76: Does he like being stepped on?

Chapter 76: Does He Like Being Stepped On?

Fenglin Palace.

"Do you know why I summoned you?"

Li Yunshu's peripheral vision scanned the main hall; there were no outsiders, suggesting it was a rather private matter.

"Your Majesty, what are your orders? Your subject will not shrink from any task, even if it means death."

Pei Xuanji leaned languidly on a soft couch, her tone hinting at a touch of laziness.

"Early next month, the Sword Sect Disciples will undergo a Trial in the Sword Sect Holy Land. I want you to enter the Trial Grounds."

Upon hearing this task, Li Yunshu's eyes shifted slightly, momentarily failing to react.

He knew of the Sword Sect; its Sect's foundation was even stronger than that of the Tianquan Sect.

As for the so-called Disciple Trial, he was unaware.

After all, he rarely left the capital and knew little about external affairs.

"Your Majesty wishes for your subject to enter the Trial Grounds, but what specifically am I to do?"

Since it was a matter that concerned the Empress, it naturally couldn't be as simple as merely entering the Trial Grounds.

It was either related to Ascension or to the Seal on the Empress's body.

"There are rumors that within the Sword Sect Holy Land, there is a secret concerning Ascension. I want you to find it."

Indeed, it was related to Ascension.

Li Yunshu couldn't help but inwardly grumble, 'Didn't they say that no one in this world had Ascended except for his Master?'

If no one had Ascended, where did all these secrets of Ascension come from?

The Heavenly Demon Sect claimed that nine Reincarnations could lead to an opportunity for Ascension.

Now, another Sword Sect had emerged, also possessing a secret of Ascension.

It seemed that all the major Sects had some secret about Ascension, but no one had deciphered it.

"Your Majesty, if the Sword Sect truly possesses a secret of Ascension, would they allow it to remain in the Holy Land?"

It was not his fault to have this doubt. Regarding such a significant matter as Ascension, how could the Sword Sect easily allow a Disciple to discover it?

Just like the Heavenly Demon Sect, everyone knew that nine Reincarnations offered a chance at Ascension, but the specific method of Reincarnation was known only to the Heavenly Demon Sect Leader.

Pei Xuanji slowly spoke.

"The Sword Sect Holy Land is only accessible to those below the Soul Transformation Realm, so the Sword Sect can only send Disciples into the Holy Land."

Li Yunshu frowned slightly. What kind of logic was this?

Even if someone below the Soul Transformation Realm knew the secret of Ascension, they wouldn't have the ability to Ascend.

He did not immediately agree to this matter but tentatively inquired.

"If your subject finds the secret concerning Ascension, what reward might there be?"

Upon hearing this question, Pei Xuanji slowly rose and walked in front of Li Yunshu.

"I wore the cheongsam, I wore the silk stockings, and I wore the high heels. You've seen everything, inside and out. What more reward do you want?"

"Your Majesty, with all due respect, the silk stockings and high heels were won by your subject in a bet, and buying the cheongsam was in accordance with your command."

Hearing this, Pei Xuanji flicked her sleeve and turned away.

"If you wish to go, then go. If you do not wish to go, I will not beg you.

There are plenty of people who can do this; I am not dependent solely on you."

Li Yunshu cupped his hands.

"In that case, your subject takes his leave."

With that, he did not linger, turning to walk out of the main hall.

At the same time, he silently counted in his mind: ten, nine, eight, seven... Just as he counted to one, one foot had already stepped out of the Fenglin Palace gate.

"Stop!"

Behind him, the Empress's cold voice rang out.

Li Yunshu immediately turned around and quickly walked to the Empress's front.

"Your subject is here."

Pei Xuanji's Phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, staring at this fellow who was playing games with her.

"Speak. What exactly do you want?"

Li Yunshu carefully weighed his words, then spoke.

"Your subject wishes to ask Your Majesty if there is any Cultivation Technique that can quickly improve Cultivation?"

It was rumored that the Cultivation Technique cultivated by the Heavenly Demon Sect's Demon Cultivators was a modified version from the Demon Realm, and their Cultivation advancement speed was much faster than that of ordinary Cultivators.

He had a powerful figure from the Demon Realm right in front of him, so he naturally had to make the most of it.

Pei Xuanji's eyelashes trembled slightly. She had thought this fellow would make another inappropriate request, but the result was somewhat beyond her expectation.

The Empress lowered her head slightly, her peripheral vision sweeping over her feet, then she casually shifted her gaze away.

"The Demon Realm does indeed disseminate Demon Race Cultivation Techniques to the Human Race, but most of them are modified. Do you know why?"

Li Yunshu shook his head, somewhat bewildered.

"Isn't it because they fear the Human Race learning the true Demon Race Cultivation Techniques?"

"Heh—with your brain, you still want to learn Demon Realm Cultivation Techniques?" Pei Xuanji explained, "The Demon Realm's Cultivation Techniques are based on the operation of Devilish Qi, which differs from the Human Race's Spiritual Qi Cultivation methods."

Hearing this, Li Yunshu roughly understood the reason.

He had always thought that the Demon Realm was also like this world, full of Spiritual Qi.

He hadn't expected that they had Devilish Qi.

"Then why does Your Majesty's strength here not seem to be affected?"

Logically speaking, the Empress was from the Demon Realm, and what she cultivated should also be the Demon Realm's Cultivation Technique.

"I Dual Cultivate Demon and Spiritual Qi." After a slight pause, Pei Xuanji took out a Cultivation Technique from her storage ring. "This is a method for Dual Cultivation of Demon and Spiritual Qi."

Li Yunshu raised an eyebrow. Just as he was about to take it, the Empress's hand retracted.

"If I give you the reward first, and you fail to find the secret of Ascension—"

"Your Majesty can step into your subject's mouth!"

Li Yunshu received the Cultivation Technique with both hands, then made a solemn pledge.

Gazing at Li Yunshu's departing back, Pei Xuanji couldn't help but look at her feet again.

Does he like being stepped on?

...Jingming Temple.

It had been several days since he returned, and Li Yunshu hadn't come to visit here.

Now he was about to leave again, unsure when he would return. Before leaving, he still had to take a look.

As soon as he entered the Daoist temple gate, Chen Hong spotted him.

"Ever since this Daoist temple began its reconstruction, I haven't seen you. It's as if I'm the owner of this Daoist temple."

After listening to Chen Hong's complaints, Li Yunshu spoke.

"I just came back to take a look; I'll be leaving this afternoon."

"Leaving again?"

Li Yunshu took out the Soul Banner and spoke meaningfully.

"This time, I'm going to Jiangdu County."

Clang!

Li Yunshu only felt a blur flash before his eyes. Chen Hong, with lightning speed, darted into the Soul Banner.

"What are you doing?"

From within the Soul Banner, Chen Hong poked her head out.

"I don't care. You're taking me back with you."

Li Yunshu asked, feigning ignorance.

"What, going to see Jiang Wenzheng?"

Without waiting for Chen Hong's reply, he continued.

"Tell me where he lives, and I'll bring him to the capital when I return.

If you leave, who will look after this Daoist temple?"

"Let whoever wants to look after it, look after it. I'm going with you."

Chen Hong finished speaking, giving Li Yunshu no chance to refuse, and retracted her head back into the Soul Banner.

Li Yunshu shook the Soul Banner, but there was no response.

Jiangdu County was very close to the Sword Sect; he would pass by it on his way. Taking Chen Hong along wasn't impossible.

However, this Daoist temple would indeed be left unattended.

With a jolt of the Soul Banner, Chen Hong was flung out.

Chen Hong tapped her foot and flew towards the Soul Banner.

Bang!

However, the Soul Banner seemed to have closed its door, causing her to collide with it, seeing stars.

Chen Hong plopped down onto the ground, momentarily unsure whether to rub her head or her bottom first.

Li Yunshu spoke.

"I can take you, but you must listen to me. You can only go find him after we've finished the main business."