Chapter 1618: 104: Homecoming! The Wang Family's Talent Pool Grows_3

Chapter 1618: Chapter 104: Homecoming! The Wang Family’s Talent Pool Grows_3

“Green Phoenix senior, you’re joking,” Wang Shouzhe said. “You still owe our Wang family so much money; how can you sneak away like that? Besides, lodging at the Immortal Residence isn’t free, and the Spirit Rice meals have to be accounted for as well.”

“You…!” The Green Phoenix Demon Emperor’s phoenix eyes flared with anger as she retorted furiously, “You’re nothing but a bandit!”

“Green Phoenix senior, I’m merely repaying like with like,” Wang Shouzhe said with a leisurely smile. “When senior was stealing and robbing those shops, why not call yourself a bandit then?”

“You’ve long searched and stripped me clean, even plucking out many of my yet-to-shed tail feathers. You didn’t even spare my spilled blood!” The Green Phoenix Demon Emperor snapped, “With what do you expect me to repay now?”

“No need to worry if you can’t pay. Take a look at this labor contract instead.” Only then did Wang Shouzhe produce a contract. “You just need to work for our Wang family for seven hundred years. Not only will all the compensation be covered by our Wang family, but you’ll also receive annual Spirit Rice subsidies worth three hundred thousand Immortal Crystals.”

“You… You want me to sell myself to the Wang family?” The Green Phoenix Demon Emperor’s face turned ashen. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll shirk my duties or even turn on your Wang family?”

“Actually, I’m not worried about that.” Wang Shouzhe replied righteously, “Green Phoenix senior isn’t a solitary individual; in the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom, there’s a huge flock of Bird Tribe members who revere you as their Old Ancestor.”

While Wang Shouzhe and the Green Phoenix Demon Emperor were talking.

Inside LiuXian Residence No. 1, four Transcendent Void Realm experts—ZhaoYang Wangfu, Emperor Longchang, and Master Jiang—were in perfect synchronization, spying and eavesdropping using the Secret Technique of Water Mirror.

The reasons they gave were entirely dignified, saying it was “to ensure Shouzhe’s safety.” After all, the opponent was an eleven-level peak Demon Emperor. Even without her Mysterious Energy, her physical strength was formidable. If she decided to lash out violently, how could Shouzhe’s frail little frame possibly resist?

Upon hearing this part, Emperor Longchang couldn’t help but click his tongue and remark, “I’ve said it before, Shouzhe is simply a bad apple under the guise of righteousness. Just listen to his tone, his attitude—it’s clearly the stance of a textbook villain~~”

“Against enemies, naturally, one must wield the thunderous might of deterrence and use careful calculations to gradually dismantle their fighting spirit,” King Chaoyang said indifferently. “Besides, Shouzhe is doing this for Green Phoenix’s own good. Hiding in the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom all day—what kind of future would that be? Longchang, don’t let your petty mind judge the integrity of a noble heart.”

Emperor Longchang’s face immediately darkened.

Petty mind?

I can’t even begin to express my disdain. Just because you favor Wang Shouzhe, whatever he does is automatically right?

While the group exchanged words, from the Water Mirror came the deflated voice of the Green Phoenix Demon Emperor: “What does your Wang family want me to do? I’ll tell you now, I won’t do anything evil. And I don’t see how a phoenix like me could be of use to your Wang family.”

Emperor Longchang’s eyes immediately lit up: “Heh heh heh, you could be ridden like a mount!”

King Chaoyang and the other three immediately shot him unanimous glares.

Especially King Chaoyang, whose brows furrowed sharply as he chided with a harsh tone, “Longchang, do you think you’re funny?”

“No… I was just…” Emperor Longchang’s face turned pale.

“Vulgar! Get out and reflect on your actions.” King Chaoyang grabbed Emperor Longchang and tossed him out of Stay Immortal Valley without ceremony.

Emperor Longchang immediately let out another “zoom” and disappeared into the clouds, tracing a long streak of energy across the sky.

For months now, this had almost become a recurring spectacle at Stay Immortal Valley. Not only were Jiang Zhencang and the others accustomed to it, but even the Spirit Plant Masters working in the valley were no longer fazed.

However, this time, just as Emperor Longchang’s figure disappeared into the clouds, a resonant yet ancient voice rang out from the misty folds: “Well, well, isn’t that Emperor Longchang? Who has the audacity to throw even you out?”

“It’s me.” King Chaoyang glanced up at the sky, his voice steady and commanding, exuding an air of unparalleled dominance. “You must be that old Azure Dragon from the Southern Wilderness Ancient Marshes. If you’re dissatisfied, feel free to come challenge me.”

“Oh~ so it’s the renowned His Majesty King Chaoyang.”

As that resonant ancient voice sounded again, a massive dragon head with azure scales and golden eyes emerged from the clouds, gracefully weaving its way downward amidst swirls of cloud and mist.

Compared to the wood-aligned Green Dragons, the Azure Dragons of the元水青龙 (Primordial Water Azure Dragon) lineage had slightly blue-tinted scales with edges tinged in gold. Underneath the sunlight, they were breathtakingly magnificent.

Even though the Old Ancestor Dragon’s beard and brows were showing signs of whiteness due to age, it did nothing to diminish his majestic presence.

When he neared the ground, an incandescent aura burst forth from his enormous frame; in an instant, he transformed into a stately elder dressed in azure robes, who greeted King Chaoyang with a hearty smile: “Salutations from this old dragon. I must say, throwing him out was spot-on, absolutely satisfying. That rascal Longchang indeed deserves to be disciplined by someone.”

King Chaoyang, having spent most of her years waging war on all fronts, was a household name, famed far and wide for her fierce temperament and her “esteemed reputation” across the Immortal Dynasty. Naturally, the Old Azure Dragon wouldn’t dare create conflict with someone so formidable.

No matter how physically resilient Dragon Clan members might be, they were still beings of flesh and blood. He had zero interest in testing out the sharpness of the Phoenix King Spear.

In the Number Four Building of Stay Immortal Residence, Wang Shouzhe also overheard the commotion outside.

Since the Old Ancestor Dragon had come, he temporarily set aside his efforts to persuade the Green Phoenix Demon Emperor and stepped out to meet the dragon face-to-face: “Ancestor Dragon senior, what brings you to the Wang family on this occasion?”

“Isn’t it about your capture of Green Phoenix?” The Old Ancestor Dragon chuckled. “The senior from the Realm of Universal Saints, Emperor Xiu, had once shown me kindness during my youth and has some connection with our Primordial Water Azure Dragons. When he learned our lineage collaborated closely with the Wang family, he asked me to mediate and resolve the conflict amicably.”

“Additionally, since Liling returned to the Wang family over a year ago after her breakthrough, this old dragon has been longing to visit her.”

It was all good until Emperor Xiu came up, but at the mention of “Wang Lilong,” Wang Shouzhe’s expression darkened.

Ever since that little rascal inherited the bloodline of the Ancestor Dragon of the Primordial Water Azure Dragons, her rate of cultivation had skyrocketed. To help her adjust to the sudden surge in Bloodline Power and to teach her some secret techniques of the Azure Dragon lineage, with Wang Shouzhe’s consent, the Old Ancestor Dragon had let her train for a while in the Southern Wilderness Ancient Marshes.

She had successfully advanced to Level Eight several years ago.

Recently, upon returning to the Wang family, she declared she couldn’t just lounge around and be a freeloader at home. With great enthusiasm, she swore she wanted to accomplish something grand and begged Wang Shouzhe for days before he reluctantly assigned her a task to oversee Peace River’s law enforcement.

And what happened? In less than half a year, she started wreaking havoc, demanding protection fees from passing boats—a complete menace on the water, like an unruly Kunfish dominating a river!

She was even more outrageous than Long Wuji had been in his day!

Wang Shouzhe could only blame her extended training period in the Southern Wilderness Ancient Marshes, spoiled by the Old Ancestor Dragon, which had bred a heap of bad habits. He was already planning to send her back to the Clan School to get herself in line.

After all, Liling’s barely passable graduation from a Middle Clan School was hardly remarkable anymore considering the Wang family’s development.

He figured it was time to enroll her in a High Clan School next semester along with Zongkun, Little Immortal, and the others, and set her straight once and for all.

…