The fake prince was exposed at the beginning, and I took office as emperor on the spot

Chapter 251 The Imperial Preceptor Returns Pa (Part 2)

Gu Fangchen stood with her hands behind her back in the void, looking down at the sea below.

The wind whipped his long hair and robes, making them flutter loudly.

In the center of the sea, Sunaga sat cross-legged.

The seawater was rotating around her, forming a huge hollow vortex that revealed a massive keel skeleton beneath.

The snow-white dragon bones lay coiled on the seabed, resembling a labyrinth of bones.

Beneath the dragon bones lay a massive chasm in the ocean.

Within the fissure, a faint red light flickered, and the surrounding seabed was composed of rocks resembling charcoal formed from cooled lava.

And from time to time, bright red magma would gush out from this fissure.

This chasm in the ocean is the shortest route to the underworld.

However, the two were not connected; instead, they were sealed by the body of the true dragon. Otherwise, given the weak barrier between them, the demons and monsters from the underworld would have already launched a massive invasion of the mortal realm.

Now, Gu Fangchen is trying to summon the true dragon's soul through the "soul-summoning" formation, so that it can become the backup energy for Sunaga to read the [Snail Book].

On the other hand, it is necessary to destroy the remains of the true dragon and completely open this passage.

However, he opened this passage not to help evil spirits invade, but simply to build a more stable channel to facilitate his next step.

Previously, if he wanted to go to the Nine Netherworlds, he had to rely on the altar left behind by the Blood God Sect.

But those altars are one less to use. When he summoned the ghost general Ruoye, he had already used up almost all the power of the altars. What was left were just some small altars, which were simply not enough.

Moreover, those passages only last for a very short time.

What Gu Fangchen needs is nothing less than the largest passage in the Abyss Rift.

At present, at the four sides of the vortex, there are two merman elders, a master of the "Extinction" Dao, and Wu Tian, ​​the patriarch of the Wu Clan, sitting cross-legged. In the seawater around the vortex below, countless mermen are working together to construct the "Soul Summoning" formation.

With Gu Fangchen directing, setting up the "soul-summoning" formation was naturally not difficult.

However, it will take at least three more days to complete completely.

Gu Fangchen's supervisory duties weren't heavy, and she just watched aimlessly for a while. Suddenly, an idea struck her, and she looked up with a serious expression.

He himself also possessed a vein of earth, which was a long-dormant dragon vein.

Of course, generally speaking, this dragon vein, which has been refined twice, has completely become Gu Fangchen's own meridian. Unlike the dragon vein that Xiao Sheng forcibly carried, it will not cause any trouble because of other dragon veins in the outside world.

But this time is different; all five dragon veins are about to converge, and that's no ordinary event...

Even Gu Fangchen, who was far away overseas, sensed this.

"Based on the schedule, including the time for setting up the formation, 'Eternal Unity' will only take about seven or eight days to complete... In reality, I have even less time left."

Gu Fangchen estimated in his mind that he would have to complete this "miracle" in at most four days, and then go to see Xuanling and Ying Baishou, which was pretty much in line with his expectations.

He watched as the vortex below gradually stabilized, and complex, massive array runes emerged from the waves. Spiritual power gradually gathered on the white bones of the true dragon, constructing a phantom of flesh and blood from them...

These illusory images of flesh and blood, shrouded above the white bones, vaguely resembled a lifelike dragon, rhythmically rising and falling with the swirling waves around it, as if it were breathing.

With each breath, spiritual energy further condensed, and flesh and blood gradually solidified and became richer.

Once this phantom of flesh and blood has completely solidified into the shape of a dragon, the "soul summoning" will be successful.

Gu Fangchen exhaled and vanished in a flash.

……

Xu Fu opened his eyes from his meditation and saw Gu Fangchen jumping in through the window.

She glanced at the young man, sighed, and said softly:

"I'm not saying you can't come in, so why are you sneaking through the window like a thief..."

Gu Fangchen patted non-existent dust off her hands, chuckled, and then solemnly adopted a serious expression:
"You don't understand, Grand Preceptor. This creates a better atmosphere."

Xu Fu was indeed somewhat puzzled:

What kind of atmosphere?

It naturally creates the atmosphere of a cool, aloof fairy stealing someone's heart...

Gu Fangchen immediately answered silently in her heart.

The all-knowing Grand Preceptor always liked to emphasize with an air of otherworldly wisdom that she had never been controlled by any worldly desires, and that everything was within her plan, part of her plan.

But in reality, if she had seen herself at that time, she probably wouldn't have said such self-deceiving things.

It all started when Xu Fu accidentally possessed Xue Xiang's body and was mistaken for Xue Xiang by Gu Fangchen, who then ordered him to help make lotus root starch soup.

Gu Fangchen discovered that this imperial advisor was different from the aloof and detached figure players perceived in the game, who seemed to have no desires or wants.

On the contrary, she is exceptionally gifted in this regard.

She just couldn't see her own appearance and expression, so she could continue to be stubborn.

Otherwise, Gu Fangchen wouldn't have dared to tease Xuexiang repeatedly, or even deliberately leave the aphrodisiac in her body to scheme against the Imperial Preceptor.

Of course, at that time it could also be considered that the timing was right, the location was right, and the people were right.

Gu Fangchen originally intended to wait until the Imperial Preceptor possessed her again, then activate the "golden hairpin pendant" on Xuexiang's body and proceed gradually.

After all, the Imperial Preceptor was merely possessing someone, not taking their body.

If she senses something is wrong, she can immediately withdraw and return to her own body.

Gu Fangchen's original intention was simply to gradually test the Imperial Preceptor's bottom line, first by making contact with him through an "accident," and then by enticing him to try possessing her when the poison took effect.

As a result, the "Six Star Lords" provided a great assist, actually trapping Xu Fu inside Xue Xiang's body.

Gu Fangchen would naturally not miss this opportunity.

From then on, the relationship between the two became public. Gu Fangchen already knew that Xu Fu could no longer pretend that nothing had happened, and it was just a matter of seeing when she would find an excuse for herself.

Naturally, after Xu Fu deciphered the meaning of the Nine Methods of Transmission, Gu Fangchen roughly understood that this was the best "excuse".

Of course, Xu Fu will continue to be stubborn, which she sees not as an "excuse," but as a way to resist the "Dao."

But Gu Fangchen knew that if she used this "excuse" to escape again, she would probably have to continue being the detached and otherworldly imperial advisor.

Therefore, Gu Fangchen would never allow her to deceive herself any longer.

That day, he deliberately revealed Xu Fu's intentions so that the truth beneath this "excuse" would be exposed, and only then could he take it a step further.

Gu Fangchen smiled without saying a word, but Xu Fu turned his head away because of his gaze:
"Is the 'Soul Summoning' formation set up properly?"

"Of course, it's foolproof."

Gu Fangchen walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed, reaching out to take Xu Fu's hand.

The Imperial Advisor looked at him coldly:

"Gu Fangchen, last time it was only to sever the cause and effect, it was a last resort. Don't push your luck."

As he spoke, he tried to move his hand away.

Gu Fangchen raised an eyebrow and sighed, saying:

"Grand Preceptor, actually I came here to look for something." Xu Fu was taken aback:
"What?"

Gu Fangchen's gaze fell on the empty bed, and she said leisurely:

It was a handkerchief.

Upon hearing this, Xu Fu froze, his hand, which was about to move away, paused, and Gu Fangchen seized the opportunity to grab it.

She pursed her lips and struggled slightly, but clearly without much effort, and still fell into Gu Fangchen's clutches.

Gu Fangchen continued with a smile:
"I accidentally left a handkerchief with the Imperial Advisor back then. I suddenly remembered it and wanted to come back to get it, but unexpectedly, it seems to be gone..."

Gu Fangchen was naturally not one to be forgetful. Since she had prepared so thoroughly that she had put the handkerchief away in advance, she would naturally not forget to take the handkerchief with Yuan Hong on it.

He deliberately left it unattended, pretending to be in a hurry to leave, knowing that the Grand Preceptor would take it.

Now, they've come back, pretending to be serious.

Capture the Imperial Advisor in one fell swoop.

He deliberately said:
"Your Excellency, could you please help me determine the whereabouts of the handkerchief I lost?"

Xu Fu pursed his lips and kept a straight face:
“It’s just a handkerchief. You can get whatever you want in this sea kingdom now. Do you really need such an ordinary handkerchief? Why bother looking for it…”

Gu Fangchen shook her head, looked at Xu Fu, and said with a smile:

"That's no ordinary handkerchief; to me, it's one of the most precious things I own."

Xu Fu's face turned cold:
Do you even know what "the best" means?

Gu Fangchen nodded:
"Life, Mother, and peace in the world—none of these can be lost; that is the most important thing."

Upon hearing this, Xu Fu paused for a moment, then said:
"You glib and cunning little thief... This 'peace under heaven' is my destiny, and it has never been your most precious possession?"

Given this petty thief's personality, he clearly thrives on chaos.

But the phrase "peace throughout the land" happened to him. His master was right; fate is indeed unpredictable.

Gu Fangchen blinked and said:

"Then, for the Grand Preceptor, isn't your destiny me?"

"This is not my most precious thing, but it is your most precious thing."

Xu Fu was almost dizzy from his words, but when he said that, he almost laughed out of anger.

After all that, this little thief just wanted to convince himself that he was the most precious thing to him... How childish!
She deliberately put on a cold face and said:
"So what if it is? So what if it's not?"

Gu Fangchen smiled and said:
"The Imperial Preceptor's mandate is naturally something the Imperial Preceptor is happy to grant... However, could the Imperial Preceptor help me find my things?"

"threw."

Xu said expressionlessly:

“I thought you didn’t want it, so I threw it into the sea. Now it’s definitely gone.”

Gu Fangchen sighed helplessly:
"Ok."

"But since that's the case, even husband and wife should keep clear accounts."

Who is your spouse?

Xu Fu was stunned, not expecting Gu Fangchen to be so bold and shameless, blurting out whatever came to mind. She felt angry and ashamed, and her face grew even colder.

She was about to retort when she heard Gu Fangchen say confidently:

"Since the Imperial Preceptor has lost one of my handkerchiefs, shouldn't he return it to me?"

Xu Fu turned to look at him and met the latter's smiling eyes. He knew then what mischief this little thief was up to again.

But what Gu Fangchen said was indeed true...

If she says now that it's not lost, Gu Fangchen will definitely dig deep and ask where the handkerchief went.

Can she tell me?
Could it be that she, the dignified "Sage of Fate" Imperial Preceptor, inexplicably took the handkerchief with her virginity on it and put it away that day?

Xu Fu had just said that his purpose was to sever karmic ties and that he had no other intentions.

If he admits to taking Yuan Hong now, wouldn't that be tantamount to admitting that he has fallen for Gu Fangchen?

Xu Fu had already acknowledged this in his heart, but he was determined to compete with Gu Fangchen and was unwilling to let this little thief succeed.

She had no choice but to nod and say:
"It's just a handkerchief; I'll return it to you."

As Xu Fu spoke, he got up to ask the tailor shop in Haiguo for a piece of clothing.

But Gu Fangchen immediately grabbed her, pressed her down onto the bed, and asked with feigned confusion:
"Hey, where is the Imperial Preceptor going?"

Xu Fu was taken aback:
"Of course, I'll buy a handkerchief."

Gu Fangchen shook her head and said:
"I've already taken the handkerchief."

With a flick of his wrist, he produced a white handkerchief and casually laid it on the bed.

Xu Fu was puzzled:
"Since you already have it, why bother..."

Gu Fangchen's expression was serious, and she spoke with absolute certainty:
"If it were just an ordinary white handkerchief, it would be found everywhere; how could it be considered precious?"

"What I want the Imperial Advisor to return is that handkerchief that is exactly the same."

Xu Fu paused for a moment, then glanced at the handkerchief on the bed. In an instant, he understood what Gu Fangchen wanted to do, and his cold expression crumbled.

She laughed in exasperation:
"Shameless little thief! How else do you want to be exactly the same?"

Is it possible to do something exactly the same way again?
Gu Fangchen, however, was prepared. She took out a pill, smiled at the aloof and ethereal female Taoist priest in front of her, and leaned closer to whisper something.

Xu Fu pursed his lips, his expression becoming even more displeased, with a hint of shame and indignation.

That shameless thief, he really came prepared for everything!

We're just waiting for her to fall into our trap!
And... they even went to such lengths to do it!
She once thought that Gu Fangchen's debauchery in dressing up the maid as herself was already enough, but the methods she used on her were a thousand times more debauched!
But seeing that she didn't speak, Gu Fangchen then played with the pill in her hand again and said:
"Could it be that the Imperial Preceptor is going back on his word? He promised to return my handkerchief, but now he's not?"

Xu Fu was now caught in a dilemma, and suddenly realized that he had been tricked by Gu Fangchen and led astray...

However, by then it was too late to realize this.

She couldn't let go of her dignity as the imperial advisor, and at this moment, it became a shackle that she had no choice but to compromise on.

In the end, the aloof and ethereal female Taoist priest could only respond with silence, filled with shame and indignation.

Gu Fangchen laughed. So, the Imperial Preceptor has tacitly agreed?

……

Jiange.

Ning Songjun had just seen his father off. Staring at the long sword in his hand, he was about to pack up and go down the mountain to help Xiao Yinghao.

With the world in chaos, their Sword Pavilion naturally needs to find a side to take.

However, the next moment, he suddenly saw a woman in a green dress emerge from the huge sword mark between the mountain peaks.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: This is a revised version; I'll update it tomorrow.
(End of this chapter)