While in Battle Through the Heavens, one can pre-appoint oneself as an emperor.

Chapter 124 Cao Ying of Hongwen (Bonus Chapter)

"I can't go on like this, let me rest for a bit."

From inside the bamboo house, Cao Ying's slightly panting voice could be heard pleading for mercy.

Chen Xiao nodded with a smile and considerately handed over a Qi-restoring pill that was still warm.

Cao Ying glared at him irritably, snatched the Qi-restoring pill she had refined, tilted her head back and swallowed it. As her battle qi surged rapidly through her meridians, she bit her lower lip tightly, looking as if she was gritting her teeth in hatred.

Half a month has passed since the Sea Heart Flame was refined.

During those two weeks, Chen Xiao didn't stand on ceremony with her at all.

From Grade 2 Enhancement Pills to Grade 5 Azure Essence Pills, she helped refine twenty or thirty of the most common pills on the market.

They claimed that the medicinal herbs were just gathering dust anyway, and that any surplus could be used as income for Fengcheng.

As bottle after bottle of pills were refined, Chen Xiao beamed with joy, but Cao Ying herself was exhausted. For a full half month, except for the time spent recovering her battle qi, she spent almost all her time in this room, becoming nothing more than a pill-refining machine.

"That's enough for today. This batch of pills is enough for us to use for a long time. Besides, I've already made an agreement with the Fourth Elder that I'll only need you for half a month this time. After I see you off, I also need to go into seclusion."

As he spoke, Chen Xiao took out a piece of parchment from his storage ring and handed it to Cao Ying.

This genius alchemist is indeed very useful. I wouldn't feel bad giving her information that's useless to me, or even some of Han Feng's legacy.

Given how things have come to this point, it's inevitable that the two will be entangled in the future.

Cao Ying took the parchment with a light touch of her fingertips. The moment she unfolded it, a look of surprise suddenly lit up her eyes, and the corners of her lips unconsciously turned up.

"Thanks."

"No need for verbal thanks; I'll give you the other things next time we meet."

Upon hearing this, Cao Ying's lips curled into a playful smile. She gracefully rose, took a few steps to Chen Xiao, and suddenly leaned in close, their noses almost touching. Her voice trailed off with a seductive tone: "I have a method that's not just talk. Want to give it a try?"

Chen Xiao frowned slightly and took a half-inch back without leaving a trace, but the mockery in her eyes grew even stronger.

Immediately, Chen Xiao's heart stirred slightly. He stopped his retreating movement, his long arm suddenly reaching out to firmly grasp her soft waist. Taking advantage of the moment Cao Ying lowered her head, he forcefully covered her lips with his, swallowing up all the unrestrained teasing.

Cao Ying froze, her fingertips instinctively gripping Chen Xiao's clothes. Her wide almond-shaped eyes were filled with astonishment, her pupils exploding with confusion. A few breaths later, her chaotic consciousness had just returned when the warmth on her lips receded like the tide.

When Cao Ying met Chen Xiao's gaze again, her cheeks instantly flushed a deep crimson, her earlobes turning a translucent red, as if one could see the boiling heat surging through her veins.

Seeing Cao Ying's expression, Chen Xiao's lips curled into a mischievous smile, his eyes gleaming with amusement: "Where's all that arrogance and sharp tongue you usually have? Turns out you're just a paper tiger."

Cao Ying's cheeks burned. She wanted to say a few more defiant words, but lacked the confidence. She could only glare at Chen Xiao fiercely, but her eyes revealed a hint of guilt. She dared not meet his gaze, turned around and stumbled towards the door. In her panic, she almost tripped over the hem of her skirt and fled in a disheveled manner.

...

noon.

As the group waited, Cao Ying finally emerged from the bamboo house and calmly stepped onto the back of the flying eagle.

"Chen Xiao, Ice Emperor, Zi Yan, there's no need to see me off. We'll meet again in Zhongzhou. Once I find the Transformation Grass, I'll have someone bring the Transformation Pill over."

Cao Xi faced the three men, clasped his hands slightly in farewell.

With such an attitude from a Dou Zong expert, Chen Xiao and Hai Bodong naturally couldn't be impolite. Even the sleepy Zi Yan followed suit and clapped her hands with her fists.

"Goodbye, Zhongzhou. Thank you for your help during this time, Fourth Elder."

Although the initial contact was in the form of a transaction, Chen Xiao had to admit that Cao Xi had been of great help.

Take, for example, the case of Han Feng, and the two elders, Jin and Yin, who were left to die outside the city. Each time they made a move, the Fourth Elder did not take any spoils of war.

Upon hearing Chen Xiao's words, Cao Xi smiled and shook his head.

"Goodbye, Fourth Elder! Goodbye, Sister Cao Ying!"

Ziyan mustered her spirits and waved her little hand.

Standing on the broad back of the eagle, Cao Ying originally intended to maintain the dignified posture of a 'mascot,' but upon hearing Zi Yan's voice, she couldn't help but smile.

She smiled and waved gently at Zi Yan, then her gaze fell on Chen Xiao, her eyes narrowed slightly, and she rolled her eyes at him.

"See you in Zhongzhou."

"Have a safe journey, both of you."

After Chen Xiao finished speaking, Hai Bodong also spoke up.

Without saying anything more, Cao Xi and Cao Ying nodded and immediately took to the air without further hesitation.

In less than a few breaths, they completely disappeared from the sight of Chen Xiao and the other two.

Turning his gaze away, Chen Xiao looked at Zi Yan, who was yawning again.

"You don't need to be in such a hurry. It would be a loss if you hurt yourself."

Zi Yan could consume pills much faster than she could chew medicinal herbs.

Since meeting this girl and letting her experience the wonders of the pills, the amount of energy she digests on average each day is several times greater than before.

Especially after returning to the Jia Ma Empire, the supply of pills was unlimited, which made her advance in the cultivation level much faster than Chen Xiao had expected.

Watching her overeat every day, Chen Xiao couldn't help but worry about her health, although for the Ancient Dragon of the Void, such worry might be somewhat unnecessary.

"We have to hurry! Little Fairy Doctor has already gone into seclusion. When she comes out, she'll definitely be a Dou Huang level expert. You need to go into seclusion now too, I can't fall behind!"

Zi Yan shook her head vigorously, showing her strong opinions.

Chen Xiao rubbed her head, said nothing more, then turned to Hai Bodong, took out the intelligence he had prepared in advance that could be used for trading, and handed it over.

"Elder Hai, for the next period of time, Maple City will depend on you to oversee things. Once our people arrive, the auction house should be able to open. Keep these intelligence reports for future reference. I have noted the value of each piece of intelligence, and we will not negotiate the price."

"Little Fairy Doctor will likely emerge from seclusion earlier than Zi Yan and I. You can handle the usual matters. If any uninvited guests come, you can forcibly wake me up. There's no need to be presumptuous. Although the Fourth Elder and Queen Medusa are gone, we are not without Dou Zong combat power!"

Just in case, Chen Xiao gave Hai Bodong a heads-up.

With the Heavenly Demon Puppet that can be summoned at any time, even if that old demon from the Earth Demon Sect comes, the Black Corner Region doesn't need to give it much face.

Hai Bodong took the stack of letters, glanced at them a few times, and his face showed undisguised surprise.

These are all great things!

There were quite a few of them that made his heart flutter.

Upon closer inspection, considering the location of those items and the difficulty of obtaining them, Hai Bodong shook his head.

Not worth it! Not at all worth it!

These things are simply not worth the trip you would make in person.

"Don't worry, with me and Little Fairy Doctor here, nothing will happen to Maple City. However, before you go into seclusion, there is one small matter that I need you to decide: what should Maple City be named?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiao looked at Zi Yan.

A name is just a title; he doesn't value it much.

Ziyan, on the other hand, was quite interested in this before.

When she met their gazes, Zi Yan's expression froze.

She quickly returned to normal, revealing an expression as if she had already thought it through.

"Purple City!"

"Let's call the auction house Zixiao Pavilion!"

As she spoke, she gestured with her fingers in the air a few times.

The name, as the name suggests, is simply one character each from Chen Xiao and her; it couldn't be simpler.

Chen Xiao chuckled, but did not completely reject the idea.

"Change it to the 'Xiao' in 'Lingxiao,' and it'll be 'Zixiao Pavilion'!"

(End of this chapter)