217: Chapter 217 The Trials and Tribulations

Beneath her mask, Empress Yue Chan's brow furrowed, her eyes filled with unease.

This time, she had gone so far as to lower herself and disguise herself as a hidden guard to enter the Ancient God Ruins with Cao Kun.

It was all for the sake of seizing a heavenly dao fortune mark to stabilize her Body Integration Stage Realm.

And while she was at it, to find an opportunity to kill Bi Yuntao, that tumor who was stealing the national fortune.

She had thought that with Cao Kun, an arrogant freak with perverted strength, acting as a conspicuous target in the open...

She would be able to fish in troubled waters and easily set her plans in motion from the shadows.

As it turned out, things didn't go so well.

They hadn't even been in the Divine Ruins for half an hour before this bastard provoked a Middle Stage Body Integration expert, plus an Integration Stage Peak!

And the opponents weren't even suppressed by the Laws!

How the hell was she supposed to play this?!

However, compared to Empress Yue Chan's worried appearance...

Cao Kun actually laughed out loud, completely heartless.

Not only did he not take Empress Yue Chan's warning seriously, but he even took a step forward, pressing himself directly against her.

Before Empress Yue Chan could react, Cao Kun had already reached out.

He pinched her smooth, fair chin and tilted it up slightly.

"Little hidden guard."

"You're far too timid. You're already scared out of your wits by just this much?"

"If the sky falls, I'll be the one to hold it up."

"As long as you're obedient and serve me tea, pour me water, and massage my shoulders and legs..."

"I guarantee that once we leave these Ancient God Ruins, the fortune marks you collect will be more than all those other prodigies combined."

Empress Yue Chan's entire body stiffened at Cao Kun's frivolous actions.

Then, a surge of nameless fire rushed to her head.

"Slap!"

She directly slapped Cao Kun's hand away and hissed in a low, angry voice.

"Cao Kun! Have you had enough?!"

"I am kindly reminding you!"

"Yin Tianzheng is at the Integration Stage Peak! You just took a casual blow from him and were forced back a dozen steps!"

"If he hadn't left just now and truly wanted a life-and-death struggle with you, how would you have won?!"

"Can you please face reality!"

Empress Yue Chan truly felt that Cao Kun had gone mad.

Had this man fought too many easy battles in that small place of his?

Did he really think he was the Reincarnation of a Heavenly Emperor, invincible under heaven?

She really wanted to pry open Cao Kun's head to see if it was filled with water.

This was the Integration Stage Peak, not some common cabbage on the roadside!

However, before Cao Kun could speak, Liu Rumeng, who was nearby, became displeased.

She was already full of hostility toward this personal maid who had suddenly appeared with an ordinary face but a hot body.

Now, seeing this woman dare to spout such nonsense in front of her master!

She rushed forward in a few steps and pushed Empress Yue Chan aside.

"What does a stinky servant like you know!"

Liu Rumeng stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at Empress Yue Chan like a little tigress protecting her food.

"My master is invincible! What is that old man in the Python Robe supposed to be? Is he even worthy of being compared to my master?"

"If he dares to come back, Master will definitely beat him until he's looking for his teeth on the ground!"

"You're just a servant. When the master is speaking, you'd better keep your mouth shut tight!"

Liu Rumeng's rapid-fire output was at full power.

Her self-righteous posture made it seem as if she would pounce and fight Empress Yue Chan to the death with just a single word from Cao Kun.

Looking at the young girl in red before her, Empress Yue Chan's head buzzed.

Are both of these people seriously ill?!

One is at the Late Stage of Soul Transformation and doesn't see a problem with taking on an Integration Stage Peak.

The other is at the Early Stage of Soul Transformation and actually thinks what the Late Stage of Soul Transformation says is universal truth?!

How exactly are the brains of this master and servant wired?!

Empress Yue Chan was so angry her breathing became uneven. She turned her head away, no longer looking at this pair who were shortening her lifespan.

She was afraid that if she kept looking, she would be so angry she'd suffer Qi Deviation on the spot.

Seeing Empress Yue Chan's aggrieved look—unable to lash out because she had to hide her identity—Cao Kun felt a surge of secret satisfaction.

He dotingly reached out and rubbed Liu Rumeng's head.

"Not bad, not bad."

"Little Rumeng's performance today has deeply pleased me."

"Tonight, Master must give you a big reward."

Hearing the word reward, Liu Rumeng's pretty face flushed red.

She took the opportunity to hug Cao Kun's arm, casting a provocative glance at Empress Yue Chan.

"Thank you, Master~"

In this moment where the smell of gunpowder and an ambiguous atmosphere intertwined...

The transmission Jade Slip at Cao Kun's waist suddenly lit up.

He injected spiritual energy.

Murong Xue's voice, carrying a bit of tension and urgency, immediately came through:

"Lord... Lord Cao, we are in the southeast, near Blood Crystal Valley about fifty li away. We've discovered the main force of the Taichu Holy Land!"

Hearing this, Cao Kun's eyes lit up.

"Taichu Holy Land?"

"That's a wealthy household!"

Since these people had entered the Divine Ruins, they must have many good things on them.

"Who is leading them? And how many people?" Cao Kun immediately pressed.

"The leader is the Great Master of the Taichu Holy Land, Head Disciple! They have about thirty Core Disciples with them, all with cultivation at the Void Refining stage or above!"

"Additionally..."

Murong Xue paused before continuing:

"The Prince of Dayan, Bi Yuntao, is also there."

"The people he brought are currently mixed with those from the Taichu Holy Land."

"It looks like they are plotting something."

As soon as these words were spoken...

The gaze of Empress Yue Chan, who was beside Cao Kun, instantly became sharp.

Bi Yuntao, that rebellious traitor!

He really had colluded with the Taichu Holy Land!

She wished she could rush over right now and chop off Bi Yuntao's head with a single sword strike.

Cao Kun, however, keenly noticed Empress Yue Chan's emotional fluctuations.

He turned his head and gave Empress Yue Chan a half-smile.

"What's this?"

"Little hidden guard, why are you so excited to hear Bi Yuntao's name?"

Empress Yue Chan was startled.

She immediately realized she had lost her composure.

She quickly restrained her aura and replied coldly.

"This subordinate simply feels that as a member of the imperial family, he has betrayed Great Yan and colluded with foreign enemies. His crime is unpardonable; he deserves to die."

Cao Kun couldn't be bothered to expose her clumsy cover-up.

In any case, he had already formed a grudge with the Taichu Holy Land long ago.

As for Bi Yuntao, from the moment he dared to send people to the Hehuan Sect to capture his women...

He had already been ranked first on the must-kill list.

Now, it was perfect; these two groups had gathered together.

It saved him the trouble of searching for them one by one across the map.

It was as if the Heavens themselves were helping him save effort!

"Make sure not to alert them."

"I'll be there soon!"

Cao Kun gave an instruction to the Jade Slip and then cut off the transmission.

"Let's go! To Blood Crystal Valley!"

Liu Rumeng hugged Cao Kun's arm with an excited face: "Master, are we going to commit a robbery?"

"Wrong!" Cao Kun tapped Liu Rumeng's forehead and corrected her solemnly.

"We are going to deliver warmth! The Taichu Holy Land and Bi Yuntao have come all this way to the Divine Ruins; they must have many good things on them. It must be so tiring to carry all that."

"We're going to help them lighten the burden."

Liu Rumeng giggled: "Master is right! Help them lighten the burden!"

Empress Yue Chan listened from the side, completely stunned.

Could this person be any more shameless?

To be able to speak of killing and looting in such a high-sounding manner.

"Little hidden guard, what are you standing there for? Keep up!" Cao Kun beckoned to Empress Yue Chan.

Empress Yue Chan gritted her teeth and replied coldly: "You'd better not fail miserably in an easy task."

"Head Disciple is the strongest Prodigy of this generation in the Taichu Holy Land, with countless trump cards in his hand."

"Bi Yuntao is also at the Peak of the Late Stage of Void Refining and is extremely calculating. You are one person dealing with over forty of them; don't throw your life away!"

Cao Kun sneered and directly put his arm around Liu Rumeng's slender waist, taking to the air.

"Dealing with a bunch of flowers from a greenhouse plus an old dog, that's all."

"Today, I'll let them know what the cruelty of society feels like!"

Empress Yue Chan looked at his arrogant back and sighed with deep helplessness.

Although she felt that this temperament of his would lead to a great loss sooner or later...

For the sake of the Great Yan national fortune, and even more to kill Bi Yuntao with her own hands...

She could only helplessly circulate her spiritual energy and follow him in silence.

The three of them headed straight for Blood Crystal Valley in the southeast.

Goddess Ye Qingqiu