Chapter 137: How About Letting My Daughter Be Your Principal Consort?

On the immortal path that led to Lingxiao Hall, shrouded in clouds and mist.

An old Heavenly Emperor and a future Heavenly Emperor walked forward, one after the other.

The old Heavenly Emperor walked neither hurriedly nor slowly, as if deliberately moderating his pace.

But Gu Changqing couldn’t understand this man’s inexplicable intentions toward him, so he remained silent and simply followed behind the Heavenly Emperor, walking calmly.

After a long while.

At one moment, the old Heavenly Emperor stopped, turned, and looked at Gu Changqing.

The cold, majestic look in his eyes had vanished. Instead, they held a surprising gentleness.

He looked at Gu Changqing and suddenly chuckled lightly. “Don’t be so stern and reserved, relax a little.”

…

At this moment, all the cultivators outside the Bronze Ancient Mirror were stunned.

No one could understand it.

Why would this old Heavenly Emperor, who had never met Gu Changqing, show such an attitude toward him!

Now Gu Changqing had come carrying a bronze ancient coffin. His intent was plainly obvious.

Even if they did not immediately proceed to head into battle, logically one would avoid provoking this calamity-bringing figure and simply drive him away!

But the old Heavenly Emperor’s smile—how was it like meeting an old friend?

Outside, everyone at that moment felt inexplicably baffled.

High above the nine heavens, Mu Nanzhi, who had been fighting with Changxi, noticed the images appearing on the Bronze Ancient Mirror and her eyes suddenly constricted.

In her memory.

Her father, so supremely dignified and perpetually wearing a cold face, had never been this kind even to her.

How could he be like this toward Gu Changqing?!

It utterly overturned Mu Nanzhi’s perception of her father!

In truth, Mu Nanzhi knew in her heart that her father did value Gu Changqing.

But a scene like this still upended her understanding.

Her father showing such a posture toward a junior at their first meeting was truly incredible!

“The old Heavenly Emperor treating the Heavenly Emperor like this—perhaps it’s out of appreciation?”

“After all, the Heavenly Emperor at that time had already made his name across the Beixuan Continent. Everyone knew of such an unparalleled prodigy.”

“Yes, yes, in the old Heavenly Emperor’s heart he must appreciate the Heavenly Emperor of that time. Perhaps the Heavenly Emperor had long been on the old Heavenly Emperor’s radar.”

“And the Heavenly Emperor’s dazzling talent would have won the old Heavenly Emperor’s praise. After all, monsters of that level always hope to see the new generation rise on the Beixuan Continent.”

The gathered cultivators whispered and debated.

At this, a cultivator angrily said: “The old Heavenly Emperor appreciated the Heavenly Emperor so much, but sadly he later died by the Heavenly Emperor’s hand, didn’t he?”

“Indeed, the Heavenly Emperor’s actions were unbearably cold-blooded, after all the old Heavenly Emperor had been so close to him!”

“Ah, it’s a pity the old Heavenly Emperor didn’t heed that general’s advice and got entangled with the Heavenly Emperor, sowing the seeds for his tragic death later.”

Recalling those past events, the crowd grew ever more indignant.

…

Inside the mirror.

Two Heavenly Emperors, one old and one young from different eras, walked side by side.

They were like two old friends who hadn’t seen each other for years, and the atmosphere was unusually amiable.

The old Heavenly Emperor walked with his hands behind his back and spoke softly, “I know your purpose. The Heavenly Palace does indeed have the revival elixir for restoring the dead that you want.”

“But now, I cannot give it to you. This is not yet the time for that great medicine to be released.”

“However, I can promise that if you do three things for me, I will fetch that great elixir for you.”

Gu Changqing did not respond to the old Heavenly Emperor. He just looked at him calmly.

The old Heavenly Emperor glanced at Gu Changqing before continuing, “In the distant depths of the Four Seas there is a great clan called the Dragon Clan.”

“The Dragon Clan’s foundations are vast, surpassing any force on the Beixuan Continent. However, they never interfere in external affairs because they have their own mission.”

“The Dragon Clan has slumbered for generations within the Four Seas, and beneath those seas lies an unfillable rift in time and space.”

“Within that temporal rift resides a race called the Youming. The Dragon Clan’s duty is to guard the rift for generations, preventing the Youming from invading Beixuan.”

“The Youming are tremendously ambitious. If they invaded Beixuan, they would slaughter all living beings and seize the continent.”

“There has long been conflict between the Dragon Clan and the Youming, but in recent years the Youming’s incursions into the rift have grown more frequent. I feel uneasy. It seems the Youming may be planning something major.”

“The Dragon Clan’s reserves have been weakening these years. I’m afraid they may not be able to withstand it. Therefore, I want to send Qin Yuan—oh, the general who stopped you earlier—to assist the Dragons.”

“But the Dragon Clan is proud and refuses any entanglement with the noble families of Beixuan. My wife belonged to the Dragon royal line, so at that time she could mediate relations between the Heavenly Palace and the Dragons. But since she perished in that realm, the Dragons and the Heavenly Palace have grown apart.”

The old Heavenly Emperor paused, then continued, “I have a daughter with Dragon blood—she is the current Dragon Clan leader’s granddaughter. So I want her to serve as Qin Yuan’s deputy general, to lead the Heavenly forces to the Four Seas and make contact with the Dragons.”

“I know this mission is perilous. The Youming are not easy to deal with, and I’m worried about Nanzhi’s dangerousness. So I want you to protect my daughter’s safety.”

Having said this, the old Heavenly Emperor paused slightly.

“If the situation becomes untenable, you are to bring her back to the Heavenly Palace.”

…

Then he looked at Gu Changqing, his voice solemn as he said, “But I believe in you. At the crucial moment you will surely be able to turn the tide!”

A clear light shone in the old Heavenly Emperor’s eyes. When he said that last sentence he inexplicably felt confident in Gu Changqing.

Gu Changqing still did not respond. After a moment of contemplation he asked, “What about the other two things?”

The old Heavenly Emperor, who a moment ago had been stern, now wore a grin like a mischievous old man. “As for the other two matters, I haven’t decided them yet—I’ll tell you once I’ve thought of them.”

Gu Changqing was silent. After pondering for a while he still nodded. “Fine.”

With that, the old Heavenly Emperor resumed walking.

He had only gone a few steps when he turned back, his gaze lingering on the bronze ancient coffin Gu Changqing carried on his back.

“Ah.”

The old Heavenly Emperor sighed softly.

He covered his mouth with one hand and secretly leaned close to Gu Changqing’s ear. “You’re not exactly young anymore—haven’t you considered your marriage prospects?”

At this moment the old Heavenly Emperor’s eyes held no majesty. He was like an old friend teasing as he said, “My daughter is a paragon of beauty. Why don’t I give her to you in marriage? When I’m old, you become the Heavenly Emperor and let her be your principal consort—how about that?”

In the mirror, Gu Changqing abruptly stopped walking, his eyes filled with utter astonishment.

But the old Heavenly Emperor laughed out loud and, not paying attention to the stunned Gu Changqing, continued on his way.