77: Chapter 77 The Ruthless, Yandere Emperor

Chu Tianjiao could no longer care about anything else. He urgently shouted at Xiao Shitou, his tone reaching an extreme level of urgency: "Xiao Shitou! What are you still standing there for?! Hurry up and take the undying peach to live out your third life! Go now! Don't force Nannan to do something truly outrageous!"

He was now completely at his breaking point. Xiao Nannan's madness far exceeded his expectations.

Xiao Shitou was also sweating profusely, his face pale. Looking at his sister before him and hearing her threatening words, he felt more fear than if he were besieged by ten Forbidden Zone Supremes.

He truly believed that Xiao Nannan meant what she said. If he dared to dissolve into the Dao, she would absolutely do that absurd thing.

By then, not only would he lose all face, but the entire Undying Mountain, even the entire Emperor Burial Star, would become the laughingstock of the entire Universe. Siblings becoming mother and son—such a thing, he dared not even think about it.

"Nannan, let's talk this over, let's talk this over!" Xiao Shitou hurriedly waved his hands, his face full of appeasement and fear. "Your brother was wrong. I shouldn't have lied to you, shouldn't have let you suffer grievances. I'll go live out my third life right now, right now! Don't be impulsive, please don't be impulsive!"

As he spoke, he quickly bent down, picked up the undying peach from the ground, and hugged it tightly to his chest, terrified that Xiao Nannan would change her mind and truly take action against him.

"Oh my heavens, you finally came to your senses!"

The undying peach's Divine Thought transmitted, carrying a hint of helplessness and complaint,

"Kid, I told you long ago to use me to live out your third life early and replenish your Origin depletion, or you'd suffer for it! Look at the situation now. This ancestor herself has taken action, even uttering such harsh words. If you refuse again, even I can't save you!"

Xiao Shitou had no mind to pay attention to the undying peach's complaints. Hugging the undying peach, he turned to run, afraid that if he stayed any longer, Xiao Nannan would say or do something else outrageous.

"Wait!" Xiao Nannan suddenly spoke, her voice icy.

Xiao Shitou's whole body stiffened. His steps halted, and he slowly turned around, his face full of fear. "Nannan, what else is there? I'll go live out my third life right now, without any delay!"

"Go then. Live out your third life. Don't disappoint me again." Xiao Nannan's tone softened slightly. The madness and anger in her eyes gradually faded, leaving only a trace of imperceptible gentleness and worry.

Xiao Shitou felt as if granted amnesty. He quickly nodded, hugged the undying peach, and with a flash, instantly disappeared from the courtyard without leaving a trace of his aura.

All he wanted now was to quickly find a place, refine the undying peach, live out his third life, and completely escape his sister's "threat."

Seeing her brother leave with the undying peach, the last trace of gentleness vanished from Xiao Nannan's face. She slowly turned around, her gaze sharp as a sword, fixed directly on Chu Tianjiao beside her.

Chu Tianjiao stiffened under her gaze. An awkward smile instantly appeared on his face, and he subconsciously took a step back. His heart sank—Xiao Nannan had dealt with Xiao Shitou's matter, and now it was finally his turn!

He had just opened his mouth to explain, just wanted to say "Nannan, I was wrong, I'll never hide from you again," but Xiao Nannan had already flashed forward, rushing before him. Her hands tightly wrapped around his waist with such force it nearly broke his spine.

"Wait! Nannan, let's talk this over! Let's talk this over!" Chu Tianjiao was terrified to the point of Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering. His hands flailed wildly in the air, desperately trying to break free. "Let me down! Let me down now! I know I was wrong, I'll never hide at Senior Willow Deity's place again!"

"Hmph! Let you down?" Xiao Nannan sneered coldly, hugging him even tighter. She buried her face in his back, her voice filled with thick anger and grievance. "Making this widow wait another five hundred years! Chu Tianjiao, you have some nerve! This time, let's see how you run! Even if Willow Deity comes, she won't be able to save you!"

After saying this, without waiting for Chu Tianjiao's continued pleas, she dragged him straight towards her room. Chu Tianjiao's feet left the ground; he could only struggle futilely, wailing incessantly.

"Senior Willow Deity! Save me! Senior Willow Deity! Save me quickly!" In desperation, Chu Tianjiao could only shout desperately towards the direction of Willow Deity's room, hoping she would intervene once more to save his life.

Inside Willow Deity's room, Willow Deity heard Chu Tianjiao's cries for help. She slowly opened her eyes, a helpless smile appearing at the corner of her mouth, and rose to offer assistance.

But just as she prepared to deploy a Formation to block Xiao Nannan, Xiao Nannan's voice came through, filled with strong provocation and dissatisfaction: "Senior Willow Deity, this is a family matter between husband and wife. Aren't you, an outsider, meddling a bit too much?"

Hearing Xiao Nannan's retort, Willow Deity's movements paused slightly. Then, a playful smile curled at the corner of her mouth as she transmitted her words outside, her voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable authority: "An outsider?"

"For the past five hundred years, Tianjiao has stayed by my side, accompanying me in comprehending the Dao and discussing it, explaining the secrets of this era to me, helping me find methods to restore my Origin. His help to me has been immense."

"I have long regarded Tianjiao as my own child. I do not care for your words."

Hearing Willow Deity's words, Xiao Nannan instantly flew into a rage. She stopped in her tracks and roared towards Willow Deity's room:

"You want to take advantage of me? Don't think that just because you're powerful now, you can do as you please! Give me enough time, and once I Breakthrough to True Immortal, surpassing you is only a matter of time! Teacher is mine, can only be mine! You, an outsider, stay out of our marital affairs!"

Willow Deity, upon hearing this, was not angered but rather even more amused. Her tone carried a hint of teasing: "I believe in your potential. You certainly have the ability to surpass me. However, that is a matter for the future. As you are now, you are not my match."

"Therefore, return Tianjiao to me."

As her words fell, Willow Deity hesitated no longer. With a light flick of her fingertip, countless tender willow branches shot out from her room. Like agile serpents, carrying a faint aura of Immortal King Dao principles, they swiftly flew towards Xiao Nannan, directly coiling around Chu Tianjiao, who was held by her.

"Not good!" Xiao Nannan's expression changed. She quickly mobilized her Chaos Origin to try and block the willow branches. However, Willow Deity's branches contained Immortal King Dao principles; she simply could not resist them.

Instantly, the willow branches wrapped around Chu Tianjiao's body. With a gentle pull, they extracted him from Xiao Nannan's embrace, enveloped him, and swiftly flew back towards Willow Deity's room.

"Willow Deity!!!"

Xiao Nannan was so angry she gritted her teeth, her entire body trembling. Her eyes were filled with rage and unwillingness. She stared fixedly in the direction of Willow Deity's room and roared loudly,

"You just wait! Once I Breakthrough to True Immortal, I will definitely snatch Teacher back! Then, I'll make you know the consequences of crossing me!"

Inside Willow Deity's room, the willow branches gently set Chu Tianjiao down. Chu Tianjiao collapsed on the floor, gasping for breath in large gulps, his face full of relief at having survived a disaster. The look he gave Willow Deity was as if seeing a savior.

Willow Deity shook her head helplessly. Looking at his state, a faint smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

"Thank you." Chu Tianjiao looked at Willow Deity. His tense body instantly relaxed. Cold sweat from his back slid down his spine, and even his voice carried a slight tremor of post-crisis relief.

He steadied himself by holding onto the edge of a nearby table and let out a bitter laugh. "Xiao Nannan's mental state... she's really gotten stuck in a loop. It can only be smoothed over slowly with time."

Willow Deity watched his disheveled appearance, a faint smile lingering at the corner of her mouth. Her tone was gentle:

"That child has accumulated resentment towards you for five hundred years, on top of fifty thousand years of grievances. How could that dissipate in a short while? I'm afraid it will take many years to wear down."

"It's the sin I created; I must swallow the consequences myself." Chu Tianjiao sighed softly, his eyes filled with guilt. "When her temper cools slightly and she no longer fixates on me, I'll go out and apologize then."

After saying this, he walked directly to Willow Deity's side, familiarly found a comfortable spot, and sat down cross-legged. The aura of a True Immortal slowly spread around him—he actually intended to cultivate here peacefully.

"You may rest assured." Willow Deity gave a slight nod and said no more. With a light flick of her fingertip, strands of emerald-green Dao principles began to swirl around her.

They isolated him from the disturbances of the outside world and also quietly transferred her own gentle, vegetative Life Qi to him, nourishing his severely depleted Origin.

Chu Tianjiao lifted his gaze to look at Willow Deity, his eyes full of gratitude. He responded softly, "Mm."

Then, he closed his eyes and focused his spirit, sinking his mind into his Sea of Consciousness, completely entering a state of cultivation. Only the faint halo of a True Immortal around him gently rose and fell with his breathing.