Between the Five Peaks, the Floating Cloud Chessboard flickered with light and shadow, and the sword grid where the winner stood rose high.
On the podium of Dragon Subduing Hall, the elders withdrew their gazes.
They were just about to discuss next year’s budget with Her Majesty, but when they turned around, Jing Tan’er was already gone.
The Grand Elder stroked his beard and shook his head.
As soon as a certain person left the field, the King followed.
It was obvious she was here as a “Consort Princess,” so why would she stay here to chat with a group of old men?
Well, that was another mess of an account.
‘But why did Shiyu come out so slowly this time? Did the Sect Leader Senior Brother fail…’
At the First Peak, sword Qi pierced the sky, surrounded by a lingering golden glow that would not dissipate for ten odd days, until the Go Sword competition ended.
Yun Liu glanced at the Sword Post, and the ominous feeling in his heart grew stronger, giving him a massive headache.
Whatever he feared most happened.
After defeating Zhang Ziyou, his next opponent was indeed Lu Fang, a Foundation Establishment Upper Realm Senior Sister of Qingxia Peak.
‘Isn’t this exactly Ji Shiyu’s path to advancement!’
‘After all this time, have I become the yellow-haired interloper?’
‘That’s not good…’
The version of Yun Liu in the original script would have long since returned to the Outer Sect to restart his cultivation by now.
He would only be able to look up at the Sword Post and cheer for Xiao Xinran and Ji Shiyu.
He was familiar with the promotion rounds, but the problem was that he didn’t want to be the Child of Destiny at all.
For now, he could only take it one step at a time.
Yun Liu went to the market and made a trip specifically to prepare a meal of his best dishes at home.
He wanted to reward the silly girls and give them some encouragement.
There was no helping it; a broken heart was a serious matter.
Whether those two kids could pull themselves together depended entirely on this rising period!
By this point, Yun Liu had gradually realized the severity of the problem.
At first, he was just watching the two fools bicker with the mindset of a spectator, but who knew he would somehow counter-kill the interloper?
The price was quite heavy.
On the surface, he was in cahoots with Ao Tian, but in reality, he wanted to skip the third Fortune and cheat to obtain the fourth Fortune in advance to help his cheap daughter.
Because Ji Shiyu, who held a half-baked Extreme Destiny, would likely lose to the Qi Luck Maiden of the Boundless Sea.
If she were counter-killed again, she would completely collapse.
Consequently, Yun Liu had recently become more and more like an old father, worrying about this and that all day long.
He was terrified that the Main Character Group would fall apart and that the Fallen Mysterious Woman’s growth would be stunted, causing her to devolve into a simpleton.
As it turned out, Ji Shiyu and Xiao Xinran, who usually visited most diligently, didn’t show up today.
Only the marriage-forcing Princess was in the living room, being waited on by General Lin.
Qin Xing, the private residence’s Housekeeper, shrugged and said that Xinran had been dragged back to Sunset Peak by Uncle-Master Tu.
During the Great Competition, no distractions were allowed.
To a miserable ex-wife who dreamed of reconciling every day, the Former King’s marriage decree was nothing short of a devastating blow!
Ao Tian did show up, looking equally confused.
Ji Shiyu had been missing for several days. It could feel that she was still within the Shenhua Sect, but it simply couldn’t find her.
‘That’s strange…’
Yun Liu looked toward the Illusion Pavilion, lost in thought.
Since they had guests—comrades who had fought alongside them in the Sundial Immortal Mansion against the Demon Sect—Qin Yao, as the hostess, naturally offered a warm welcome.
The couple not only coordinated well in the Alchemy Room but were also in perfect sync in the kitchen.
They looked like an Immortal Couple living in seclusion, possessing both cultivation skills and the simple pleasures of the mortal world, making others envious.
Zhou Yan, who had been led astray by the yellow-haired and red-haired girls, became confused again.
Who exactly was the Order Master’s Wife?
Bai Yu and Zhuang Heng stood in the woods studying the patches of mist.
After a kind reminder from the Senior Sister, they took several steps back, fearing they might trigger the grand array here.
Soon, Yun Liu, wearing an apron, called out for them to come inside.
A large table was filled with common, home-cooked dishes.
“It’s just a simple meal. Please, help yourselves.”
“Not at all. We are the ones intruding,” Bai Yu said with a wry smile and a shake of his head.
This could be considered seeing another side of Mr. Yun.
Given his status as the East Extreme Pavilion Master, he actually cooked in person at home.
Bai Yu had thought that all Elixir Cultivators were transcendent recluses obsessed with the Dao of Heaven, like Mister Canghai.
Qin Yao and the mysterious woman nodded to each other.
They had met once before and were not strangers.
A moment later, Miss Lin walked over quickly, wiped her sweat, and softly reported that a distinguished guest had arrived.
For her, a defeated general of an enemy nation, having to deal with the Vermilion Saint Princess was truly difficult.
A red carpet was rolled out straight to the door.
Following it was a tall woman who made a grand entrance in high heels.
She had the habit of looking at people through her nostrils, and her Golden Crow Royal Robe exuded an aura of supreme nobility.
Zhuang Heng’s eyes went straight at the sight of those two slender, beautiful legs.
Bai Yu slapped him hard on the head, and he immediately lowered his head to bow.
“Greetings… Greetings, Your Majesty!”
Jing Tan’er waved her hand and naturally took the seat of honor.
Her bright red lips parted slightly as she said lazily, “You may rise.”
Lu’er pushed up her glasses while wearing a scholar’s robe.
With a solemn expression, she stood behind the Empress, holding a thick stack of documents.
Zhou Yan stuck out her tongue and put down the chopsticks she had just picked up.
She was exceptionally cautious, as she did not yet have the ability to transcend the mortal world and ignore its laws.
Who could have imagined that the arrogant young girl they met in Guangming Ye would become the new Nation Master in the blink of an eye?
A Princess and an Empress were not the same concept.
Only a Master above the Nascent Soul stage could remain calm and collected in front of a provincial sovereign.
Jing Tan’er’s phoenix eyes flickered, and a blazing golden sun mark adorned her brow, showing the first signs of her burgeoning majesty.
She didn’t care about the commoners below her at all.
She was completely immersed in her own world, seemingly planning the renovation of the Temporary Palace again.
The white-robed youth didn’t intend to eat yet.
He grabbed a stool and went to rest by the door, only to be glared at fiercely by Lu’er.
“Hmm?”
Jing Tan’er also glanced over, her playful gaze carrying a hint of resentment.
Yun Liu coughed and could only sit obediently beside the Princess, sandwiched right between Qin Yao and Jing Tan’er.
On one side was a burning fragrance, and on the other was the intoxicating scent of medicine.
Having witnessed the Princess escape the Sorrow of a Fallen Nation and grow up to be successful, he felt a great sense of accomplishment in his roles as the royal family’s Master of Family Teaching and a senior partner.
However, Yun Liu’s mood at this moment was quite complicated.
Meeting again with such different identities, they were neither ruler and subject nor otherwise; it felt more like he had raised an Empress to be his wife.
The crying Baby of Experience from back then had already transformed into a little queen with an aura that rivaled any female lead.
Ji Shiyu should consider herself lucky that her opponent for the Three-Year Promise wasn’t her.
Qin Yao looked around and said with a light smile, “Why is everyone just standing there? The food won’t taste good once it gets cold. Just treat this as your own home. Miss Lin, don’t just stand there either. Xiao Yun’s cooking isn’t something just anyone gets to taste.”
Lin Shu hesitated for a moment before nodding and sitting upright.
Her new boss behaved like an ordinary mortal in his daily life, yet he was unique in every way.
She was gradually becoming accustomed to it.
Since the Empress hadn’t spoken, Bai Yu and Zhuang Heng didn’t dare move their chopsticks.
As for the mysterious Spell Cultivator, she had no interest anyway and only stayed out of politeness.
Zhou Yan glanced at the home-cooked stir-fry.
It smelled good.
She took a bite with a trial mindset, and her eyes immediately lit up.
“What is this? It’s delicious!”
“Jade Tofu. It costs less than one Spirit Stone to make. A young lady like you has probably never eaten at a common restaurant.”
Yun Liu yawned continuously, then suddenly gasped.
Bai Yu had been observing the expressions of the three across from him.
Seeing this scene, he fought back a smile, probably guessing what was happening under the table.
“Why is your face so pale? Are you unhappy that I’m here, Mister?”
Jing Tan’er curled her lips and cast an inconspicuous glance at Qin Yao.
‘That was close. Looking at the situation, I’m afraid the Consort Princess was about to stray. Even the silly adopted daughter didn’t know how to send word. Good thing I came back in time!’