Chapter 143: Paying a Visit to Young Master Chen

On the Main Mountain.

Gu Shaobai hurried to catch up with the Ancient Emperor and asked, "Father, that Young Master Chen called you an old dog earlier, and later insulted me as a clown. How can you tolerate this?"

The Ancient Emperor stopped in his tracks, turned to look at Gu Shaobai, and shook his head. "Shaobai, you should actually feel fortunate."

"I should feel fortunate?" Gu Shaobai was completely bewildered.

The Ancient Emperor nodded and spoke slowly, "You should be grateful he didn't make you lick his boots. If he had, you would have had to kneel and do it."

He let out a cold snort. "It was your own lust that clouded your judgment. You were plotting to possess Tantai Wushuang and the Empress of the Molou Holy Kingdom, which gave that Young Master Chen the opportunity to humiliate you."

"Lick his boots?" Gu Shaobai could not believe his ears. "Father, why would I ever lick his boots? I could have crushed him with a single palm!"

"Foolish!" the Ancient Emperor snapped. "We know that Young Master Chen appears to be an ordinary person, but do we dare kill him? If we kill him, who will lead us to the Heavenly Path and into that world of immortals and gods?"

Gu Shaobai’s breath hitched. "..."

The Ancient Emperor continued, "Therefore, if that Young Master Chen had commanded you to kneel and lick his boots earlier, you would have had to kneel and do it. Do you understand?"

Gu Shaobai stood frozen, unable to utter a single word. His father was right. Currently, they were powerless against Young Master Chen because their future depended entirely on him to ascend the Heavenly Path and enter that superior realm. In his previous rage, he had forgotten this most critical matter. Now, calming down, he realized that if the young man had truly demanded such humiliation, he would have had no choice but to comply.

After a long pause, Gu Shaobai took a deep breath and asked, "Father, what should we do now?"

The Ancient Emperor frowned in thought. After a moment, he said, "For now, we shall extend a gesture of goodwill toward Young Master Chen. If he accepts us, that is the best outcome. If he remains indifferent, we will resort to force and coerce him into leading us to the Heavenly Path."

"Father, in my opinion, we should just seize him," Gu Shaobai gritted his teeth. "It would be more direct. For people of our status to grovel and offer favors to an ordinary man is a complete joke."

"Stupid!" The Ancient Emperor glared at him. "As long as he is willing to lead us to the Heavenly Path and into that immortal realm, what is there that we cannot do? Direct coercion is a last resort; who knows what complications might arise? Enough talk. Go prepare gifts immediately so we may pay him a visit. Of course, notify the powerful experts of our clan as well. If the diplomatic approach fails, we shall have no choice but to use force."

The Ancient Emperor’s family was the foremost clan in the Holy Domain, known as the Gu Clan. The clan had been passed down through countless ages and was immensely powerful, boasting several Great Evolution Venerables. The Ancient Emperor was the head of this clan.

"Understood, Father. I will prepare at once." Gu Shaobai replied and turned to leave.

Watching his son depart, the Ancient Emperor stroked his chin, a faint, pleased smile appearing on his aged face. "I never expected that the arrival of this Young Master Chen would bring me such a grand fortune. This young man is truly my benefactor."

As the Holy Emperor of the Holy Domain and the strongest being in the Yinxue Realm, he was confident that handling Young Master Chen would be effortless. The thought of passing through the Eternal Staircase and entering the immortal realm made his blood boil like water in a cauldron. Yet, amidst his excitement, a seed of confusion remained: "That Young Master Chen is clearly a mere mortal, yet he possesses the method to ascend the Heavenly Path. It is truly unfathomable."

...

At the same time, Donggong Qianxue led Lou Meisha to the main hall of the Demon Clan, bringing her before Chen Changsheng and his daughter.

"Young Master Chen, this is the Empress of the Molou Holy Kingdom, here to pay her respects," Donggong Qianxue said respectfully.

Beautiful. Truly beautiful. Seeing the exquisite Lou Meisha, Chen Changsheng felt his breath quicken. He blinked, puzzled. "Why is this?"

It was completely unexpected that the Empress of the Molou Holy Kingdom would come to see him. However, the others in the hall smiled knowingly; for a reclusive saint like Young Master Chen, it was only natural that the Empress would wish to pay her respects.

Standing so close to him, Lou Meisha was gripped by terror and nervousness, her delicate frame trembling. This was a god from the immortal realm—a being worthy of worship!

"I... I greet... Young Master Chen," Lou Meisha stuttered, her palms slick with cold sweat. "I heard from Princess Qianxue that you... you are a god from that immortal realm..."

Chen Changsheng sighed helplessly and glanced at Mu Wanqing beside him. It was all her fault—her initial attempt to flatter him had led her to claim he was a god from the World of Gods, here in the Yinxue Realm for some earth-shattering secret. Now, no matter how he explained it, no one would believe him.

"Empress Lou Meisha, you need not be nervous. I am but a mere mortal." Chen Changsheng touched his chin, secretly admitting that being mistaken for a god felt quite good; his vanity was certainly satisfied.

"Indeed, Young Master Chen is just a mortal," chimed in Bing Mu'er, Nalan Ruoshui, and the other ladies. They felt they "understood" his state of mind—he had already reached the realm of returning to simplicity, disliked violence, and preferred to identify as a mortal.

*Heaven*, the Princess was right. He is clearly a god from the immortal realm, yet he insists on calling himself a mortal. Lou Meisha’s heart pounded. The air of detachment surrounding Young Master Chen was so profound that commoners like her could never hope to reach it. She glanced around and saw that Donggong Qianxue and the others appeared completely at ease, so she took a deep breath, trying to relax.

"Young Master Chen, the world of immortals and gods is a realm every cultivator in the Yinxue Realm dreams of reaching," Lou Meisha said, summoning all her courage. "When you return to that realm, might I ask if you could take me with you? If you are willing, I am prepared to do anything for you."

Chen Changsheng was taken aback. He had not expected the Empress of the Molou Holy Kingdom to be so direct. The others in the hall looked at him with eager anticipation.