……
With Wang Ningxi's mere Celestial Realm cultivation, theoretically, he shouldn't withstand even a single slap from the Immortal Emperor.
But the Immortal Emperor only intended to vent some frustration and didn't actually plan to kill him, so the blow was restrained, merely sending him flying without causing any real harm.
Like a shooting star, Wang Ningxi flew out of Shuyue Pavilion. Still in mid-air, he hurriedly stabilized himself to avoid landing on his feet. Simultaneously, with a thought, he summoned back the puppet spider that had fled in panic, mounted it again, and hurriedly returned to Shuyue Pavilion.
Wang Fugui and Yun Mengyu exchanged sympathetic glances with their forty-seventh uncle.
Alas, for the sake of the clan, the forty-seventh uncle truly had it tough.
It's said that the burden on his shoulders is not light at all~
"Your Majesty, it's not that Ningxi is being clever," Wang Ningxi said with a bitter expression, as if he had suffered a great grievance, "It's just that this time, Ningxi has no choice but to enter the Immortal Dynasty~"
"A compelling reason?" The Immortal Emperor glanced at him sideways, "I'll give you a chance. If your so-called reason can move me, I'll spare you this time. At the very least, you haven't really set foot in it yet."
"Your Majesty, here's the situation." Wang Ningxi quickly recounted the predicament on the Great Gan defense line and the Domain-Crossing Flying Boat, "Immortal Emperor, I came representing Eastern Gan to seek assistance. I heard you have a damaged Domain-Crossing Flying Boat...""It seems there is indeed a broken boat."
The Domain-Crossing Flying Boat is a strategic resource, so the Immortal Emperor remembered it after a brief thought.
However, after recalling it, she changed her tone: "Even a broken boat is still my boat. Why should I give it to you?"
"Your Majesty makes a very good point." Wang Ningxi nodded, then lowered his voice, "However, I brought something special for Your Majesty on this trip, hoping to present it to you in private."
"Oh?" The Immortal Emperor lazily glanced at him, "Could it be that you want to bribe me? Whatever good stuff you have, just bring it out in public and see if it catches my eye."
"Your Majesty..." Wang Ningxi blinked, hinting with his tone, "You should really see it in private."
"Hmph, with your sneaky look, I'm curious to see what tricks you're playing."
The Immortal Emperor snorted coldly, waved her jade arm, and a surge of immortal spirit energy enveloped them and the puppet spider in a mist, isolating them from others' divine sense.
She looked at Wang Ningxi with a cold tone: "If the treasure you present doesn't satisfy me, I'll still break your legs."
She didn't have a good impression of this brat, Wang Ningxi.
The Immortal Dynasty painstakingly cultivated some top talents, only for him to poach them away with various underhanded methods. The fact that she didn't have him thrown out of the Immortal Dynasty on the spot was already giving Wang Shouzhe enough face.
"Your Majesty, this item isn't something I wanted to give you; it's from my Ancestor Grandfather." Wang Ningxi said with a helpless smile, "If you're not satisfied, could you not take it out on me?"
"Shouzhe sent it?" The Immortal Emperor's eyes brightened, showing some interest, "Then what are you waiting for? What good stuff has Shouzhe prepared? Quickly present it for me to see."
Wang Shouzhe was indeed a remarkable person; even the smallest things he let slip through his fingers were treasures.
"Your Majesty, please take a look at this jade pendant." Wang Ningxi took out a jade pendant from his storage ring, presenting it to the Immortal Emperor with a solemn expression, as if offering a precious treasure.
"Jade pendant?"
With a wave of her hand, the jade pendant landed in her palm.
But no matter how she looked at it, it seemed like an ordinary jade pendant, worth at most a few spiritual stones. She frowned and asked, "What's so special about this jade pendant?"
"Your Majesty, this is my Ancestor Grandfather's personal jade pendant." Wang Ningxi lowered his voice, "Back when our Wang's Clan was still poor, and there weren't many valuable treasures at home, this jade pendant was worn by my Ancestor Grandfather since he was a child, and he only recently took it off to give to you."
"Personal jade pendant?" The Immortal Emperor was startled, sniffing it carefully with her delicate nose, "It indeed carries Wang Shouzhe's lingering aura."
Instantly, even her sitting posture became a bit uneasy. She shifted her immortal body and glared at Wang Ningxi: "Why would your Ancestor Grandfather give me his personal jade pendant?"
"Well... Ningxi doesn't understand his deeper intentions either." Wang Ningxi blinked innocently, looking as if he truly knew nothing.
However, at this moment, he couldn't help but recall the scene when he obtained the Ancestor Grandfather's personal jade pendant.
It was an afternoon.
The weather was pleasant, with the sun shining just right.
Aunt Wang Lixuan was basking in the sun in Ancestor Grandfather's courtyard, slowly strengthening her turtle shell with calcium.
At that time, Wang Ningxi sneaked into Ancestor Grandfather's courtyard, using a grilled spiritual fish he cooked himself to entice Aunt Lixuan into stealing the jade pendant.
Throughout the process, he was on edge, fearing he would be caught.
That scene was truly a memory he didn't want to revisit~
But everything was for the rise of Great Gan and the Wang's Clan, Ancestor Grandfather, Ningxi can only apologize to you~~
"Wang Ningxi! Wang Ningxi!"
The Immortal Emperor's repeated calls interrupted Wang Ningxi's recollection.
She asked, somewhat restlessly, "I heard you're an expert in matters of love. Do you think your Ancestor Grandfather has any improper intentions towards me?"
The Immortal Emperor was usually straightforward, but at this moment, her bright and dignified face showed rare signs of bashfulness.
"Well, um..." Wang Ningxi hesitated, "Your Majesty, how could I, a junior, dare to guess Ancestor Grandfather's thoughts?"
"Hmph, I suspect he has ulterior motives." The Immortal Emperor snorted, raising her head, "Tell him not to overthink things, to focus on managing the Wang's Clan, and to contribute more to the human race. Stop engaging in these crooked ways."
"Yes, yes, Your Majesty, you make a lot of sense." Wang Ningxi nodded repeatedly, then glanced at the jade pendant, "So, should I return this jade pendant to my Ancestor Grandfather?"
"Forget it, forget it. I am a True Immortal, it's not uncommon for people to covet me." The Immortal Emperor, however, put the jade pendant away with a proud expression, "Shouzhe has made great contributions to the human race, I shouldn't chill his heart too much."
"Yes, yes, Your Majesty, you're right." Wang Ningxi nodded repeatedly, then glanced at her and weakly asked, "Then, about that broken Domain-Crossing Flying Boat...?"
"Take it, take it." The Immortal Emperor waved her hand generously, "It's been sitting there for two thousand years without moving. Since Shouzhe wants it, let it be of use."
"Thank you, Immortal Emperor." Wang Ningxi prepared to bow in "surprise and joy."
"Don't get off the spider, I haven't lifted your restriction."
"Yes, yes, Your Majesty, you're right, I won't get down."
As they spoke, the Immortal Emperor waved her hand, dispersing the mist.
She instructed the attendant, "Go clean up that broken Domain-Crossing Flying Boat and let Wang Ningxi take it back to Eastern Gan to make use of it."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The attendant accepted the order and left.
This scene left Yun Mengyu, who was also in Shuyue Pavilion, utterly bewildered.
She looked at the Ancestor, then at Wang Ningxi, utterly confused.
What kind of twist was this? Not long ago, the Ancestor was still threatening Wang Ningxi, and now, just like that, the Domain-Crossing Flying Boat was given away?
Only Wang Fugui seemed to see through the forty-seventh uncle's tricks.
Both of them were very smart, having grown up together and being very close, so with such clear hints, how could they not guess each other's thoughts?
He looked at Wang Ningxi with a complex and hard-to-understand gaze, even with a hint of reverence. Forty-seventh uncle, oh forty-seventh uncle, you truly are bold, much bolder than Wang Fugui.
Wang Ningxi glanced back with a faint look. That gaze clearly spelled "helplessness."
Do you think I have a way? How about you try next time?
No, no, no! I'd never do it!
Wang Fugui immediately turned his head away.
Wang Ningxi's matter was just an interlude. Once resolved, the Immortal Emperor waved her wide sleeve and ordered, "Bring Elder Tianji to see me."
The attendant left the pavilion, and shortly after, brought Elder Tianji and his group, who had been waiting in a nearby hall, into Shuyue Pavilion.
Wang Fugui, Wang Ningxi, and the others had never seen Elder Tianji before, so they immediately focused their attention on him.
He was an old man with white hair and beard, wearing a very retro-style robe. At first glance, he seemed ethereal, but upon closer inspection, his physique was extremely robust and burly. Even with clothes covering him, one could still see the clear muscle lines, exuding an endless explosive power with every move.
Especially his aura, which was quite peculiar. Compared to a human, he seemed more like one of those Void puppets at home, yet the divine sense fluctuations faintly emanating from his body were indeed human.
"Is this the puppet immortal body?" Wang Ningxi, skilled in artifact refining and puppetry, was very interested in puppet creations, watching intently.
It looked no different from an ordinary person~
Whether it was the skin or joints, they were almost indistinguishable from humans.
Its crafting technique was in line with the Shenwu Royal Dynasty's tradition. The guardian puppets the Wang's Clan obtained from the ruins also closely resembled humans, with those in the Void Realm almost indistinguishable from real people, albeit with somewhat plain appearances.
Elder Tianji noticed Wang Ningxi's gaze with a sidelong glance.
After giving him a kind smile, Elder Tianji then bowed to the Immortal Emperor: "Tianji, greets the Immortal Emperor."
Supreme Client?
Wang Fugui didn't know if this compensation was good or bad, so he looked at the Immortal Emperor.
"This compensation is acceptable. Currently, there are only four Supreme Clients worldwide; you will be the fifth." The Immortal Emperor nodded, "In the future, it will be much easier for your Wang's Clan to purchase supplies. As long as the Treasure Pavilion is willing to sell, you have the right to buy."
She paused, then added, "However, just a nominal title might not be enough~"
Elder Tianji and the others exchanged glances.
Isn't that enough?
At the prompting of his companions, True Lord Jintong stepped forward and bowed: "Your Majesty, may I ask what would be sufficient?"
"Add ten Immortal Spirit Stones, and we can let this matter go." The Immortal Emperor said boldly.
"Ten Immortal Spirit Stones?" Elder Tianji's lifelike face twitched, his tone incredulous, "Your Majesty, that's too harsh. Even for your Immortal Dynasty, giving up ten Immortal Spirit Stones would be a significant sacrifice, wouldn't it? At most, I'll add one more Immortal Spirit Stone, which is almost equivalent to the price of two ordinary Dao artifacts."
"Tianji, do you not know our Fugui's wealth?" The Immortal Emperor sneered, "He's a wealthy young master who can casually present Immortal Spirit Stones to please the princess. One stone? Who do you think you're looking down on? Nine stones, no less."
"Two stones, at most two." Elder Tianji resisted.
"Eight stones!"
"Three stones!"
The two True Immortal-level powerhouses began haggling over a few Immortal Spirit Stones like a marketplace.
Everyone present exchanged bewildered glances.
Ultimately, the price was set at five stones, and Elder Tianji refused to budge.
Five Immortal Spirit Stones are almost equivalent to one and a half Immortal Artifacts. This was a significant loss for the Treasure Pavilion.
"Five it is, then. I heard your Treasure Pavilion also has a broken Domain-Crossing Flying Boat, with most of its parts dismantled. Why not give it to Wang Fugui as well?" The Immortal Emperor, unable to bargain further, began asking for extras.
Elder Tianji, feeling helpless, said, "Your Majesty, even broken, it's still a Domain-Crossing Flying Boat, worth at least two Immortal Spirit Stones."
"Bah! A broken boat isn't worth that much. As the Immortal Emperor, is my request not worth a broken boat?" The Immortal Emperor's expression turned angry, her mid-stage True Immortal temper flaring up.
"Fine, fine, Your Majesty, your fist is big, you have the final say." Elder Tianji quickly conceded, feeling the pain, "Then it's settled. Your Majesty and Wang Fugui, and the Wang's Clan, must not bring this up again."
"That's more like it." The Immortal Emperor, satisfied, waved her hand, "Alright, it's settled. I'm tired, everyone can leave."
"We take our leave."
Everyone promptly and sensibly left, turning to exit.
At that moment, the Immortal Emperor said, "Wang Ningxi, stay behind."
Wang Fugui paused, casting a deep, meaningful glance at Wang Ningxi before leaving.
Wang Ningxi coughed, and after everyone had left, he lowered his voice and asked, "Your Majesty, did you have other instructions for this humble servant?"
"Since your Ancestor Shouzhe sent me a gift, am I someone who doesn't understand etiquette?" The Immortal Emperor said, taking out a jade token and tossing it to Wang Ningxi, "This is the [Immortal Emperor's Palace Supreme Pass]. Take it to your Ancestor, with this pass, he can move freely within the Immortal Emperor's Palace without reporting, including my [Resting Immortal Palace]."
Resting Immortal Palace?
Wang Ningxi's heart skipped a beat, suddenly feeling the jade token in his hand become much heavier.
He glanced at the Immortal Emperor, then at the jade token in his hand, and weakly asked, "Isn't that your sleeping palace, Your Majesty?"
"Nonsense, I often go into seclusion in my sleeping palace. I'm just worried that if Shouzhe has urgent matters to report, he won't be able to find me." The Immortal Emperor glared at him, "Don't mention this token to anyone."
"Yes, yes, this humble servant understands, this humble servant knows nothing." Wang Ningxi nodded repeatedly, his usually calm forehead now starting to sweat.
It feels like the situation is getting serious.
Will he be beaten to death by Ancestor Grandfather when he returns this time?
"Also, I have a [Great Teleportation Order] here, pass it to Shouzhe for protection." The Immortal Emperor pondered for a moment, then took out another jade token and handed it to Wang Ningxi, "This Great Teleportation Order is extraordinary, a level higher than the Void Escape Talisman that True Immortals can craft, roughly equivalent to a True Immortal's full-powered space teleportation technique for escape. I only have this one."
"With this, even if he encounters threats from True Immortals or True Demons, he has a chance to save his life."
"Gulp!"
Wang Ningxi swallowed, the ominous feeling in his heart growing stronger.
Immortal Emperor, Your Majesty, your actions increasingly resemble someone keeping a lover~~
Will he really be beaten to death this time?
……