Chapter 108 Chapter 108 "Long time no see."

Time spent within the heart of the Phoenix tree.

In the final analysis, it is only the body and mind that are tortured, and the time is not long.

A high-level immortal would spend hundreds of years in seclusion to explore the realm.

But Jiu Zhao could never have imagined that so many things happened during this period.

Fuxu was injured.

The Father God leads the army in person.

Lan Qi was defeated and asked for peace.

Every single thing made her feel as if she was in a dream.

She forced herself to digest these facts quickly. Zhu Yan on the other end of the phone continued casually, "Zhao Niang, there's another thing—"

"After the Emperor personally led the army to a decisive victory over Burning Sea, perhaps feeling that no further danger would arise, Brother Meng Chu bypassed his father and volunteered to join the battle before the Emperor. The Emperor appreciated his courage and appointed him a vanguard officer.

"Unfortunately, while chasing the demon soldiers, my brother ran into Lan Qi and was severely injured by him, with both arms crippled.

"The princess is currently taking him to various places to seek medical advice, but the medical immortals all say that my brother's immortal meridians are torn, and his chances of recovery are slim."

How could everything be so coincidental?

This question involuntarily emerged in Jiuzhao's heart.

It was as if there was an invisible big hand pushing the whole process in secret.

Jiu Zhao didn't know where to start thinking about it, he just felt that every link seemed not that simple.

However, things have their priorities, and what she cares about most right now is the health of the God Emperor.

The Ziwei Palace was in the middle of a political meeting, making it inconvenient to sneak in. She could only casually say, "A disabled person can't be a Divine King. Even the heavens think Meng Chu isn't worthy." Then she grabbed Zhu Yan and asked tentatively, "Have you seen the Father God in all the years I've been away? Is he okay?"

"The Emperor came to visit me, and he is doing well."

Zhu Yan had no doubts and smiled at her gently, "Zhao Niang, just look at how he personally led the army and defeated Lan Qi."

That’s true.

If it is true as Wu Zhu said, that the Father God has been poisoned by a slow-acting poison and the Three Pure Heavens have not yet reached a critical moment of survival, even if Fuxu is injured, there are always other talented generals to choose from. Why should he drag his sick body to go to the battle in person?

After figuring out the whole process, Jiu Zhao's worries were slightly alleviated.

Now that she couldn't see him, she could only complete the handover matters in the lower world that Zhu Yan had just mentioned.

"In that case, let's return to Yunsheng World first."

She took Zhu Yan's hand, stood up and tried to leave, but stopped again. "However, directly creating a cross-boundary formation from Sanqing Heaven to Yunsheng World without the help of the barrier is something only a Supreme God can do. How can we go down here without telling the Immortal Official?"

"The Imperial Throne is already prepared for us."

Zhu Yan took out a half-opened blue lotus from his storage ring and threw it to the ground.

Then a burst of divine light burst out, covering the two of them.

…

One year in heaven is one day on earth.

It's only been three to five months since we last saw each other.

Jiu Zhao and Zhu Yan stood side by side in front of Hu Tian Zhen Bao Zhai, watching the guests coming in and out, and two familiar figures busying around inside.

"Ahem."

She cleared her throat, reminding Neri of her arrival.

Suddenly, the two stationed immortal officials paused slightly. The female immortal Lihuo reacted even faster and trotted out to meet them, taking two steps at a time.

"Dan, ah no, miss—you're back!"

Before Jiu Zhao could say anything, Xun Ze, who had fallen behind, turned around and, smiling, politely ordered the guests to leave. "I'm sorry, everyone, but the boss is here to inspect our business, so we have to close for the day. Next time you come, I'll give you all a 20% discount!"

He used a lot of coaxing and persuasion, and even gave her some valuable antiques, but in the end there was no trouble.

Wait until the store is completely empty.

Li Huo looked around, closed the door solemnly, and welcomed Jiu Zhao and Zhu Yan to the third floor.

The noise they made on their way up the stairs had already attracted the attention of the other two people living on the third floor.

"Ms. Wuwuwu, I miss you so much..."

Jiangyu, who had never been separated from Jiuzhao for so long since she started serving her, rushed over and hugged her and cried.

She was so overjoyed that she cried, and she didn't care about maintaining the proper etiquette when facing the king.

Jiu Zhao had no choice but to hold her with one hand, and nodded to Zhu Ying, who was standing half a meter away and staring at him without blinking. "Hurry up and find a handkerchief for Jiangyu to wipe her, otherwise I will have to take a hot bath with her tears today--"

"Miss Wuwuwu, you are still making fun of me..."

Jiangyu suddenly cried even louder.

Everyone started laughing instead.

Zhu Ying's face remained calm, but his emotions were turbulent.

He calmed down for a while, then stepped forward to separate the two. He then took Jiangyu by the hand and knelt down to greet her: "Your Highness, we are honored to welcome you back."

On the other side, Lihuo snapped her fingers, and two beams of magic light descended behind her.

Seeing that it was Zhufu and another Golden Immortal, and Yingluo was nowhere to be seen, Jiuzhao couldn't help but worry.

She was about to ask about Yingluo's situation when she heard the door on the right side of the corridor gently open.

"Miss."

The warm and pleasant voice of the young man flowed into his ears. Jiu Zhao bit his lips suddenly, and the warmth symbolizing joy welled up in his eyes again.

She didn't care what the people around her thought of her, and turned and ran straight to the source of the sound.

"Yingluo!"

She eagerly pulled the young man's sleeve and then held his cold hands tightly, "Are you okay?"

Those jewel-like eyes scrutinized her for a moment. Ying Luo raised his fingers to wipe away the tears welling up in her eyes, and a helpless yet indulgent smile appeared on the corners of his lips. "Miss, please don't cry. I'm standing before you perfectly fine... Just now you were laughing at Miss Jiangyu for her love of shedding golden beans, but now you're setting an example yourself."

Jiu Zhao's cheeks heated up slightly as he caught sight of the shimmering water light remaining on Ying Luo's fingertips. He reached out and patted his shoulder, "I think you're almost well now. Otherwise, judging by your sickly appearance lying on the cold jade bed, how could you have the energy to talk badly?"

"Hey, Miss, be gentle, I am still half a patient now——"

…

Zhu Yan stood one step away from Jiu Zhao and Ying Luo, maintaining a gentle smile and saying nothing.

But several onlookers further away looked at each other, catching a glimpse of the helplessness and embarrassment in each other's eyes.

Ultimately, they had no idea what Jiu Zhao, Zhu Yan, and Ying Luo had done when they disappeared overnight. The next day, a single spiritual message arrived, stamped with Jiu Zhao's own seal, explaining that they had other important matters to attend to, leaving the repair of the Heavenly Stairs to the remaining two Golden Immortals.

Although they were puzzled, as Jiu Zhao was the highest-ranking supervisor and the crown prince on the scene, no one dared to raise any objections.

Fortunately, after a few days of resignation and repair, Zhu Ying, the first leading immortal official beside Jiu Zhao, secretly ascended to heaven and met with the Divine Emperor, bringing them a generous reward, far exceeding their due by several times. Simultaneously with the reward, another decree was conveyed:

They were required to swear on their souls that they would keep their mouths shut for the rest of their lives and not mention to anyone the disappearance of the three people overnight.

A month ago, Yingluo returned to Yunsheng world.

Now, Jiu Zhao has returned with Zhu Yan.

When I went out to greet the earliest Lihuo, my sharp eyes caught their hands clasped together, with no time to let go.

There are more speculations about emotional entanglements in my mind.

Could it be some bloody love triangle, where His Highness chose Immortal Lord Zhu Yan, and Prince Yingluo regretfully left the stage... ?

But now it seems that His Highness and Prince Yingluo are still as close as ever.

Li Huo quietly leaned forward, intending to take a look at Zhu Yan's expression as he faced them.

With her neck half stretched, Zhu Yan suddenly turned his head and looked down at her.

The narrow and long emerald pupils were sunken in the backlight, and were as warm as usual, but the eyes were completely shrouded in dark grey shadows. The originally flowing emerald lake became two condensed deep pools. Looking at it for a few more times actually made people feel a little creepy.

Li Huo blinked in fright as his little action was caught.

When the vision refocused, the scene in front seemed like an illusion.

Zhu Yan smiled at her, his palms facing upwards, and a snow-white porcelain bottle suddenly appeared. "Everyone has worked hard on this mission. This is what the Emperor ordered me to give you. There are five immortal pills in total, one for each of you. After taking them, you will increase your cultivation by five thousand years."

After greeting Yingluo, Jiuzhao was surprised to hear about the efficacy of the elixir.

There is no other way to refine the elixir that improves cultivation, and it can only be extracted from the bodies of sinful immortals who have committed mistakes.

The total age of the five is 25,000 years. Such a reward is truly precious.

Jiu Zhao knew how valuable the elixir was, and naturally the others knew it too.

Lihuo, the leader, couldn't control his ecstatic expression.

"I thank the Emperor. From now on, I will fulfill my duties conscientiously and serve the Three Pure Ones with all my heart!"

She knelt respectfully to take the porcelain bottle, poured out the pills and distributed them to herself and the other three.

When returning it to Zhu Yan, his peripheral vision inadvertently swept across the gap in the bottle——

There were actually two pills lying at the bottom of the bottle that emitted a fairy light.

Didn’t you just say five...?

Before Lihuo could figure out why Zhu Yan did this, Zhu Yan handed the medicine bottle to Yingluo.

"Prince, this is the reward given to you by the Emperor."

Yingluo didn't even look at it, but smiled and declined, "His Highness Jiu Zhao has already shown me favor. Your Majesty really doesn't need to worry about me anymore."

"not to mention--"

He shook the porcelain bottle gently, pretending to be puzzled: "One of these remaining pills must have been given to you by the Emperor. Why do you need this?"

"The Emperor's reward belongs to the Emperor, and the remaining one is my personal token of gratitude."

Facing Ying Luo's subtle gaze, Zhu Yan raised the corners of his lips calmly, "Thank you, Prince, for risking your life to protect the treasure in my heart."

…

In the end, Zhu Yan and Ying Luo didn't keep any of the two pills.

After inspecting the repairs to the Stairs to Heaven, at Jiu Zhao's suggestion, he gave two Golden Immortals to take over their duties and work day and night.

After completing his duties, Jiu Zhao ordered the immortal official stationed there to send an urgent message to inform the Immortal Lord Duyin to open the barrier, and then bid farewell to him.

When they came, only she and Zhu Yan came.

When they left, they were accompanied by a large group of people.

On the way back to Sanqingtian, Zhu Yan habitually fell behind, wanting to integrate into the subordinate immortal officials headed by Yingluo.

Jiu Zhao grabbed her fingertips instead.

“No need to step back.”

Jiu Zhao looked at him with tender eyes that could not be disobeyed, "You are the husband I have chosen. Your place is only by my side, not anywhere else."

This unexpected confession came too quickly and too well.

It was so good that Zhu Yan's mind went blank and he just followed his instinct to hold her tightly.

After a while, a loud and urgent sound escaped from his nasal cavity: "...Hmm!"

…

Zhu Yan was overwhelmed by the surging sense of happiness.

So much so that when he occasionally looked back, even Ying Luo, who always used legitimate reasons to cover up his dirty thoughts, looked amiable.

He snuggled up to Jiu Zhao and flew in a daze.

The entire world turned into a huge wine jar, almost drowning him completely.

This happiness continued until the entrance to the Three Pure Heavens got closer and closer.

Passing through the divine barrier, they stepped back into this land that had always been high and mighty with a fair and upright attitude.

And as a welcome.

He is the God-Emperor wearing a solemn formal dress and twelve tassels on his head.

And Fuxu and Lanqi who were on his left and right respectively.

Further back, a group of immortal officials, soldiers, and servants stood silently, their faces either familiar or unfamiliar.

When the numbers were relative, Zhu Yan noticed that Jiu Zhao's hand in his palm stiffened for a moment.

He turned his sidelong glance and saw that she immediately straightened her back and half-raised her chin, just like every time she appeared in front of the public in the past.

However, his tone no longer had the arrogance and condescension he had when they met Cheng Xinchi.

"haven't seen you for a long time."

He heard her say quietly.