400: Chapter 40 The Empress's Death Gaze! Kidneys, hold on!

In the courtyard of Divine Son Peak, watching the busy figures of Spring Flower Autumn Moon packing, Su Chen's heart, which had been turned upside down by five newly emerged Fiancées, finally found a moment of peace.

Ascension was imminent.

Ahead lay the unknown mists of the Immortal Realm; behind was the entanglement of Karma from the Xuanyuan Continent.

Liu Ruyan and Ye Linghan had fallen into the Netherworld, their lives or deaths unknown.

Ling Qingzhu was even more of a heavyweight, having packed up herself and her entire home to undergo Ascension, her whereabouts now unknown.

Calculating it all, he still had one toughest nut to crack on this continent—Ji Hongxue.

Before leaving, he should at least go say goodbye.

[Go see Hongxue one last time... this time... I shouldn't be drained dry again, right?]

Su Chen felt a wave of trepidation in his heart.

Having made up his mind, he stood up and spoke calmly to the Void Realm: "Seventh Elder Su Qi."

Space rippled slightly, and Seventh Elder Su Qi's figure appeared out of thin air, a chrysanthemum-like brilliant fawning smile hanging on his old face.

"His Highness the Divine Son, this old servant is here."

"Prepare the divine vessel, we are going to the Great Xia Divine Dynasty."

Su Chen's tone was devoid of emotion, as if he were merely mentioning a trivial matter.

Seventh Elder Su Qi was startled upon hearing this, but dared not ask more, immediately bowing to accept the order: "Yes! This old servant will go prepare at once!"

Before his voice faded, his figure had already vanished, his efficiency startlingly high.

Su Chen looked at the empty courtyard and sighed silently.

Hopefully, on this trip, his kidneys would remain safe and sound.

...

The nine heavens vessel tore through the sea of clouds like a Primordial Divine Mountain patrolling the Nine Heavens, once again descending upon the Great Xia Imperial Capital.

The massive hull cast a shadow that blotted out the sun, enveloping half of the Imperial City.

Below, countless Cultivators and commoners looked up in shock, their awe-filled discussions rising and falling.

"It's the nine heavens divine vessel of the Everlasting Su Family!"

"Heavens! His Highness the Divine Son has come to our Great Xia again!"

"Could it be... could it be that His Highness the Divine Son is here to take Her Majesty the Empress away and undergo Ascension to the Immortal Realm together?"

At the bow of the vessel, Su Chen stood with his hands behind his back.

His white robes fluttered in the whistling gale, his black hair flying; his immortal posture was extraordinary, his aura instantly reaching its peak.

However, beneath his indifferent, immortal-like expression, his inner thoughts were a completely different scene.

His gaze fell upon the towering imperial palace below, which crouched like a prehistoric beast; there was not a hint of joy at returning home, but instead, he subconsciously clutched his lower back.

That expression was complex beyond description.

[Here I am, here I am, back at this familiar place again.]

[When I scrambled out of here last time, I swore to the heavens that I would never voluntarily step foot in this ghostly place again even if it killed me.]

[It's only been a few days, and I've come knocking on the door myself.]

[Am I, Su Chen, tired of living? Did I come specifically looking for excitement?]

He looked down, as if he could feel his hard-working "brother" sending him the strongest protest.

[Brother, I've wronged you.]

[Hold on! This time it's for the harmony and stability of our big family!]

[If I don't coax this Crazy Woman into a good mood, even if we reach the Immortal Realm, we won't have a day of peace!]

[That little notebook of hers, I've seen it with my own eyes; it's thicker than a city wall corner! If I dare to leave without saying goodbye, she could definitely hold a grudge against me until the end of time, then chase me to the ends of the Immortal Realm with a forty-meter-long blade!]

After a period of internal struggle, "family responsibility" finally triumphed over the humble "will to survive" with overwhelming advantage.

Su Chen took a deep breath and gave a heavy command to Seventh Elder Su Qi behind him.

"Descend and stop in front of Fengming Hall."

"Yes, Your Highness the Divine Son." Seventh Elder Su Qi replied respectfully and immediately steered the divine vessel.

The massive divine vessel descended slowly, finally coming to a silent halt above the vast white marble plaza of Fengming Hall.

Su Chen didn't bring anyone with him.

Alone, he leapt down from the vessel, his form as elegant as a falling leaf, landing steadily in the center of the plaza.

He looked up at the palace before him, which had once made him feel both euphoric and desperate, and had also made him flee in panic.

Fengming Hall remained the same, magnificent and resplendent, with Dragon Qi soaring to the heavens.

In front of the hall doors, two rows of female soldiers clad in form-fitting golden armor and holding Phoenix-patterned long halberds stood solemnly; their chilling aura of slaughter intertwined with the unique heroism of women, forming a unique sight.

When Su Chen appeared, dozens of gazes locked onto him simultaneously.

There was no awe for the Divine Son in those eyes; instead, they seemed to be scrutinizing him, and deeper within, there was a hidden trace of... pity.

Like they were looking at a warrior about to march to the execution ground.

Su Chen's scalp tingled under these gazes.

[Holy crap, what kind of look is that?]

[Why do they all have expressions like I'm about to heroically sacrifice myself?]

[That Crazy Woman... could she have already spread my 'crimes' throughout the entire harem?]

He could only steel himself and, under those gazes "saluting a hero," take one step after another up the stairs to Hell... no, to Fengming Hall.

The hall doors were wide open.

Inside the hall, curls of smoke from high-quality soul-calming sandalwood incense rose, and light filtered through the glazed tiles, casting soft patches of light.

An exquisite figure sat regally on the Dragon Throne, which was carved from a single piece of purple-gold divine wood.

It was indeed Ji Hongxue.

She seemed to have been waiting here for a long time.

Today, she had changed into a bright red Imperial Robe, more vivid than a raging fire and more striking than fresh blood.

Gold-thread embroidered phoenixes on the sleeves looked ready to take flight, lifelike as if they would emit a Nine Heavens-shaking cry at any moment.

She wore an imperial crown, her black hair cascading like a waterfall, and her peerless face was as cold as frost.

A pair of phoenix eyes, deep as the night, were quietly focused on the memorial in her hand, as if it contained state affairs a thousand times more important than a living person like him.

She seemed completely unaware of Su Chen's arrival.

Not even her eyelashes flickered once.

In the vast palace, it was so quiet that only the faint "rustle" of the vermilion brush in her hand moving across the paper could be heard.

Every sound felt like it was stepping on the tip of Su Chen's heart.

The atmosphere was oppressively suffocating.

Su Chen stood at the hall entrance, his legs feeling incredibly heavy, as if they were welded to the floor.

He knew very well that this was the most terrifying calm before the storm.

The more calm and tranquil this woman appeared, the more violently the volcano in her heart was about to erupt.

He dallied on the spot for a long while before finally summoning the courage to step into the main hall.

"Cough, cough."

He Two dry coughs, trying to use the sound to break the almost frozen air.

However, Ji Hongxue on the Dragon Throne remained motionless.

As if Su Chen were just a mass of dispensable air.

Cold sweat began to slide down Su Chen's forehead.

[I'm doomed, this is the highest level of the silent treatment!]

[A blatant show of authority!]

[What should I do? Should I immediately kneel down, hug her legs, and repent with tears and snot, or should I turn around and run?]

Just as Su Chen's brain was crashing wildly, wondering which way of dying would be more dignified.

The woman on the Dragon Throne, who had been as silent as a statue, finally spoke.

Her voice was very calm, showing no hint of joy or anger.

"You finally care to come back?"

"I thought you were planning to undergo Ascension directly, without even intending to say goodbye to me."