https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-375-Will-You-Be-My-Daughter-The-Emperor-s-Pen-on-the-Book-of-Life-and-Death-Part-1-/12988283/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-376-The-Sacred-Monkey-s-Absence-and-Li-Bansheng-s-Strategy-Unprecedented-Changes-in-the-Sa/12988285/
Chapter 375: Will You Be My Daughter? The Emperor's Pen on the Book of Life and Death (Part 2)
Chapter 375: Will You Be My Daughter? The Emperor's Pen on the Book of Life and Death (Part 2)
"
"It's so sweet and refreshing, why don't you take a bite?"
The Emperor's face was obscured, but his eyes were deep and profound as he watched Xi Xi.
Xi Xi immediately hugged the Peach tighter.
"This Peach is for my mother! This Peach can prolong life, and I must resist the temptation to eat it. I will give it to my mother, and compared to her longevity, not eating the Peach is nothing!"
Xi Xi hugged the Peach tightly, speaking to the Emperor with utmost vigilance.
She seemed concerned that the Emperor might change his mind and snatch the Peach from her.
Upon hearing her words, the Emperor's eyes softened, and he was momentarily taken aback.
He hadn't expected that Xi Xi had obtained the Peach for her mother.
What a filial act!
This was a Nine Thousand Year Peach, and eating one could extend one's life by a thousand years, as long as they didn't break through the Divine Tribulation Realm.
What a tremendous temptation! The Emperor had so many children, numerous princes and princesses, yet none of them had ever fought for a Peach to prolong his life.
Each prince and princess only wished for the throne, eagerly awaiting his death.
In this moment, the Emperor couldn't help but feel envious of Zhang Ya and Li Che.
To have such a filial daughter!
The Emperor reached out, intending to pat and ruffle Xi Xi's head gently.
However, Xi Xi politely but firmly refused and dodged his touch.
The Emperor's hand froze in mid-air.
Eunuch Lian's expression changed abruptly, and he was about to exclaim, "How dare you!" but before he could finish, the Emperor stopped him with a gesture, leaving him unable to speak.
Eunuch Lian clasped his hands and bowed deeply.
"No harm done," the Emperor waved his hand. His face, obscured by Vital Energy and Divinity, revealed a faint smile.
"Such a filial girl..."
"If only I had a daughter like you."
The Emperor laughed.
His words carried a hint of envy, but no one knew if it was intentional.
"Girl, would you be my daughter and princess?" the Emperor asked with a smile.
As his words fell, Li Che's frown deepened, and Lu Tai Bai's gaze intensified.
The atmosphere seemed to freeze.
However, Xi Xi shook her head repeatedly.
"Xi Xi has a father!"
"Xi Xi will only be her father's daughter!"
Xi Xi hugged the Peach, her eyes were filled with determination.
The Emperor heard her words, and the surrounding air seemed to vibrate slightly.
The Emperor seemed to glance at the well-behaved Li Che.
"Indeed, Li Bansheng has a wonderful daughter... I'm envious."
Then, the Emperor turned abruptly, his golden yellow robe with embroidered dragons slicing through the air.
Eunuch Lian lowered his head in respect.
Xi Xi held the Peach tightly.
Lu Tai Bai, standing nearby, breathed a sigh of relief.
The Emperor's offer to make Xi Xi his daughter had initially surprised Li Che, but when Xi Xi refused, his heart warmed with pride and happiness.
Of course, Li Che was also concerned that if Xi Xi refused the Emperor, he might become enraged and turn hostile right away.
As the ruler of the Great Jing Dynasty, the Emperor wielded absolute power, with his every word carrying the weight of nine tripods, making him an exalted figure.
Shouldering the fortunes of the Great Jing court, he was an imposing figure not to be taken lightly.
However, the problem wasn't significant, and Li Che was even prepared to bring Xi Xi into the Ink City.
Fortunately, the Emperor didn't turn hostile, and his words seemed like a mere jest.
Li Che was genuinely surprised, never expecting the Emperor to... compete with him for his daughter! And she wasn't even his biological daughter; what use was there in taking her?
Nevertheless, Li Che's heart sank slightly, and he made a note of this incident in the Book of Life and Death.
The Emperor strode away, his terrifying aura moving with him, causing the black clouds to shift as if a mountain was collapsing, releasing an overwhelming pressure.
Upon returning to the main banquet table, the Emperor showed no signs of anger or joy. He abruptly waved his golden yellow robe with the four seas dragon embroidery and spoke in a deep voice, "The Dragonlet Competition has concluded, and a new banquet is to be held!"
"The Peach Banquet continues!"
"Commence the Hero Banquet!"
The Emperor waved his hand and spoke in a deep voice, his words echoing like thunder, reverberating through every corner.
The next moment, Lian Gong Gong stood up straight and shouted, "A new banquet!"
"Commence the Hero Banquet——!!!"
The sound echoed, instantly resembling the ancient and heavy atmosphere of a snow-capped mountain peak, resonating with each strike, and the sound waves spreading and shattering the spring rain! The atmosphere instantly became fervent.
Inside the city gates of the Capital City First District, eunuchs and maidservants carried new delicacies on plates, walking out in perfect unison.
They replaced the various delicacies in front of each guest with new ones, presenting a fresh spread.
The new spread included wine, dishes, and meat, and the quality of the food seemed to have elevated to a whole new level.
The rich aroma wafted through the air, swirling within the Capital City Second District, making the crowded martial artists outside the gates of the Capital City Third District salivate with envy.
However, these martial artists were well aware of their limitations.
Participating in the Peach Banquet was beyond their reach; just being able to witness the event from the sidelines was already a rare opportunity.
Gulp, gulp...
Various sounds of swallowing saliva echoed from within and outside the Capital City Third District. The restaurants in the area were already fully booked, and the food and wine served there were considered as good as the delicacies of the Peach Banquet.
Xi Xi, of course, noticed the new dishes and excitedly held the Nine Thousand Year Peach, rushing towards the main banquet area where the Purple Mansion Divine Sect was located.
She returned to the main banquet table, delighted, and presented the peach to Zhang Ya as if offering a precious gift.
"Mother! Xi Xi did it! Xi Xi won this precious Nine Thousand Year Peach for you! If you eat this peach, you can extend your life by a thousand years! You can stay with Xi Xi and Father forever!"
Xi Xi smiled happily and brightly.
Zhang Ya's eyes were already moist, and she covered her mouth, deeply moved. She knew how hard Xi Xi had worked to win this peach for her.
This Peach Banquet was won through great danger and hardship.
"My dear daughter," Zhang Ya said, her lips pressed together, placing the Nine Thousand Year Peach on the banquet table and embracing Xi Xi, holding her close.
"Don't cry, Mother. Xi Xi will strive to become stronger, much stronger, and will forever protect you and Father! I'll also work hard to protect Father, of course, as long as Xi Xi becomes stronger than him!"
Xi Xi, held in Zhang Ya's embrace, gently patted her mother's shoulder, mimicking an adult's gesture.
This made Zhang Ya chuckle.
"Mother, you should eat this peach! It's Xi Xi's filial piety!" Xi Xi exclaimed excitedly.
However, she was stopped by Lu Tai Bai.
"This Nine Thousand Year Peach, with its high rank and immense divine essence, essence, and spiritual energy, cannot be consumed casually."
"With Zhang Ya's physical body, she may not be able to refine it. Before she eats this peach, she must make some preparations and set up some formations to help her better refine the peach's essence and spirit!" Lu Tai Bai hurriedly explained.
Upon hearing this, Xi Xi felt a bit disappointed, having thought she would immediately see her mother attain immortality and eternal life.
But consuming heavenly treasures without proper care could be extremely dangerous.
Xi Xi was no longer a novice in cultivation and didn't resist.
Zhang Ya, on the other hand, didn't mind. After putting away the peach, she began to accompany Xi Xi in enjoying the second banquet.
The quality of the second banquet's dishes was significantly higher than the first.
This wasn't surprising, as the second banquet was the Hero Competition.
The Peach Banquet was divided into two parts: the Dragonlet Competition and the Hero Competition...
Among them, the Hero Competition was the most anticipated and watched! After all, the Dragonlet Competition was still a fight among children, even if their cultivation was high. To the observing cultivators, it was still a child's fight.
But the Hero Competition was different.
The heroes were the core strength of the divine sects and aristocratic clans! Only those who had not yet formed a divine embryo and were not yet martial sages were ineligible to participate.
Everyone was curious about the rules of the Hero Competition.
They also wondered if the rewards were the same as the Dragonlet Competition, with Nine Thousand Year Peaches.
"Eat," Li Che said, lovingly rubbing Xi Xi's head.
How could he not love such a daughter?
She fought and killed for her mother's longevity, and she was only six years old.
Xi Xi's victory over Zhang Yunlong was a remarkable transformation, a change that occurred after she closed and opened her eyes.
It was a trigger of divine intent deep within Xi Xi's soul, a sign of her growth and maturity.
However, such a trigger of divine intent comes with immense risk.
If the grown-up Xi Xi harbored malicious intentions, there was a possibility of her taking over Xi Xi's physical body, akin to a cuckoo occupying a magpie's nest.
Yet, Xi Xi made this decision regardless!
Li Che, Xi Xi, and his wife, Zhang Ya, with her eyes red-rimmed, savored the second banquet.
The second banquet began, and the atmosphere was noticeably more enthusiastic.
Perhaps it was due to the Dragonlet Competition, which had warmed up the event, creating a lively atmosphere.
However, this so-called warming-up came at a significant cost.
The Purple Mansion Divine Sect's first Dragonlet, Zhang Yuanlong, even lost his life because of it!
As many indulged in the exquisite delicacies, their minds were filled with curiosity about the rules of the Hero Competition.
Would it be similar to the Dragonlet Competition?
Would the winner receive a slightly lower-aged Peach and then choose whether to sacrifice it or continue to the next round?
The various Divine Sects, Aristocratic Clans, and royal heirs, however, were more focused on the delicious second banquet, their minds not on the rules.
Each of them pondered the potential rules of the Hero Competition.
The Golden-Haired Qilin sat at the banquet table, his eyes like two white-hot lamps, staring intently at Li Che as he tore into the Spirit Beast Roast, his gaze intense.
The Golden-Haired Qilin's fighting spirit soared, and he was ready to crush Li Che, eager to bring their bet to a close.
But as the Qilin thought about the terms of their bet, he realized he might have been a fool.
Because in the bet with Li Che, Li Che had made a promise he couldn't keep!
If Li Che lost, he would only have to hand over the Golden Tai Sui.
But if the Golden-Haired Qilin lost, he would have to become a slave, just like the Golden Tai Sui!
This was ridiculous...
Why should Li Che, if he lost, face no consequences and only give up the Golden Tai Sui? They weren't even related, and it wouldn't affect Li Che's mindset in any way.
But the Golden-Haired Qilin...
He had sold himself!
Who said Li Bansheng was just a woodcarver who knew how to sculpt divine essence into wood?
The spring rain fell steadily.
Crack! Crack!
Spring Thunder rumbled in the sky, hidden within the leaden clouds high above.
The sky gradually darkened.
After the Dragonlet Competition, which lasted for over half a day, the sky grew dim.
But the banquet in the Second City of the Divine Capital was in full swing.
The eunuch Lian Gong Gong, with his eyes lowered and hands clasped in front of him, took small steps back to the main banquet area where the Emperor and Empress were seated.
He looked at the Emperor and Empress, as if asking whether it was time to announce the rules of the Hero Competition.
The Emperor turned to the Empress and said, "Let the Empress announce the rules of the Hero Competition."
"Your Majesty's decision earlier disrupted the details between the Peach Banquet and the resonance with the Shrine Gods..."
"So, I ask the Empress to help me clean up this mess."
The Emperor smiled lightly.
"Your Majesty, you flatter me. As the ruler of the Great Jing Dynasty, how could I disrupt the Peach Banquet?"
"But since Your Majesty is willing to let me do this, then... Thank you, Your Majesty."
The Empress bowed slightly and chuckled.
Then, under the Emperor's cold gaze, she stood up slowly, her posture regal and elegant, wearing a luxurious robe, a phoenix crown on her head, her eyes like a painting, and a smile on her lips that seemed to have stepped out of a scroll.
Her gaze was gentle, befitting a motherly figure to the nation.
As she scanned the room, it was as if a spring breeze had blown through, capturing everyone's attention.
The lively second banquet suddenly fell silent.
The Second and Third Cities of the Divine Capital became deathly quiet.
Everyone's gaze turned to the Empress.
The Empress spread her sleeves, and it was as if a phoenix had unfurled its wings, a stream of golden light radiating from her, reclaiming the brilliance that the Emperor had taken from her.
Everyone put down their chopsticks and stared at the Empress, who was both beautiful and dignified.
In an instant, she drew everyone's attention, as if the entire Peach Banquet's grandeur had been embodied in her.
Everyone's hearts sank slightly.
"Honored Ministers, the Peach Banquet is already halfway through, and the Dragonlet Competition has concluded. Therefore, after the second banquet, this Hero Competition will have a grand highlight."
"I hereby announce the official commencement of this Hero Competition!"
The Empress's voice reverberated, creating a wave of sound that seemed to ripple through the air.
Everyone took a deep breath, holding their breath to listen to the upcoming rules.
"I will now personally announce the rules of the Hero Competition..."
The Empress's gaze swept across the room.
Then, she smiled gracefully.
"All the heroes gathered here, their brilliance dazzling, vying for the Peaches..."
"After discussing with His Majesty, we have established the rules."
"One hundred heroes from various Divine Sects and Aristocratic Clans have passed the preliminary round of the Hero Competition."
"They will all be guided by the divine essence of a Peach branch from the Shrine of the Queen Mother of the West..."
"And then enter the most mysterious part of the Shrine of the Three Pure Ones Rank, the Mysterious Temple of the Queen Mother of the West..."
"The first round will take place in the Thousand-Year Peach Orchard, where the heroes will obtain five thousand-year-old peaches and advance to the second round in the Five Thousand-Year Peach Orchard."
The Empress's voice echoed through the room, clear and powerful.
Although she was a woman, her voice carried to everyone's ears.
The Empress folded her sleeves in front of her.
She smiled gracefully.
"Additionally, I'd like to clarify one point."
"Heroes, in each round of the Peach Orchard, you can only pick one peach."
(End of Chapter)
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