31: He hugged me

With that, Ji Li put away her whip and walked away with her long legs.

Hiss—

Chen Qingxuan curled his lip. "Quite fierce. How do you know I don't like it?"

Jokes aside, Chen Qingxuan hurried to shut the door tight, leaning his back against it and patting his chest as he let out a long breath—

Phew!

The Demon Emperor Palace really isn't a place for humans to stay.

If he hadn't been clever today and stabilized the situation by relying on the Bloodline Awakening, perhaps by now... he would have truly been silenced forever.

Although he intentionally acted relaxed and casual when meeting Ji Qianyou, it was all for Ji Li's benefit, wanting her to think he was guileless... As a powerful figure in charge of the Demon Emperor Palace, Chen Qingxuan wouldn't truly believe she was just a woman with a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

Especially one who raised a daughter alone while ruling over a territory spanning thousands of miles; she was definitely a ruthless character.

And a ruthless character where both strength and intelligence coexisted.

"Perhaps in this room... something is watching me at all times."

Thinking of this, Chen Qingxuan didn't dare to be careless. Even when going to bed, he didn't dare drop his facade.

A youth of the Human Race staying in the Demon Emperor Palace—one wrong move and his life would be forfeit.

This time, contracting the talent was definitely a case of seeking fortune amidst danger.

On the other side.

Just as Chen Qingxuan guessed, Ji Li, who had returned to her Sleeping Hall, was not resting. She was observing Chen Qingxuan's every move through a Bronze Mirror.

"Does the Demon God Valley... really exist?"

Ji Li's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly.

In fact, even now, she still had doubts about Chen Qingxuan's identity and whether he could help her daughter achieve the Demon Emperor Bloodline Awakening.

The reason she didn't probe further was that she wasn't afraid of being deceived by Chen Qingxuan... she had plenty of time and the confidence to verify it.

Even if she were truly deceived, she wouldn't lose anything. Instead, it would be Chen Qingxuan... who would suffer consequences worse than death.

No one in the world should be stupid enough to go looking for trouble.

The next day.

Early in the morning, Chen Qingxuan's door was pushed open.

"Wait...?" Startled awake, Chen Qingxuan sat on the bed, looking at the beautiful figure at the door as if questioning his life. "Is something wrong?"

Seeing Chen Qingxuan still lingering in bed, Ji Li's stunningly beautiful face showed a hint of displeasure. "Why aren't you up yet?"

"This...?"

Before Chen Qingxuan could answer, Ji Li added, "Don't forget, starting today, you must help Qian You achieve the Demon Emperor Bloodline Awakening."

"..."

Chen Qingxuan was speechless;

Having been terrified until the middle of the night, to be honest, he had only just closed his eyes. Now, he could only get up and follow Ji Li to the Back Garden.

Because his energy was focused on Ji Qianyou yesterday, he hadn't had time to look closely at the Back Garden. Upon arriving today, Chen Qingxuan discovered that the entire Back Garden was planted with all sorts of priceless, Rare Spiritual Items over a hundred years old.

The Spiritual Qi emitted by these spiritual items was enveloped by a special Barrier, preventing it from leaking out.

Thus, after stepping into the area, the originally exhausted Chen Qingxuan felt as if he had fallen into a pool of Spiritual Qi, and his spirits were instantly lifted.

Even without Cultivating, simply standing in this Spiritual Qi made one feel as if their whole body was filled with it, let alone the effects of Cultivating here.

It was simply the most suitable Blessed Land for cultivation.

With such a superior cultivation environment, the young Ji Qianyou had relied on her talent and hard work to reach the strength of the Bone Forging Realm.

And this was even before the Demon Emperor Bloodline Awakening.

It was unimaginable—if Ji Qianyou achieved the Demon Emperor Bloodline Awakening and continued to Cultivate in such a place favorable for cultivation with endless resources at her disposal... what kind of extraordinary talent would she display then?

"Mother, Revered Master."

Ji Qianyou had already been waiting for a long time.

After a night of psychological guidance, she had now somewhat accepted Chen Qingxuan as her Revered Master.

Of course, it wasn't recognition from the bottom of her heart, but rather that she didn't want to go against her mother's arrangements.

"Qian You, you're up so early to Cultivate?" Chen Qingxuan walked over with a smile, warmly greeting the little girl to build rapport.

"Is it early?" Ji Qianyou tilted her head and looked at him. "I've already been Cultivating for half an hour."

"Holy crap?"

Chen Qingxuan was greatly surprised upon hearing this.

To be honest, he really didn't expect someone of such a noble status to be able to work this hard.

Truly rare!

But this was good; the fruits of her future efforts would all be his.

"Don't forget what I told you yesterday."

Hearing Chen Qingxuan's crude language, Ji Li gave a cold warning.

"Begin!"

Giving Chen Qingxuan a look, Ji Li turned and walked away, but she didn't truly leave; she just moved to the side.

"..."

Chen Qingxuan was in a bind.

Although he was confident that after contracting Ji Qianyou, he could help her and himself obtain the Demon Emperor Bloodline, with Ji Li watching from the side... he had no chance to contract the talent.

Facing the intense gazes of the mother and daughter, Chen Qingxuan could only bite the bullet. "Come, Qian You, today your Revered Master will first teach you how to practice breathing exercises."

"I know how to do that."

Ji Qianyou spread her small hands.

Chen Qingxuan spoke nonsense with a straight face. "The breathing exercises your Revered Master will teach you are different from the ones you know. You must practice as I say."

Ji Li said softly, "Qian You, listen to your Revered Master."

"Alright."

Ji Qianyou nodded.

Thus, Chen Qingxuan could only bite the bullet and solemnly teach the breathing cultivation method he knew.

"Wait."

Before long, Ji Li noticed something was wrong. "What are you teaching her?"

"How to breathe in Spiritual Qi?" Chen Qingxuan hadn't reacted yet.

Ji Li questioned, "This Breathing Method... why is it the one commonly used by the Human Race?"

"Human Race?"

Ji Qianyou tilted her head to look at Chen Qingxuan with a suspicious expression.

Gulp~

Chen Qingxuan immediately felt something was wrong;

Facing the scrutinizing gazes of the mother and daughter, he forced a smile and said, "As expected of the Demon Lord. You are right, this is indeed a Breathing Method of the Human Race... I intend to teach her the Human Race's Breathing Method first."

"?"

Ji Li's phoenix eyes stared at Chen Qingxuan;

But before she could press further, a beautiful figure flew over rapidly. It was one of the Maids from the Demon Emperor Palace who had received Chen Qingxuan that day.

After the Maid arrived, she first glanced at Chen Qingxuan, then approached Ji Li and whispered, "Demon Lord, just now someone claiming to be..."

"What?"

Ji Li's delectable face revealed an irrepressible look of astonishment.

Chen Qingxuan didn't even dare to breathe;

Especially as Ji Li's expression shifted, those crystal-red eyes actually looked toward him... What was going on?

Why was she looking at him?

Then, without saying a word, Ji Li flew away directly with the Maid.

Phew—

Chen Qingxuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Looking at Ji Li's disappearing back, he then looked down at the little girl beside him... an impulse surged in his heart.

Now, it seemed to be the best opportunity!

But if he directly contracted her and helped Ji Qianyou awaken the Demon Emperor Bloodline... would Ji Li think he no longer had any utility and harbor murderous intent again?

Whatever.

If he missed this chance, who knew how long he'd have to wait for the next one.

Swish—

Steeling his heart, Chen Qingxuan decisively scooped up the defenseless Ji Qianyou;

If Ji Li really tried to kill the hound once the rabbit is caught then, he would just have to find another way to bluff... If he couldn't bluff his way out, at worst, he'd use his trump card to flee for his life.

He couldn't waste this opportunity!

"Ah—"

Suddenly being picked up, Ji Qianyou panicked, her small hands swatting at Chen Qingxuan. "What are you doing... what do you want to do?"

"Qian You, don't scream. Revered Master will be very quick..."

Chen Qingxuan was just about to pull out the Contract Paper;

But before he could begin the binding, a sudden sense of danger stimulated his instincts, driving him to quickly put the little girl down.

In the very next moment... Ji Li's figure reappeared.

Gulp~

Chen Qingxuan's pupils shrank—that was close!

Fortunately, his Sixth Sense was accurate enough.

Just then, Ji Qianyou suddenly ran toward Ji Li and complained:

"Mother, he hugged me!"