Chapter 853: The Young Master of the Saint Palace Is Also Here!

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Five days later, in the skies above the valley, Xu Que was still traveling through the air with Jiang Hongyan, holding b.u.t.tface by the hand. They had been journeying for five days, following the map on the hide. However, they have not seen one human, much less any of the Heaven-Devouring Demonic Mosquitoes!

But, as they went deeper and deeper into the valley, the distance between them and the mark signaling Zhang Tiandao’s location was getting shorter and shorter.

Naturally, several auras of cultivators began to pop up in front of them. Although the cultivators had mostly masked their presence, whatever weak tinges remained could not escape detection from Xu Que’s powerful Soul Strength.

Xu Que smiled slightly and threw b.u.t.tface to the ground. He took a step forward and gestured, “Fellow cultivators! I am Xu Que from the Exploding Heavens Faction, here to commit some robbery. Could I perhaps meet some colleagues here?”

In the World of Cultivation, when a large group of people hid by the roadside and masked their presence, there could only be two reasons. It was either that they were waiting in ambush for an enemy, or that they were trying to rob some pa.s.sers-by, or even kill them for their treasures.

Xu Que sensed that those auras in front of them were unfamiliar and therefore eliminated the possibility that they were enemies. In that case, there was a good chance that they were going to try to rob them. With him exposing them like that, the cultivators no longer felt the need to hide, and they all stepped out onto the path. A large group of cultivators, all dressed differently, appeared before Xu Que.

It was now apparent that these cultivators belonged to different factions. From how they chose to stand, it seemed like they belonged to three parties. On one side, a group was made up of ladies dressed in long, white skirts. On the other side, there was a party of men and women, who, from their appearances, looked like they were all disbanded cultivators.

Last but not least, the third group was made up of demonic beasts. While they had taken on human shapes, they could not change their auras. It was not difficult to differentiate that among them were the snake race and the tiger race, etc.

“They are not from the Imperial Palace or the Saint Palace!” Jiang Hongyan suddenly whispered that information to Xu Que. “Those women in white probably belong to the Exquisite Beauty Pavilion. Their faction is considered a mid-tier wing in the Xuanzhen Continent!”

“Looks like this is a popular location eyed by many. To think that you guys would arrive earlier than we did!” Xu Que joked.

Xu Que and Jiang Hongyan should, in fact, already be considered quick on their feet. However, based on the number of people that had already arrived, it was evident they had been hiding and observing, and only rushed in when they saw that the Heaven- Devouring Demonic Mosquito had flown away.

“Hmph! Fellow cultivator, did you say that you were here to rob us? Who do you intend to rob, I wonder?” A handsome swordsmans.h.i.+p cultivator stepped out, a mocking smile on his face. He stood among the disbanded cultivators despite wearing a Taoist robe and having the highest cultivation of them all. He had already reached the sixth level of the Crossing Calamity Stage.

However, although he was speaking to Xu Que, his eyes were fixed on Jiang Hongyan. With Jiang Hongyan’s beauty, even if she had modified her looks, she would always be the center of attention everywhere she went.

“Holy Senior?” One of the women from the Exquisite Beauty Pavilion suddenly exclaimed. Then, a tall white-clad woman came forward. On her face were a mix of shock and confusion.

Jiang Hongyan merely smiled, graceful and gracious as ever. Before she could say anything, the woman and the girls behind her all confirmed their guesses.

“We are the disciples of the Exquisite Beauty Pavilion! Respects to the Holy Senior!” Tens of women unanimously bowed and greeted Jiang Hongyan.

“Rise!” Jiang Hongyan smiled and said calmly.

The atmosphere fell silent as if all had lost their voices.

The swordsmans.h.i.+p cultivator was stunned, and the disbanded cultivators behind him all looked horrified. Who would have thought that this lady before them would be the Empress, the one who had disappeared without a trace for several hundred years!

But that can’t be!

Before the Empress went into secluded meditation, she was already at the Great Vehicle Stage. How could she now be still at the Crossing Calamity Stage and even have entered the Road of Heavenly Ascension? The strange situation befuddled many.

Among those who were confused were the demonic beasts. They all stretched their necks and peered at Jiang Hongyan curiously.

The Empress was so famous that even the demonic beasts had heard of her name. They had also seen her from afar a long time ago.

Therefore, even though everyone present could not understand why the Empress’s cultivation stage had dropped, in their hearts they were very sure that this elegant and luxuriant lady was indeed the Empress.

“My brother, what was your question? Who am I planning to rob? Is that it?” Xu Que came forward and looked at the swordsmans.h.i.+p cultivator, smiling.

The man in question stiffened and lowered his head. In front of the Empress, he would not dare to look around carelessly or say anything carelessly, lest trouble befell him.

However, everyone else was rejoicing inside. Even those disbanded cultivators showed some form of gloating, apparently delighted to see him in such a difficult situation.

However, to their dismay, Xu Que clapped his hands and yelled, “Okay, okay, everyone pay attention! I’ll now answer your burning question – that’s right! I’m here to rob, and who else could the target be? It must be everyone present! Please cooperate and split into two lines, men on the left and women on the right. As for those who are not men, nor women…urgh, don’t look at me like that, demonic beasts! I’m talking about you guys, off to the middle, quickly! Everyone squat with your hands on your heads!”

Swoos.h.!.+

Everyone was struck silly by Xu Que’s words.

Is this for real?

This fellow did come to rob us?

And he wants us to cooperate?

You can’t do that! Even if he’s with the Empress, he wouldn’t have the authority to do that, would he?

“Holy Senior, this.…” The tall woman from the Exquisite Beauty Pavilion looked at Jiang Hongyan in disbelief.

Jiang Hongyan smiled slightly and turned to Xu Que, “The owner of the Exquisite Beauty Pavilion was once my friend. She helped me out quite a bit…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Xu Que called out loudly, “Ladies from the Exquisite Beauty Pavilion are all fairies, and so they shall be exempted! Everyone else should hurry! Where’s your sense of urgency, I still have a next location to rush off to!”

Puu!

Everyone present almost vomited blood.

You mean you even rush from location to location to rob? Did you think that you were a street performer?

However, what chilled them most was Jiang Hongyan’s att.i.tude toward Xu Que.

That was especially so for the ladies from the Exquisite Beauty Pavilion, who couldn’t help but stare blankly. To have entered this stage, they were all the cream of the crop of the pavilion, with an overall strength of Crossing Calamity and above.

A few hundred years ago, when they had just entered the Exquisite Beauty Pavilion, they had the chance to revere the Empress’s silhouette from afar. How magnificent, glorious,and dominating she was! The imperial aura as the one and only Empress had been etched into their hearts, and many of them had made the Empress their idol and role model.

However, what is it that they now see? This Empress behaving just like a shy, demure, and accepting wife in front of this young man at the Form Synthesis Stage. Furthermore, even when she was speaking up for the Exquisite Beauty Pavilion, she had just reiterated her relations.h.i.+p with the pavilion in a calm manner. She had not explicitly requested him to let them off.

What’s the meaning of this?

If the young man had zero intention to let them off, would it mean that the Empress would wash her hands of this matter?

“Shh-!”

Those who were clear-minded quickly took in a sharp breath. They had guessed something from the Empress’s att.i.tude.

This young man at the Form Synthesis Stage either hailed from an astounding background or shared a special relations.h.i.+p with the Empress. In all of the Xuanzhen Continent, there could not be another person who comes from a grander background than the Empress, that she would need to treat with such respect and indulgence.

Therefore, many had reached the same conclusion in their hearts, and their expressions began to change. That included the tall lady from the Exquisite Beauty Pavilion, who had guessed the most accurate answer. While shock had filled her eyes, she seemed hesitant and wavering.

“Holy Senior!”

She finally spoke up falteringly, unable to hold it in any longer, “The Young Master of the Saint Palace is also here, as well as people from the Imperial Palace. They are right ahead!”