?

A Saint-grade flying sword Dharma Treasure containing the power of spatial law.

The value of this blade...

Was utterly incalculable!

"This blade is named the Star-Fall Sword. It was forged by this Emperor from a piece of extraterrestrial meteorite obtained in a secret realm. Its constitution is unyielding, and its edge is peerlessly sharp."

As she spoke, the Empress raised her hand, summoning the pitch-black Star-Fall Sword to hover right before Chu Chen.

Chu Chen reached out to gently stroke the blade. It was hard to the touch and freezing as winter snow. He genuinely loved it.

"Then I thank you, my wife~"

Grasping the Empress's delicate hand, Chu Chen naturally wouldn't stand on ceremony with his own woman.

He nicked his fingertip, squeezing out a bead of crimson blood. With a light flick, the droplet landed on the pitch-black surface of the Star-Fall Sword, and he began the refinement.

Buzz, buzz, buzz~

The Star-Fall Sword instantly struggled violently. Chu Chen was merely in the Essence Condensation Realm; by all logic, refining a Saint artifact was utterly impossible.

Just as Chu Chen prepared to mobilize the Pressure of his Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon to force the Star-Fall Sword into submission, the Empress let out a cold snort that echoed through the grand hall.

"Hmph, you still dare to harbor rebellious intent before this Emperor?!"

Boom!!

The terrifying Pressure of a Great Saint at the Ninth Heaven crashed down upon the Star-Fall Sword like a tidal wave. The blade erupted with another flurry of buzzing chimes. After a brief struggle, it completely submitted and was forcibly refined by Chu Chen.

With a wave of his hand, over a thousand flying swords in the hall, including the Star-Fall Sword, transformed into streaks of light and were swept into his Storage Ring.

"There are also Pills of various grades, alongside heavenly and earthly spiritual treasures for restoring spiritual power and replenishing Qi and blood."

"There are also talismans, Formations, Top Grade Spirit Stones, and the like. Keep plenty on hand for emergencies."

The Empress acted like a nagging little wife, endlessly fishing treasures out of her Storage Ring and shoving them into Chu Chen's arms. He couldn't refuse even if he tried.

"And also, there's..."

"Why are you looking at this Emperor like that? This Emperor merely wishes to give you the absolute best..."

Smack~

Before the Empress could finish her sentence, Chu Chen sealed her lips with his own~

"Mmh~"

The Empress's face flushed crimson as she instinctively tried to resist.

But remembering that she was about to enter Secluded Cultivation, her struggles grew weaker and weaker, until she finally allowed Chu Chen to...

Over her body...

Plunder her territory~

After a brief moment of intimacy, Chu Chen released the limp and pliant Empress. He retrieved a fiercely blinking sound transmission stone from his Storage Ring.

"Qi Lao'er has been sending me messages, asking me to meet him the moment I leave your side."

Stowing the stone away, Chu Chen gazed at the enchanting Empress before him, knowing it was time to depart.

If he didn't leave now, he genuinely feared he wouldn't be able to resist taking her right here and now...

"Mn, be careful in all your endeavors~"

"Should you encounter any danger, remember to send word to this Emperor. I will rush to your side immediately!"

The Empress was deeply reluctant to part, but a little head kept bobbing up and down at the palace gates, peeking inside through the crack in the doors.

One glance was enough to identify her rebellious disciple, Zhang Ke'er. The Empress truly couldn't find an excuse to make him stay~

After ruthlessly slobbering all over the Empress's face one last time, much to her feigned disgust, Chu Chen finally and reluctantly stepped out of the palace.

Creak~

The moment the heavy doors swung open and he stepped out of the imperial palace, a graceful figure barreled toward him at blinding speed.

...

What the hell?

Bang!!

Without a second thought, Chu Chen raised his foot and kicked out fiercely.

"Chu Chen, you... you actually dared to kick this Saintess? Boohoo~"

"This Saintess will fight you to the bitter end! To the death!!"

Zhang Ke'er had never imagined that anyone in this world would dare kick her.

Nor did she expect Chu Chen to have the heart to kick her so ruthlessly~

She hadn't even thought of dodging.

She hadn't circulated a single drop of spiritual power.

By the time she finally reacted, it was far too late to evade. Chu Chen's brutal kick sent her sprawling heavily across the ground.

The dignified Saintess of the Divine Flame Imperial Palace, a Heaven's Chosen of the Spirit Communication Realm, was actually kicked into the dirt one day...

This...

If word got out, who would ever believe it?

Over a dozen female disciples guarding the palace gates stared with wide, incredulous eyes, whispering endlessly as their gazes darted between Chu Chen and Zhang Ke'er~

"A gentleman uses his words, not his fists. Ke'er, you... don't come over here!"

Seeing Zhang Ke'er erupt with Spirit Communication Realm Pressure and charge at him like a madwoman, Chu Chen, well aware he was in the wrong, fled in panic.

Even as he scrambled away, he didn't forget to holler back at his relentless pursuer:

"Stop chasing! Master Empress has something to discuss with you! If you don't go now, beware of your Master's wrath!"

However, Zhang Ke'er clearly didn't buy a single word of his nonsense.

"Go fool the ghosts! Master Empress is looking for me? Why don't I know about this?"

"You dared to kick this Saintess! Today, I'll make sure you..."

Before Zhang Ke'er could finish her vicious threat, a terrifying Saint-level Pressure crashed down from the sky, instantly enveloping her delicate frame.

Then, Empress Lin Shuwang's frosty, majestic voice rang clear in Zhang Ke'er's ears:

"Ke'er, have you grown deaf to your Master's words? Do you require your Master to personally step out and invite you inside?!"

"..."

Zhang Ke'er pouted her lips. Glaring at the empty space where Chu Chen had long since vanished, her eyes reddened with fury. Without a backward glance, she stormed into the Empress's palace:

"Master, you're biased! You're playing favorites!"

"You told me before that all men are scourges and wild beasts, and that you would stay single alongside this disciple for ten thousand years~"

...

Inside the Red King Palace's grand hall.

Palace Master Qi Lao'er leaned heavily on his crutch, pacing back and forth with a frantic expression on his wrinkled face.

"My good disciple, why haven't you returned yet? Why aren't you back?"

"You're worrying this old man to death! Literally to death!"

Creak~

The moment Chu Chen pushed open the heavy wooden doors, Qi Lao'er, who was standing ten meters away, instantly flashed directly in front of him.

"Disciple, you've finally returned!"

"Quick! Hurry and tell your Master! Has the Empress truly obtained the recognition of the Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon?"

Chu Chen paused for a brief second before nodding without hesitation.

It was just as he thought. Aside from extending their lifespans and securing a second life, the Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon was what truly consumed the thoughts of Saint King realm powerhouses like Qi Lao'er.

"Without breaking through to the Saint King realm, how could she earn the Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon's acknowledgment? How could she refine it? It simply defies logic!"

"However, the Extreme Dao Pressure that erupted earlier couldn't possibly be faked. If she hasn't refined the Extreme Dao Imperial Weapon, how could she project Emperor Realm Pressure?"

"Haha! Pathetic Geng Yan and her ilk calculated every angle, yet in the end, they still fell one move short."

"..."

Faced with a muttering, delirious Qi Lao'er, Chu Chen wisely chose to keep his mouth shut and let the old coot ramble to himself.

"My good disciple, thanks to you, your Master hasn't stood on the wrong side of this conflict!"

"From this day forth, regarding the struggle between the Empress and the other branch palace masters, your Master shall no longer sit on the sidelines. I will wholly submit to the Empress's commands!"

"Disciple, although you share an intimate bond with the Empress, this world ultimately respects absolute strength. You must never slack off on your path of cultivation."

Qi Lao'er's expression flickered with veiled intent. He clearly wanted Chu Chen to cozy up to the Empress as much as possible.

But the moment he mentioned cultivation, Qi Lao'er swept out his Divine Sense to probe Chu Chen's cultivation and realm.

"Ess..."

"Essence Condensation Realm Ninth Heaven?!"

Upon verifying Chu Chen's realm, Qi Lao'er gasped sharply, stumbling back several steps in sheer shock:

"My good disciple, you've only been cultivating for a few days. How... how is this even possible?!"

"Haha! A Top Grade Five-Element Full Spiritual Root is truly this terrifying! Absolutely terrifying!!"

Qi Lao'er had initially worried that Chu Chen would become hopelessly mired in romantic indulgences and neglect his training, but he never expected...

At this rate, he, Qi Lao'er, would realize his grand ambitions in no time.

To hell with the Chaos God Physique.

To hell with the God Phoenix Feather.

To hell with the Top Grade Five-Element Full Spiritual Root.

Eventually, even Empress Lin Shuwang would belong entirely to him, Qi Lao'er.

Jiejiejie~

"Disciple, you've been within my Divine Flame Imperial Palace for over ten days now. You haven't yet explored Shenhuo City, have you?"

As if recalling something important, Qi Lao'er hastily added:

"This old man heard that a Peerless sword manual is being auctioned off in Shenhuo City today. It will vastly benefit your cultivation. If your schedule is free, you ought to take a look."

A Peerless sword manual?

Shenhuo City??

Chu Chen paused, raising an eyebrow in sudden intrigue.

...

Meanwhile, within Shenhuo City.

With their stunning features and graceful figures, Ye Lingyue and Ye Han pinched their noses in disgust as they scoured the filthy, chaotic squalor of the slums, desperately searching for any trace of Chu Chen...