Chapter 16

Inside a palace chamber of the Vermilion Ancient Nation.

The Vermilion Sovereign lay upon his bed, surrounded by a group of Vermilion Ancient Nation’s alchemists and imperial physicians.

But none of them could cure the Vermilion Sovereign’s illness.

The Vermilion Sovereign’s illness was inflicted years ago, when he journeyed with the Azure Dragon Sovereign to a secret realm and was wounded by a primordial ancestral beast, the Nine Evil Serpent Demon, comparable to a Sage.

The Nine Evil Serpent Demon’s venom was difficult even for a Sage to withstand.

How much less so for this quasi-Sage, the Vermilion Sovereign?

“Sigh, what are we to do now? The imperial princess went to Mount Junjia, failed to obtain the Elixir of Immortality, and was humiliated instead.”

“What can we do? We can’t possibly go cause trouble for Mount Junjia—that would be suicide.”

The alchemists, physicians, and ministers of the Vermilion Ancient Nation all shook their heads and sighed.

The primordial clans—they dared not provoke.

Thus, even upon hearing that Bai Yuer had been humiliated and forced to kneel, the Vermilion Ancient Nation had not the slightest thought of seeking retribution.

Upon hearing this, the Vermilion Sovereign on the bed began coughing violently, his face gray and lifeless.

Just then, a guard rushed in from outside and exclaimed urgently: “Your Majesty, a distinguished guest has arrived at our Vermilion Ancient Nation and demands an audience with you!”

One minister, upon hearing this, immediately flung his sleeve and roared: “Blind fool! Can’t you see the Sovereign’s condition? How dare you disturb him!”

As the minister’s words ended, a refined female voice came from the palace entrance.

“Surely the Vermilion Sovereign isn’t beyond saving—if so, why refuse to see us?”

“You dare shout at my lady? How insolent!” The minister’s face flushed with fury.

“How dare you shout at my mistress? Reckless!”

A withered figure appeared, flicking his sleeve, unleashing a torrent of quasi-Sage cultivation power.

Puff!

The minister immediately spat blood and was flung backward.

All within the grand hall froze, trembling, their hearts gripped by mortal dread.

Quasi-Sage aura!

Even the strongest Vermilion Sovereign himself was only at the quasi-Sage realm!

All eyes trembled as they turned.

There entered a woman in coarse hemp, her expression cold and indifferent.

Behind her walked a beautiful woman clad in imperial court robes.

Golden hair cascaded down, silken and smooth, her snow-white face luminous as jade, breathtakingly lovely.

It was Jun Linglong and Huapó.

“It’s the noble lady of Mount Junjia…” Some ministers’ hearts surged with shock.

Jun Linglong was well-known beyond their borders, so they recognized her at once.

The minister who had shouted earlier now bled from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with terror, collapsed on the floor, unable to rise.

“Cough… I didn’t expect the noble lady of Mount Junjia to come—are you here to demand justice?”

On the bed, the Vermilion Sovereign struggled to sit up, his face weary.

Not long ago, rumors spread that Bai Yuer had offended Mount Junjia’s Divine Son and knelt outside his chamber.

Now, Mount Junjia’s people had arrived.

If not to demand justice, then why?

At these words, every Vermilion Ancient Nation person in the hall trembled, their hearts choked with fear.

If Mount Junjia wished to erase the Vermilion Ancient Nation, it would require no great effort.

The Vermilion Sovereign had accepted his fate, so he remained composed.

“Is my Divine Son the kind of demon who annihilates entire nations? You should be grateful for his mercy,” Jun Linglong said, covering her mouth with a faint smile.

“Huh?” The Vermilion Sovereign and others all looked bewildered.

Was Mount Junjia not here to demand justice?

Jun Linglong stepped forward, her jade hand brushing against her void ring.

Instantly, purple aura surged, medicinal fragrance filled the air, revealing a herb shaped like a Qilin before them.

“That’s… the Elixir of Immortality!”

Every Vermilion Ancient Nation person widened their eyes, nearly unable to breathe.

Even the Vermilion Sovereign’s expression held a trace of shock.

Every time an Elixir of Immortality appeared, it shook the Heaven-Defying Immortal Realm.

Now, Jun Linglong produced one so casually, leaving them stunned—as if peasants had stumbled upon a mountain of gold.

Beside her, Huapó, seeing the Vermilion Ancient Nation’s reaction, could not help but show a flicker of contempt in her old eyes.

“Vermilion Sovereign, here are your two choices: Submit to the Divine Son, and you receive the Elixir of Immortality.”

“Refuse, and perish on your own,” Jun Linglong said coolly.

Before Jun Xiaoyao, she was humble.

But now, facing outsiders, she resumed the bearing of a Mount Junjia noble lady.

“This…” The Vermilion Ancient Nation ministers all paled.

They understood the implication in Jun Linglong’s words.

It was submission to the Divine Son—not to Mount Junjia.

The difference was immense.

Submitting to the primordial clan Mount Junjia was not entirely unacceptable to the Vermilion Ancient Nation.

After all, many top sects already served as vassals to Mount Junjia.

But to submit only to Jun Xiaoyao alone…

For a top sect, that would be disgraceful.

“Unwilling? Do you know how great an honor it is to submit to the Divine Son?” Jun Linglong’s eyebrows lifted, her expression turning cold.

The Vermilion Sovereign’s eyes flickered with struggle, then he sighed and said: “I agree. Please thank the Divine Son of Mount Junjia for me—only hope he does not trouble Yuer.”

At this point, what choice did the Vermilion Sovereign have?

“Rest assured, the Divine Son merely gave Bai Yuer a slight punishment—he won’t harm her,” Jun Linglong said calmly.

She handed the Qilin Elixir of Immortality to the Vermilion Sovereign.

The Vermilion Sovereign took it, his hands trembling slightly.

Who, after all, wishes to die?

Especially a sovereign of a nation.

“Improve your cultivation diligently. This Elixir of Immortality won’t just heal your wound—it may even elevate you further. That way, you’ll be more useful to the Divine Son,” Jun Linglong warned.

Hearing this, all the ministers were speechless.

Was she openly treating the Vermilion Sovereign as a mere tool?

“I understand,” the Vermilion Sovereign nodded, showing no resentment—instead, excitement glimmered in his eyes.

Above the quasi-Sage realm lay the Sage realm.

With this Qilin Elixir of Immortality, perhaps he could truly break through and ascend to the Sage realm.

“Remember: This grace was granted by the Divine Son. If you dare harbor even a single thought of betrayal…” Jun Linglong’s tone turned utterly icy.

The carrot-and-stick tactic, she wielded with flawless mastery.

“Naturally. From now on, the Divine Son is the true master of our Vermilion Ancient Nation,” the Vermilion Sovereign said respectfully.

Offending the Divine Son of Mount Junjia was the same as offending Mount Junjia itself.

Though the Vermilion Ancient Nation was a top-tier force, before Mount Junjia, it was merely a slightly larger ant.

“Good.” Jun Linglong and Huapó turned and departed.

The Vermilion Ancient Nation had fully submitted to Jun Xiaoyao, becoming his vassal.

Once Bai Yuer was properly trained, Jun Xiaoyao could better control the Vermilion Ancient Nation.

Several months passed. Inside the Heavenly Emperor Palace, Jun Xiaoyao rose, a faint smile on his lips.

“It’s about time. Bai Yuer has knelt for a year—time to train and subdue her.”

Meanwhile, within the Azure Dragon Ancient Nation, a dragon-drawn carriage suddenly soared into the sky, heading toward Mount Junjia.

Inside the carriage sat none other than the Azure Dragon Ancient Nation’s Crown Prince, Xiao Chen.

“That technique is complete. Time to retrieve Yuer.”

“And that Mount Junjia Divine Son—if I challenge him and defeat him, I’ll become famed throughout the Heaven-Defying Immortal Realm. Mount Junjia won’t dare humiliate a mere youth like me.”

Xiao Chen’s lips curled into a confident smile.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

He, Xiao Chen alone, would storm Mount Junjia, rescue his beloved in his arms, trample the Mount Junjia Divine Son, and earn glory across the land.

Aren’t the chosen protagonists of legends always like this?

Thinking of that scene, Xiao Chen’s blood boiled—he could hardly wait.