Chapter 362: Loyalty

He’s finally gone!

At this moment, countless cultivators in the Fourth Heaven watched as Lu Ye ascended, vanishing into the heavens, and couldn’t help but feel tears welling up in their eyes.

Good riddance to that menace!

Now that the scourge had left, the Fourth Heaven might finally have peace.

Even if its resources took a major hit.

But as long as Lu Ye was gone, nearly everyone was overjoyed.

Similarly, many began contacting their sects, telling them to spread the news of Lu Ye’s ascension to the Fifth Heaven.

Word of Lu Ye’s ascension quickly spread throughout the entire Fourth Heaven; some even celebrated with firecrackers to express their delight.

In a quiet courtyard.

Shangguan Huanling also learned of Lu Ye’s ascension, her eyes losing some of their light.

Coming to the Fourth Heaven, she had only met Lu Ye once—what a waste.

Now, countless people across the Fourth Heaven were searching for Shangguan Huanling.

Some wanted to seize her to pry into the Emperor’s secrets, while others sought to purchase the Heavenly Silkworm Transformation.

The situation was such that some had learned the technique, while others remained clueless.

Those who had learned it naturally showed off their new power, leaving the rest in bitter frustration.

When everyone had once been evenly matched, how could they stand others outclassing them just by mastering a single divine ability?

Some even upped their bids to buy it outright.

Shangguan Huanling could almost taste the profit.

But she had to take care of Yue Hongling!

Nowadays, Yue Hongling would occasionally lose her grip on reality—a truly terrifying state.

People could be so cruel. When she was young, her mother had once dragged her to the outskirts of the city to see a madwoman, just to scare her into staying put.

That woman, disheveled and filthy, had no idea how she’d lost her mind. Yet she had seven children, and was even pregnant when Shangguan Huanling saw her.

They were all crammed into a tiny shack, crawling with insects, those children…

The memory still horrified her!

The thought of Hongling turning out like that made Shangguan Huanling’s heart break at the thought.

In their past life, they had even considered having children with Lu Ye.

But Lu Ye had refused. As an orphan, he wouldn’t consider having children without stability.

After all, his Nine-Lives Scripture granted him nine lives—he’d already lost eight. How could he dare to have children in such a state?

Moreover, in their past life, Lu Ye had sensed that if he died, maybe one or two of his eight lovers might survive—and that would only be if his enemies showed mercy.

So Shangguan Huanling simply couldn’t possibly abandon Yue Hongling.

But if she couldn't leave Yue Hongling alone, she had no way to sell the Heavenly Silkworm Transformation.

She couldn’t possibly carry Yue Hongling on her back to...

Shangguan Huanling paused.

Oh, why hadn’t she thought of carrying Hong Ling on her back?

For five years, she had pondered many things, yet this idea had never crossed her mind.

"I'm so stupid!"

"Hong Ling,"

Shangguan Huanling called out to Yue Hongling.

Yue Hongling looked at her in confusion.

"How about I carry you out to play?"

"Is Senior Brother coming?" Yue Hongling asked.

"No Senior Brother, just me!"

Yue Hongling immediately shook her head. "No Senior Brother, no go. My Senior Brother told me not to play with idiots!"

Shangguan Huanling was confused.

"Don’t worry, we’re not going to play with idiots. Just the two of us, no idiots."

"No, no, I won’t play with idiots."

Shangguan Huanling tried to comfort her kindly. "Don’t worry, no one will think you’re a fool."

Yue Hongling shook her head even faster.

She kept mumbling about not playing with idiots.

Shangguan Huanling sighed helplessly to herself. Yue Hongling must have sensed something—she didn’t want to admit she was a fool, and if she played with fools, it would mean she was one too.

*Poor Hong Ling!*

"Then how about I take you to find your Senior Brother?"

At these words, Yue Hongling’s eyes instantly brightened.

She nodded eagerly, "Yes! Yes! Yes!"

"Then don’t move around. Just stay on my back, and I’ll take you to find Senior Brother!"

As soon as Lu Ye was mentioned, Yue Hongling became exceptionally quiet and obedient, lying still on Shangguan Huanling’s back.

Shangguan Huanling found an unused spiritual rope and tied the two of them together before finally stepping out of the courtyard.

Around the courtyard, swirling strands of light shimmered—this was a barrier Yue Hongling had set up with her last remaining strength before her mind faded, to block prying eyes from all directions.

Otherwise, the two of them would’ve been found long ago.

Sun Ruowei had been tracking Yue Hongling’s whereabouts all this time.

Shangguan Huanling, who had been missing for a long time and was known as the dealer of the Heavenly Silkworm Transformation, resurfaced in the Jianghu, sending shockwaves through the realm.

She's finally shown herself!

In the current cultivation world of the Fourth Heaven, one can't function without the Heavenly Silkworm Transformation.

Those who possess it are running roughshod over everyone.

Thus, numerous heavy hitters swiftly rushed toward Shangguan Huanling's location.

Sun Ruowei also heard the news and hurried over, her heart heavy with concern.

After all, Shangguan Huanling's current situation was night-and-day different from before.

Previously, she was just a peddler of mystic arts, not worth expending too much effort to capture.

But now, things had changed. Because the current Shangguan Huanling was the Empress reborn—how many secrets she held and how many coveted her was anybody's guess.

So Sun Ruowei had to go as well. Even though her cultivation wasn't high now, she would definitely pitch in when it counted.

At this moment, Shangguan Huanling appeared perched on the city walls, carrying Yue Hongling on her back.

"Stay the hell back! No one is to come within ten miles of me. If you wish to purchase the Heavenly Silkworm Transformation, only those I point to may approach. Otherwise, I will leave immediately—No second chances!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a figure had already crossed the ten-li mark.

In an instant, Shangguan Huanling transformed into a crimson streak and vanished, leaving behind a gaping crowd.

"What’s the rush? Couldn’t you have waited until we got the Heavenly Silkworm Transformation before making a move? You've screwed us all!"

Someone with a short fuse even took a swing at the idiot with a palm strike!

"Let me make this clear—if anyone dares to act before we obtain the Heavenly Silkworm Transformation, we'll show no mercy!"

"Exactly! Anyone who interferes with our acquisition of the Heavenly Silkworm Transformation will get jumped by the whole crowd!"

Shangguan Huanling had already reappeared in another location, far from the previous one.

This time, the same rule applied—no one was to enter within ten miles, or she would flee immediately.

Additionally, those wishing to trade could only approach within five miles of her, or she would vanish again!

It must be said that the current Shangguan Huanling was playing 4D chess.

Sun Ruowei scoured half the realm before finally finding Shangguan Huanling.

"Huanling, it's me, Sun—"

Shangguan Huanling's expression changed, and she nearly bolted—

Huh? Sister Sun?

She'd already started to glow crimson, but Shangguan Huanling abruptly pulled up short.

"Master Sun, you quickly come over!"

At this moment, Yue Hongling had a lucid flash, her face paling as she urgently spoke.