The Emperor's Domineering Favor, the Evil Consort's Unparalleled Reign

After walking up the steps of the icy world for about half an hour, Ying Li finally emerged from it. Looking back at the desolate mountain range, she knew that she and Bing Yin had already passed through the first gate.

They walked along the path leading to the second gate; there were four more gates before they could see Chu Lianyi.

As Ying Li walked along the road, she turned to look at Bing Yin beside her. The other party had not yet shown his abilities as the chief disciple of Hongyu Palace. Ying Li had never seen a disciple of Hongyu Palace before, so she was very curious about Bing Yin's abilities.

"What are you thinking about?!" Bingyin asked, noticing the look in Ying Li's eyes. Ying Li smiled and said as he walked forward, "I'm thinking about just how powerful your secret technique is."

A faint smile appeared on Bingyin's indifferent face as he said, "I am your shadow guard. You should know my abilities. Why are you asking me again?!"

“You don’t seem surprised at all that you’re one of the Six Shadow Guards. I know it, but without seeing it for myself, it feels like something’s missing,” Ying Li said.

“What’s so surprising? When I saw Li Xiyue, I knew she was a Wood-type Shadow Guard. Her skills are completely inadequate for the Ghost Realm, let alone the Bone Ring. A spirit body can only absorb the essence of heaven and earth; it’s useless in the Ghost Realm. If I told her about the Wood-type Shadow Guard, she would probably be more eager to come to the Ghost Realm to find you, and she’d die even faster.” Bingyin said, a sorrowful expression on her face.

“When I touched her, her spiritual power wasn’t absorbed, so I knew I was very likely a Shadow Guardian, a secret technique of the Outcasts. Because the Crimson Jade Palace holds many ancient books, Lianyi and I would secretly read some forbidden books when we were young. One day, we stumbled upon the Records of the Ghost Realm, which contained information about Shadow Guardians. When I lifted my arm, I saw a black longsword hanging upside down. I was born to live for you, and I will die for you.”

"Are you very resentful of me?!" Ying Li asked.

Bingyin stopped in his tracks, looking at Ying Li with a very serious expression. "What resentment?! Most of the secret techniques of the Red Jade Palace are for defense. We do not advocate fighting and we do not like war. If your existence is to end this war, then I will be willing to do whatever you ask."

Ying Li stared at Bing Yin for a long time, then smiled and said, "If everyone thought like you, that would be great."

After saying that, Ying Li climbed forward, looking up, and the second door seemed to be getting closer and closer.

Despite taking the same route, Ying Li found it took twice as long this time, and by the time he reached the second gate, it was already dark. Bing Yin looked at the runes above and said, "The disciples inside belong to the fire element. Ying Li, can you feel it?! The temperature here."

Ying Li nodded cautiously and said, "It's stronger than the previous gate! I have a feeling of unease."

Bingyin said, "Let's rest outside for a bit, have something to eat, and then go in. It's not too late."

However, no sooner had Bingyin finished speaking than a stream of scalding heat slammed against the door. With a creak, the door swung open from the inside, and the heat surged violently towards Ying Li and Bingyin!

Ying Li felt a wave of heat on his face, but Bing Yin had already blocked it in front of him. His spiritual energy was completely mobilized, leaving not a trace of it in his body. The spiritual energy formed a circle, and the heat disappeared after passing through the circle!

By the time Ying Li reacted, Bing Yin was already standing outside the door, drawing circles with both hands towards the inside, and the vanished heat stream shot out towards the inside!

Ying Li's expression changed. Bing Yin stood beside Ying Li, pulled her arm, and led her inside. The door slammed shut with a loud "bang!"

"Clap clap clap!!!" A round of applause rang out from inside the door. Ying Li and Bing Yin were shocked by the scene before them when they entered. The ground beneath their feet was scorching hot, and not far away was an endless abyss, from which waves of heat surged and sparks of fire rose. There was lava inside!

"Hehe, not bad at all?! You young man, your kung fu is quite good!!! Are you from the Red Jade Palace?" A woman dressed in a bright red, revealing outfit swayed her body as she walked towards Ying Li and Bing Yin from the other side of the abyss.

Her legs were long and slender, her figure curvaceous, especially her snow-white breasts, which would make even a woman blush and her heart race. But Bingyin looked at her without any expression, which displeased the woman.

"Who are you?! A disciple of the Great Sage Jue Ling?!" Bing Yin asked.

The woman in red chuckled and retorted, "I'm not Master's disciple, why would I stop you?! What an idiot! I think you're quite good-looking, so why don't you stay here and not try to go any further! Master only has a few disciples, and my fifth brother and I are the weakest. If you go up, my three senior brothers are not to be trifled with!!!"

Her fox-like eyes were alluring, yet beneath their gentleness lay a hint of fierceness. Especially when she looked at Ying Li, a clear look of jealousy appeared in her eyes.

"I don't care who you are, little girl, but since you were able to defeat Junior Brother Xuanbing, it means you have some skill. However, as a woman, I advise you not to anger me, otherwise, when you're burned to ashes, you'll regret everything you've done to me!!!"

"It seems this older sister is very hostile towards you, Ying Li, you'd better be careful!" Bingyin said, flipping his palm to reveal a long flute in his hand, and then crossed his arms to watch the show.

The woman's expression changed, and sure enough, her eyes were filled with ferocity as she looked at Ying Li!

"Hey lady, can't you be reasonable?! I just came with this brother to rescue my friend, what have I done to offend you? If you wouldn't let us go up, loyalty to one's master is understandable, but you're going against me for my brother's sake, that's wrong of you!!! I never intended to take him for myself, if you like him, he's yours!!!" Ying Li finished speaking, grabbed Bing Yin who was watching the show, and shoved her towards the woman in red!

Bingyin's expression changed as Yingli pushed him toward the woman in red. They were only three meters apart when a surge of heat rushed up his cheek. Bingyin frowned and turned to look at Yingli. At that moment, Yingli took out some sunflower seeds from his bag, flipped his palm, and a Flame Bird of Paradise hovered in his hand. The bird of paradise, carrying the sunflower seeds, flew up and down in mid-air, emitting a fragrant aroma.

After a while, Ying Li, holding the roasted sunflower seeds, ate them while saying to Bing Yin, "Sacrificing a little for Lianyi is acceptable! You don't want Lianyi to stay angry with you, do you?! You're clearly friends, yet you've been so cold to Lianyi. Now is the time to prove yourself. When I see Lianyi, I'll tell her about your sacrifice!!! Nangong Lin, go for it!!!"

"Ying Li! You..." Bing Yin's face turned pale with anger. He turned to look at the woman in red, sighed, and after a long while, he seemed like a different person. He twirled and danced the long flute in his hand, and a wave of spiritual energy flowed along the flute to form a powerful barrier in front of Bing Yin.

"I haven't yet asked your name, young master! Nangong Lin or Bingyin, which one is your name?!" the woman in red said, a gentle smile on her face. "However, both names suit your temperament perfectly. My name is Xuanhuo, you can just call me Huohuo. Hmph, what do you say, young master? Have you made up your mind?!"

Xuan Huo stared at Bing Yin, displaying her endless allure, but Bing Yin seemed oblivious, her face cold. A long flute lay across her face as she said, "Enough nonsense! Either step aside and let us pass, or I'll defeat you and trample over you!"

"Oh, young master, you're quite something! Xuan Huo really likes men with such a manly spirit!!! You're far superior to my senior brothers!!! Young master, we're not joking. If you don't like this flame, Xuan Huo can simply remove it, how about that?!" Xuan Huo flattered, waving his right hand. The raging lava and flames vanished instantly. Ying Li, looking at the lush greenery and flowing stream before him, couldn't help but marvel. Truly a disciple of the Great Sage Jue Ling! Such a perfect illusion appeared with just a wave of his hand!!!

Bingyin snorted coldly, and a long flute shot out from his body, striking Xuanhuo in the chest without any hesitation!

"Ugh!!!" Caught off guard by the attack, Xuan Huo's expression changed drastically. The illusion in front of her vanished, and lava suddenly appeared. Her face turned purplish-red, and all the veins bulged. She gripped the flames tightly with both hands and attacked Bing Yin!

"You think I'm a pushover? You won't listen to reason! You think I'm going to take this lying down?!" Xuan Huo said, conjuring a flaming whip in her hand and lashing it fiercely towards Bing Yin!

Ice Shadow darted and flashed, and although the Xuan Fire danced at incredible speed, it couldn't get even a fraction of a second closer to Ice Shadow!

This angered Xuan Huo, who withdrew his flaming whip and conjured fire snakes in his hands, attacking Ying Li's direction!

Ying Li, who was eating sunflower seeds, raised an eyebrow. Bing Yin had already flashed in front of Ying Li, her spiritual power radiating outwards. Xuan Huo was terrified. If those fire snakes were to turn on her, the consequences would be unimaginable!

But Bingyin seemed to have no such intention. She extended her right hand forward, a powerful spiritual energy barrier blocking the fire snakes! "Bang bang bang!!!" With muffled sounds, Xuanhuo breathed a sigh of relief; at least she wouldn't be seriously injured!

However, her joy was short-lived. Bingyin's body drew closer and closer to her. Xuanhuo gasped, and before she could dodge, a palm struck her right shoulder!

"Pfft!!!" A mouthful of blood spurted out! Xuan Huo stared at Bing Yin in disbelief, his body shooting backward! And at the end of his backward trajectory was that lava abyss that kept spewing out hot streams!