"You... you're back?"
Phoenix Emperor's voice trembled.
A thousand years of waiting, countless days and nights of torment.
The moment I smelled that familiar scent, it all turned into tears.
The waveband of the soul hasn't changed, that face...
Nothing has changed.
Phoenix Emperor was absolutely certain that the man before her was...
It was the Dragon God she had been waiting for for a thousand years!
However, faced with the deep, affectionate gaze of this stunning beauty...
Jiangnan's face remained completely unmoved.
He lowered his head slightly, looking at the Phoenix Emperor so close to him.
There was no tender embrace, nor any pleasantries exchanged after a long separation.
Jiangnan simply pulled a Memo Paper out of his pocket.
With a flourish of his pen, he slapped it onto the Phoenix Emperor's proud chest.
The Phoenix Emperor was stunned.
She looked down and saw a line of words written in a flamboyant style on the sticky note.
[No bride price.]
[Dowry: "Mortal Fireworks Painting" and "Mountains and Rivers Brush".]
After taking the photo of the note, Jiangnan looked down at her from his elevated position.
To get married or not?
Dead silence.
The entire hall fell into a deathly silence so profound you could hear a pin drop.
The Little Sparrow's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets!
The Dragon God actually wants to live off a woman!
But isn't this a bit too much?
They won't pay a single penny in betrothal gifts, yet they're outrageously demanding a dowry?!
However, to everyone's surprise...
Phoenix Emperor first stared in astonishment, then instead of flying into a rage, she sneered.
The laughter grew louder and louder.
In the end, he even laughed so hard he was shaking, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Hehehe... Hahahaha!"
Phoenix Emperor gazed at Jiangnan with fascination.
Yes, that's the taste!
This kind of unreasonable domineering behavior, this kind of arrogance that treats everyone like cattle and horses.
There is no other man like him in this world!
"You want 'Mortal Fireworks Painting' and 'Mountains and Rivers Brush' as your dowry?"
Phoenix Emperor stretched out her jade-like arm and ambiguously climbed onto Jiangnan's shoulder.
"Of course."
"If you marry me, this Central Forest Garden will be yours, those two Spirit Artifacts will be yours, and so will I..."
"It's completely yours too."
"What do you want to do..."
"Just do what..."
She tiptoed and pressed her face close to Jiangnan's ear.
"Just say one sentence... you love me."
With a soft, fragrant body in his arms, any normal man would probably have lost control by now.
Jiangnan was a normal man, and he could not deny that the Phoenix Emperor before him was indeed extremely beautiful.
Her figure is impeccable, and her noble yet delicate temperament is enough to make any man's [little head] surrender instantly.
But.
Jiangnan's Big Head, however, remained absolutely calm and rational.
He has no memory.
If he were to utter insincere sweet nothings to a woman who is deeply in love with him, it would be hypocritical of him to do so for the sake of two pieces of equipment.
Although he was cunning and ruthless in Jiangnan...
Arrogant...
Ruthless.
But he disdained to deceive a woman's feelings.
So Jiangnan reached out and pushed the Phoenix Emperor off his shoulder.
He looked directly into the Phoenix Emperor's eyes without flinching and spoke calmly.
"No."
"Because I have amnesia."
These two sentences were like two sharp knives, instantly piercing the Phoenix Emperor's newly revived heart!
The smile on Phoenix Emperor's face froze instantly.
"What... what did you say?"
She stared at Jiangnan in disbelief, her steps faltering as she backed away.
Amnesia? You've forgotten me?! Impossible!
"You're a liar! How could you possibly forget me!"
"Do you know how long I've waited for you in this dark and gloomy Soul Return Town?!"
"A thousand years! I've lost count!"
Phoenix Emperor's emotions began to spiral out of control, its oppressive aura surging through the hall, causing the surrounding furnishings to shatter.
Jiangnan stood still, unmoved.
He could hear the pain and despair in Phoenix Emperor's words, but he simply had no memory.
"Feel sorry."
Jiangnan repeated those two words again.
If you can't give the other person what they want, then there's no need to give them pointless hope.
Upon hearing those two words, Phoenix Emperor's psychological defenses completely collapsed.
"Roll!"
She pointed to the entrance of the main hall, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Take your fake apology and get out of here!!!"
"Yes, sir, please calm down! Please don't upset yourself!"
Little Sparrow rushed over to support the swaying Phoenix Emperor, constantly patting her back to help her catch her breath.
And what about Jiangnan?
Upon hearing the words "get out," he didn't hesitate for even half a second, turning around and walking towards the exit of the hall.
It doesn't matter.
He came here with no intention of winning through back channels.
Since the negotiations have broken down, we can simply hold the next selection competition.
We'll just crush this wretched town from top to bottom with sheer force.
"Tap tap tap..."
Listening to the footsteps fading into the distance.
Supported by the Little Sparrow, the Phoenix Emperor raised its head and looked at Jiangnan's resolute back, trembling with anger.
"He... he really left?!"
Phoenix Emperor could hardly believe her eyes. This heartless man! She had only cursed him in the heat of the moment.
He didn't even try to coax her; he just started pulling the eagle...
Wait, they just turned and left without a second thought?!
"Lord Phoenix Emperor! Please calm down!"
Little Sparrow, sweating profusely, quickly offered her analysis.
"My lord, please think carefully! That person might really have lost their memory!"
Have you forgotten?
"Thousands of years ago, the Dragon Clan bloodline of the Dragon Xia Imperial City collectively wailed, and everyone witnessed the fact that his Divinity shattered!"
"With the Kindling Flame Realm and the Barbaric Realm completely cut off!"
"He must have paid a terrible price to be able to be reincarnated and stand here again!"
Little Sparrow pointed at Jiangnan's departing figure and said loudly.
"Look at his aura now; although it's sharp, it's not even one ten-thousandth of what it was at its peak!"
"He lost his power, he lost his memory, but these are the prices he paid to come back!"
These words were spoken.
Phoenix Emperor's devastating emotions froze instantly, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head, and she calmed down completely.
Yes! The deadlock from back then was irreversible!
He can reverse life and death, returning to himself, even if he has only forgotten himself.
Isn't this already the greatest miracle?!
How could I possibly ask for so much?
Just now... just now I actually told him to get lost?!
"Damn it! What have I been doing?!"
Phoenix Emperor slapped its forehead in frustration and quickly nudged the Little Sparrow beside it.
"Quick! Go stop him!"
"Don't let him leave Central Forest Garden!"
"Make room for him in the Perching Phoenix Pavilion, the highest-class pavilion in Central Forest Garden, and take him there to stay!"
Little Sparrow breathed a sigh of relief and nodded happily.
"Yes! This servant will go right away! I guarantee I'll bring the dragon..."
"Let's coax that gentleman back to you!"
After saying that, Little Sparrow lifted her emerald green skirt and chased after the palace like a gust of wind.
"My lord! My lord, please wait! Please wait for me!"
Along the long corridor of Central Forest Garden, Little Sparrow caught up with Jiangnan, panting heavily.
She opened her arms, blocking Jiangnan's way, and said urgently.
"My lord, the Phoenix Emperor has decreed that the highest-ranking [Perching Phoenix Pavilion] in Central Forest Garden has been vacated for you!"
"Please rest here; nowhere outside is as comfortable as this!"
Jiangnan stopped in her tracks, her face remaining completely expressionless.
He glanced at Little Sparrow indifferently, his voice cold.
"No need, I'll just stay somewhere else."
After saying that, he tried to walk around the Little Sparrow and continue walking out.
There are too many rules here, and the yandere ghost's emotions are too unstable.
For Jiangnan who only value efficiency and profit, living in such a place is simply asking for trouble.
Seeing that this stubborn old man was about to leave again, Little Sparrow was so anxious that she stomped her feet.
Left with no other choice,
She could only bite her lip and, mustering her courage, try to play the emotional card.
"Grown ups!"
Little Sparrow looked at him with her big, pitiful eyes, "You... you really don't remember me at all?"
Jiangnan's journey has come to a halt once again.
He turned his head, his eyes scanning the maid up and down, and asked in a flat tone.
Should I remember?
Little Sparrow paused for two seconds, then instead of getting angry, she burst out laughing.
"Sir, you've really gone too far with your words!"
Little Sparrow covered her mouth and chuckled, but her eyes held a mixture of nostalgia and excitement.
"However... your temper is exactly the same as when you were young!"
"Never utters a single wasted word; if I can take action, I won't waste any more time on words, hehe!"
While laughing, Little Sparrow suddenly grabbed Jiangnan's wrist and forcibly pulled him to turn around.
Heading towards the location of [Perching Phoenix Pavilion].
"Since you've forgotten, sir, then I'll tell you as we walk!"
"Tell me about how we met back then!"
Jiangnan raised an eyebrow slightly.
He glanced down at his wrist, which was being held, and surprisingly did not shake it off.
He was actually curious about his memories of his past life.
So, following Little Sparrow's lead, he walked side by side with her in the corridor, listening to her tell her story.
"My lord, that goes back to a very, very long time ago..."
"This was before the Dragon Xia Imperial City moved from the [Kindling Flame Realm] to the [Barbaric Realm]."
The Little Sparrow's voice softened, and her gaze drifted into the distance.
"At that time, I was just a five-year-old girl."
"I live in a place called Bluestone Town, located on the outermost ring of the imperial city."
"I live the most Ordinary Sequence days with my parents every day."
"Until one day... war broke out."
"That was an internal strife that nearly brought down the entire Dragon Xia Imperial City."
"And the instigators of the rebellion were the [Ancient Moon Evil Dragon Clan], who possessed the highest bloodline among the Dragon Clan."
"Among the strongest members of their clan, there is an extremely low probability that they will be born with a mutated physique [Hand of the Moon] that has no upper limit to strength."
"That was a right arm radiating purple light and covered with countless mysterious runes!"
"It can convert any form of energy in the world into the destructive power it needs!"
"And even rarer than that is the purple left eye [Eye of the Moon]!"
"As you know, the Supreme God opened the door to physical strength for the Dragon Clan, but closed the window to [their domain]."
"Dragon Clan possess invincible physical bodies, yet they cannot awaken their domains."
"And the possessor of the [Eye of the Moon] is the only exception among the Dragon Clan capable of opening a domain!"
"For this reason, this lineage has always been regarded as heretics within the Dragon Clan."
Jiangnan listened quietly, and although there were no images in his mind, he instinctively felt familiar with this setting.
Originally, everyone was living in peace.
"Until the heir of the Ancient Moon Evil Dragon Clan, Guyue Haoyi, when he was eighteen years old..."
"He actually activated both the [Hand of the Moon] and the [Eye of the Moon] simultaneously! He's become a once-in-a-millennium genius!"
"But... on the very second night after his awakening, a tragedy occurred."
Little Sparrow bit her lip, her voice trembling.
"This peerless genius's Hand of the Moon and Eye of the Moon..."
"They actually dug it out of my body while I was sleeping!"
"Dragon King Guyue Haotian looked at his son, now a cripple, and was filled with unbearable grief."
"Just then, his younger brother Guyue Da'ai, provided some information."
He said it was the Ancestor Dragon Emperor who sent people to do this!
"Because the Ancestor Dragon Emperor Envy Guyue Haoyi's talent, believing that the Ancient Moon Evil Dragon Clan had produced a second talent comparable to his."
"This will inevitably threaten his throne in the future!"
"Guyue Haotian was enraged and stormed the palace, causing a great disturbance."
"The Ancestor Dragon Emperor publicly denied this, admitting that he was indeed somewhat Envy of the young man's talent."
"But it wouldn't stoop so low as to gouge out someone's hands and eyes, and we promised to thoroughly investigate this matter and give the Gu Yue Clan an explanation."
"But... Guyue Haotian, who had already lost his mind, simply didn't believe it!"
He believed that the Ancestor Dragon Emperor was extremely hypocritical and that his claims were mere sophistry after being exposed.
"After being expelled from the main hall by the Ancestor Dragon Emperor, he returned to his fiefdom and immediately assembled a large army."
"We are preparing to completely break away from Dragon Xia Imperial City and establish our own independent entity!"
The Little Sparrow's pace gradually slowed down.
"To vent his hatred, Guyue Haotian prepared a grand gift for the Ancestor Dragon Emperor before leaving."
"He intends to massacre several border towns, to avenge his son with blood!"
"And Bluestone Town, located on the outer ring..."
"Nature naturally became their target."