81: I've been the eldest brother for many years.

As soon as these words were spoken, the three people present were stunned on the spot.

"Heavenly Emperor Lu, you're not joking, are you?" The Wine Emperor clicked his tongue, his face full of disbelief.

A Heavenly Emperor actually wanted to become sworn brothers with Cao Bu; it was simply inconceivable.

He suddenly looked at Cao Bu, his brow furrowed deeply.

Just what was so unusual about this Cao Bu?

First, he obtained Empress Liu Ruyan's illusory sound limitless token, and now he was highly regarded by Heavenly Emperor Lu.

If Cao Bu truly could restore his Dantian, these treasures for refining Medicinal Pills alone could help him improve his talent; it wasn't impossible that another Great Emperor might be created.

In that case, he would indeed be a worthy match for his granddaughter.

Adding to that the relationship between Liu Ruyan and Lu Chen, who in the entire Spirit Realm would dare provoke Cao Bu?

Hiss—!

Unbeknownst to anyone, Cao Bu, a mere Heavenly Bridge Realm, already possessed the most terrifying connections in the Spirit Realm!

The Wine Emperor immediately gave Jiu Ling'er a meaningful look.

Jiu Ling'er was still half-drunk and didn't understand the meaning of her grandfather's gaze at all, until the Wine Emperor sent her a secret transmission, and she suddenly realized.

Thus, regardless of whether Cao Bu agreed or not, Jiu Ling'er pulled out a transmission token and stuffed it into his arms: "Cao Bu, this is my transmission token, take it."

After saying that, she ran away with a flushed face.

In fact, even without the Wine Emperor's reminder, she had intended to find an opportunity to contact Cao Bu.

Cao Bu had not only conquered her with his alcohol tolerance, but he could also compose poetry; he was simply the man of her dreams.

Cao Bu held the warm token and helplessly accepted it.

He didn't notice that as Leng Yue watched Jiu Ling'er's departing back, there was a trace of subtle dissatisfaction in her eyes that even she herself was unaware of.

Seeing Cao Bu's silence, Lu Chen pressed further: "Cao Bu, what do you think?"

He was doing this to pave the way for future excuses to help Cao Bu rise quickly.

Otherwise, when the time came to bring out treasures to increase cultivation, he wouldn't know what reason to use to give them away.

At this time, Leng Yue also urged: "Bu'er, agree to it."

She had her own selfish motives.

If the two became brothers, then in the future when the Seal of the Myriad Laws Forbidden Abyss was broken and the powerful beings inside attacked, Lu Chen certainly wouldn't stand idly by.

With his strength comparable to a Heavenly Emperor, he could relieve a lot of pressure for the Gu Clan.

Cao Bu showed hesitation: "Heavenly Emperor Lu, becoming sworn brothers is fine, it's just..."

"Just what?" Lu Chen asked, already prepared in his heart.

As long as Cao Bu's request wasn't too excessive, he would agree to it.

Cao Bu gritted his teeth: "I have been the big brother for many years, so..."

Hearing this, Lu Chen's face instantly darkened.

He had already made a huge concession, yet this kid was still fixated on the position of big brother; it was simply outrageous.

Leng Yue was also somewhat speechless.

Cao Bu's move was truly too reckless; she didn't know where he got the courage.

The person before him was a Heavenly Emperor who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Huang Ye Chu, a being standing at the tip of the pyramid.

The Wine Emperor stared at Cao Bu with an even more peculiar expression.

That Heavenly Emperor Lu is willing to become sworn brothers with you is already your greatest honor, yet you're actually here bargaining.

Just as the Wine Emperor and Leng Yue both thought Lu Chen would definitely refuse, and might even fly into a rage on the spot...

They saw Lu Chen take a deep breath, grit his teeth, and nod: "Fine, you be the big brother."

Hearing this, the Wine Emperor subconsciously nodded; he knew Lu Chen wouldn't agree.

But after processing it for a moment, he suddenly snapped back to his senses, his jaw nearly dropping in shock.

"Heavenly Emperor Lu, what did you just say?" He swallowed hard, truly unable to believe that Lu Chen would agree to such an absurd thing.

Leng Yue also stared at Lu Chen with a face full of astonishment; she had heard it clearly.

Lu Chen was actually willing to acknowledge Cao Bu as his big brother!

"Cao Bu, what do you think?" Lu Chen ignored the shock of the two and just stared intently at Cao Bu, complex emotions churning in the depths of his eyes.

Cao Bu smiled slightly: "Since Heavenly Emperor Lu is willing, I, Cao Bu, am naturally happy to as well."

A flash of surprise crossed his eyes; he had already guessed Lu Chen's intentions back when he saw the nine revolutions emperor bone rebuilding pill formula.

He just hadn't expected him to have such determination, to be willing to acknowledge him as big brother in front of the Wine Emperor.

One must know that if this news got out, it would surely set off a monstrous wave throughout the entire Spirit Realm.

A Heavenly Emperor taking a Heavenly Bridge Realm Cultivator as his big brother—this was simply an unheard-of tale!

"Good, in that case, we shall become sworn brothers right now!" Lu Chen showed excitement, appearing even more eager than Cao Bu.

Immediately, he took out two jade cups from his System space, which were filled with blue sky yellow springs.

Each of them held a cup and turned to face the sky.

"Let Heaven and Earth be my witness, today I, Lu Chen."

"Today I, Cao Bu."

The two spoke in unison, their voices echoing outside the pavilion.

Lu Chen raised his wine cup, complex emotions that others couldn't understand churning in his eyes: there was suppressed anger, there was calculation for the future, but there was not a hint of genuine warmth for the brotherhood.

He was the first to speak loudly: "Am willing to become sworn brothers of different surnames with Cao Bu, from this day forward sharing both woe and wealth, honor and disgrace!"

Cao Bu likewise raised his cup, his gaze calm and without ripples.

He said slowly: "Am willing to become sworn brothers of different surnames with Lu Chen, from this day forward watching over and helping each other, sharing life and death!"

As the words fell, the two jade cups clinked heavily in the air, a few drops of wine splashing out and leaving dark stains as they spread on the bluestone.

Both tilted their heads back and drained the cups. The moment the wine entered his throat, Lu Chen only felt a wave of bitterness spread from the tip of his tongue to the bottom of his heart.

He, a dignified "Heavenly Emperor," actually had to rank below someone in the Heavenly Bridge Realm and even call the other party big brother.

It was simply a humiliation!

While thinking this in his heart, Lu Chen maintained a warm smile on his face.

"Big Brother!" He called out sincerely.

Cao Bu nodded and gave a faint response: "Second Brother."

To the side, the Wine Emperor's eyelids twitched as he watched, secretly clicking his tongue.

The oaths of these two were far too perfunctory!

How could there be no 'if I break this oath, let Heaven and Earth destroy me'!

He had lived for over a hundred thousand years and had seen princes become sworn brothers with commoners, and Holy Lords befriending Mortals, but he had never seen a Heavenly Emperor condescend to acknowledge a Heavenly Bridge Realm Cultivator as his big brother!

If this were to spread, the entire Spirit Realm would probably explode!

He couldn't help but lean toward Leng Yue and say in a lowered voice: "Fellow Daoist Leng, aren't you going to do something? This... this is too absurd!"

Leng Yue looked at the two smiling at each other, her gaze deep.

How could she not know this was absurd? She even faintly suspected Lu Chen's motives, but now that the Gu Clan was in a time of trouble, having the help of a Heavenly Emperor might not be a bad thing.

She shook her head gently: "Let them be. Perhaps... this is the will of Heaven."

The Wine Emperor opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing more, though the way he looked at Cao Bu had completely changed.

This kid was probably more than just simple Luck.

To be able to make Lu Chen, this "Heavenly Emperor," acknowledge him as big brother, there must be something on him more important than a Heavenly Emperor's dignity.

The swearing-in ceremony was hastily completed.

The smile on Lu Chen's face became a bit more genuine: "Big Brother, since we are brothers, from now on your business is my business."

"You don't need to worry about the Materials for the nine revolutions emperor bone rebuilding pill."

"After I return, I will have the Great Qin Imperial Dynasty dig three feet into the ground to find them all for you."

Cao Bu nodded: "I'll have to trouble Second Brother then."

He called him Second Brother naturally and openly, making Lu Chen's teeth itch in secret, yet he could only endure it and respond with a smile: "Big Brother is too polite."

Cao Bu nodded slightly, and the two immediately exchanged transmission tokens.

Then, he turned to the Wine Emperor and cupped his hands in a salute, saying: "Wine Emperor, Second Brother, farewell."

The Wine Emperor hurriedly returned the salute: "Fellow Daoist Leng, Fellow Daoist... Cao, take care."

Lu Chen showed a gentle smile: "Big Brother, have a safe journey."

Cao Bu nodded and looked toward Leng Yue.

Leng Yue felt a wave of complexity in her heart.

In the blink of an eye, Cao Bu's status was no longer lower than hers.

She reached out and gripped Cao Bu's shoulder, and as her spiritual power surged, she tore through space and departed.

Watching the backs of the two disappear into the spatial rift, the smile on Lu Chen's face instantly vanished. His fists were tightly clenched, his knuckles turning white, and his body trembled slightly from suppression.

Today's humiliation would surely be repaid a thousandfold, ten thousandfold in the future!

Just then, Qin Bingyao's voice came from behind them: "Cao Bu left?"