Chapter 589

Chapter 589: The Emotional Thread Coils Softly Around the Finger

Time flowed like water; the day of the founding ceremony drew ever closer.

Canglan Divine City had dramatically expanded, incorporating cities across several million li around it. It was rebuilt, divided into three major regions: outer, inner, and core.

Viewed from above, Canglan Divine City formed a perfect circle.

The imperial palace stood at its very center.

Moreover, each of the three regions established nine gates. Further rules were decreed: none below the Celestial Lord realm were permitted to fly within the imperial capital.

A sweep of Ye Xu’s Divine Sense encompassed everything.

"Within just a few days, it feels as if an entire lifetime has passed," Ye Xu said with a smile.

Canglan Divine City had undergone earth-shattering changes.

This Canglan City now resembled a crouching tiger or coiled dragon, exuding an awe that commanded the world. Its nine city gates interconnected subtly, clearly forming a grand formation.

Countless palaces within the imperial estate stood row upon row, closely-packed. Numerous cultivators moved among them, preparing for the grand founding and ascension ceremony.

"Little Nine, what’s your view on this Path of Offerings system that’s been causing such a stir lately?"

Qin Yi, the Eldest Young Master, returned to Canglan with Luo Qianchen.

Qin Yi’s gaze flickered, expressing some surprise at the transformation of Canglan Divine City.

However, what interested him even more was the Path of Offerings.

Luo Qianchen smiled. "The so-called Path of Offerings is essentially born from the lineage of Virtue and Fortune. The one who founded this system aims to shackle cultivators."

"One must admit, it is indeed a clever method."

"But for those with truly grand ambitions, the Path of Offerings holds no allure."

"Ha ha ha… That’s exactly it," Qin Yi nodded. "This is precisely a headache for Third Brother." "He won’t be troubled,"

Luo Qianchen stated. "Virtue and Fortune is merely a tool for Third Brother to gain strength. Should the immortal court truly confront Tianxia, it would likely choose to settle matters peacefully."

Behind Tianxia stood Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

They had come upon invitation.

Boom!

A thunderous roar shook the heavens as an enormous dragon vessel sailed forth from the void. The ancestral dragon stood gracefully atop it, flying towards the Tianxia Imperial Palace.

Not many breaths later, another magnificent ship pierced the skies. It belonged to the faction of the Immortal Palace of All Laws, its presence imposing. Two Great Celestial Lord experts alone were among its distinguished guests.

"Big Brother, are your gifts sufficient?" Luo Qianchen teased.

A look of confusion crossed Qin Yi’s face.

"The Master would never accept a losing proposition."

"Ha ha ha…" Qin Yi laughed, caught between amusement and dismay. "To come to such an appointment without bearing generous gifts? Impossible."

"Big Brother, will Master Uncle be coming?"

Luo Qianchen inquired.

"I don’t know." Qin Yi shook his head. After the Dao Ancestor advanced, he was elusive as a divine dragon, and even Qin Yi seldom saw his master himself.

The two walked towards the imperial palace.

"Swoosh!"

Suddenly, a streak of light flew into Canglan Divine City and vanished.

"Could that be the Great Celestial Lord Linglong of the Luoshen Dynasty?" The Grand Young Master’s eyes flickered.

"Sneaking around," Luo Qianchen sneered.

The two arrived at Tianxia Imperial Palace, where a special envoy handled their welcome. Luo Qianchen’s gaze shifted, and she suddenly spotted a familiar face—Ying Ziyu.

However, Celestial Lord Linglong was nowhere to be seen.

"Esteemed seniors, please take a short rest in Xuan Guang Hall," Dao King said with a smile.

Although Dao King was at the World Master Realm, he remained poised and wore a pleasant expression.

Everyone looked at him strangely.

Did Tianxia have no one?

How could they send a Sovereign of the World out to greet them?

They dismissed Dao King with contempt.

Eternal Celestial Lord said coolly, "Kid, what position do you hold in Tianxia?"

"I am the Minister of Personnel Affairs, as well as the Minister of Rites," Dao King replied with a smile.

Hearing this, the expressions of Ancestral Dragon, Qin Yi, and the others turned to shock. Tianxia had been established, and its deity official system was well understood; the so-called Minister of Personnel Affairs wielded the authority over personnel appointments, making it a high-ranking and powerful post.

Moreover, Dao King concurrently held the position of Minister of Rites, proving his capability.

How could a mere Sovereign of the World shoulder such great responsibilities?

Their expressions grew increasingly odd.

Dao King felt nothing.

It wasn’t the first time he had been underestimated.

He would wait until another day and see.

At this moment.

In a divine hall.

Li Ruoyu was cultivating.

His aura surged powerfully, having reached the level of a Two Tribulations Dao Sovereign.

"Still too slow."

He shook his head and sighed softly. Nowadays, a Two Tribulations Dao Sovereign could only count as a bigger ant, utterly insignificant.

"As I recall, the time when my Uncle Master, my teacher, and I ascended was not long apart. But now, my teacher has become a Human Emperor, and I’m only slightly stronger than my Uncle Master."

Feng Wuji, having inherited the Star Master’s lifetime cultivation, had also reached the Dao Lord tier over time.

Li Ruoyu believed that with Feng Wuji’s intellect, he would catch up to him very soon.

As for Yan Changkong?

In a fair competition, Feng Wuji could outshine him by a large margin.

"After the national founding ceremony passes, I must make another trip to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion," Li Ruoyu thought to himself. "The legacy left by the Great Celestial Lord of Creation should be used where it counts."

"That’s what I’ll do!"

Li Ruoyu made his decision immediately.

He walked out of the palace.

Suddenly, a fragrance of orchids, refreshing to the mind, wafted towards him. Li Ruoyu looked up and saw a stunningly beautiful woman with a peerless appearance standing with her back to him. Her aura was cool and detached, as if she existed outside the mundane world.

"Celestial Lord Linglong?"

Li Ruoyu’s expression tightened slightly. Celestial Lord Linglong had left too deep an impression on him; seeing her once was unforgettable.

Therefore, he recognized her instantly.

"Young master still remembers this young lady?"

Celestial Lord Linglong turned around, her gaze cool and distant. "This young lady waited longingly in Luoyang, yet you never appeared. Young master, have you forgotten our agreement?"

Li Ruoyu felt his entire body turn cold.

"Oh no. Is she here to settle accounts?" Uncertainty and unease churned in Li Ruoyu’s heart.

"Young lady, those words spoken that day were purely a joke instigated by Dao Ancestor Mu and Ye Li, aimed at me. Now, my position is humble and my words carry little weight. How would I dare come to Luoyang to invite humiliation upon myself?"

Li Ruoyu felt his head was spinning.

Celestial Lord Linglong seeking him out specifically only had two possibilities.

First, to settle accounts.

Second, settle the accounts, and then kill him.

"Then why didn’t you refute it?" A faint smile played on Celestial Lord Linglong’s lips. She didn’t allow Li Ruoyu a chance to reply before continuing suggestively, "You didn’t refute it, meaning you have feelings for me."

"Unfortunately, your current cultivation is only at the Dao Sovereign realm, far below mine. Therefore, you can only bury this feeling deep in your heart, isn’t that so?"

"Yes."

Li Ruoyu answered honestly and openly.

After all, he was once the Heavenly Emperor who reigned supreme over the world. Even facing Celestial Lord Linglong, he remained composed and self-assured.

"If one day my cultivation achievements are sufficient, I will definitely make you my woman!"

Li Ruoyu stated solemnly.

He did not suppress what he truly felt.

"If it was due to the events last time, causing you displeasure, young lady, and you’ve come to settle accounts," Li Ruoyu said, closing his eyes, "then go ahead and act. Whether it’s killing me or cutting me into pieces, I, Li Ruoyu, will not so much as furrow my brow."

"Li Ruoyu…"

Celestial Lord Linglong murmured his name, a strange light flickering in her eyes. Li Ruoyu’s courage and insight were certainly beyond doubt.

Based on the words he had just uttered, Celestial Lord Linglong could have killed him outright for insolence.

But she hadn’t hidden her tracks and come to see him this time because she wanted to kill him.

Shoo!

Celestial Lord Linglong lightly touched with her fingertip. A strand of cyan light coiled around Li Ruoyu’s right forefinger. It was a wisp of hair. After entwining his finger, it gradually vanished.

At that instant,

a peculiar feeling arose in Li Ruoyu’s heart.

Looking at Celestial Lord Linglong, the sense of admiration within him grew increasingly intense.

This sudden change caused Li Ruoyu’s expression to tighten slightly.

"The Emotional Thread?"

Li Ruoyu said solemnly.

He knew the origin of this object.

"So… she’s not here to kill me after all," Li Ruoyu thought inwardly.

Celestial Lord Linglong nodded slightly. "This wisp of Emotional Thread is tied to your hand. The deeper your affection for me, the more distinctly it will manifest."

"When your feelings reach their zenith, the thread will appear."

"Li Ruoyu, as you are now, you are not worthy to be my companion."

"I hope that in the future, you will not disappoint me."