The new ruler of the Hundred Spirit Continent, who had taken the throne less than a year ago, was the son of Qin Beixuan, Sect Master of the Northern Profound Sect, and Liu Baihua, Sect Master of the Hundred Flowers Sect.
His father was an Early Immortal Grade Heavenly Sovereign, and his mother was a Late-Stage Spirit Grade Heavenly Sovereign.
By all rights, with a background like that, he should have been heaven's favored child.
But in reality, he was a lump of mud that refused to be shaped.
Though the King of Hundred Spirits looked to be in his twenties, he had actually been cultivating for a hundred years.
With poor natural talent, he had been stuck at the Seventh Grade Sovereign level for decades, unable to break through.
He was extravagant and debauched, had a weakness for women, and knew no restraint. He had ruined his health at an early age.
Even his Lower Earth Sovereign cultivation had been forcibly raised with high-grade spirit pills, leaving his foundation shaky and his combat strength feeble. He would likely never break through again in this lifetime.
The two Heavenly Sovereigns had tried every means to help their son, but he remained beyond saving, and they were bitterly disappointed in him.
To spare themselves the aggravation of having to look at him, they sent two Grand Perfection Earth Sovereigns to protect him and dispatched him early to govern the Hundred Spirit Continent, a territory under their jurisdiction, where he was given the title King of Hundred Spirits.
The two of them were already considering having another child. Their firstborn was a lost cause, so they would have to start over with a new one.
That said, although the King of Hundred Spirits was no longer valued by the two great super forces, he was still the only child of a pair of Heavenly Sovereigns. If he were ever in danger, his parents would certainly not stand by and do nothing.
As a result, within the sect, he was the sort of person kept on a high shelf and left alone.
Clad in a golden robe, the King of Hundred Spirits rested a hand on the jade belt around his waist. A satisfied smile tugged at his lips, but he still waved a hand with studied restraint. "Enough. Stop."
"Come to think of it, though I've been governing this territory for nearly a year, this is my first time receiving all you esteemed ministers. Today, we must drink our fill. No one leaves until they're drunk!"
At his words, the musicians and dancers beneath the hall immediately withdrew like a receding tide.
As the various faction leaders came forward to flatter him and amuse him, the King of Hundred Spirits made a show of maintaining his image. For a time, the palace was filled with warmth and laughter, and host and guests alike enjoyed themselves.
But it wasn't long before the King of Hundred Spirits' true nature was laid bare. Right there in the hall, he began discussing a grand search for beautiful young women across the entire continent to fill his harem.
The leaders of the various factions exchanged glances in private, silently groaning. They agreed outwardly, but each resolved to hide the women of their own households as soon as they got home.
Seeing how warmly received the first "policy initiative" he had formally issued since ascending the throne had been—how it had won the people's hearts and earned the support of the masses—the King of Hundred Spirits was overjoyed. In his delight, he downed several cups of spirit wine.
Before long, he felt a little tipsy.
Perhaps it was the drink, but when the King of Hundred Spirits looked up, he saw an unparalleled beauty in white, as pure as snow, standing alone in a corner of the great hall.
She was even smiling and beckoning to him with "tender affection."
The only flaw was that a mysterious man stood beside her.
The two stood rather close. At a glance, it was obvious they were intimate, perhaps lovers.
"A beauty, an unparalleled beauty!"
The King of Hundred Spirits instinctively rubbed his reddened, drunken eyes and muttered.
I have a flaw. I love beauty.
Standing with their hands clasped behind their backs, the two imposing black-clad elders behind him—powerful guards sent by the Northern Profound Sect's master—followed the King of Hundred Spirits' gaze.
In an instant, their bodies shook violently. Their pupils contracted, and their eyes filled with terror.
Who was this fiend? How had he evaded their senses and appeared in the hall without a sound?
"Your Majesty, be careful! Please retreat at once!"
The two Grand Perfection Earth Sovereigns' expressions changed dramatically. As if they had seen some primordial beast, they hunched over and faced the enemy, ready for anything, their aged bodies darting forward.
They quickly shielded the King of Hundred Spirits, one on either side.
The pair who had appeared in the corner of the great hall were naturally Mu Feng and his wife.
"How dare you, you lecher! How dare you profane this venerable one!"
Before anyone could react, a deafening shout rang out. The smile vanished from Qing Yanjing's exquisite face, her phoenix eyes flashing with murderous intent as she struck without hesitation.
Women really did turn their faces faster than they turned pages.
The ancients had not deceived us!
A vast surge of spiritual energy swept out, its power shaking the heavens. An invisible hand of spiritual energy slammed down like a primordial divine mountain, impossible to withstand.
"Pff!"
The two black-clad elders had no time to react. Like broken sacks, they were sent flying in an instant, their chests caved in with a terrifying dent as they spat blood.
They crashed heavily into the depths of the hall, eyes shut, their lives uncertain.
Hiss! Those were Grand Perfection Earth Sovereigns, powerful enough to reign supreme over an entire continent!
And there were two of them!
If this mysterious powerhouse could grievously injure two Grand Perfection Earth Sovereigns with a single casual strike, then surely her cultivation had surpassed—
At the thought, everyone in the hall drew a sharp breath, but none dared take the thought any further.
They were afraid of being silenced!
"Gulp~"
Seeing the two veteran Earth Sovereign guards sent by his father subdued on the spot, the King of Hundred Spirits—reeking of wine—jerked in alarm. Most of the tipsiness vanished at once.
He was sober now. That had worked rather well.
Even a good-for-nothing like him knew that the newcomer might well be a Heavenly Sovereign on the same level as his parents, and not someone to offend lightly.
"Spare me, Exalted One! Spare me! This little king knows his crime."
The King of Hundred Spirits had none of a ruler's dignity left. His knees buckled, and he dropped to the floor, kowtowing and begging for mercy in one smooth motion.
He knew when to back down!
Trembling slightly, he deeply regretted everything. He lowered his head until it touched the floor, terrified that anyone might see the two lines of tears sliding from the corners of his eyes.
The King of Hundred Spirits felt so wronged.
Damn it, you barged into my palace without an invitation, and then you had the nerve to ask me, all righteously, where I got the gall to leer at you—and you even beat me up.
Even Dou E would weep at a story like this.
I hereby proclaim you the greatest shakedown artist of all time!
The King of Hundred Spirits roared inwardly.
"This venerable one is furious. The consequences will be severe. Call the powerhouse behind you. We'll discuss compensation. Remember, you have only the time it takes an incense stick to burn."
Qing Yanjing took a graceful step forward, her smile sweet as could be.
Hmm. Ideally, they'll compensate us with a high-grade continent.
"Yes, yes! This little king will summon my elders at once. I'll summon them right away."
Hearing that there was still room to negotiate, and that the other party did not intend to kill him outright, the King of Hundred Spirits felt as though he had been granted a new lease on life. He immediately crushed a Spirit Seal he wore on his person.
Brilliant, my lady!
She had slipped into someone else's palace without anyone noticing, baited him into a trap, then seized her chance to accuse him and intimidate him on the spot.
That was just like you, A-Jing.
Standing nearby, Mu Feng was utterly dumbfounded.
His beloved wife's outrageous maneuver had left him stunned. His scalp was practically tingling.
But, A-Jing, I still have one question.
Why are you so practiced at this?
That gentle, kind young woman from before, and this domineering shakedown artist—so, which one is the real you, damn it?!
P.S. That's all for now. I'll add more if I get the chance later.
This section covers the story of Mu Chen's birth and the events before Mu Feng became King of Hundred Spirits. There may be another four or five chapters.
My brothers, see you tomorrow!
Before you continue