Chapter 364

Chapter 364: Owes Your Majesty a Favor

“And your servant will not be the person Your Majesty is looking for.”

As Xu Ming’s words fell in this underwater garden, the Dragon Empress looked at Xu Ming with an even more playful expression.

Everyone else who came here would, upon learning the purpose of being brought over, pray endlessly that they were the chosen one.

But this Xu Ming was different.

“Could it be that this Xu Ming thinks by saying this, he’ll catch the Emperor’s attention?”

The Dragon Empress thought inwardly.

No, it didn’t seem like that.

She shook her head mentally.

The Dragon Empress had lived for ten thousand years, while the other party was merely an eighteen-year-old kid.

Regarding whether someone was lying, the Dragon Empress could discern it.

And every word from this person seemed genuine to her.

Xu Ming indeed didn’t care about so-called kingdoms and beauties.

And he truly believed he wasn’t the person she was looking for.

“Interesting? Why do you say you can’t possibly be the person I’m looking for?” The Dragon Empress tilted her head, looking at Xu Ming.

Xu Ming’s expression slightly froze.

This older sister actually looked quite cute when making such expressions.

“If I were, Your Majesty should have figured it out long ago, right? Or does your servant need to undergo some tests?” Xu Ming said with a smile.

The other party was a cultivator of the Ascension Realm, and not just any ordinary Ascension Realm cultivator, but an old-timer of the Ascension Realm.

Facing a low-realm cultivator like himself, despite not being able to fully see through one’s Divine Soul, making a rough judgment was still no problem.

From their first eye contact, that feeling of his soul almost being seen through must have been the other party “testing” him.

And seeing the other party’s calm expression, it meant he definitely wasn’t the one.

Otherwise, this Dragon Empress, who had been searching for her old lover for tens of thousands of years, if she really found him, he couldn’t believe she would remain so composed.

Besides, his soul from another dimension ended up reincarnating here due to some error. How could he possibly be the old lover she was looking for?

The Dragon Empress nodded: “What you said is indeed correct. When I saw you for the first time, you did not resemble him, but this cannot make a final conclusion.”

The Dragon Empress took out a golden pearl from her storage bag and tossed it to Xu Ming.

Xu Ming caught the pearl, looking at the Dragon Empress in confusion.

“This is the test Mr. Xu mentioned earlier. Just to be safe, please drop a drop of essence blood onto this pearl,” the Dragon Empress said, “Regardless of whether Mr. Xu is the person I am looking for, I will offer some compensation afterward.”

“Alright.”

Xu Ming didn’t waste words, directly piercing his finger with Sword Qi, then condensing a drop of essence blood onto the pearl.

The main reason Xu Ming was so straightforward was because he indeed had something to ask of this Dragon Empress.

He had already gathered the main fruit of the Blood Bodhi, and all that was left was the Linglong Pearl to restore Qing Wan’s body.

The Linglong Pearl was undoubtedly a Xiānpǐn treasure.

If he didn’t give anything in return, how could the other party possibly give it to him?

Even if undergoing a test wouldn’t guarantee receiving the Linglong Pearl—otherwise, everyone who tested would get a Xiānpǐn item, and the North Sea Dragon Palace certainly didn’t have tens of thousands of Xiānpǐn treasures—but at least there was a chance.

As Xu Ming’s blood, wrapped in fierce Sword Qi and Martial True Qi, dripped into the pearl, the pearl-like night gem absorbed his blood.

Xu Ming wondered if the pearl would start flashing.

But the pearl remained calmly in his palm, completely motionless.

Xu Ming looked up, puzzled, thinking if this was enough since the pearl showed no reaction at all.

The Dragon Empress nodded: “That’s enough; you’re definitely not the person I’m looking for.”

She waved her hand, and the pearl was immediately taken back. “Speak, what do you want?”

Xu Ming bowed: “I want a Linglong Pearl.”

The corner of the Dragon Empress’s mouth curled up as she looked at Xu Ming with a playful expression: “Mr. Xu sure has big ambitions. Surely, you don’t think you can get the Linglong Pearl just like that?”

Xu Ming: “Not at all. A friend of mine needs the Linglong Pearl, and I know that merely participating in a test isn’t enough to obtain it. I just hope for such an opportunity. If I can get the Linglong Pearl, then I owe Your Majesty a favor, and in the future, I will surely exchange it for a Xiānpǐn treasure.”

At the moment Xu Ming said these last words, he felt rather insecure inside.

The other party was at the Ascension Realm, the Lord of the Northern Sea, while he was only at the Dragon Gate Realm. His promise sounded somewhat laughable.

As for the so-called exchange of Xiānpǐn treasures later, the other party probably wouldn’t believe it either.

Still, for the same reason, he was merely at the Dragon Gate Realm. But this was the only commitment Xu Ming could give.

The Dragon Empress looked at Xu Ming: “Is your friend a woman?”

Xu Ming nodded: “Yes.”

The Dragon Empress: “Do you like her?”

“…” Xu Ming was startled, not expecting her to ask this.

But thinking about it, it made sense. She had been searching for a man for over ten thousand years and was naturally love-minded, showing great interest in matters of the heart.

Xu Ming nodded: “Yes.”

“That’s good.” The Dragon Empress flicked her finger, and a stream of water directly merged into Xu Ming’s palm.

Xu Ming stretched out his hand and saw a turquoise blue rune appear on his palm.

The Dragon Empress: “This talisman is valid for thirty days. After the Four Seas Ceremony, go to the North Sea Abyss. There, you’ll find what you’re looking for. However, whether you can come out alive depends on yourself.”

Xu Ming bowed: “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“You don’t need to thank me. I’m just giving you a chance. If you can survive, that’s your fortune. As for owing me a favor or exchanging with a Xiānpǐn weapon, it’s unnecessary.” The Dragon Empress said, “I have nothing more to say, Mr. Xu may leave.”

Xu Ming understood she was dismissing him: “Then I shall take my leave.”

Xu Ming left the Imperial Palace directly.

For the Dragon Empress, this was yet another failed attempt, but she was used to it.

And apart from losing a drop of essence blood, Xu Ming hadn’t lost much, instead gaining an opportunity to acquire the Linglong Pearl.

However, after Xu Ming left, the Dragon Empress frowned slightly, feeling warmth in her palm.

She picked up the pearl in her hand. Originally a very ordinary treasure that was dull, it now emitted a faint red glow.