161: Chapter 161 A Frenzied Frenzy: The Xiao Family's Wealth All Goes to Her Husband

The air inside the bedchamber seemed to freeze at this very moment.

The pressure of an Immortal Emperor was a terrifying power that touched the Laws of the Heavenly Dao; even a trace of it leaking out was enough to shatter the Divine Souls of Cultivators below the Transcendent Realm.

Zi Yun stood before the bronze mirror, her finger still hovering near the wet golden blood at the corner of her lips.

The wickedness and greed in her eyes extinguished in an instant, replaced by the cold arrogance and restraint belonging to Xiao Ninger.

“Qing Yuan, withdraw the formation,” she whispered, her voice transmission as sharp as a needle.

In the shadows, Qing Yuan shuddered and hurriedly cut off the Talismans at the four corners.

The isolating barrier receded like a tide.

Zi Yun grabbed an ice-silk handkerchief and wiped away the blood from the corners of her mouth and eyes.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the slight restlessness in her body after having just devoured a Divine Soul.

*Creak—*

The heavy agarwood door was pushed open by a gentle yet irresistible force.

Sunlight squeezed through the crack of the door, landing on a pair of black boots embroidered with golden dragon cloud patterns.

The newcomer was burly and walked with a majestic stride, surrounded by a faint aura of Chaos. In his eyes, the faint imagery of stars being born and destroyed could be seen as they opened and closed.

The Head of the Xiao Family, Immortal Emperor Family Head.

“Nickname, why did it take so long to open the door?”

Family Head frowned slightly, his scrutinizing gaze—one accustomed to high status—swept through the room like two sharp swords.

Zi Yun (Xiao Ninger) bowed slightly, performing a flawless Junior's salute, her voice as cold as ever.

“Daughter was just refining the medicinal power of the Nine-Turn Soul-Supplementing Pill. My Divine Soul was too deeply immersed, so I failed to notice Father's arrival. I hope Father will forgive me.”

Family Head gave a cold snort, but his Divine Sense had already enveloped Zi Yun like a spiderweb.

Zi Yun's heartbeat remained normal, deep within her Sea of Consciousness.

That mass of grayish-white Lower Realm Heavenly Dao Origin acted like a bottomless black hole, tightly sealing away all of her own Origin.

In Family Head's perception, although his daughter's Divine Soul fluctuations were somewhat intense...

The aura of the True God Bloodline was purer than ever before, even showing faint signs of a complete transformation.

“Eh?”

The sharpness in Family Head's eyes instantly melted away, replaced by a deep sense of pleasant surprise.

He stepped in front of Zi Yun, placed his right hand on her shoulder, and sent his pure immortal power inside to investigate.

“Good! Very good!”

Family Head threw his head back and laughed, his voice shaking the great hall.

“Your aura is condensed, and your affinity with the Laws far exceeds what it was before. Nickname, your True God Bloodline has actually been further purified and improved today! As expected of my, Family Head's, daughter!”

A trace of mockery flashed in Zi Yun's lowered eyes as she thought to herself.

“Of course it is. I've chewed up and swallowed your daughter's Divine Soul; how could it not be pure?”

Though she thought this, Zi Yun showed none of it on her face.

She looked up, her gaze calm: “I gained some insights while meditating on the Creation Jade. I have made Father worry.”

“Sit and talk.” Family Head walked to the agarwood chair at the head of the hall and sat down, looking at Zi Yun with increasing satisfaction.

Zi Yun took a seat below him. Qing Yuan nimbly served spiritual tea and then immediately retreated back into the shadows.

“I came over late at night because I have a major matter to tell you.”

Family Head picked up the teacup and brushed away the foam.

“The once-in-a-century Star River Ancient Ruins will appear on the edge of the Ziwei Star Domain in half a month. It contains opportunities left behind by the Ancient Divine Court, and even top-grade Spiritual Veins are nurtured within.”

Zi Yun's hand holding the tea paused slightly as she quickly searched through Xiao Ninger's memories.

The Star River Ancient Ruins, one of the top Secret Realms in the Upper Realm.

It was an inner world formed from the Physical Body of an ancient Starry Sky Behemoth after its fall.

Not only did it produce top-grade Star Fine Gold, but the core even held 'Creation Star Marrow' which could reshape an Immortal King's Foundation.

A good place.

If she could dig out a few Spiritual Veins from the ruins for her husband to cleanse his marrow, he would surely be very happy.

“When the ruins open this time, the younger generation of all major forces will go. Our Xiao Family will, naturally, be led by you.”

Family Head put down the teacup, his tone becoming serious, “This is also why I am so happy about your Bloodline's progress.”

“Daughter understands.” Zi Yun nodded in agreement.

“Additionally.”

Family Head's gaze turned cold as he slammed the teacup heavily onto the table.

“I heard that Trash from the Lin family has been pestering you again these past few days? He even got himself covered in blood in front of the great hall today to gain attention. How scandalous!”

Zi Yun's expression turned cold, her tone revealing undisguised disgust.

“Father, rest assured, I have seen through him. This person's Dao Heart is unstable, and he only knows how to blame others. I have already expelled him, and we will have no involvement in the future.”

A flash of surprise appeared in Family Head's eyes.

His only daughter used to be obsessed with Lin Aotian to the point of Qi Deviation.

She wouldn't listen to anyone's advice, so why did she suddenly see the light today?

“Good! It's best that you've come to your senses!”

Family Head was greatly relieved and waved his hand.

“Although the Lin family was kind to you before, his strength is low; he's just a waste and doesn't deserve you. In the Star River Ancient Ruins this time, the Young Lord of the Tianshu Palace, Chu Tianjue, will also be there.”

Family Head stared at Zi Yun and lowered his voice.

“Chu Tianjue possesses an Innate Dao Body and has already entered the half-step Immortal King Realm. If you can join forces with him in the ruins and take the Opportunity to win him over... once our Xiao Family and Tianshu Palace are joined by marriage, this Ziwei Star Domain will be ours to command.”

Marriage?

Young Lord of Tianshu Palace?

Zi Yun sneered in her heart.

What is he? He can't even compare to a single strand of my husband's hair, yet he dares to covet my husband's woman?

“Daughter will follow Father's arrangements,” she replied nonchalantly.

Star River Ancient Ruins.

Thoughts raced through Zi Yun's mind.

This was a rare and excellent Opportunity.

She was currently wearing the skin of the Xiao Family's Eldest Young Miss; if she didn't squeeze a huge fortune out of this top-tier Upper Realm power's heritage, she would be failing her husband's plans.

Zi Yun moved her steps and walked to Family Head's side.

She softened her posture slightly and reached out to pull on Family Head's wide sleeve.

“Father.”

She deliberately lowered her voice, adding a touch of appropriate weakness and dependence.

“The Star River Ancient Ruins are extremely dangerous, and the prodigies of all Star Domains will gather there. Although my Bloodline has improved, I am ultimately venturing into danger alone. Are you not afraid that I might encounter a scheme by an expert of the older generation and never come out?”

For hundreds of years, Xiao Ninger had always presented herself as cold and proud; when had she ever acted so spoiled toward him?

Family Head was directly stunned.

Looking at his daughter tugging at his sleeve, the hardness in his eyes melted instantly.

“Who dares to touch Family Head's daughter!”

Family Head snorted coldly, and a physical Killing Intent flashed through the hall.

Then, his tone became incredibly gentle.

“But what you say is not without reason. The ruins are filled with Restrictions that prevent those above the Immortal King Realm from entering, so even I cannot go in. I indeed need to make more preparations for you.”

Zi Yun lowered her eyelids to hide the successful cunning within.

Family Head patted the purple-gold Storage Pouch at his waist.

Three dazzling streaks of golden light flew out and hovered in mid-air.

They were three golden Talismans emitting terrifying spatial fluctuations.

Complex Origin Laws flowed upon the Talisman paper.

“These are Nine-Tribulation Death-Substitution Talismans.”

With a wave of his hand, Family Head pushed the Talismans toward Zi Yun.

“Even against the full-force strike of an Immortal Emperor, these Talismans can protect you from harm three times and instantly teleport you a hundred thousand miles away.”

Zi Yun immediately reached out to catch them.

Feeling the pure life-saving Laws on the Talismans, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

Such good things were perfect to give to her husband for self-defense.

Even if the Heaven Burial Palace sent more people, her husband would have a better chance of winning with treasures like these.

Family Head reached into his Storage Pouch again.

This time, he took out five palm-sized white jade Formation Plates.

The plates were covered with dense, ancient defensive and killing formation runes.

“Top-grade Immortal Artifacts, the Flowing Cloud Illusionary Annihilation Formation.”

Family Head spoke heroically.

“Once set up, no one within the Immortal King Realm can break it in the slightest. It is supreme for both trapping/killing and defense. Keep them with you and set them up around you when you camp.”

Zi Yun quietly put the Formation Plates into her storage ring.

Her husband's Taiyi Holy Land happened to lack a worthy sect-protecting formation; this set of top-grade Immortal Artifacts was like being handed a pillow just as she was getting sleepy.

Finally, Family Head pulled out three mutton-fat jade bottles emitting exotic fragrances.

“The bottle on the left is the Nine-Turn Soul-Returning Pill; as long as the Divine Soul is not dispersed, it can reshape the Physical Body. In the middle is the Great Profound Realm-Breaking Pill to help you temporarily break through inside the ruins. On the right is the Clear Spirit Detoxification Powder, which can neutralize ten thousand poisons.”

Family Head said in one breath, “Take them all.”

Top-tier death-substitution Talismans, top-grade Immortal Artifact Formation Plates, and life-saving Immortal Pills.

These three things combined were enough to buy half of the Lower Realm.

Zi Yun put away all the treasures, cupped her hands, and bowed respectfully: “Thank you, Father, for the treasures.”

Her heart was already blooming with joy.

The old man's private treasury was truly fat.

She would just wait until her husband came up and then give them to him.

When her husband saw these 'dowry' items, he would surely reward her well.

At the thought of Su Yun, the Origin within Zi Yun's body began to stir restlessly with affection again.

She forcibly circulated her Cultivation Technique to suppress that surge of emotion.

Family Head was very pleased with his daughter's sensible and well-behaved manner today.

He stood up, gave a few more instructions about the ruins' opening time and the selection of the team, and then strode out of the bedchamber.

The main door closed again.

Zi Yun immediately walked to the bed and sat cross-legged.

She had to race against time to erase the Karma tracking marks belonging to the Upper Realm's Xiao Family on these Immortal Artifacts and Talismans.

Fifteen minutes later.

A series of hurried and heavy footsteps came from outside the hall.

Qing Yuan walked in quickly, her usually numb face now showing undisguised disgust.

“Young Miss.” Qing Yuan walked to the jade table and reported in a low voice, “Lin Aotian is here.”

Zi Yun didn't even lift her eyelids, her hands continuing to form seals to refine a jade token: “Break his legs and throw him off the sacred mountain.”

“He somehow found out about the Star River Ancient Ruins.”

Qing Yuan said coldly.

“He is now kneeling at the steps of the main peak's plaza, saying that the Star River Ancient Ruins are full of dangers and he's afraid you'll be in peril. He insists on accompanying you as an attendant. The guards tried to drive him away, but he won't leave, shamelessly lingering there.”

Zi Yun stopped her hand movements of forming the Dharma seal.

She slowly opened her eyes, and dark red blood-light flickered wildly deep within her black pupils.

“Afraid I'll be in danger? He just wants to fight for opportunities in the ruins.” Zi Yun let out a very soft, very cold laugh.

She then stood up, her ice-blue gown sweeping across the white jade floor.

“Since he's in such a hurry to seek death...” Zi Yun straightened her cuffs, “Then I will fulfill his wish. Go tell him, I'll take him with me.”