Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 355 "The Empress"

Regardless of the turmoil in the capital and the south, Long Qinghuang and Lu Xingzhou's delegation soon arrived in the Demon Capital.

Yes, very soon...

After observing for a few more days and confirming that Lu Xingzhou and Sheng Yuanyao were not actually in that kind of relationship, but rather a sisterly relationship that was difficult to maintain, Long Qinghuang could no longer bear to watch.

During one of Lu Xingzhou's and Sheng Yuanyao's adventures in the woods, someone grabbed Lu Xingzhou and, along with A Nuo, flew directly back to the Demon Capital, leaving Sheng Yuanyao to lead the delegation and follow the army at their own pace.

Sheng Yuanyao turned her head and looked around; the huge boat was gone.

Lu Xingzhou tucked his hands in, seemingly unaware of what he had been doing.

"Would you believe me if I said we went into the woods simply because I, as an alchemist, wanted to see the unique plants here?"

"I believe you." Long Qinghuang said expressionlessly, "But don't you need to explain to me? After all, who is Long Qinghuang? What could she possibly have to do with you?"

Lu Xingzhou: "Then why didn't you let me see the plants? There was a tree just now..."

"I'll have someone show you what you want to see. Why bother following a woman into the woods?"

Lu Xingzhou shut his mouth.

Long Qinghuang said, "To be honest, if you hadn't been so clever as to bring a guard, I could have taken you back earlier. But then I thought, it doesn't seem to make any difference whether there's a guard or not, so let's go first. Your female friend can slowly eat dirt in the back."

Lu Xingzhou was speechless. Sometimes he felt that this demon emperor was also quite childish.

"May I ask... in terms of the lifespan of dragons, how many human years is roughly equivalent to one thousand years?"

Long Qinghuang thought for a long time: "I don't know how to calculate it. After all, the difference in cultivation is huge. I was born at the Transformation Realm. Compared with some trash who were born without awakening their spirit, can I be considered of the same race?"

Even Lu Xingzhou couldn't say anything to her. "You're so talented and awesome, but how come you're still not as strong as Ye Tinglan after a thousand years?"

"So, that's all based on a lifespan exceeding the standard?"

"You humans, Huiyang, have a lifespan of just over a thousand years? Perhaps those who cultivate for health and longevity can live even longer?"

"Pretty much." Anyway, it's said that the Huangji Jingshi Jing isn't good at lifespan, while Tianyao Xuanyue should be very strong in this regard. Different cultivation methods are different, so it's hard to compare them. Just use it as a reference and that's it.

"If the dragons have cultivated here for five thousand years, then I've lived one-fifth of a year now? Compared to a mortal's lifespan of one hundred years, am I twenty?"

Ah Nuo's eyes widened.

Is there something wrong with this comparison...?

According to this logic, the Ye sisters have only lived for less than a tenth of a year. Compared to a mortal's lifespan of a hundred years, the Ye sisters are less than ten years old this year and are A-Nuo's younger sisters.

Sister Long's algorithm is truly ingenious.

Or perhaps the Ye sisters are just too over-the-top; no matter what happens, as long as they're there, logic just falls apart.

In fact, Lu Xingzhou preferred to count Long Qinghuang as twenty, which is the age of a college girl, so it's understandable that she sometimes has a girlish feel.

Unfortunately, regardless of whether Long Qinghuang's calculation is correct or not, this cannot be compared like that... After all, she has genuinely lived for a thousand years, and should theoretically be more knowledgeable and experienced; it cannot be directly converted into the knowledge and temperament of a twenty-year-old girl. Heaven knows what's wrong with her...

Perhaps there's a possibility... she's never had any friends, yet she's deliberately trying to do this, which makes her seem a bit naive?

Thinking of this, Lu Xingzhou was somewhat moved. In any case, this Demon Emperor was indeed trying to get along with him in a more equal way... although the premise was still to drag him away without saying a word.

Amidst their differing thoughts, the demon capital, which required a journey of more than half a month, was already in sight.

This is the largest city Lu Xingzhou has ever seen in his life.

In the center of the city stands an exceptionally tall mountain, around which dragons coil and circle. That is Dragon Cliff, the sacred land of the dragon race and the location of the demon capital's imperial palace.

How big is a mountain that can allow thousands of dragons to circle around?
It is just a mountain in the city.

It's not like Danxia Mountain or those mountains on the outskirts of Xiazhou... it's a mountain within the city.

Centered on this massive mountain, the city spread outwards, growing larger and larger with each concentric circle. It's hard to imagine that all the counties in Dongjiang Prefecture combined could be larger than this city.

At least the capital of the Great Qian Dynasty is not this big. Although cities cannot be compared simply by size, it is indeed breathtaking to look down from the air.

Long Qinghuang didn't let the master and disciple look down for long, and directly carried them to the top of the cliff.

The majestic palace stands atop the mountain.

The palace wasn't very large, about the same size as the one in the Great Qian Dynasty, and the architectural style was similar. It seemed that Long Qinghuang lived here in human form.

Lu Xingzhou breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that since Long Qinghuang usually used her true form, how would she cope with a dragon tens of meters long? ...Speaking of which, how big is the place where she urinates when it's that big of a dragon?
Lost in thought, the palace guards saw Long Qinghuang landing with two people on either side of her and bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty."

Long Qinghuang waved her hand: "These two guests will stay in the palace for the time being. Remember what they look like."

Just as Anuo thought that he was being told to remember their appearance for convenience, Long Qinghuang added, "After you remember them, if they dare to leave without permission, arrest them and bring them back."

Ah Nuo: “…”

Lu Xingzhou chuckled, seemingly unconcerned, and led A Nuo inside leisurely.

Long Qinghuang glanced at him secretly, and seeing that he didn't seem unhappy, she felt a little relieved. She coughed twice and led the way, asking, "How does it compare to your Great Qian Imperial Palace?" Lu Xingzhou followed behind, admiring the view from all sides, and replied, "I'm ashamed to say that I've never even been inside the Great Qian Imperial Palace."

"So what is there about the Great Qian Dynasty that you are attached to?"

Lu Xingzhou smiled but did not answer, instead changing the subject: "I thought His Majesty would decorate the buildings with shiny things, but it turns out that he doesn't."

"I'm not crazy. The decorations outside are all sparkly. When the sunlight shines through them, whose eyes are they going to be hurt?" Long Qinghuang said unhappily. "Don't always mock me for liking sparkly things. Everyone has their own preferences! Just like when you went to look at some plants on the way, I thought you were crazy. Did I laugh at you?"

"No, it's not sarcasm. People are always curious about things they don't understand. Your Majesty's thoughts and habits intrigue me, that's all."

Long Qinghuang sneered: "You want to understand me? I can't believe it. After spending so many days being all lovey-dovey with your female friend, did you even think to say a single word to me?"

Lu Xingzhou said, "I just contradicted His Majesty, and I don't want to go looking for trouble."

Long Qinghuang said coldly, "You've offended me in many ways, have I ever held it against you?"

"for example?"

"What do you mean, 'a cartload of dazzling pearls in exchange for so many soldiers'? Do you think I'm a sucker? Have I ever argued with you about this?"

Lu Xingzhou sighed: "I want to gain fame and create the impression of doing the most with the least cost..."

"So you're only taking a loss from me? If you were really my concubine, it would be one thing to lose some money from me, but you want both integrity and my money. You're trying to get all the benefits?"

"I learned it from a fairy from another world."

Long Qinghuang was stunned: "This can be called a fairy?"

Lu Xingzhou finally smiled: "How about I use my own money to make up for His Majesty's losses?"

Long Qinghuang glanced at him sideways: "You're just a third-grade cultivator, and one who just broke through not long ago... what could you possibly produce?"

As they spoke, the three of them finally passed through the many palaces and arrived at the inner palace.

Long Qinghuang pointed directly to a bedroom: "You'll stay here."

Ah Nuo smiled with her head down.

Without even looking, you can tell that it's a palace designed for concubines, and probably even the empress's seat... Ah Nuo can tell fortunes, the Eight Trigrams are her foundation, and this palace is located in the Kun position...

"Alright, alright, I love Kun too, this is it." Lu Xingzhou seemed to have forgotten how principled he had been before, and casually entered the hall.

Long Qinghuang, who thought Lu Xingzhou would stubbornly refuse, was quite taken aback. It wasn't until Lu Xingzhou had led A Nuo inside that she came to her senses and followed him in, saying, "I was asking you what you could take out!"

Before he finished speaking, Lu Xingzhou pulled out a sparkling gem.

The gemstone is beautiful, shimmering with iridescent colors, perfectly matching Long Qinghuang's aesthetic; she liked it at first sight.

It was beautiful enough on its own, but the intense energy contained within the gemstone made even the well-informed and knowledgeable Long Qinghuang narrow her eyes: "Ancient aura... Where did you get this?"

"Does His Majesty like it?"

Long Qinghuang seemed a little embarrassed, but still kept a straight face and said, "So what if I like it?"

"Is it sincere enough for me to use this to make up for His Majesty's loss?" Lu Xingzhou stepped forward and placed the gem directly in Long Qinghuang's hand.

Long Qinghuang didn't even realize that he was holding her hand during this process, her mind was completely focused on the gemstone.

These gemstones, imbued with an ancient aura, are so beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.

Killer.

"I didn't expect you could actually pull something out." Long Qinghuang's expression finally broke down, and she looked at it with delight: "You pass... Where did you get it?"

Lu Xingzhou said, "The treasure is nothing more than a key... it can open..."

Ah Nuo continued in her heart, "Your heart."

What Lu Xingzhou said was not that; rather, he said, "It can open up the topics that you and I should have been discussing."

Ah Nuo covered her face, realizing she had guessed wrong again.

Long Qinghuang finally managed to pull her attention away from the gemstone she loved and asked curiously, "You mean?"

"The Ancient Realm," Lu Xingzhou said, "they attacked your sacred mountain... shouldn't this be the main topic we're discussing?"

Long Qinghuang stared at him, somewhat stunned: "So you voluntarily entered the Empress's palace because it's a place where no one can overhear your conversation?"

Lu Xingzhou once again revealed that indulgent yet helpless smile: "It's not that complicated... You arrange for me to stay wherever you want, I'll stay wherever you want. It's just a place to live, what's there to fuss about? Besides, it's good to live closer to you. We have many private topics to discuss, not only in the Ancient Realm, but also around you... things that can't be overheard. Letting people think you're infatuated with men while secretly plotting something else might not be a bad idea."

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.

PS: Nearly 11,000 today.

(End of this chapter)