42: A reunion! The poor thing has come knocking on our door!

Farewell!

Chen Qingxuan stepped onto the divine phoenix sword and shot into the sky in an instant.

In the blink of an eye, his figure vanished into the cloud layer, fleeing with lightning speed.

Finally escaped... The Demon Emperor Palace, main hall.

Xuan Ling knelt before a set of disguise clothes, her jade-like hands trembling from clenching too hard. "My apologies, Demon Lord... I failed to keep watch over him... He got away."

"I took his portrait to inquire at Demon God Valley... Demon God Valley has never had a person like him... On the contrary, the four who were killed... were actually from Demon God Valley."

Boom—

A violent surge of Demonic Power erupted from Ji Li's body. In that instant, the entire hall felt as if it had been plunged into an icy cavern.

Especially after detecting the residual aura of the Human Race on that familiar set of disguise clothes, it made her tremble with rage all over. "Human Race... Daring to infiltrate my Demon Emperor Palace... Bring that Bitch back to me... I want him dead!!!"

"Yes, I will personally lead a team to chop off his head right away."

Xuan Ling dared not hesitate and immediately accepted the order.

"No!" Ji Li gritted her silver teeth and suddenly said, "Bring him back alive... I want him alive... alive and standing before me!"

Xuan Ling looked up in astonishment but dared not refute. "...Yes!"

With that, she hurriedly turned and left.

"Ah—"

After she was left alone in the hall, Ji Li snorted angrily in fury.

Unprecedented hatred!

Leaving aside how Chen Qingxuan had used her sympathy and trust to slap her in the face... making her experience such a searing betrayal;

Just his identity as a member of the Human Race... was something she couldn't accept!

A human infiltrating the Demon Emperor Palace... and for so many days at that... even helping her daughter awaken the Demon Emperor Bloodline... It was simply horrifying.

So besides the hatred from betrayal, at this moment, a sense of dread also enveloped Ji Li.

She couldn't bear to imagine... a human had been hiding by her daughter's side all this time!

All because of her own stupidity!

Especially when she thought about how Chen Qingxuan had talked back to her these past days, even brazenly sizing up her figure, sometimes even teasing her with words... No one had ever dared to treat her like this;

Yet for her daughter's sake and out of trust in Chen Qingxuan, she had exceptionally tolerated all these things.

Only to find out in the end that he was acting, that everything was fake... Who knows what kind of scheme he had in mind when infiltrating the Demon Emperor Palace.

At this moment, Ji Li felt utterly filled with shame and anger:

"You damn Bitch... No matter the ends of the earth... I will find you!"

"I will definitely find you!"

...After flying out of the Western Region, Chen Qingxuan looked back with emotion. "Farewell, this place so unfriendly to the Human Race... Tsk, made another kind connection!"

After his Feeling, Chen Qingxuan headed straight for the Southern Border.

"Nianhua Tower... the woman who squeezes grape juice~"

Recalling the mature woman from their last encounter, a curve lifted the corner of Chen Qingxuan's mouth;

It wasn't that he wanted to see her squeeze grape juice.

Rather, he had always harbored a wish to leave his name for eternity, but accomplishing that wish was beyond him alone; he needed helpers like her.

Now that he had contracted three top-tier talents, Chen Qingxuan could settle down, freeloading off their cultivation while pursuing his own dream... Time flew by.

Over a dozen years passed as if they were mere seconds.

Now, Huang Qingxue had not yet become the Divine Phoenix Empress, Jiang Susu had not yet been hailed as the Eastern Land Mystic Maiden, and Ji Qianyou had not yet transformed into the Western Region Demoness;

However, the first two had already made names for themselves in the Southern Border and Eastern Land respectively, hailed by the world as unprecedented, peerless Prodigies with boundless futures.

Compared to The two women, Ji Qianyou's fame was slightly lesser, or perhaps there was too little news about her.

Ever since something unknown happened in the Demon Emperor Palace over a dozen years ago, it seemed to have closed up like a turtle shell, ceasing contact with the outside world;

Especially its attitude towards the Human Race... was downright abysmal.

It was as if they held a grudge of humiliation!

Consequently, the world knew very little about the Demon Emperor Palace, only aware that the Demon Lord's daughter possessed extraordinary talent, but not to what extent.

As for Chen Qingxuan's improvement, it could be described as terrifyingly immense, after all, it accumulated the combined progress of three talents;

But he was a man who liked to forge good connections and rarely made enemies.

So compared to his achievements in strength, what truly made Chen Qingxuan proud was the establishment and flourishing of — Hundred Flowers Tower!

As the only brothel in the Central Region... oh no, in the entire Cangyun Continent, that combined commercialism with cultivation, its fame was thunderous.

Not to mention in its home base, the Central Region, even looking across the Southern Border, Eastern Land, and Northern Nether, any man who claimed not to have heard of Hundred Flowers Tower or never visited it;

Was most likely still wet behind the ears.

It wasn't that Hundred Flowers Tower was a den of vice. On the contrary, Hundred Flowers Tower sold only artistry, not bodies, and placed great emphasis on the physical and mental well-being of its female employees.

It was rumored that every three months, the boss of Hundred Flowers Tower would personally conduct health checks for the employees and could accurately point out deficiencies in their cultivation, no less effective than those major Sects;

Thus, many girls wanted to join.

There was even an unrealistic joke circulating: if all the beauties under heaven amounted to one shi, then Hundred Flowers Tower alone possessed seven dou, with the remaining three dou scattered elsewhere.

At this moment, on the most bustling street in the Central Region.

"Hmph, a brothel... being talked up so mysteriously." Huang Qingxue walked along the road, listening to the surrounding discussions about Hundred Flowers Tower, couldn't help but frown;

As someone devoted to cultivating the Dao and harboring deep psychological shadows towards men, she naturally looked down upon such things.

Hearing this, Ren Zixia smiled. "These mundane matters have nothing to do with us. Our purpose for coming to the Central Region this time is that Luck Ruins."

"Yes, Revered Master."

Huang Qingxue nodded slightly.

Just then, a voice came from beside them. "Look, look... They say this is a portrait of the mastermind behind Hundred Flowers Tower... Looks quite young!"

"Huh? Why only the eyes and brows... No full face?"

"What are you thinking? The boss of Hundred Flowers Tower is secretive, never shows his face in public. This was luckily seen and sketched... It's sold for a high price."

"..."

Huang Qingxue frowned upon hearing this.

Out of rationality, she disdained being curious about such matters, but out of instinct... due to hearing everyone's discussions about Hundred Flowers Tower along the way, she still subconsciously glanced at it.

Thud—

But that one glance made her delicate body tremble.

Those eyes...?

Even though the scroll only depicted a pair of eyes and brows... it still made her heart race.

Those eyes... she would never forget them even in death!

"Qingxue, what's wrong?" Ren Zixia also stopped and looked at her motionless disciple.

"Revered Master..."

Huang Qingxue's lips parted slightly, her heart pounding wildly;

Found him!

Facing Ren Zixia's puzzled gaze, she struggled internally for a moment before saying, "Revered Master... you go ahead first... I need to buy something... I'll catch up with you shortly."

"Alright, then be quick."

Ren Zixia didn't think much of it and turned to leave.

"You damn evil cultivator... To think you're still alive... and living so comfortably!"

Huang Qingxue clenched her pink fists, gnashing her teeth.

At this moment,

Hundred Flowers Tower had just thrown someone out, eliciting cheers from the crowd.

Atop the building overlooking the entire scene, a door opened, and a graceful, still charmingly mature beauty with a peach-like bottom swayed in.

It was none other than Zhao Xiaoyin, the manager whom Chen Qingxuan had poached from Nianhua Tower at great expense back then to manage Hundred Flowers Tower.

Now dressed in a purple dress, she entered the room and proactively loosened her collar, perhaps because the weather was too hot.

"Qingxuan, just now, Prince Qin's son got drunk and caused trouble, insisting on harassing our girls." Zhao Xiaoyin reported as she approached.

"How many times have I told you, address me by my title during work." Chen Qingxuan put down the picture book he was reading and corrected her. "Leaders should lead by example."

"Okay, Boss." Zhao Xiaoyin forced out a smile, stood properly with her jade legs together, and was taken aback upon seeing the picture on the table. "Oh Boss, why are you looking at this kind of thing again?"

"Ahem..."

Chen Qingxuan casually pushed the picture book into a drawer and said, "That son of Prince Liu... how was it handled?"

"It's Prince Qin!" Xiao Yin shook her head with a bitter smile and added, "He was beaten according to the rules and then thrown out."

"That's fine. Handle things according to the rules from now on. No need to report such minor matters to me specifically."

"Speaking of which... aren't the rules of our Hundred Flowers Tower a bit too harsh?" Xiao Yin bit her red lip and explained, "After all, some customers have prominent statuses. With our way of doing things... it's easy to invite retaliation... Should we be more polite to them in the future?"

"Polite?" Chen Qingxuan chuckled upon hearing this and pointed at the plaque by the door. "What's written on that?"

"Serving the customers!"

"Exactly!" Chen Qingxuan said solemnly. "Our purpose is to serve the customers, not just the VIPs... If we give preferential treatment just because of high status, then what's the difference between me and those parasites who claim to serve the people but privately give them no way to live?"

"Giggle~"

Zhao Xiaoyin covered her mouth and chuckled lightly.

At that moment, a maid suddenly rushed in. "Boss, Manager Zhao, there's a woman insisting on seeing the boss. She says if she doesn't get to see him, she'll slaughter everyone in Hundred Flowers Tower."

"What?" Zhao Xiaoyin couldn't believe it. "What are the guards doing?"

The maid said guiltily, "...They can't beat her."

"I'd like to see who this extraordinary person is. Bring her up." Chen Qingxuan casually put on a mask.

"Yes!"

The maid accepted the order and left.

Zhao Xiaoyin looked at Chen Qingxuan. "Probably another person wanting to join our Hundred Flowers Tower. Using such methods... could ruin our rules."

"I know. Go receive her."

Not long after.

A graceful figure, accompanied by a refreshingly pleasant fragrance, burst into Chen Qingxuan's world.

After bringing the person in, Zhao Xiaoyin proactively withdrew.

Only the two of them remained in the room.

Chen Qingxuan looked at the tall woman before him. "What? You want to see me but wear a veil... Won't you let me see what you look like?"

"..."

Huang Qingxue didn't speak, just reached up and removed her veil.

"Whoa?"

Chen Qingxuan's face showed astonishment;

Staring at that exquisite and beautiful face, he couldn't help but blink... as if he couldn't quite believe it.

Although Hundred Flowers Tower had many pretty girls, compared to the woman before him... they were simply dwarfs before a giant.

Such a beautiful face... Chen Qingxuan didn't know how long it had been since he'd seen one like it.

But why did it seem somewhat familiar?

Facing Chen Qingxuan's gaze, Huang Qingxue gritted her silver teeth and uttered a clear voice: "I've already removed my veil... Aren't you going to take off your mask?"

Chen Qingxuan snapped back to reality and waved his hand with a smile: "Although I'm very handsome, I'm quite low-key... I won't take it off."

"Heh~ Still as shameless as ever."

Huang Qingxue sneered.

Although she couldn't see Chen Qingxuan's true face, from his scent, voice, and the way he spoke now... she was almost certain.

Finally waited for this day.

"Shameless?" Chen Qingxuan raised an eyebrow. "Miss, why are you cursing me for no reason? I haven't bullied you, have I?"

"Haven't you?"

Huang Qingxue suppressed her anger and slowly raised her snow-white chin. "You haven't already forgotten me, have you?"

"Have we met?"

Chen Qingxuan was utterly confused;

But looking at her somewhat familiar face, he really couldn't be sure.

Seeing that Chen Qingxuan truly didn't recognize her, Huang Qingxue was so angry she almost laughed. Her tone carried thick grievance and resentment,

"Long time no see... Chen Qingxuan!"

First show, this is it, seeking support~~~~