Chapter 496: Respect Power, Embrace Virtue

Chapter 496: Respect Power, Embrace Virtue

This time, they did not make any promises; it was simply not necessary.

There was no need to discuss settling down, starting a family, or living a conventional life. Zhao Changhe had never planned for that, and their path had always been about traveling the world together.

When one was tired of flying, they would need a place to land.

Just like now, with her nestled against him, neither of them moving from the position the entire time.

He held her, his chin resting on her shoulder, listening as she shared her insights, feeling a deep sense of peace.

She, nestled in his embrace, felt just as much at peace.

“This banquet really isn’t to my liking. Why don’t we head back once we’re full?” Yue Hongling stared down at the bonfire for a while, then pursed her lips. “It’s really boring. We might as well go back and dual cultivate.”

It was hard to tell whether she was truly bored or if, after being in his arms for so long, she simply wanted to feel even closer but found this setting inconvenient.

Zhao Changhe grinned. Hearing this kind of talk felt as routine as discussing daily chores now... But it was still early, and the Pain Transfer Gu was still active, so it would not be particularly satisfying for him.

Extending his senses, he spotted Sisi standing near a statue, holding a staff, sternly addressing her maidens. It seemed she was setting up a personal guard, picking out sharp and trustworthy women. The serious, disciplined look on her face was entirely unlike her.

Zhao Changhe stretched his hand and gave his own backside a smack.

Yue Hongling raised an eyebrow in confusion.

In the distance, Sisi suddenly covered her buttocks, glancing around with surprise, and her serious demeanor vanished instantly.

Yue Hongling, unaware of any of this, asked, “What are you doing?”

”Ah.” “Uh...” Zhao Changhe coughed awkwardly. “A mosquito bit me.”

He then pinched himself.

Sisi nearly jumped.

Zhao Changhe stifled a laugh, finally understanding why Lady Three always seemed to be grinning to herself. Some things really were just privately amusing.

Still clueless, Yue Hongling mused aloud, “Never mind. We just dual-cultivated, and I don’t want to seem insatiable. I’m not Sisi, pretending to be someone else.”

Zhao Changhe: “Ermm...”

Honestly, he was the one feeling unfulfilled. With the gu transferring most of his sensations, he had not been as satisfied as usual. If it were not for the real benefit that it brought him for his injuries, he would hardly feel like the whole afternoon was worth it.

Yue Hongling moved out of his embrace, smiling as she said, “Thinking about it, maybe it’s best if I leave. They’ll probably need you here—you’re the true sacred envoy, after all. I have no patience for this stuff, so I’ll just head back to rest and consolidate my breakthrough to the second layer of the Profound Mysteries.”

Zhao Changhe nodded. She had a point. Yue Hongling was disinterested in all political aspects, preferring to go back and rest. She could afford to be absent, but he needed to stay on hand to deal with anything that came up.

Already, with his heightened senses, he overheard people discussing the possibility of the saintess becoming their queen, wondering, “What will the sacred envoy say?”

So, Sisi wants to be queen? Interesting.

Having eaten her fill, Yue Hongling gracefully left to rest and recover. As soon as she left, Sisi slipped in, giving Zhao Changhe a sulky glare. “What are you doing?”

“Huh?”

“Don’t ‘huh’ me,” Sisi muttered, biting her lip as she moved closer. “Got the nerve to tease me but not to go through with it, huh?”

Zhao Changhe looked up at the sky.

Sisi’s voice was soft and seductive as she asked, “Do you like my outfit today?”

He sneaked a glance and had to admit that her formal attire added a sense of regal dignity that was quite different from her usual look of a mischievous temptress, when her midriff was bare and so was her feet.

Some in the crowd frowned and glanced at Zhao Changhe.

Where’s the supposed will of the Ancestral God? Such tricks, who do they think they’re fooling...

Just as someone was about to speak up, Zhao Changhe, with a calm expression, quietly connected the third page of the Heavenly Tome he got to the statue.

Suddenly, the light revealed images of dragons, phoenixes, qilins, vermillion birds, black tortoises, and even their tribe’s sacred beast, the Blood Ao. A primordial vitality and immense power spread across the land.

Those who had been frowning were left utterly speechless, their words stuck in their throats.

The area in front of the temple fell into complete silence. It was as if a domino effect of silence rippled through the crowd—from the mountaintop to the middle of the mountain and down to the base. The entire Spirit Tribe, tens of thousands of people, kneeled in stunned silence, all eyes fixed on the miraculous phenomenon in the sky.

Why were they called the Spirit Tribe? It was not because of the Blood Ao nor the gu.

It was because they were in communion with the spirits of beasts.

This vision of auspicious beasts—if this was not a sign from the Spirit Tribe’s ancestral god, then what was?

After being stunned for some time, an elder finally called out, “We obey the divine decree!”

Instantly, a wave of voices echoed up and down the sacred mountain, “We obey the divine decree!”

Sisi raised the staff high.

“All hail Her Majesty!”

“All hail Her Majesty!”

“Your Majesty, please enter the sacred temple!”

Boom!

With a rumbling sound, the grand golden doors opened, revealing a vast hall filled with dazzling luminous pearls, illuminating the space as brightly as daylight.

Sisi, with her long gown trailing behind her, slowly entered, followed by a retinue of followers, each kowtowing with every step.

Zhao Changhe glanced around and saw that the temple was filled with statues of various sacred beasts. At the center, there was a throne made of pure gold, gleaming brightly.

Sisi whispered, “This temple was once used by our chieftains for important rites. Ever since the forbidden land enslaved us, the temple has remained closed... for fear of offending the forbidden land.”

Zhao Changhe thought to himself, That’s not what I wanted to know—I’m wondering how a small tribe like yours has such luxury. All this gold, these luminous pearls... It’s just amazing. Perhaps this is what it means to be a king.

With a quick decision, he strode forward and boldly took a seat on the central throne.

Bestowing favor indiscriminately only makes people take it for granted. One must have authority. The reverence they showed when I was pretending far exceeded what they show now, it’s ridiculous.

Sure enough, as he was seated high on the throne, watching the Spirit Tribe members kowtowing as he and Sisi entered, he could tell none of them dared to object. Not a single one spoke up.

Sisi looked surprised for a moment, then seemed to understand, a small smile appearing on her face. She kneeled before him. “May the sacred envoy bestow his blessing.”

Zhao Changhe said coolly, “Everyone else, wait outside.”

At that moment, only Sisi was inside. The others were still before the entrance of the temple. Hearing his command, they looked up in shock.

Zhao Changhe raised his hand and, with his Crane Controlling Art, activated the stone door’s mechanism.

With a deep rumble, the doors closed, leaving the people kneeling outside, watching as the man sat upon their sacred throne and their newly crowned queen kneeling before him, slowly lowering her head.

Boom!

The stone doors sealed shut, blocking their view entirely.