126: Please, madam, remove your armor.

A casual smile played on the corners of Cao Bu's mouth, and his gaze didn't shift away for even a second.

"Pill Emperor, don't be angry. It's just that I, Cao Bu, haven't seen such a beautiful young married woman in years. I couldn't help but take a few extra looks. I hope you can forgive me."

"Yo-young married woman?!"

The Pill Emperor's voice suddenly rose, filled with shock and embarrassment, her cheeks instantly flushing bright red.

She glared fiercely at Cao Bu, but strangely, there wasn't a hint of hatred in her eyes, only sheer bewilderment.

It was truly strange; if anyone had dared to treat her like this in the past, they would have been sent to meet the King of Hell long ago.

Yet, Cao Bu's address of 'young married woman' actually caused a faint trace of secret joy to rise in her heart.

Dammit, what on earth was going on? How could she have become like this?

"Cao Bu, if you keep looking, I won't help you refine the Medicinal Pills anymore."

In her utter helplessness, Fang Ruodan could only resort to this threat.

Cao Bu remained unmoved; instead, his gaze became even more unrestrained as it slowly shifted to her perky buttocks.

That full, moon-like curve made it impossible for one to look away.

Fang Ruodan's Face turned even redder. Seeing that she couldn't restrain Cao Bu, she had no choice but to turn around and continue walking forward.

She wanted to kill him, yet she couldn't.

Helplessly, she could only pretend not to notice.

But Cao Bu's gaze grew increasingly possessive, as if a raging fire was burning deep within his eyes.

Unknowingly, the two had been walking for fifteen minutes.

Just then, the view ahead suddenly opened up.

Cao Bu followed the Pill Emperor inside, only to discover that it was a Karst Cave.

The surrounding walls glowed with a deep fiery red. In the very center of the cave stood a massive Pill Furnace, which was impressively a High Grade Emperor Artifact.

The Pill Emperor seemed to have grown accustomed to Cao Bu's burning gaze and explained, "This is my Alchemy Room."

"I spent most of my life's savings to have the Artifact Emperor spend over a century refining this Pill Furnace to success."

"With it, the success rate of refining emperor pills can be increased by twenty percent."

After saying that, she lightly beckoned with her hand.

A Dragon's roar that shook the Divine Soul suddenly exploded in Cao Bu's ears.

Around the Pill Furnace, the Void Realm exploded as a wisp of intertwined purple and gold flames rose.

Before the flames could even spread across the entire Pill Furnace, they already emitted a terrifying pressure capable of incinerating all things.

In the next moment.

Thousands of sparks converged, condensing into a purple-gold fire Dragon above the furnace.

Cao Bu's eyes were filled with astonishment as he blurted out, "Emperor Flame?!"

Fang Ruodan looked at him, her Face showing some surprise. "I didn't expect that while your cultivation is low, your knowledge is quite extensive."

"Indeed, this is the Emperor Flame, ranked first on the Heavenly Fire Ranking. It took me over a thousand years to subdue it."

"It has already developed intelligence, equivalent to a two or three-year-old human, and its cultivation is almost the same as mine."

"Perhaps within your lifetime, you will see me and it ascend to the Immortal Realm together."

As she spoke, her eyes were filled with pride.

Back then, the Artifact Emperor also tried to subdue the Emperor Flame; in the end, he failed while she succeeded. That was the difference.

Cao Bu followed her lead and said, "It is quite impressive."

"Of course." Fang Ruodan's lips curled slightly.

She turned and walked toward the furnace. "Alright, wait to the side. I'm going to start the Alchemy."

She paused and then added, "This refining process will take a long time—at least one year, at most ten. Be prepared."

Just as she raised her hand to activate the Emperor Flame, Cao Bu suddenly stepped forward from behind and hugged her tightly with both arms.

This sudden action caused Fang Ruodan to freeze in place, and even the spiritual power at her fingertips almost dissipated.

It was not until Cao Bu's burning breath brushed against her ear that she suddenly snapped back to her senses, her hair standing on end.

"Ruo Dan, there's no rush for the Alchemy." Cao Bu's voice was low and suggestive as he spoke close to her ear, "I think we should have a good chat about something else first. What do you think?"

Fang Ruodan was instantly enraged. The Law within her body suddenly surged, and she forcefully broke free from Cao Bu's embrace.

Before Cao Bu could react, she raised her hand and delivered a slap.

The crisp sound was particularly piercing in the empty Alchemy Room.

"Cao Bu! I've only been putting up with you repeatedly for the sake of Heavenly Emperor Lu and the Gu Clan. Don't push your luck!"

Cao Bu raised his hand and wiped the corner of his mouth. The bloodstain on his fingertip caused a flash of excitement to flicker deep within his pupils.

He took a step forward, his eyes fixed on Fang Ruodan. "Ruo Dan, do you really not understand my feelings?"

These words directly bared his true thoughts.

Fang Ruodan furrowed her brows and took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in her heart.

"Cao Bu, I don't want to know your feelings."

She deliberately emphasized her tone, "Furthermore, I am already married; I am someone else's wife. Don't have any thoughts you shouldn't have."

"Also, call me Pill Emperor from now on."

"Heh." Cao Bu gave a light sneer and continued walking toward her. "Do you believe that whatever I tell you to do, you'll have to do it?"

Fang Ruodan's Face darkened as she said coldly, "Cao Bu, I advise you not to seek your own death!"

"The only reason you can stay here is because of the protective barrier I'm maintaining."

"If I wanted to withdraw it, in just the blink of an eye, you would be melted into ashes by the high temperature here!"

Every word she spoke was clear, her tone filled with unquestionable deterrence.

"Then try it and see if you can."

Cao Bu had already reached her, tilting her chin up with his fingertip, his tone provocative.

Fang Ruodan clenched her fists, both ashamed and angry, and instinctively took two steps back.

Where on earth did this Cao Bu get the confidence to speak to her with such certainty?

Her heart stirred, and she decided to try.

Of course, she didn't actually intend to withdraw Cao Bu's protective barrier; she just wanted to see if it was as he said—that she simply couldn't do it.

In the next second, Fang Ruodan's expression changed.

Even though she clearly wanted to withdraw the barrier, she found that her body wouldn't obey her at all.

Even the thought of activating the Law could not be mobilized in the slightest.

Instantly, she looked at Cao Bu in horror, her voice trembling, "Wha-what on earth did you do to me?"

Cao Bu took another step forward, a wicked smile curling his lips, his tone devoid of any restraint. "What did I do? I did what needed to be done, of course."

Fang Ruodan was both angry and anxious; she raised her hand to condense a palm wind to strike Cao Bu.

But to her horror, as soon as the palm wind gathered, the spiritual power within her body retracted on its own.

Before she could react, Cao Bu had already reached out and firmly gripped her wrist.

He used his other hand to touch his still-stinging cheek, his tone somewhat playful. "I've always been one to hold a grudge. If someone bullies me once, I'll pay them back tenfold."

"But seeing as you're so beautiful, I'll only pay you back once this time."

*Slap!*

Another crisp slap echoed through the Alchemy Room.

Fang Ruodan lost her footing and sat directly on the floor, raising her hand to touch her cheek in disbelief.

She had actually been hit.

In all her years of living, this was the first time!

Both aggrieved and furious, she threatened, "Cao Bu! Do you still want me to help you refine pills? Do you still want to restore your Dantian?"

Hearing this, the playful look on Cao Bu's Face gradually vanished.

The aura around him suddenly changed.

The cultivation he had previously hidden was no longer concealed. The pressure of a Void Breaking Realm Peak cultivator spread out, instantly enveloping the entire Alchemy Room.

Fang Ruodan's pupils dilated sharply, her voice full of shock: "You... you were actually able to hide from my investigation?"

"Your Dantian isn't damaged at all!"

She suddenly remembered something and said in surprise, "A Void Breaking Realm Peak at just over five hundred years old? This is the Potential of a Great Emperor."

Cao Bu ignored her shock and used the Thousand Illusions Formless Art to transform back into his Heavenly Bridge Realm appearance.

He walked toward Fang Ruodan, who was sitting on the floor.

Fang Ruodan lowered her brows in deep thought.

What kind of hidden method could hide from her, a Great Emperor's investigation?

Even Gu Qingtian, who had already ascended to the Immortal Realm, hadn't noticed?

Just then, a dark shadow slowly enveloped her.

Fang Ruodan instinctively looked up.

She saw Cao Bu looking down at her, a dark light flashing through his eyes as his low voice rang out: "Madam, please remove your armor."