Chapter 157: The Return of the Holy Emperor

Sure enough, the next second he heard Xu Xing speak.

"No problem, this is simple—I can help you."

"... Actually, you needn't help me. I've already left; seeing this fragment of my soul again would only deepen Wan Zhu's sorrow," said Yuan.

"Nonsense! You're just afraid to face her," Xu Xing cut straight to the point.

"I should remind you—your little girlfriend's master is the Elder Lingzu."

"She is a True Immortal, her methods far beyond your imagination. Even if you're no longer in the Xuan Realm, if she's determined, finding you won't be hard."

"So, you'd best go see her."

Yuan: "..."

Is this a threat?

"You'd let the Elder Lingzu find the world's coordinates of my homeland?" he countered.

Xu Xing looked puzzled. "I said find you—what does that have to do with world coordinates?"

That means she can find me without world coordinates?!

Fuck! Is this really necessary!? "Anyway, just go see her. She's helped you so much."

"..." Yuan gritted his teeth. "Fine!"

At this point, could he still refuse? A wisp of spiritual light sank into the blue jade, and the ethereal soul-body instantly solidified.

Then the soul descended to the ground, radiant light swirling, and in an instant, it became indistinguishable from a True Person.

Yuan opened his mouth and swallowed the blue jade whole.

He closed his eyes and sensed the strength of his soul-body.

Hmm...

Roughly enough to match the power of a Dao-Union level, and it could last one or two years without issue.

Good enough—not overly extravagant.

If it lasted longer than three years, it would become something akin to an external incarnate body.

"Good. During this time, the righteous alliance you founded ran into trouble—I've covered it up for you. Go fix it."

To untie a knot, you must find the one who tied it. The heart's momentum broke the moment Yuan departed; to restore it, the simplest path must lead back to him.

If he returns, the calamity of "broken heart-momentum" will be easily resolved.

Yuan opened his eyes, a flicker of confusion in his gaze.

"The alliance... ran into trouble?"

At dusk, the setting sun slowly sank, staining the horizon a brilliant orange-red, draping the city in a golden gauze.

The towering Gao Ta stood sharp and majestic under the fading light.

On the streets, traffic thinned; tail lights flowed like a slow-moving river of stars, winding into the distance, radiating exhaustion.

And now, a bustling amusement park.

Though it was evening, the park remained packed with people.

The elongated roller coaster cars glowed with array patterns, like a coiling dragon rising and flipping through the clouds.

Inside the haunted house, demonic spirits howled, icy winds howled, and translucent pale-green soul-entities drifted endlessly around its perimeter.

These were real demonic spirits, captured by cultivators.

Nearby, an array suppressed cultivation, reducing Foundation Establishment and Qi Condensation cultivators to mortal levels.

Otherwise, a single spell would scatter the spirits—what fun would that be? Besides, there were bumper cars that could launch riders over ten meters, and racing tracks where one could pilot flying shuttles...

"When you saw Yuan's soul-body, did you already decide on this method?"

Xu Xing and Xiang Yuanjun stood before a cotton candy stall.

This stall's cotton candy was made from a spiritual material harvested from the ocean floor, with a fresh flavor.

And you could make it yourself, enjoying the joy of custom creation! "Yes," Xu Xing replied. "This method is simplest, most obvious, and least likely to fall into Gu's schemes."

Fine threads of sugar danced, layer upon layer piling up, shaping a rough form.

Soon, Xu Xing fashioned a small duck-shaped cotton candy, examined it closely, nodded in satisfaction, then tucked it away.

Xiang Yuanjun: "..."

Without thinking, she knew who it was for.

"Brother Dao cares deeply for the Sword Sovereign," Xiang Yuanjun said calmly. "Thanks to Sister's presence guarding the Sword Sect, I'm free to travel—naturally, I must bring her a gift."

Whether it's valuable matters little; what counts is her preference.

Quickly, the next cotton candy was made—a fluffy, soft mound bearing the character "Fu." Xu Xing handed it to Xiang Yuanjun.

Hmm...

"Let's go."

Xu Xing shook his hands, paid in spiritual coins, and walked inside with Xiang Yuanjun.

Soon, the two arrived before a massive Ferris wheel.

In the air, glowing array patterns shimmered and interwove, powering it.

The Ferris Wheel Array was invented by Yuan himself—its cost far lower than a mechanical Ferris wheel.

"Let's get on, Brother Dao."

"Hmm."

Xu Xing looked upward.

This was what he'd recently promised Xiang Yuanjun.

Speaking of which—does the Ferris wheel in the Xuan Realm have any special meaning? Hmm...

Check the Spirit Net later.

……

……

Inside the park, the trees cast elongated shadows in the sunset, creating a mysterious and tranquil atmosphere.

At first, only a few people paused to watch, but as time passed, more and more gathered, staring at the figure standing beneath the statue of the First Chairman.

So similar!

Extremely similar! Voices rose in murmurs, people whispered to each other, their hearts filled with confusion and astonishment.

Over the years, people who impersonated this image were not uncommon; some even used transformation techniques to disguise themselves, causing considerable commotion.

Only after the Alliance issued relevant regulations was this phenomenon curbed.

"Holy Emperor my lord!"

Finally, someone couldn't hold back and shouted out.

The figure beneath the statue heard the voice and slowly turned around; his purple eyes reflected the last glow of the sunset, yet his expression was one of helplessness.

"I've said it countless times—don't use that title."

'Holy Emperor' is just too otaku.

Especially since he knew his fellow countryman was watching this very moment, the embarrassment grew worse.

Confirmed! The park erupted as if it had exploded in an instant; the previously hushed voices now broke free from restraint, roaring into the sky.

Amid the heated atmosphere, some young Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment cultivators were utterly bewildered.

Holy Emperor Yuan was, to them, a figure from textbooks and history.

Soon, a blood-red cultivation light shot down from the Councilor Gao Ta and landed before Yuan.

It was a young man with an eerie, exquisite appearance, holding a blood-colored long blade.

It was Liu Yu!

The instant he saw the figure before him, Liu Yu couldn't help but cry out: "First Chairman my lord!"

How is this possible!

Wasn't the First Chairman confirmed to have vanished?

The meeting today had just passed the proposal to 'cease searching for the First Chairman'—and now he reappears? Wait!

Could this be the opposition faction hiring someone to impersonate him, to express their discontent? "You… are you truly the First Chairman my lord?"

Unfortunately, he himself was part of the opposition!

Damn it, who the hell pulled this stunt without telling me!

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(End of chapter)