"The bridge... isn't it right there in your hand?"
Xiao Ying froze, momentarily failing to understand what the Blue Sky Empress meant, then looked at the golden bridge in her hand as he answered.
"This worthless bridge... is only good for cowards who cling to life and fear death to flee and save their skins. I have no use for it. You can keep it!"
The Blue Sky Empress glanced at the Other Shore Golden Bridge with obvious reluctance, but spoke with feigned disdain.
With that, she tossed it away like a worn-out shoe, sending a streak of golden light shooting toward Xiao Ying.
"This..."
Xiao Ying reached out and caught it, then stared at the Blue Sky Empress in bewilderment. Somewhat dazed, he blurted out, "I meant what I said. I wasn't asking you to give me this!"
Heaven could bear witness: Xiao Ying knew that the Blue Sky Empress wanted a marriage alliance and suspected she intended to use him, so he instinctively kept a respectful distance. However, since he had yet to see any malice from Empress Island, he had not turned a cold face toward them and continued to maintain friendly relations.
The Blue Sky Empress had indeed gone above and beyond earlier, proving herself a true friend and even burning her cultivation to rescue him. It was also thanks to her that Xiao Ying had managed to cling to life. He had been wondering how to repay her, afraid she might use that debt of gratitude to demand something in return, so he had used the Other Shore Golden Bridge to settle the debt. His earlier words truly had not been an attempt to ask for the bridge.
Although the current Xiao Ying was merely the Undying Blood Demon's Concealed Saint Avatar, the Undying Blood