Chapter 180

Chapter 180: The Emperor of the Northern Sea

“Speak. What method do you have to help me balance my True Qi and Spiritual Energy?”

Xu Ming stared at Mo Zhu’er, who was still bound.

“What if I tell you, and then you kill me to silence me?” Mo Zhu’er blinked her alluring eyes, seemingly as carefree as ever, even with death looming over her.

“As long as you tell me this time, I won’t kill you. I’ll keep my promise and let you go. But next time, if I encounter you again, it’s uncertain.” Xu Ming spoke.

“Why should I trust you?” Mo Zhu’er tilted her head.

“So what do you want?” Xu Ming asked.

“Simple~” Mo Zhu’er smirked, “Just give me the antidote for that poison, untie these ropes, and I’ll tell you the method.”

“You’re dreaming.” Xu Ming frowned.

“Then there’s nothing I can do. We people like us have been deceived too many times, we’ve grown afraid to trust others.”

Mo Zhu’er sighed, appearing quite regretful.

“Do you think you have another choice?” Xu Ming questioned.

“Yes~” Mo Zhu’er’s eyes curved mischievously, “At worst, I die~ As cultivators, we always have our heads on our waists, ready to die anytime unexpectedly.”

“How~ Or~” Mo Zhu’er approached Xu Ming, a blush rising on her cheeks, “Or are you planning to do something naughty? If so, it’s not impossible~ Just be gentle, Master, I’m scared of pain. And after the deed is done, Master must take responsibility for me.”

“Hmph, scared of pain, huh?” Xu Ming chuckled coldly.

“Eh?”

Before Mo Zhu’er could react, Xu Ming picked up the dragon tendon, now clean of blood, and hoisted Mo Zhu’er up to the ceiling.

“Sheng Sheng, bring me two candles.”

“Uh-huh.”

Shen Sheng Sheng hopped off the bed, her little legs scurrying out. She soon returned carrying two large candles.

“What do you plan to do!” Mo Zhu’er’s mind raced with ominous thoughts.

Xu Ming gave a cold laugh twice, “What do you think I plan to do?”

“Sheng Sheng, leave for a moment.” Xu Ming said.

The following actions were inappropriate for children; he couldn’t leave a bad impression.

“Uh-huh…”

Shen Sheng Sheng was slightly upset, unwilling to part from her big brother. But since Big Brother had spoken, she left reluctantly.

“Have you ever played with candles?” Xu Ming asked.

Mo Zhu’er hadn’t, but she knew what “playing with candles” meant: “Master, what are you saying? I don’t understand.”

Her heart rate quickened.

“Don’t understand?”

Xu Ming lit the candle and tilted it down.

Drops of red wax landed on Mo Zhu’er’s snowy thighs, slowly solidifying.

…

Shen Sheng Sheng watched ants in the courtyard, then got bored and started watching cicadas in the trees. Suddenly, she opened her mouth wide and “Awoo,” swallowed the cicada.

Chewed a bit.

Chicken flavor, crispy.

Inside the room, strange sounds occasionally echoed.

Shen Sheng Sheng was curious but feared Xu Ming’s anger, so she continued watching the ants.

“Creak.”

The sound of the door opening drew Shen Sheng Sheng running over on her tiny legs.

Xu Ming patted Shen Sheng Sheng’s head, “Watch her for me while I step out.”

“Awoo.” Shen Sheng Sheng nodded, patting her chest, indicating “Leave it to me.”

Shen Sheng Sheng rushed into the room, seeing the detested older sister still hanging halfway, her legs now dotted with red marks.

“Xu Ming!!!” Mo Zhu’er clenched her lips tightly, glaring fiercely, “I will kill you!”

Northern Sea.

Amidst the endless ocean lay countless islands.

These islands collectively formed the Ten Thousand Island Nation.

Each island had its own lord, also the ruler of the island’s commoners.

But these lords all pledged loyalty to one person.

Beneath ten thousand miles of the Northern Sea stood a grand palace.

Outside the palace, dragon-like creatures—Jiaolong, Chilong, and giant whales—patrolled ceaselessly.

They guarded a palace ten times larger than the Wu Kingdom’s imperial palace.

The palace was divided into outer and inner sections.

In the outer section, shrimp soldiers and crab generals under the command of coiled dragons stood guard.

In the inner palace, only female attendants resided—pearl maidens and mermaids. Their laughter filled the air.

At the center of the palace was a coral garden.

Despite being deep beneath the sea, sunlight shone through, illuminating the palace as bright as midday on land.

In the garden, a woman sat on a chair, gazing upward at the sea surface.

Clad in an azure emperor’s robe, sunlight danced across her exquisite features, dazzling like scattered mercury, showcasing unparalleled elegance.

Even though the imperial robes concealed her legs, the length of her skirt and its clinging shape revealed their graceful proportions.

A wave of sea breeze swept by, causing her waist-length hair to flutter lightly before settling gently.

Her amber eyes, long lashes, porcelain skin, and icy gaze made her appear detached from worldly affairs.

Her fragrance was peculiar yet distinctive—eternal, pure, and frosty.

On her earlobes, ice-blue star-shaped earrings added an aura of aloofness, while delicate silver bracelets studded with tiny diamonds sparkled like rainbows under the sunlight.

Noble and elegant, opulent and majestic.

These eight words perfectly described her.

It seemed as if she alone brought such words into existence.

She was one of the four true dragons in the world, the sovereign of the Northern Sea, reigning atop the Red Beauty List for tens of thousands of years.

Even when a female monk emerged, she fell to second place, yet in countless hearts, she remained the eternal first.

The First Dragon Empress, the Emperor of the Northern Sea—Long Yue Qiao.

This timeless Dragon Empress had remained motionless for half an hour. Were it not for her occasional blinking, one might mistake her for a sculpture crafted by a master artisan.

“Your Majesty.”

A pearl maiden dressed in palace attire approached the Dragon Empress, bowing respectfully.

“A total of 1,100 young boys and girls have arrived.”