After leaving for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Lu Fang returned and signaled, "Junior Preceptor Gu, His Majesty requests your presence."
Gu Chengyin immediately stood up, adjusted his cuffs, and followed Lu Fang toward the warm pavilion.
Past a carved wooden screen was the place where Emperor Luo routinely reviewed memorials.
Emperor Luo was sitting behind his desk, holding a vermilion brush and making circles and notes on a memorial with a focused expression.
Hearing the footsteps, he did not even raise his head. It was not until Gu Chengyin stopped three paces away from the imperial desk and bowed respectfully, "Your subject Gu Chengyin pays his respects to Your Majesty."
The vermilion brush did not stop.
Gu Chengyin maintained his bowing posture, his face calm, but his mind calculating rapidly.
Was Emperor Luo trying to show him who was boss, or was he truly reviewing an important memorial?
After about ten breaths, Emperor Luo finally set down the vermilion brush, slowly raised his head, cast a sidelong glance at Gu Chengyin, and said indifferently, "Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Gu Chengyin straightened up, his gaze meeting Emperor Luo's.
In an instant, he felt an invisible pressure enveloping him. This was not a suppression of cultivation, but the imperial aura formed by holding the power of life and death.
If it were an ordinary person, they would probably be covered in cold sweat by now. However, the Azure Cloud Art circulated automatically within Gu Chengyin's dantian, and the azure-gold true essence protected his mind, keeping his expression completely unchanged.
A flash of approval crossed Emperor Luo's eyes, but his tone remained flat: "I heard from Lu Fang that you plan to make a trip to the Green Sword Sect?"
Gu Chengyin immediately cupped his hands and corrected, "To reply to Your Majesty, your subject is not making a trip to the Green Sword Sect. Rather, as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, your subject is conducting the first round of inspection and patrol of the various immortal cultivation sects within our Great Luo borders."
His speaking speed was steady, his pronunciation clear and round, and his bureaucratic rhetoric was watertight: "This is to express the goodwill of our Great Luo, while also strengthening communication and cooperation with the various immortal cultivation sects."
"The Green Sword Sect happens to be your subject's first stop."
These words sounded high-sounding and dignified; no one could find any fault with them.
Inspecting the sects was inherently the duty of the Ministry of Rites. Choosing the Green Sword Sect as the first stop was both reasonable and secretly aligned with the imperial court's general direction for the layout of the immortal cultivation world.
Hearing this, Emperor Luo said testily, "If that's the case, then go. Why did you come looking for We?"
This question was straightforward, almost an interrogation.
Gu Chengyin raised his head and declared righteously in a loud voice, "To reply to Your Majesty, your subject's inspection this time represents not only the face of the imperial court but also Your Majesty's heavenly might!"
His voice echoed in the warm pavilion, carrying a somewhat impassioned tone.
"But your subject is shallow in learning and unrefined in martial skills. If I encounter Foundation Establishment or even Golden Core bandits and robbers blocking the way to rob me on the road..."
"Losing your subject's life is a small matter, but losing Your Majesty's face is a grave matter!"
As Gu Chengyin spoke, his face revealed a bit of worry and trepidation: "Therefore, your subject has come here this time to respectfully request Your Majesty to permit five..."
At this point, he caught a glimpse of Emperor Luo frowning slightly and immediately changed his tune: "...three Golden Core experts to accompany your subject!"
"This will not only deter petty thieves but also allow the various immortal cultivation sects to witness Your Majesty's awe-inspiring heavenly might!"
Gu Chengyin said these words with a clear conscience, even with self-righteousness.
But Emperor Luo's mouth twitched slightly upon hearing this.
Three Golden Cores?
Emperor Luo cast a dissatisfied glance at Lu Fang standing nearby, the meaning in his eyes obvious: "Wasn't it three Foundation Establishments? How did it turn into three Golden Cores?"
Under this gaze, Lu Fang almost broke out in a cold sweat. He immediately wanted to kneel and beg for forgiveness, but before he could make a move, he heard Gu Chengyin continue:
"Of course, your subject knows that Your Majesty attends to myriad affairs every day and holds the common people of the world in your heart. Let alone three Golden Cores, even thirty would be more than enough."
This praise elevated Emperor Luo to the highest pedestal, placing him in the position of the ruler of the world.
You are the Emperor of Great Luo, possessing thousands of miles of rivers and mountains, with experts as common as clouds under your command. What are three Golden Cores to you?
"But your subject does not dare to expect extravagantly," Gu Chengyin shifted his tone, becoming humble: "And I know even better that currently, the entire imperial court needs personnel, and experts are needed to hold the fort everywhere."
"Therefore..."
Gu Chengyin straightened his back, his expression solemn: "Your subject is willing to take the initiative to bear the risk! As long as Your Majesty permits three Golden Cores to accompany me, your subject will definitely do my utmost to make this inspection perfect! Until the inspection is completed, I will absolutely not return to the capital!"
These words were spoken with resounding force, and the warm pavilion fell silent for a moment.
Emperor Luo narrowed his eyes slightly.
Of course, he understood Gu Chengyin's subtext:
As long as he was given the people, let alone the Green Sword Sect, Gu Chengyin would dare to make a trip to other immortal cultivation sects as well. This was a promise, and also an ability.
But conversely, if he wasn't given the people, then let alone the Green Sword Sect, he wouldn't even step out the gates of the Crown Princess's Palace. This was a threat, and also a bottom line.
"Junior Preceptor Gu." Emperor Luo slowly spoke, his voice deep: "Are you coercing We?"
This question carried heavy weight.
The air in the warm pavilion instantly froze. Lu Fang had already lowered his head, even lightening his breathing.
Gu Chengyin, however, remained composed and immediately said loudly, "Your subject would not dare! Sharing the sovereign's burdens is your subject's duty! Your subject absolutely has no such intention!"
His tone was sincere, his gaze firm; anyone who saw him would think this was a fiercely loyal subject.
But the next sentence revealed the fox's tail:
"It's just..." Gu Chengyin looked at Emperor Luo, saying cautiously, "If the sovereign wants the subject to die, the subject must die."
"But your subject still wants to get things done before dying."
These words were cleverly spoken.
It showed that the sovereign's command could not be disobeyed. If you really want me to go to my death, then I have to go.
But since it's going to my death, then this matter will most likely not be accomplished.
Emperor Luo looked at him in silence.
Gu Chengyin met his gaze calmly, his eyes clear and his posture respectful, but that stubbornness was completely unconcealed.
After a long while, Emperor Luo smiled.
It wasn't a cold smile, nor an angry smile, but a somewhat helpless yet appreciative smile.
He shook his head gently and sighed, "I really don't know how Zhao'er managed to tame you."
These words carried profound meaning.
However, before Gu Chengyin had time to think deeply about it, he heard Emperor Luo continue:
"Never mind."
Two words, spoken lightly, signifying the end of this confrontation.
Emperor Luo looked toward the shadows on one side of the warm pavilion and said indifferently, "Come out."
As his words fell, golden lightning suddenly flashed through that shadow.
Then, a figure slowly walked out.
First was the hem of a robe secretly embroidered with the star map of the Twenty-Eight Mansions, the star tracks faintly visible with every movement.
Next was a nine-ringed thunderbolt belt tied around the waist, each ring engraved with legal inscriptions.
Finally, it was a coldly stunning face.
Her face was as if cut from frost and snow, her eyes harboring an amber-gold halo. When she raised her eyes, it was like lightning leaking through cloud gaps, and when she lowered her eyes, it was like an ancient mirror reflecting fading stars.
Her dark hair was entirely tied up in a crown, with only a few stray strands escaping behind her ears, meandering like fine lightning bursting forth on a rainy night.
Her appearance was sixty to seventy percent similar to Luo Zhao, but her temperament was completely different.
Luo Zhao was noble with an edge, like an unsheathed imperial sword.
But this woman was aloof and detached, like a solitary lotus on the peak of a snowy mountain.
Within three feet of her, her dark hair fluttered, as if she were in a silent domain of thunder.
She walked to the imperial desk and nodded slightly to Emperor Luo as a greeting.
Then she stood there quietly, looking calmly at Gu Chengyin.
Alarm bells rang wildly in Gu Chengyin's heart.
When this woman appeared, he hadn't sensed her at all!
It wasn't until she completely walked out that he sensed her presence.
What did this mean? It meant her cultivation was far higher than his!
More importantly, it was the feeling this woman gave him.
Dangerous.
Extremely dangerous.
Emperor Luo's voice pulled Gu Chengyin back from his thoughts: "You can forget about getting three Golden Core experts, but I can still give you one."
"This is Jingzhe of the Celestial Master Mansion."
After a brief pause, Emperor Luo added:
"She is also Zhao'er's aunt."
"Lin Qingyan."
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
d intelligence to keep the plot moving, and sometimes even the protagonists are forced into absurdly dumb decisions. Why does the A-list celebrity heroine in urban romance novels ditch the top-tier movie star and become a lovestruck fool for a pockmarked male lead? Why do the leads in historical tragedy novels keep dancing between love and death, only for the blind healer to end up suffering the most? And Gu Wei never expected that after finally landing a villain role to stir up trouble, she’d pick the wrong gender! No choice now—she’ll just have to crush the protagonists as a girl!
nd fell into a coma while saving his younger sister from an out-of-control car. He became a vegetable. No one knew that his consciousness had crossed into a world of cultivation. Over the course of sixty years, he began as the lowest kind of mine slave, struggling to survive amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood. By sheer chance, he eventually obtained the complete memories of a fallen Immortal King. Alchemy, medicine, formations, feng shui, physiognomy, artifact forging… Every great inheritance of the cultivation world was now his. But when he opened his eyes again, he discovered that ten full years had passed in the modern world. To pay for his treatment, his father had sold the family’s shop and house, leaving himself covered in lasting injuries and illness. His mother had cared for him day and night, and more than half of her hair had already turned white. His younger sister, who had been only fifteen back then, was now twenty-five. To help repay the family’s debts, she had been forced to lower her head and put on a smiling face in places of glittering lights and endless revelry. Only then did Chen Xuan understand that what he had lost was not merely ten years. He had lost the life his entire family was meant to have. The good news was that he had brought back the memories of an Immortal King’s entire lifetime. The bad news was that his soul had returned alone—his cultivation had not come with him. Spiritual energy was scarce, resources were depleted, and the modern world still had firearms, surveillance, capital, and laws. If he wanted to protect his family, break free from everyone’s control, and become truly invincible beneath the heavens, he would have to start all over again.
s + Rent Collection Wealth】 At the start, he inherited a rundown house in the urban village from his grandfather. The house had no tenants, but the moment he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, a self-proclaimed empress from the Tianxuan Continent arrived as his first tenant. Ye Chuan soon discovered that with every new tenant moving in, not only did he receive massive daily payments, but he also obtained unique items related to their backgrounds. 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Tiger Strength Pill—dramatically enhances physical power!】 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Deer Blood Pill—significantly boosts vitality!】 …… From that day on, all sorts of bizarre tenants began appearing in the house: the empress from Tianxuan Continent, an apocalyptic sorceress from the Magic Realm, a mysterious scientific girl who fell through a spacetime rift… Every single day, he received strange, powerful items and endless money. Then one day, he suddenly realized—he had become invincible. Enough, enough! Stop giving me more!
