Empress Dugu

In the pavilion of the Beast Taming Garden, Empress Dugu rested her chin in her hands, her eyes and brows smiling as though a goddess had descended into the mortal world.

Her hair was arranged in a Hibiscus Cloud Bun, and her face bore little makeup. Her brows curved like spring mountains, her eyes rippled like autumn waters.

She possessed both boneless allure and breathtaking beauty, yet without losing her dignified grandeur and noble elegance.

It was difficult to imagine such utterly different temperaments blending so harmoniously within one woman.

She wore a long black gown, its collar embroidered with phoenixes in Fire Silkworm Silk, while the hem bore the Divine Patterns of Great Qian.

A blue silk sash cinched her slender waist, accentuating Empress Dugu's delicately narrow figure.

At that moment, Empress Dugu smiled as she quietly listened to the Seven-Colored Phoenix Bird chatter away, without the slightest trace of impatience on her face.

"This woman is really beautiful!"

Several miles away, Wang Pan stared at Empress Dugu and sighed inwardly.

Wang Pan did not dare say it aloud and could only sigh in his heart.

A distance of several miles was nothing to true experts.

When the Empress traveled, there was no doubt that terrifying experts were concealed all around her!

The moment Wang Pan spoke aloud, even if his voice were as faint as a mosquito's buzz, it would be heard. His head would be gone the next instant!

"The Emperor rides me, so what's wrong with me riding the Empress? Nothing!"

With that thought, Wang Pan slowly emerged from the forest.

The next moment, Wang Pan sensed several terrifying pressures descend upon him, rendering him unable to move.

"Empress Mother, I am Your Majesty's mount, the Azure Ox that accompanied the birth of a Saint!"

Wang Pan hurriedly spoke, his voice reaching Empress Dugu's ears.

"Oh, it's you, little calf. Let him come over."

Empress Dugu gave an order to the empty air.

"Yes!"

A voice came from the void.

The pressure on Wang Pan then vanished, but he could still feel gazes fixed upon him from the void.

The moment he made any move that threatened Empress Dugu, he would suffer a Thunderous Strike!

Naturally, Wang Pan would not do anything so foolish. He stepped forward and arrived before Empress Dugu.

"Greetings, Your Highness. May Your Highness's immortal beauty endure forever, surpassing all other beauties."

Wang Pan knelt on the ground and paid his respects to Empress Dugu.

"Rise. Your mouth is certainly sweet, little calf."

Empress Dugu smiled radiantly, finding this Azure Ox quite interesting.

"Thank you, Your Highness.

Your Highness, Azure Ox isn't just sweet-talking you. Everything Azure Ox said is true, without a shred of falsehood!

In Azure Ox's eyes, Your Highness possesses beauty capable of toppling kingdoms, peerless grace unmatched beneath the heavens!

None before compare, none after shall match!"

Wang Pan's ox face was filled with sincerity as he shook his head and recited the words.

"Azure Ox, we humans have a saying: one who offers unasked favors is either a traitor or a thief."

Empress Dugu laughed so hard that her body trembled like a flower in the wind. This little calf was far from honest.

Lies came pouring from his mouth without pause.

Although the little calf's words pleased Empress Dugu—after all, what woman did not care about her appearance?

Still, Empress Dugu did not believe the Azure Ox was telling the truth.

After all, they were different species. How could their standards of beauty possibly be the same?

In the eyes of demonic beasts, only their own kind were the most beautiful.

"Your Highness is wise. Azure Ox knew he couldn't hide it from Your Highness.

Your Highness, Azure Ox wishes to enter the Library Pavilion and immerse himself in the classics and histories.

Of course, Azure Ox wasn't lying. Azure Ox sincerely believes that Your Highness possesses heavenly beauty."

Wang Pan's face was plastered with flattery.

Empress Dugu smiled, then beckoned Wang Pan closer.

Wang Pan immediately trotted over eagerly. Upon reaching Empress Dugu, he said nothing and simply stretched out his tongue, wildly licking her palm.

He was the very image of a Licking Ox.

"Giggle..."

The rough ox tongue swept across her palm, making Empress Dugu feel a little ticklish. She could not help laughing.

Wang Pan knew his limits and stopped after licking for a while. Seeing that Empress Dugu was not repulsed by his actions, he grew bolder.

He gently rested his ox head on Empress Dugu's thigh. She froze for a moment but said nothing. Then Empress Dugu softly stroked Wang Pan's furry head, and Wang Pan comfortably narrowed his eyes.

"Big stupid ox, you're not allowed to compete with Little Phoenix for Her Highness!"

The Seven-Colored Phoenix Bird, which had been happily pecking at Fire Spirit Fish, instantly ruffled its feathers at the sight!

It abandoned its food, flapped its wings, flew onto Wang Pan's forehead, and gave him a vicious peck!

Clang!

Sparks flew everywhere as a burst of sharp pain shot through Wang Pan's forehead.

Moo!

Wang Pan let out a roar of pain.

"Hmph, scared now?

Big stupid ox, let's see if you dare compete with Little Phoenix for Her Highness again!"

The Seven-Colored Phoenix Bird flew onto Wang Pan's Ox Horns, tilting its head with triumph filling its eyes.

Of course, the Seven-Colored Phoenix Bird had merely given Wang Pan a slight punishment.

Otherwise, given its strength, that peck would have done far more than simply hurt Wang Pan.

"Your Highness, save me!"

As the Seven-Colored Phoenix Bird stood atop Wang Pan's Ox Horns, strands of leaking Demonic Energy made Wang Pan sense great destruction and Great Terror. He did not dare move an inch.

He feared that if the Seven-Colored Phoenix Bird became unhappy, it would kill him outright.

Wang Pan looked pitifully at Empress Dugu, his voice full of grievance and misery.

"Little Phoenix is only joking with you."

Empress Dugu felt that this shameless Azure Ox had finally met his nemesis. She then beckoned to the Seven-Colored Phoenix Bird.

The Seven-Colored Phoenix Bird flew onto Empress Dugu's shoulder and gently rubbed against her cheek. It even cast Wang Pan a smug look, as if saying that it was Empress Dugu's favorite child!

Wang Pan's eyes reddened with envy.

"This is a subsidiary seal of This Palace's Phoenix Seal. With it, you may travel freely throughout the imperial city."

Empress Dugu took out a small seal and handed it to Wang Pan.

The seal was only the size of an egg and entirely bronze in color, forged from Divine Metal.

A phoenix spreading its wings to take flight was carved upon it. Countless formations and Runes intertwined, and the power contained within made even Wang Pan's heart tremble.

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Overjoyed, Wang Pan hung the small seal from his Ox Horns and bowed in thanks to Empress Dugu.

"Azure Ox will not disturb Your Highness any longer. When Your Highness has time in the future, Azure Ox will come visit again."

With the small seal perched on his Ox Horns, Wang Pan vanished in a flash.

"That little calf is so practical."

Empress Dugu did not know whether to laugh or cry as she sighed.

With Empress Dugu's small seal on his head, Wang Pan left the Beast Taming Garden without obstruction and headed into the imperial palace.

"Wait, where was the Library Pavilion again?"

Wang Pan suddenly stopped, confusion filling his Ox Eyes.

"You, little eunuch, come here. Tell me, where is the Library Pavilion?"

After wandering around for a while, Wang Pan directly caught a Little Eunuch and questioned him.

"Greetings, my lord!"

The Little Eunuch stood before Wang Pan, trembling so badly he was nearly in tears.

"Cut the nonsense. Do you know where the Library Pavilion is?"

Wang Pan glared with his Ox Eyes, and the Little Eunuch nearly fainted.

"Yes, yes!"

The Little Eunuch hurriedly nodded, afraid that if he answered too slowly, the great demon before him would swallow him in anger.

"Lead the way. This Purple Qi Fruit is your reward."

After thinking for a moment, Wang Pan spat out a purple fruit from his mouth, and it landed in the Little Eunuch's hands.