Chapter 63: Farewell — Catching Ye Hao's Sister-in-Law
"What the hell is Luo Li doing?"
"Ye Hao is about to march his army to the imperial capital, why hasn't she shown up yet?"
Gu Qing immediately sent a message to Ji Ning, asking where Luo Li was hiding.
Luo Li had returned to the Divine Phoenix Empire half a month ago, yet there had been no sign of action. She hadn't even allowed the powerhouses of the Star Temple to appear, letting Ye Hao devour the empire's cities unchecked.
No matter how one looked at it, this seemed like a setup.
The classic villain traps the rebel army in a net of heaven and earth within the capital, intending to annihilate them all—only for the protagonist to resolve it alone and make a grand display of heroism.
It looked like Luo Li was about to fall right into that pattern.
Gu Qing couldn't understand these villains' thought process. Wouldn't it be better to gather their forces and eliminate enemies one by one?
"There's something strange about this," Lin Chuqing said thoughtfully.
The nation was on the brink of ruin, yet Luo Li still hadn't appeared.
Either she didn't care, or she had defected.
But defection was impossible.
After all, Luo Li had dug up the man's bones; such a blood feud could never be reconciled.
If she truly didn't care, then why return from the depths of the starry sky at all?
There was only one possibility left—Luo Li didn't truly care about the life or death of the Divine Phoenix Empire, but she had a reason that forced her to come back.
Right now, she was brewing an unknown conspiracy.
"Ah Qing, maybe we should just stay out of this and leave it to others?" Lin Chuqing said seriously.
The strongest force she had brought was only at the Supreme Realm.
Yet the enemy also had Supreme Realm cultivators, and possibly even Saints.
If they stayed any longer, danger would be inevitable.
Besides, in a clash between Supremes, their presence would make little difference.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Gu Qing had the divine artifact Cosmos Tower protecting him, and the Space Divine Pattern. If he couldn't win, escaping would be simple.
At his current level, using the Space Divine Pattern, he could instantly teleport to another region.
Even Saints couldn't touch a single hair on his head.
Moreover, his system had super counter-damage.
Whoever hurt him would suffer an even greater backlash.
With that invincible buff stacked together with his divine equipment, even fighting a Saint wasn't impossible.
Still, Gu Qing felt uneasy and secretly sent a message to He Ni.
"He Ni, can you act if needed?"
Come to think of it, He Ni had followed him for so long and had yet to make a move.
"Yes."
Though she was currently in the form of an egg, not yet hatched, a Saint had long transcended the limits of the flesh. A single thread of saintly thought could roam the world.
Gu Qing was completely reassured.
Lin Chuqing hesitated, then bit her lip. "Do you know about the Eternal Sea Secret Realm?"
"Never heard of it. Why?"
"It's said that the Eternal Sea Secret Realm contains Eternal Immortal Gold. I had planned to go there with you," she said. Who knew Gu Qing would suddenly bring her to the Eastern Region instead?
But now, the Eternal Sea Secret Realm had already opened. If they didn't go soon, it would be too late.
Eternal Immortal Gold surpassed divine iron and could forge immortal artifacts. She had to obtain it, to give it to Gu Qing.
Gu Qing had given her so many treasures and techniques, yet she had nothing to return.
After finally finding a lead on the Eternal Immortal Gold, Lin Chuqing naturally didn't want to miss it.
"This…"
Meeting her hopeful gaze, Gu Qing hesitated, then shook his head. He wasn't interested.
What secret realm could compare to teasing his foster father?
That so-called Eternal Immortal Gold wasn't worth it in the slightest.
Gu Qing passed her the Nine Heavens Sword and the Heavensteel Sword Art.
Though it was said that more techniques never hurt, they still needed to be stronger than what he already had.
However, compared to his Chaos Return-to-Void Sword Art, the Heavensteel Sword Art was nothing.
Gu Qing didn't like cultivating low-tier trash.
The idea of training in every mystical art he found was something only protagonists did—it had nothing to do with him.
So this technique was just collecting dust in his hands; giving it to Lin Chuqing was fitting.
Lin Chuqing blinked her long lashes, confused, her expression a little dazed and cute.
Even an entire set of royal weapons was useless to Gu Qing. She couldn't imagine how many treasures he currently possessed.
Even if she obtained the Eternal Immortal Gold, would Gu Qing even care?
…
"Why did you decide to join Ye Hao's camp?"
Gu Qing asked curiously, frowning as he looked Ji Ning up and down.
After her disguise, Ji Ning's appearance and figure were plain, looking just like an untrained village woman.
Who would have thought Ji Ning had such a hobby?
"Luo Li told us to wait. Since I had nothing better to do, I wanted to see what trump cards Ye Hao had," Ji Ning said briefly.
She wanted to know if Ye Hao had any Saints by his side.
After staying in Ye Hao's military camp for a while, she hadn't found any Saints, but she did discover that Ye Hao had mysterious forces backing him.
Whenever great battles occurred, new armies would appear, along with various experts and talents—both scholars and warriors, even those at the Void Dao Realm and King Realm.
Ji Ning told Gu Qing everything and then asked, "What are you planning next?"
"Ye Hao's situation is strange. His trump cards are unpredictable. It's too dangerous for you to stay here. Why not head back first?"
If Gu Qing were suddenly killed by a Saint, the entire Star Temple would likely go mad.
"No need."
After hearing Ji Ning's report, Gu Qing had already concluded—Ye Hao's system was a troop-spawning system.
This kind of protagonist was the hardest to deal with—powerful on his own, and able to summon subordinates stronger than his enemies at any moment.
They were known as the "Invincible Type."
Before fully understanding the situation, Gu Qing didn't dare recklessly provoke his foster father.
Wait, no—something was wrong.
This type of protagonist's system almost always allowed them to monitor the loyalty of their subordinates.
Didn't that mean Ji Ning had already been exposed?
At that thought, Gu Qing immediately sent a message to He Ni.
"He Ni, check if anyone is following us."
He Ni's saintly divine sense swept across heaven and earth, vast and boundless, leaving nothing unseen.
"There's one person—Void Dao Realm, third layer."
Gu Qing followed the scan with his own spiritual sense.
That person possessed the talent of Void Integration, merging seamlessly into the void itself.
Even someone at the Void Dao Realm might not detect him with divine sense.
Without hesitation, Gu Qing reached out with a Star-Plucking Hand and crushed the man into dust.
"This…"
Ji Ning's face flushed red. She was a dignified Supreme Realm cultivator, yet she had been followed without realizing it.
Though she had concealed her Supreme Realm cultivation and appeared only at the Spirit Refining Realm on the surface—and hadn't used divine sense when meeting Gu Qing—being followed was understandable.
Still, the fact that Gu Qing had noticed when she hadn't meant one thing: she was inferior to him.
"Let's go. We'll ignore this and find Luo Li, see what trick she's playing."
Gu Qing decided to sit back and let the tigers fight, allowing Luo Li to probe Ye Hao's limits.
If Ye Hao didn't have a Saint on his side, then he was doomed—no one, not even the heavens, could save him.
"Where is my junior sister Luo Li?"
Gu Qing and Ji Ning's auras flared as they rose into the sky. Divine radiance swirled around them, their presence like gods who held dominion over life and death. The terrifying might of Supreme power spread throughout the imperial capital.
"She and His Majesty have entered the Divine Phoenix Mountain Secret Realm…"
The one who answered was the Empress herself. She wore a luxurious palace gown, elegant and noble, her beauty unmatched.
Bai Suying did not doubt Gu Qing's identity.
After all, not just anyone dared to impersonate someone from the Star Temple.
And with his Supreme Realm cultivation openly displayed, there was no reason to commit such a foolish act.
Gu Qing descended before her, sweeping his gaze over her from head to toe.
Her brows were finely shaped, her skin fair and lustrous, her voluptuous figure as ripe and full as an autumn fruit.
She carried the natural dignity of one born to rule—a graceful, queenly air.
Any man who saw her would have only two thoughts: to conquer her, or to submit to her.
Gu Qing withdrew his gaze and asked, "Why did they go to the Divine Phoenix Mountain Secret Realm?"
"This palace does not know either."
Bai Suying herself seemed puzzled.
With the nation on the verge of collapse, it was the time for them to take charge—yet they had vanished.
The entire empire was already in chaos.
If Luo Ling still didn't appear, the Divine Phoenix Empire would truly fall.
"You didn't send anyone inside to investigate?" Gu Qing frowned.
"The Divine Phoenix Mountain Secret Realm can only be entered with the Divine Phoenix Jade Token, and there is only one—His Majesty holds it," Bai Suying explained.
"Are they still safe?"
"His Majesty's soul lamp grows dimmer by the day; his life is in danger. Luo Li, however, remains unharmed."
Bai Suying answered every question with respect, even with a hint of deference, showing no trace of royal arrogance.
It was only natural—a prodigy at the Void Dao Realm accompanied by a Supreme Realm cultivator, perhaps even with a Saint as master. How could she dare show disrespect?
Besides, befriending Gu Qing might be her greatest stroke of fortune.
It could make everything go much smoother.
"What's your name?"
Seeing he could get nothing more useful, Gu Qing lost interest in questioning.
Instead, he became intrigued by the Empress herself.
She was simply too beautiful. The elegance of her imperial attire had its own allure.
Moreover, Bai Suying's features were refined and delicate, her demeanor that of an untouched beauty.
That was strange indeed.
How could the empress of a nation still be untouched?
Could it be that the emperor was incapable?
Otherwise, how could he let such a peerless woman go to waste?
"Bai Suying," she said softly, her eyes lighting up.
"Bai Suying…" Ji Ning murmured, then sent a message to Gu Qing: "Ye Hao's mother is named Bai Susu, the First Sword Immortal of the Divine Phoenix Empire."
She didn't know much about the empire's politics, but Bai Susu's fame was widespread—every cultivator in the Divine Phoenix Empire knew that name.
"A fine name," Gu Qing said calmly, while silently activating his system to inspect her attributes.
[Name] Bai Suying
[Realm] King Realm, Seventh Layer Peak
[Constitution] Yin Origin Glazed Body
[Talent] Graceful Heart and Mind, Naturally Perceptive
[Fate] Heaven's Mandated Heroine
[Destiny] Born with the Fate of the Phoenix—brings fortune to husband and son, blessed and prosperous for life.
[Fortune] 80,000
"As expected of a heroine—the protagonist's sister-in-law. Interesting," Gu Qing thought.
Bai Suying's fate and talents were lifelong; she was destined to be an empress forever.
Which meant that even if the Divine Phoenix Empire fell, she would still remain an empress—only now, Ye Hao's empress.
It seemed the two had been in contact all along and shared a close relationship.
Perhaps she could be of use.
Thinking so, Gu Qing couldn't help glancing over her again.
The phoenix robe she wore exuded a refined allure.
And her Yin Origin Glazed Body was a top-tier cauldron physique, an ultimate treasure.
Combined with her fortune-bringing fate, Bai Suying was the perfect empress.
Moreover, if before he had only suspected her purity, now Gu Qing was certain.
After all, every protagonist's heroine was bound by the "must-be-pure" rule.
Of course, there were exceptions—some protagonists preferred "fallen flowers," under the excuse of inheriting heroic will and restoring righteousness.
Gu Qing's gaze drifted toward her proud chest.
Such magnificence must surely contain heaven and earth, vast enough to embrace everything—including him.
He, too, wished to uphold such righteousness.
"This brat has no self-control," Ji Ning thought. "Looks like after tasting the forbidden fruit, he's completely let himself go."
"He keeps staring—still staring! He's probably already picked out their future child's name."
Then she felt a wave of relief—thank goodness she had the foresight to disguise herself as a plain village woman.
Otherwise, if he had set his sights on her, she might not have been able to resist.
Gu Qing's blood energy was terrifying. She had no wish to end up biting a pillow and weeping while massaging her sore waist.
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