At that moment, Luo Qingshan watched everything her husband had done, her breathtaking face wreathed in smiles and her beautiful eyes filled with deep affection as she looked at Ye Xingchen.
Seeing the deep affection in Luo Qingshan's eyes, Ye Xingchen gently took her hand. A surge of boldness rose within him, and he laughed heartily before declaring:
"Haha, I'm happy today! I finally vented that pent-up anger good and proper. Not only did we get two fourth-grade pill recipes from the Mysterious Heaven Sect, we also won a hundred million supreme-grade spirit stones. That'll leave the Mysterious Heaven Sect hurting for quite a while!"
"Grand Elder, since this is a happy day, distribute these hundred million supreme-grade spirit stones among all the Demon Race disciples. Let every disciple share in the joy!"
Hearing Ye Xingchen's words, all the members of the Demon Race throughout the Cloud Summit Arena erupted into earth-shaking cheers. The place was bustling with excitement!
At the same time, in stark contrast to the Demon Race's festive atmosphere, gloom hung over the Mysterious Heaven Sect.
Inside the Mysterious Heaven Sect's main hall, a sinister-looking middle-aged man sat on the throne above. A cold gleam flickered in his eyes as he looked down with a wicked smile at Nie Zhenbei, who knelt on both knees below.
The middle-aged man radiated an imposing presence. An aura of extreme cold swirled around him, nearly freezing the space surrounding him.
Several powerful figures stood around Nie Zhenbei. Sensing the chill emanating from the middle-aged man above, they all kept their eyes half-closed, their expressions calm!
"Rise, Elder Nie! This emperor approved the matter, so you bear no blame! Tell us about your trip to the Demon Race in detail!" A cold, commanding voice rang out.
Hearing that cold, commanding voice, Nie Zhenbei let out a quiet breath, slowly rose, and bowed to the man on the throne above!
Then he spoke excitedly:
"Reporting to the sect master, I made a major discovery during this trip to the Demon Race!"
The sinister-looking middle-aged man who radiated such an icy aura was none other than the master of the Mysterious Heaven Sect-Nangong Liuyun.
Hearing Nie Zhenbei's words, Nangong Liuyun raised an eyebrow, and his cold, commanding voice rang out:
"A major discovery?! Tell us in detail, and let the elders hear it too! Anything that excites Elder Nie this much must be quite interesting!"
Hearing Nangong Liuyun's words, Nie Zhenbei dared not delay and addressed everyone excitedly:
"During this trip to the Demon Race, I discovered that the news spread by the Supreme Purity Palace was actually true. The Demon Race's empress really does have a Human Race husband!"
"Furthermore, the unusual phenomena that recently appeared across the Demon Race's lands, along with the pills that suddenly emerged, are all inseparably connected to this man. The concentration of Immortal Spirit Qi throughout the Demon Race's territory now rivals that of the small world where our sect's ancestor cultivates in seclusion!"
Hearing Nie Zhenbei's words, everyone from the Mysterious Heaven Sect, including Nangong Liuyun, looked shocked.
What shocked them was not that Luo Qingshan's husband was a member of the Human Race. Rather, they worried that such enormous changes within the Demon Race were all connected to him. Could he belong to one of the hidden holy lands, those titanic powers?!
The Mysterious Heaven Sect feared offending the true titans of the Divine Desolation Continent-the hidden holy lands. They were the continent's true masters, capable of effortlessly wiping out the Mysterious Heaven Sect with a flip of their hands, without so much as a sound.
Seeing everyone's reactions, Nie Zhenbei immediately understood their concerns and continued:
"There is no need to worry, Sect Master. This young man is certainly not from one of those hidden, titanic holy lands. Although his bearing is extraordinary, his cultivation is only at the Innate Realm."
"But... there is one thing I truly cannot understand. With only Innate Realm cultivation, how did he defeat Mu Yebai, an Immortal Realm cultivator, with a single finger?!"
Hearing Nie Zhenbei's words, Nangong Liuyun frowned slightly, and his commanding voice rang out:
"Are you certain you saw correctly, Elder Nie? He truly is at the Innate Realm and wasn't using a treasure to conceal his cultivation?!"
Hearing Nangong Liuyun's words, Nie Zhenbei nodded firmly.
"Reporting to the sect master, I am certain he was not using any treasure to conceal his cultivation. Such treasures are rare even among those truly titanic powers."
"Besides, if he really had a treasure concealing his cultivation, I would have noticed some clues. I sensed no trace of any treasure on him. He was simply an ordinary Innate Realm cultivator!"
Hearing Nie Zhenbei's words, Nangong Liuyun frowned slightly in the seat of honor. He trusted Nie Zhenbei's judgment.
But an Innate Realm cultivator defeating an Immortal Realm cultivator was simply unheard of. This young man was far too mysterious!
But since he isn't from one of those hidden holy lands, other forces are bound to be interested. After all, many forces are investigating his identity right now. What would they do if they learned he was merely a Human Race member at the Innate Realm?!
At that thought, a wicked smile appeared on Nangong Liuyun's face, and he addressed Nie Zhenbei below:
"Elder Nie, we'll leave this matter here for now! Spread the news that the Demon Race's empress has a husband from the Human Race at the Innate Realm. I'm sure many forces will be interested!"
Hearing Nangong Liuyun's words, Nie Zhenbei's eyes lit up. He immediately cupped his fists and nodded respectfully in acknowledgment!
The next day, a shocking piece of news spread throughout the Divine Desolation Continent: the Demon Race's empress had a husband from the Human Race at the Innate Realm.
The news exploded among all the forces like a massive bomb.
Meanwhile, inside the Supreme Purity Palace, Huangfu Bubai sat in the seat of honor, calmly listening to the report from below. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he addressed the Supreme Purity Palace elders below:
"Now every force throughout the Divine Desolation Continent knows that the Demon Race's empress has a husband from the Human Race whose cultivation is only at the Innate Realm."
"The concern this emperor had no longer exists. With his cultivation, he certainly cannot be a disciple of one of those hidden, titanic holy lands."
Looking at the many powerful elders below, Huangfu Bubai's eyes flashed coldly, and he continued:
"Since that is the case, spread the word that the Supreme Purity Palace can refine Life-Extending Pills for any force that wants them. These are the pills all the forces want most."
"After all, the various forces now have far too many powerhouses who dare not act rashly because they have little lifespan remaining. They rely on immortal herbs that extend their lives a little, but those are ultimately less effective than Life-Extending Pills."
"A single dose of the Life-Extending Pills refined by our Supreme Purity Palace can extend a life by at least five years. Once the news spreads, countless forces will surely come to have pills refined."
"However, there is one condition for having Life-Extending Pills refined: no force may purchase the Demon Race's pills. Otherwise, the Supreme Purity Palace will not refine Life-Extending Pills for them."
"Also, spread the word that from this day onward, until the Demon Race's empress comes to seek peace, the Supreme Purity Palace will no longer refine any Life-Extending Pills for the Demon Race."
"This emperor would like to see whether Luo Qingshan will watch helplessly as the Demon Race's powerhouses pass away one by one without Life-Extending Pills."
"They are merely first-grade pills. It's not as though the Supreme Purity Palace lacks them. Hmph! They think having one alchemist means they can challenge the Supreme Purity Palace? This emperor will not only make the Demon Race obediently hand over those three pill recipes, but also make them hand over that alchemist."
"On one side is an alchemist with no ties to them, and on the other are the Demon Race's powerhouses. This emperor would like to see what Luo Qingshan chooses."
"Hahaha, hahaha...!"
At that, Huangfu Bubai threw back his head and laughed!
All the elders standing below looked at Huangfu Bubai with eyes full of awe.
Huangfu Bubai's move was undeniably ruthless. If Luo Qingshan handed over the pill recipes and the alchemist for the sake of Life-Extending Pills, no alchemist would ever again be willing to refine pills for the Demon Race, and the Demon Race's reputation would plummet a thousand fathoms!
Likewise, if Luo Qingshan gave up Life-Extending Pills for the sake of those three pill recipes and the alchemist, some of the Demon Race's powerhouses with little lifespan remaining were bound to grow resentful.
When that happened, the Demon Race would suffer internal instability, perhaps even civil war. This, too, was something many forces hoped to see.
Having thought this through, all the Supreme Purity Palace powerhouses standing there looked at Huangfu Bubai with eyes full of awe.
Meanwhile, inside the Empress Palace, Luo Qingshan listened to the Grand Elder's report with a calm expression. She had known that her husband's identity as a member of the Human Race could not remain hidden and had long since prepared herself mentally. She simply had not expected it to provoke such an enormous reaction.
At that moment, however, Ye Xingchen lay at ease in the pavilion at the center of the lake, looking thoroughly pleased with himself as he recalled Luo Qingshan's bashful appearance the night before.
Looking at the lake's mirror-calm surface, he remembered that he had yet to check in today, so he addressed the system:
"System, start today's check-in!"