Even three Mystic Ancestor Experts working together could dominate a region in the Black Horn Empire, the greatest power in the eastern territories—let alone in a place like the Sunward Kingdom.
Back when four members of the Eight Immortals in the Clouds were Mystic Ancestor Experts, the Three Major Kingdoms and the surrounding smaller nations had all bowed to the Garo Kingdom’s lead.
A Mystic Ancestor Expert was the pinnacle of fighting power in this region, far beyond what Mystic Kings or Mystic Lords could achieve.
Despair filled the Sunward Consort’s heart. She abandoned all resistance and knelt limply on the ground.
Ji Ya had no intention of seizing the throne—after all, such a move was more trouble than it was worth. But she wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip away without gaining something. At the very least, she would squeeze some concessions out of them.
Things like tax revenues. Fees at the border checkpoints. And so on.
The Sunward Royal Family had previously bled the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce dry at every turn. Now, it was time to turn the tables.
As for the Divine Dream Palace, that sect transplanted from the Zhuzi Continent had no real reason to exist here. The only issue was the Divine Dream Dojo backing it.
That was the second most powerful force on the Zhuzi Continent after the Violet Forge Holy Land, with two Mystic Venerables in residence. Its influence was immense.
The Divine Dream Palace was merely a branch of the Divine Dream Dojo. Driving them out or wiping them off the map would invite retaliation from the dojo itself.
In theory, things shouldn’t escalate that far. Even so, even if they left the Divine Dream Palace untouched, the Divine Dream Dojo would eventually come gunning for the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce.
That was exactly what had happened in his previous life.
The Iaido Sword Venerable from the Divine Dream Dojo had shown up at their door. Aunt Mu, at the Mystic Lord Realm, hadn’t stood a chance. One clash, and she was gravely wounded, coughing up blood and teetering on the brink of death.
Mindful of the Merchant Alliance propping up the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce, he hadn’t dared finish her off. Instead, he’d opened his mouth like a lion, demanding twenty percent of the chamber’s shares as “compensation” for the Divine Dream Palace’s losses over the years.
Ji Ya had seethed with rage but had no choice but to consider it. Just as she was about to agree, word came that Yan Zhen had led people to annihilate the Cloud Heaven Palace. She rushed to the Garo Kingdom with Jin Tong and Yu Nu in tow, begging Yan Zhen for help. When she tearfully described Aunt Mu’s dire condition, she revealed her vulnerable side for the first time in front of others, sobbing with tears streaming down her face like pear blossoms battered by rain.
That was the first time Yan Zhen had taken her into his arms of his own accord, murmuring words of comfort. He followed her back to the Sunward Royal Capital and personally healed Aunt Mu.
When the Iaido Sword Venerable showed up again, Yan Zhen—armed only with Mystic Ancestor cultivation—had butchered the freshly advanced Mystic Venerable on the spot, mid-battle. He left just a wisp of remnant soul for the man to crawl back and report, shouldering the entire mess himself. That act sowed the seeds for the Violet Forge Holy Land’s targeting and hostility toward him in the Demon Extermination Operation and the Seven Continents Tournament.
Ji Ya’s heart had fallen completely.
It started with admiration. Then came the subtle flirtation during the healing. Followed by the heroic rescue from on high in the Sunward Royal Palace, fueling her dreams and affection. Until her heart belonged to him utterly.
Even recalling it now made Ji Ya’s cheeks flush. She quickly pulled her thoughts back and schooled her expression.
By then, the group had left the palace and boarded their exclusive carriage, heading back to the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce just as they had come. Only now, Ji Ya held a contract in her hands.
Not some ordinary paper agreement, but a spiritual contract imprinted with a thread of divine soul. Breaking it would inflict irreparable damage on the soul—and the burden fell solely on the royal family. Even if Ji Ya tore it up herself, she wouldn’t suffer any backlash.
“The royal family side is settled,” she said. “All that’s left is the Divine Dream Palace. What do you think we should do, Little Brother Yan Zhen?”
The one she’d called out, Yan Zhen, was lounging on the small bed inside the carriage. His head pillowed on Cai Lian’s lovely thigh, his robes parted to bare his broad chest as Yi Xian’er treated him.
He’d insisted it was just a minor wound. With his powerful Body Realm physique, it’d heal by tomorrow. But Yi Xian’er wouldn’t hear of it. She insisted on healing him right then and there.
Long Ying fretted even more, as if he’d contracted some terminal illness. She pouted, clearly unhappy.
Yan Zhen had no choice but to lie still and behave.
Her soft little hands, slick with ointment, roamed over his chest and shoulders. It felt rather pleasant, so he didn’t resist much. Instead, he closed his eyes and savored it.
At Sister Ji Ya’s question, he didn’t even open his eyes. “Just me and Long Ying won’t cut it,” he drawled lazily. “We’d need Cai Lian and Xian’er to step in. But Cai Lian’s pregnant with Yan’er, and Xian’er’s Fiend Body isn’t fully under her control yet. So for now, let’s pass.”
Ji Ya nodded. “Fair enough. We’ll leave it at that.”
Yan Zhen cracked his eyes open and flashed a carefree grin. “Don’t worry, Sister Ji Ya. The Divine Dream Palace won’t cause any trouble. I’ve planted sub-flames of the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Flame in those two elders’ mind seas. Unless something goes wrong, I’ve got them under control. I’ll give you a flame seal later. If they make a move, you trigger it and set those elders against each other—let them tear the place apart from the inside.”
Ji Ya’s beautiful eyes lit up. This move was beyond even what he’d done in her previous life.
“As expected of Little Brother Yan Zhen. You think of everything.”
“Heh heh… Hiss! Ow!” Yan Zhen suddenly let out a tomcat’s yowl. “Xian’er, why’d you press so hard all of a sudden?”
“Sorry,” Yi Xian’er said. “It was an accident. Let me make it up to you.”
With that, she leaned down and planted a deep, affectionate kiss on his lips. Then another. And another.
Yan Zhen blinked, caught off guard for a moment.
Even the dejected Long Ying stared in stunned surprise, her expression a mix of confusion and vague approval.
Only Cai Lian’s face darkened like a storm cloud. She glared daggers at Yi Xian’er, looking ready to devour her whole. “Thousand Fiends, you apply the ointment, fine. But cut the sleazy little tricks!”
Yi Xian’er didn’t bat an eye. “When you make a mistake, you apologize—that’s just common sense, right? Myriad Snake, you should be more humble. Don’t be so hung up on saving face all the time. It’s not right.”
Cai Lian’s fists clenched instantly. Kissing her husband right in front of her, then having the gall to lecture her?
“If you want to fight, just say so. This Sovereign would be delighted to beat you until you’re begging for mercy on your knees.”
Yi Xian’er seemed to have found Cai Lian’s weakness. She replied calmly, “You’re a pregnant woman. You shouldn’t be thinking about brawls all day—it’ll only worry Yan Zhen. Right, Yan Zhen? If I get pregnant later, I’ll stay home all proper and quiet, never stirring a step. I’ll be way more obedient than Myriad Snake.”
Her eyes added silently: Don’t you want to praise me?
Yan Zhen broke out in a sweat. He forced a smile. “Some exercise is good too—it depends on the person. Zi Ji prefers taking it easy, uh… Speaking of Zi Ji, I wonder how she’s doing in the Heavenly God Clan. Hope she and her daughter are safe.”
Sure enough, attention shifted instantly to Zi Xunyi. Everyone chimed in with a comment or two.
Yan Zhen quietly exhaled in relief. He racked his brains for a way to ease the bad blood between Cai Lian and Xian’er, but came up empty. Their grudge stemmed from their nations’ war in the previous life—hard to erase completely.
Sigh.
Yan Zhen set the worry aside for now. He casually pulled up the System Interface. System-chan’s evolution quests were two-thirds done. Only the last one remained: “Refine the Wind-Thunder Crystal Fire and advance to the Mystic King Realm.”
It was time to head back to the Holy Land Academy.
