Chapter Twenty-Two: Transcending the Immortal Grade

“That little beast!” Boss Li gritted his teeth, then sent his soul through the Blood Jade Ring and into the region where living things could be stored.

As expected, the little thing had woken sometime earlier. It was sprawled comfortably inside the ring with its eyes closed, looking utterly content, while beneath its body lay the two pieces of Wood Essence that had not been reclaimed. Thin streams of green energy were pouring into its body, and even the nascent souls of Xia Mai and Keba, trembling off to the side, were benefiting greatly.

“I should never have let it come and go as it pleased,” Boss Li muttered in deep regret.

He gently lifted the little creature and set it aside, but its claws still clung stubbornly to the two pieces of Wood Essence.

Li Chengzhu had no choice but to let it be. He grabbed a pile of clothes from another section and withdrew.

“The clothes were stolen by that little beast,” Boss Li said bitterly. A thief within the house was indeed the hardest to guard against.

Gu Linglong lowered her head, covering her chest with both hands and pressing her legs tightly together, doing her utmost not to let any of her bare skin show. Then she snatched up her clothes and quickly put them on.

By the time both of them were dressed, they discovered that there was still a chest binder and a pair of underpants on the bed. Judging by the style and cut, they were clearly a woman’s.

“These clothes...” Gu Linglong picked up the two garments and looked them over again and again. They were unmistakably the very ones she had once lost. She raised her head and shot Li Chengzhu a reproachful look. Ever since that incident last time, her undergarments had vanished, forcing her to buy a new set. So they had been stolen by this filthy man all along.

“It has nothing to do with me,” Li Chengzhu said innocently, spreading his hands. “The little thing secretly brought them back last time.”

“Chengzhu,” Gu Linglong said, her cheeks faintly red, “don’t pin everything on the little creature.”

“I’ve been wronged,” Boss Li said, practically aching for a chance to silence that little beast forever.

Squeak, squeak.

The true culprit finally appeared, clutching one piece of Wood Essence in each claw, each piece almost as large as it was, refusing to let go.

“Come here.” Gu Linglong had long since taken a liking to the clever little creature, but because of her status she had never been able to bring herself to draw close to it. Now, at last, the last barrier was broken, and she could not help but be overwhelmed with maternal fondness as she beckoned to it.

Squeak.

The little creature was obedient enough, leaping straight into Gu Linglong’s arms. It lowered its head and wriggled its small nose against her abdomen.

Gu Linglong glared at Boss Li, the corners of her mouth curving in a smile as she said through gritted teeth, “You’re the one who taught it all these bad habits.”

Li Chengzhu coughed twice. “That’s just its nature. It has nothing to do with me.” As he spoke, he reached out and snatched the two pieces of Wood Essence from the little creature’s claws, ignoring its protests, then took out the Godslayer Bow and pressed the fragments back into place.

Squeak, squeak!

Having lost its favorite treasure, the little creature let out a pitiful cry.

“Chengzhu,” Gu Linglong said, looking at the man whose childishness always seemed to match the creature’s, “if it likes them, why not just let it have them?”

“You can’t spoil it,” Li Chengzhu said resentfully. “The more you spoil it, the more lawless it becomes. Besides, this is my most powerful magic treasure.”

Gu Linglong looked at the brazenly shaped jade-green longbow and could not help asking, “What exactly is this?”

Li Chengzhu sat down by the bed, staring at the Godslayer Bow, then told Gu Linglong everything that had happened to him from the beginning.

When he finished, Gu Linglong was staring at him in astonishment, her mouth slightly open. “This weapon is actually that powerful?”

“Yes.” Li Chengzhu nodded. “But now it’s missing one piece of Wood Essence, so I don’t know how much its power will be reduced.”

“Chengzhu.” Gu Linglong looked at him with guilt. “If it weren’t for rescuing me...”

“Foolish girl.” Li Chengzhu reached out and gently patted her head. “For your sake, I’d do anything.” He lowered his gaze and saw that the little creature had already curled itself into a ball, clutching Gu Linglong’s abdomen and falling asleep again.

“You little rascal,” Gu Linglong said with a smile, tapping the creature lightly on the head.

“Right, Linglong, you should check your own condition first,” Li Chengzhu reminded her.

“Mm.” Gu Linglong closed her eyes and sent her soul into her immortal infant.

Li Chengzhu did the same. Though he did not know what level he had broken through to this time, he had a vague feeling that it was no low realm.

Once his soul entered his infant, Boss Li discovered that his cultivation had already broken through to the middle stage of the Integration Realm, while his physical body had surged all the way to the late stage of the Divinization Realm, equal to Xiao Ying.

The earlier liberation of the Godslayer Bow, combined with the absorption of Wood Essence energy today, and perhaps even the dual cultivation, had all played a part. To think that his cultivation could rise to such a level, Boss Li was ecstatic. From now on, he would have to dual cultivate more often, every day, every night!

After opening his eyes and waiting for quite some time, he finally saw Gu Linglong open hers.

“How is it?” Li Chengzhu asked, unable to suppress his curiosity.

Tears instantly welled in Gu Linglong’s eyes. Her whole body trembling, she threw herself into Boss Li’s arms. “Chengzhu, my cultivation has actually reached the late stage of the Immortal Realm.”

“What?” Li Chengzhu was shocked. He quickly set Gu Linglong upright and looked into her eyes.

It was only one piece of Wood Essence, yet it had directly pushed Gu Linglong, who had been at a middling level before, all the way to the late stage of the Immortal Realm?

Then... what exactly was this Wood Essence?

“Are you sure?” Li Chengzhu asked weakly.

“Yes.” Gu Linglong nodded furiously, excitement overflowing from her. She had waited nearly four years for this day; how could she not be thrilled?

At last, she could cast off the burden of being that “immortal in reserve.”

Gu Linglong felt as though a tremendous weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

“Chengzhu, your Wood Essence may well be even more powerful than a ninth-grade immortal pill,” she said.

More powerful than a ninth-grade immortal pill? That blow left Li Chengzhu dizzy and dazed. Something beyond the level of immortal-grade... what on earth could that be?

“And the Wood Essence has not been fully absorbed by me,” Gu Linglong added, clenching her teeth before delivering another staggering blow. “More than half of it is still stored in the heart position of my immortal infant, replacing the original immortal heart.”

“Damn.” Li Chengzhu drew in a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

The bedroom fell silent for a moment, so quiet that even their breathing could be heard.

“Chengzhu, be careful from now on. Don’t let anyone discover them,” Gu Linglong could not help but remind him.

“Mm.” Boss Li nodded. Innocent men are ruined by riches; this was no different.

If the Wood Essence possessed such overwhelming power, then what of the Godslayer Bow?

Could the realm above the immortals really be the gods? Could it truly slay gods?

Only the Yuanmu brothers had seen his Godslayer Bow. Xia Mai and Keba were already prisoners in custody and posed no threat.

As long as he could deal with the two Yuanmu brothers, everything else would be easy to handle. As for Xiao Ying, Boss Li believed she would not go around talking nonsense. And if worse came to worst... heh. He could always take her in as well.