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

"Legend has it that Princess Azao colluded with the people of the Spirit Realm to plot against the Emperor. What exactly happened?!" Ying Li's expression changed slightly. Fu Cheng had mentioned Princess Azao, the woman whose cause of death was shrouded in mystery. What kind of past did she have that made her the only princess among the Ghost Realm nobles to be abandoned in the Spirit Realm after the turmoil?!

What profound meaning lies behind the fact that the Great Sage Jue Ling personally crafted the Jue Ling Chair to be buried with her? Ying Li must find out!

However, Fu Cheng refused to continue. Even the refined man revealed a helpless hatred in his eyes, his rim slightly red, a chilling glint in them that made one instinctively distance themselves. This Fu Cheng was the complete opposite of the one Ying Li had first met.

"In short, don't go too far, understand?" Fu Cheng said angrily.

"I know, but I..."

"Don't go too far, you understand?!" Fu Cheng grabbed Ying Li's arm, the force of his wrist startling Ying Li slightly. Fu Cheng's domineering eyes were filled with so much hatred, so much hatred that Ying Li didn't know if Fu Cheng was looking at her or Princess Azao.

After a long pause, Fu Cheng's expression changed, and he quickly removed his hand, saying with a hint of apology, "Ying Li, I'm sorry, I just now..."

"I know you're worried about me, I understand. But Fu Cheng, do you know what someone might do when pushed to the limit? Nobody knows. We've known each other for a while, and we're friends. Even though your identity is a mystery, I still believe you won't do anything to me. But Fu Cheng, everyone has their own thoughts. Some things, once they happen, are irreversible. What you need to do isn't to criticize, but to find the truth, to try to stand in the truth, to stand in someone's heart, and to understand their choices. That's the only way to be true to yourself and to the deceased. That's all I have to say. I need to go about my own business."

Ying Li patted Fu Cheng on the shoulder, a warm smile curving his lips. Fu Cheng's eyes dimmed, and his hatred and aggression seemed to find an outlet, pouring out all at once. Fu Cheng was Fu Cheng again.

Ying Li, what kind of person are you really?!

With a sigh in his heart, Fu Cheng followed. No matter what, since they had met, he had to seize this opportunity, after all, this was the only chance to breathe so close to you.

"Where are the Qilin Pills?!" Ying Li asked. Tie Zhong scratched his head, stared at Ying Li with disdain, and casually pointed to a palace not far away, saying, "All the Qilin Pills are kept there. You can go in and take them, but let me tell you, there's our master's favorite White Tiger Spirit Guide inside. Don't even think about harming it! This White Tiger is the last one left of the four great spirit guides of the Ghost Realm. If you dare to touch it, our master will make you regret it!"

Ying Li's expression changed. Senior Chen Qingyan had once said that as long as she found all four of the Ghost Realm's Spiritual Guides, she could successfully extend Jiang Huai's life. The White Tiger Spiritual Guide was right in front of her; this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. According to him, there was only one White Tiger Spiritual Guide left. If she didn't act now, obtaining the inner pearl later wouldn't be so easy.

"What are you still standing there for?! Go! Hmph, if it weren't for the master protecting you, I would have chopped your head off!!!" Tie Zhong said angrily.

Ying Li gave him a cold look and walked towards the palace without turning her head.

“Ying Li, I’ll go in with you,” Fu Cheng said from behind Ying Li.

Ying Li walked to the palace, shook his head, and said, "Wait for me outside, I'll come out later."

After saying that, Ying Li pushed open the door and entered, and the door closed tightly after Ying Li went in.

Tie Feng stared at Ying Li's disappearing figure and said, "Master asked my elder brother to specifically tell Ying Li about the White Tiger Spirit Guide, and even emphasized that there is only one left. What is the reason for this?!"

Tie Zhong snorted and crossed his arms, saying, "When we went to the Spirit Realm to find her, there was a young man there named Jiang Huai who risked his life to protect her while she was asleep. The two gradually developed feelings for each other, but unfortunately, Ying Li was an anomaly, and Jiang Huai was a short-lived ghost, so the two could not be together in the end. Later, Chen Qingyan, the medical sage of the Spirit Realm, gave Ying Li a hint that as long as she collected the four spiritual guide pearls of the Ghost Realm, she could extend Jiang Huai's life by at least sixty years. If Ying Li were devoted to her master, she wouldn't have used the White Tiger Spirit Guide now."

"Master greatly appreciates Ying Li. As long as Ying Li helps Master conquer the world, who will care about the life or death of the White Tiger Spirit Guide?! What you're saying is a bit too fantastical, brother. In my opinion, as long as Ying Li asks, Master will definitely give it to him," Tie Feng said.

Tie Zhong turned and glanced at Tie Feng, then smiled. "This White Tiger Spirit Guide is incredibly precious, though still somewhat inferior to Ying Li's. But if Ying Li were to immediately go to the master for the White Tiger Spirit Guide, the more she asked, the less chance she would have of gaining the master's trust. Who would take another good thing immediately after getting the Medicinal Spring and the Qilin Pill?! Not to mention that Ying Li hasn't done anything for the master yet, even if she had already done something for the master, asking three times is excessive. Unless she was originally feigning surrender, only wanting the Medicinal Spring to improve her cultivation, and seeing the benefits, immediately trying to catch up—it's all an act."

"If she doesn't want it, she should obediently take out the Qilin Pill and cultivate diligently. Master will naturally give her a task. As long as she completes the task, Ying Li will naturally be fine. The only problem is that this girl has impure thoughts and is not very bright."

Tie Feng suddenly realized that this kind of unpredictable struggle was indeed more suitable for others than for himself.

The two waited there chatting and laughing. To Tie Zhong's disappointment, Ying Li turned out to be the latter. In less than half an hour, Ying Li walked out of the small palace with the Qilin Pill in his hand, his expression as usual.

“Brother, I think the master and you have guessed wrong. Ying Li should know who to rely on. At least, she was unlucky and was poisoned by the Gu. Now it’s too late to cause any more trouble,” Tie Feng said.

Tie Zhong gritted his teeth. He had originally wanted Ying Li to slip up, but who knew that Ying Li would come out so quickly, without showing any abnormality on the surface.

"Don't worry, there will be a next time. This girl is clever and eccentric, and has extraordinary talent. It's hard to believe that she would willingly submit to her master. I'm waiting for her to slip up."

"Brother, she's already taken poison and gone through all that trouble, she wouldn't be so foolish as to risk her life."

"Just wait and see! Why all the nonsense?!" Tie Zhong roared angrily, his eyebrows raised and his face full of rage.

Tie Feng nodded quickly, not daring to utter another word in rebuttal.

Ying Li's palms were sweaty. The moment she saw the White Tiger Spirit Guide feigning sleep, she felt a surge of urge; she wanted to eliminate it, she couldn't wait a moment longer. She was here for the medicinal spring, for resources more advantageous to herself. For these, she had drunk the poison, unafraid of the pain, unafraid of being exposed. But seeing the White Tiger Spirit Guide, she was terrified of its death, terrified that the inner pearl would fall into someone else's hands. Jiang Huai had already obtained the Ink Serpent Inner Pearl; of the remaining three inner pearls, only the White Tiger Spirit Guide was truly crucial! If she took the White Tiger Spirit Guide's inner pearl, and then the other two, and found Jiang Huai, he could live like an ordinary person, never again suffering the pain of a short-lived death.

However, this is the residence of the Winter Prince, the residence of the rebellious prince of the Ghost Realm. If she takes the inner pearl and openly kills the White Tiger Spirit Guide, it would be tantamount to announcing to the Winter Prince that her surrender was fake! But if she immediately goes to the Winter Prince to ask for resources, it will also make the naturally suspicious Winter Prince question her motives. She is in a dilemma. The best solution is to ignore the White Tiger Spirit Guide and think of another way.

Having taken the Qilin Pill, she walked out of the palace step by step, getting further and further away from the White Tiger Spirit Guide. She couldn't be greedy for a moment; if she couldn't become a Spirit Lord, her impatience would cost her her life!

“Girl, don’t worry, we will see the light at the end of the tunnel. Hiding here, no one will disturb your cultivation, no one will interfere with you. As long as you hold firm to your beliefs, we will definitely succeed!” Yin Lie said.

"I definitely will," Ying Li said. Tie Feng's figure drew closer, his eyes filled with a hint of flattery as he looked at Ying Li. "Miss Ying Li, now that you have pledged allegiance, your master wants you to do something. What do you think, Miss Ying Li?"

"Of course I will do as my master commands, but I don't know what it is!" Ying Li said. Sure enough, if she had attacked the White Tiger Spirit Guide just now, or gone to the Winter Prince to ask for the Spirit Guide, the Winter Prince would have become suspicious. After all, Tie Feng was here, waiting for her to fall into his trap.

"It's nothing serious, Miss Yingli, no need to worry. A few days ago, a maid accidentally wandered into the Ghost Realm and displeased the master. The master hopes that Miss Yingli will deal with her to show her loyalty." Tie Feng looked at Yingli and said in a speculative tone.

"I stumbled into the Ghost Realm by accident, how could I have angered my master?! What's her name?!"

“A worthless life, born to be abused by her master. I think her name was something like, oh, Yu Qingdai. Speaking of which, we actually captured this girl by accident once…” Tie Feng finished speaking and subconsciously looked at Ying Li’s expression. He wanted to see how Ying Li would react!

Ying Li's face gradually paled. When did Dai Dai enter the Ghost Realm?! Then Yi Bicheng and his master—they've all entered the Ghost Realm?! If that's the case, the situation is terrible! It will only accelerate the war between spirits and ghosts, and will only quickly plunge this place into chaos!