CHAPTER 209: CHAPTER 116 EMPRESS: SHAMELESS LITTLE THIEF, DO NOT ACT RECKLESSLY! (9K)_2

"Alright."

Chen Mo nodded, not pretentious, and handed them two Golden Cores, "Consider this as your compensation."

Shen Zhixia reached out to take it, sweetly saying: "Thank you, Brother~"

Ling Ningzhi shook her head and said: "No need, this Enlightenment Golden Core is of little use to me, but I do indeed have something I desire... I’ll speak after leaving the Secret Realm."

"Alright."

Chen Mo turned and headed towards the Immortal Palace.

Ling Ningzhi looked at the green Daoist robe, curiously asking: "Since he is a Martial Artist, why disguise as a Taoist?"

Shen Zhixia tilted her head and said: "Maybe it’s because Brother Chen Mo has a special identity and doesn’t want to be recognized by others."

"Hmm... wait, you said his name is Chen Mo?"

Ling Ningzhi was stunned for a moment, incredulous: "Sky Scale Guard Guard Hundred Households Chen Mo?!"

Shen Zhixia nodded and said: "Do you two know each other?"

"..."

Ling Ningzhi was speechless for a moment.

Recalling Shen Zhixia’s description of her fiancé—handsome, solving major cases, capable of ranking in the top three of the Cloud Top Ranking... It all matched!

But this man is hardly a gentleman!

Public scandals in the Government Office during daylight, moreover with his subordinate, General, utterly outrageous and unrestrained!

Although she didn’t want to gossip behind people’s backs, she couldn’t let Shen Zhixia remain oblivious.

Ling Ningzhi hesitated for a moment and said: "Zhixia, do you know he has an unclear relationship with a person surnamed Li, the General..."

Shen Zhixia asked in confusion: "How does the Taoist also know this?"

Also?

Upon hearing this word, Ling Ningzhi frowned and asked: "You already know?"

"Yes."

Shen Zhixia blushed, softly saying: "But don’t worry, Elder, Brother and I are much closer than that General Li!"

She not only kissed Chen Mo but had even seen him intimately!

Ling Ningzhi examined carefully, confirming she hadn’t lost her purity.

It seems she knows, but not much...

"This girl is sometimes absurd, sometimes overly innocent... Forget it, I’ve said enough; any more would be crossing the line."

...

Chen Mo arrived in front of the Immortal Palace.

The vermilion gate was studded with gold nails, with a golden plaque hanging above, yet it was empty without words.

Creaaaak—

The gate slowly opened a crack, emitting radiant divine light.

Chen Mo reached out and touched the halo, and suddenly, his vision blurred, finding himself inside the grand hall.

The hall was immensely spacious, the ceiling high like an endless sky, engraved with intricate and beautiful cloud patterns and auspicious beast carvings.

On both sides, stood rows of vermilion pillars, each requiring multiple people to embrace, the red lacquer partially peeling, exposing the ancient wood grain within.

In front, a towering black stone platform rose from the ground.

Atop the platform was a dragon throne cast in gold, the dragon body spiraled upward, emanating an awe-inspiring majestic aura, as if sitting upon it would allow control of the entire Immortal Palace!

An ancient voice echoed:

[Refining the soul with Pill Sand opens the broad immortal path, the radiant essence fills the Dharma Image.]

[Seeking truth in the misty ravines, embodying the sword courage, traversing dangerous peaks while singing.]

[Finally, ascending Ling Xiao, to the Imperial Throne, Heaven and Earth bowing, praising my name.]

[Those who pass the final trial may ascend the throne and receive my inheritance.]

Chen Mo shook his head and said: "I refuse."

The air fell into dead silence.

After a moment, the voice echoed again:

[Those who pass the final trial may ascend...]

"Not ascending."

"..."

After a long while, the air in front rippled, and two items hovered mid-air.

They were a flame wrapped in amber and a jade scroll exuding an ancient aura.

As Chen Mo reached out to take them, suddenly everything went black, a strong sense of weightlessness came over him, and he was directly kicked out of the Immortal Palace, free-falling from the clouds.

The grand hall inside was empty.

Faintly, a long sigh seemed to echo.

...

...

A crowd thronged atop Cangyun Mountain, hundreds gathered, gazing at the stone monument emitting radiant glow.

After being eliminated from the Secret Realm, they did not leave immediately, but stayed to see who would receive the final inheritance.

As injured figures appeared one after another, learning that the subsequent trials were extremely perilous, with some losing their lives, the crowd felt somewhat relieved.

Although they did not receive the opportunity, at least they preserved their lives...

"The final realm was immensely grand, the thousand-level Heavenly Ladder directly leading to the Immortal Palace, in my opinion, it was surely the inheritance of the Ancient Emperor!"

"Though five can pass, such a divine technique only passes to one; surely only one can receive the ultimate inheritance!"

Listening to the third realm participants’ description, made one heart flutter, and someone couldn’t help but ask: "Who do you think can obtain this heaven-sent fortune?"

"In my view, it must be Zi Lianji from Martial Saint Sect!"

"I think so too, being the Heavenly Pride ranked second on the Cloud Top Ranking, apart from Shi Yun the monk, who else in the younger generation is his match?"

"Haha, the Cloud Top Ranking combines level and martial achievements, Zi Lianji has challenged at least hundreds of Martial Arts masters, while Fairy Qingxuan rarely reveals her skills, yet still ranks third, showing her strength is no weaker than Zi Lianji!"

"Tianshu Pavilion’s Daoist skills are profound; I also think Fairy Qingxuan is stronger."

"Not so, the last realm forbids cultivation technique operation, with the weak physique of Daoists, whether they can even reach the Immortal Palace remains uncertain."

"Haha, a group of short-sighted brutes, Daoist methods are not for you to fathom!"

"You bull-nosed one, who are you calling brutes?"

"I’m calling you!"

Quickly, the focus of the crowd’s argument shifted from the two Heavenly Prides, evolving into a map-based artillery between Martial Artists and the Daoist Sect.

The atmosphere was noisy and clamorously chaotic.

Suddenly, the air rippled, and a figure appeared out of thin air, with staggering steps.