Chapter Thirteen: The Celestial Emperor’s Envoy

Compared to Li Chengzhu’s agony, Xiaoying’s artifact forging was going more and more smoothly; it was rare now for her not to produce a mid-grade flying sword. Xiaoying’s joy made her go about with her mouth agape all day, fantasizing about her storage ring overflowing with high-grade spirit stones.

After finishing her forging each day, Xiaoying would always go check on Li Chengzhu, the “big boss.” If he were to suddenly die one day, wouldn’t all these flying swords become hers? The thought was not without a trace of malice.

Most of the time, however, Li Chengzhu was in a semi-conscious state. On this day, after she finished forging, Xiaoying once again entered Li Chengzhu’s room. Gu Linglong had already finished her session. Li Chengzhu was curled up in a corner, trembling uncontrollably like a wounded lobster.

A flicker of pity flashed in Xiaoying’s eyes. She looked at Gu Linglong, but the words that rose to her lips were never spoken.

Gu Linglong opened her eyes, cast a cold glance at Li Chengzhu, and walked out.

Xiaoying approached Li Chengzhu, gently picked him up, and laid him on the bed, inwardly admiring his endurance. It had been a month since the extraction began, and this Nascent Soul stage man was still holding on. Xiaoying understood Gu Linglong’s intentions: obsessed with regaining the immortal spirit energy she’d once lost, Gu Linglong wanted to extract as much as possible from Li Chengzhu, thus slowing the process to ensure his safety.

If Li Chengzhu one day hovered on the brink of death, Xiaoying was certain her sister would stop at nothing to strip him of all remaining immortal energy.

Immortals cared for nothing but their own cultivation.

She wondered if, after becoming an immortal herself, she would be the same.

Li Chengzhu’s body gradually ceased its violent trembling, though he remained unconscious.

Just as Xiaoying was about to leave, Li Chengzhu suddenly turned and grabbed her around the waist, murmuring, “Xiaoli, don’t go.”

Xiaoli? Xiaoying wondered if this was his beloved in the mortal world.

Cultivators tended to be indifferent toward emotions, so Xiaoying had no experience of love and now found herself curious. For him to call out a name in a half-conscious state, it must indeed be someone dear. A blush crept across her alluring face as she realized she actually wanted to experience the so-called feeling between men and women.

She took Li Chengzhu’s large, tightly gripping hand, gently caressing it, and decided to play the role, to see what it was like. In a soft voice, she said, “I’m not going anywhere.”

Li Chengzhu, eyes still closed, let her hold his hand and mumbled, “Xiaoli, I miss you so much. Do you miss me?”

Xiaoying paused, her cheeks flushing deeper, unsure how to respond.

Li Chengzhu continued, “Xiaoli, my wife, I love you! I won’t leave. I’ll never leave again.”

Moved by his devotion, Xiaoying softly cooed, “Good boy.”

Two tears suddenly welled up on Li Chengzhu’s handsome face. His voice trembled as he said, “Wife, I’m so scared. I dreamed I’d gone to the Immortal Realm, where a crazy woman torments me day and night. I’m dying. I really am dying…”

Looking at the tears at the corners of his eyes, Xiaoying sighed quietly. Her sister really had tormented him terribly, if he even called out in his dreams. She raised a slender hand and gently wiped away his tears.

“Wife… I want a hug!” Li Chengzhu sobbed.

Oh well, let him sleep well for once. Though she’d wished this big boss would drop dead, seeing his heartfelt vulnerability now, she felt a pang of pity.

Xiaoying shifted and lifted his head onto her lap.

“Wife… I want a kiss!”

Her heart suddenly raced. Looking down at his handsome, sorrowful face, even in sleep his brows were tightly knit. She couldn’t help but feel a surge of tenderness, and with a gentle hand she massaged his brow, then leaned down to lightly brush his face with her lips.

“Wife… I want to nurse!”

Her chest heaved violently in outrage; with a gust of wind, her fist came down squarely on Li Chengzhu’s eye.

The next morning, Li Chengzhu awoke, puzzled by the pain in his eye. Looking in the mirror, he discovered a black eye and couldn’t help but curse. After enduring Gu Linglong’s torment for over a month, he couldn’t even sleep soundly, and now he had to go around with a panda eye thanks to that crazy woman.

Gu Linglong, however, entered the room right on time, expressionless. “Sit down. We begin.”

Li Chengzhu’s mouth twitched. “Can’t you give me a day off? Even a god couldn’t withstand this kind of daily torment.”

Gu Linglong’s expression hardened, but before she could reply, Xiaoying darted in.

“Morning, Xiaoying!” Li Chengzhu greeted her with a smile.

Xiaoying ignored him, turning to Gu Linglong. “Sister, the special envoy of the Immortal Emperor is here.”

Gu Linglong was momentarily stunned. “What is he here for?”

Xiaoying replied anxiously, “It seems to be about the Western Angelic Legion.”

At these words, Gu Linglong’s delicate brows knit in concern. After a moment she said, “Let’s go see,” and headed for the door. Li Chengzhu followed.

In the main hall, Li Chengzhu finally saw the so-called special envoy. This man was surrounded by a vast aura of immortal energy, his cultivation far surpassed Gu Linglong’s, dressed in white robes and holding a mutton-fat jade scepter, striking a pose of utmost authority. What irked Li Chengzhu most was that the envoy was even more handsome than he was.

“Greetings, Honored Envoy.” Gu Linglong actually bowed to this man. Li Chengzhu’s eyes nearly popped out—he’d never seen Gu Linglong so deferential; this envoy was surely extraordinary.

“City Lord,” the envoy replied without expression.

Gu Linglong asked, “May I ask the purpose of your visit, Honored Envoy?”

The envoy produced a jade tablet exuding immortal energy. “This is a conscription order from the Immortal Emperor. Within two months, you are to select one hundred cultivators above the Divided Spirit stage from your city and have them report to Red Rock Plateau to await further orders.”

Gu Linglong hesitated. “Honored Envoy, you know that cultivators are not interested in war. I fear I won’t be able to conscript so many.”

The envoy snorted coldly. “The Western Angelic Legion is bearing down with full force—no one can remain unaffected. Anyone who refuses conscription will be executed without mercy!”

Gu Linglong furrowed her brows but had no choice but to reply, “Yes.” She accepted the order with both hands.

The envoy then produced a storage ring. “Inside are two thousand high-grade spirit stones. Each selected person will receive twenty as strategic supplies, which I leave in your care.”

Gu Linglong accepted it. The envoy, still expressionless, said, “I have delivered the message. If you fail to report to the designated place within two months and incur the Emperor’s wrath, none of us can bear the consequences. That is all—I must notify the other city lords. Farewell!”

With that, he vanished in an instant.