120: I only see you as a younger brother; even a day as husband and wife is worth a hundred days of kindness.

Looking at Bai Xuerou again, Lu Zifeng finally made up his mind.

After all, he knew that if he didn't say some things now, he might never have the chance again.

"Sister Xuerou, I like you."

The moment Lu Zifeng finished speaking, Bai Xuerou froze on the spot.

After a long while, her face flushed crimson, but she cleared her throat and spoke with great seriousness.

"Zifeng, I don't know why you suddenly confessed to me, but I don't want to lead you on. I don't have romantic feelings for you at the moment."

"So I'm sorry, I can't force myself to suddenly like you. Right now, I only treat you as a younger brother."

After hearing Bai Xuerou's answer, Lu Zifeng seemed to lose his soul, his face filled with disbelief.

This wasn't right. In his past life, Sister Xuerou was the one who confessed to him. Why was it that now, when it was his turn to confess, Sister Xuerou actually rejected him?

However, Lu Zifeng soon thought of something, and a bitter smile appeared on his face.

That's right. In his past life, Sister Xuerou revealed her feelings because they had been together for a full thirty years, and she was on the verge of death. Only then did she speak her heart.

But now, it hadn't even been half a year. Lacking those precious memories, how could Sister Xuerou possibly agree to him for no reason?

Thus, Lu Zifeng gave a bitter laugh.

"Sister Xuerou, I'm sorry. I was being presumptuous."

"In fact, I came today because I have been recruited into the Imperial Guard Army by Your Majesty, and I will be heading to the Central Continent in a few days."

"Additionally, I'm here to give you some resources. I hope to see you again in the Central Continent one day."

After saying that, Lu Zifeng handed a storage ring to Bai Xuerou and then turned to leave.

Watching Lu Zifeng's departing back, Bai Xuerou somehow felt a sense of emptiness in her heart.

Touching her racing heartbeat, Bai Xuerou murmured to herself.

"Could it be that I've fallen for Zifeng?"

But soon, Bai Xuerou shook her head. Her affection wouldn't be so casual.

If she were to fall for Lu Zifeng just because of the half-year they spent together, then her love would be too cheap and somewhat unworthy of Lu Zifeng.

"We'll see what happens in the future."

On the other side, after Lu Zifeng left, he rushed toward Heavenly Spirit Mountain.

In his view, whether Sister Xuerou was with him or not wasn't important. What mattered was that she was happy.

Within Heavenly Spirit Mountain.

The guests had all dispersed. After all, the breaking of the Seal meant that many great experts would soon emerge in the Heavenly Saint Continent.

Since one could now undergo Ascension to the Holy Realm, and the Heavenly Saint Continent would likely yield many more Opportunities and great experts, this was perfectly normal.

When Gu Jixiao returned to his bedchamber, he happened to see the returning Shen Qingyu and Ying Lanfeng.

However, their expressions were extremely complex. Shen Qingyu was the first to step forward.

"Husband, I'm sorry, but I don't think I can go to the Holy Realm with you."

"Oh? Why?"

Gu Jixiao raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone somewhat surprised.

Shen Qingyu looked at Gu Jixiao with a serious and solemn expression.

"It is because I don't want to be a trophy, and I certainly don't want Husband to carry everything alone. I want to stand by Husband's side through my own strength!"

As Shen Qingyu spoke, Gu Jixiao nodded and then looked toward Ying Lanfeng.

"If I'm not mistaken, you probably have the same idea?"

"Yes, I want to go back and take over Tianguang Holy Land. I also want to stand by your side, Husband, through my own strength."

Ying Lanfeng stepped forward, her expression equally serious and solemn.

It was unknown what the two had encountered, but they both unexpectedly wanted to reach the Holy Realm through their own strength.

But since this was their choice, Gu Jixiao naturally would not interfere.

In Gu Jixiao's view, a true emperor should respect the choices of his subjects, and both Shen Qingyu and Ying Lanfeng belonged to him.

Furthermore, with the saying 'one day as husband and wife, a hundred days of grace,' he and the two women had been together for more than just one day, so their feelings were naturally deep; thus, he would respect their choices.

Just thinking about how they didn't know when they would be able to undergo Ascension to the Holy Realm, Gu Jixiao did not miss that final day before his departure.

On this day, the two women absorbed an unknown amount of great emperor essence; once refined, their cultivation would at least make great progress.

Looking at the two women in deep sleep, Gu Jixiao rose, put on his clothes with a wave of his hand, and vanished in a flash.

The moment Gu Jixiao left, Shen Qingyu and Ying Lanfeng opened their eyes simultaneously.

Their gazes were extremely complex, but they did not stop Gu Jixiao from leaving.

Although they had initially chosen to stay by Gu Jixiao's side under pressure, perhaps because of the long time spent together, feelings for Gu Jixiao grew in their hearts until they were beyond help.

The day before, the two women had returned to their respective forces and informed them of their intention to follow Gu Jixiao to the Holy Realm.

Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

And although Shen Qingyu was only a branch pavilion master, in reality, she was Wu Tianxie's foster daughter. However, when Wu Tianxie found Shen Qingyu, he discovered a jade pendant on her person engraved with the three characters 'Shen Qingyu'.

That was why he named her Shen Qingyu.

After Shen Qingyu reached adulthood, she was sent by Wu Tianxie to a branch of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion to gain experience.

Even within the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, very few people knew about the relationship between Shen Qingyu and Wu Tianxie.

Therefore, before she was about to leave, the first thing Shen Qingyu did was to bid farewell to Wu Tianxie.

Although he was her foster father, in Shen Qingyu's eyes, Wu Tianxie was no different from her biological father.

However, upon hearing that Shen Qingyu was going to follow Gu Jixiao to the Holy Realm, Wu Tianxie did not offer blessings but instead spoke with great seriousness to persuade her.

"Qingyu, I still advise you to stay in the Heavenly Saint Continent, take over the entire Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, and then undergo Ascension to the Holy Realm through your own strength to be worthy of Your Majesty."

"You must understand that an emperor like Your Majesty will never lack women by his side."

"If you are content to be a trophy, serving by Your Majesty's side, it won't be long before you are discarded by Your Majesty."

"If you want to be worthy of Your Majesty and stay with him forever, then I advise you to stay in the Heavenly Saint Continent, take over the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, and then go to the Holy Realm to find Your Majesty in the future."

In Wu Tianxie's heart, he had long intended to groom Shen Qingyu as the successor of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

Therefore, it would naturally be best if Shen Qingyu could stay in the Heavenly Saint Continent to take over the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

Furthermore, what he said was not nonsense. If Shen Qingyu were truly content to follow Gu Jixiao to the Holy Realm, it wouldn't be long before she became an inconspicuous member of Gu Jixiao's harem.

Only by staying in the Heavenly Saint Continent and reaching the Holy Realm through her own strength would she be enough to attract Gu Jixiao's attention and leave an unshakable position in Gu Jixiao's heart.