“What is it? Just go ahead and say it,” the Jade Emperor replied promptly. In his view, as long as the young man wasn’t asking for any of the ladies at court, any request would be nothing out of the ordinary. He chuckled: “Your Majesty, I have a close friend who is from the Demon Realm. What’s the matter with you staring? Listen to me finish—there are indeed good people among the Demon Realm. Isn’t it surprising that I’ve become a Supreme Immortal, precisely because of her help in fulfilling our dual cultivation practice? W-w-w…” The Jade Emperor immediately covered his mouth, whispering, “My ancestors, this conversation mustn’t be overheard by anyone else.” The Heavenly Emperor’s expression grew tense: “You’ve got guts, young man. You’re willing to take on so many risks—don’t you fear any problems might arise?” “What kind of problems? The facts prove there are none—on the contrary, there are tremendous benefits.” He also lowered his voice. “You must have known this all along, right? Then why haven’t the Immortals allowed partnerships between the Immortal and Demon Realms?” "The Jade Emperor stiffened his face: "The immortals are immortals, the demonic race are demons—how can they be casually merged? Otherwise, our heavenly lineage will be tainted." Heaven King nodded in agreement: "Exactly. That must never happen. Otherwise, over time, the heavens will be turned into chaos by the demons—what then would become of the distinction between immortals and demons?" Well, these two are the steadfast guardians of our lineage—now I'm at a loss for words. Yet the Jade Emperor lowered his voice again: "Occasionally, a few such unions can be accepted. After all, you've made invaluable contributions to the heavenly realm. So I grant your request. But you must also promise me that this matter must remain discreet—no one else should be informed. Can you manage that?" "What could possibly be difficult? I've always been a calm and composed person—absolutely won't cause any trouble for you," he said, feeling a blush rise to his cheeks as he spoke. ... The Demon Realm, the Demon Palace. Several dozen royal-level magical beings stood in the hall, all bowing their heads, silent, not daring to breathe a single word. On the throne, the Magi-Emperor's expression was grim—so severe that it seemed as though he had been repeatedly pummeled by hundreds of sturdy men. With a sharp gaze, he scanned each of their faces and murmured, "I have summoned you all for a crucial matter. I have decided to initiate the resurrection ritual for Rex. Each of you must participate. Should anyone show half-heartedness, I shall extinguish their entire lineage." They exchanged glances, each aware that the resurrection ritual for Rex was no small undertaking—it could very well result in a collective downgrade for all of them. After enduring so much hardship to finally rise to royal rank, who among them would willingly see themselves fall back to the rank of general? Feeling their determination, the Mage Emperor added, "All other royal mage clans must also participate. You can rest assured that no matter what the outcome, I will guarantee your royal titles and all your private assets. Moreover, after Rex is revived, each of you will receive a reward." Hearing this, everyone felt reassured. One king bowed deeply and said, "I pledge my loyalty to the Emperor, ready to face any hardship, even to risk my life." "I pledge my loyalty to the Emperor, ready to face any hardship, even to risk my life," the crowd echoed. Soon, Rex's body was placed into a pool filled with blood, under the Emperor's supervision, the royal mage clans divided into groups and began channeling their magical energy into the pool. As wave after wave of magic flowed in, bubbles continuously rose from the pool, and Rex floated and sank within it, creating an eerie atmosphere. By the third day, the floating corpses suddenly raised their right hands, then clenched them into fists. The magical emperor, standing high above, smiled, his face expressing deep satisfaction. ... At the Heaven's Palace, Qin Shao, dressed casually, lay among the women, enjoying massages from several hands while taking grapes offered by Su Wu with his mouth. There's nothing quite like the feeling of being surrounded by flowers. After defeating Rex, he was hailed as the first master among the five great oddities, the top-ranked warrior in the heavens. Of course, many still held reservations, but when one considered his astonishing pace of transformation, his mighty Heaven's Hammer, and his status as a direct disciple of the Heaven's Emperor, they found themselves compelled to remain silent. At present, one-third of the Heaven's Palace belongs to Qin Feng's private holdings—after all, we have so many family members. If you're still not satisfied, go and gather a group of outstanding girls of your own. A senior brother approached, his face filled with admiration, bowing respectfully and saying, "Brother, there's someone who would like to see you." "Didn't I tell you? I'm busy, so I don't see visitors," he said, somewhat displeased. These days, people keep coming, all claiming to be on a visit, tiresome as it is. Most importantly, these folks don't know how to behave—doesn't a visit require a gift? Isn't it expected to be something exceptional, like a rare artifact or a precious elixir? You show up with just two boxes of pastries, and I'm going to turn you away, I tell you! His elder brother frowned and said, "Brother, they are your close friends—Chen Jie, Chen Xi, and Qingya. Should we send them away too?" "Of course—not at all," he snapped, eyes narrowing. The elder brother smiled, thinking, "I knew it—how could Brother be so unkind? Could he treat friends any differently than ordinary visitors?" But Qin Feng added right away, "Have they brought gifts? As for Qingya, she's a woman—whether she brings something or not makes no difference. But if either of the Chen brothers shows up empty-handed, I'll send them away immediately." "Ah." "Brother, you're staring at him in disbelief—did you really just squeeze through the money hole?" He insisted firmly. "We must instill in them a good habit: visiting others' homes as guests. How could they possibly go empty-handed?" Brother was genuinely bowled over and turned to leave. At the entrance, both Tao and Xi were stunned, their faces pale with disbelief, their jaws clenched as they asked, "This is exactly what Qin Feng said?" "Yes, word for word," Brother sighed, spreading his hands helplessly. Qingya giggled softly, "This soul-dead fellow is getting more and more outrageous. You'll just have to wait—I'm going in to give him a good scolding." Xi shrugged, pulled out several gift boxes from his meditation belt, and said, "Let's just call it a day. It seems like without a bit of bloodshed, we simply won't make it. What do you think, Tao?" Chen Jie nodded, "I agree. Then let's just go ahead and make it count." They both thought, after this, they'd never come back to bother you again—such a laid-back person you are, and today just happened to need help. Qingya sighed helplessly and said, "That's just life—what can you do? Both of your families are well-off. If I were Qin Feng, I'd certainly take you both out for a meal, or at least make you pay for it." Their faces turned even paler, and they exchanged a glance before both muttering in unison, "You're just the biggest victim of all."