Chapter 722

Qingxu Shiren, caught off guard, flashed a hint of unease across his face, but immediately hardened his expression and declared sternly: “Friend Wanfeng, cease such reckless words! This Daoist is serving the Heavenly Strategy cause and relieving His Majesty of burdens—this is the duty of any cultivator; how dare you speculate thusly!”

Though his words sounded noble, deep inside he had to admit that having a “legitimate” excuse to travel away, temporarily escaping that shrew of a wife back at the sect, was indeed a blessed thing.

He swiftly changed the subject, pulling Master Wanfeng into a serious discussion of the formation’s details.

Li Chen and the Lady Youlan had not seen each other in a long time.

Lady Youlan was naturally a voluptuous, graceful mature beauty; among Li Chen’s harem, her curvaceous figure—especially those full, proud peaks—ranked among the most outstanding, certainly within the top three.

Though now long-married, when alone with Li Chen, she still displayed a girlish shyness, lowering her head slightly as she asked in a soft, alluring voice: “Your Majesty, why have you summoned me here specifically? Is there an urgent matter to entrust to me?”

Seeing her demeanor, Li Chen’s affection deepened, yet he did not rush to the point; instead, he took her hand and sat with her in the temporary meditation chamber, recounting in detail his experiences in the Great Luo Dynasty.

Because she was his most trusted concubine, he spoke with great precision—from how he infiltrated using the “Wu Ancestor” identity, to how he navigated dealings with various factions—even revealing the existence of the “Wu Ancestor’s Realm.”

“That realm was left behind by the ancient Wu Ancestor, a self-contained world. Not only is its spiritual energy abundant, but more remarkably, it houses over a thousand women of exceptional beauty, each with her own charm—mostly collected or voluntarily bound to the realm by past Wu Ancestors.”

As he spoke, Li Chen observed Lady Youlan’s reaction.

“Managing so many people is no small task. After much thought, I need someone with sufficient strength to command respect, yet also meticulous and trustworthy, to oversee it. You, my beloved, have already reached the Saint realm—you are the perfect choice.”

Upon hearing of the thousand women, Lady Youlan was stunned inside, thinking: His Majesty is truly formidable—he’s only been gone a short while and already has so many women.

Li Chen shifted tone and continued: “Moreover, the most precious thing in that realm is not those beauties, but the ancient spiritual herbs and rare flowers cultivated over countless ages, perfectly preserved. Many species are likely extinct in the outside world, recorded only in rare, ancient texts.”

Indeed, upon hearing “ancient spiritual herbs” and “rare flowers,” Lady Youlan’s eyes instantly brightened, as if starlight had fallen into them. She was deeply obsessed with alchemy and spiritual plants, and had an almost instinctive yearning for these legendary herbs. “Your Majesty, is this true? Are there truly ancient plants like ‘Dragon- Wen Crimson Pearl Grass’ and ‘Nine-Heart Begonia’—long thought extinct?”

Her voice trembled with excitement and disbelief.

Li Chen watched her reaction closely, chuckled softly, and wrapped his arm around her supple waist, leaning close to her ear to murmur teasingly: “Of course it’s true. The herb gardens in the realm stretch endlessly, filled with priceless treasures. But if you wish to enter and study them freely—or even transplant some out—you’ll have to prove yourself tonight.”

At his words, Lady Youlan’s cheeks flushed crimson, the color spreading all the way to her ears.

She lowered her head shyly, her body melting into Li Chen’s embrace, whispering in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum, dripping with tender allure: “Your Majesty~ My whole self, my whole heart, belong to you. What more could you possibly want from me?”

Hearing her unspoken consent and surrender, Li Chen was delighted. With a magician’s flourish, he produced several sets of lavish robes, richly styled in the fashion of the Great Luo Dynasty.

These garments differed sharply from Tang-style attire—bolder, more daring, with cuts that clung directly to the figure.

“Come, change into these—let me see a different side of your charm.”