Chapter 562 - 561: Recruiting Tong Rou, Alliance Relocation

Following the path of cheating, Li Jing had been walking on it since he transcended.

Up to this point.

As one who cheats, he had reached a point that even he felt was a bit outrageous.

The Returning to the Origin Heavenly Tribulation was yet to descend.

This means he was trapped in the Thirteen Realms.

The hierarchy of power within his body remained in the Thirteen Realms. The only change was that the total Quantity has significantly increased.

But his status...

Appeared to disregard the hierarchy of power and the heavenly tribulations, defaulting him as already stepping into the step of Returning to the Origin in the Fourteenth Realm.

This...

Direclty led to all of his limit breakthrough skills being benchmarked at the Fourteenth Realm’s standard.

Not only that.

His control and cognition of the rules also reached the level of the Fourteenth Realm’s Returning to the Origin stage, a totally different concept from when he was in the Thirteen Realms.

Under the support of the Heaven’s Creation Skill benchmarked at the Fourteenth Realm and the Phoenix Heavenly Fire which was more suitable for Artifact Refinement, Li Jing effortlessly refined seven half-step Taoist items, all custom-made for Tong Rou.

He spent less than half an hour in total.

Even half of that time was spent studying the blueprints.

Tong Rou’s "custom" items, after all, have different styles, and musical instrument types pays particular attention to tone. Refining seven different instruments in one go, without paying attention, could possibly ruin the refinement process.

Having successfully completed the refinement, Li Jing watched the seven instruments - a zither, a flute, a guzheng, a bell, a sheng, a dizi, and a suona - which he had laid out on the table, contemplating.

Everything else was fine.

He just couldn’t imagine how the suona would coexist with the other six more "elegant" instruments.

This combo...

Wouldn’t the sound of the suona overshadow the other six instruments?

Performance itself was an issue, let alone forming a powerful Melody Array?

Unable to make sense of it, Li Jing glanced at the heap of materials placed on the side.

Seven half-step Taoist items.

Five were successful in one go, only the more complexly structured sheng and the suona, which had strict requirements for its tone, each failed once and twice respectively.

Although the three failures all resulted in unusable products, and didn’t actually become proper artifacts, one couldn’t deny that this overall success rate was alarmingly high.

Although he had anticipated that refining half-step Taoist items wouldn’t be that difficult at his current stage,

But without actually trying, he wouldn’t know just how shocking it is.

If he were to "take orders" at this success rate, wouldn’t he be making a huge profit?

It seems...

It’s time to plan for the next Taoist item.

Who knows, maybe one day he’ll acquire another Origin?

Aside from that,

He also has to consider finding things that resemble the Dark Spirit Essence for Linglong and Smoke Eye, who are still unable to create full Taoist items and have seen no progress. These things can bestow rules to artifacts through smelting.

At least this is an opportunity he can take advantage of as the holder and an artifact refiner.

If he lets the situation take its natural course, only the heavens know when they will comprehend the next rule.

What Linglong and Smoke Eye lack aren’t just one rule, but two...

After pondering for a moment, Li Jing stood and left the Little Universe with a thought.

...

Cangming Entertainment City office building, CEO’s office.

At this moment, Tong Rou was busy reviewing all sorts of applications and documents recently submitted by Entertainment City’s department

Seeing Li Jing return and Tong Rou unaware, he stared at her intently.

You know what.

Tong Rou in this position seems quite suitable.

Her work attitude is also impeccable.

As he was inspecting, Tong Rou who was buried in approving various applications and documents suddenly sat up straight, wanting to stretch her body.

As she looked up, she naturally saw Li Jing who was intently staring at her.

This really scared her.

Her lazy stretch was immediately retracted from the fright.

As it happened, because Li Jing came from the Little Universe instead of a rip in space from elsewhere, there was no spatial disturbance.

Add on that she was "immersed" in her work just now, she was really unaware that someone had come into the office.

Patting her chest to calm her racing heart, seeing that Li Jing was still staring, Tong Rou slightly frowned and spoke.

"What are you staring at?"

Li Jing blinked at the sound.

"You are pretty."

"..."

Tong Rou.

Her question was jokingly intended.

And Li Jing clearly was joking back.

This unexpected response to her question felt awkward.

She was naturally beautiful.

As a female cultivator with high cultivation level,

Of course she is regarded as pretty, there was no need for Li Jing’s compliments.

But when someone compliments you, it’s different, isn’t it?

Even though Tong Rou wouldn’t think that Li Jing had feelings for her because of this, she had to admit, she was slightly flattered.

She quietly readjusted herself, Tong Rou sincerely felt that the routines of Blue Star people were terrible.

Considering that she was, after all, ten thousand years old, she had long passed the age of having fanciful thoughts about certain things.

Her heart, at the peak of the Twelfth Realm, has long been calm as a millpond.

But just a single line,

She was strangely flattered.

Pouting, Tong Rou pretended to be angry and glared at him.

"Act proper."

Pseudo-threatening him, she then moved her body restlessly and asked,

"You left not long ago, how come you’re back so soon? Did you encounter any problems in artifact refinement?"

"No, the refining process was very smooth."

Li Jing responded, waving his hand to take out the seven successfully refined half-step Taoist items and let them float in front of him. Then he lightly smiled,

"The task is successfully accomplished."

"..."

Tong Rou.

At this point, she was truly baffled.

Exactly how long was Li Jing gone for?

It seemed like it hadn’t been an hour?

Already...

Finished refining?

That’s outrageous!

Even if one was an Emperor level Artifact Refiner, there’s no reason...

Tong Rou was shocked, but soon felt an inexplicable relief deep in her heart.

In front of her.

Was Li Jing.

When had this man ever been predictable?

Sometimes, some things became far less difficult once accepted.

She rose to her feet, moving closer to inspect the seven musical instruments floating in the air.

Seven half-step Taoist items, no mistake.

Each one perfectly meeting the standards required by the Immortal Music Palace.

Inside each item, the presence of a sonic rule could be felt.

Just as she was inspecting them, Li Jing spoke up.

"Do you need me to release the spirit weapons?"

"No need."

Tong Rou waved her hand and said.

"These are not for me to use, the relevant spirit weapon should be understood and tamed by the person who will use it."

Having said that, she turned her head with a beaming smile.

"Thank you, you’ve really helped me a lot."

"Small matter."

Li Jing smiled and said.

"Moreover, this is something I’ve promised you long ago, I’m only fulfilling my initial promise."

Saying this, he lightly cleared his throat.

"Hey, Tong Rou, would you by any chance be interested in having a part-time job?"

?

Tong Rou responded with a question mark.

"A part-time job?"

"That is.....you continue acting as the CEO of Cangming Entertainment City and forget about any proxy."

Li Jing spoke up.

"No matter how much salary you want, you can name it, I’ll pay."

Caught off guard by his words, Tong Rou was taken aback.

Li Jing’s sudden proposal for her to work part-time at Cangming Entertainment City, and not just any position, but that of an executive CEO.

Really?

Upon confirming that he wasn’t jesting, Tong Rou said.

"But isn’t Yulian already managing the Entertainment City? I...."

Before she could finish her sentence, Li Jing interjected.

"The future development of Chen Tang City is not just limited to this. The Entertainment City is only the first step; there will be various expansions afterward. I lack capable people around me, so it’s inevitable to have to recruit talents. "

Continuing, he added.

"The Entertainment City has already opened smoothly and one could even say it has steadily passed its most difficult initial phase. The rest is just dealing with day-to-day affairs. You shouldn’t worry about not doing well, I believe with your capabilities, you can manage easily. As for Yulian, we’ll talk about her after she has passed the tribulation."

Listening to his words, Tong Rou hesitated and said,

"I think...this matter is a bit inappropriate, after all, I’m the palace master of Immortal Music Palace. If I become the CEO of the Entertainment City, it would be equivalent to directly associating with Chen Tang City, not to mention it might cause misunderstandings among the disciples and I would have to return to the palace..."

Before she could finish, Li Jing casually said.

"The Immortal Music Palace can form an alliance with us Chen Tang City. Thus, no one in your sect would have any rumors about this. As for you personally needing to return to the sect, I have a suggestion, why not move the Immortal Music Palace next to Chen Tang City?"

"Ehh..."

Tong Rou was left speechless.

An alliance, she was willing to see this happen.

Not to mention that Blue Phoenix, who had once protected the Immortal Music Palace, is now in Chen Tang City.

Chen Tang City has an emperor like Li Jing.

Who would refuse the olive branch he extends?

An alliance with Chen Tang City is equivalent to being under the protection of an Emperor.

If this alliance is formed, the benefits would be immense.

In the future, not to mention the Cangming realm.

The entire Eastern Immortal Domain could be traversed by the Immortal Music Palace.

In reality, forming an alliance with each other does seem to be a way for her to reasonably become the CEO of the Entertainment City without causing any idle talk within the sect.

But asking the Immortal Music Palace to move next to Chen Tang City was a little...far-fetched

The Immortal Music Palace’s current location was a territory that her ancestors had fought for, it has been standing for tens of thousands of years, it was an inheritance from the ancestors.

How could they just leave?

Just as she was pondering how to respond, Li Jing said.

"I know what concerns you, but sometimes flexibility can lead to better development."

Saying this, he smiled confidently.

"Before, I might not have dared to say so, but now I’m an emperor, Chen Tang City will inevitably expand rapidly. There is only so much land around, if the Immortal Music Palace doesn’t move, someone else will. Furthermore, I might as well tell you, Star God Temple has already reserved a position and will soon move over."

As Tong Rou listened to his words, she considered them carefully.

Putting aside the difficulty of leaving behind the "kingdom" established by her ancestors.

The alliance and relocation to become neighbors with Chen Tang City came with numerous tempting benefits.

Hearing that the Star God Temple had decided to move, Tong Rou’s face completely changed.

Star God Temple was so bold?

Moving just like that?

Caught in astonishment, Tong Rou remembered that Li Jing had gone to Sikong Lu not long ago, and then completely released his emperor’s aura before leaving.

She was intelligent.

And it didn’t take much for her to suspect that Li Jing had stepped in, helped Sikong Lu gain absolute control over the Star God Temple, and made the decision on the spot.

Tong Rou did not know.

She had only guessed a small part of it.

She knew even less.

Sikong Lu’s Star God Temple had ousted all its members and was currently composed of only her.

After thinking for a while, Tong Rou looked up.

"The relocation of the sect is not a decision that I can make alone. After all, I am not Master Sikong. This major event requires consulting the senior members of the sect and the venerables in Zhong Shen Zhou. However, I can try to persuade them. Before that, you have to tell me what other benefits are there in being neighbors? And how should we decide on our alliance?"

"Chen Tang City has Zhenyuan Tower, once neighbors, the disciples of the Immortal Music Palace can access it for cultivation at any time."

Li Jing responded, then continued.

"Moreover, I have an Enlightenment Stone in my Little Universe, the kind that even the Eastern Emperor Donghua covets. The entrance to the Little Universe is right at the entrance of the Zhenyuan Tower. If disciples from the Immortal Music Palace need it, they can go in to comprehend. However, considering the large number of your disciples, it’s not advised to have too many people going in at once."

An Enlightenment Stone.

The kind that even the Eastern Emperor Donghua is jealous of!

Tong Rou took a deep breath.

If these words were said by someone else, she would never believe them.

But Li Jing...

Won’t lie to her.

At least until now, he has never deceived her.

This time, she was not just swaying or tempted.

She knew about Zhenyuan Tower.

Though she didn’t retreat there as originally planned, she had experienced it when she visited Li Jing in the Little Universe.

That object, was indeed a "cultivation accelerator".

Now there was also a piece of Enlightenment Stone that even Eastern Emperor Donghua coveted.

She seemed to be able to predict.

The overall strength of the disciples of the Immortal Music Palace would rapidly increase after the relocation, like a rocket.

After pondering for a while with her red lips pursed, Tong Rou looked up.

Just as she was about to speak, Li Jing spoke.

"Just to let you know, I’m not the only Emperor in Chen Tang City now. The Blue Phoenix has become emperor in the Ancient Fairyland, plus Shi Zixuan, the teacher of Emperor Beiming, who is no longer a living dead after a miraculous encounter, has given up her position as Emperor and voluntarily joined Chen Tang City."

"..."

Tong Rou.

This information from Li Jing truly befuddled her.

The Blue Phoenix senior...

She became an emperor!?

Why didn’t he mention it when she came to deliver the message earlier?

Putting that aside.

The addition of Shi Zixuan, the strongest of the four great emperors, to Chen Tang City, was nothing short of a bombshell.

Presently, a shocking fact was laid out before her.

Chen Tang City had three emperors!

This was no longer the Chen Tang City that Tong Rou knew.

Originally in her cognition.

Besides Li Jing, Chen Tang City, when shorn of the inexplicably swindled Blue Phoenix and the recruited Shadow Demon Zhong Jian, had nothing worth mentioning.

The reality was exactly this.

Looking at the whole of Chen Tang City.

Besides Li Jing, Blue Phoenix, and Zhong Jian, no one else was noteworthy.

Others might not know, but Tong Rou was well aware.

Without Li Jing and the other two, the number of cultivators at the Tenth Realm in Chen Tang City didn’t even reach double digits.

The only one at the Eleventh Realm was the unambitious and barely noticeable "gatekeeper" Uncle Star Picker, whose only commendable feature was his Immortal Official status.

The biggest problem holding her back from joining Chen Tang City, even after Li Jing had extended an olive branch and listed the various benefits, was the lack of masters in the city.

Li Jing and the others couldn’t always be there.

For those with designs on Chen Tang City, finding an opportunity wouldn’t be difficult.

The ascension of the Blue Phoenix and the addition of Shi Zixuan didn’t change the fact that Chen Tang City had too few masters.

But three emperors in one city...

This could practically cause a stir in Zhong Shen Zhou!

Who would dare to provoke them after being filled to the brim?

Coughing once, Tong Rou’s tone softened a bit, and she asked in a more reserved manner.

"So, the alliance?"

"There’s no need to be so particular about the alliance, it might backfire if we get too detailed."

Li Jing shook his head, saying.

"I can guarantee that as long as the Immortal Music Palace doesn’t betray Chen Tang City, Chen Tang City will certainly not betray the Immortal Music Palace."

Having said that, he gave a slight smile.

"It’s up to you whether you want to move or not. Let’s not make a fuss about it. You are the palace owner, you can make the decision. You don’t have to worry about not being able to persuade the venerables in your palace. I’ll go to the Immortal Music Palace with you later and talk to your three resident venerables. They should not refuse. As for Zhong Shen Zhou, when Li Lingyin comes back, let her take a trip to the Donghua Immortal Palace and let Xiang Dong talk to those from the Immortal Music Palace about life, that’s all."

"..."

Tong Rou.

Li Jing this...

That was a bit outrageous.

His meaning is entirely that as long as she agrees, the opinions of others in the Immortal Music Palace don’t matter.

Can such a big matter be handled this way?

You can’t say that.

It really can be done.

With Li Jing personally taking a trip, coupled with various benefits, the three resident venerables would definitely have no objections.

Zhong Shen Zhou, which did not know the truth about Chen Tang City.

They would certainly want to investigate, and some old hardliners might oppose.

If Eastern Emperor Donghua, Xiang Dong, were to act.

Then that would no longer be an issue...

Taking a deep breath, Tong Rou showed a slight smile as beautiful as a flower.

"Since that’s the case, what are we waiting for? Let’s go to the Immortal Music Palace quickly. I have to go back and approve files later."

It was clear that Tong Rou had been tempted earlier, but she wasn’t sure she could persuade the venerables in the palace. Seeing her nod, Li Jing gestured for her to enter, then he tore open the void by a wave of his hand.

Seeing this, Tong Rou stepped into it.

Li Jing followed closely behind.

The next second, the two of them appeared in the depths of Immortal Music Palace.

As soon as she stood still, Tong Rou couldn’t wait to speak.

"You wait first, I’ll call the elders in the pavilion, and then wake up the Venera..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Li Jing waved her off.

"There’s no need for that hassle, the ceremony can always be done later."

Having said that, he opened his domain with a thought, swallowing the entire Immortal Music Palace, including the nearby hills, into the Little Universe in one breath.

"..."

Tong Rou.

???

All the people in the Immortal Music Palace.

Before anyone could comprehend, Li Jing waved his hand.

All the living people inside the entrance of Immortal Music Palace were moved to the square at the entrance.

Seeing this situation, most of the Immortal Music Palace was left baffled.

The key was none of them recognized Li Jing.

He had stayed at Immortal Music Palace for a while before, but he never showed his true face.

If it weren’t for seeing their palace owner standing beside the man, equally bewildered and pretty, they’d probably be in a state of panic.

The three resident venerables presiding over the Immortal Music Palace had been startled out of their seclusion.

Seeing Li Jing, everyone’s face changed.

Consuming an immense Immortal Music Palace with domain power and incorporating it into an independent world was evidence that these were actions only an Emperor could perform.

So...

What was this Emperor trying to do?

Instinctively, the three people’s eyes converged on Tong Rou.

Seeing this, Tong Rou silently opened her mouth, unsure what to say.

The key was that Li Jing’s simple and crude manner had completely disrupted her rhythm.

Gesturing with her hand, she pulled on him hard, hinting him to start his "performance".

Taking the cue, Li Jing spoke as well.

"Sisters of the Immortal Music Palace... Ahem! My DAO friends, don’t be nervous. I’m Li Jing, the lord of Chen Tang City, and I believe that many of you here remember me," he said.

Upon hearing this self-introduction, the crowd from the Immortal Music Palace was stupefied.

Li Jing, remembered by more than a few?

Who among the palace members, except for those who were out at the time, did not know him?

That included the three Venerables.

In fact, there had been attention before and after he resolved the trouble with Yuan Sea.

It was him?

He...

Is an Emperor Level cultivator!?

The three Venerables were shocked to the core.

Nobody in the Immortal Music Palace knew Li Jing’s true cultivation level.

Now that they confirmed he was an Emperor, they just assumed he had been an Emperor all along.

Like this.

It also made the uninvolved members of Immortal Music Palace feel it was reasonable for the Eastern Emperor Donghua to have personally come before.

He was here to see Li Jing; everything else was incidental.

On this side.

Li Jing, facing the eyes of all the women from Immortal Music Palace, felt a bit of pressure.

After all, the Immortal Music Palace was a purely female cultivator sect.

He, a man, upheaved the whole sect.

The women before his eyes, there were tens of thousands of them.

Involuntarily straightening his back, Li Jing cleared his throat and said.

"Today, I came not for other reasons, but to form an alliance with the Immortal Music Palace. I invite the Immortal Music Palace to relocate to the Blue Star Ascension Platform so that we could be neighbors with Chen Tang City."

Hearing the word ’alliance’, the three Venerables of the Immortal Music Palace and the elders’ eyes lit up.

Alliance with a sect that is led by an Emperor Level cultivator, who could refuse?

Especially considering that this Emperor has close ties with Emperor Donghua, who governed the Eastern Immortal Domain.

But when they heard about "moving house", they immediately frowned.

At this time, Li Jing spoke again.

"You don’t have to think too much, I have no strange thoughts about the Immortal Music Palace, I just want to be neighbors. Also, I have made an agreement with Master Tong. As long as the Immortal Music Palace is loyal to Chen Tang City, Chen Tang City will certainly not let the Immortal Music Palace down."

Having said that, Li Jing had a thought and brought everyone to the location of the Heritage Stele in Qingyuan Fairy Palace.

"Here, you can come anytime in the future. However, I would like to ask the elders of the Immortal Music Palace to make a plan and limit the number of people who come to comprehend at one time."

The people of the Immortal Music Palace were suddenly transported here and naturally attracted by the Heritage Stele.

They were all from the Immortal Realm and therefore had sharp eyesight.

The Immortal Music Palace army of women wasn’t as innocent and harmless as it appeared on the surface; in fact, they were formidable.

To stand firm in the Immortal Realm, a realm where it’s every man for himself, they couldn’t rely on innocence.

As for the Enlightenment Stone, they recognized it at a glance.

Not only did they recognize it, during Li Jing’s speech, there were several ’boom’ sounds in the crowd. Several disciples of the Immortal Music Palace broke through on the spot, and a group of disciples who had insights swiftly sat down cross-legged.

The crowd was a bit large all at once.

The Enlightenment Stone probability could bring comprehension; there were always a few lucky ones in the crowd.

At this point, the faces of the three Venerables and the elders of the Immortal Music Palace changed.

Such a large and effective piece of Enlightenment Stone, allowing Immortal Music Palace disciples to comprehend at any time... there’s no way they could refuse such an offer.

Li Jing was indeed sincere.

But to move the sect for this...

Before anyone had time to think it over, a fiery trail of light accompanied by a powerful Emperor aura fell next to Li Jing with a ’boom’, and then the Blue Phoenix revealed itself.

Of course, Li Jing had notified the Blue Phoenix to come.

But he didn’t tell the Blue Phoenix about what happened. He just asked her to release her Emperor aura.

Upon arrival, the Blue Phoenix was taken aback.

She had been in the Immortal Music Palace for so many years, she recognized all the disciples’ faces.

Even the three Venerables and a group of elders present, most of them she had watched grow up.

Why are all the people from Immortal Music Palace here?

The Blue Phoenix was confused, and seeing her, the people from the Immortal Music Palace were even more baffled.

The Senior Blue Phoenix, she...

Has reached the Emperor Level!

Before anyone could react, two little elves popped out from behind the Blue Phoenix’s waterfall-like hair.

The sharp-eyed members of the Immortal Music Palace gasped in unison at the sight.

The Spirit of Origin!

Two of them!

Tong Rou didn’t find it strange.

She had seen the two little ones before.

Seeing them now, she quickly took out two sweet Spirit Fruits in a familiar manner.

The two little ones were immediately attracted and one perched on either shoulder of Tong Rou, each clutching a fruit in their hands.

Seeing how easily the two little ones got close to Tong Rou, the members of the Immortal Music Palace were agape.

Apart from the uniqueness of the Spirit of Origin.

The lively and cute appearance of the two little ones, what woman could resist?

While everyone was being drawn in, Li Jing spoke.

"The Blue Phoenix is known to everyone, and now she is living in the Little Universe. In the future, you can visit more frequently."

Saying that, Li Jing made another gesture, leaving those who had insights and bringing everyone else to the location of the passage to Chen Tang City. Then he smirked.

He was so eager to get things done that he forgot about the stone coffin and the Saint...

At this time, a stone coffin stood at the fading entrance to heaven, while another pretended to be dead, lying in peace on a large lotus basin, floating around the island in the lake.

The people of the Immortal Music Palace were brought here and naturally attracted by the stone coffin and the Saint.

Luckily, they couldn’t make out anything.

"This stone coffin is mainly used to block the entrance. None of you should enter this passage rashly. The consequences could be severe and even result in death."

Li Jing said guiltily.

"As for the one floating in the river, it’s currently in a state of feigned death. I found it when I went out. I haven’t figured out who it is yet, so you don’t have to worry about it."

After giving a somewhat strained explanation, Li Jing pointed to the passage to Chen Tang City.

"The passage leads to Chen Tang City, please follow me."

Saying so, he walked into the passage.

Seeing this, Tong Rou quickly followed.

At this crucial moment, she didn’t want to be caught off guard and interrogated.

The people of the Immortal Music Palace saw Li Jing and Tong Rou enter the passage one after another. They looked at each other, and finally, their eyes fell on the Blue Phoenix.

"..."

Blue Phoenix.

Who am I?

Where am I?

What am I doing?

...