Chapter 104 Part 1

Zhou Yin said, "Zhou Zhang and I agreed to meet here."

Zhou Chen spread his hands, trying his best not to let his exuberance show too much: "But you see, we didn't walk fast along the way, and after waiting here for a few days, even Jiang Hui died. He still hasn't arrived, perhaps something delayed him. Anyway, even if he comes now there's nothing to be done, so why don't we leave a message for him and go on ahead."

Zhou Yin thought for a moment and then lit a message talisman to send over.

Zhou Zhang quickly replied, saying that there was indeed a small matter at Jinting Sect that he couldn't get away from at the moment. He expressed great sorrow at not being able to see Zhou Yin and felt that he, as the older brother, had been abandoned.

As for what happened at Jinting Sect, Zhou Zhang didn't say, and Zhou Yin didn't ask further. Judging from his tone, at least it wouldn't be too terrible, otherwise Zhou Zhang wouldn't have the mood to joke around.

The "small matter" Zhou Zhang spoke of was actually not minor. When he met Zhou Yin again later, only then did Zhou Yin learn that his straightforward to the point of being a bit foolish older brother had actually become the Sect Leader of Jinting Sect. The twists and turns of that process were no less bizarre than what Zhou Yin and the others experienced. But that's a story for later.

Let's talk about how Wanshan Sect lost a Nascent Soul elder, two Core Formation cultivators, and even Jiang Hui died. The Jiang manor had long fallen into chaos.

By the time people from Wanshan Sect rushed over, Zhou Yin and Zhou Chen were long gone without a trace. Only that young concubine who was in Jiang Hui's room at the time still remembered that Zhou Yin claimed to be Qin Wuji of Tianyan Sect.

With Jiang Hui's death, Wanshan Sect lost their spokesperson in the imperial court. The Left Prime Minister's faction, who opposed Jiang Hui, took the opportunity to support Lingtai Temple to contend against Wanshan Sect. There was a subtle trend of promoting Buddhist cultivation while suppressing Daoist cultivation, which triggered an earth-shaking storm. But that's also a story for later.

General Hui's family had been sent away by Zhou Yin a few days ago. From then on, they left Dongyue, going far away, changing their names and identities to live a peaceful life.

On Zhou Yin's side, having resolved the Jiang residence's matter, he even had time to go to the inn to check out. However, just as he reached the door, Zhou Chen's expression changed slightly as if remembering something. He smiled and said, "Ah Yin, settling the bill for such a small matter, I'll go take care of it. You rest here for a moment and wait a bit."

Zhou Yin glanced at him and entered without a word.

Hearing they wanted to check out, the innkeeper immediately took out an abacus, his fingers flying as he calculated. Raising his head with a brilliant smile, he said, "Much obliged, it's a total of five hundred taels of silver."

Zhou Yin: "...I think we only stayed two nights."

The innkeeper said, "Yes, but you also ordered braised pork elbow, lotus root balls, scallion pancakes... a total of one hundred items. Our inn has already given a 10% discount. Here, this is the bill, dear guest please take a look!"

"..." Zhou Yin expressionlessly, without even looking at the bill, silently paid the money, calm to the point of being eerie.

Zhou Chen stood behind him, wanting to cry but having no tears, feeling his day of death was not far off.

A dignified Demon Beast Emperor always having his heroic spirit crushed over a few taels of silver, how undignified! This time when he returns, he must have Li Ying prepare 1800 taels for him!

Li Ying felt he was going crazy when he received Zhou Chen's letter.

Actually, what Zhou Chen said in the letter was very simple. He was coming back and bringing someone with him. However, this person's status was noble, and he should be treated like they would treat the Demon Beast Emperor, absolutely not neglecting or slighting him.

Zhou Chen was giving the demon beast race people an advance notice, lest they look down on Zhou Yin for being human with a relatively low cultivation.

But in Li Ying's view, this letter indicated another signal.

What does it mean, status is noble, and he needs to be welcomed like welcoming the Demon Beast Emperor?

Could it be the Heavenly Emperor Chengming? No, impossible. With the grudges between the Upper Realm and the demon beast race, even if Chengming's own father came, he definitely wouldn't receive such treatment.

Could it be the Demon Lord Rong Yu? This was quite possible. But from Zhou Chen's wording, he had obviously placed this person in an extremely important position, definitely not as simple as just an ally. So Li Ying rejected this possibility too.

This matter was of grave importance. He had no choice but to notify the other elders and sit down together to discuss it.

The demon beast race elders were different from the elders in the sects of the continent. The latter had a transcendent status in the sect, while the former merely served as subordinates.

Among the demon beast race elders, there used to be some of high virtue and prestige who survived the war between immortals and demon beasts. Later, when Zhou Chen returned, they acted presumptuously based on their seniority, not obeying orders.

As a result, Zhou Chen dealt with them in a few moves, making them completely submissive. The current ten elders, with Li Ying as the head, although having the title of elder, actually shouldered the responsibilities of ministers, separately governing the North Sea Ruins.

The North Sea Ruins were divided into five cities, named after ancient deities: Nüwa City, Fuxi City, Gonggong City, Zhurong City, and Pangu City. The demon beast race revered Nüwa as their ancestress, so they made Nüwa City their capital, inside which was the Wa Imperial Palace, the residence of the Demon Beast Emperor.

Someone as meticulous as Li Ying was naturally kept by Zhou Chen's side to manage the daily affairs of the Wa Imperial Palace and even Nüwa City. The other four cities were governed by four elders. Outside the five cities, there were still some empty areas in between that required three more elders to patrol, guarding the connection points of the North Sea Ruins' barrier to prevent invasion from the Upper Realm. The remaining two stayed in the capital, responsible for other matters.

Aside from the three still on guard duty, the other six were all summoned by Li Ying's urgent letters to discuss the matters of welcoming the honored guest.

Just who was coming that would make His Majesty attach such importance? Everyone racked their brains. Chi Hong, the lord of Fuxi City, had a flash of insight and said, "Could it be that His Majesty is welcoming the Demon Beast Empress?"

As soon as these words came out, silence fell all around. Everyone involuntarily looked at the person on the left.

Die Bing, lord of Zhurong City.

In ancient times there was a beauty, her eyebrows like kingfisher feathers, teeth like cowry shells, shoulders as if carved, waist like bundled plain silk. Slender neck and fair skin, her fragrant charm unmatched, her radiant beauty untouched by cosmetics.

If the demon beast race people saw the number one beauty of the continent, Fairy Bibo, their first impression would definitely not be marveling at her beauty, but feeling that this so-called number one beauty couldn't compare to our lord of Zhurong City.

This shows how difficult it is to describe Die Bing's beauty with words.

Such an exquisite beauty, with her looks, cultivation and status, paired with His Majesty the Demon Beast Emperor, seemed to be a match made in heaven, a union of jade and pearl.

More importantly, Die Bing's original form was a green phoenix.

Vermilion birds and green phoenixes, isn't that precisely the harmonious pairing of phoenixes?

The green phoenix clan was not like vermilion birds, of which there had only ever been one since ancient times. However, green phoenixes had difficulty reproducing, so their numbers had always been few. And among them, the most outstanding was none other than Die Bing.

Although Die Bing appeared gentle and agreeable, she undoubtedly had a trace of pride in her heart. And she had the qualifications to be proud. In all of heaven and earth, how many could possess such elegance?

Even the immortals of the Nine Heavens are nothing special.

Although Vermilion Bird cannot give birth to offspring, Die Bing does not care. Such an outstanding woman who admires His Majesty the Demon Beast Emperor is something everyone in the demon beast clan is happy to see. They hope that their revered Demon Beast Emperor can also have his own companion like other demons.

And among the many women in the demon beast clan who adore His Majesty, Die Bing is naturally the most qualified to become the Demon Empress.

Although Zhou Chen has never shown interest in any woman, let alone had the slightest bit of special treatment towards Die Bing, everyone feels it is only a matter of time. In their hearts, they have already tacitly acknowledged Die Bing's status.

However, now, a divine thunder from the Nine Heavens has struck, leaving everyone dazed and confused.

Chi Hong also seemed to realize that he misspoke and laughed dryly, "I was just guessing, just guessing, maybe it's not..."

It would have been fine if he didn't say it, but now that he did, everyone felt it was even more likely.

Especially Li Ying, recalling how Zhou Chen would secretly take out a mirror to peek at it from time to time in private, completely different from his usual appearance in front of others, he was even more certain of Chi Hong's guess.

There's an eight or nine out of ten chance that His Majesty has someone in his heart!

And that person is very likely not from the demon beast clan.

But this cannot be said out loud, otherwise he will definitely become the target of interrogation. So Li Ying kept his expression unchanged and played dumb.

Pangu City Lord Yongyan cleared his throat, breaking the silence, "Regardless of who it is, since His Majesty has instructed as such, then let's do as His Majesty says. The identity of the honored guest is not the point."

Chi Hong hurriedly echoed, "Yes, yes, we'll know when the person arrives."

So everyone tactfully changed the subject and started discussing the matters of welcoming the arrival of His Majesty and the honored guest.