Chapter 16: The Submission of the Ancient State of Zhuque

In a palace of the ancient Zhuque Kingdom.

The ruler of Zhuque lay on the bed, surrounded by a group of alchemists and imperial physicians from the Zhuque Kingdom.

However, they were all at a loss regarding the ruler's illness.

The ruler's ailment had originated several years ago when he was injured by a primordial beast, the Nine Fiends Serpent Demon, comparable to a saint, while exploring a secret realm with the ruler of the Qinglong Kingdom.

The venom of the Nine Fiends Serpent Demon was difficult even for saints to withstand.

Let alone for the Zhuque ruler, who was merely a quasi-saint.

"Alas, what should we do now? The princess went to the Jun family, but not only did she fail to bring back the elixir of immortality, she was humiliated instead."

"What can we do? We can't possibly go provoke the Jun family, that would be courting death!"

The alchemists, physicians, and ministers of the Zhuque Kingdom all shook their heads and sighed.

The ancient families were not to be trifled with.

Thus, even upon hearing that Bai Yuer had been humiliated and forced to kneel, the Zhuque Kingdom had no intention of seeking revenge.

Hearing this, the Zhuque ruler coughed even more, his face filled with despair.

At that moment, a guard rushed in from outside, speaking urgently, "Report to Your Majesty, a distinguished guest has arrived at our Zhuque Kingdom and requests an audience!"

One minister, upon hearing this, immediately waved his sleeve and shouted angrily, "You blind fool! Can't you see the current condition of His Majesty? How can you disturb him!"

Just as the minister finished speaking, a delicate female voice came from the entrance of the hall.

"The Zhuque ruler shouldn't be at death's door yet, so why can't we meet?"

"Who dares to seek death!?" The minister's face flushed with anger.

"How dare you shout at my lady, how audacious!"

An elderly figure appeared, waving her sleeve, and a powerful quasi-saint aura erupted.

With a puff, the minister immediately spat out blood and was sent flying!

Inside the hall, all the people of the Zhuque Kingdom stood frozen, trembling in fear!

The aura of a quasi-saint!

Even the most powerful ruler of the Zhuque Kingdom was merely a quasi-saint!

Everyone's gaze trembled as they looked.

They saw an old woman in coarse clothing walking in with an indifferent expression.

Behind her was a beautiful woman dressed in palace attire.

Her golden hair flowed freely, silky and smooth, her skin as white as jade, captivatingly beautiful.

It was none other than Jun Linglong and Granny Hua.

"Is that the noble lady of the Jun family..." Some ministers felt a storm of emotions rise within them.

Jun Linglong was quite famous in the outside world, so they recognized her at a glance.

The minister who had previously scolded her now had blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with terror, collapsing to the ground, unable to rise.

"Cough cough... I didn't expect the noble lady of the Jun family to come. Are you here to seek justice?"

The Zhuque ruler struggled to sit up, fatigue evident on his face.

Not long ago, news had spread that Bai Yuer had offended the Jun family's divine son and had knelt outside the palace.

And now, a member of the Jun family had arrived.

If they weren't here to seek justice, then what were they here for?

Upon hearing this, all the people of the Zhuque Kingdom trembled, their hearts filled with fear.

If the Jun family wanted to erase the Zhuque Kingdom, it wouldn't take much effort.

The Zhuque ruler had resigned himself to fate, thus he remained calm.

"My family's divine son is not the kind of person who would wipe out a family at the slightest provocation; you should be grateful for his mercy," Jun Linglong said, covering her mouth and smiling lightly.

"Mm?" The Zhuque ruler and the others looked at each other in confusion.

Could it be that the Jun family wasn't here to seek justice?

Jun Linglong stepped forward, her jade hand brushing over a spatial ring.

Suddenly, purple mist surged, and the fragrance of medicine filled the air as a medicinal herb resembling a qilin appeared before everyone.

"That is... the elixir of immortality!"

All the people of the Zhuque Kingdom widened their eyes, almost unable to breathe.

The Zhuque ruler also showed a hint of astonishment.

Every elixir of immortality that appeared would cause a stir in the Ancient Heavenly Immortal Domain.

And now, Jun Linglong had casually produced an elixir of immortality, leaving them in shock, as if a country bumpkin had stumbled upon a mountain of gold.

Granny Hua, seeing the reaction of the Zhuque Kingdom's people, couldn't help but show a hint of disdain in her old eyes.

"Zhuque ruler, I now give you two choices: submit to the divine son and you may receive the elixir of immortality."

"If you refuse, then you can perish on your own." Jun Linglong's tone was indifferent.

In front of Jun Xiaoyao, she was humble.

But now, facing outsiders, she regained the demeanor of a noble lady from the Jun family.

"This..." The ministers of the Zhuque Kingdom all changed their expressions.

They understood the implication of Jun Linglong's words.

It was to submit to the Jun family's divine son, not to the Jun family itself.

The difference was significant.

If it were to submit to the ancient Jun family, it wouldn't be unacceptable for the Zhuque Kingdom.

After all, being a vassal of the Jun family's top lineage had its advantages.

But if it was merely to submit to Jun Xiaoyao alone...

That would be somewhat disgraceful for a top lineage.

"Unwilling? Do you know what an honor it is to submit to the divine son?" Jun Linglong raised her eyebrows, her expression turning cold.

The Zhuque ruler's eyes flashed with struggle, but he finally sighed and said, "I agree. Please thank the Jun family's divine son for me, but I hope he won't make things difficult for Bai Yuer."

At this point, did the Zhuque ruler have any choice?

"Rest assured, the divine son only intends to lightly punish Bai Yuer; he won't do anything to her," Jun Linglong said lightly.

She handed the qilin elixir of immortality to the Zhuque ruler.

The Zhuque ruler took the elixir, his hands trembling slightly.

After all, who would want to die if they could live?

Especially a ruler of a nation.

"Focus on improving your cultivation. This elixir of immortality will not only heal your injuries but should also help you advance further, making you more useful to the divine son," Jun Linglong advised.

Hearing this, all the ministers were speechless.

Was she clearly treating the Zhuque ruler as a tool?

"I understand," the Zhuque ruler nodded, showing no dissatisfaction, but rather excitement in his eyes.

Above quasi-saint is saint.

With this qilin elixir of immortality, he might truly break through and reach the saint realm.

"Remember, this is a grace bestowed upon you by the divine son. If you dare to have even the slightest disloyalty..." Jun Linglong's tone was extremely cold.

Her use of the carrot-and-stick approach was masterful.

"Of course, from now on, the divine son will be the true master of our Zhuque Kingdom," the Zhuque ruler said respectfully.

Offending the Jun family's divine son was tantamount to offending the Jun family itself.

Though the Zhuque Kingdom was a first-rate power, before the Jun family, it was merely a slightly larger ant.

"As long as you understand," Jun Linglong and Granny Hua turned to leave.

The Zhuque Kingdom had completely submitted to Jun Xiaoyao, becoming his vassal force.

Once Bai Yuer was properly trained, Jun Xiaoyao would be able to better control the Zhuque Kingdom.

Months passed, and in the Heavenly Emperor's Palace, Jun Xiaoyao stood up, a faint smile on his lips.

"It's about time; Bai Yuer has knelt for a year. It's time to train and subdue her."

At the same time, within the territory of the Qinglong Kingdom, a dragon carriage suddenly soared into the sky, heading towards the Jun family's direction.

Inside the carriage was none other than the eldest prince of the Qinglong Kingdom, Xiao Chen.

"That move has been perfected; it's time to bring Bai Yuer back."

"And that Jun family divine son, if I challenge him and defeat him, I will surely gain fame throughout the Ancient Heavenly Immortal Domain. The Jun family wouldn't dare to lose face and make things difficult for a junior like me."

Xiao Chen's lips curled into a confident smile.

One must enter the tiger's den to catch the tiger cub.

He, Xiao Chen, would single-handedly storm into the Jun family, rescue the beauty, and trample the Jun family divine son, gaining fame far and wide.

Aren't the protagonists in those legendary novels always like this?

Just thinking about that scene made Xiao Chen feel a surge of blood boiling within him, and he could hardly wait.