Toll

With no other option, Yaoguang and the others had to use their remaining supplies to pay the toll.

Song Junjie tossed the Storage Bag in his hand and smiled even more broadly. Then he put the Storage Bag away, clapped his hands, and the next moment, the maid who had been waiting at the door brought in a variety of delicacies, which soon filled a large table.

"Please enjoy your meal, esteemed seniors. Tomorrow, someone will escort you to your departure point."

After saying this, Song Junjie bowed again and left, satisfied.

Venerable Tianquan glanced at the delicacies before him, his expression slightly unpleasant. After the maids had all left, he waved his hand to set up a shielding array, his voice low and deep, saying, "You handed over so many fine things, and this is all you give us? This is truly outrageous."

Venerable Yaoguang glanced at him and said coldly, "Alright, you're only good at spouting threats in front of us. If you're so capable, why don't you remove the shielding array before you start cursing?"

"Besides, there's nothing wrong with them charging tolls; we didn't contribute anything, so why should we enjoy the fruits of their labor?"

Inside the Phoenix Palace, Han Yu was sitting at her desk reading a book. However, she wasn't reading a cultivation Cultivation Method, but rather a fantasy travelogue written by a mortal. Although much of it was unrealistic, some of the ideas about the future were quite interesting.

A small bird with flames on its back chirped on her shoulder, its little eyes also fixed on the book, as if it were looking at it as well.

A moment later, a maid's voice came from outside the door. "Your Majesty, the Imperial Advisor has brought a Storage Bag."

"Bring it in." Han Yu closed the travelogue on the table and tossed it gently. The book landed directly on the bookshelf not far away. The little bird on her shoulder followed the book's movement with its eyes until it landed on the bookshelf before she turned her head back.

This little bird is no ordinary creature; it is the embodiment of the entire Phoenix Kingdom's destiny. Although it is not as powerful as the real divine beast, the phoenix, it is still a phoenix!

A maid pushed open the door, carrying a Storage Bag in both hands, and hurried over with small, quick steps. "Your Majesty."

After taking the Storage Bag, Han Yu instructed, "Go and have the Imperial Advisor invite Shen Ge here."

"Yes, sir."

After the maid left, Han Yu opened the Storage Bag and took out all the contents, placing them on the table.

She knew the purpose and function of everything in there, even though many of them were specialties of the Luo Heaven Sea. After all, she had already obtained some information about the Luo Heaven Sea from Shen Ge.

She collected some of the spirit medicine, but only about 30%, and most of them were not very useful.

As for the others, they belong to the Spirit Moon Sect.

Although no one would say anything if she accepted everything now, Han Yu couldn't do such a thing. The Spirit Moon Sect had helped her a lot during the last national destiny competition, and she should repay them in kind.

After the banquet, Shen Ge originally intended to take these people to travel around Heavenly South, but Song Junjie approached him instead.

Dressed like a scholar and looking somewhat bookish, Song Junjie cupped his hands in a half-bowing gesture towards Shen Ge and said, "Brother, His Majesty requests your presence."

Although the two are now at the same level, Song Junjie does not believe that he can defeat Shen Ge. However, this is a secondary reason. The main reason is that he is grateful for the favors Shen Ge has given him. If it weren't for Shen Ge's matchmaking in the past, he would not have had the opportunity to stay in the Phoenix Kingdom, let alone become the national advisor and enjoy the immense national fortune.

If it weren't for the blessing of this national fortune, he might not have even reached the Golden Core, let alone the current Golden Core Peak. Therefore, he still feels grateful and respectful towards Shen Ge.

Song Junjie's actions made Gu Ye glance at him slightly. He didn't expect Shen Ge to have such a high status in Heavenly South. The man's respect was one thing, but he just said "invite"! That Spirit Severing Realm empress invited Shen Ge over? He used the wrong word!

He should have felt superior based on his background, but Shen Ge has shattered that sense of superiority.

Shen Ge glanced at Miaoyin and the others, hesitated for a moment, then clasped his hands in a fist salute and said, "I'm sorry, I have something to attend to for the time being. Gentlemen, how about this, I'll have my disciple show you around four times. You've come all the way to Heavenly South, you should at least see the sights and appreciate the beautiful scenery of Heavenly South."

"Brother Shen, you go ahead and do your work. We'll manage on our own."

"Feel sorry."

Shen Ge apologized again, then nodded to Song Junjie, and the two transformed into a golden light and headed straight for the palace.

"They just flew right in like that? Doesn't the palace have a no-fly zone?" Gu Ye really couldn't understand it. How could people be allowed to fly around in the territory of a Nascent Spirit Severing Realm? It was beneath their dignity no matter how you looked at it.

"What's the big deal?" Su Sui explained, "My master was a great help when the Phoenix Kingdom was first established. He could come and go from the palace at will, except for the sleeping quarters."

"Everyone, you are all good friends of our master, so I won't treat you as outsiders. Since I'm not sure when you'll be leaving, and it wouldn't be appropriate to take you too far, I'll take you to our Spirit Moon Sect for a visit."

On the other side, Shen Ge pushed open the gate of Fenglin Palace and walked in, nodding to Han Yu at the table with a light laugh, "You couldn't have come here in such a hurry to see me about dividing the spoils, could you?"

Han Yu rolled her eyes at him and said, "That's a really harsh way to put it. This is for travel expenses."

Han Yu waved and poured a cup of tea, then glanced at Shen Ge and said, "Sit down."

Perhaps it was because he had been emperor for too long, but Han Yu's words unconsciously carried a hint of command and an unyielding tone.

Shen Ge didn't care about any of that. He simply sat down opposite her, picked up his tea, and took a sip.

Are you sure you don't want to come along?

Shen Ge shook his head and said, "Not for now. Let's talk about it after I break through to the Nascent Soul Realm."

"I've already vaguely touched the threshold, and I estimate I should be able to break through within a hundred years. In the meantime, it's not suitable for me to go out and explore unknown territories."

"Besides, I've finally come back, how could I possibly leave again so soon?"

"You can decide for yourself," Han Yu said after a moment's thought. "Do you want those mortals with the talent for cultivation? I can let you choose a group first."

"I've already informed the sect; they should have arrived by now."

"As you know, although I currently reside at the Spirit Moon Sect, I don't concern myself with any affairs there."

Han Yu nodded, then said nothing more, calmly sipping her tea, as if she had already asked Shen Ge all the questions she had asked.

Shen Ge remained silent, simply sipping his tea. The atmosphere seemed to freeze at that moment, and the two fell silent.

After finishing his tea, Shen Ge stood up, casually gathered the spirit medicine from the table, and said, "Since there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now."