Volume 9, Chapter 577 – The Terrifying Tianjizi

“What? You need spiritual herbs? Which ones?”

Lu Yao agreed immediately, without a shred of hesitation.

Ding Yu’s lips curved in a slight smile. He then pulled out a list he had long prepared and handed it to Lu Yao, leaving behind a Thousand-Mile Communication Tube as well. “These are the herbs I need. Once you’ve prepared them, contact me.”

Having said that, Ding Yu walked away with great “elegance”.

Lu Yao didn’t look at the list. Instead, she locked her senses onto the departing Ding Yu, wanting to see this fellow’s true nature. If his words were genuine, she might uphold the basic principle of keeping her word. But if he was simply cheating her out of valuables, then sorry, she was no saint, but a zombie.

Ding Yu left the inn and strolled leisurely down the street. Because he carried a treasure that blocked divine sense, he wasn’t worried about being spied upon.

Yet Lu Yao was completely unaffected. Her perception was overwhelmingly strong; through subtle air currents and spatial ripples, Ding Yu’s every move still reached her continuously.

Over the course of the day, Ding Yu sought out dozens of people to “cooperate” with, offering them the Tianjizi’s trail in exchange for the items he demanded.

Lu Yao wasn’t angered. He had never promised to cooperate solely with her, so technically he hadn’t broken any deal.

‘This man’s greed knows no bounds.’

Qi Huang couldn’t help but scold.

Ding Yu didn’t return to his residence until sunset. Qi Huang immediately noticed something strange, the plaque on the mansion gate didn’t read “Ding Residence”, but “Long Residence”. Clearly, “Ding Yu” was a false name.

“Ding Yu” returned home, ordering the servants to set out a lavish spread of food and wine. Today’s harvest had been plentiful, and he intended to reward himself.

“Master, have you done what Cousin asked of you?”

As they ate, “Ding Yu’s” wife dismissed the servants and asked in a low voice.

“Of course. I leaked the information to dozens of people, including quite a few experts in the Earthly Immortal Realm. And I even managed to squeeze some reward out of them along the way.”

Ding Yu grinned smugly.

“You even asked for payment?”

His wife looked surprised.

“Nonsense. I’m no saint. Why would I run errands for them for free?”

Ding Yu replied irritably.

Rеαd оո ΚаtReaԁіngСаfe

“No wonder you look so pleased. But you didn’t expose your real identity, did you?”

She pressed him again.

“Of course not! Do you take me for a fool? I told them my name was Ding Yu, and I’m wearing clothes made from Nine Nether Demon Cat fur. They couldn’t tail me even if they wanted to.”

“Ding Yu” was positively smug.

‘So even the Immortal Realm has Nine Nether Demon Cats?!’

Qi Huang was astonished.

“That’s good. The matter of the Tianjizi’s whereabouts is of the utmost importance. The Immortal Emperor strictly ordered it kept secret, we must not leave behind the slightest trace.”

His wife finally let out a sigh of relief.

“What are you afraid of? Didn’t Cousin say so himself? This matter was entrusted to him personally by the Immortal Emperor. So what’s there to fear?”

Ding Yu’s tone was dismissive.

‘The Immortal Emperor himself ordered his men to spread the Tianjizi’s whereabouts?!’

Qi Huang nearly lost her composure. Even in her current soul state, a chill ran down her back. If this was truly the Immortal Emperor’s doing, then what was he planning?

“It’s not so simple. What if he’s just trying to line his own pockets?”

His wife still looked cautious.

“You’re overthinking it. Yes, he’s greedy, but he’s not suicidal. Without the Immortal Emperor’s permission, would he dare leak the Tianjizi’s trail? I think the Immortal Emperor is playing a much bigger game.”

Ding Yu said with self-satisfied certainty.

“A big game? You mean he’s using this as bait to lure in those who seek the Tianjizi and then slaughter them? But they’re only asking for a prediction of fortune and misfortune. Hardly a capital offense. I say it’s simply your Cousin being greedy, secretly selling the Tianjizi’s whereabouts behind the Emperor’s back.”

His wife insisted.

And so, husband and wife argued back and forth, neither able to convince the other.

Lu Yao withdrew her divine sense. From what she had gathered, at least most of what “Ding Yu” said was true. The only lie was his own name.

Rеaԁ οո КаtRеαԁiոgСafе

Of course, that didn’t mean the lead itself was trustworthy. After all, this information came from someone close to the Immortal Emperor. Was it just a greedy cousin, or was the Emperor himself laying out a grand scheme? No one could say.

But for now, Lu Yao had no choice but to treat a dead horse as a living one. She needed to meet this “Cousin” first. Only then could she determine truth from lies.

With that in mind, Lu Yao finally unrolled the list.

Qi Huang, forced to look as well, was filled with disgust. This “Ding Yu” was asking far too much, more than ten types of herbs and elixirs, each surely priceless.

Still, Lu Yao went to the apothecaries to investigate. As Qi Huang had expected, every single herb on the list was exorbitantly expensive.

Lu Yao sank into thought. If she tried to collect them herself, it would take far too long. She’d first need to learn each herb’s form and habitat. Much too troublesome. Better to spend heavily and buy them outright.

Decision made, Lu Yao hurried from the apothecary. After all, she had dozens of competitors by now.

Back at the inn, she expanded her perception, not only over Budong Planet, but also across tens of thousands of surrounding planets. She searched inside and out. Unfortunately, this was the heart of the Wushuang Immortal Kingdom, where the planets were barren and devoid of treasures. Finding wealth that way was impossible.

Lu Yao abandoned that approach, shrinking her perception down to the capital instead, seeking any path to quick riches. To her surprise, she found one: the Immortal Palace had posted many bounty notices, calling for the elimination of cultivator bandits entrenched on various planets.

Without hesitation, Lu Yao accepted them all and set off.

In the days that followed, she rampaged across the cosmos, wiping out every bandit named on the bounties. Before she even collected her official rewards, she had already struck it rich, their possessions became hers by right of conquest.

Soon after, Lu Yao returned to Budong Planet, purchased all the required herbs, and handed them to “Ding Yu”.

True to his word, Ding Yu led her to meet his cousin.

That “Cousin” was covered head to toe, likewise clad in Nine Nether Demon Cat fur, his divine sense completely shielded.

“Right now, Yu Qian is hidden by the Immortal Emperor on Lanhuan Planet, at the border of the Wushuang Empire. The information is absolutely reliable.”

The cousin gave his lead.

Lu Yao rose and left, but she didn’t depart for Lanhuan immediately. Now that she had met this “Cousin”, she could verify him first. To rush headlong would be sheer folly.

She locked her senses onto him and began a patient surveillance.

Midway, Ding Yu’s cousin shed his disguise and strode directly into the Immortal Palace.

Patiently, Lu Yao watched as his identity was revealed, he was none other than Li Wei, commander of the Imperial Palace’s Forbidden Army.

Rеаⅾ οn KatReаⅾіոɡСafe

Qi Huang was unsurprised. As a trusted aide of the Emperor, he was bound to hold a high position.

Toward evening, Li Wei made an unexpected visit to the Empress’s chambers, claiming to have official business.

The Empress dismissed all attendants, then reclined upon her bed in revealing attire to “receive” him. Her mature charm lingered strong, voluptuous curves half-concealed, much skin exposed, radiating temptation.

“I wonder, Commander Li, what official matter you have to report?”

The Empress asked with a sultry gaze.

“To serve Your Majesty’s needs, that counts as official business, doesn’t it?”

Li Wei boldly approached the bed.

“Don’t… Aren’t you afraid the Immortal Emperor might return suddenly?”

The Empress protested half-heartedly.

“He won’t be returning.”

Li Wei seized her jade hand without fear.

“What do you mean?”

The Empress frowned.

“According to the Tianjizi’s prophecy, his end is near. This tribulation, he won’t escape it.”

Li Wei dropped the revelation like a thunderclap.

“What?! The Tianjizi? You’ve met Yu Qian? Wasn’t she hidden away by the Immortal Emperor? You know where she is?”

The Empress’s phoenix eyes widened in shock.

Qi Huang instinctively focused, her soul taut. Could this be even more complicated than she imagined?

“How could I know her whereabouts? You know what the Emperor is like. Even as his closest man, he’d never tell me such a secret.”

Li Wei gave a self-deprecating smile.

Reαԁ оn KаtRеαⅾiոɡСаfе

“Then how did you learn this?”

The Empress asked in confusion.

“It was her messenger who told me.”

Li Wei began recounting: “From birth, Yu Qian knew her own destiny as the Tianjizi. She foresaw her future long ago. She knew she would be confined on Lanhuan Star, so she left behind a messenger. A few days ago, that messenger delivered the clue to me.”

‘The Tianjizi is this terrifying?!’

Qi Huang was dumbstruck. The Tianjizi could foresee her own future, and leave preparations for it.

“Even so, why tell you? Do you have a reason to save her? Or the ability?”

The Empress was still baffled.

“True, I have no reason to save her. But I do have reason to kill the Immortal Emperor.”

Li Wei’s eyes gleamed with malice.

“Why?”

The Empress asked, feigning ignorance, though her expression stiffened slightly.

“Why else? To claim you completely. She foresaw our affair long ago and knew I would desire the Emperor’s death!”

Li Wei explained further.

“She even foresaw that between us?”

The Empress was more shocked still. Then she asked, “But she must also know you cannot kill the Emperor.”

“I can’t. But someone else can. I met her this very morning.”

Li Wei sneered.

‘Could he mean Lu Yao?’

Qi Huang felt her very soul go numb with dread.