Chapter 129: The Ancient Emperor's Killing Intent

"Common mortals?"

The Ancient Emperor gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Before the mighty beings of that legendary world of immortals and gods, I fear we are no more than ants. And ants, dreaming of ascending the heavens? How utterly ridiculous!"

"Father is absolutely right."

Gu Shaobai nodded in agreement, paused, and continued, "Father, do you mean to say that the Spring and Autumn Sacred Kingdom has already obtained the blood essence of the Primordial Divine Phoenix contained within this tree?"

"It must be so." The Ancient Emperor nodded. "The blood essence of the Primordial Divine Phoenix has already fused into the body of the Princess of the Spring and Autumn Sacred Kingdom; otherwise, it would be impossible for her to possess the Divine Phoenix bloodline."

"But Father, how did the Empress of the Spring and Autumn Sacred Kingdom obtain that drop of blood essence?" Gu Shaobai asked.

"That is precisely what I do not understand." The Ancient Emperor shook his head, perplexed. "For all these years, I have been meditating beneath this Divine Phoenix Tree, hoping to obtain that very essence. I never imagined it had already been acquired by the Spring and Autumn Sacred Kingdom. If you hadn't spoken today, Bai'er, I fear I would have continued to sit under this tree forever."

"What a pity that is." Gu Shaobai gritted his teeth. "That wretch Donggong Qianxue—why should she be the one to possess the Primordial Divine Phoenix's blood essence? You are the Sacred Emperor of this Sacred Domain, overlooking the entire Yin-Snow Realm; you alone are qualified to possess such a treasure."

The Ancient Emperor looked at Gu Shaobai and suddenly gave a faint smile. "Bai'er, you are right. Only I have the qualifications to possess that blood essence. A mere girl from the Spring and Autumn Sacred Kingdom has no right to enjoy it."

As he spoke, a flash of murderous intent flickered in his eyes.

Sensing the killing intent in the Ancient Emperor’s gaze, Gu Shaobai felt a jolt of alarm. He thought to himself that his father had decided to kill the Princess of the Spring and Autumn Sacred Kingdom. He swallowed hard and asked weakly, "Father, why did you laugh just now?"

"Hahaha!" The Ancient Emperor laughed again. "Because this is something worth being happy about! Now that I know the blood essence is with the Princess of the Spring and Autumn Sacred Kingdom, I can simply demand it from her when the time comes. Otherwise, I might have been stuck meditating under this tree for who knows how long. Hahaha! Excellent, simply excellent!"

Gu Shaobai was slightly stunned, then followed with a pleased, faint smile. "Indeed, excellent!"

He stopped laughing and said to the Ancient Emperor, "Father, there is one more thing."

"What is it?"

"A man named Young Master Chen has arrived with the Spring and Autumn Sacred Kingdom," Gu Shaobai said. "I heard from Di Yi, the young master of the Demon Clan, that he is just an ordinary man, not a cultivator."

"And then?"

"The strange thing is that the Demon Ancestor and the elders of the Demon Clan are all respectful and subservient toward him."

"Is that so?" The Ancient Emperor frowned slightly. "The Demon Clan is an ancient and powerful race; it is impossible for them to be like this toward an ordinary man. There must be something behind this."

"Exactly, Father, that is what I thought as well." Gu Shaobai swallowed hard. "I suspect the Demon Clan might need something from this Young Master Chen, or perhaps he is a peerless expert who has deliberately concealed his aura."

"A peerless expert who makes the Demon Clan bow and scrape?" The Ancient Emperor shook his head. "The first possibility is clearly more likely."

"Father is absolutely right," Gu Shaobai nodded.

"Bai'er, go and investigate in secret what the Demon Clan is asking of this Young Master Chen." The Ancient Emperor’s gaze turned fanatical once more. If this Young Master Chen truly possessed any rare treasures, he would simply kill him and take them.

"As you command, Father." Gu Shaobai nodded and added, "And about the final assessment in three days—the strength of the Spring and Autumn Princess is already formidable. I suspect she will join forces with the Princess of the Southern Domain's Shenyue Sacred Kingdom. Since the Shenyue Princess is of the Spirit Clan, such an alliance would be even more terrifying. However, the other spot for the Sacred Emperor candidate must go to Mo Yinyue, the prince of the Molou Sacred Kingdom; it cannot go to any of the other three."

"Understood." The Ancient Emperor nodded, took out a small white jade bottle, and handed it to Gu Shaobai. "Inside is a pill called the Furious Ape Divine Pill. After taking it, one's strength will skyrocket for one hour."

"Thank you, Father." Gu Shaobai was overjoyed and hurriedly took the bottle.

The Ancient Emperor added, "The Furious Ape Divine Pill is a forbidden drug. It has side effects: the user's intelligence will drop significantly, becoming like that of an ape, far inferior to a human's."

"Hahaha!" Gu Shaobai laughed delightedly. "Father, that is exactly the effect I want. Once he wins the spot as a candidate, he will be a fool, and I can easily control him."

"Go now. Remember what I told you: investigate in secret the true reason why the Demon Clan is so subservient to this Young Master Chen." The Ancient Emperor waved him away.

"Rest assured, Father, I will find out the truth." Gu Shaobai bowed and strode away.

***

Demon Clan.

Chen Changsheng held Chen Die'er’s small hand and arrived at the main hall of the Demon Clan to find the Empress.

"Young Master Chen, Die'er, you have come?" Seeing the father and daughter, the Empress felt flattered and hurriedly stood up to welcome them.

"Empress, no need for such formalities." Chen Changsheng waved his hand with a faint smile. "I came to ask you: in this Sacred Domain, did you ever obtain something very special, which you then gave to the Princess after she was born?"

The Empress was sharp and immediately understood. She asked, "Young Master Chen, are you suspecting that the Divine Phoenix bloodline in Xue'er's body came from the Sacred Domain? That I brought it out and passed it to her?"

Chen Changsheng nodded. "I cannot think of any other possibility."

"There is something—a fruit pit." The Empress didn't hesitate. "Years ago, I found a fruit pit under an ancient tree and thought it was very unique, so I kept it. Later, after I married into the Spring and Autumn Sacred Kingdom and Xue'er was born, she happened to grab that pit during the 'choosing' ceremony. Donggong Fu polished it into a pendant and hung it around her neck. She still wears it to this day." Her eyes grew bright. "Young Master Chen, are you saying the Divine Phoenix bloodline in Xue'er came from that pit?"

Chen Changsheng nodded. "If you haven't given her any other items originally from this Sacred Domain, then it is certain that the bloodline comes from that pit. Empress, can you take me to see that ancient tree now?"

"Of course." The Empress nodded. "That ancient tree is on the main mountain, but that is no problem at all."