[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal":3,"chapter-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-348":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},596771,846,"Chapter 348: The Trial of the Beast Hall The Ice Blocks Birthday","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-348",348,"\u003Cp>Three days after the snowfall, the southern lands were bathed in continuous clear skies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three suns hung in the sky like the eyes of the heavens, silently gazing upon the vast earth below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across the southern territories, many villages and towns had quietly shifted their faith, all worshiping the same entity—the Celestial Venerable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Celestial Venerable Immortal instructed us to offer stones as tribute and taught us the Mountain-Splitting Hammer Technique and the Second Set of Radio Calisthenics.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You offer stones? Our town suffers from constant floods, so the Celestial Venerable Immortal had us dig canals and offer sand and mud...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Those disciples around the Immortal... they all look so bizarre and terrifying. Could it be from practicing Radio Calisthenics?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nah, the Immortal said the disciples of the Myriad Forms Immortal Sect excel in form-mimicking martial arts...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After a few days of Radio Calisthenics, my backache and leg pain are gone!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Celestial Venerable Immortal actually helps when called upon! His blessings are real, and he doesn’t even demand child sacrifices!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, at the southern branch of the Demon-Summoning Cult...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ancient hall was shrouded in darkness, as if even sunlight dared not penetrate its depths. The faint glow cast eerie shadows on the primal murals lining the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unearthly howls and roars echoed faintly, sounding nothing like human voices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lately, our disciples have suffered heavy losses. What are your thoughts?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Beast Hall Master sat atop the highest seat, his voice hoarse, like the creaking of lifeless wood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Demon-Summoning Cult had long collaborated with Han Zhen, and the Beast Hall was born from this alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Han Zhen was dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Beast Hall’s ultimate goal remained unchanged—two simple words: the True Dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To summon the True Dragon into the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The True Dragon was no innate being but a fusion of powerful creatures revered as totems by humanity. As tribes warred and merged, their totems intertwined, birthing this ultimate entity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the collective faith of the masses grew strong enough, the True Dragon would manifest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, even with Han Zhen gone, the Beast Hall’s mission remained—control the southern lands and harvest the power of the masses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, someone was shaking the very foundation of the Beast Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None of the high priests present dared speak first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come on, they were a demonic cult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some among them had secretly schemed against each other—why should they care if another’s territory was in trouble?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others simply didn’t grasp the situation well enough and feared saying the wrong thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hall Master snorted coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Young Master has been in a foul mood lately. You all know he desires the True Dragon’s body to reclaim the top spot on the Hidden Dragon Ranking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If he finds out we’ve failed him, the consequences...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The high priests gulped and straightened their postures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hall Master was the Young Master’s brother-in-law.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After some hushed discussions, a priest spoke up:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hall Master, our priority now is to uncover the origins of this Heavenly Court’s Myriad Forms Immortal Sect—especially this so-called Celestial Venerable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heavenly Court? Myriad Forms Immortal Sect? Celestial Venerable?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. He claims to be the Celestial Venerable Immortal, having slumbered for countless years, wielding boundless powers...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Creation of Heaven and Earth? Even fantasy novels wouldn’t dare exaggerate like that...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gathered priests were all at least at the Inner Realm level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet even those at the Outer Realm wouldn’t dare speculate about the unfathomable power required to shape the heavens and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this were true...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just their branch of the Demon-Summoning Cult—even the Grand Patriarch himself would tread carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There’s more.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Beast Hall Master’s expression darkened further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This Celestial Venerable claims our Demon-Summoning Cult merely inherited fragments of the Myriad Forms Immortal Sect’s legacy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Impossible!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Our history stretches back to before the Great Yu Dynasty, but...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The priests recalled the earlier description of the Celestial Venerable’s disciples—each bearing bestial traits, yet retaining clarity of mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This bore an uncanny resemblance to the Beast Hall’s foundational scripture, the Ten Thousand Forms Dragon Transformation Art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the Dragon Transformation Scripture had a fatal flaw—practitioners absorbing the bloodlines of various beasts often lost their sanity. Most couldn’t even reach the dragon stage, succumbing to madness during the serpent phase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, the Celestial Venerable’s disciples seemed perfectly lucid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumors spoke of them practicing some form-mimicking martial arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And their sect’s name? Myriad Forms Immortal Sect!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the Beast Hall, they too harvested the power of the masses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more the priests pondered, the more unsettled they grew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could there be a sliver of truth to the Celestial Venerable’s claims?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had their Demon-Summoning Cult truly inherited only fragments of the Myriad Forms Immortal Sect’s teachings?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This... was spiraling into something far bigger than they’d imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whispers filled the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Li would never have dreamed that his simple scheme to gather the masses’ power had somehow ensnared even the Demon-Summoning Cult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long silence, the Beast Hall Master cleared his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Regardless, we must answer to the Young Master!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"True or false, we must test the waters—establish contact and determine if they’re friend or foe!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This involved the cult’s deepest secrets. Though dangerous, it also held potential opportunities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The high priests eagerly volunteered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the moonlit branches, the city of Qingmu was bathed in a silvery glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint, melodious birdcall seemed to echo through the night, like a dreamlike whale’s song piercing the heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Soundbird Form has taken shape.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A breeze lifted the window of the chamber, stirring Ying Bing’s ink-black hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She instinctively reached for her oversized doll-shaped pouch, retrieving a jade hairpin. Just as she was about to gather the strands tickling her back beneath her flowing fairy skirt, she paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jade pin shimmered under the moonlight, as if still warm from someone’s touch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That warmth reminded her of Li the Genius’s... unorthodox modifications to the dual cultivation manual Phoenix Cries Over Heavenly Marsh—combining cultivation with foot massages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nonsense!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This pin was ordinary jade, not even warm jade! The warmth was surely her imagination...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pursing her lips, Ying Bing secured her hair with the pin and decided to test her newly acquired Soundbird Form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a rustle, her fairy skirt transformed, now gleaming gold like an exotic dancer’s attire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lower half became sheer harem pants, while the upper revealed a gold-embroidered bustier, leaving her toned abdomen exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Little Li been present, he would’ve gasped:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn! A Western dancing girl!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perhaps... he’d like this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing initially frowned at the bold outfit but, recalling Little Li the Tyrant’s wide-eyed enthusiasm, couldn’t help a faint smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Closing her eyes, she channeled the Soundbird’s essence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soundbirds were divine dancers and peerless listeners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the wind, she caught fragments of voices:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This tavern’s doing great—heard the barbecue recipe was invented by Little Li the Tyrant himself?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boss, how’s this hammer for smashing rocks? The Celestial Venerable Immortal wants us to dig up stones as offerings...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Celestial Venerable Immortal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the word \"immortal,\" Ying Bing's eyelids flickered slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of spirit or deity would dare to call themselves an immortal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could only be him...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mom, can you buy me osmanthus cake for my birthday?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Silly child, your birthday is still seven days away. It’ll go bad if we buy it now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Birthday...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing slowly opened her eyes, the serene depths of her gaze reflecting the moonlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did she remember.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In five more days, it would be her... birthday?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The word felt unfamiliar—after all, she never celebrated birthdays. It was always just her, alone and quiet, no different from any other day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still hadn’t finished his business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This birthday, like all the others, would likely pass without fanfare, as if nothing had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then again, she was already used to it.\u003C\u002Fp>",1298,"2026-05-30T17:19:00.270Z","2026-06-01T04:31:46.889Z",1,"novelbin.me","18ad714df4260fa7af48c0c4c8f2530525299385163dcd2d09c2af36657e228d","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-349","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-347",737,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Finvesting-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-cover.jpg"]