"Chu Chen, do not be impulsive!"

"This is an Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon! Do you have any idea what it signifies?"

"The very reason the five branch Palace Masters plotted a rebellion, the reason Geng Yan and the others schemed so meticulously... it was all for an Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon!"

Seeing Chu Chen's hand already raised, wielding his fingers as a sword.

As brilliant, razor-sharp True Essence and spiritual power condensed at his fingertips, ready to sever the illusory beam connecting him to the Heaven-Swallowing Magic Jar, the Empress could no longer maintain her composure:

"A Great Emperor may Perish, but their Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon can be passed down for ten thousand generations, protecting a sacred land for eternity!"

"With this Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon, let alone my Divine Flame Imperial Palace, any sacred land or immortal family would enshrine you as a Supreme Elder!"

"Stop at once! Hurry and..."

Amidst the Empress's panicked cries, the corners of Chu Chen's lips curled up slightly. Then, his raised hand slashed down fiercely at the illusory tether.

The Heaven-Swallowing Magic Jar also sensed the impending severance. Its body, marred by ancient sword scars and imprints, began to violently tremble and struggle.

The streaks of pitch-black light spilling from the jar's mouth seemed to possess infinite demonic power, churning endlessly above the grand hall, as if they would come alive in the very next instant.

Reluctance!

Resistance!

Struggle!!

Chu Chen could clearly perceive the intense reluctance radiating from the Heaven-Swallowing Magic Jar. This Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon was silently pleading, earnestly trying to dissuade him.

But to Chu Chen, this Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon-which others treasured as a supreme artifact and valued above their own lives-was merely ordinary.

He, Chu Chen, was a man destined to prove his Dao and become an Emperor. He would be a Great Emperor who personally forged his own Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon!

Although an Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon was precious, in his heart, it could not compare to Empress Lin Shuwang.

Logic dictated that the Divine Flame Imperial Palace was currently surrounded by powerful enemies. The five branch Palace Masters could choose to fight to the bitter end and besiege the Empress at any moment.

The most rational, most correct course of action was to seize the initiative.

To use offense as defense, and strike first.

By letting the Empress, who possessed a peak ninth heaven Great Saint cultivation, refine the Heaven-Swallowing Magic Jar, she could slaughter the treacherous rebels and unify the Divine Flame Imperial Palace.

The Heaven-Swallowing Magic Jar was left to Chu Chen by his mother. It held the mystery of his origins and clues to his mother's whereabouts.

After Empress Lin Shuwang refined it, she could still assist him in unlocking those secrets. There was no conflict of interest.

Chu Chen understood the immeasurable value of an Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon better than anyone.

His actions were not driven by the blind impulse of love. He had already witnessed Empress Lin Shuwang's character and her profound devotion to him in his previous life.

He could entrust her with his very life, let alone a mere Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon.

Slash!

As his thoughts raced, Chu Chen's hand-blade, shrouded in True Essence and spiritual power, was raised high and swung down ruthlessly.

Bang!!

But just as the hand-blade was about to sever the illusory tether connecting Chu Chen and the Heaven-Swallowing Magic Jar, Empress Lin Shuwang abruptly intervened. She reached out, intercepted his strike, and locked her grip tightly around his right hand, refusing to let go even if her life depended on it.

Their eyes met. Chu Chen realized that Empress Lin Shuwang's eyes had grown entirely red, with bean-sized tears frantically swirling within them.

"You fool! You absolute idiot! The biggest fool in all the heavens!"

"To actually give away an Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon-are you out of your mind?"

"Why are you treating this Emperor so well? Aren't you afraid that once I obtain your Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon, I will..."

The Empress buried her face tightly into Chu Chen's chest, her tear-streaked eyes a total mess of overwhelming emotion.

"Afraid of what? You are already my woman."

"Even if you refine the Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon, you belong to me. In other words, this Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon remains mine, Chu Chen's~"

"Look at what a brilliant deal I struck, and you still dare call me a fool?"

"..."

Pfft~

The Empress let out a charming giggle, then raised her delicate, powdery fist to lightly pound against Chu Chen's chest.

In that fleeting instant, the emotional bond between them seemed to sublimate to an entirely new level.

"This Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon is called the Heaven-Swallowing Magic Jar, correct? I could sense it. When you declared you would sever your connection, this Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon displayed profound resistance and reluctance."

"Chu Chen, the fact that you broke through to the ninth heaven of the Essence Condensation Realm with such terrifying speed must be tied to this Heaven-Swallowing Magic Jar."

"This is your Fated Chance. You absolutely must not give it away lightly... not even to me."

Just as Chu Chen opened his mouth to reply, the Empress's slender, jade-like fingers forcefully sealed his lips:

"Listen to me. An Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon possesses a spirit. If you forcefully gift it to me, you will be severing your own Fated Chance. This Emperor... would be unworthy to accept it."

"Furthermore, you have only just resumed your path of Cultivation. Although you shattered multiple realms in a single day, you are still ultimately in the Essence Condensation Realm."

"Today, you offended branch Palace Masters like Geng Yan. That master of yours, Qi Lao'er, also harbors ulterior motives. Without this Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon to protect you, how could this Emperor ever rest at ease?"

Chu Chen paused. He grasped the Empress's small hand, intending to speak, but she preemptively cut him off once more:

"Set your heart at ease. Is it not just an Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon? My Divine Flame Imperial Palace possesses one as well!"

The Empress flashed a sly smile, pointing toward the southeast corner of the sprawling Divine Flame Imperial Palace as she whispered:

"The reason those branch Palace Masters were so anxious to launch their rebellion was out of fear. They were terrified that this Emperor would gain the Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon's absolute recognition, break through to the Saint King realm, and refine the Divine Flame Imperial Palace's ancestral artifact."

"Now, this Emperor sits at the peak of the ninth heaven of the Great Saint realm, a mere hairsbreadth away from the Saint King realm. With my talent, breaking through and refining the Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon is only a matter of time."

"Earlier, by borrowing the might of the Heaven-Swallowing Magic Jar within your body, I successfully terrified the five branch Palace Masters into retreat. They will not dare to harbor treacherous thoughts for the next few days. By the time they finally realize the truth, I will have already reached the Saint King realm and refined our Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon."

"..."

Chu Chen was momentarily stunned. For a brief second, he...

He couldn't find a single logical reason to refute her.

Swoosh!

Exploiting Chu Chen's momentary distraction, the Heaven-Swallowing Magic Jar hovering in mid-air morphed into a streak of pitch-black light, plunging directly back into his body and curling up in hiding.

"..."

Well, now, even if Chu Chen wanted to sever his connection with the Heaven-Swallowing Magic Jar, he physically couldn't.

"This broken earthen jar is truly... truly disobedient!"

Chu Chen's face flushed. He was utterly exasperated but completely helpless.

In contrast, the Empress covered her mouth, stifling a melodic giggle.

An Imperial Weapon possessed a spirit. It was blatantly obvious that the Heaven-Swallowing Magic Jar had permanently glued itself to Chu Chen.

However, since the Divine Flame Imperial Palace actually possessed its own Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon, and seeing Empress Lin Shuwang brimming with such absolute confidence, Chu Chen decided not to press the issue.

After all, following the trajectory of his previous life, even without Chu Chen's intervention...

Within three years, Empress Lin Shuwang would crush the rebellion, unify the fragmented Divine Flame Imperial Palace, completely refine their Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon, and carve a bloody path into the Ye family estate to ignite an earth-shattering Imperial War with their Ancestor.

It was just that in this life, since Chu Chen was here, he didn't want Empress Lin Shuwang to walk such a grueling, painful path.

"By the way, wife. When you arranged for me to enter Red King Mountain for the outer disciple trial... you calculated that with my supreme talent, Qi Lao'er would inevitably take me as his disciple and act as my protector. Is that right or wrong?"

Looking back at every step he had taken and every choice he had made since arriving at the Divine Flame Imperial Palace, it felt as though an invisible hand had guided him-the Empress's hand.

Hearing this, Empress Lin Shuwang froze for a moment, then blushed and nodded, making no attempt to deny it.

The Empress's sudden blush left Chu Chen slightly bewildered. He quickly pursued the line of questioning:

"Did you want me to act as your inside man? To secretly help you deal with Qi Lao'er, or perhaps... to help you reel him in to our side?"

Unexpectedly, the Empress shook her head. Blushing furiously, she stammered:

"N-no... it wasn't that. After all, regardless of how terrifying your innate talent is, you... you cannot possibly interfere in battles between Saint King realm experts in the short term."

"This Emperor... the reason I had you enter the Red King Palace, aside from wanting Qi Lao'er to take you as his disciple and secretly guard you... the more important reason was that Qi Lao'er's lifespan is nearly depleted..."

"The moment he dies, the seat of the Central Palace Master will be left vacant. Then, with a single command from this Emperor, you... you would become the Central Palace Master of my Divine Flame Imperial Palace~"

"..."

Gazing down at the Empress, who was acting so mischievous and adorable within his embrace, the corners of Chu Chen's lips curled up slightly.

Why did this suddenly feel like he was eating soft rice?

However...

Cradling the Empress's soft, delicate body, his heart and mind swayed with euphoric delight.

If it meant eating the Empress's soft rice, he, Chu Chen, wasn't exactly opposed to the idea~

Caressing the smooth, yielding curve of the Empress's waist, Chu Chen leaned in and whispered gently against her crystal-clear earlobe:

"That won't do. I have absolutely no interest in being the Central Palace Master."

Teased by Chu Chen's warm breath, the Empress's earlobe flushed crimson at a visible rate, burning so red it looked ready to drip blood.

"Then... then what do you want to be? Could it be... could it be that you want this Emperor to abdicate the throne and make you the Emperor?"

Before Chu Chen could answer, Empress Lin Shuwang muttered to herself with utmost seriousness:

"If you truly desire it, this Emperor could indeed pass the throne to you. But you must swear to treat the disciples of my Divine Flame Imperial Palace and the citizens of Shenhuo City with benevolence..."

Before the Empress could even finish her solemn vow, Chu Chen hurriedly cut her off:

"I have no desire to be a king or an emperor. I, Chu Chen, only wish to be..."

"To be the man behind the Empress, supporting her with all my might~"

The Empress's stunning face flushed with a delicate pink hue. Then, she subconsciously murmured:

"Chu... Chu Chen, you... why did you pull the Heaven-Swallowing Magic Jar out again?"

"..."