Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

The women came out one after another. When Balan saw the Asura King and Shen Xuejun also enter, her eyelids twitched. Although she did not recognize the two, she was very sensitive to the aura of powerful people.

"How come there are two mysterious powerful figures inside? This is no ordinary merchant guild or treasure pavilion; it's clearly a flying warship hiding divine weapons and generals!" Balan exclaimed in amazement.

Chu Mingkong once again led the way into the Abyss. He brought Yun Nongyu to his side and spoke to her with concern:

"Nongyu, how is your study of the 'Jade Pool Immortal Bathing Method' coming along?"

Chapter Sixty-Eight: Living Under Someone Else's Roof × Robbers Breaking In √

"The progress is acceptable. We should be able to awaken the will of the scripture in a few days." Yun Nongyu said somewhat apologetically, "I feel that I have taken up Your Highness's time a bit too long."

This was a bit too much for him. Chu Mingkong wouldn't ask for so much help from someone, even if it was his own girl. If he made too many demands and gave too little heart, it would eventually ruin their relationship. He just couldn't be so at ease with himself.

At this moment, I am mostly grateful.

Chu Mingkong held three adorable pink kittens in his arms. They'd probablyn't seen each other for a few days; the kittens were quite clingy, nestled quietly in his embrace. One might mistake them for a daughter. He gently touched Gugu's little paw to Yun Nongyu's smooth cheek and said:

"It's not a matter of long or short. You're the one causing trouble. It hasn't delayed me at all. It's you who's been delaying things. Besides, I haven't been able to spend much time with you these days."

Having said that, he was a little unsure how to bring up the topic of continuing to trouble Yun Nongyu.

The main problem is that there are too many scriptures prepared for her to study, so the "Jade Pool Immortal Bathing Method" has been put on hold for now. There are also the "Sword Emperor Scripture" and the "Hehuan True Scripture" waiting for Yun Nongyu. However, in terms of the completeness of the scriptures, it should be easier.

Yun Nongyu's predictions were as accurate as ever. Just as Chu Mingkong realized he shouldn't think about it anymore, Yun Nongyu spoke up.

"Does Your Highness have any other scriptures you would like me to study?"

Chu Mingkong nodded honestly and said, "Yes, I should let you know in advance that I'm sorry to trouble you."

"It's a small matter. Besides, for me, being able to communicate with the will of these scriptures is a great blessing. I wouldn't have been able to access so many authentic scriptures on my own."

Jin Yu, supporting Pei Mi's arm, led the plump and beautiful noblewoman over.

"Jinyu, if you want to come over and chat, just come over yourself. Why are you dragging me along?"

"You weren't chatting with Madam Zhen over there. It's the same whether you walk or not, so come here!"

After dealing with her mother, Jinyu finally spoke up:

"Chu Lang, what are our plans after this? Are we going to the Sword Dynasty for a few days and then return to the Immortal Treasure Pavilion?"

Balan followed in the group, listening quietly, as she was also very interested in Chu Mingkong's next move.

He came to keep his promise to the late emperor, but he also came with a purpose, which he had made very clear before: he wanted to find more clues about the Heavenly Realm. Now that there has been no further news, it is hard to say what his intentions are.

Surely they wouldn't go all the way back to the Celestial Empire, would they?

Chu Mingkong already had a general idea of ​​what to do next, but he still organized it in his mind before saying:

"I'll stay here in the Sword Dynasty for now. I also need to gather some information, but more importantly, I want you all to see this new and unfamiliar environment. I feel like it's time for the Immortal Treasure Pavilion to fly over to the Sword Dynasty."

Yongzhen turned to look in the direction of the Immortal Treasure Pavilion, but couldn't see it anymore. She didn't dwell on the strange situation; the Abyss was inherently a complex and unknown place. She said:

"Xianzhen Pavilion can stay here. It's not bad to visit Jiuxiang Town occasionally. Otherwise, when we come here from the Jiyuan path, we won't have a familiar place to stay and will have to look for shops and inns everywhere."

Chu Mingkong figured that Qingse would probably be happy with the proposal, as it would save him some "fuel costs".

"Okay, I'll listen to Yongzhen's suggestion~"

This had almost become his and Yongzhen's favorite love phrase. Yongzhen didn't know how many times he had said it, but every time she heard it, a satisfied smile would appear on her lips.

Meanwhile, Madam Zhen, who was walking nearby, felt a little resentful. Mingkong had originally said those words to her first—even though he was using his daughter Yongzhen's body at the time.

“You have to listen to me, why should you listen to Yongzhen?” Jinyu jumped out to express her dissatisfaction.

"Listen to everything!"

The little ones in my arms seemed to understand what the adults were talking about, and they even babbled a few words, as if they were also asking for the same treatment.

"You guys have some too! Gugu is so anxious she's almost talking."

Shangguan Rong took the little one from Chu Mingkong's arms. She had thought things through carefully and asked:

"Have you chosen a place to stay? When we arrive, will we be choosing where to stay?"

Mentioning his lodgings, Chu Mingkong couldn't help but smile:

“We originally had a place to stay, but you should have seen the ‘big fireworks’ on the Sword Dynasty side, right? Qingse’s newly bought mansion collapsed, so now we have to live under someone else’s roof in the palace.”

Balan corrected:

“Mingkong is joking. The princesses are of the same bloodline as the royal family of the Sword Dynasty. They are distant relatives visiting. How can they be considered as living under someone else’s roof?”

The beautiful women from the Celestial Empire royal family remained noncommittal and unwilling to comment on these remarks.

They had finally managed to escape the capital and break away from the Tianji royal family. Xiling had become independent, but Balan's words made it seem like they were still part of the Tianji royal family after all their troubles.

However, although the Sword Dynasty was once part of the Heavenly Extreme Royal Family, Pei Mi and the others had a much higher level of acceptance of this sect and country founded by a woman, and they had no resistance or aversion to the royal family here.

After the group of women walked out of the Abyss, they were all surprised. Even Shen Xuejun and the Asura King showed unusual surprise, since they wouldn't wander into the Abyss for no reason.

Walking a few steps feels like passing through a natural teleportation array, one that has existed since time immemorial and consumes no energy.

Seeing how surprised they were all, Balan found some comfort in it; otherwise, after all these experiences, she would have felt like she was the most ignorant one.

She led the group to the Sword Emperor Palace, ordered her trusted maids to guide them and arrange their rooms, and then went to discuss the Sword Emperor Scripture with the Empress.

Chu Mingkong led the babies to stroll around the Sword Emperor Palace, admiring the gardens and scenery.

It's clear that the initial construction of the Sword Emperor Palace was modeled after the Heavenly Pole Imperial Palace, and some parts still show the architectural style of the Heavenly Pole Empire. However, with the passage of time and several renovations, the Sword Emperor Palace has developed its own unique style.

After strolling around for a while, Balan, whom I had just parted ways with, came over again:

"The Empress said that the 'Su Nu Jue Xian' can be borrowed for study, but it can only be viewed in the library tower and cannot be taken out. As for the Sword Manual, it is still under consideration and a reply will be given later, because there are many things to do right now, such as the great formation that was built during the reign of the late Emperor is gone... The Empress is also in a state of great difficulty, feeling that she has made a mess of things."

"It's nothing. I'm already very happy to hear the good news about Qin Jing so quickly. As for the matter of the great formation, I think the Empress has already done a remarkable job."

Although Li Tairan said that Empress Ba was "cowardly" and "deviant of ancestral rules," she was already trying her best in her own way, considering the well-being of the people on this land. Otherwise, she would have directly facilitated the completion of the great formation and given herself a great achievement, which would have put her under much less pressure.

"Empress Ba is not the previous emperor. As long as she is sure that her decisions are in line with her original intentions, and with the assistance of others, she can be a good empress for this generation, just like the previous emperor who left the Tianji royal family and grew from a princess to an empress."

Roses don't need to grow into pine trees, and fledglings don't necessarily have to become eagles.

Many people and events, nurtured by time, will inevitably develop their own unique characteristics and become distinctive entities.

The radiant female swordswoman nodded, revealing a pleased smile:

"Actually, I said the same thing to the Queen before. Okay, I'll pass it on to the Queen again."

Chapter Sixty-Nine: Speedrunning the "Sword Emperor Scripture"

Thus, Chu Mingkong's female relatives settled into the palace. However, they would not be leaving the Sword Emperor Dynasty for the time being, as they would not be staying there for an extended period.

Balan had initially come to negotiate with Chu Mingkong as a representative of the country, but then quickly added that if he was not comfortable living in the palace, he could stay at her cave dwelling or the ancestral home of the Ba family.

Normally, shouldn't this be a family-run system? The Ba family is also royal, so why does it feel somewhat separated? But these details don't matter, as there's nothing to worry about anyway.

Therefore, in response to Balan's invitation, Chu Mingkong replied tactfully, "I'll come to your place if I get tired of living in the palace."

After staying for a few days, Chu Mingkong's current clues still consisted of occasionally taking his master and aunt to the bathhouse for serious cultivation, while also keeping watch to see if any women were around, but he still came up empty-handed.

During the rest of the time, Chu Mingkong led the women around almost the entire Sword Emperor Palace, and their shopping even extended outside the palace grounds.

Qunliu彡Bar Umbrella Spirit 6 Sijiu Seven

In terms of local customs and traditions, there are still many places worth visiting. The sect cultivators and secular life are integrated. The spiritual energy, a power of heaven and earth, brings a magnificent atmosphere to this country that far surpasses that of the Heavenly Empire. Cultivators and ordinary people coexist without conflict. There is no contempt from outsiders for mortals, nor excessive reverence from mortals for cultivators. No one will worship any cultivator they see as a god.

Walking down the street felt like strolling through a cultivation sect, but surprisingly, a group of ordinary people without spiritual power also lived there.

They are like the backdrop for those sword cultivators, each sword cultivator disciple having lived an ordinary hundred years here, their temples still gray, their faces youthful. But those who live in the same place every day may have already lived out their entire lives.

Being both immersed in and detached from the mortal world, "transcendence" and "entering the world" intertwine in the Sword Emperor Dynasty.

Having experienced so much, Chu Mingkong was still very curious about one thing—

This Sword Dynasty doesn't even have an empress or concubines!

Aside from the numerous aunts and uncles of the Ba family, it seems that only Empress Ba truly lived in the Sword Emperor Palace. Ba Lan could probably be considered as well, but there were still very few of them.

Pity.

However, from the Empress down to the bureaucratic positions, many women appeared, something that the Tianji Empire had never seen before.

Chu Mingkong had once sat in on a court assembly and looked around at the throne. There were quite a few high-ranking officials and beautiful women there!

......

Chu Mingkong spent the day playing with the girls outside. As night fell, he returned to the Sword Emperor Palace and went straight to Yun Nongyu's room.

dong dong dong-

After receiving a response to his knocking, Chu Mingkong pushed the door open and sat down at the coffee table.

"Nongyu, now should be convenient, right? Let's get ready to go and observe Su Nu's Qin Jing (a type of zither music). We've been wandering around all day, and only now do we have some free time."

"Isn't nighttime also His Highness's time for activities?" The elegant female Taoist priest asked with a slight smile.

"Nongyu, you've started teasing me too~" Chu Mingkong chuckled, walking alongside her towards the Sutra Tower: "By the way, back then they only gave us two opportunities to read it, once for the Qin Sutra and once for the Sword Sutra, with each session lasting no more than half a month. Wasn't that too rushed?"

Yun Nongyu felt she was being looked down upon, and said gently:

"Your Highness, have you forgotten that it didn't take you long to study the two original scriptures of the Daoist school? Now you have a full half month, how can you be in a hurry?"

It has indeed taken quite a long time to study the "Jade Pool Immortal Bathing Method," and Chu Mingkong has even forgotten how fast it was at the beginning.

However, his deepest memory of his previous contact with the will of the scriptures was that he thought the Mystic Maiden had come to possess his body, and he held her down and half-forced her.

"I'm worried about putting too much pressure on you, so just don't rush it."

The Sword Dynasty's Scripture Tower is underground, and it is said to be located near the core array of the Sword Domain. No matter how strong a cultivator is, as long as they do not reach the level of the former emperor, it is undoubtedly a pipe dream to steal the cultivation techniques and scriptures.

As for those whose strength was comparable to that of the late emperor, they were generally not very interested in the Scripture Tower.

Upon reaching the outside of the Sutra Pagoda, Balan was already waiting there. Over the past few days, she had gotten to know almost all of Chu Mingkong's female relatives.

Initially, the Empress agreed to let Chu Mingkong read the complete "Sword Emperor Scripture," but when she heard that Chu Mingkong himself would not read it, but rather let his female relatives read it, she hesitated.

After all, if it was just for Chu Mingkong to see, then it could still be considered family. But now that it's being shown to a female cultivator from the Daoist sect, isn't that the family's cultivation technique being passed on to outsiders?

However, upon learning that Yun Nongyu might be able to awaken the late emperor's will, Empress Ba and Balan had no objections.

“Mingkong, Nongyu, take these two sword jades. There are many dangerous traps and arrays in the Scripture Tower. Without the sword jades as a pass, you will attract unnecessary trouble.”