Started out getting scumbags, but then invested in the invincible Empress.

Chapter 64 The Legend of the Peacock King: Twice Rejecting the Empress

On the deck of the flying boat.

Jiang Churan stood in front, her white shirt billowing in the wind, her black hair flowing naturally, her legs straight and long, her figure extremely beautiful.

She turned around and looked at Li Wudao, her eyes flashing with complex emotions.

After a moment of silence, she flipped her delicate hand, took out a round jade pendant, and handed it over.

"This is a protective jade pendant given to me by the Sect Master before his departure. It's powerful enough to withstand a strike from a Martial Grandmaster at the Great Perfection stage..."

Amid the boy's surprised gaze, Jiang Churan explained in a cool and clear voice.

Before he could finish speaking, Li Wudao interrupted him impatiently, saying, "Hey, Xiao Jiang, what do you mean? Do you think I'm not strong enough?"

The girl rolled her eyes at him, her expression seeming to say, "Don't you know whether you can do it or not?"

Li Wudao felt uneasy under that gaze and pouted, saying, "Don't look at me like that. Actually... I'm very strong."

"Heh, so strong that he was chased and beaten by early True Yuan Realm cultivators during the rookie competition?"

Jiang Churan glared at him, her tone somewhat disdainful.

"What do you know? I was just biding my time. Never mind... I can't explain it to you."

Li Wudao immediately became anxious and retorted angrily.

He really wanted to recount the whole story, but fearing that others might overhear, he simply kept it to himself.

He could tell which was more important, saving face or being threatened.

Jiang Churan shook her head slightly, somewhat speechless.

After a moment, she parted her red lips slightly and patiently began to speak:

"The secret realm is not as simple as you think. With your current strength, it will be difficult for you to reach the place where the inheritance is located alone. With this protective jade pendant, your chances of survival will be much greater..."

Based on the experience of the last encounter, it can be inferred that Li Wudao's current cultivation level is probably only at the late stage of the True Essence Realm, no more than that.

Such strength would be no problem within the Xuan Tian Sect.

However, the Hundred Flowers Secret Realm not only offers opportunities to encounter geniuses from two top-tier sects, but also dangerous and troublesome monsters, making it somewhat less challenging.

"I think this jade pendant is unnecessary. With your strength, protecting me shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Li Wudao felt a warmth in his heart. Although the girl looked aloof, she still cared about him; she was just not good at expressing herself.

He thought to himself, perhaps... this is the essence of tsundere.

"I am strong enough to protect you, but... due to the rules of the Hundred Flowers Secret Realm, those who enter will be randomly assigned to the outer perimeter of the secret realm and will not be able to act together."

Jiang Churan nodded, somewhat pleased.

After a period of secluded cultivation, her strength has advanced by leaps and bounds, and she has already broken through to the Great Perfection of the True Essence Realm.

If used at full strength, it would be enough to contend with a late-stage Martial Grandmaster.

This is only the initial awakening of the Azure Phoenix bloodline. If it is fully revived, it will be invincible, and no one of its generation will be able to rival its glory.

Li Wudao suddenly realized, touched his chin, and a thought struck him.

Entering the secret realm requires him to act alone, which is actually a good thing for him.

If Qi Xingyu were in a crowd, it would be really difficult for him to make a move.

Thinking of this, a slight smile appeared on the boy's lips.

Perhaps Qi Xingyu knew this, which is why he planned to ambush and kill him in the secret realm.

However, it's hard to say who the prey really is.

Li Wudao began to look forward to it. What would it be like when the two of them met?

"You seem happy?"

Noticing the boy's expression, Jiang Churan frowned slightly, somewhat displeased.

"No, you must have seen it wrong."

Li Wudao came to his senses and said somewhat guiltily.

He was starting to have doubts, and the moment he pouted, he was caught red-handed. Xiao Jiang's insight was a bit frightening.

The girl gave him a somewhat unfriendly look, then said seriously:

"The location within the secret realm is difficult to discern, but the danger gradually increases the closer you get to the center. Therefore, meeting in the center is the most direct approach, and the place of inheritance I'm heading to is located in the center of the secret realm..."

"That... the legacy you mentioned, could it be the one left behind by Venerable Panlei?"

Li Wudao weakly interrupted.

He glanced at the girl's speechless expression, then scratched his head. "Isn't it him?"

"no!"

Jiang Churan took a deep breath and stared at him with a look of utter despair.

Is this the main focus?

Shouldn't this guy be worried about how to survive to reach the center of the secret realm before asking her for the protective jade pendant?

"I see. So what kind of inheritance are you talking about, and how does it compare to the Panlei Sutra?"

Li Wudao scratched his head, teetering on the brink of death.

"......"

Jiang Churan fell silent for a while before calming her agitated emotions.

She suppressed the urge to hit someone, looked around, and then said calmly:

"You only need to know the Panlei Sutra, which is insignificant compared to that lineage. You will know the rest when you get there."

After saying that, the girl pushed the protective jade pendant forward again, looking very annoyed. "I'll ask you one last time, do you want it or not?"

Sensing the subtle "killing intent" around them,

Li Wudao steeled himself and said, "Fine, keep this protective jade pendant. I really don't need it."

The words fell.

Jiang Churan gave him a deep look, her expression frosty, then turned and left without saying a word, leaving behind only a cold, beautiful figure.

It seems Xiao Jiang is really angry...

Li Wudao smiled bitterly, but did not feel any regret.

With his true strength, he had no need for that protective jade pendant; it would be more valuable to leave it to the young girl.

But he also understood that no matter what he said at this moment, the other party would not believe him, and it would only alert them.

Perhaps, when they meet again in the secret realm, and Xiao Jiang has witnessed his prowess, his opinion will change.

Ugh--

The boy stood on the deck for a while in the cold wind, shook his head, shook off his chaotic thoughts, and walked towards the cabin.

Sure enough, Jiang Churan sat in a corner the whole way, her face frosty, looking like she wanted to stay away from strangers.

Li Wudao was also sensible and stayed put, not wanting to embarrass himself.

Everyone noticed this and their expressions turned strange. Although they were puzzled, they dared not provoke this trouble.

.......

Time flies, and five days have passed in the blink of an eye.

The airship slowed its pace, plunged down from the clouds, and hurtled downwards.

Ahead lay an endless ancient mountain range, stretching for at least 100,000 kilometers, coiled across the land like a powerful and majestic green dragon.

The group came to the deck and looked around curiously, all captivated by the magnificent mountain scenery.

"The mountain range ahead is called the 'Peacock Mountains,' and the Hundred Flowers Secret Realm is located deep within it. Speaking of this mountain range, it has quite a legendary aura..."

Master Du Quan of Ziyun Peak, like a kind elder, explained with great enthusiasm:

"Legend has it that the king of the Peacock Demon Clan once attained enlightenment here in ancient times. Later, he fought against the Heavenly Xuan Saint Lord, which shook the entire Eastern Wilderness. This mountain range was named after him and has been used ever since."

Upon hearing this, the disciples reacted in various ways: some were surprised, some curious, some longing, and some frowned...

"Hiss, the Holy Lord is a top-tier warrior in the Eastern Wilderness. Is the king of the Peacock Demon Clan really that strong?"

"I've never seen a demon before, so I don't know what they look like, or if they're good-looking?"

"Peak Master, what happened to the Peacock King afterward? Is he still alive?"

"Are you stupid? Ancient times are tens of thousands of years ago. Even a holy lord should have passed away by now."

The disciples engaged in a heated discussion, each offering their own opinion.

"These are all just rumors, too far removed from the present day to be verified. Just treat them as stories."

"The peak master of Ziyun Peak said with a smile."

"The Peacock King..."

Li Wudao muttered to himself, his brows furrowed, as if he vaguely remembered something.

He searched through all the books in the sect's library and had seen this name in a yellowed book of strange tales.

All that is known is that this person possessed extraordinary strength and was the king of the demon race. After his battle with the Heavenly Pivot Saint Lord, nothing more was heard of him.

He didn't pay much attention at the time, but now he has some doubts. The story of the Peacock King in the book of strange tales ended abruptly, which seemed a bit abrupt.

Perhaps the following content was deliberately destroyed...

But here's the problem: shouldn't information about other races be preserved in as much detail as possible? Why destroy it?

Especially since this Peacock King is comparable to the Heavenly Pivot Saint Lord, how could such a powerful figure be unknown and without even detailed records?

Li Wudao was completely baffled, feeling that there was more to it than met the eye.

"Ok?"

Suddenly, he glanced around and saw Jiang Churan in the corner, and his expression changed slightly.

If the girl was simply frowning and unhappy before...

Now, her bright eyes held a raw, icy coldness, along with a faint hint of hatred and murderous intent.

Li Wudao was startled, sensing something was wrong; this Jiang Churan was too unfamiliar to him.

That shouldn't be...

Although he refused the Empress twice, which was somewhat brave and even a bit ungrateful, it shouldn't have come to this extent, right?

Where does this hatred come from, and what is the reason for this murderous intent?