Great True Phoenix Art

One piece... two pieces... five, six, seven, eight pieces...

Once Hu Ximei started, she could no longer resist the irresistible deliciousness. She stuffed one piece after another into her mouth.

Her greedy manner left even Daji speechless. With table manners like that, which of them was the fox spirit, really?

Yu Linglong also pouted. If Sister Ximei ate all this delicious chicken, what would be left for her?

"Eat a little less. Eating too much meat can stunt your growth..."

With that thought, Yu Linglong looked at Hu Ximei and offered her well-intentioned advice.

???

Three question marks popped up over Hu Ximei's head. She was utterly speechless, but when she looked at Yu Linglong, who stood a full head taller than her, that speechlessness instantly turned into frustration.

Of the three sisters, she ate the most, yet she was the shortest. Worse still, no matter how much she ate, she never grew any taller. It all went to her chest. Wasn't that infuriating?!

"You two, eat slowly. There's no need to fight over it. I made a whole big pot, and there's plenty left. If you're still hungry when you finish, just have another helping..."

Seeing that Hu Ximei and Yu Linglong seemed about to start fighting, Di Xin hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over with a smile.

"Brother-in-law, you're so good to us."

At those words, Yu Linglong's eyes immediately sparkled as she looked at Di Xin, shining so brightly they almost gave off light.

She felt that if she could eat something this delicious every day, then her trip to Chaoge City would not have been in vain.

As for Her Ladyship the Sage... who was she???

"What's so good about me?"

Out of habit, Di Xin tossed the question back at Yu Linglong.

[Negative emotion points from Yu Linglong: +9...]

Unfortunately, although his unexpected reply stirred up Yu Linglong's negative emotions, this airhead's heart and mind were completely occupied by the sweet, delicious chicken. The negative emotion points she supplied were pitifully few.

"We've only just met you, so we don't know you very well. Why don't you introduce yourself, Brother-in-law, and tell us what's so good about you?"

Just then, Hu Ximei looked at Di Xin with a smile and casually delivered that line.

"Hiss..." Di Xin drew a sharp breath and gave Hu Ximei several searching looks.

He had not expected this little girl with such ample ambitions to be an expert at this game, well versed in countering every move.

"What's good about me is that I have far too many good points..."

Still, that was no challenge for Di Xin. After pondering for two seconds, he looked at Hu Ximei and replied with a cheerful smile.

[Negative emotion points from Hu Ximei: +166...]

Sure enough, those words instantly shattered Hu Ximei's composure, and she obediently handed over her negative emotion points.

That gave Di Xin an idea. Once he finished testing Queen Jiang tonight, if she could channel the negative emotion points she collected to him after receiving his instruction and baptism, just as Daji did, then his next conquest would undoubtedly be Hu Ximei.

This Nine-Headed Pheasant Spirit had tremendous potential to help him grind the system until it burst.

After dining with Daji and her two sisters, Di Xin left Shouxian Palace and headed toward Weiyang Palace.

There was no helping it. An emperor's life was simply this dull and tedious. Sooo many women's tender hearts were waiting for his instruction.

[Queen Jiang's affection and loyalty: +5. Accumulated total: +95...]

The moment he entered Weiyang Palace and saw Queen Jiang, Di Xin spotted a string of numbers scrolling through the system's backend.

Seeing Queen Jiang's surprised gaze, Di Xin immediately concluded that she must have known he had dined with Daji and her sisters at Shouxian Palace that evening. She had therefore assumed he would not come to instruct her tonight and felt disappointed. Now that he had actually appeared, delight naturally surged through her heart, sending her affection soaring.

"Judging by your expression, my queen, you don't seem particularly pleased to see me. In that case, I'll be going."

Di Xin smiled at Queen Jiang, then made as though to turn and leave.

[Negative emotion points from Queen Jiang: +555...]

"Your Majesty... you haven't instructed me yet. How can you leave just like this...?"

Queen Jiang hurriedly reached out and caught hold of Di Xin. Her watery eyes brimmed with unbearable bashfulness and profound longing.

"Would you like me to sit here and instruct you, my queen? Or shall we lie on the bed for your instruction?"

Di Xin's smile grew even more teasing as he chuckled.

Queen Jiang was too thin-skinned to voice her innermost thoughts. She merely smiled with her lips pressed together and gazed at Di Xin.

In the candlelight, the voluptuous beauty looked like a magnificent peony in full bloom, waiting to be plucked.

"If you won't say anything, my queen, then your desire for my instruction must not be sincere enough. I'll be going!"

Di Xin forcibly restrained his urge to pluck that alluring peony and continued.

[Negative emotion points from Queen Jiang: +999...]

Sure enough, the instant Di Xin finished speaking, the numbers in the system's backend changed again.

"Your Majesty, I... I... want to receive your instruction... on the bed..."

Negative emotion points were one thing, but despite her pretty cheeks turning so red they looked ready to drip blood, Queen Jiang still tugged at Di Xin's sleeve and spoke in a coy voice.

"Hahaha! You want it on the bed, but I insist on instructing you right here!" Di Xin laughed heartily. Unable to hold back any longer, he stepped forward and swept Queen Jiang into his arms.

When heavenly thunder met earthly fire, the delights were naturally beyond description. An alluring, graceful beauty like this peony offered a flavor entirely different from Daji's...

The night passed without further words, and soon the next morning arrived.

Di Xin rubbed his slightly aching lower back, but wore a contented smile as he left Weiyang Palace.

Other people's Primordial World adventures ruined their lives; his ruined his back!

Queen Jiang's performance the night before reminded him of a saying he had often heard back in the mortal world: at thirty, a fierce tiger descends the mountain; at forty, a lone wolf roams unchecked. Queen Jiang had indeed been as ferocious as a starving tiger and as wild as a lone wolf, giving Di Xin quite a task in subduing and instructing her.

[Queen Jiang's affection and loyalty: +5. Accumulated total: +100... Congratulations, host, on completing the hidden mission and earning the Consort's Infatuation achievement. Merit points: +100, automatically converted into a merit golden body for the host. Additional reward: one random reward.]

Immediately afterward, the system's notification sounded in Di Xin's mind.

Di Xin's heart leaped with joy at the sound, but only for a moment. Then, without even thinking, he let out three cold chuckles.

With this lousy system, what could a random reward possibly give him? Wasn't it always the same damn thing?

[Random reward: one stalk of Ordinary Dao-Merging Grass...]

Di Xin chuckled coldly three times. This system really did lack any originality. He immediately took the Ordinary Dao-Merging Grass out of his inventory and swallowed it.

[Host detected consuming Dao-Merging Grass. Acquired: Great True Phoenix Art. Cultivated to its pinnacle, this art allows transformation into an ancient True Phoenix, mastery over all paths of fire beneath heaven, and suppression of the Ten Thousand Feather Clans. Cultivating this art also continually refines the body, removing impurities and making it better suited to cultivation! Completion: 1/3000. Currently, the host has only unlocked the true phoenix bloodline.]

Yet after he swallowed the Dao-Merging Grass, the system surprised Di Xin. Instead of another notification about the Minor Pickpocketing Art, it granted him an entirely new Great Dao-the Great True Phoenix Art!

Pleasant surprises always seemed to come when least expected!

Reading that notification, Di Xin drew one sharp breath after another, brilliant light shining deep in his eyes.

The True Phoenix was the ruler of the Ancient Phoenix Clan and the leader of the Ten Thousand Feather Clans. Every bird beneath heaven had to bow its head and submit to it. True phoenix flame could destroy the world or bring forth new life. It could even transcend the bonds of life and death, granting rebirth through fire!

This Great True Phoenix Art was absolutely among the most powerful of all the Great Daos. At the very least, it ought to rank in the top ten!

Moreover, the instant the system's notification ended, Di Xin keenly sensed a change within his body. An exceedingly faint aura seemed to drift slowly through his flesh and bones, like a weak wisp of fiery energy, ceaselessly refining his body and making it purer and stronger!

[Negative emotion points from Ji Chang: +444...]

Just then, a string of data suddenly appeared in Di Xin's system backend.

That old fellow Ji Chang...

At the sight of that name, Di Xin froze briefly, then narrowed his eyes and smiled. It seemed the spread of the Shoude Plow across the land had indeed posed a thorny problem for Ji Chang, leaving him caught between promoting it and refusing to do so...

However, Ji Chang probably had no idea that this difficulty was merely a tiny appetizer. Something far more troublesome was still waiting for him!