Chapter 364: Giving Yourself an Explanation

“Minister Ma, General Zhong.”

“You both practice Blood Refinement Arts, which require the essence blood of demon cultivators to strengthen your bodies.”

“These bottles before you contain the blood of a four-hundred-year-old flood dragon. If you use them, your Blood Refinement Arts will undoubtedly reach new heights.”

As Madam Xu spoke, she removed the stopper from the white jade bottle.

The moment it was unsealed, a faint dragon’s roar echoed from within!

The rich, intoxicating scent of dragon blood was irresistible to the two high-ranking officials—they nearly reached out on instinct, desperate to snatch the jade bottle and drink it on the spot!

Seeing their fascination, Madam Xu calmly replaced the stopper and, with a flick of her sleeve, put the jade bottle away.

Having seen it yet being unable to obtain it—this was the most agonizing temptation of all. The desire on the two officials’ faces was evident.

“If you are willing to cooperate, you won’t just receive flood dragon blood—I will also teach you more profound and refined cultivation techniques.”

“Only by stepping onto the path of cultivation can you truly begin a new life.”

After speaking, Madam Xu fell silent, waiting for their response.

Before long, a horse-faced magistrate stood up and addressed her.

“Your Ladyship, with Mr. Gu present, we really can’t make a decision… Perhaps you could ask him to step out first?”

His blatant attempt to dismiss Gu Ning’an earned him admiring glances from the other officials.

At the main table, Magistrate Wei looked at the magistrate approvingly and chuckled.

“Gentlemen, I know what you’re all worried about. You’re afraid of this pedantic scholar’s ties to the Fifth Prince, and the Fifth Prince’s connection to the Flood Dragon Emperor, correct?”

“But you must understand—the Flood Dragon Emperor is a great demon, and so is my brother-in-law, Void Emperor. In fact, the Void Emperor has lived longer and cultivated even more advanced techniques.”

“This pedantic scholar could be abandoned by the Fifth Prince at any time, and the Fifth Prince himself could be discarded by the Flood Dragon Emperor.”

“But my alliance with the Void Emperor’s wife? That will never change.”

“The Void Emperor and I are family. Blood ties.”

“Surely you all understand the difference between a distant benefactor and true kin?”

“If you work with us, you won’t just receive benefits—you’ll also gain the Void Emperor’s protection!”

The Void Emperor’s face darkened. He cursed inwardly: “Protection? My ass!”

Hearing this, Minister Ma abruptly stood up and cupped his hands toward Gu Ning’an.

“Mr. Gu, why not accept this on behalf of the Fifth Prince? It would be beneficial to Great Wu, marking the start of a new era.”

All this time, Gu Ning’an had merely been listening. Now, he smiled.

“I don’t represent the Fifth Prince. I have nothing to say. It’s your decision to make.”

Minister Ma was surprised. “Sir, you’re not going to intervene?”

Gu Ning’an responded with a question of his own. “Your own choices—why should I interfere?”

At these words, Minister Ma and General Zhong stood up together. Turning to Madam Xu, they smiled.

“Your Ladyship, we agree to cooperate!”

Madam Xu smiled in return. Retrieving the flood dragon blood, she placed the bottles before them.

“Good. Please accept this small token of my sincerity.”

“Minister Ma expresses his deepest gratitude, Your Ladyship!”

“General Zhong is most grateful as well!”

Without hesitation, the two high-ranking officials eagerly accepted the priceless dragon blood, carefully storing it away.

At the secondary seats, one official after another stood up to pledge their cooperation. Many even swore military oaths, promising to deliver a set number of mortal women to Madam Xu within a short period.

Perhaps some were simply boasting, but even the most modest claim was a staggering 7,000 to 10,000 mortal women!

Seeing this, Madam Xu accepted each pledge with satisfaction, promising that as soon as the women were delivered, she would bestow them with cultivation techniques and longevity-enhancing elixirs.

At that moment, the room was filled with excitement, the atmosphere lively and triumphant.

Madam Xu turned her gaze toward Gu Ning’an, her eyes filled with mockery—as if to say:

“You refused to work with me, but there are plenty of others who will. Now you’ve lost a golden opportunity—do you regret it?”

Noting her expression, Gu Ning’an simply smiled back and asked,

“Madam Xu, didn’t I warn you before that using this half-demon technique would bring divine retribution?”

“Could it be that none of your people have been struck by lightning?”

As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell into silence.

The mention of “divine punishment” made everyone present uneasy.

After all, just hearing about such practices was enough to know they went against morality. To say that divine punishment would follow wasn’t an exaggeration…

Madam Xu remained calm and replied, “Nonsense. The so-called divine punishment you speak of is merely a flaw in the technique due to its imperfection.”

“When the Void Emperor’s Temple opens tomorrow, I will seek him out and have him identify the flaws and refine the technique. With his intervention, all difficulties in the technique will be resolved.”

“As for you, Mr. Gu… I have tolerated your impudence multiple times. If you truly do not wish to cooperate, then at least do not sow doubt and undermine the confidence of others.”

“If you remain obstinate, I will inform the Void Emperor and personally execute you.”

“With his approval, not even the Flood Dragon Emperor would dare object.”

Gu Ning’an turned away and said indifferently, “Old Kui, you handle this.”

He then shifted his attention to the arena’s formation, watching the second match of the tournament.

The others were baffled by this exchange.

The black-haired old man who had entered with Gu Ning’an had remained silent the entire time, his face stern. No one even knew his name… but neither had they paid much attention to him.

Yet now, when faced with a direct threat to his life, Mr. Gu had told this old man to handle it?

Was he afraid but unwilling to lose face, so he let the old man smooth things over for him?

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the black-haired old man stood up, bowed to Gu Ning’an, and said, “Sir, rest assured. I will give you an explanation.”

Gu Ning’an, still fixated on the arena battle, replied coolly, “Not for me—it’s for yourself.¹”

This cryptic exchange left the crowd even more bewildered.

The old man then stepped toward Madam Xu, extended his hand, and said, “Show me your half-demon technique.”

What was wrong with these common folk?

Why insist on looking at technique they couldn’t even comprehend?

Though she found it absurd, before Madam Xu could respond, Magistrate Wei slammed the table and cursed, “You old coot! What the hell are you looking at? Get lost already!”

Ignoring the outburst, the black-haired old man simply extended his hand again and sighed. “Liuying, give me the technique.”

“What?!”

Madam Xu shot to her feet, her face filled with shock as she stared at the old man before her.

Liuying—this was a name she had chosen for herself. Aside from the Void Emperor, no one else knew it. No one had ever called her by it.

Was this old man the Void Emperor?

His presence and appearance didn’t match at all!

Even if appearances and aura could be altered, how could the Void Emperor possibly be here watching a hunting match with that pedantic scholar?

As confusion flooded her mind, she instinctively retrieved the half-demon technique and handed it to the black-haired old man.

It was only after she had already passed it over that she realized what she had done—

And by then, the old man was already flipping through the pages…