Chapter Thirty-One: Man or Monster?

"A familiar voice rang in Boss Li's ears."

Li Chengzhu started, looked up, and met Qiu Feng’s face, which was filled with dejection.

"Brother Qiu, sit," Boss Li said, gesturing grandly to the chair beside him.

"Congratulations," Qiu Feng said slowly as he sat down, his tone desolate.

"Thank you," Li Chengzhu replied, clasping his hands together, his pride unmistakable.

Glancing at the City Lord, who was enveloped in happiness and surrounded by the crowd in her white wedding gown, Qiu Feng couldn't help but sigh. "Sigh, I, Qiu Feng, have lived so freely for so many years; I never expected to be trapped by love in the end."

Boss Li raised an eyebrow, looking at Qiu Feng with ulterior motives. Was this fellow planning to crash the wedding?

Qiu Feng smiled faintly, reached for the wine flagon on the table, poured himself a cup, and downed it in one gulp. "Rest assured, Brother Li. I, Qiu Feng, am not like some people who engage in despicable, petty, and shameless acts. Since this is the City Lord’s heart’s desire, it is, of course... my heart’s desire as well."

"Oh?" Li Chengzhu sneered inwardly. Seeing the veins bulging on the man's forehead, he was surprised the fellow had such self-control. "Then why have you come to see me, Brother Qiu?"

Qiu Feng gave a bleak smile, shifted his gaze away from Gu Linglong, and looked at Li Chengzhu. "Can’t I come to share a drink and ease my gloom without a reason?"

"Well... of course you can," Li Chengzhu replied magnanimously, though he thought to himself, *If you didn't have a reason, I'd eat this table.*

After three rounds of drinks, both men tacitly avoided using their spiritual power to dispel the alcohol, and their faces began to flush red.

"Brother Li, you are truly blessed," Qiu Feng said enviously. "To be able to marry two beauties at once."

"Everyone is just too kind," Li Chengzhu said, his skin thick.

"Sigh!" Qiu Feng sighed heavily again.

"Brother Qiu, don't be so depressed. To each their own, as they say. Perhaps a woman who catches your eye will appear one day," Li Chengzhu, riding high on his victory, couldn't help but offer some comfort.

"Heh," Qiu Feng chuckled drily, downed his cup, and stared at Li Chengzhu’s face. "Brother Li, may I ask a favor of you?"

Boss Li stopped the wine cup at his lips and smiled slightly; the main event had finally arrived. He placed the cup on the table and looked at Qiu Feng. "Speak. If I can help, I certainly will."

Whether it was an illusion or not, Li Chengzhu thought he saw a hint of a blush on Qiu Feng’s face, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving no chance to be sure.

Qiu Feng stammered, "Could you trouble yourself to send me a projection of that thing?" He gestured toward the camera that Yuan Mu was holding outside the venue.

So that was it after all that beating around the bush. Li Chengzhu rolled his eyes and stared coldly at Qiu Feng.

"Brother Li, don't misunderstand," Qiu Feng hastily explained, panicked. Asking for an image of another man’s wife was an insult, after all. "I don't mean anything else by it. It’s just... the competition is approaching, and I merely want to keep it as a memento."

"Competition?" Li Chengzhu raised an eyebrow, asking in confusion.

"Yes," Qiu Feng nodded. "The once-in-a-century Great Ascension-stage Cultivator Competition."

*Damn,* how could he have forgotten that? It was the most bustling event in the Immortal Realm of the last century. Every Great Ascension-stage cultivator in the entire realm would go to vie for the title of "Immortal Emissary."

Should he join in the fun? Li Chengzhu tilted his head and stroked his chin, pondering.

"Brother Li, to be honest, the competition every hundred years is extremely fierce. The battles are breathtakingly dangerous, and quite a few people die directly on the field," Qiu Feng said, his tone gloomy. It seemed he didn't have much confidence in himself.

"Oh? Die on the field?" Li Chengzhu raised an eyebrow. The battles must be intense indeed.

"Yes. For the title of Immortal Emissary, no one is willing to be defeated. When it comes down to it, aside from conceding, it's a fight to the death. The artifacts we cultivators use are generally immensely powerful; it's quite normal to lose control of one's strength in the heat of the moment."

*Or perhaps some people intentionally want to kill those who concede,* Li Chengzhu sneered inwardly.

"Does the Immortal Emperor not care?" Li Chengzhu asked, voicing his suspicion.

"Heh," Qiu Feng smiled faintly, as if mocking Li Chengzhu’s ignorance. He refilled their cups, picked his own up, and said slowly, "Between us cultivators who haven't yet become Immortals and a Great Ascension-stage cultivator with massive potential to achieve physical sainthood, which do you think the Immortal Emperor values more?"

*Achieve physical sainthood directly?* He had heard his master mention that in thousands of years, there had only been one person—the second Immortal Emissary. That fellow was now an Immortal Sovereign.

Nodding, Li Chengzhu said, "I understand."

Still, he hadn't expected such a tournament to be so cruel. Thinking of his stingy master, he estimated that he must have been one in ten thousand to stand out and earn the title of Immortal Emissary.

"If one wins such a cruel competition, besides the title, there must be other rewards, right?" Li Chengzhu shifted his gaze, picked up his cup, and lowered his head, asking as if casually.

"That goes without saying." Qiu Feng, having a favor to ask, had to answer. Besides, these things weren't secrets; anyone else could tell him as much, so he might as well do a favor.

"The first-place winner receives a Sixth-Grade Immortal Artifact and twenty high-grade Celestial Spirit Stones. Second place gets a Fourth-Grade Immortal Artifact and ten high-grade Celestial Spirit Stones. As for third place, they get a Second-Grade Immortal Artifact and five high-grade Celestial Spirit Stones," Qiu Feng said, looking proud.

"Damn," Li Chengzhu’s jaw dropped. "The Immortal Emperor is quite generous."

A Ninth-Grade Immortal Artifact—that was the legendary peak of Immortal weaponry.

Qiu Feng looked coldly at the flabbergasted Li Chengzhu and dropped another boulder into his heart. "The Nine Heavens Great Cauldron was the reward I received for taking third place last time."

"Fuck!" Li Chengzhu stood up, slamming the table, staring at Qiu Feng in shock.

Noticing the eyes of the entire hall turning toward him, he gave an awkward smile and slowly sat back down.

He really couldn't tell; this fellow Qiu Feng actually possessed such strength. No wonder he dared to harbor feelings for Linglong—he had something to rely on. He probably planned to pursue her after he became an Immortal, only to be beaten to the punch by him.

If Qiu Feng were truly that strong, he would have to calculate his next moves carefully. Li Chengzhu lowered his head, rubbing his chin as his mind turned.

Qiu Feng watched Li Chengzhu’s reaction with satisfaction, but then, as if remembering something, his face turned gloomy again. "But I still couldn't compare to your master. I was defeated by him after only the time it takes for an incense stick to burn." He tipped his head back, downing the nectar in his cup, his face full of unwillingness. "But your master is kind-hearted and did not harm me. Thus, I still hold him in high regard."

"How much of a chance do you think you have this time?" Boss Li asked, darting his eyes around.

"One hundred percent," Qiu Feng bit his lip bitterly.

"Hmm?" Li Chengzhu was astonished. Was this guy too arrogant? Did he truly not care for the heroes of the world?

"One hundred percent chance of dying," Qiu Feng said, looking coldly at Li Chengzhu.

"Ahem!" Li Chengzhu coughed, using the drink to mask his embarrassment.

The Nine Heavens Great Cauldron of this pretty boy had been swindled away by him; it seemed the fellow really had no hope this time.

"So, Brother Li," Qiu Feng’s tone softened again, "that is why I... I want a piece of purple jade with that projection on it as a memento."

"No problem," Boss Li patted his chest loudly. "Leave it to me."

It was just a purple jade projection; what was the big deal?

"Then many thanks, Brother Li." Qiu Feng was immediately overjoyed, raising his glass to smile at Li Chengzhu. "I wish the three of you a harmonious marriage and a lifetime of happiness."

"Thank you, and I wish you find your own companion soon," Li Chengzhu gave a lewd smile.

With his business concluded, Qiu Feng disappeared again; such a scene was not suitable for his current mood.

Li Chengzhu held a sneer on his lips, calculating in his heart.

However, when his eyes caught sight of a man intimately holding Xiao Ying’s hand, and Xiao Ying was actually smiling and talking to him, Boss Li’s face turned instantly grim.

He stood up from his chair, pushed aside those in his way, and strode toward Xiao Ying.

"Wife," Li Chengzhu wedged himself between the two, separating them, and spoke to Xiao Ying.

"Who’s your wife?" Xiao Ying spat lightly, her face flushing red.

"You are, of course, my dearest wife." Boss Li grabbed Xiao Ying’s hand and kissed it lightly, casting a sidelong, infinitely hostile glance at the man beside her.

Looking closely, Li Chengzhu realized this pretty boy was actually more handsome than Qiu Feng. His eyes were huge and bright, and his long hair was tied behind his head, reminding Li Chengzhu of the artistic drifters he used to see back on Earth.

"Rascal," Xiao Ying blushed but did not pull her hand back, her expression one of coy annoyance.

The man, sensing Boss Li’s hostility, reached up to gently smooth the loose hair by his forehead and offered a slight smile.

In that instant, Li Chengzhu noticed that the man’s hands were even whiter than Gu Linglong’s—white to the point of lacking any blood.

A thought flashed through his mind. *Damn, does the Immortal Realm have such unnatural creatures as cross-dressers too?*

Li Chengzhu shuddered for no reason.

"What’s wrong?" Xiao Ying sensed the change in Li Chengzhu immediately and asked.

"Nothing, nothing. Probably caught a chill," Li Chengzhu explained, though his eyes swept from the man’s upper body to his lower body, trying to find a clue.