Chapter 141: Sister 140, What Is That? 62K Seeking Subscriptions, Part

"What is in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains?"

At this moment Si Tu Yuan's mind was racing, but after thinking for a while he still couldn't come up with any valuable clue.

However Wang Wu was waiting for his answer, so even though his mind kept pondering, Si Tu Yuan didn't keep Wang Wu waiting long; just two or three seconds later he nodded.

"The Ten Thousand Great Mountains are not part of Great Zhou's territory, but they don't belong to any current nation either. I don't think Supreme Immortal Wang needs to trade such matters with me. However, since the Immortal brought it up, my South State will certainly give its full support to the Immortal."

"Of course," he smiled and continued, "the portion of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains within Yuan State can also be wholly assigned to the Immortal."

"No, it's the Extreme Heaven Divine Palace."

"Of course, of course," Si Tu Yuan nodded repeatedly, "assigned to the Extreme Heaven Divine Palace."

"Supreme Immortal need not worry; my Si Tu family will certainly devote all effort to assist."

Yuan State is truly a place with no discernible presence; aside from abundant mineral veins and people, it has no other notable features.

Oh right, it also produces monsters—the monsters of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.

And its role for South State is the same: providing resources of all kinds, naturally including population, from cultivators to ordinary folk.

In the past, Yuan State, as a barbarian region, supplied South State with human tribute; now, as compatriots, it offers abundant assistance.

Militarily and politically, Yuan State also relies firmly on South State; if not for the edicts from King Mu's era, Yuan State would have merged with South State long ago.

Before King Mu, Great Zhou had nearly a hundred subordinate provinces, but now only these thirteen remain; the reason, of course, is that the provinces prior to Zhou King Mu were already absorbed by stronger ones.

Before Zhou King Mu, the officials of local provinces wielded enormous authority; rather than calling them provinces, they were more like vassal states.

However, these vassal states did not annex each other through military action, but rather used comparatively more 'civilized' methods.

It wasn't until after Zhou King Mu, under this visionary ruler's series of measures, that the central court's control over the regions was greatly strengthened; during his three hundred‑plus years on the throne, the Zhou Son of Heaven's authority deeply penetrated the hearts of each province.

From then on, except for a few provinces, the provincial governors were appointed and dismissed directly by the Son of Heaven.

The top administrator of South State, the provincial governor, is directly appointed by the court, unlike some provinces that have always drawn the post from a local great family or a few great families.

In name, this governor is also the highest military commander of the province, at least in title.

"Sometimes slave‑catching squads are active in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains," Wang Wu added, "I recall that unauthorized slave‑catching is illegal in Great Zhou, right?"

"Naturally!" Si Tu Yuan's expression turned serious instantly, "After I return, I will immediately inform Yuan State to handle this strictly. Supreme Immortal, rest assured, from now on within the Ten Thousand Great Mountains no slave‑catching squad will ever be seen again."

"Ha ha, then thank you, Lord Si Tu."

The competition below was spectacular, but Si Tu Yuan never paid attention to it; Wang Wu, however, would glance over now and then and shout loudly in approval.

Si Tu Yuan didn't notice this; it seemed he deliberately ignored it.

After that, the two chatted for a while longer, and Si Tu Yuan several times steered the conversation, intentionally or not, toward his daughter.

Si Tu Jin's relationship with Wang Wu is fairly good; in Si Tu Yuan's view, if his daughter can successfully pair with the other party, whatever the nature of the relationship, it would be very favorable.

"Little Jin has been missing the young hero lately, often sending people to inquire about him," Si Tu Yuan said with a smile, "But since that day, the young hero seems to have vanished from the world; we can't find any trace of him."

First it was 'Your Excellency,' then 'Supreme Immortal,' and then 'young hero.' As the dialogue progressed, Si Tu Yuan noticed that Wang Wu seemed dissatisfied with the title 'Supreme Immortal,' so he switched to 'young hero.'

It was evident that Wang Wu was most pleased with that title, far more than with 'Your Excellency' or 'Supreme Immortal.'

"Hehe, I went back for some personal matters," Wang Wu replied, then shouted downwards, "Hey! Zhao Xingyue, well done! Your wife is amazing!!!"

"Oh…" Si Tu Yuan smiled and nodded.

After that they chatted about various things for a while; noticing Wang Wu's waning interest, Si Tu Yuan stopped trying to get closer.

The team competition lasted a long time and had a large scope, divided into arena matches and wilderness matches.

During the wilderness stage, a light screen would appear before each participant, allowing the audience to switch at will to any team's perspective.

This world truly is a 'science‑fiction world'; the longer Wang Wu stays here and the more he encounters, the more he affirms this.

Even the so‑called backward Human society's Tianmang City—no, in terms of urban construction, Tianmang City is not behind ordinary human cities; it's roughly at the level of a second‑tier strong county.

Wang Wu hasn't visited other demon cities yet, so he's very curious about them—wondering what they're like, whether they're similar to Tianmang City, or if Tianmang City is already the pinnacle of demon cities.

While watching Zhao Xingyue's squad, Wang Wu pondered these matters. As a monster himself, he naturally paid more attention to the monster world.

At the same time, Si Tu Yuan sitting beside him was thinking the same thing—matters concerning the demon race.

Through the recent chat with Wang Wu, even though Wang Wu revealed nothing, Si Tu Yuan still guessed a few things.

"Is it because of the demon race?"

Si Tu Yuan looked at a team on the screen—not Zhao Xingyue's team, but a team from the Si Tu family—and fell into thought.

Is there something about the demon race that attracted the Extreme Heaven Divine Palace?

But... what could it be?

Humans have coexisted with the demon race in this world for many years; even before the first human civilization was founded, they already lived alongside the demons.

They killed each other, preyed upon each other, yet harbored no hatred and could even coexist peacefully.

The demon race possesses peerless beauty and a long lifespan; they never age and always remain in the peak of their bodies.

Their bodies are strong; even without cultivating any techniques, they can rely on awakened 'divine abilities' to confront cultivators, though untrained demons certainly cannot defeat cultivators of the same realm.

Such powerful bodies might indeed be a blessing; the innate demon beasts' flesh can even clash with True Realm, even Reality‑Breaking cultivators.

But that agelessness is not.

It is more like an innate defect, a curse.

Although they never age, their minds become corrupted, their souls infected. Ultimately they become fully demonic; even their souls cannot be redeemed, forever trapped in a malformed body.

Having coexisted so long, humans naturally understand the demon species well. When Si Tu Yuan was young, he also loved demons; the few female demons who grew up with him later became his wives.

Even though they cannot bear children, Si Tu Yuan's love for them has not diminished at all.

Well, sometimes it does get tiring.

Because those wives only wish to enjoy themselves with him, and he likewise is unwilling to let others share the burden.

Tiring as it is, as long as they are happy, the sweat shed is worthwhile.

Even a martial cultivator facing four True Realm demons at once would be exhausted, but at least he can endure.

To replace him with a cultivator of the same realm would likely cost half a life.

For humans, yokai make good servants, and as non‑primary wives they are also decent companions, but that's all.

As for other uses, they're no different from other humans: as cultivators, as officials, and even in some small states as rulers.

No, in the Great Shang, Emperor Di Xin's queen Da Ji can also be counted as a "ruler." Even a great nation can have a yokai ruler.

Apart from that, there's nothing else.

"Could it be a demon pill?"

Situyuan thought it over and concluded that demon pills are probably the only relatively valuable product from yokai, but demon pills are slow to produce and, while easy to find, their effects certainly don't match those of true great demons.

"Or does the Extreme Heaven Divine Palace have a way to refine demon pills into great medicines? Is that why…?"

But considering Wang Wu's displayed character and temperament, that doesn't seem reasonable.

Still, the possibility isn't ruled out; after all, conduct and temperament can be faked, and this inference might actually be the closest to the truth.

Situyuan didn't jump to a firm conclusion either, because he's never one to make rash judgments.

After the duel ended, the two went their separate ways, each carrying the "Extreme Heaven True Decision" Wang Wu had given them, and Situyuan hurried off.

When the team match ended it was already early morning of the next day; the grand tournament will last a full month, during which disciples from all sects will gather at the Upper Profound Sect, making the place extremely lively.

Besides cultivators, ordinary mortals also come to watch the spectacle. Consequently, every inn within the Upper Profound Sect is packed, and lodging prices have skyrocketed—already expensive, now beyond what even wealthy folk can afford.

Therefore many people choose to camp outdoors; after all, the Upper Profound Mountain Range of the Upper Profound Sect is vast, with plenty of places to stay and virtually no danger.

No ticket is required to go to the Upper Profound Sect to watch the matches; at least the contests below the True Realm are free, which naturally draws even more travelers.

Especially those who hold a "heart seeking the Dao," fantasizing they are undiscovered geniuses hoping to try their luck at the Upper Profound Sect.

Yet it's true that each year some hidden talents are indeed discovered from the sea of people and take the mountain gate as disciples.

Hence the crowd grows even larger.

The sea of people was even more exaggerated than He Dong Xian's, a fact Wang Wu realized while he and Zhao Xingyue were looking for a place to get intimate.

"Wu, brother Wu?"

For example, now it's five o'clock in the morning.

The two were locked in a fierce verbal sparring in a hard‑to‑find, apparently unoccupied dark corner.

Then a familiar voice rang out.

Zi Yuan has already fainted dead inside the spherical fortress, making several female demons' fangs itch with hatred.

Zhao Xingyue, being less mischievous than she, now has the two's private time. Yet even during their alone time, an uninvited guest barged in.

"Eh? Sister‑in‑law?"

Wang Wu drew his hand, turned his head toward Yao Qing, a smile of joy on his face, "You're here too? I was just about to go find you later, didn't expect to run into you here."

Zhao Xingyue blushed, brushed her hair, and nodded at Yao Qing, whose face was equally flushed.

"Comrade Yao."

"Do you know each other?" Wang Wu glanced again at Zhao Xingyue, curious.

"I've heard of the great name of the Sword Palace's first lady," Zhao Xingyue said with a smile. "Exceptionally talented, with remarkable battle records, and just last month she broke through to the later stage of the True Realm. She's the beloved disciple of the Sword Palace's master Li Shangxuan."

As she spoke, she also gave Wang Wu a glance, a hint of mischief in her eyes: "I didn't know she was actually Wu Lang's sister?"

"She's your sister now as well," Wang Wu replied with a laugh, then walked to Yao Qing's side, intending to shake her hand in greeting, but realized his hand seemed just…

"Um, Qing sister, wait a moment."

Wang Wu's figure vanished in an instant, leaving Yao Qing startled. She then turned her gaze to Zhao Xingyue; seeing the teasing look, her face flushed even more.

"Um, sister‑in‑law, sister‑in‑law."

"Eh, Yao little sister, you're so polite," Zhao Xingyue's face instantly blossomed with a smile, and she nodded at her.

She was about to say something else, but by then Wang Wu had already returned.

"Qing sister!!"

He shouted toward Yao Qing, then grabbed her hand, "Miss me yet??"

Since a certain point, whenever Yao Qing interacts with Wang Wu her mind tends to crash, triggering an over‑heat protection at the slightest trigger.

After a one‑ or two‑second crash she lowered her head and stammered a reply.

"Um…"

"Oh right, this is for you." After holding Yao Qing's hand for a while, Wang Wu also produced the ring he had prepared for her.

As his sworn sister, Yao Qing now naturally has the right to enter Wang Wu's spherical fortress.

Of course, it's a different floor.

He specifically set user permissions; once transmitted in, she can only stay on that floor and cannot voluntarily go to other floors.

Moreover, he doesn't intend to tell her the function of this item, only that in an emergency it will instantly transfer her into the spherical fortress.

The silver‑white ring bears an engraved sword; Wang Wu put thought into the design of these rings' shape and color.

Zhao Xingyue's ring features a star‑and‑moon motif, while Shu Niang's second and third sisters have their prototype images in realistic style.

There was originally a chibi version, but they preferred the latter, so Wang Wu naturally followed their preference.

As for Wang Lan, also according to her taste, the ring's pattern is a circle of cloud motifs. Zi Yuan's is a bird, the one from her name.

Not a mandarin duck; it seems to be one of the Shang dynasty's totems.

Shang people worship birds; the divine destiny Xuan Bird gave rise to Shang, and besides the Xuan Bird they also have various bird totems.

"Here." He handed the ring to Yao Qing, saying shyly, "I wasn't sure if you'd like this design, so I chose the sword from yours."

Wang Wu's voice floated near Yao Qing's ear, but her gaze was now completely fixed on the ring in her palm.

An overwhelming emotion surged within her, as if she were immersed in a huge barrel of honey, nearly drowning.

"Wu, brother Wu…?"

After a long while, Yao Qing finally lifted her head slowly, looking at Wang Wu.

In her eyes flickered a light, entirely reflecting Wang Wu's image.

Zhao Xingyue embraces both a person and a demon side‑by‑side with both hands, looking at Yao Qing, who has completely ignored her, with obvious amusement, her mouth corners constantly lifting.

"What's wrong, little sister?"

Watching Wang Wu's lips open and close, Yao Qing suddenly feels a strong impulse in her heart, causing her body to instinctively lean forward, almost actually acting on it.

"N-no, nothing. I—I just…" Facing Wang Wu's question, when reason returns to the high ground, recalling the impulses that had arisen earlier, Yao Qing is momentarily at a loss.

"You really are a good big brother, Wu Lang. Seeing little Qing sister's expression, she's about to cry." Zhao Xingyue promptly defends the flustered Yao Qing, then smiles and says, "Little Qing sister, why not try putting it on first?"

"Ugh, okay!" In her panic, Yao Qing immediately nods.

"Are you really fine?" Wang Wu is somewhat skeptical, about to stare into his sister's eyes a bit longer, but the next second his head is twisted aside by Zhao Xingyue.

After more than ten seconds, they finally separate, and by then Yao Qing has already put on the ring, her expression returning to normal.

She had long noticed the ring Zhao Xingyue wore on her ring finger, as well as the one Wang Wu wore. So she also mimicked them, placing a ring on her own ring finger.

"Ugh… little sister." Seeing where Yao Qing placed the ring, Wang Wu hesitates for a moment, then says:

"This ring, uh, in my hometown, only married people wear a ring there, uh, wear it there."

"But little Qing sister isn't from Wu Lang's hometown either, so it's fine, right?" At this moment Zhao Xingyue again timely draws Wang Wu's attention, smiling at him:

"If you're not from Wu Lang's side, it doesn't matter where you wear it, right?"

"Ugh, also…" Though somewhat hesitant, Wang Wu still nods.

Then he looks at Yao Qing again, noticing she has moved the ring to another finger.

Yao Qing smiles, nods at Wang Wu, "Thanks, Brother Wu, for the reminder, I understand."

"Haha, no problem." Wang Wu cheerfully waves his hand, then asks, "Qing sister, are you also here to join the sect's Grand Competition?"

"Yes, I'm competing today, representing the Qing Ping Sect."

"Then I'll be sure to take a good look later." Wang Wu nods, then remembers something, takes out a phone and hands it to Yao Qing.

"This is also for you."

"What is this…" Yao Qing glances at the phone in Wang Wu's hand; she remembers this gadget, Wang Wu had shown it to her before.

"You can use it to communicate between us, no matter how far apart. If you need anything, find me with this, and I'll rush over immediately," Wang Wu says.

Then he walks to the other side, "Come, I'll teach you how to use it…"

Originally this morning should have been Zhao Xingyue and Wang Wu's alone time; she had stayed up all night watching, and today she has no match, so she definitely…

But now, she suddenly loses interest.

She just wants to watch the tangled relationship between Wu Lang and Yao Qing, especially the wonderful expressions on Yao Qing's face when looking at Wu Lang.

Really, really…

Really too interesting!!!!

So, after strolling around the Upper Mystic Sect with Yao Qing and Wang Wu for a while, they had breakfast. Midway, Wang Wu apologetically looks at Zhao Xingyue, who responds with a light kiss.

Until the competition starts, Yao Qing walks into the arena, while Wang Wu takes a seat in the audience.

Today Si Tu Yuan didn't come; the seats are still the same pair from yesterday's daytime.

"Wow! Today the first female of the Qing Ping Sect Sword Hall is battling!! So exciting!!"

"Haha, I heard that the Sword Hall's first female recently broke through to the late True Realm; her Qing Ping Sword technique must be even more formidable. I wonder how dazzling her sword aura will be then!!"

Listening to their chatter, Wang Wu feels quite excited inside as well.

After all, whether Yao Qing's sword method is strong or not is another story, but it is certainly eye‑catching.

Wang Wu naturally also prepared a cultivation method for his sworn sister, definitely stronger than the one he gave Si Tu Yuan; this method's strength is enough for her to reach the third‑grade Warrior realm.

But now is not the time to give it to her; they must wait until the fame of Ji Tian Divine Palace spreads.

"Senior sister!!"

After returning to the contestant area, not long after, Yao Qing's junior brother Li Tianxuan comes over.

"Where did you go, senior sister?"

"What's up?" Yao Qing takes a sip of water; because she is in a very pleasant mood, a rare smile appears on her usually frosty face.

Since that incident, when senior sister looks at her, she rarely shows a smile; it was already rare before, but now it's even rarer.

Although senior sister's tenderness toward him remains unchanged, Li Tianxuan can feel that an invisible, intangible barrier has appeared between them.

Li Tianxuan's heart twitches, bringing a pain almost crushing his spirit.

Yet he also knows that the last incident was indeed his fault for disappointing senior sister too much.

He wants to make amends, but has no way to do so.

He is still in confinement; this time he can leave only because of the sect's Grand Competition.

Even when participating in the competition, he cannot move freely like other sect disciples; when not competing, he remains confined, under the watch of accompanying cultivators.

"Senior sister, you…"

Today, seeing the smile return to senior sister's face, his heart starts pounding violently, almost leaping out of his chest.

But at that moment, his gaze also notices the ring on Yao Qing's ring finger.

"Senior sister, that is…?"

The instant he sees the ring, his heart suddenly contracts again.

There is no concept of a "promise ring" here, but various tokens of love exist, and a ring can be one of them.

On that ring, Li Tianxuan sees a sword, precisely senior sister's Qing Ping Sword.

But before Li Tianxuan can see it clearly, the ring already disappears from his sight.

He hurriedly removes the ring from his ring finger and puts it on another finger.

"A ring, a gift from an old friend." Yao Qing says calmly, her smile vanishing.

Though fleeting, Li Tianxuan captured it. Apart from the smile, in senior sister's eyes there was a brief panic.

"Si… senior sister…?"

He called out to Yao Qing again, and Li Tianxuan suddenly felt his throat a bit dry.

(End of chapter)