5: Binding Empress

“How is this possible? There really is a Nine Revolutions Imperial Medicine…”

Tantai Qinghuang hadn't recovered from her shock when the nine-colored spirit medicine let out a clear hum, transforming into a streak of light that vanished into her slightly parted red lips.

The next second, the girl’s silver hair at the roots surged with crimson, like lava flowing backward over a snowfield. Her red hair once again danced freely in the breeze; the wrinkles on her face disappeared at a visible speed, her originally dull skin glowed with a lustrous sheen, and even the fine lines at the corners of her eyes were smoothed away—at this moment, she not only regained her youth but also gained a touch of vivacity she hadn't possessed before.

She raised her hand to caress her now smooth face, and the delicate sensation at her fingertips instantly brought tears to her eyes.

“It really is Nine Revolutions…”

Who doesn’t want to live well? Especially when the shadow of death truly looms, this glimmer of life becomes even more precious.

Amidst her gratitude and surprise, the shock in her heart surged like a tide. Others might not understand the value of this pill, but as a reborn Empress, she knew better than anyone—this Nine Revolutions Soul-Returning Pill was enough to allow a Quasi-Emperor on the verge of falling to defy fate and change their destiny.

Previously, she wasn't without doubts about Su Chen.

After all, in her previous life, when her clan was annihilated, this “Old Ancestor” never appeared.

In the cultivation world, there were many instances of family Old Ancestors sacrificing their descendants for selfish desires.

For example, she knew of a certain family's first-generation Old Ancestor who had an entire village of descendants, but it was actually to use demonic methods to refine the blood skulls of the entire clan to improve his personal aptitude. Unfortunately, a junior disciple stole his opportunity.

Even if this Ancestor Chen was indeed their Tantai Family's former pillar, what did that have to do with them, his descendants?

Besides the surname “Tantai,” there was no other bond.

But the moment this pill entered her mouth, all doubts vanished into thin air.

She knew too well—even if the entire Tantai Family were to be sold off, it wouldn't be worth one ten-thousandth of this pill.

Thinking of this, Tantai Qinghuang slowly turned around, faced the immortal portrait hanging on the wall, knelt on both knees solemnly, and kowtowed deeply, her voice as firm as a rock: “Qinghuang thanks Old Ancestor for the life-saving grace; I dare not forget it in this life!”

Su Chen watched this scene, his heart slightly stirred. While the girl was recuperating, he casually opened her personal information panel—

[Name: Tantai Qinghuang]

[Age: 18]

[Realm: Condensing Yuan Second Layer → Solidifying Spirit Ninth Layer (Recovery Period)]

[Aptitude: Great Emperor's Potential, Imperial Blood Awakening Progress 40%]

[Personality: Resolute and Courageous, Patient and Loyal]

[Affection: 65% (Gratitude)]

[Remarks: Reborn Empress, due to witnessing the destruction of her clan in her previous life, she harbors deep guilt and a sense of responsibility towards her clansmen.]

“Hiss—” Su Chen gasped.

Reborn Empress!

A classic trope!

He secretly rejoiced that he hadn't hesitated just now. If he had missed out on such a potential stock, he would surely regret it bitterly.

Just then, the system's prompt suddenly sounded:

[Ding~ A high-aptitude character has been detected. Do you wish to bind them as a “Saint Son / Saintess”?

Explanation: After binding, the character's cultivation progress will be synchronized and reflected to the real-world player. Please prioritize high-aptitude characters. Each clan can only bind one.]

Su Chen looked at the red-clad figure in front of the portrait and didn't hesitate: “Bind!”

This was one of the core gameplay elements of Clan Luck Expedition—binding a potential junior and carefully nurturing them. Their cultivation achievements would directly feedback to him. It was like binding a “cheat” that could cultivate day and night for him. The higher the aptitude, the more terrifying the feedback efficiency, naturally.

He hadn't expected that he would bind a future Empress.

“Qinghuang,” Su Chen’s voice echoed in the ancestral hall, “I see your exceptional aptitude and wish to establish you as the Saintess of the clan. Are you willing?”

Tantai Qinghuang was stunned, instinctively a little dazed. This Old Ancestor was too good to her, so good that it felt somewhat unreal. But looking at the anticipation in the clansmen’s eyes, she finally nodded and replied, “Qinghuang obeys.”

[Congratulations to the host, binding successful! Limited-time special offer package has been activated!]

[Elite · Support Package]

Current Price 6 (Original Price 18), “Ten Thousand Year Cold Jade Marrow Pendant” × 1 (Bound): Can double cultivation speed.

[Luxury · Consolidation Package]

Current Price 68 (Original Price 366), “Congenital Dao Embryo Spirit Liquid” × 3 (Bound): Can activate hidden bloodline within the body.

[Supreme · Secret Tome Package]

Current Price 888 (Original Price 6688), “Mysterious Treasure Chest Key” × 1 (Unbound).

(Novice Tip: Bound items can only be used in-game, unbound items can feedback to reality.)

The value of the first two packages was obvious, but Su Chen’s gaze fell on the last item, which he had never seen before.

However, he didn't hesitate and purchased all three packages directly.

“Every Saintess of my Tantai Family shall have a token by her side.”

As his voice fell, two items flew out from the painting: one was a deep blue jade pendant, as profound as the night sky, its surface patterns ancient like star trails; the other was a white jade treasure bottle, lustrous like solidified fat, with intricate cloud patterns carved on its body.

Tantai Qinghuang moved with light steps, her jade hand steadily catching them.

The moment her fingertips touched the jade pendant, her movements suddenly froze, and her beautiful eyes widened abruptly—

“Ten Thousand Year Cold Jade Marrow?!”

In her previous life, she fled alone during the clan's annihilation, enduring hardships and entering a Holy Land.

Within the Holy Land, the Saintess's token was an earring made of this Cold Jade Marrow, said to greatly enhance cultivation speed, allowing cultivators to achieve twice the results with half the effort.

At that time, she could only cast envious glances from afar.

But now, the Ten Thousand Year Cold Jade Marrow in her hand, whether in quality or size, was far beyond what that small earring could compare to.

Something that was once out of reach was now so easily held in her hand, making her feel as if she were in a dream, everything so unreal.

She suppressed the shock in her heart and brought the white jade treasure bottle to her nose. A faint, ethereal fragrance instantly permeated her lungs, making all the pores on her body relax.

“This is… Congenital Dao Embryo Spirit Liquid?!”

Her voice even carried a hint of an almost imperceptible tremor.

She remembered clearly that in her previous life, at a top-tier auction, several Great Emperors fought fiercely over a single drop of this Spirit Liquid, and the final price fetched was enough to buy a medium-sized family. And now, such a divine item was actually held in her own palm.

Tantai Qinghuang felt a wave of dizziness, her heart a mix of emotions.

In her previous life, she had struggled in the cultivation world for hundreds of years, every step treading on thorns. Spirit stones had to be fought for, cultivation techniques had to be snatched, and even a decent magic artifact required risking her life to obtain. She had countless times envied those aristocratic family scions who were born with everything.

And she could only tell herself repeatedly amidst setbacks that she still had to seek revenge, that this was her destiny.

But now, everything truly seemed to have changed.

The feeling of being unconditionally cherished, of being seen as hope, was something she had never experienced in her two lives.

Tears rolled down without warning, crystal clear on her eyelashes. Tantai Qinghuang suddenly broke into a smile, her tear-stained face like the sky after a rain, so bright that the surrounding light dimmed a little.

“Qinghuang thanks Old Ancestor for his grace!”

Su Chen looked at the girl's beautiful smile and was slightly stunned.

[Ding, Tantai Qinghuang's affection for you +20%, now 85% (Intimate)]

[Affection has reached Intimate, you can now observe the bound character at any time, without distance restrictions, and can roughly perceive her inner thoughts.]

Looking at the system prompt, his lips curved slightly.

Sure enough, even the coldest reborn Empress couldn't withstand the onslaught of cash-bought gift packages.

“After all, it’s a life-saving and re-creation grace.”

At this moment, a gentle breeze pushed open the ancestral hall window, scattering golden light on the Tantai Family's pavilions, and the bronze bells on the eaves chimed with the wind.

Su Chen's voice was calm but carried immense power, resounding in the heart of every clansman:

“In the past, I know of the hardships you endured.”

“From now on, I will be your backing!”