Empress, Empress.

She was a woman first, and a lofty sovereign second.

The world knew that the Empress, Lin Shuwang, possessed the Undying God Phoenix Physique and bore the destiny of a Great Emperor.

She was the youngest Great Saint on the entire Desolate Ancient Continent, a woman of peerless talent.

Yet, stripping away the radiant halos and monumental achievements, Lin Shuwang was merely a twenty-two-year-old woman.

Her heart was just beginning to bloom.

A maiden's heart yearning for romance.

She was full of curiosity about the world and harbored a deep longing for love.

Yet, bearing the heavy crown of the Empress, she stood utterly alone. The ordinary affections of the mortal world had long since severed their ties with her.

Among her peers, the vast majority of men lacked the courage to even look her in the eye, let alone pursue her.

Naturally, Lin Shuwang's standards were impossibly high. The number of men who could catch her eye was practically zero.

Except...

Except for the man standing before her-the one who had openly defeated and suppressed her in a head-on clash.

Moreover, Chu Chen's simple, direct, and naked confession of love did not offend her. In Lin Shuwang's eyes, it was a display of absolute frankness and unyielding candor.

Stepping into the Imperial Palace alone, casting aside life and death, required immense courage.

Added to that, Chu Chen was undeniably handsome. Dashing and elegant, he radiated a dazzling charm.

Especially those clear eyes, as deep as the starry night sky, paired with his straight posture and graceful bearing.

And beneath that handsome exterior lay a cultivation talent even more heaven-defying than her own.

The Empress had zero experience in romance and did not believe in love at first sight, but...

But ever since her defeat at Chu Chen's hands, she felt as though she had found a kindred spirit, a pillar of support.

For three years, Chu Chen's figure had haunted Lin Shuwang's heart, leaving her tossing and turning through countless restless nights.

She had longed to draw her sword, storm the Ye family alone, and drag Chu Chen out for another world-shaking battle.

But bound by her identity, she could only bury that impulse and longing deep within her soul.

Until...

Until today, when Chu Chen arrived at her door and read a love letter right to her face.

Lin Shuwang's heart practically melted. Yet, remembering how this very man had severely wounded her three years ago, a spark of temper still flickered within her.

She had wanted to hear his explanation, but she never expected that the moment he opened his mouth, he would throw her silent Dao heart into absolute chaos.

So, for these past three years, Chu Chen had lived every day and night in agonizing self-blame and regret.

If he had to set a time limit on his love, he hoped it would be ten thousand years?

But wasn't ten thousand years far too short??

Both she and Chu Chen possessed the destiny of a Great Emperor. Barring any unforeseen disasters, breaking through to the Emperor Realm and ascending the throne would be as easy as breathing.

A Great Emperor's lifespan spanned roughly one hundred thousand years. If they found a legendary Immortal Medicine, they could live a second life, extending that to two hundred thousand years.

Two hundred thousand years, yet he was only willing to stay together for ten thousand? This...

It seemed he only harbored a fond impression of her. Even if there was love, it wasn't truly profound.

This man still required further observation~

Stepping up to Chu Chen, the Empress Lin Shuwang gave a light snort, snapping herself out of his bombardment of sweet words.

"You... you came alone to my Divine Flame Imperial Palace today, just to... to confess your feelings to me?"

Looking at Lin Shuwang-her body trembling slightly, her expression shifting unpredictably between joy and disappointment-Chu Chen was stunned for a moment before subconsciously nodding.

"Are you not afraid of death? Do you not know that everyone in my Divine Flame Imperial Palace, from the Elders down to the outer disciples, all millions of my subjects, wish nothing more than to tear you, Chu Chen, to pieces?"

Lin Shuwang was the absolute faith of every disciple and Elder in the Divine Flame Imperial Palace. Three years ago, Chu Chen's victory over her had trampled their collective pride into the dirt.

"I know. But even if it means death, I still had to come."

Chu Chen took a deep breath. He was already a dying man. If he didn't settle certain matters now, he would never get another chance.

"..."

But to Lin Shuwang's ears, those words made her heart completely melt.

This man, just to confess his feelings to her, feared neither death nor the loss of his own life.

She had merely missed him, but his feelings for her were...

He was willing to throw his life away!!

Instantly, Lin Shuwang's heart began to waver once more.

Looking at the blushing Empress, who had lowered her head in silence, Chu Chen's mind went into a daze.

In that instant, he finally understood.

Why, in his previous life, Lin Shuwang had forcefully slaughtered her way into the Ye family alone with her sword. Why, after his death, she had burned her lifeblood to activate a Supreme Emperor Weapon, intending to bury the entire Ye family alongside him.

So...

So this woman had harbored a secret crush on him all along!

This turn of events was truly... bizarre.

But now, his Meridians were shattered, his cultivation was completely crippled, and he didn't have many days left to live.

Since that was the case, he might as well give all the treasures on his person to Lin Shuwang.

Compared to that pack of ungrateful wolves in the Ye family, the Empress was infinitely more loyal and righteous.

Consider it...

Consider it repaying her profound kindness from his previous life.

Besides, Lin Shuwang was breathtakingly beautiful, and more importantly, she actually liked him. A fairy who dared to love and hate so fiercely, like a Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden descending to the mortal realm-what man wouldn't be moved?

"Besides the love letter, I also brought a gift for you."

A gift?

He had just confessed and was immediately offering a gift. Then this... this gift must be...

A token of love???

The Empress's flawless face flushed crimson, her cherry lips parting into a soft "O". Although she ruled as an Emperor, she had absolutely zero experience in matters of the heart.

First came the relentless bombardment of romantic poetry, and now a token of love. Under the overwhelming offensive of the dashing Chu Chen...

Who could possibly withstand this???

At this moment, the Empress didn't even care what the token of love actually was.

As the sovereign of the Imperial Palace, what treasures did she lack?

But since it was a token of Chu Chen's affection, even if it were a wild weed from the roadside or a pebble from the dirt, it would still be...

Extraordinarily meaningful.

Yet, as Lin Shuwang watched in a daze, Chu Chen brushed his Storage Ring. A single drop of blood, bathed in scarlet flames, materialized in his palm.

The scarlet flames wrapped around the blood, which was as crystal clear as a flawless ruby.

And within that single drop of blood, the phantom of a Divine Phoenix soared with its wings spread wide.

"Chirp~"

Accompanied by the clear, world-piercing cry of a phoenix, the Spiritual Qi within Lin Shuwang resonated uncontrollably. Vast swathes of scarlet flames erupted from her body, faintly showing signs of an imminent breakthrough.

"Heavens, this... this is Divine Phoenix Essence Blood?!"

Lin Shuwang stared unblinkingly at the blood floating in Chu Chen's palm, her breathing growing heavy. She cried out in shock, completely losing her lofty composure.

No matter how cold and aloof her temperament, in the face of Divine Phoenix Essence Blood, her lips parted and her chest heaved. She could no longer maintain her imperial facade.

So much so that her fair, frost-like jade hand shot out and gripped Chu Chen's arm, as if...

As if she feared he would vanish into thin air the very next second.

Terrified of losing him.

"Divine Phoenix Essence Blood? Yeah... I suppose so."

Chu Chen scratched his head, genuinely surprised by her intense reaction.

She was the master of the Divine Flame Imperial Palace, commanding hundreds of thousands of disciples and millions of subjects. What kind of supreme treasures hadn't she seen?

Surely she shouldn't be reacting this strongly?

Still, the Empress's hand was incredibly soft. Having her grip his arm felt rather nice...

This Divine Phoenix Essence Blood was the very first item Chu Chen had obtained when he used the Supreme Emperor Weapon, the Heaven-Swallowing Magic Jar, to activate Grasping Heavens. He had no idea of its true value.

Regardless, it was useless to him. Since he had nothing else to give, he could only use it to make up the numbers.

Of course, Chu Chen possessed a gift ten thousand times more precious than the Divine Phoenix Essence Blood.

The Supreme Emperor Weapon itself-the Heaven-Swallowing Magic Jar. In fact, Chu Chen had considered giving it to Lin Shuwang.

After all, he only had a few months left to live. The Ye family had thoroughly shattered his heart, and there was nothing left in this world worth his attachment.

But the Heaven-Swallowing Magic Jar was the sole keepsake his mother had left him. He refused to let go of it until his final breath.

He still had a few months. He intended to spend that time studying the Heaven-Swallowing Magic Jar, hoping to unearth any lingering clues about his mother's fate...

"This Divine Phoenix Essence Blood is the legacy left behind by the ancient Undying Divine Phoenix clan. It is unfathomably rare and precious."

Realizing she had lost her composure, Lin Shuwang's flawless face flushed. She quickly released Chu Chen's wrist and stepped back two paces, her cheeks burning.

Yet, her beautiful eyes remained glued to the drop of blood in his palm.

"What you don't know is that not only does this blood contain an ocean of vigorous life force, but it also holds the fragmented memory inheritance of the ancient Divine Phoenix Art."

"To ordinary cultivators, this drop of blood is merely a supreme treasure. But to me, the word 'precious' does not even begin to describe it. Its value is comparable to a legendary Immortal Medicine."

"I possess the Undying God Phoenix Physique. If I refine this drop of Divine Phoenix Essence Blood, I will not only shatter my Bottleneck in an instant, but I can also repair my incomplete Divine Phoenix Art!"

"This gift is far too heavy. I cannot..."

Swish!

Before Lin Shuwang could finish, Chu Chen grabbed her hand and shoved the Divine Phoenix Essence Blood into her palm.

"You said it yourself, this thing is of great use to you. Just take it. It's a waste for me to keep it."

All women liked receiving gifts, and the Empress was a woman first.

Chu Chen utterly despised men who relied solely on cheap sweet talk to woo women but refused to part with actual treasures.

Fearing she would try to refuse again, Chu Chen shrugged and laid bare the truth:

"I don't have many days left to live anyway. If you don't want this Divine Phoenix Essence Blood, just throw it away..."

Swish!

Before Chu Chen could even finish his sentence, Lin Shuwang vanished and reappeared directly in front of him. She seized his wrist, and a violent surge of fire-attribute Spiritual Qi forcefully invaded his body, sweeping through his Meridians to probe his injuries.

"Your vital blood is hollowed out, your Meridians are completely severed, your severe injuries are festering... your life force is fading!"

"You are like a lamp running out of oil. How... how can this be?!"

"Even if you severed your own cultivation path during our battle three years ago, at worst, your cultivation would be crippled and you would be reduced to a mortal. As long as you recuperated properly, your life shouldn't be in danger. Could it be..."

The Empress's willow brows furrowed tightly. The deeper she probed, the more horrified she became. She exclaimed:

"Could it be that the Ye family hasn't treated your injuries at all these past three years? Have they been mistreating you?!"

Boom!!

A terrifying Pressure erupted from the Empress, shaking the ancient stone of the entire Imperial Palace.

Before Chu Chen could utter a single word, the brilliant Lin Shuwang had already deduced the entire truth.

"Heh. To them, my purpose has already been fulfilled."

"Can a crippled genius still be called a genius?"

Chu Chen smiled cynically. He took a deep breath, pulled his arm free from her grasp, and spoke with absolute detachment:

"I came today only to fulfill a final wish."

"Now that I've said what needed to be said, I have no regrets."

"I know my days are numbered. With my cultivation crippled and my body reduced to a mortal shell, I am not worthy of you, Your Majesty. The world is vast and our paths diverge..."

"We part ways here!"

Without a shred of hesitation or lingering attachment, Chu Chen turned on his heel and walked away.

He only silently vowed in his heart:

Before I die, I will return to the Divine Flame Imperial Palace one last time.

I will give you the Supreme Emperor Weapon, the Heaven-Swallowing Magic Jar, to repay the karmic debt of my previous life.

Tap, tap, tap!

Just as Chu Chen reached the grand palace gates and raised his hands to push open the heavy doors, a voice as clear and cold as frost echoed through the vast hall.

"Chu Chen. Do you think you can come and go as you please?"

"You just confessed your undying love to me, and now you turn your back to leave. What do you take me for?!"

Chu Chen froze. He turned around to look back.

"..."

Their eyes met-just in time for him to see Lin Shuwang thrusting her palm directly at his face.

A palm print bathed in roaring scarlet flames rapidly expanded in his pupils!

"Damn it!"

Bang!!

The very next moment, Chu Chen, who had been half a step away from walking out the palace gates, was ruthlessly knocked unconscious by a single palm strike from the Empress...