Chapter 484: The Empress Jinghong

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[Xue Jinghong: Female Lead, Jinghong Empress]

– Realm: Two Yi Realm – Void Refinement Stage
– Combat Power: Nascent Soul Early Stage (Extremely Weakened)
– Constitution: ???
– Mental Power: 1800
– Favorability: 5

Wang Haoran finally understood why Fu Xue had been acting so secretive.

It was because her “ring granny” was named Xue Jinghong!

However, seeing the “Appraisal” panel list “Realm” alongside “Combat Power,” Wang Haoran grew curious.

“So, her true realm is Two Yi Realm, Void Refinement Stage, but because she’s so weakened, her actual combat power is only at Nascent Soul Early Stage?”

[Yes.] The system eagerly chimed in, ready to spectate the drama.

“Two Yi Realm…”

“Is that how realms are classified in the cultivation world?”

Staring at the remnant soul hiding in Fu Xue’s ring, Wang Haoran’s curiosity deepened.

[The cultivation world is divided into nine stages: Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul… Two Yi, Tribulation Crossing.]

[The Two Yi Realm is further divided into two stages: Void Refinement and Materialization.]

[Of course, these nine stages essentially align with the nine levels of the Ascension Platform Realm.]

Ascension, as in ascending to immortality, synonymous with crossing tribulation to become an immortal.

Looking at Xue Jinghong in her “remnant soul” state, Wang Haoran began making comparisons:

“Nascent Soul Mid-Stage…”

After comparing Xue Jinghong to himself and Tushan Yingyu, Wang Haoran reached a conclusion:

The Legendary Realm roughly equates to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

The Mythical Realm aligns with the Core Formation Stage.

“So, she’s a whole realm above the Mythical Realm…”

“If she fully recovers her Two Yi Realm strength, she could single-handedly sweep this entire planet…”

However.

Just as Wang Haoran was calculating the combat power of the Two Yi Realm.

Suddenly.

Xue Jinghong materialized from the ring, appearing directly in front of him.

And then stood there—

“You are…!”

Her expression was one of utter shock.

“…I am?” Wang Haoran recalled the last time someone reacted like this—it was his Aunt Zhao Nishang!

Could it be… this “Xue Jinghong” also knew his mother, “Xue Jinghong”?

What are the odds?!

“…I am Wang Haoran.”

“Then… who is your mother?”

“……”

Of course, it came back to this. Looks like he had to play along again.

At this moment, Wang Haoran “shouldn’t” know the name of the Xue Jinghong standing before him. So, startled by the sudden appearance of the soul body, he instinctively answered:

“My mother? My mother is Xue Jinghong.”

“…Xue…”

Hearing this, Xue Jinghong frowned.

She scrutinized Wang Haoran’s face closely, as if piecing something together, before finally sighing with a mix of realization and resignation:

“Do you… have a photo of your mother?”

Having lived in the modern world, she naturally knew about cameras and photographs.

“…I do.” Wang Haoran had long since saved photos of his mother in his phone’s gallery.

So, he opened his phone and displayed a photo for Xue Jinghong.

The moment she saw the person in the photo, Xue Jinghong immediately recognized her.

Her suspicions confirmed, she rubbed her temples in exasperation:

“Xiaoyun… you sly fox!”

Previously, her disciple had insisted that her name was cool and imposing, so she wanted to change it—

“Master, since I borrow your power to fight, I have to shout your name to spread your fame!”

Using her name in fights was one thing, but now…

Having children and becoming a mother under her name? That was taking it too far!

But as she thought about it, another question arose—

“…This child looks to be in his twenties…”

“I remember Xiaoyun… she was with me during that time…”

“Her belly never got big…”

“Could it be… during the period when I was in slumber…”

During her first encounter with those two beings from another world, she had overexerted herself and fallen into a deep sleep, unable to monitor the outside world.

“At that time, Xiaoyun was supposed to be searching for a way to restore me…”

“Could it be… during that time, she found a man, got married, and had a child in record time?”

How impatient could she be?!

The more Xue Jinghong observed Wang Haoran’s appearance and aura, the more convinced she became.

“Goodness, Xiaoyun, treating me like an outsider.”

“Not even telling me about something this important!”

Still, looking at Wang Haoran, Xue Jinghong forced a “kind” smile:

“Don’t listen to your mother.”

“Her real name is Xue Xiaoyun, but she thought it sounded bad, so she secretly used my name.”

“…No way?” Wang Haoran was genuinely surprised.

His mother wouldn’t joke about something like this with both her son and her master, right?

Xue Jinghong sighed, “Yes! Your mother is exactly that kind of person!”

Her disciple was truly a mischievous one.

Whenever she borrowed her master’s power, she would insist it was “possession by a ghost.”

She would often say things like, “Master, don’t I have another senior sister?”

“She betrayed you to steal an infinitely upgradeable technique, causing your downfall?”

And—

“Master, stop pretending.”

“As a soul living in a ring, how could you not know alchemy?”

“If not alchemy, surely you know artifact crafting?”

“Just teach me something!”

She was just like a child.

Much like her new disciple, Fu Xue.

But it was this “childish” disciple who had ultimately “outplayed” her master.

Allowing her master to survive, while she herself…

Thinking of this, Xue Jinghong’s gaze toward Wang Haoran softened with affection and pity.

By the timeline, this child must have grown up without a mother…

Since he was Xiaoyun’s child, it was her duty as a master to look after him!

And conveniently, her new disciple seemed to have “something going on” with him—

A perfect match!

At this moment.

Fu Xue, who had taken the opportunity to cling to Wang Haoran, was glancing between her master and Wang Haoran.

“What a coincidence… Wang Haoran’s mother is my master’s disciple…”

Initially, hearing her master’s name, “Xue Jinghong,” had startled her, making her think of Wang Haoran’s mother.

But seeing that her master’s appearance clearly didn’t match her “mother-in-law’s” photo.

She assumed it was just a case of the same name.

But now, after hearing their conversation—

“Who would’ve thought…”

“So Master is Wang Haoran’s grandmaster…”

“Doesn’t that make me his martial aunt?!”

Instant rank-up!

With that realization, Fu Xue gleefully tugged at Wang Haoran:

“Hmph, Wang Haoran, aren’t you going to call me Martial Aunt?!”