The news that Divine Body Chen Shixian wanted to dissolve the engagement with Sunlight Body had caused a huge uproar, leaving the members of the Shangguan Clan looking quite grim.
But no one dared to say anything; after all, she was a Divine Body, with the entire Yuan Martial Academy standing behind her.
However, Guang Xiaoyu wasn't so lucky. After several assassination attempts that nearly took her life, she was so furious that she gritted her teeth and vowed to storm into the Shangguan Clan.
Thankfully, she wasn't the Demon Emperor; she was Guang Xiaoyu.
Chen Pingping also commented from the side, "Is the Second Heaven of the Condensed Soul Realm now invincible?"
The latter remained silent.
How frustrating!
I, the great Demon Emperor, have actually been ambushed by such a trivial family.
Hmph!
And you, Grand State Master, dare to lay a hand on my senior brother? Are you ready to bear my wrath?
She picked up Hei, the little black dog, and began her secluded cultivation.
Since the Abyss Sword Tao within Hei could reforge the body, strengthen the physique, improve the realm, as well as enhance her own Sword Dao, then… why not make good use of it?
「Time passed. Winter snow melted away, and summer flowers bloomed brilliantly.」
System notification: For accumulating 1,300 days of raising the old yellow ox, you have gained twenty years of cultivation, rewarded with twenty stalks of fourth-grade Spiritual Medicine, ten fourth-grade Spirit Pills, and a roll of ice silk.
It finally arrived!
Chen Pingping felt a weight lift from his shoulders. Waiting for a reward was too difficult!
Ice silk was a key material for sewing robes. It was a shame... it never appeared throughout the two years of accumulated raising.
But just one roll? Isn't that a bit too little?
System notification: For accumulating 500 days of raising Hei, you have gained ten years of cultivation, rewarded with three second-grade weapons.
System notification: Please complete the task of taming the Descendant of the Ancient Phoenix as soon as possible.
Chen Pingping: "..."
He glanced at the Earth Chicken basking in the sunlight not far away and truly felt there was something wrong with that chicken.
"Brother Shi Yi!" Chen Pingping called out.
Shi Yi, who was just passing by, stopped. "Ah? Brother Chen, what can I do for you?"
"Could you please bring me some boiling water?" Chen Pingping said.
"What do you need boiling water for?"
"To kill a chicken."
The Earth Chicken was stunned. It jumped up and clucked incessantly, CLUCK! CLUCK! CLUCK! Its message was roughly, You dare?
Shi Yi looked at it and immediately understood, chuckling, "Consider it done."
The opportunity had arrived.
Chen Pingping was going to kill the chicken, and I can secretly save this foolish Earth Chicken! This way, I can gain its approval!
Brilliant!
Shi Yi quickly gave orders, then picked up the Earth Chicken and said, "Brother Chen, I will go bleed it right now. Let's have a drink later."
"CLUCK! CLUCK! CLUCK!" The Earth Chicken shrieked, its eyes wide open.
SMACK!
But Shi Yi pressed it down with a slap.
Once out of Chen Pingping's sight, Shi Yi blinked and said, "Bro, did you hear that? He's going to eat you! The situation is critical, but not hopeless. If you follow me from now on, this prince can ensure your safety for life. What do you say?"
The Earth Chicken continued to squawk, its bean-sized eyes bulging wide.
As a Spiritual Beast, it had sharp senses; it knew whether Chen Pingping truly intended to eat it.
It's a ruse.
But this youngster is playing tricks, trying to force me to choose a master.
Damned Human Clan cultivator!
I am a descendant of the Ancient Phoenix! How could I acknowledge you as my master?
Impossible!
The Earth Chicken broke free from Shi Yi's grasp and attempted to dash out of the mansion with several flutters.
It was fast, leaving Shi Yi standing there dumbfounded.
But it couldn't break out. Chen Pingping had already ordered Lao Huang, the old yellow ox, to spread out its aura, enveloping the whole mansion. Regardless of how fast it was, it couldn't break through.
After colliding with the aura several times and feeling dizzy, the Earth Chicken cursed while looking for a way to escape.
Chen Pingping wasn't in a hurry and watched with a smile.
Lao Huang watched quietly.
Behind him, Shi Yi caught up, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Brother Chen, I'm sorry, it ran too fast, just now..."
"It's okay!" Chen Pingping said with a smile. "After raising it for so long, it's time to eat it."
Despicable! Shameless!
They forcibly took me from Salt Mountain, brought me into the Human Clan's territory, and now, in the imperial city of Stone Country, they're using such means to force me to submit!
How could I, a being with such a noble lineage, ever submit?
Never!
Seeing no hope of escape, the Earth Chicken turned around, ready to battle Chen Pingping for three hundred rounds.
However, Lao Huang kicked it away with one foot. The Earth Chicken's condition rapidly deteriorated, and it lay weakly in the corner, looking rather pitiful.
Shi Yi felt a bit of pity; after all, it was a Spiritual Beast! He immediately drew his sword. "I'll do the bloodletting. I'm good at this kind of thing."
"No need," Chen Pingping shook his head. "It's dead."
Shi Yi was taken aback.
The Earth Chicken lying by the corner indeed had stopped breathing, but it was feigning death.
Chen Pingping walked over, casually picked it up, and said, "I don't eat dead chickens, but... Hei does."
Earth Chicken: "..."
It's very proud, Chen Pingping thought. Ordinary methods might not be able to tame it. He reluctantly gave up, hoping that a contract of some sort would appear.
Additionally, he discovered that the Earth Chicken's feathers were incredibly tough and could hardly be damaged by ordinary weapons.
If they could be utilized properly, hehe!
After bringing the Earth Chicken back to the living room, Chen Pingping began plucking the feathers, murmuring, "Not enough to make a weapon, but perhaps enough for hidden projectiles. Yes, that'd be about right. Once Xiaoyu finishes her secluded cultivation, she'll have a good offensive tool."
Earth Chicken: "???"
"I'm not sure if the chicken blood is of any use, but... the meat can be given to Hei."
"..."
"Anything Hei doesn't finish can be thrown outside to feed the stray dogs." Chen Pingping smiled. "I'm quite the clever one."
WHIMPER! WHIMPER!
The Earth Chicken felt like crying.
「…」
The black abyss, endless Sword Dao.
Defeat after defeat, advancing, shattering, struggling, reforming again and again.
Guang Xiaoyu proved her determination with her actions. What does it matter if my aptitude is poor? So what if I lack innate talent?
I am meant to be the Demon Emperor!
Her realm was rising quickly, yet without any side effects, for she trod each step with utmost solidity, each built upon a profound foundation.
By now, she seemed to have transformed into the Sword Dao itself, or perhaps, had become a part of the abyss itself.
The feeling was beyond words.
BANG!
Her realm ascended once more, stepping into the Sixth Heaven of Condensed Soul.
But… it's far from enough.
When I was still at the Second Heaven of Condensed Soul, the Divine Body had already entered the Destiny Stage. While I'm improving, I'm sure the Divine Body is also cultivating diligently.
Guang Xiaoyu took a deep breath, looking into the depths of the endless abyss, where it was darker and the Sword Dao more terrifying. Each thread of Sword Intent emitted a daunting pressure.
Two voices echoed in her subconscious.
"Go! Would the renowned Demon Emperor fear a mere abyss? Go complete your body reformation and create your own Sword Dao! Only then can you defeat the Divine Body."
"Don't go. You are no longer the Demon Emperor, just an ordinary cultivator. You have no way of surviving in the abyss."
After the clash of consciousness, Guang Xiaoyu's face revealed pain, but she still made her choice and resolutely moved forward.