A chill ran down Chen Mu's spine as he felt those greedy gazes, which might rush forward at any moment and devour him whole.
At that moment, in the disciples' eyes, Chen Mu had become the greatest cultivation opportunity in the world, without exception.
After all, no opportunity before him had ever allowed someone to step into the Great Emperor Realm in a single bound.
Afterward.
Chen Mu entrusted Ye Qingcheng with ensuring that news of the Demon Emperor Chu Batian's submission would not leak.
As for the newly ascended Great Emperors, Chen Mu granted them permission to visit the Emperor Weapon Pavilion and choose an Immortal-Grade Heavenly Dao Emperor Weapon they liked.
Loyalty piled upon loyalty.
Chen Mu returned to Qingyun Prefecture with Chen Juexin.
"Well? Any signs?"
"Signs? What signs?" Chen Mu had only just sat down when Chen Juexin's question stumped him, leaving him utterly confused.
"What other signs could I mean? Qingcheng's belly, of course. Our Chen Family is counting on you to add bricks and tiles to its foundation," Chen Juexin said, exasperated by his cluelessness.
"Uh..." Chen Mu froze, then said, "Nothing yet."
"Then you'd better work harder. I'll find you a few remedies. Try them when the time comes; perhaps they'll work won-"
"Sis, can we change the subject?" Chen Mu interrupted with a wry smile. "How have the shops been doing lately?"
Chen Juexin pressed her lips together. Knowing that some things could not be rushed, she answered, "Business is soaring like the sun at its zenith. Especially since those three thousand Great Emperors submitted, expansion couldn't have gone more smoothly."
"Take the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, for example. We've established branches in half the worlds, and our sources of information have grown considerably. It's just..." Chen Juexin trailed off.
"Just what?" Chen