15: An Luoxin, the mouse in the dark corner, has a head full of schemes

Inside the Divine Son Hall.

Jun Lingxiao held the Jade Slip bestowed by the Old Ancestor, not rushing to open it, but recalling the words the Old Ancestor had spoken.

“It turns out that Prodigy in the Ten Directions Immortal Court isn't just a random term. Prodigies are further categorized: ordinary Prodigies, peerless Prodigies, monstrous Prodigies, and Supreme Prodigies. There are corresponding rankings with strict potential assessments and extremely strict age limits.”

“Two Geniuses from the Jun Family have already surpassed ordinary Prodigies at this age, reaching the peerless ranking and becoming members of the peerless Prodigies.”

“As for me, according to the Old Ancestor's words, I am fully qualified to be on the peerless ranking, but if I haven't been evaluated, others won't acknowledge it.”

According to the Old Ancestor, it was a ranking that looked good but wasn't very useful; whether one joined or not didn't matter. However, once on the ranking, one could participate in the exchange meetings of various Prodigies, discussing the Dao with other Geniuses, which would still yield some gains.

“The Prodigy Ranking is controlled by the various Imperial Dynasties. To be evaluated, one must visit the neighboring Immortal Dynasty. I can find time to go.”

“Then I'll see what makes these Prodigies so formidable.”

Born in sorrow, dying in pleasure, Jun Lingxiao was not one to practice in isolation. The world was vast, and perhaps there truly were people even more prodigious than him.

As he thought, Jun Lingxiao looked at An Luoxin, who stood beside him like a maid, and mused that he should first resolve her matter.

Thinking this, Jun Lingxiao rested his chin on his hand, looking at her and asking,

“An Luoxin, you've gone to such great lengths to become my maid. What do you seek?”

An Luoxin was a very scheming woman, and he didn't want such a maid. Although her Face and demeanor would certainly bring him Face when taking her out, she was a ticking time bomb.

“Revenge.” An Luoxin's red lips parted slightly, uttering two words.

She maintained that same expression, a faint smile that seemed unchanging even if the sky fell.

“What kind of revenge?”

“My mother's murder.”

“Your mother? Isn't your mother the current Empress of the Imperial Dynasty?”

Jun Lingxiao was somewhat puzzled. Although he didn't know what kind of power the Immortal Dynasty of the Central Plains truly was, there was no news even if the Empress was gone?

At this point, An Luoxin's expression finally changed. She seemed to recall something, gritting her teeth, her Face filled with gloom.

“No... The current Empress of the Immortal Dynasty is not my mother. She is my aunt! She killed my mother! And she stripped my father of his power, imprisoning him and turning him into her Puppet, then she ascended to power herself!”

As she spoke, the hatred in An Luoxin's eyes overflowed. Looking at her, if that aunt of hers were before her, she would likely eliminate her immediately!

“Imperial Dynasty strife...” Jun Lingxiao nodded in understanding, but the next moment, he showed an intrigued expression: “But what does that have to do with me?”

“As a subordinate of the Jun Family, such matters concerning the Immortal Dynasty shouldn't involve our Jun Family, should they?”

“After all, the Jun Family wants the Immortal Dynasty, but whose name the Immortal Dynasty bears is actually irrelevant.”

Jun Lingxiao rested his chin on his hand, watching her, wanting to see what she would say to sway him.

He had initially thought it was a great opportunity, but now she was telling him he had to help her reclaim the Imperial Dynasty. This looked like a losing business deal no matter how he saw it.

He was not someone who would lose his way for a beautiful woman; everything had to be about profit.

“As long as Divine Son helps me with my revenge, everything I have will willingly be given to Divine Son...”

“However, although my aunt is young, she has already advanced to the Quasi-Emperor Realm and will soon step into the Emperor Realm. This is somewhat difficult even for Divine Son.”

An Luoxin walked before Jun Lingxiao and knelt again, her tone full of humility, as if she truly regarded Jun Lingxiao as her master.

But Jun Lingxiao had lived two lives; he knew very well that the reality was not like this.

At first listen, there was nothing wrong with her words, but upon closer inspection, one would realize it was a provocation... 'My aunt is a Quasi-Emperor and will step into the Emperor Realm in the future. Can you do it? Are you scared?'

Thinking this, he leaned lazily on the chair, crossing his legs.

Though still somewhat immature, he already had the aura of a noble, exiled immortal.

“An Luoxin.”

He called out.

An Luoxin subconsciously looked up, meeting a pair of eyes that seemed to smile but not smile, as if seeing through everything.

“You come from an Imperial Dynasty, and I understand that your mind is full of schemes; after all, this might be your way of survival. At the same time, I also understand that you want to appear full of vigor before me, but...”

“I hope you stop there.”

“From today on, we are master and servant, but I am not so rigid. This master-servant relationship might not be what you imagine. I'll do my part, and you do yours. Though called master and servant, I prefer us to be in a cooperative relationship, like grasshoppers on the same string.”

“As long as you don't play your tricks in front of me, I won't interfere with you otherwise.”

“Now, say it again.”

“What do you seek?”

An Luoxin, hearing this, trembled all over as she lowered her head. She was now even more satisfied with this Young Master.

He actually knew... Yes, An Luoxin was born into an Imperial Dynasty, where stratagems and deceptions were abundant. Although she appeared glamorous, countless people had died by her hand.

She was like a rat in a dark corner, employing unspeakable schemes, assassination, and poisoning, using every means to deliver a fatal blow when her opponent was weakest.

That was the kind of person she was.

Outwardly glamorous, full of honor and nobility, but in reality, her heart was like a viper's.

No one should have been able to tell at first glance, but Jun Lingxiao did... “I wish for Divine Son Your Highness to help me with my revenge.”

An Luoxin repeated, though it was the same sentence, without adding anything else, the feeling immediately changed.

Looking at the docile An Luoxin, Jun Lingxiao finally nodded and said, “I can help you, but what do I get?”

“An Imperial Dynasty.”

An Luoxin answered respectfully, then paused before continuing:

“And, everything I have.”

Saying this, she took out a pristine white bead and offered it with both hands.

“Soul Dao Pearl?” Jun Lingxiao said in confusion, then took it.

He had heard of this item when his grandfather told stories. The most violent method for a strong person to subdue a weaker one was to have the other person open their Divine Sense and imprint their mark on the opponent's Soul, but that had a drawback: it required Face-to-Face interaction.

For this purpose, the Soul Dao Pearl was created. The weaker person would place a part of their Soul within it. After the strong person obtained it, they only needed to refine the pearl. This way, they could subdue the opponent without meeting Face-to-Face and even refine the opponent's Soul for their own use, strengthening themselves—a win-win method.

Once one's Soul was refined by the other party, it could be said that half of one's life was in the opponent's hands. The opponent could make them wish for death with just a thought.

It seemed that even such a scheming woman was willing to go all out to show loyalty, even producing something like this.

In that case, he wouldn't fear her schemes.

Jun Lingxiao thought, but as he toyed with the bead in his hand, he suddenly sensed something, losing all interest.

“I've already told you, don't play tricks in front of me.”

“Inside this... is a bird, right? Your pet?”

As Jun Lingxiao's words fell, he was seen holding the immensely important bead in his hand, then squeezing it forcefully... it shattered.

As the fragments fell to the ground, Jun Lingxiao pronounced his judgment, word by word:

“Fake.”