Wu Baozhai's expression was gentle and calm, her body no longer exuding that imperial fierceness that told the world of her domineering existence. Her time as the bottom rung of society, forced to rely on a man, unable to fully exert her intelligence and cunning, had diluted her noble nature.
After all, the Myriad Monarch Sect was a sect where intelligence was of secondary importance to cultivation talent. Because cultivation talent translated to cultivation strength which translated to power and authority. This was the primary way the Myriad Monarch Sect functioned, and the majority of the starfield, giving more importance to the talented than the sly and intelligent.
This was not inherently wrong, but those figures that could be outstanding tacticians or exceptional leaders were relegated to lesser statuses due to their weak personal strength and talents. They could only be the subordinate of others or relegated as servants.
Wu Baozhai was one such figure, helping Long Chen's eventual rise from the background and never receiving any credit. She wasn't bitter regarding this, feeling that it was better to have reached her current level, the Astral Core Realm, than stay in the Qi Condensation Realm as a sheltered princess in the Myriad Yore Continent. She was ushered into the grander word in one go, forced to admit her inferiority to those more superior.
Still, while talent was regarded first, it could be amplified with the existence of planning. Unfortunately, planning with Long Chen was a struggle due to his seemingly endless enemies that either he created or had simply sought him out due to jealousy or self-indulgent arrogance.
When she requested an audience with Wei Wuyin, she hadn't expected to be seriously considered, and if she did, she knew that she had to keep her guard up. For some reason or another, she could keenly feel that all of Long Chen's close relations were crumbling apart by an invisible hand. But she didn't know if it was done deliberately by Wei Wuyin or simply a result of his one-sided rivalry being influenced by Wei Wuyin's immeasurable aura.
It started with Na Xinyi. At least, as far as she knew. Their history was filled with bad blood as Wei Wuyin was a member of an enemy sect that hunted her sectmates and captured her, forcing her to give up one of her Primal Yin, and then seemingly tossing her aside in pity.
Of course, she wasn't foolish enough to simply believe this.
What she did know was Long Chen's oath to get revenge for Na Xinyi, an act of valiant machismo to garner Na Xinyi's favor. It worked, at first. Then, Long Chen met the object of her revenge and it was all turned on its head. Wei Wuyin was simply too outstanding and he directly accepted responsibility without a hint of apology, directly suggesting to take her as his wife.
This was the first domino that fell.
Qing Qiumu's ambiguous relationship with him soon came to light, having saved her life not once but twice. It didn't stop there as they continued to interact in a seemingly intimate fashion, with even her uncertain if Qing Qiumu and him had a relationship. Then there was Lin Ziyann, Xiao Bing, and Hong Ru's attitude changes.
It seems that anything Wei Wuyin touches is slowly taken away from Long Chen, transferred to Wei Wuyin by some invisible hand. It didn't seem deliberate either, as Wei Wuyin seemed to act as if it was far beneath him, yet it also felt coordinated. Furthermore, now she could be added to that list. While it was unlikely that Xiao Bing and Hong Ru were seduced, considering their current relationship, they had seemingly forgotten about and even became somewhat hostile to Long Chen.
After he challenged Wei Wuyin in front of numerous individuals despite their protest, the emotional connection they felt towards Long Chen was turning brittle. This was especially so after Long Chen was humiliated, something they felt was warranted with the way he was acting, and then proven wrong. That his desire for revenge was as illogical as they believed it to be.
After all, Wei Wuyin never seemed to give him any consideration, leaving him alone unlike the numerous other enemies they had. This was an enemy that Long Chen was trying to develop himself in a one-sided manner, and it was terrifying. In fact, Wei Wuyin had spared Long Chen after his attempt to openly kill a prominent and well-connected genius of the sect.
While Wei Wuyin had punished him in his place, clearly allowing them to avoid the Huangfu Clan's decisive revenge. As for whether the Haungfu Clan would even fart in objection towards Wei Wuyin? Absolutely not. They would sooner kneel for forgiveness in a heartfelt plea than seek revenge.
Long Chen's mental state was in a state of continuous degradation as he tried in the most aggressive fashion to become enemies with Wei Wuyin. While Wei Wuyin continued to outshine all others, becoming the Ascendant Emperor of Neo-Dawn, the herald of the new era, and most popular future ruler of the starfield. Despite being five years older, they had similar starts entering into the Myriad Monarch Sect, but their differences were outstanding.
This wasn't to say Long Chen wasn't impressive. He was a sub-fifty year old Soul Idol with Fused Astral Soul of Sword and Slaughter and cultivated in the Grand Monarch Lineage, becoming recognized as the Grand Prince of this generation. He was by no means lacking. But the comparison was simply too great.
Wu Baozhai noticed all this and understood the eventual reality. This was why she was here.
Now, meeting Wei Wuyin once again up-close, she was once more stunned breathless by his smile. She was brought back to the first time she's gotten close to him, how that smile had caused her heart to go aflutter. That feeling hadn't gone away in the slightest, and had even rendered her breathless.
He still possessed fatally attractive features and an unearthly degree of handsomeness that seemingly went beyond reason. Her body, as a woman, once more became heated. A natural female response when entering a state of arousal, her soft cheeks painted crimson. Despite strengthening her willpower over the years, she still failed to keep her composure.
Regardless if it was his silver eyes that drew in your endless imagination or that smile that tugged at the heartstrings, she couldn't imagine how a man like this could exist. Is this how men feel when they meet them? If so, she finally understood why they were so unreasonable.
Fortunately, she was still strong enough to regain herself soon after.
Su Mei caught the reaction of hers and quietly observed. She was actually inwardly surprised that Wu Baozhai recollected herself so quickly. Most women would seemingly lose themselves for seconds or even full minutes, some never even awake from their state as they fumbled foolishly in their attempt to attract Wei Wuyin.
Wei Wuyin glanced at Su Mei, "You can go."
Su Mei nodded, giving Wu Baozhai one last glance before departing.
Wu Baozhai and Wei Wuyin were alone together in the Main Hall, spacious enough to fit a hundred people and incredibly luxurious. Wu Baozhai hadn't been in such a setting in a long time, her mind recalling her stint as a princess. Inwardly, she sighed in amazement.
With a calm voice, "Greetings, Ascendant Emperor Wei." Wu Baozhai bowed deeply in respect, showing the proper etiquette that those of lesser status would give to those far beyond their own.
Wei Wuyin smiled. Since the crowd cheered his name to the highest heavens, he quickly grew accustomed to it. "You wanted to meet. So?" He didn't delay with small talk, directly delving into her reasoning for being here. He didn't think it was with a similar purpose to Lin Ziyan, but if it was, that would be extremely curious and out-of-character.
Wu Baozhai had to take a few breaths, she felt that today was an act of defiance towards Long Chen. And for some reason, that still weighed on her heart. Perhaps it was due to him being the one who took her virginity or the first man that caused her to be obedient and follow him to worlds' unknown.
After a short moment, her limpid eyes became focused. She fixed her gaze onto Wei Wuyin, which surprised him somewhat. That gaze of her did not seem like the gaze of a woman pleading to become someone else's, but had revived her seemingly forgotten sense of independence and nobility.
"Ascendant Emperor Wei, before I explain my purpose here, I would like to ask a question." She sought Wei Wuyin's permission to ask. After all, no one liked to be bombarded with questions.
"Ask away," Wei Wuyin responded. He was unafraid of any question.
She nodded heavily, "Are you intentionally acting against Long Chen in a systematic fashion, slowly snatching the things most important to him until he's left with nothing?" Her question was followed by a brief silence and her staring fiercely into Wei Wuyin's eyes as if to catch a glimpse of the truth.
Wei Wuyin wasn't shocked by her question. He had pondered this a few times in great amusement, but he knew the answer to that question without a doubt. "Intentionally? No. In fact, I've tried my best to actively avoid Long Chen and his so-called women, but either they or he forces me to act. These actions inevitably lead to him losing what he'd strived to retain."
"…" Wu Baozhai was silent, merely staring at Wei Wuyin's exceptional face without blinking. She was inwardly shocked that Wei Wuyin was completely calm as if he expected her question. In fact, his words caused her to wonder.
Wei Wuyin smilingly explained, "After we arrived on the Myriad Monarch Main Planet, entering the sect, we should've gone our separate ways and never collided again. But Na Xinyi had summoned me by using my name and reputation to save Qing Qiumu and Long Tingyu. Furthermore, it was Long Chen who sought my help in restoring Lin Ziyan and reviving Hong Ru, which I did.
"It's their own prerogative to seek me out or Long Chen's ill-decisions or inherent weakness that drove them to me. This included this ring. And while I might've schemed to obtain it the first time, did I not send it back? It was the ring's choice in the end to follow me, and not something I could forcefully decide for it." Wei Wuyin even pointed at the unassuming black ring that once was worn on Long Chen's finger that was now hung on his neck beside a crescent necklace.
Wu Baozhai glanced at the ring, knowing it was Long Chen's greatest fortune and how he'd gained the Grand Monarch Lineage. It seemed from Wei Wuyin's words, there existed an independent intelligent lifeform that embodied the ring, who chose to stay with Wei Wuyin rather than Long Chen for their own reasons. Furthermore, this seemed to be in line with her own beliefs on the matter.
She had never once seen Wei Wuyin actively interfere or interact with them in any way, and was seemingly pulled towards them. Whenever he was, he displayed outstanding influence, power, intelligence, and means that rid them of all their problems. This formed a stark contrast with Long Chen.
She knew of Lin Ziyan's strange belief and how Wei Wuyin similarly cultivated the method. Her choice was understandable and actually extremely reasonable. Na Xinyi hadn't acted yet, but from her eyes she knew that she'll seek out Wei Wuyin to become his wife very soon. She won't be able to resist the allure of marrying the newly crowned Ascendant Emperor of this new era.
Furthermore, she had saved herself from having sexual relations with Long Chen, sacrificing her talent and beauty instead, and leaving that possible path open to Wei Wuyin. Na Xinyi was seemingly left with no choice lest she be left behind, and from what she knew of Na Xinyi, she did not want to be left behind.
"So, what is it that you want?" Wei Wuyin inquired again.
Wu Baozhai took a deep inhale before finally exhaling, her ample chest bouncing as a result. With that…
Thud!
She kneeled. Her right knee slammed against the floor, her head low, and she solemnly spoke: "I seek to join your faction, the Ascendants!"
"…" Wei Wuyin.
