Chapter 16: The Ancient Vermilion Bird Kingdom Submits; The Child of Destiny, Xiao Chen, Heads to the Jun Family

Inside a palace within the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom.

The Vermilion Bird Sovereign lay upon his bed, surrounded by a crowd of alchemists and imperial physicians from the kingdom.

However, none of them could do anything about his condition.

The Sovereign's illness had been sustained years ago when he traveled to a secret realm alongside the Azure Dragon Sovereign, where he was wounded by the Nine-Baleful Snake Demon—an ancient remnant beast comparable to a Saint.

The venom of the Nine-Baleful Snake Demon was difficult even for a Saint to withstand, let alone a Quasi-Saint like the Vermilion Bird Sovereign.

"Sigh, what are we to do now? The Princess went to the Jun Family, and instead of bringing back the Undying Medicine, she was instead humiliated."

"What choice do we have? It is impossible to go looking for trouble with the Jun Family; wouldn't that be seeking death?"

The alchemists, physicians, and ministers of the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom all shook their heads and sighed.

They could not afford to offend the Desolate Ancient Great Families.

Thus, even upon hearing that Bai Yu'er had been humiliated and forced to kneel, the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom had no intention of settling the score.

Hearing this, the Vermilion Bird Sovereign on the bed coughed, his face filled with a sense of desolation.

Just then, a guard rushed in from outside and spoke urgently, "Reporting to Your Majesty, a distinguished guest has arrived at our Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom and demands an audience with Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing this, a minister immediately flicked his sleeve and shouted angrily, "You blind fool! Can you not see the Sovereign's current condition? How dare you disturb His Majesty!"

Just as the minister's voice fell, a delicate female voice drifted in from the palace entrance.

"The Vermilion Bird Sovereign shouldn't be terminally ill yet, should he? If that is the case, why can he not see me?"

"Seeking death! Who is it!?" Anger surged on the minister's face.

"How dare you shout at my young lady! Presumptuous!"

An elderly figure appeared, flicking a sleeve, and a vast surge of Quasi-Saint cultivation erupted.

*Pfft!*

The minister immediately spat out blood and was sent flying backward!

Inside the grand hall, everyone from the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom froze instantly, their legs trembling in extreme terror!

A Quasi-Saint aura!

Even the strongest Sovereign of the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom was only at the Quasi-Saint level!

The crowd looked on with trembling eyes.

They saw an old woman in hemp clothes walking in with an indifferent expression.

Behind her was a beautiful woman dressed in palace attire.

Her long golden hair flowed smoothly, her snow-white skin was as translucent as jade, and her beauty was breathtaking.

It was Jun Linglong and Granny Hua.

"It is the noble lady of the Jun Family..." Waves of shock rose in the hearts of some ministers.

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

The minister who had shouted earlier now had blood flowing from the corners of his mouth, his eyes filled with terror as he collapsed to the ground, unable to rise.

"Cough, cough... I did not expect the noble lady of the Jun Family to visit. Have you come to demand accountability?"

On the bed, the Vermilion Bird Sovereign struggled to sit up, his face showing signs of exhaustion.

Not long ago, news had spread that Bai Yu'er had offended the Jun Family's Divine Son and had been kneeling outside the palace.

And now, the Jun family had arrived.

If they weren't here to demand accountability, what were they here for?

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the hall trembled with fear.

If the Jun Family wished to erase the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom, it would truly not take much effort.

The Vermilion Bird Sovereign had accepted his fate, so he remained relatively composed.

"Is our Divine Son the kind of great demon who destroys entire clans at a whim? You should be grateful for his mercy," Jun Linglong said with a faint smile, covering her mouth.

"Huh?" The Sovereign and the others were left bewildered.

Was the Jun Family not here to demand accountability?

Jun Linglong took a step forward, her jade-like hand brushing across her spatial ring.

Suddenly, purple clouds surged and the fragrance of medicine filled the air as a medicinal herb shaped like a Qilin appeared before everyone's eyes.

"That is... the Undying Medicine!"

The eyes of everyone in the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom widened, and they could barely breathe.

The Vermilion Bird Sovereign also wore a look of shock.

Every time an Undying Medicine appeared, it caused a tremor throughout the Desolate Heaven Immortal Realm.

And now, Jun Linglong had produced one so casually that it left them stunned, like bumpkins seeing a mountain of gold.

Beside them, seeing the reaction of the Vermilion Bird people, a trace of disdain appeared in Granny Hua's old eyes.

"Vermilion Bird Sovereign, I will give you two choices now. Submit to the Divine Son, and you shall receive the Undying Medicine."

"If you disagree, then fend for yourselves," Jun Linglong said indifferently.

In front of Jun Xiaoyao, her attitude was humble.

But facing outsiders, she had regained the temperament of a noble lady of the Jun Family.

"This..." The faces of the ministers all changed.

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 between the two was massive.

If they were to submit to the Desolate Ancient Jun Family, it would not be unacceptable for the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom. After all, there were many top-tier orthodoxies that were vassals to the Jun Family.

But to submit to Jun Xiaoyao alone...

For a top-tier orthodox family, that was somewhat undignified.

"Unwilling? Do you realize what an honor it is to be able to submit to the Divine Son?" Jun Linglong raised an eyebrow, her expression turning cold.

A struggle flashed in the Vermilion Bird Sovereign's eyes, but finally, he let out a long sigh and said, "This Emperor agrees. Please convey my thanks to the Jun Family's Divine Son. I only hope he does not make things difficult for Yu'er."

Having reached this point, did the Sovereign have any other choice?

"Rest assured, the Divine Son only administered a slight punishment to Bai Yu'er; he will not do anything to her," Jun Linglong said calmly.

She handed the Qilin Undying Medicine to the Vermilion Bird Sovereign.

As he took the medicine, the Sovereign's hands trembled slightly.

After all, who wants to die when they can live?

Especially not the ruler of a nation.

"Focus on improving your cultivation. This Undying Medicine will not only heal your injuries but should also allow you to take a step further. That way, you will be more useful to the Divine Son," Jun Linglong advised.

Hearing such words, the ministers were speechless.

Was she openly treating the Vermilion Bird Sovereign as a mere tool?

"This Emperor understands," the Sovereign nodded. He felt no dissatisfaction; instead, excitement surfaced in his eyes.

Above the Quasi-Saint was the Saint realm.

With this Qilin Undying Medicine, perhaps he truly could break through his limitations and reach the Saint realm.

"Remember, this is a grace bestowed upon you by the Divine Son. If you dare to harbor even a shred of dissent..." Jun Linglong's tone was extremely cold.

She was a master at using the carrot and the stick.

"Of course. From this day forward, the Divine Son is the true master of our Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom," the Sovereign said respectfully.

To offend the Jun Family's Divine Son was equivalent to offending the Jun Family.

Though the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom was a first-rate power, in front of the Jun Family, they were nothing more than a slightly larger ant.

"As long as you understand." Jun Linglong and Granny Hua turned and left.

The Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom had effectively submitted to Jun Xiaoyao, becoming his vassal power.

***

A few months passed. Inside the Heavenly Emperor Palace, Jun Xiaoyao rose, a faint smile on his lips.

"It is about time. Bai Yu'er has knelt for a year; it is time to subdue her."

At the same time, within the territory of the Azure Dragon Ancient Kingdom, a dragon carriage suddenly soared into the sky, rushing toward the direction of the Jun Family.

The person inside the carriage was none other than the First Prince of the Azure Dragon Ancient Kingdom, Xiao Chen.

"That technique is mastered. It is time to bring Yu'er back."

"And that Jun Family Divine Son... if I challenge him and defeat him, I will surely become famous throughout the Desolate Heaven Immortal Realm. The Jun Family wouldn't be able to save face and make things difficult for a junior like me."

A confident smile played on Xiao Chen's lips.

One cannot catch a tiger without entering the tiger's den.

He, Xiao Chen, would charge into the Jun Family alone, rescue his lady, and trample the Jun Family's Divine Son, earning fame far and wide.

Aren't all the destined protagonists in those biographical novels like this?

Thinking of such a scene, Xiao Chen felt his blood boil with anticipation.