The Strongest Mythical Emperor
Chapter 654

Chapter 654: 654

After taking the Purple Gold Life-Continuing Pill, Liu Ruolai woke up after half a cup of tea time had passed.

Upon opening her eyes, the first image that reflected in them was Qin Jun’s face, filled with worry. Seeing her awaken, the anxiety on Qin Jun’s face dispersed, replaced with a joyous smile.

"Ruolai, you’re awake," Qin Jun softly caressed her cheek and spoke in a gentle voice.

Liu Ruolai murmured drowsily, "What happened to me... I feel so weak all over..."

Her words made Qin Jun feel even more ashamed, and his heart became heavy with guilt.

Although she was Shouxin, she did not remember her previous life in this one. If Shouxin forcefully burned her lifespan and Liu Ruolai died, upon recalling her past life, she would no longer be Liu Ruolai, but Shouxin.

In a sense, Liu Ruolai was the most innocent of all.

"Past and present lives are nothing but fleeting clouds; throughout the eternal nights so many loves and sorrows part. Remember, you are not a mortal, you carry a great mission. Do not obsess over romantic entanglements!" The voice of Ji Yongsheng suddenly rang out, his tone almost indifferent, making Qin Jun feel very uneasy.

Even when his disciple, the Black Butterfly Fairy, appeared, he did not show much emotional fluctuation. However, Qin Jun’s inner excitement surged when the Extreme Flame Demonic Bloodline awakened within him.

Without Ji Yongsheng saying it, Qin Jun also understood that he wanted to restore the glory of the ancient divine court, so the colder Ji Yongsheng acted, the more Qin Jun disliked it.

Could there be a day when Ji Yongsheng achieved his goals and then cast Qin Jun aside, or even killed him?

"Humph, you’re always so suspicious and paranoid!" Ji Yongsheng, having peered into his inner thoughts, replied irritably and then fell silent, not speaking again.

Liu Ruolai quickly recovered her strength, but there was still a frown on her forehead, which caused Qin Jun’s heart to ache.

"Why aren’t you speaking? What are you thinking about?" Liu Ruolai lay in Qin Jun’s arms and asked weakly.

Qin Jun didn’t want her to know the secret of his past life, so he forced a smile and said, "You aggravated your injury inside the Black Sea King Whale last time; don’t worry, I will make sure you recover."

Liu Ruolai nodded in confusion, but she was not afraid, because she believed that Qin Jun would keep his word and that nothing could stump him.

Holding her in his arms, Qin Jun said no more, and the two of them quietly enjoyed the tranquility.

Liu Ruolai seemed to sense something and a look of panic flickered in her eyes. However, it quickly turned into happiness, and she looped her arms around Qin Jun’s waist, closed her eyes, and revealed a sweet smile.

...

Early next morning, after the nine Domain Lords signed the contract, they departed. Standing at the level of Domain Lords, no one would break the contract. Should anyone dare, once it was exposed, who would cooperate with them in the future? A domain that betrayed its word might be ostracized and would have to endure the fearsome wrath of the Great Qin Celestial Court.

The top ten competitors from the previous day’s contest were assigned different official positions, bringing the Ten Domains Banquet to a successful conclusion.

At noon, Qin Jun summoned all the civil and military officials of fourth rank and above on Dilin Island.

"This is the situation, I need to obtain the Nirvana Bodhi of the Tathāgata from the Western Region!" Qin Jun said solemnly.

Sun Wukong was the first to speak up, "Count me in! I want to go!"

Although he did not have an official title yet, his strength granted him the right to be there.

"I’m also willing to go. Last time, that split body of the Tathāgata was too arrogant!" Li Yuanba followed up, shouting.

The rest of the military lords did not back down either, and even Lv Yue said with a sinister smile, "I can spread plagues throughout the Western Region!"

Then Tang Sanzang spoke up, "Your Majesty, only the Tathāgata knows how to cultivate the Nirvana Bodhi tree. Once the Nirvana Bodhi fruit falls from the tree, it will turn to ash and disperse within half a day."

As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell silent, and Qin Jun’s brow furrowed tightly.

This would mean that Liu Ruolai would have to go as well, right?

How could Qin Jun possibly feel at ease about that!

"You stupid monk, don’t tell me you’re conspiring with the Tathāgata!" Sun Wukong asked icily, having not been fond of Tang Sanzang when he was first summoned, but because of the Tathāgata, he found all monks disagreeable.

Upon hearing this, the corner of Tang Sanzang’s mouth twitched, and in the next second, his expression also turned sour, for the gazes of the others towards him had become unfriendly.

If Liu Ruolai went to the Western Region, Qin Jun would definitely follow.

Such a scheme was nothing if not venomous!

Even those who had a good relationship with Tang Sanzang, like Yang Jian and the Nine-headed Insect, had a slight change in their expressions.

They all possessed memories of their previous lives and knew well of the relationship between Tang Sanzang and the Tathāgata.

Qin Jun remained expressionless, his thoughts inscrutable.

"Your Majesty, my relationship with the Tathāgata as a master and disciple was from a past life. In this life, I owe him no more," Tang Sanzang sighed.

Under the Tathāgata, the least respectful of Buddhism was Jin Chanzi, which is why he was demoted to the mortal realm for his irreverence towards Buddhism.

Many believed it was a strategy of the Tathāgata’s, but only Tang Sanzang knew the real reason.

He did truly choose to descend to the mortal realm to embark on the journey to the west, but his goal was not to seek Buddhist teachings. It was for the sake of all living beings that he gave up his cultivation and incarnated as a mortal. However, he still underestimated the journey to the west. He obtained the Buddhist teachings, but the living beings were still not at peace.

Therefore, in this life, he had no affection towards the Tathāgata.

"I trust you," Qin Jun said softly. These words were not meant to appease Tang Sanzang, because Tang Sanzang had reached full loyalty and would not betray him.

But going to the Western Region, whom should he take with him?

Qin Jun unconsciously tapped his fingers on the armrest, while the others dared not disturb his thoughts.

He had two opportunities to challenge the pinnacle of God and Demon, and five chances to enter the God and Demon copies. It was time to use one.

The God and Demon pinnacle opportunities could only be used by those with full loyalty, otherwise the overwhelming power might lead to rebellion.

Sun Wukong, Hou Yi, Kua Fu, and Bai Ze could be excluded.

There were also the God and Demon copy opportunities to consider, which had to be allocated.

"A friendly reminder: the five God and Demon copy opportunities can be integrated by employing the power of fusion, merging into a one-time choice of two summoning opportunities, which are the God and Demon summoning opportunity and the designated God and Demon summoning opportunity."

The system’s tone, cool and detached, spoke up, surprising Qin Jun, "Weren’t only the summoning opportunities supposed to be integrable?"

"Since the last system upgrade, the power of fusion has also been upgraded, now even random draws, skill inheritance, and sage searching opportunities can be fused, but it must be five opportunities to integrate," the system explained.

Qin Jun was immediately elated.

To be honest, he was in a rather awkward position: the stronger deities and demons either didn’t have enough loyalty or had already been to the God and Demon copies. Allowing a strong deity or demon with low loyalty to visit the God and Demon copies might pull out a terrifying force that Qin Jun couldn’t suppress.

For example, if Hou Yi, Kua Fu, or Bai Ze went back, the forces they would bring back would undoubtedly be terrifying.

Li Yuanba and Yuan Hong had already gone, and if Nine Spirit Yuan Sheng went to the God and Demon copy, even though his loyalty was full, he would only attract monsters. If by chance he pulled out the Taiyi Saving-the-Suffering Sky Lord, things would really get interesting.

As for Sun Wukong, one need not mention him; given his temperament, he would surely be suppressed if he went back.

If the five God and Demon copy opportunities could be merged, that would actually be quite favorable.

"Does a choice of two mean it’s random?" Qin Jun thought to himself, while meanwhile telling everyone, "You may all leave for now, I need to think."

The civil and military officials nodded and got up to leave. Sun Wukong and Li Yuanba deliberately glared fiercely at Tang Sanzang on their way out, leaving him feeling both amused and helpless.

"Yes, after integrating the five God and Demon copy opportunities, the host will obtain one God and Demon summoning opportunity, or one designated summoning opportunity," confirmed the system.