Empress Sister, You're Too Serious

Xu Mu listened and gave a bitter smile. "So Sister Empress still doesn't see me as one of her own."

"I never said that," Fu Jinyu replied immediately, then let out a sigh. "I already owe you too much. I don't want to trouble you further."

"Between us, how can there be any talk of trouble? Come on, just tell me. What's going on?"

Xu Mu asked with a smile.

"The Xiangliu tribe came looking for us a few days ago. They said they want me to attend their Old Ancestor's birthday banquet, and that they've arranged a marriage for me. If I refuse, the Tianyao tribe will be destroyed."

"What? How is this your problem? This is clearly mine!"

Xu Mu clenched his fists. These people really had a death wish, daring to set their sights on Fu Jinyu.

[Affection +10]

Fu Jinyu glanced at Xu Mu and said calmly, "Don't worry. I definitely won't agree. No one can force me to do something I don't want to do, because before they can force me, I will have already died fighting."

"What connection do you have with this tribe?"

Xu Mu walked over to a chair nearby and sat down.

He certainly wasn't worried that Fu Jinyu would be afraid of death and be forced into accepting the marriage.

"The Xiangliu tribe used to be subordinates of the Gonggong clan, but after the Gonggong clan's decline, they went their separate ways. They're now hidden within Sanjin Province, not far from our tribe."

Fu Jinyu came over and sat down beside Xu Mu. "They're undoubtedly the dominant power in this region. Their Old Ancestor is already a Third-Level expert."

"Third-Level?" Xu Mu asked in return.

"That's right. After my father died, the only Transcendent expert in our Tianyao tribe disappeared. After they became the dominant power, they didn't attack the other surrounding tribes either. They just said that every year, during their Old Ancestor's birthday banquet, we need to bring precious treasures to pay our respects."

Fu Jinyu paused, then continued, "If any tribe refuses to pay respect, that's when they make a move to teach them a lesson."

"Then how did you all get through the previous years?"

Xu Mu asked curiously.

"Before, my second uncle Fu Cheng handled all of this. As you know, it was only a few months ago that my second uncle completely turned against me."

Fu Jinyu looked at Xu Mu as she spoke.

"I see." Xu Mu stroked his chin in thought. "Are they strong?"

"To be honest, they're about the same as our Tianyao tribe used to be. They rely entirely on their Old Ancestor to hold things together. If their Old Ancestor dies, the strongest among them is only at the Mortal Transcendence level."

Fu Jinyu said with some helplessness. "The struggles between our tribes were too fierce before. We lost too many experts, and we've long been in a state of no successors."

"In other words, as long as you break through to Transcendent, they won't dare to pressure you anymore?"

Xu Mu asked with a grin.

"Obviously! If I break through to Transcendent, I'd even dare to kill their Old Ancestor!" Fu Jinyu snorted coldly. "It's just that the gap is too big right now, even with all the improvements you've given me."

"The reason I came over this time is to give you some pills. Maybe they can help you break through to Transcendent."

"Don't joke around. It's not that easy. This level of breakthrough requires too many resources. Even if you gave me a divine herb, I couldn't break through."

Fu Jinyu paused and looked at Xu Mu. "However, since you're willing to help, I think their Old Ancestor will definitely back down."

She knew Xu Mu's talent. Combined with her own strength, even if they couldn't kill the Old Ancestor, they would be enough to threaten everyone else in that tribe.

"You really don't trust me?" Xu Mu said quietly. "What if I could help you break through to Transcendent? How would you repay me?"

"How else could I repay you? Of course, whoever you want me to kill, I'll kill."

Fu Jinyu felt that this was the only thing she could truly offer.

Xu Mu extended one finger and gently waved it.

He stood up and walked toward the room inside. "Follow me."

Fu Jinyu nodded, then said to Hongyu, "Wait for me here."

"Understood."

Hongyu gave a slight nod without thinking much of it.

Once inside the room, Xu Mu noticed that aside from the slightly old furniture, the place was overall quite clean.

Fu Jinyu sat down on the sofa. "This is usually where we receive guests."

Xu Mu nodded and sat down beside Fu Jinyu. "Sister Empress, you're still too proper. There are actually many things you can do for me."

"Other than fighting, what else? Do you want me to die?"

Fu Jinyu asked.

"Don't say nonsense like that. You're thinking too simply." Xu Mu began dropping heavy hints. "Remember that time in that cold formation, when you helped me with that thing."

Even he felt a bit embarrassed to bring it up. This woman Fu Jinyu was far too pure.

"Polishing?" Fu Jinyu asked outright, then frowned. "That's it?"

Xu Mu awkwardly touched his nose. The purer Fu Jinyu acted, the more he felt like a perverted uncle tricking a little kid.

Everything else about her was completely normal, so why was she so clueless about this one particular matter?

Since that was the case, he wouldn't beat around the bush anymore.

"Besides that, didn't you also promise to let me eat that eighth-grade divine treasure, the Fire Jujube, for a full minute?"

Xu Mu said calmly.

It was only then that a blush crept across Fu Jinyu's cheeks.

In her view, what she had done for Xu Mu was completely normal, because Xu Mu was a man and she didn't lose anything from it.

But the reverse was different. After all, she was a woman. Ever since she was young, her father had told her to protect herself and not let men take advantage of her.

"I, Fu Jinyu, am not someone who breaks my promises. Since I promised you, I will definitely follow through."

Fu Jinyu, despite her burning cheeks, still looked proud. "But one thing is off the table: having children. That can only happen after marriage."

Xu Mu nodded heavily, then produced a jade-white pill from his pocket.

"Take this. If it's not enough, I have more."

He had refined sixteen pills this time. He'd given five to Ji Liang, leaving eleven.

He planned to use two to boost Fu Jinyu.

After all, Fu Jinyu wasn't at the peak of Mortal Transcendence. If she were, one pill would have been enough.

Fu Jinyu looked at the pill, which shimmered with a soft glow at its edges. As she held it in her hand, the dense spiritual energy emanating from it was astonishing.

"This must be quite precious, right?"

"Take it." Xu Mu smiled. "I saved it for you."

[Affection +10]

Fu Jinyu put the pill into her mouth. The moment it entered, the power dispersed from the pill and began flooding her entire body.

Boom!

Black qi involuntarily burst out from within her. The power brought by the pill made her face flush red, and her long black hair began to whip wildly in the air.

Fu Jinyu's eyes widened in disbelief. Xu Mu had given her many pills before, but none of them had been this powerful.

This was the first time she felt the pain of her meridians being stretched open.

Boom!

The black qi suddenly surged higher, and Fu Jinyu's face was filled with shock.

She had broken through!

She felt the power surging through her body, and the joy she felt was beyond words.

[Affection +30]

Fu Jinyu looked up at Xu Mu, her horrifying, ghost-like eyes gleaming with excitement. How long had it been since she met Xu Mu? He had already elevated her to the Transcendent level!

"Xu Mu..."

"Enough talk. Business first."

Xu Mu crossed his arms and said coolly, "I should also eat some divine treasures to replenish my energy."