Ao Tian’s eyes lit up, his heart racing, as he instantly dropped his playful grin.
“Not much, but not a little either.”
The outcome of the Three-Year Promise was unknown.
The fragmented Extreme Destiny had little effect on Shiyu.
If he could collect a third strand of destiny, he might truly be able to exert his power.
“If I said I want to slay the dragon and the reward is a Fortune Fruit, would you help me?”
“You!?”
Even the Nine Heavens Phoenix Spirit was stunned by those words.
The white-robed youth looked calm.
He didn’t look like he was joking at all.
How did a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator have the courage to imitate that Demonic Woman of the Demon Sect?
To attempt to slay a Holy Spirit of a province was a mad feat that even Yan Bingling had failed to achieve!
“Forgive me for asking, but how much certainty do you have, Mister?”
Ao Tian’s voice was exceptionally solemn.
That was no ordinary dragon; it was a Fortune True Dragon that had consumed Divine Wood Fruits for years.
In comparison, the half-flood dragon they had dealt with in Canglang Gorge was nothing more than a worm.
“40%. But with you, it’s 50%.”
“…”
Yun Liu’s words were equivalent to skipping the Volume 2 map and jumping straight into the Chapter 3 main storyline.
It wasn’t just a whim.
If he waited for the situation to deteriorate like it did in the game plot before killing Yinglong, Ah Lian’s situation would become very dangerous.
She didn’t have time to wait for Ji Shiyu to grow up.
If he wanted to prevent the chaos in Yudu from repeating, he had to strike first.
He didn’t want to passively wait for the plot to trigger anymore.
“Xing Shu?” Ao Tian hinted.
Yun Liu waved his hand.
“No need.”
Yan Bingling’s injuries had not yet healed, and Yinglong was likely no better.
Now was the time when it was at its weakest.
***
This time, Ao Tian didn’t answer.
The walk back to the peak with Ji Shiyu was unusually silent.
What was the difference between a 50% chance and gambling with one’s life?
Slaying a dragon was no joke.
If things went wrong, even the fledgling Phoenix Hatchling might fall at the Divine Tree of Yingzhou.
What had made the usually steady Oily Boy become so aggressive?
It seemed that more than just those silly girls had changed along this journey.
As the sun set, the blonde-haired girl walked on Falling Cloud Peak.
Suddenly, she slapped her cheeks as if she had realized something.
“I’ve decided!”
“Huh?”
“I’ll give Master up to Senior Sister Qin.”
Ji Shiyu was parting with what she loved, selflessly choosing between family and friendship—or rather, choosing her ailment.
Ao Tian breathed a sigh of relief.
It sounded a bit weird, but keeping the status quo wasn’t bad.
If they didn’t break the tension, they could still be friends.
After all, there was no chance of winning if she charged in now.
She would only end up like Xiao Xinran.
A technical task like chasing a husband should be left to Mother Ji.
First love or a crush—it was normal for them to end without results.
Just when Ao Tian thought Shiyu had figured it out, she spread her small hands and said something shocking.
“I’ll reluctantly give up half. I’m willing to share everything about Master with Senior Sister Qin. That should be fine, right?”
“?”
Ji Shiyu’s eyes were clear and filled with wisdom, looking as if they had never been tainted by knowledge.
She couldn’t accept anyone stealing the youth’s affection, but Qin Yao was an exception, unlike Xiao Xinran.
“Dammit, there’s a huge problem, okay!? You and her are completely different concepts in Yun Liu’s eyes!”
“We’re both women. I can do whatever Senior Sister Qin can. What’s the difference?”
“She can hold hands. Can you?”
“Why can’t I!?”
“She can kiss. Can you?”
“Ugh, I… I can!”
“She can perform Dual Cultivation. Can you?”
“If he wants to… it’s not like I can’t.”
The blonde’s voice grew softer and softer, her face turning red as she spoke.
She did have that much common sense.
It was those kinds of shameful things—opening one’s heart and body with absolute trust.
Her mother said only the closest people could do that.
Ao Tian covered his face and wailed.
Seeing that defeat was certain, Shiyu was getting a bit desperate, but there had to be a limit.
“Please, they are in love. It’s legitimate for Dao Companions. What are you, some kind of home-wrecker?”
“Can’t you do Dual Cultivation if you aren’t Dao Companions? There are examples of that all over the Cultivation World. What do they call it again…”
“That’s called being friends with benefits, okay!?”
“Exactly! I want to be Master’s friend with benefits!”
Ji Shiyu spoke righteously and even felt quite proud.
She believed that not having to take responsibility or have a formal status was actually a bargain.
She had completely taken on the shape of a Minotaur.
We’re all brothers. What’s wrong with letting a brother have some fun?
No one loses out.
Whatever other women have, I must have too!
Ao Tian spat out a mouthful of blood.
He was so frustrated by the confusing logic of this rebellious adolescent girl that he fell out of the sky on the spot, not knowing where to start his critique.
“Even if you’re willing, he might not be!”
First of all, you have to possess something before you’re qualified to transfer it.
Secondly, the dignified Star Maiden of a Celestial Aristocratic Family serving as a side piece—essentially a Dinglu without any responsibility—where would the face of the Palace of the Heavenly Pivot Star go?
“Eh? Senior Sister Qin shouldn’t be that stingy, right? If it really doesn’t work, we can just share secretly?”
‘If she doesn’t give it to me, I’ll just take it myself!’
“Shiyu, let me explain it to you again. This kind of behavior has another name: stealing someone’s partner. People like you are drowned in pig baskets at the foot of the mountain.”
“Say what you want. Either way, I won’t give Master up to anyone else.”
Ji Shiyu stretched, feeling as if a weight had been lifted.
She had once again resolved her inner conflict using her unique and strange brain logic, and she happily went back to her room to meditate.
In other words, she wasn’t here to break up the family; she was here to join it!
Ao Tian crouched on the roof all night, worrying until he felt like he was going bald.
He knew he had to do something.
This silly girl’s brain was underdeveloped.
She really did need the Divine Wood Fruit more than Yinglong did.
But one thing was certain: Ji Shiyu had fallen for him completely.
She just didn’t know it yet.
This was a karmic consequence the Phoenix Hatchling had never expected.
“This is truly a moment of life and death!”
Thinking of this, the yellow chicken smoothed its fiery feathers with a determined gaze.
‘I accidentally messed up last time. This time, it’s my turn to sacrifice myself. I must make sure Yun Liu sees the true strength of the Pro-Shiyu faction.’
***
The cold wind howled that night, and a mountain storm loomed.
The lanterns in the Mist Tower were bright.
Lin Shu delivered a secret letter from Yudu before quietly withdrawing.
Yun Liu looked at the familiar mark of the King’s Seal on the Sun-wheel Golden Paper, his gaze softening.
He had been corresponding with Jing Tan’er, keeping a close eye on the outside world through the Silver Sparrow Terrace.
This time, the Demon Sect had gone to great lengths to disturb the mortal world.
The Bloodthirsty Banner and Hehuan Banner had suffered heavy losses.
Most of the cult members had withdrawn from the East Pole Province, while the remaining forces submitted to Madam Black Crow and continued to lie low in Zhusheng.
Half a month ago, Jing Tan’er had ascended to the throne in the Royal Court.
The Four Borders had submitted, and she had the people’s support.
She was secretly pulling out the nails within the Royal Family, isolating them.
Madam Black Crow, who ruled over the entire Southern Territory, was completely unaware.
She was intoxicated by the joy of having great power in her hands.
On the surface, the high-and-mighty Empress followed her every word.
It wouldn’t be long before the Empress would claim illness and pass the throne to her.
But the little Princess’s revenge had only just begun.
She was going to use the same method to make Jing Rui wish she were dead.
That kind of tasteless and odorless poison wasn’t hard to concoct…