I Didn't See a Thing

Liu Chengfeng couldn't make sense of the ancient runes. He memorized them all, tossed them into his mind, and left them for the Celestial Body to process.

In his mind, the Sky Eye opened and the Heavenly Mound turned, rearranging all the runes into a new order and translating them into a cultivation method.

This time, the Celestial Body didn't charge him. The cultivation method appeared directly in his mind.

"Sage Scroll Innate!"

Liu Chengfeng was astonished. It was his first time seeing the original Sage Scroll Innate.

The Celestial Body had supplemented and repaired the Three Treasuries True Fire Heart Method and Sage Scroll Innate as it rearranged and translated them.

"What's the origin of this method?"

Liu Chengfeng looked at Little Li in astonishment. The Sage Scroll Innate method of the Reception Divine Treasury was incredibly precious.

Even Qiuchi Kingdom couldn't produce a method like this. Only Ancient Kingdoms and realms above them possessed one or two.

Little Li lifted her head proudly and didn't answer.

Unable to get an answer, Liu Chengfeng let it go and began cultivating.

The Three Treasuries True Fire Heart Method was a fire-aspected cultivation method. Practicing it not only let one absorb spiritual energy, but also devour the fire energy between heaven and earth to refine true fire.

Liu Chengfeng circulated the method round after round, absorbing spiritual energy and devouring fire energy.

Beneath the Imperial Capital's Spirit Vein Dojo lay the Fire Spirit Pool, a lake-sized Spirit Pool imbued with fire.

As he circulated the method, fire spiritual energy surged like a tide into the Reception Divine Treasury. The fire energy was then separated out and refined into true fire.

The true fire in the Reception Divine Treasury accumulated until the method refined it into a Fire Lotus.

Each petal of the Fire Lotus was formed from true fire, and each one was made from three kinds of true fire.

Agama True Fire, Prajna True Fire, and Lotus True Fire.

"Incredible."

Liu Chengfeng couldn't help exclaiming as he practiced. Whoever had created this method must have been an extraordinary genius.

With the Sage Scroll Innate method in hand, Liu Chengfeng practiced tirelessly.

After Liu Chengfeng advanced to the Reception Divine Treasury, Empress of Qiuchi had come to ask about him and consider what method he should practice.

"The Three Treasuries True Fire Heart Method?"

When Empress of Qiuchi learned that Liu Chengfeng had already begun practicing a method, she grew curious. The name sounded familiar, as if she'd heard it somewhere, but she couldn't quite remember.

"Where did you get this method?"

Empress of Qiuchi asked curiously. Liu Chengfeng was about to say Little Li had given it to him, but when he glanced around, he realized Little Li had disappeared at some point.

"I found it. Is that okay?"

It wasn't a lie. Little Li had tossed it in front of him, so he had indeed found it.

Empress of Qiuchi gave him a frosty glare.

Though she was cold as frost, she was so beautiful that even the imperial bearing that pressed down on others couldn't hide the alluring frostiness in her eyes.

"Your poison hasn't been purged yet. Let me help you."

Liu Chengfeng could tell that Empress of Qiuchi was still suffering from the poison.

Empress of Qiuchi hesitated, but didn't immediately refuse.

"Marsh Qi contains traces of poison. That's what you were poisoned with, right?"

"How do you know?"

Empress of Qiuchi looked at Liu Chengfeng coldly.

"My eyes aren't ordinary."

Empress of Qiuchi fell silent for a moment, then told Liu Chengfeng what had happened.

"I returned from Little Meng Mountain injured and was eager to heal. While circulating my cultivation method and absorbing spiritual energy, I let my guard down for an instant, and the poison took the opportunity to enter my body. By the time I noticed, it was too late."

At the mention of Little Meng Mountain, Empress of Qiuchi's gaze blazed, sharp enough to make Liu Chengfeng ache.

Liu Chengfeng's scalp prickled. Before they reached the God Tomb, he'd even touched her face.

Empress of Qiuchi merely snorted. She didn't fly into a rage.

"Do you know who did it?"

Liu Chengfeng hurriedly changed the subject.

"I don't know, but it's most likely Hong Qiang."

"Hong Qiang?"

Liu Chengfeng didn't know who that was.

"The First Elder of the Dragon Ascending Holy Sect. She's at the third stage of the Great Dao Divine Treasury, and she's covered in poison."

"She was in the Imperial Capital. She poisoned the Marsh Qi and planted the poison in you while you were off guard."

Liu Chengfeng's heart tightened. The Dragon Ascending Holy Sect had been coveting Qiuchi Kingdom for a long time.

"If it was her, she's surely hiding somewhere in the Imperial Capital."

"The Grandmaster Mansion?"

The Dragon Ascending Holy Sect's people had been hiding in the Imperial Capital for a long time. The Grandmaster Mansion was the most likely place.

"No. The Grandmaster Mansion is above the Fire Spirit Pool. It would be impossible to poison the Marsh Qi there."

Empress of Qiuchi was certain.

Liu Chengfeng thought of the Stone Lion. It knew who had poisoned her.

"Let me take a look at you."

Liu Chengfeng wanted to help Empress of Qiuchi purge the poison.

"Look at what?"

Empress of Qiuchi's expression darkened, and a chill washed over him.

"What do you think I can do? It's not as if I'm asking you to strip naked."

Liu Chengfeng gave an awkward laugh. Of course, that would be best.

A flush of red flashed across Empress of Qiuchi's face and vanished. Her gaze could have killed.

In the end, Empress of Qiuchi dispelled her protective cultivation technique and let Liu Chengfeng examine her.

A cultivator of the Reception Divine Treasury couldn't peer into the body of a powerful cultivator of the Great Dao Divine Treasury unless she allowed it.

Liu Chengfeng opened the Sky Eye and looked into Empress of Qiuchi's body. He found the poison hidden inside.

The poison was tiny, like threads, and had taken root in her divine treasury and meridians. It was so subtle that it was hard to detect.

"It's taken root inside you."

Liu Chengfeng was astonished. No wonder Empress of Qiuchi had never shown herself. The poison had suppressed her, and she couldn't afford to reveal her condition.

If her enemies couldn't see her, they couldn't be sure she was poisoned and wouldn't dare act rashly.

"I do have a way. Do you want to try it?"

After thinking it over, Liu Chengfeng came up with a way to purge the poison.

Empress of Qiuchi was silent for a moment, then agreed to let Liu Chengfeng purge it.

It was an act of trust. She wouldn't have agreed if it were anyone else.

As Liu Chengfeng withdrew his Sky Eye, he couldn't help sneaking a glance.

It was breathtaking. Her dragon robe was loose, yet beneath it lay a sight just as breathtaking...

At the sight, Liu Chengfeng felt a rush of blood to his head and nearly got a nosebleed.

A cold snort exploded like thunder. Frosty chill surged forth, nearly freezing Liu Chengfeng into an ice sculpture.

"What are you trying to do, murder your own husband?"

Liu Chengfeng jumped up in fright and retreated, putting distance between them.

Empress of Qiuchi glared at him murderously, her chilling aura pressing down as her divine art protected her.

"I didn't see a thing. I didn't see anything."

Liu Chengfeng gave an awkward laugh, feeling guilty. He'd stolen a glance, but now he really couldn't see anything.

"Focus on purging the poison. If you fail, I'll cut off your head."

Empress of Qiuchi was cold as frost. She turned and left, not letting Liu Chengfeng see the blush on her face.

So big.

Liu Chengfeng couldn't help thinking it to himself, grinning wickedly.

Purging the poison was no trivial matter, so they did it in a sealed chamber that no one could enter.

Stone walls surrounded the chamber, and a large pool brimmed with spiritual liquid.

"Now that's extravagant."

Liu Chengfeng couldn't help exclaiming at the pool filled to the brim with spiritual liquid.

It would take Cloud Rising Sect's Spirit Vein Dojo who knew how many years to accumulate a pool of spiritual liquid.

Empress of Qiuchi had an entire pool to herself in this chamber. That was the foundation of a Grandmaster-level power.

Empress of Qiuchi stepped into the Spirit Pool and submerged herself in it. She circulated her cultivation method, letting the spiritual liquid seep into her body to keep herself in peak condition.

"Let's begin."

Empress of Qiuchi sat upright, her expression composed.

Liu Chengfeng also entered the pool and absorbed the spiritual liquid. Pure spiritual liquid entering the body was no small matter.

Liu Chengfeng took a deep breath and opened his Sky Eye, seeing every trace of poison in Empress of Qiuchi's body.

"Give me a hand."

Liu Chengfeng shouted to the Golden Lotus Root, submerged in the Blood Sea Divine Treasury.

At Liu Chengfeng's urging, the Golden Lotus Root unfurled its roots, fine as strands of hair, and stretched them out.

"Open yourself to me."

Liu Chengfeng pressed both hands against Empress of Qiuchi's head.

Empress of Qiuchi hesitated for a moment, then opened her divine treasury.

She was placing her life in Liu Chengfeng's hands. This was no ordinary act of trust.

Liu Chengfeng urged the Golden Lotus Root to send its roots into Empress of Qiuchi's body, strand by strand, winding them around the poison.

The poison planted in Empress of Qiuchi's body had a life of its own. It tried to flee, but the Golden Lotus Root bound it fast.

The Golden Lotus Root's roots burrowed deep into her body and wound together. In a daze, Empress of Qiuchi felt as if she and Liu Chengfeng were entwined, bound tightly together.

Connected through the Golden Lotus Root, they were like one.

Worse still, she was pressed so close to Liu Chengfeng that her breasts nearly touched his chest.

The scent of a man washed over her. Empress of Qiuchi's heart raced and her thoughts grew unsettled, a rosy blush spreading across her fair cheeks.

The Golden Lotus Root had locked down the poison, but it couldn't draw it out.

If it did, the poison would enter Liu Chengfeng's body.

The poison was fearsome. Empress of Qiuchi could only barely suppress it. If it entered Liu Chengfeng's body, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Open—"

Liu Chengfeng gave a low shout, opened the Ancient Urn, and circulated his alchemy art to absorb Separation Fire.

"Open up—"

Liu Chengfeng shouted. Empress of Qiuchi didn't hesitate for a moment and opened her divine treasury wide.

She was putting her life in Liu Chengfeng's hands. If he made even the slightest mistake, her divine treasury would be ruined, and she'd die with her cultivation destroyed.

The Golden Lotus Root displayed its peerless wonder. It absorbed all the Separation Fire, which flowed into Empress of Qiuchi's body under Liu Chengfeng's urging.

The Separation Fire flowed into her body through the roots, binding the poison as well, then began to burn it away inch by inch.

The burning tormented both Liu Chengfeng and Empress of Qiuchi. It felt as if red-hot iron wire were boring into their bodies, scorching them until they sizzled.

Liu Chengfeng and Empress of Qiuchi both gritted their teeth, pressed tightly together.

As the Separation Fire burned, it left a unique mark of Liu Chengfeng inside Empress of Qiuchi. The Golden Lotus Root could connect them as one.

At last, the poison was burned away completely. Liu Chengfeng drew back the Separation Fire, sealed it in the Ancient Urn, and the Golden Lotus Root's roots withdrew.

"It's done—"

Liu Chengfeng and Empress of Qiuchi were both overjoyed. Every trace of the poison had been burned away, without a speck left behind.

The next instant, the atmosphere grew still and turned intimate.

The two of them were pressed tightly together. Empress of Qiuchi had withdrawn her protective divine art, and the spiritual liquid had soaked through her clothes.

The view was boundless, breathtakingly beautiful.

Empress of Qiuchi stiffened with nerves, her heart pounding like a startled deer.

Liu Chengfeng's heart burned. He reached out.

Indescribable.

With a bang, Liu Chengfeng was blasted away. Frost filled the air as a wave of chilling cold crashed toward him.

Even the Spirit Pool froze over. The terrifying chill threatened to turn Liu Chengfeng into an ice sculpture.

"Good heavens, are you trying to murder your own husband?"

Liu Chengfeng was scared out of his wits. Empress of Qiuchi had flown into a rage, and he was no match for her. He turned and ran, fleeing the sealed chamber.

You bastard—

Empress of Qiuchi was so angry her teeth nearly ground together. The next moment, a blush spread across her face, and she turned away in resentment.

Whether Empress of Qiuchi was angry or recovering, Liu Chengfeng didn't see her for the next few days.

It left Liu Chengfeng itching with desire. He wanted to see her, but couldn't.

You little minx, so high and mighty. Just you wait. I'll have my way with you later.

Being left out in the cold by Empress of Qiuchi left Liu Chengfeng grinding his teeth.

Liu Chengfeng calmed his mind and practiced his cultivation method. Now that he'd made progress, he began considering what martial art to practice.

Little Li hadn't given him any martial arts, and his Martial Aunt Ye Huijian had disappeared. Who knew where she'd gone?

Liu Chengfeng pondered whether he should ask Empress of Qiuchi for a few martial arts manuals to practice. He was just worried the little beauty would get angry and refuse.

Empress of Qiuchi still hadn't emerged from seclusion, but a big shot had arrived in the Imperial Capital—and he had come to propose marriage.

"Yi Yuzhou of the Dragon Ascending Holy Sect pays his respects."

The vice leader of the Dragon Ascending Holy Sect came to pay his respects to the Empress of Qiuchi—and to propose marriage.

When Yi Yuzhou arrived, the might of the Great Dao surged like a tide. Dao light appeared, and the spectacle was immense.

Behind Yi Yuzhou's procession, one Treasure Mountain Wild Ox after another pulled carriages laden with chests of treasure.

Though the chests had yet to be opened, they already radiated treasure light. No one could tell how many treasures were inside.

The vice leader of the Dragon Ascending Holy Sect had come to propose marriage, hoping to join hands with the Empress of Qiuchi.

This shocked all the cultivators in the Imperial Capital. He actually dared to propose to the Empress of Qiuchi?

When they saw Yi Yuzhou, quite a few cultivators nodded to themselves. He truly was worthy of the Empress of Qiuchi.

Yi Yuzhou looked like a middle-aged man. Dressed in water-blue robes, he was elegant and spirited, his aura flowing like a great river.

He was indeed a handsome man, with extraordinary bearing.

He was also a Great Dao Divine Treasury expert.

No wonder he had come to propose. He had the qualifications.