Chapter 154 This Seat Never Lies

Xuanyuan Tunhan tossed the small bottle over and instructed the Grand Tutor to have it delivered straight into the imperial palace. His intention was to cement the illusion that the Emperor had indeed consumed an immortal elixir. That way, when the Emperor eventually lived to be over two hundred years old, people would simply attribute it to the miraculous properties of the elixir rather than viewing her as a demon.

This could also be considered a way to resolve the karmic ties for Ning Xianyu.

Both the Grand Tutor and the Emperor were profoundly astonished; they hurriedly dropped to their knees together and kowtowed.

Meanwhile, Xuanyuan Tunhan had already taken Ning Xianyu and stepped outside.

The entire Grand Tutor’s estate was bathed in a brilliant golden radiance, casting a glow visible from a great distance. Many onlookers watched the spectacle with awe, and some even began to kowtow, proclaiming that immortals had manifested their divine presence.

Since they were putting on a show, Xuanyuan Tunhan had to see it through to the end so that the common folk would be well aware of the matter, ensuring no one would doubt the Grand Tutor's future claims.

Ning Xianyu followed behind him crestfallen, muttering, "Was that truly an immortal elixir you gave them?"

Xuanyuan Tunhan replied with a cold expression, "No. It was merely a sugar pill you purchased from a mortal shop."

The young Emperor had already consumed genuine elixirs and immortal nectar; if he were to ingest any more, he would likely surpass the Qi Condensation stage on the spot. How could he possibly let her feed him something real?

Knowing she had stirred up trouble, Ning Xianyu hastily tried to justify herself. "Look, although I provoked the little Emperor this time, had I not provoked her, I would never have found the Flowing Stream Stone. Is this stone actually a fragment of the Heaven-Mending Stone?"

Xuanyuan Tunhan turned his head to find her wearing an expectant expression, as if she had performed a great service and was awaiting praise. He felt a strong urge to grab her by the ears and lecture her once more.

Yet, after a moment's thought, he restrained himself and instead asked, "Why were you with Xiahou Fang?"

Ning Xianyu corrected him, "We were not together at all. He captured me and wanted to skin me alive. I was entirely coerced."

She hurriedly recounted the entire process of her capture and how she had ended up here.

Xuanyuan Tunhan listened in utter astonishment, never expecting that her accidental blundering would actually lead her to a fragment of the Heaven-Mending Stone.

Such fortune defied the heavens itself.

With the Star-Gazing Stone, the Fire-Swallowing Stone, and the Flowing Stream Stone now accounted for, they had found three fragments of the Heaven-Mending Stone in total, leaving nine more to go.

Over all those previous years, he had only managed to track down the whereabouts of the Star-Gazing Stone.

Yet ever since this woman arrived, she had successively unearthed two more. At this rate, gathering the remaining nine would be just around the corner.

Xuanyuan Tunhan walked toward her with a darkened face, frightening Ning Xianyu into retreating step by step, convinced that he was about to beat her again.

Instead, he commanded coldly, "Do not move."

Terrified into obedience, Ning Xianyu dared not budge, squeezing her eyes shut. "If you are going to strike me, make it quick."

She furrowed her brow tightly, her pretty nose crinkling as her long eyelashes trembled slightly, making her resemble a startled little deer.

Yet who could know just how cunning this little deer truly was, or how nimbly she could flee when the occasion demanded?

Unable to hold back entirely, Xuanyuan Tunhan flicked her on her smooth forehead before reaching out to tug at the jade pendant hanging from her neck.

"Was this given to you by Xiahou Fang?"

This jade pendant possessed the ability to mask one's aura; no wonder he had only been able to track her down via the Fire-Swallowing Stone.

Ning Xianyu clutched the pendant for dear life. "This belongs to me. I can even sell it for money."

"Sell it for money? You are fond of wealth to this degree?"

"Who could possibly dislike money?"

Seeing her miserly demeanor, Xuanyuan Tunhan flicked her forehead once more before letting her go.

Ning Xianyu hurriedly tucked the item away, as if terrified he might snatch it from her.

Xuanyuan Tunhan walked a short distance forward, returning to the cooling pavilion.

Ning Xianyu followed behind timidly, not daring to utter another word.

Xuanyuan Tunhan stood rigidly like a pillar, appearing to await Xiahou Fang.

Finding herself utterly bored, she squatted down within his shadow and began counting ants.

Glancing down slightly and noticing her occupation, Xuanyuan Tunhan spread his arms a fraction wider, enlarging his shadow to completely envelop her within it.

After a brief silence, he suddenly spoke. "Here."

"What?"

Before she could react, a storage pouch was tossed toward her.

"What is this?"

With his neck stiffly rigid, Xuanyuan Tunhan stared fixedly at the now-empty lake ahead. "For you."

Puzzled, Ning Xianyu opened the pouch to inspect its contents. "Why are you giving me... Good heavens, spirit stones?!"

The storage pouch was filled to the brim with top-tier spirit stones—an immense quantity of them.

"Just how many are in here?"

Her eyes lit up with starry excitement as she looked up at him. At that moment, she found the Great Demonic Lord exceptionally tall and majestic.

He looked far more handsome than before.

Though for some reason, his posture appeared even stiffer.

Keeping his neck rigid, Xuanyuan Tunhan replied, "I never counted. Perhaps a few hundred thousand."

A few hundred thousand?

And they were all top-tier spirit stones!

Ning Xianyu felt as though she had struck it rich. "Are all of these for me?"

Why was the Great Demonic Lord suddenly so generous? Could he be up to something?

No, they say when someone offers courtesies uninvited, they either harbor a stolen heart or an evil design. Why would he treat her so well?

Seized by sudden apprehension, Ning Xianyu stroked the spirit stones longingly, wishing she could carve their presence into her very bones. Yet, she ultimately gritted her teeth, hardened her heart, closed the storage pouch, stood up, and shoved it back toward him.

"I do not want them!"

No, she was not that kind of person. While she could readily bow when forced, her integrity could not be bought so easily.

Taken aback, Xuanyuan Tunhan looked at her in sheer disbelief. "Why would you refuse? You readily accepted what Xiahou Fang gave you, so why reject what I offer?"

Outrageous! And she still claimed she hadn't run off with Xiahou Fang?

Ning Xianyu felt he was the one being completely unreasonable. "What Xiahou Fang gave me was compensation. What is yours for?"

Xuanyuan Tunhan turned his head slightly, his expression looking rather unnatural. "...It is compensation as well..."

"Compensation for what?"

Sensing he had muttered something, Ning Xianyu leaned in closer to inquire.

Lowering his gaze, Xuanyuan Tunhan asked with a hint of mockery, "Are you truly that terrified of accompanying me to mend the heavens?"

Ning Xianyu nodded vigorously. "Indeed. I will lose my life; how could I not be afraid?"

Xuanyuan Tunhan stated, "This is compensation for your trouble. Once the task succeeds, I shall grant you another ten million top-tier spirit stones."

Since she fancied spirit stones so dearly, he would simply give them to her. Let us see if she dares to run off then!

Ning Xianyu rubbed her ears. "Truly?"

Noticing her sudden delight, Xuanyuan Tunhan realized instantly that he had found the right approach.

"If you accompany me to find the Heaven-Mending Stones and apply yourself diligently to cultivation, I shall provide you with spirit stones. Upon success, ten million top-tier spirit stones will be yours, down to the very last one."

He tossed the storage pouch back to her. "This is your reward for helping to locate the Flowing Stream Stone and the Star-Gazing Stone. Take it."

Catching the storage pouch once more, Ning Xianyu felt not a trace of panic this time.

"As long as I accompany you to mend the heavens, you will reward me with spirit stones. Do you swear it?"

Afraid the Great Demonic Lord might be deceiving her, she pressed him repeatedly.

Xuanyuan Tunhan replied coldly, "When have I ever deceived you?"

He had never deigned to deceive anyone.

Hitting the nail on the head, Ning Xianyu pointed out, "The last time you swore to spare my life, you played on words, claiming you could simply lock me away or let others torture me instead."

And he had the nerve to claim he never lied—he was a chronic liar! He had never mentioned beforehand that utilizing the Universe Sword would cost her her life; all of those omissions constituted deceit.

For once, Xuanyuan Tunhan looked slightly sheepish, though he maintained his stern facade. "In this matter, I shall never deceive you."

Seizing upon his phrasing, Ning Xianyu retorted, "You will not deceive me in this matter, meaning you will deceive me in others?"

So he was still planning to lie!

Xuanyuan Tunhan glared at her fiercely, frightening her so much that she dared not pursue the matter further.

"I will accept them, then. Thank you, Ancestor."

Hehehe! She had wealth! She was rich! She was about to rely on her own efforts to become the wealthiest person in the world, hahahahaha!

Just as she was reveling in her triumph, Xuanyuan Tunhan coolly remarked, "You mentioned you would resolve the matter of turning me into a cat. Can it be resolved now?"