At that moment, hearing his father's words, the middle-aged man instantly came to his senses. He gave a sheepish smile and said nothing more, though a trace of burning desire remained hidden deep in his eyes.
Early the next morning, Ye Xingchen was still half asleep when he suddenly felt his nose tickle. Opening his eyes, he discovered Luo Qingshan lying in his arms, tickling him with her hair.
Ye Xingchen reached out his right hand and casually climbed an enormous peak, instantly making the smiling Luo Qingshan blush and let out a soft moan. She shot her husband a fierce look.
That glance held a thousand charms. As though sensing something, Luo Qingshan sprang away from Ye Xingchen, her face scarlet, only for him to pull her back into his arms. Looking at the tenderness and burning desire in his eyes, she stammered softly:
"H-husband, it's daylight. We should get up!"
Yet Ye Xingchen seemed not to hear Luo Qingshan. He slowly lowered his head and gently kissed her cherry lips.
...!!
By the time they woke again, it was nearly noon. Looking at Luo Qingshan's face, covered in rosy clouds, Ye Xingchen felt a surge of satisfaction.
Seeing Ye Xingchen's smug expression and chuckling grin, Luo Qingshan rolled her eyes, yet her heart brimmed with tenderness.
Amid their playful teasing, they finished dressing, and Ye Xingchen carried Luo Qingshan in his arms to the sitting room as she blushed shyly.
Qing'er, who had long been waiting there, felt delighted to see the Empress and Imperial Consort so sweet together. It seemed Her Majesty had truly found someone she loved. Just as the Great Dao's congratulations had proclaimed, the Imperial Consort really was the Empress's heaven-bestowed match.
With Qing'er attending them, the two had just finished lunch when a black-robed man came to report that the people from the Supreme Purity Palace had said they could only leave if the Empress still refused to appear.
Left with no other choice, the elders had sent the black-robed man to inform Her Majesty.
Ye Xingchen knew that the black-robed man was Wei Donglai, the commander of Luo Qingshan's guards. His cultivation was in the Immortal Lord Realm, and he was a man of few words, extremely steady and loyal.
Hearing Wei Donglai's report, Luo Qingshan nodded and looked at Ye Xingchen beside her, only to discover her husband smiling at her.
After rolling her eyes at Ye Xingchen, Luo Qingshan spoke majestically:
"I understand. Go tell them I will be there shortly."
Wei Donglai bowed to them both, then turned and vanished.
At that moment, Ye Xingchen stood, took Luo Qingshan's hand, and said gently:
"Wife, let's go! Your husband will meet these people from the Supreme Purity Palace and see just what three heads and six arms they possess, to act so arrogantly and cause you such trouble! For that alone, I won't let them off easily!"
Hearing Ye Xingchen's words, Luo Qingshan smiled bashfully, while Qing'er beside them hurriedly spoke:
"Your Highness, you don't know. To ensure we have enough spirit stones to cultivate and buy pills, Her Majesty receives them personally every time."
"But every time, those people from the Supreme Purity Palace act so arrogantly, repeatedly driving down the prices of our medicinal herbs and angering Her Majesty. Many elders can't stand them and don't want to trade with them anymore, but for the Demon Race's sake, Her Majesty would rather swallow her anger. Even I can't bear to watch!"
Hearing Qing'er's words, Ye Xingchen turned to glance at Luo Qingshan, his eyes full of heartache. Taking her hand, he said:
"Wife, let's go. Leave today's matter to your husband. You need only watch from the side."
Seeing the heartache in Ye Xingchen's eyes, Luo Qingshan was deeply moved. She swept him up and flew toward Empress Palace.
When they arrived before Empress Palace, the guards immediately bowed upon seeing the Empress and Imperial Consort. Their eyes were full of admiration as they looked at Ye Xingchen. His Highness was a talented scholar of the Human Race!
Ye Xingchen smiled slightly at the guards, took Luo Qingshan's hand, and walked into Empress Palace.
Meanwhile, inside Empress Palace, the white-haired old man sat leisurely on one of the ornate chairs lining the sides, while the middle-aged man kept glancing outside.
On the ornate chairs opposite them, dozens of Demon Race elders sat with angry expressions, evidently infuriated by the pair.
Suddenly, a powerful imperial presence descended. An exquisitely beautiful figure appeared at the entrance to Empress Palace, accompanied by a handsome man with an imposing physique and unparalleled bearing.
When they saw that man enter Empress Palace holding Luo Qingshan's hand, both the white-haired old man's and the middle-aged man's eyes narrowed slightly.
Holding Luo Qingshan's hand, Ye Xingchen ignored the two men from the Supreme Purity Palace and walked step by step toward the imperial throne at the head of Empress Palace.
The white-haired old man and the middle-aged man saw that the man actually sat down steadily beside Empress Luo Qingshan on the imperial throne that symbolized the Demon Race's supreme authority.
They could no longer remain calm. Aside from the Demon Empress herself, only her husband held the status to sit beside Empress Luo Qingshan on the throne symbolizing the Demon Race's supreme authority.
The next moment, the Demon Race elders' actions confirmed their suspicions.
Once the two were seated, the many Demon Race elders below immediately bowed respectfully to them and said:
"Greetings, Your Majesty! Greetings, Your Highness!"
At that moment, Luo Qingshan sat upon the imperial throne with a majestic expression and said calmly:
"Elders, there is no need for ceremony. Sit."
Only after hearing Luo Qingshan's words did the Demon Race elders slowly sit down.
The two men from the Supreme Purity Palace opposite them, however, looked utterly arrogant, their necks stretched so high their noses were practically pointing at the sky.
A trace of anger flashed through Luo Qingshan's eyes as she looked at the arrogant pair. The Demon Race elders below wore equally angry expressions.
Yet all the attention of the two Supreme Purity Palace men was focused on Ye Xingchen. A sweep of their divine senses easily revealed that he was actually a member of the Human Race, and one whose cultivation was only in the Innate Realm.
The discovery brought a flash of mockery to their eyes. The husband of the mighty Demon Empress was actually a weak human. If word spread, people would laugh their teeth out.
Sensing the angry gazes of the Demon Race elders, the two reluctantly stood and bowed to Luo Qingshan, their gestures as perfunctory as could be. They completely ignored Ye Xingchen.
What a joke. A piece of Innate Realm trash was not worthy of their bows.
Seeing this, Luo Qingshan was just about to flare up when Ye Xingchen took her hand. He smiled and nodded at her, then looked calmly at the two Supreme Purity Palace men and said:
"Guards, seize these two and throw them straight into the Blazing Fire Cave. Let them experience our Demon Race's true hospitality!"
Hearing Ye Xingchen's words, the Demon Race elders' eyes immediately lit up. Within the Demon Race, the Imperial Consort's standing equaled Her Majesty's.
Moreover, the Empress remained calm and said nothing to stop him. It seemed His Highness would handle today's matter.
Powerful presences erupted. Every Demon Race elder qualified to enter Empress Palace was in the Immortal Emperor Realm.
At that moment, the presences of dozens of Immortal Emperor Realm elders rose simultaneously and pressed down on the two Supreme Purity Palace men. How could they possibly withstand it?
The white-haired Immortal Sovereign's expression changed dramatically. The middle-aged man was pinned to the ground by that terrifying pressure, unable to move, his eyes filled with terror. This was completely different from what he had imagined!
The white-haired old man hurriedly shouted:
"Who dares! I am Han Chuanluo, an elder of the Supreme Purity Palace! You actually dare seize me? Do you still want to trade?"
"Hmph! Offend the Supreme Purity Palace, and no one in all Divine Desolation will dare trade with your Demon Race. You had better think carefully about the consequences!"
"Furthermore, I am an elder of the Supreme Purity Palace. By seizing me, does your Demon Race intend to make an enemy of the Supreme Purity Palace?!"
His cries rang out one after another. Though Han Chuanluo looked composed, inwardly he was panicking like mad. That human man above simply refused to play by the rules. The moment he spoke, he ordered both father and son seized. He truly showed the Supreme Purity Palace no regard at all.
The reason father and son dared act so arrogantly among the Demon Race, even before the Empress, was entirely because a top Human Race power stood behind them-the Supreme Purity Palace.
Seated on the imperial throne above, Ye Xingchen remained calm as he looked down at Han Chuanluo, his eyes full of mockery.
"Did you not understand my words?! Seize them both and throw them into the Blazing Fire Cave!"
Seated there, Ye Xingchen spoke with boundless majesty, exuding the commanding presence of a ruler. It startled the Demon Race elders below. They had never expected the Imperial Consort to have such a domineering side.
Sitting beside Ye Xingchen, Luo Qingshan's eyes also brightened as she sensed the boundless majesty radiating from him. Her husband could actually exude a ruler's commanding presence. This surprised her somewhat, but it was precisely what she most wished to see. What woman did not hope her husband would be peerlessly domineering?
The dozens of Demon Race elders below had long found Han Chuanluo an eyesore. Holding nothing back, they sent their terrifying Immortal Sovereign presences crashing down on him.
How could Han Chuanluo possibly contend with dozens of Immortal Sovereigns? Without even a chance to resist, he had his cultivation sealed by the Demon Race elders and was thrown to the ground.
The middle-aged man fared even worse, fainting outright from fright.
Lying on the ground, Han Chuanluo raised his head to look at Ye Xingchen above. A flash of killing intent flickered deep in his eyes.
He could see now that the person in charge today was not Luo Qingshan, but this handsome human man of seemingly unparalleled bearing.
At that moment, a trace of mockery lingered in the man's eyes, and a domineering ruler's presence radiated from him. It convinced Han Chuanluo that this handsome man absolutely meant what he said and truly intended to throw father and son into the Blazing Fire Cave.
At this moment, Han Chuanluo, who had remained as steady as Mount Tai, was truly afraid. What he saw in the man's eyes was mockery-the sort of mockery reserved for ants.
Yet the man's cultivation was clearly only in the Innate Realm. Seeing the Demon Race elders approach, Han Chuanluo had no time to think further and hurriedly shouted:
"Wait! We can discuss this. Anything can be discussed, including the medicinal herbs. If you really throw us into the Blazing Fire Cave, the Supreme Purity Palace will never trade with the Demon Race again. That does the Demon Race no good at all. Why go this far?"
Hearing Han Chuanluo's words, the mockery in Ye Xingchen's eyes deepened. With a casual wave of his hand, the Demon Race elders immediately stopped where they stood. His calm voice rang out:
"Heh! Han Chuanluo, was it? It seems you truly don't understand! I don't care about the medicinal herb trade at all.
"Although the Supreme Purity Palace controls most alchemists, there are plenty of factions with alchemists that are at odds with it.
"Even without trading with the Supreme Purity Palace, the Demon Race can still sell its medicinal herbs, and at prices far higher than yours."
"I had you subdued because you show the Demon Race no regard whatsoever. You lack even the most basic respect for the strong. The Empress rules the Demon Race and is an Immortal Thearch Realm expert, yet you refused to bow before her and even behaved with extreme arrogance.
"Never mind merely subduing you-even if I killed you on the spot, I believe the Supreme Purity Palace wouldn't wage war against the Demon Race over a mere ordinary elder like you. What do you think?"
Hearing Ye Xingchen's words, Han Chuanluo's expression changed instantly. He had come to trade with the Demon Race countless times, progressing from his initial apprehension to his current arrogance and tyranny. He had long forgotten that Luo Qingshan was an Immortal Emperor.
He had only thought that without the Supreme Purity Palace, the Demon Race could not sell its medicinal herbs and would lack the spirit stones needed to cover its daily expenses. Believing he therefore held the power to dictate terms, he had grown increasingly brazen.
Only now, jolted awake by Ye Xingchen's words, did Han Chuanluo remember.
Strength was the most powerful voice on the Divine Desolation Continent.
The Supreme Purity Palace would never go to war with the Demon Race for his sake.
Hearing Ye Xingchen's words, Han Chuanluo immediately dropped respectfully to both knees and addressed Luo Qingshan and Ye Xingchen:
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty and Your Highness. I admit my past wrongs to you both."
With his forehead pressed to the ground and boundless killing intent deep in his eyes, Han Chuanluo thought:
Hmph! I'll play along with you for now. A wise man doesn't invite an immediate beating. Once I return, I'll make your Demon Race pay.
The husband of the mighty Demon Empress is actually an Innate Realm human. When the time comes, countless people will laugh their teeth out. Hahaha, hahaha!
Seeing Han Chuanluo kneeling on the ground and admitting his wrongs, both Luo Qingshan's and the Demon Race elders' eyes lit up. They had never expected the once-overbearing Han Chuanluo to kneel and apologize.
Luo Qingshan and the others did not know that Han Chuanluo was as shrewd as a monkey. He could never mistake that look in Ye Xingchen's eyes-the look one gave an ant.
If he merely bowed rather than kowtowing and admitting his wrongs, he feared he truly would not get a second chance.
Looking at Han Chuanluo on the ground, the Demon Race elders turned toward Ye Xingchen with boundless respect in their eyes.
Hearing Han Chuanluo's words, Ye Xingchen remained calm and said:
"In that case, show your sincerity. Let me make this clear beforehand: you have only one chance. If you fail to satisfy me, I can only keep you both here as guests of the Demon Race. As for when you can leave, that will depend on my mood!"
Ye Xingchen looked calmly at Han Chuanluo kneeling on the ground, his words carrying boundless dominance that made Han Chuanluo's heart lurch.
He would likely have to bleed heavily today. He had only his own greed to blame. Now he had lifted a rock only to smash his own feet.
"You are right, Your Highness. I will certainly show sufficient sincerity!"
Only after hearing Han Chuanluo's words did Ye Xingchen smile slightly and say:
"Elders, why haven't you helped Elder Han up and seated him? Making Elder Han kneel on the ground is hardly our Demon Race's way of treating guests!"
Hearing Ye Xingchen's words, the Demon Race elders froze for a moment, but they immediately stepped forward, helped Han Chuanluo up, and seated him in a chair.
As for the middle-aged man who had long since fainted, His Highness had given no instructions, so the Demon Race elders left him alone.
Looking at the smiling Ye Xingchen above, Han Chuanluo's mouth twitched. Though this young man's strength was meager, he was absolutely not someone to provoke casually. In just a few words, he had both father and son firmly in his grasp.
This young man had already seen through everything. The Supreme Purity Palace would never go to war with the Demon Race for their sake.
Moreover, if others learned that they purchased the Demon Race's medicinal herbs at one-fifth of the outside price, they would certainly assume the Supreme Purity Palace had arranged it.
Even if father and son admitted they had acted alone, no one would believe them. To preserve the Supreme Purity Palace's reputation of countless millennia, they would become nothing more than sacrifices.
Having understood all this, Han Chuanluo felt a wave of lingering fear. He could only blame his own excessive greed for bringing him to this point, leaving him so easily controlled by this young man instead.
Raising his head to look at Ye Xingchen sitting there with a smile, Han Chuanluo said cautiously:
"To demonstrate my sincerity, I am willing to compensate you for the price differences in our previous transactions. For this transaction, I am also willing to purchase at twice the outside price. Would that satisfy Your Highness?"
Hearing Han Chuanluo's words, Luo Qingshan turned toward Ye Xingchen, her eyes brimming with delight.
The Demon Race elders below also brightened. They truly had never expected a few simple words from His Highness to change the habitually arrogant and tyrannical Han Chuanluo so greatly that he would voluntarily raise the purchase price of their medicinal herbs.
Yet Ye Xingchen, seated above, merely cast Han Chuanluo a casual glance. That single glance made the Immortal Emperor Realm Han Chuanluo feel terrifying pressure, as though facing an ancient colossal beast.
This left Han Chuanluo deeply puzzled. He was an Immortal Emperor Realm powerhouse, while the other party was merely Innate Realm trash. Why could he exert such terrifying pressure on him?
How could Han Chuanluo know that although Ye Xingchen displayed Innate Realm strength, even a tiny wisp of presence casually released by Ye Xingchen, whose cultivation was in the Heavenly Emperor Realm, was beyond his ability to withstand?
With no time to consider further, Han Chuanluo hurriedly stood and bowed deeply to Ye Xingchen:
"I am willing to show my sincerity. Please give me your instructions, Your Highness!"
The next moment, Ye Xingchen's calm voice rang out, sending a jolt through everyone present.
At the same time, it made everyone realize that the Imperial Consort had such a domineering side.