The bag of jewels Master Xuqing had given him suddenly reminded Luo Qian of the bag of Buddhist Treasure he had given the God King. The God King's Red Powder Killing Formation had frightened him off so badly that he had forgotten to ask for the bag back. Next time he went, he would get it back. Cut expenses and open new sources of income, and the money would keep rolling in. The bag was a small matter; the principle was not.
Luo Qian was still mulling this over when, before he reached the True Transformation Source, the Communication Jade Talisman in his robes suddenly rang. He took his time fishing it out. Xu Hu looked displeased as ever. "What took you so long?" "Didn't I give you a Communication Conch?" Luo Qian said. "It's much more convenient." Xu Hu cut him off. "His Majesty wants to see you!"
Luo Qian could not even find the entrance to the Celestial Palace, so Xu Hu had to lead him in. Luo Qian had no idea what this particular hall was called, but its furnishings suggested somewhere private. The Supreme Pure Emperor looked displeased. Luo Qian dared not dawdle; he hurriedly bowed and cried, "Long live Your Majesty, ten thousand years—" "Enough!" the Supreme Pure Emperor snapped, cutting his performance short. "Spare me the cries of 'long live.' You must be wishing I would drop dead." Luo Qian grinned. "How could I? You're my great protector. If you fell, neither Lu Xiaofeng nor the Awakening King would spare your humble servant."
The Supreme Pure Emperor snorted. "Is that your way of reminding me how much you did for me in the affair with the Awakening King?" His intent laid bare, Luo Qian still had the gall to deny it. "Your servant meant