My Wife Turns Out to be an Empress of the Dynasty

Seeing her expression, Gu Lan instantly became intrigued. Her demeanor suggested that something major was at play. A faint smile appeared on his face, and without further hesitation, he nodded in agreement.

"Whatever it is you want, your father will support you."

Upon hearing this, Gu Simu's eyes lit up, and a look of excitement spread across her face.

"Once a gentleman speaks, even four horses cannot chase his words. Father, do you truly agree?"

"Naturally!"

"Recently, there will be a competition with Dark Clan. May I participate?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Lan froze for a moment, his expression growing serious. His enmity with Dark Clan had already been set. Although Dark Clan would be participating in the competition, they would certainly not show mercy. Allowing Gu Simu to take such a risk concerned him deeply.

"Child, with your..."

He was about to refuse, but Zhongren suddenly interjected.

"My Lord, let Simu try. I will ensure her safety!"

Zhongren's voice was low, audible only to Gu Lan, as he had not made his words public. He knew that Gu Simu had a strong sense of pride, and if Gu Lan directly rejected her, it might wound her heart.

"Very well!"

Gu Lan reluctantly agreed, but the seriousness on his face did not dissipate. His gaze fixed on Gu Simu, and he spoke with utmost seriousness.

"I can allow you to go, but you must promise me one thing: do not act impulsively!"

Having received his approval, Gu Simu was elated and quickly nodded in agreement.

"Father, don't worry. I will never act impulsively!"

Seeing her response, Gu Lan sighed helplessly. This was not the time for further discussion—patience was key. He hoped Dark Master would not do something reckless; if he dared to cross his line, Gu Lan would ensure that Dark Clan vanished from the Immortal Realm forever.

Under Zhongren's guidance, Gu Lan toured the formation Zhongren had set up, and he was quite pleased with the result. Once they returned to Lanyan Royal School, Gu Lan took out several items imbued with killing intent. Upon seeing them, Zhongren froze, his face filled with confusion, unsure of Gu Lan's intentions.

"My Lord, these...?" he began to ask.

Before he could finish his sentence, Gu Lan smiled lightly.

"The formation you created is good, but it still lacks some power. These items contain killing intent. You should know what to do with them, no need for me to explain."

Zhongren immediately understood, nodding quickly. Without further words, he took the items from Gu Lan and, after a respectful bow, turned to leave.

At that moment, Ding True Man entered the palace from outside. He bowed respectfully, then lifted his head, though his face was still slightly embarrassed.

Seeing this, Gu Lan was puzzled, unsure of what he meant.

"What is it?" Gu Lan asked coldly, his tone direct.

Ding True Man seemed surprised at Gu Lan's tone, but he quickly bent his body again, offering a respectful greeting.

"I need to borrow Pagoda to enhance myself. I hope the Master will allow me."

Ding True Man had been refining this item for a long time, and with it, his cultivation speed would be greatly accelerated. But he didn't know if Gu Lan would agree, since the item now belonged to him.

With great sincerity, he spoke, lowering his head and not daring to look Gu Lan in the eye.

Seeing his manner, Gu Lan smiled faintly. He waved his hand, and a golden light shot out from Linglong Pagoda.

"There's no need for such formalities. This item is of no use to me, so I'll lend it to you."

As soon as Gu Lan spoke, the object fell into Ding True Man's hands. He was momentarily stunned before his face broke into an expression of joy.

Without hesitation, he knelt on the floor, repeatedly thanking Gu Lan.

After a long while, he finally rose, his gaze fixed on the Pagoda with an almost greedy gleam in his eyes. Just as he turned to leave, Gu Lan reminded him with a faint smile.

"Remember, I am lending it to you."

The short phrase caused Ding True Man to stiffen for a moment. He turned around, forcing a smile, though inwardly, he wasn't pleased. However, he didn't have any choice. Gu Lan was kind enough to lend him the item; he dared not ask for more.

The smile on his face was strained, and though Gu Lan saw through it, he didn't say anything further. Instead, he waved him off dismissively.

Ding True Man, realizing Gu Lan's intention, didn't linger. He turned and left. Now, it was time to focus on his cultivation; other matters could wait. Who knew—perhaps one day, Gu Lan would be so pleased that he might just gift him the item.

Meanwhile, in Dark Clan, Dark Master's expression was icy, his eyes filled with an unshakable killing intent. The opportunity had been perfect, yet Gu Lan had escaped.

Noticing the look on his face, the two guardians stepped forward and spoke coldly.

"In half a month, we will have fully recovered. But before that, you must do something for us!"

At these words, Dark Master was momentarily stunned. He turned to look at them, his eyes filled with confusion.

Though he didn't fully understand, he didn't hesitate to ask, as he still held a deep respect for the two guardians.

"What do you require?"

"Now is the time for the Competition of Myriads of Clans. Challenge Gu Lan's disciples to give us time to recover!"

Upon hearing this, Dark Master stood frozen. Wasn't it better to take action in the shadows? Why go through such formalities?

"Do as we say, and we won't disappoint you."

With calm expressions, they spoke, then turned and vanished without another word.

For a moment, Dark Master felt conflicted. He didn't want to be caught up in such a scheme, but he had no choice. The guardians held far greater status than him, and he knew he could not easily defy them. After a long period of thought, he finally sighed.

"Order Dark Clan's strongest to head to the Star Realm where Lanyan Royal School resides!"

At the same time, he sent a letter to Lanyan Royal School, issuing a formal challenge. Although it was presented as a competition, his intentions were crystal clear.

Upon hearing this news, Gu Lan was somewhat shocked. The Dark Clan had acted much faster than he had anticipated. With this challenge issued, there was no reason for him to hold back any longer.

However, since Dark Clan had come under the guise of a competition, the true masters of the Dark Clan, including Dark Master, could not directly intervene in the Competition of Myriads of Clans. This put some limitations on their strategy.

Soon, Gu Lan summoned Chen Feng and the most renowned disciples of Lanyan Royal School to his side. These disciples had already heard the news, and their faces were filled with excitement. They had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

"I'm sure you all know by now that I cannot participate in the upcoming competition. You must fight within your abilities, and remember, do not risk your lives recklessly!"

The competition between the myriad clans was not like previous ones. Once combat began, it would be to the death unless one side conceded.

Gu Lan would rather have the disciples of Lanyan Royal School forfeit than risk their lives. His primary concern was the potential rewards. But if those rewards came at the cost of his disciples' lives, he would rather not participate in the competition at all. As for fleeting status and glory, he didn't care about that.

"Master, do not worry. We will remember your words!" one disciple called out confidently.

As preparations began, Gu Lan stood firm, his resolve unwavering. He knew this competition was just the beginning, and darker forces were already closing in on them.