Chapter 117: Only Battle

Wu Gang’s return was truly beyond many people’s expectations. Cai Ye and Xiao Sha had even been consoling each other, saying that even if he had died, he had died for a worthy cause.

To see him appear in the courtyard safe and sound was indeed a delightful surprise; after all, they had even hung his portrait as if they were mourning an old friend. Wu Gang felt like laughing at Cai Ye’s "artwork," but when his eyes landed on Gu Yi’s face, a new wave of worry washed over him.

Desheng Pass always seemed to be this way: happiness arrived quickly, but sorrow arrived even faster. People appeared and vanished with alarming speed, much like the fallen leaves covering the courtyard. Spring had long since passed months ago, making it feel as if the year itself were being accelerated. By evening, rain began to fall on Desheng Pass, but the drizzling water did not bring relief from the summer heat, nor did it bring joy, for everyone knew that war could break out in full force at any moment.

The stone table in the courtyard had a depression that had filled with rainwater, and the splashes caused by falling droplets caught Chen Mingguang’s attention.

"I wonder how Gu Yi is doing now?" he asked, sitting in the room with Wu Gang to escape the rain, both of them staring blankly into the distance.

"Staying with that Eighteenth Floor Master?" Wu Gang could only hope for the best, wishing that Gu Yi might be faring well.

In truth, neither of them had ever been to the Great Rain Palace. Because it was enemy territory, it was painted as a terrifying place. Shu Le had been incredibly lucky to escape, but Gu Yi’s situation was precarious. To suggest they believed Gu Yi felt "at home" there would be impossible; he was undoubtedly facing some very unpleasant circumstances.

These were rational thoughts, at least according to Chen Mingguang. "Even though Shu Le said he is safe, it is hard to say in a place like that. Sigh, I am still worried. What’s more troublesome is that he fell into the very place where even the Eighteenth Floor Master couldn't escape."

Wu Gang was a bit more blunt and didn't dwell on such nuances, letting go of Chen Mingguang’s hesitation. "I think it might be a blessing in disguise. We hear legends of the Eighteenth Floor Master all the time; being by the side of such a person must be a great learning opportunity!"

That was true enough; if he weren't trapped in the Great Rain Palace, such luck would be enviable. But the fact that neither of them could feel true envy proved how deep their concern ran.

After a moment, Chen Mingguang, filled with frustration, slammed his hand onto the table. "Ever since the Eighteenth Floor Master was trapped, the Great Rain Palace has become increasingly wild and unreasonable over the decades. Now they have even trapped Gu Yi, and he is, after all, a Transcendent Scholar of the Xu Kingdom."

Mentioning the Transcendent Scholar, Wu Gang harbored a glimmer of hope. "Do you think the Immortal of Xiaoyuan Mountain will come to rescue Gu Yi?"

"There is no Immortal of Xiaoyuan Mountain anymore; there is definitely something fishy about that place. We can only rely on ourselves."

Indeed, they could only rely on themselves.

There was greenery and fine rain in the courtyard, and the sound of the rainfall almost felt like a return to the Jiangnan region. However, in another place, there was no such peace and tranquility.

Chen Gou had fallen into the hands of General Ji Lan. His shrill, miserable screams echoing through the downpour only made the atmosphere feel more terrifying.

In truth, there were no torture devices in the room, nor was there blood on the floor. Chen Gou was not beaten to a pulp; he was simply tied to a pillar. Ji Lan’s method of interrogation involved "Spirit Ants." Each ant was the size of a grain of rice and golden in color. Controlling these little darlings was a wrinkled, black-faced old woman who looked like a ghost.

"Chen Gou, if you don't start talking, the Spirit Ants will continue to burrow into your meridians. Right now, they are only feeding on your spiritual energy, but in a moment, they will start eating your flesh."

There were no visible blades, no fire, yet these tiny Spirit Ants filled every cultivator with extreme fear. They consumed not only spiritual energy but also flesh. Though small, they were communal; they would swarm into a body in waves, gnawing away at internal organs bit by bit. It was a bone-chilling, soul-piercing pain. To keep their victim alive, they would sometimes start with less vital areas. Thus, anyone "served" by the Spirit Ants had a unique life experience: amidst intense agony, they would watch parts of their own body disappear, without even a drop of blood flowing, as it had all been drunk away.

Chen Gou was a tough man, but watching the Spirit Ants enter through his mouth and nose, and feeling them crawl into his ears, even the itching was enough to drive a normal person mad.

"Just kill me! Kill me!"

Ji Lan sneered. "Death is the most comfortable thing here. Do you think you can just die whenever you want?"

The evil smile on her beautiful face looked to Chen Gou like it had come straight from hell. Ji Lan used her index finger to pick up a golden Spirit Ant; it rested on her fingernail, looking harmless. "Look closely, Chen Gou. Golden Spirit Ants are nearly the highest grade. You see how many are on the old woman next to me; if I put them all inside your body, tell me, what do you think will happen?"

Chen Gou’s face turned pale. He gripped his fists so tightly his lips trembled. "I am Chen Gou of the Li Army! 'Nightfall' Chen Gou—I will never betray my comrades!"

"Fine, then I am not in a hurry." Ji Lan nodded and ordered the person beside her, "Momo, release the ants. Let Chen Gou of the Li Kingdom know the true evil of this world. I am going to rest; I don't want his screaming to disturb me. If you find it annoying, stuff his mouth. I’ll be back tomorrow."

Deep in Chen Gou’s eyes, panic and fear flickered. He even broke out in goosebumps; that damned thing was the most soul-crushing torture. Would these people really just leave him alone to suffer for a day?

"See you tomorrow." Ji Lan gave a wicked smile and flicked her index finger slightly. The golden Spirit Ants swarmed toward Chen Gou’s body like hungry tigers. The moment they made contact, he couldn't help but shudder.

Furthermore, the aged skin of the old woman nearby suddenly rippled as if she were molting; in reality, those were the Spirit Ants crawling over her, and now, following her will, they moved in swarms from her body!

There were so many of them that they made a faint, dense clicking sound as they collided. They burrowed into Chen Gou’s clothes, and soon, they covered his entire body.

"General Ji," the old woman asked at the woman’s back, "what should I ask him, and what should he say for me to stop?"

"Hmm... ask him what reinforcements were sent from Fenggu Pass."

Ji Lan had been quite arrogant while facing Chen Gou, but once out of the room, her expression turned stern. There were not many Harmony-realm cultivators in the Xu and Li Kingdoms. The Seventeenth Floor Master would never move because she was guarding Luyang, but the Great Rain Palace was different.

This reinforcement of Fenggu Pass was rather strange. If a Manor Master were to come, they would all be buried alongside them. Usually, that wouldn't happen, as they had to keep an eye on the Vice Dean of the Luyang Academy in Xingyuan City, but after years of campaigning, Ji Lan had grown accustomed to thinking of the worst-case scenario. As long as there was no Manor Master, and Shu Le had returned, she still had confidence in this battle.

Gradually moving away from the dark room, she heard the screams again, but they did not stir a shred of compassion in her.

...

The next day, on the ramparts of Desheng Pass.

Ji Lan walked to the side of General He Jiang.

"He screamed like that all night. Did you find out anything?"

"No. 'Nightfall' Chen Gou is no small fry. Even if someone like him opened his mouth, I would have to wonder if it were false information."

"You will find a way."

Ji Lan spoke bluntly, "I’m not worried about anything else, and I believe you feel the same. Jiang Yu and Bo Yu have already appeared outside the Great Rain Palace."

The most frustrating part now was that, as the defending side, they could not leave the pass. Therefore, no matter what plans or arrangements they made, the first thing they had to do was wait for the enemy to arrive here.

"Gu Feng’s original plan was to use Gu Qinghe to lure us out of the city. Now that this plan has failed, I estimate he won’t continue waiting," He Jiang said, familiar with his old rival’s style. If he intended to attack, he would not dilly-dally.

"Tonight?" Ji Lan asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I fear... it is right now."

Because he had anticipated this, He Jiang had been watching from the ramparts. He had nowhere else to go, so he simply waited here for him to come.

Ji Lan looked at the flat land outside the pass. Mountains flanked it on both sides, and the Li Army could only approach along the river. The Chenzhou Basin was flat as a mirror, with no defenses to speak of. Gu Feng would have received news of Gu Qinghe’s great escape during the day; if he had gathered his troops and set out immediately, he should be arriving soon.

Neither of them spoke.

Silence. The vast land was filled with a detestable silence. He Jiang squinted in unease; he felt that Gu Feng not arriving was the unexpected factor.

"Should I keep watch here?" Ji Lan knew he had been here the entire day.

However, just as He Jiang turned around and hadn't even taken two steps, the ground gave a dull, shaking sensation. He thought it was his own illusion, so he stared at a small pebble on the flagstones of the city tower.

*Pat.*

It began to vibrate in place at a high frequency.

"General?!"

On the tower, another young man named Chen Yi, who always followed He Jiang, felt it too. Without a word, he dove to the ground and pressed his ear against it.

A short while later, the sound of *'Boom! Boom! Boom!'* could be faintly heard.

He Jiang didn't even need to command; Chen Yi had already shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

From silence to madness, it took only an instant.

"The Li Army is here! The Li Army is here!"

No extra orders were needed. In the Chenzhou Basin, the two armies had a history of frequent engagements, so the soldiers knew exactly where they were supposed to be. At this moment, the entire Desheng Pass was like a finely-tuned machine; soldiers returned to their respective squads. The first group had already climbed onto the ramparts, and the others were ready. At the same time, to prevent cultivators from throwing powerful techniques into the city, all non-combatants were required to enter the underground shelters. The cultivators within the pass were to emerge at this time; they weren't necessarily meant to fight on the ramparts, but some had to guard the key points of the arrays. The people of Desheng Pass had been trained in these procedures for many years.

Shu Le woke from her sleep with a start. She hadn't fully recovered yet, but the tremendous noise had already echoed throughout the entire city.

Her beautiful eyes shifted, and she knew something was wrong. "Seventh Princess!"

*Whoosh!* Shu Le threw off her quilt, and with a wave of her hand, her clothes and weapons were on her. As she opened the door to go out, she happened to see a soldier rushing in.

"Lord Shu! The Li Army is attacking! General He requests your presence; he is on the ramparts!"

Shu Le would naturally not shy away from battle, but she had to ensure the safety of the Seventh Princess first.

"Understood. I will give a few words to my classmates, and then I will be there immediately."

"Yes!"

*Boom!!*

She didn't know where the sound came from, but the ground shook, and Shu Le almost lost her footing.

"Shu Le!"

The Seventh Princess floated down from the roof, followed by Wu Gang, Chen Mingguang, and the three people from the Donghu Academy. It seemed that because she had been asleep, she was the slowest.

"The Li Army is here."

"I didn't expect them to be this fast."

Everyone was talking at once, but the focus was singular: the Seventh Princess also wanted to head out to meet the enemy, but the three remaining members of the Luyang Academy did not agree.

***

The Seventh Princess no longer wanted to retreat. "The soldiers of Desheng Pass are all watching, pinning their hopes on the Luyang Academy. How could I not go to face the enemy at a time like this? Besides, I am at the God-Guarding Realm; as long as it is not a Return-to-Truth expert, ordinary people cannot hurt me."

That might be true, but in the heat of battle, blades had no eyes, and there was always a possibility—and not a small one—of getting hurt. The Seventh Princess’s thought process was simple: the Yin clan was the royal family, and at such a time, they should be the first to charge.

"This time, no matter what, you cannot stop me."

Shu Le sighed in resignation and ordered, "Chen Mingguang, Wu Gang, stay on both sides. You must not let any mistakes happen."

"Lord Shu! General He is calling!"

He Jiang on the ramparts was shouting urgently, not out of cowardice, but because the situation demanded it.

...

Above the perimeter wall of Desheng Pass, He Jiang and Ji Lan were already floating in the air. The man stood tall with his sword, looking every bit the great general; the woman stood with her hands on her hips, her long hair dancing in the wind.

Below them, the yellow-earth city wall stood over a hundred feet tall—lofty and heavy—extending outward on both sides until it connected with the towering mountain ranges. The city wall was made of special spirit stones, their spiritual energies intertwining and connecting; even cultivators would find it difficult to breach, not to mention the spirit talismans used to reinforce its defense.

A fortress called "one man can hold the pass against ten thousand" wouldn't be called a heroic pass if it weren't difficult to conquer. Of course, great cultivators could fly directly over, but the Xu Kingdom was not without its own defenders.

Looking into the distance, the dense Li Army soldiers were marching in formations, totaling several thousand. Their rhythmic stomping was the source of the *'Boom, boom, boom'* sound. Yet, the soldiers felt no panic or fear, for when they looked up, they could see their own two Return-to-Truth experts!

General He Jiang! Vice General Ji Lan!

On the battlefield, the strong were respected, and the people looked up to and worshipped these two.

*Bang!*

There was no need for reasons for the Xu-Li war. Before a word was said, and before the army had even reached the city walls, the vanguard of the Li Army’s cultivators had already unleashed a massive palm strike of imposing power toward Desheng Pass!

He Jiang and Ji Lan remained motionless.

On the ramparts, the Xu army also had cultivators of the God-Guarding and Heart-Standing realms. If these attacks required their two generals to act, it would be a humiliation.

"Li Qingrong, Lord of the Tiger-Wolf Army!"

A God-Guarding realm expert, his position was slightly lower and further forward than the two generals. He had long, blue hair reaching his waist.

"Wang Shouxin, Lord of the Ever-Victorious Army!"

A God-Guarding realm expert, positioned beside Li Qingrong. He was not tall, and a pale red scar ran vertically across his right eye. He wielded a long spear made of black iron that was taller than he was.

"Shi Guan, Lord of the Winged-Tiger Army!"

A God-Guarding realm expert, she also flew into the air. She was the only other woman besides Ji Lan, wrapped in green silk and riding a long-winged, starving wolf.

"The Army Lords have come out too! We will definitely win!"

The massive palm strike from the Li Army was easily blocked by the combined efforts of these three. Not even a single leaf fell onto the walls of Desheng Pass.

Higher up, Ji Lan asked He Jiang, "Only three came. Where are Xiao Lu and Xiao Qin?"

The general explained, "I always felt that the Li Army’s attack this time was well-prepared, so I kept two armies back. It doesn't matter if they aren't here; didn't the Luyang Academy come to support us?"

Ji Lan felt a drum beating in her heart. She wasn't sure if she could trust Shu Le; her state didn't seem to be at its best.

*Boom!!*

As the Li Army drew closer, they gathered an unknown amount of spiritual energy, and balls of fire began to fall from the sky. The fireballs were wrapped in spiritual energy, numerous and wide-ranging, heading straight for Desheng Pass.

He Jiang and Ji Lan both frowned slightly. It seemed Gu Feng had new helpers. Hot waves of air quickly enveloped the sky over Desheng Pass, and the eyes of everyone looking up were filled with burning fire.

"What is this?!"

"Is it the God of Fire?"

"Such a wide range?!"

It almost covered the entirety of Desheng Pass. Once it landed, the place would instantly turn into a sea of fire—a true living hell. Even though the people inside the pass were quickly hiding underground, there were still people on the surface!

"I’ll handle it!" Wang Shouxin, the shortest of the Army Lords, swung his spear and stepped back.

This was the Li Army’s "three-strike" opening: first, the palm strike that came like a landslide; now, the fireballs raining from the sky.

"Wait."

Someone shouted, and then a web formed by spiritual energy appeared at a point within Desheng Pass, expanding rapidly in a very short time.

*Bang!!!*

Three palm forces lifted this web upward, colliding head-on with the fireballs. The moment they touched, the exploding spiritual energy scattered like flowers across the sky, with colors of all kinds—a spectacle of indescribable, terrifying beauty. After that, the spiritual energy on the fireballs was continuously consumed, and the fireballs shrank until three figures rose into the air.

The Seventh Princess, Chen Mingguang, and Wu Gang!

"Luyang Academy! It’s the Luyang Academy!"

Desheng Pass erupted in massive, joyous cheers.

Shortly thereafter, a plume of pink spiritual energy rose from the ground, leaving behind a graceful arc that ended to the left of General He Jiang.

Shu Le stood there, holding her sword. Although no one had decreed it, this position was likely reserved only for those of the Return-to-Truth realm. They had to stand at the very peak to block any Return-to-Truth experts.

"General, Senior Sister Ji, I apologize for being late."

He Jiang wouldn't care about such things. "I thank you on behalf of everyone at Desheng Pass, Lord Shu."

Although their cultivation levels were similar, and He Jiang might even be slightly stronger, he was not from the Luyang Academy, so he couldn't call her "Little Shu Le" like Ji Lan sometimes did playfully. Moreover, despite the equal cultivation, their age difference was vast. Shu Le was someone with the hope of breaking into the Harmony realm and inheriting a Floor Master’s position—that made a world of difference.

"The Luyang Academy has a duty to defend the land; when is there ever a need for thanks?"

"Let's not deal with such empty talk right now." Ji Lan was more concerned about other things. "Little Shu Le, you’ve been fighting almost continuously these past few days. Is your state alright?"

It was hard to say if she was at a hundred percent, but Shu Le felt it was enough. "Senior Sister Ji, now is not the time to think about my state. I am fine."

The appearance of one more person in the sky brought morale to its peak. There was no need for language to introduce or describe it; every soldier here knew that was someone from the Luyang Academy. The Luyang Academy had always held a lofty status in the Xu Kingdom, a key factor being that the Emperor truly sent the people from the academy to the battlefield. They were talented individuals chosen from thousands, equipped with the best resources in the country, and naturally performed brilliantly on the front lines. Over time, in the Xu Kingdom, if you had the support of the Luyang Academy, the outcome of the battle might be uncertain, but it would certainly not end in an easy collapse.

Even the three Army Lords—Li Qingrong, Wang Shouxin, and Shi Guan—felt a surge of confidence after seeing another figure appear to the left of the General. The path of cultivation was like this: once your realm was capped, you would often experience moments where people much younger than you might have higher cultivation. The three Army Lords were used to this; they would not judge this genius of the Luyang Academy based on her delicate appearance or young age.

Shi Guan looked ahead, full of confidence. "Three Return-to-Truth experts! Let’s see how the Li Army tries to attack us now!"

As the words left her mouth, the gazes of all three stalled. A giant golden gourd suddenly appeared in the high sky, followed by a sky-filling, massive torrent of water pouring down. It was as if Desheng Pass had suddenly been dragged to the breach of a great river!

"What... is this?!"

*Whoosh!*

Shu Le added a touch of seriousness to her expression. She felt that the spiritual energy of the God-Guarding realm wouldn't be able to handle this, so she had to step in. She stood like a wall before the city. At this moment, she did not represent herself, but the Luyang Academy.

*Swish!* She pulled a white scroll from her sleeve. The scroll unfurled with the flow of spiritual energy, expanding infinitely in width and length, wide enough to cover the entire Desheng Pass and long enough to curve forward and reach the other side of the mountain range. Shu Le stood beneath the scroll, rotating her body to infuse it with spiritual energy.

*Whoosh!*

The torrential flood poured down with unstoppable force, but it was blocked on top of the scroll. It was as if the scroll had become the riverbed, and the massive waves were flowing along the riverbed toward the other side of the mountains. This was truly a "river suspended above the earth," and what held it up was the object Shu Le had produced.

After the water poured down, the sound of rushing water echoed throughout the world, but it did not harm Desheng Pass in the slightest. Desheng Pass was like a suppressed fire barrel, instantly erupting with the joy of rebirth.

"It’s Lord Shu of the Luyang Academy!"

"The Emperor and the Luyang Academy will definitely save us!"

"Together, kill all the Li soldiers!"

...

This morale made even Ji Lan want to look back on the glorious years of her youth; it was truly nostalgic, those days as the darling of the Luyang Academy.

He Jiang said, "One must accept getting old; your era has passed." If you haven't entered the Harmony realm, everything else is just talk.

A large, black "well" symbol appeared on Ji Lan’s forehead. "Calling me old?! Once I settle things with the Li people, I’ll settle things with you!"

*Whoosh!* Shu Le’s figure was as fast as lightning; she appeared at the highest altitude the second the problem was solved. With the three of them standing side by side, Desheng Pass was secure. They likely wanted to give every soldier holding a spear the feeling that, at the very least, they wouldn't be afraid when they saw the Li Army.

And the Li Army...

***

The arch-rival Li Army had already arrived at the foot of Desheng Pass’s walls during the series of attacks and defenses!

He Jiang’s prediction was correct; they also had three Return-to-Truth experts. Gu Feng, the defender of Fenggu Pass, and his Vice General, Sun Liang—these were their old rivals. And there was one more: a one-armed youth sitting on the back of a giant, flying goose. Although he was like Wu Gang, Wu Gang had lost his left hand, while this man had lost his right.

"The Left-Handed Swordsman of the Li Kingdom."

Upon seeing him clearly, He Jiang frowned. "Left-Handed Sword Chang Meng. I didn't expect him to come to Fenggu Pass. Lord Shu, be extremely careful."

That was a waste of words; this was a battlefield, and no matter who the opponent was, one had to be careful.

Shu Le was also seeing Gu Feng of Fenggu Pass for the first time. His face was inexplicably flushed red, and he wore a red sash around his waist. He was tall, powerful, and as sturdy as a door panel!

"Gu Feng! Why aren't you staying in your den of comfort instead of coming here to Desheng Pass to cause trouble?!"

Gu Feng wielded a massive, long saber, carrying it on his shoulder. Even without cultivation, he was a man of great courage.

*Whoosh!*

He held the saber vertically and swung it forward casually. A blinding white blade of light followed. The blade fell at an incredible speed; it didn't cut the city wall, but it left a massive crack in the ground!

"He Jiang, you have blocked me here for too many years. Today, I will definitely kill you and charge through."

Others might fear him, but He Jiang did not. "Stop bragging! For so many years, I have beaten you so badly that your Fenggu Pass doesn't dare to come out. And you think you can get past my Desheng Pass?!"

"The Xu Emperor is muddle-headed, indulging in pleasure; the people suffer under his governance, and the Way is hidden from the world. What good is such an Emperor? He Jiang, don't wait for reinforcements. His Majesty has prepared for many years for this one battle to decide the destiny of the realm. The situation in Xingyuan City must be worse than here. Today, I am going to get through!"

Ji Lan spoke quietly, "I wonder who taught him those flowery words. No need to say more; just fight."

"If you have the ability, attack the city!"

The ordinary soldiers attacked the city, while the experts sought their respective opponents.

"CHARGE!!!"

...

Great Rain Palace.

Shu Yu handed a piece of parchment to Gu Yi. "Faster than expected. General Gu has already gathered his troops to fight outside the pass today."

Those cruel and bloody scenes were reduced to a simple sentence on this piece of paper for Gu Yi.

"Who do you think will win? Objectively speaking."

"Hmm, I won't distort the facts just because I support General Gu," Shu Yu said gently. "But from the actual situation, for Desheng Pass, this will be a hard-fought battle regardless."

Gu Yi didn't think she was lying to him; he was already trapped, there was nothing to be gained by lying, and she didn't want his body. So he believed her, but he was puzzled.

"Why have I heard that the Chenzhou Basin is not a strategic focal point for the two armies? Both sides just defend it to save face. Why is the Xu Army now facing a bitter battle?"

"Naturally, because many people went to Fenggu Pass. The two Manor Masters will not go to Fenggu Pass. Your Vice Dean is very powerful; whether it is Manor Master Jiang Yu or Manor Master Bo Yu, neither can defeat that person one-on-one. And the battle of Xingyuan is too important, so neither will move."

"However..." Shu Yu hesitated for a moment but spoke anyway. "However, your Emperor seems to always avoid battle, so the Li Army is certain that even if they temporarily pull away some God-Guarding realm cultivators from the Xingyuan battlefield, the Xu Army won't take the initiative to attack. The Xu Emperor is unwilling to start a war because he is worried about the Palace Master."

"The two Manor Masters have shown themselves to attract the main force of the Xu Army on the Xingyuan battlefield. As long as these two are present, the Xu Army, for the sake of the overall situation, will tend to let Desheng Pass bear more pressure, thereby protecting Xingyuan and Luyang."

Once Xingyuan City was breached, there were no high mountains or large rivers to defend the hundred-mile stretch of northern Luyang territory. It was basically a large plain, allowing the Li Army to gallop freely and approach Luyang. That would be a national crisis.

Gu Yi jumped to his feet. "The Chenzhou Basin is your designated breakthrough point?!"

If that were the case, wouldn't everyone there be in great danger?

"Sit down. Neither of us went to help, so it’s fair. And... it’s not to say they will definitely win. Desheng Pass is a heroic pass, easy to defend and hard to attack. It won’t be decided in a moment."

Gu Yi was anxious, but he couldn't do anything right now.

Shu Yu couldn't help but add, "That Emperor of yours, muddle-headed and lecherous, full of schemes—clearly a vicious character, yet you worry so much for him."

Gu Yi shook his head. "I don't have any 'loyal subject' thoughts. Or rather, if I were to acknowledge an Emperor, my requirements for him would be far higher than yours."

"Arbitrary. What are your requirements?"

"Benevolence, frugality, and willingness to accept advice." Gu Yi counted them off on his fingers. Shu Yu was immediately choked up. For an Emperor, these were generally the requirements. Benevolence meant he couldn't just kill them, his subordinates. Frugality meant don't spend money. Willingness to accept advice meant listen to us.

Continuing from before, Gu Yi said, "I have just made a few friends in the Xu Kingdom, so I don't want them to die in the war just like that. Just as I have made a friend in you—I wouldn't want to watch you die either."

The expression under Shu Yu’s mask was unreadable, but she asked, "But we are enemies. What if one of us has to die?"

"Why do you have to be so stubborn?" Gu Yi couldn't understand. "If it really reaches a point where it’s unavoidable, and someone must die, then I have no choice."

"You!" Shu Yu knew this guy had no good words, but she was still angered. "So, your worry for your friends at Desheng Pass was just a fleeting moment, and now you don't care anymore."

"Rather than just being someone who worries and prays, I might as well think about how to make the Palace Master change her mind and let me out."

Gu Yi still hoped to use Shu Yu as a breakthrough; they were of the same clan and seemed to have similar experiences.

"You are still thinking about this." Shu Yu didn't know what to say to him. "If anyone could actually do it, it wouldn't be you."

"So, someone has done it before?"

"You agree to help me kill Qing Feng, and I’ll tell you."

The heart of a woman is the most poisonous; one really shouldn't offend these people. Gu Yi took note. "Fine, fine, I’ll help you." He had made several "good friends"; when the time came, he would figure out a way to have them help together, and Qing Feng’s life would be easily taken. "I promise you. Now can you tell me how to make the Palace Master change her mind?"

For the first time, a hint of joy appeared in Shu Yu’s eyes—after all, she could take revenge—though it vanished in a flash.

"In the Great Rain Palace, life, death, and departure are all decided by the Palace Master’s word. If you want her to change her mind, it sounds simple, but it is very difficult to do."

Gu Yi suppressed his excitement. "What is it?"

Shu Yu said, "Just make the Palace Master like you."

Gu Yi: ???

She is old enough to be my mother, right? Besides, she is a devil who is so cruel to men; if I go tell her some "like" or "dislike," wouldn't I just die?

"I make her like me?!"

Shu Yu saw immediately that he had misunderstood. "I don't mean the 'like' you are thinking of. I mean, make her fond of you." She emphasized the word.

Gu Yi was going crazy. "Isn't that the same thing?"

"Oh, like the way one feels about a subordinate. Doesn't your Emperor have favorite subjects? Like Zhang Weiyu; he used to be quite favored by the Palace Master."

"You mean appreciation, right? How is that 'liking'?" Gu Yi was startled. But fine, the meaning wasn't too different. But what could that guy Zhang Weiyu possibly have to make a female demon king like him? He wasn't even as handsome as me. Besides, Gu Yi had no chance to contact the Palace Master of the Great Rain Palace; she rarely asked about worldly affairs, so she wasn't interested in Gu Yi.

"It’s quite hard, right?" Shu Yu watched the silent Gu Yi.

Gu Yi didn't speak; he got up and left. He had to go back and think about this carefully. Because this seemed like a relatively reliable method.

"Qing Feng will arrive in two days."

"I know."

To change the Palace Master’s impression of him, he had to cater to her tastes. To cater to her tastes, he had to understand her. To understand her, he couldn't listen to one-sided talk.

After they met that day, Gu Yi knew they were both monsters who had taken human form. Yan Gou was actually a dog, but he insisted he was a wolf. Chang Jiao Mao was also unwilling to accept his fate; he felt he should be the King of the Mountains, a tiger, not some cat. From a scientific cultivation perspective, they all belonged to the same family as their ideal types, so it wasn't a big problem.

The problem now was: what would the Palace Master of the Great Rain Palace like?

The Eighteenth Floor Master would ponder it, but Yan Gou and Chang Jiao Mao had heads that were like ornaments. They said bluntly, "She doesn't like anything. She never smiles; how could she like anything?"

However, the Eighteenth Floor Master didn't say so; it seemed he had a deeper connection with the Palace Master. Gu Yi pinned his hopes on him. "Although I have never seen Bai Ci’s true face, I have indeed seen her smile."

"Floor Master, do you know what made her smile?" Gu Yi pressed. "If she is devoted to seeking immortality, could it be something related to cultivation techniques?"

"No, no, no." All three denied it quickly. Yan Gou said, "When we first met, she wasn't like this. She didn't like cultivation at all; she was forced to become the Yun Sage."

"Then what does she actually like?"

"Emm... now? It’s hard to say..."

*Bang!*

Chang Jiao Mao kicked him in the butt, and Gu Yi flew into the air.

"You’re killing me with anxiety. What’s the point of thinking about this broken question? Come with me to fight. After we fight, I’ll teach you a new way to use spiritual energy. That’s what’s interesting!"