel it clearly—the Dark Master was near.

With a grim expression, Gu Lan didn't waste a moment. He vanished into the shadows without leaving a trace of his presence. Everything around him remained visible, but no one could detect his movements.

Before long, Gu Lan spotted a figure ahead—Dark Master himself, standing at the entrance of the palace.

Dark Master wore a cold smile, his greedy gaze fixed on the two statues.

"They've slept for centuries, but it's time for them to wake. As the master of the Dark Clan, I command you to return!" Dark Master's icy voice echoed through the hall.

Gu Lan's brows furrowed, and a chilling glint appeared in his eyes. He had to stop this.

Under his watchful gaze, the two statues slowly began to crack. The black mist around them surged inward, feeding into the statues.

"Boom!"

A deafening roar reverberated through the entire hall. Gu Lan did not hesitate to use his Rule of Five Elements in response. As he watched the scene unfold, Shadow Slave's voice rang out urgently.

"Master, leave! They've awakened!"

Before Shadow Slave could finish speaking, Gu Lan's gaze turned steely, and a wry smile appeared on his face.

"It's too late."

Gu Lan had initially intended to strike, but now he realized that the statues had already awakened. His every move had been captured by these beings.

It was impossible to leave now.

As soon as his words fell, an immense and terrifying energy exploded in the hall. The entire space was suffused with murderous intent.

"Coming to my Dark Clan without prior notice? Are you planning to leave so soon?" Dark Master's voice was filled with fury.

Before Gu Lan could react, dozens of streams of black energy shot toward him.

Gu Lan's brow furrowed slightly, and with a simple flick of his wrist, he swatted the energy aside. The attacks weren't strong enough to harm him, but it didn't take long for two more powerful strikes to arrive.

These two new attacks were far stronger than the Dark Master's, perhaps several times more powerful. Gu Lan didn't attempt to block them but retreated several steps.

"Boom!"

The shockwave from the collision sent a ripple through the space. Gu Lan quickly assessed the situation and saw three figures materializing before him.

Apart from Dark Master, the other two figures exuded an aura much stronger than his. These two beings were far more powerful than the Dark Master. Engaging them in battle here would be too risky; Gu Lan knew he wouldn't be able to escape unscathed.

Though he could protect himself, it would require a lot of energy.

Taking a step back, Gu Lan summoned a golden aura that enveloped his body. The oppressive presence of the Imperial Realm's ninth level surged out of him.

"If anyone dares to move forward, I guarantee they will die!" he warned coldly.

"This is the Dark Clan. You dare to threaten me?" Dark Master sneered, clearly bitter about the defeat he had suffered at Gu Lan's hands previously.

"This time, I will regain everything I lost!" Dark Master's voice was filled with venom.

He then turned to the two guardians, who remained impassive.

"Please, help me. Together, you two can easily kill him."

The two guardians, silent as ever, nodded slightly. Without another word, they disappeared into the shadows, their black energy surging forward.

Gu Lan had anticipated this and was already prepared. He didn't expect them to retreat so easily, and he had no intention of letting them.

Just as their weapons were about to strike, a brilliant sword light flashed. Gu Lan raised his hand, and the sword came crashing down.

The force of the blow was immense, and Gu Lan poured half of his energy into it. The sound of the blade slicing through the air was deafening.

The two guardians' attacks were easily blocked, and before the energy dispersed, Gu Lan vanished from sight, leaving no trace behind.