Chapter 267: Chapter 266: Overnight at the Royal Palace, an Escorted Inspection

At the sound of the voice, Genvieve’s pupils constricted, and she turned her head stiffly.

Su Ye, clad in a magnificent black robe, was watching her with a relaxed, leisurely expression.

"What are you so happy about? Why don’t you tell me?"

Su Ye said with a smile.

To Genvieve, however, that smile was as terrifying as a demon’s!

It was as if she were standing naked in the winter wilderness as a basin of ice water was dumped over her head.

An icy chill gripped Genvieve’s heart.

"No... Your Highness, the Divine Son, please let me explain..."

Her face pale, Genvieve tried to say something.

But she never got the chance to explain.

HUMMM.

Faint, blood-red flames ignited upon her body.

They weren’t fatal.

But they brought a pain that was utterly excruciating.

’After all, these blood flames could now burn even the soul...’

An uncontrollable, agonizing pain surged through Genvieve’s entire body.

Her expression twisted in terror.

Within moments, the pain was unbearable. Losing control of her limbs, she collapsed to the ground.

She convulsed and twitched, drenched in sweat.

"Ugh... I beg you... spare me..."

Su Ye remained unmoved, watching her struggle in agony on the ground.

"Hah... Assimilation by the Spiritual Spring?" Su Ye scoffed.

’The cultivation techniques of this Far South Continent are far too primitive.’

’They don’t even know how to handle highly concentrated Spirit Liquid? The Taiqing Cold Jade Skill alone records three different methods to prevent the physical body from being assimilated by it...’

’Their level of knowledge... is lower than that of a Loose Cultivator.’

’The prosperity of the immortal path and the perfection of its system are beyond anything the Far South Continent could possibly imagine!’

’Besides, with my physical strength, I could have taken it head-on... As long as it wasn’t for a continuous two to four hours, it wouldn’t have been a problem...’

’This woman actually expected to kill me with assimilation by the Spiritual Spring?’

Su Ye shrugged, a peculiar expression on his face.

Genvieve’s plan was doomed to fail from the very beginning.

...

「Five minutes later.」

Su Ye reined in the blood flames, slowly extinguishing them.

Genvieve was completely drained, on the verge of passing out. Her sweat-soaked clothes clung tightly to the curves of her body.

’This won’t do...’

With a flicker in his eyes, Su Ye sent a thread of Magical Power into her, casting the Ganlin Spell to rouse her.

"Ugh..." Genvieve moaned, her eyes fluttering open.

Looking at Su Ye, her face went white, and her whole body began to tremble.

The searing of the blood flames, a pain that sank deep into her marrow, had left an incredibly profound impression on her.

She had almost thought she was going to die from the sheer agony.

Fear surged through her.

Genvieve hurriedly kowtowed. "Thank you, Your Highness, the Divine Son, for sparing this servant’s life..."

Su Ye’s gaze was calm as he spoke faintly.

"Remember this feeling."

"If you ever think of resisting, just remember this... It will help you make the correct decision."

"This servant... remembers... I will never dare again..."

Kneeling on both knees, Genvieve said with fearful reverence.

Su Ye glanced at her, his eyes glinting thoughtfully.

’He knew perfectly well that the fire of defiance in Genvieve’s heart had not been extinguished.’

’But... that didn’t matter in the slightest!’

’Given her caution and composure, she wouldn’t try again after this failure unless she was absolutely certain of success.’

’Instead, she would endure and obey, serving me... She might even appear more loyal than my other subordinates, who knows?’

’All to build up her strength and wait for the right moment.’

’However...’

’At the rate my power is growing, it’s safe to say Genvieve will *never* have that absolute certainty.’

’So, I can rest easy.’

Thinking of this, Su Ye couldn’t help but chuckle.

’My strategy is remarkably similar to that of certain countries from my past life: use long-term, high-speed growth to mask underlying social problems!’

’I’m well aware that the faction I’ve built is quite slipshod and not at all stable!’

’Whether it’s the Cyan Profound Sect, Weiyuan Immortal City... or even the newly subjugated Aino City, the key to maintaining stable rule rests on me alone.’

’If I were to die, or even if my cultivation were to merely stagnate... division and chaos would surely erupt.’

’After all, the faction I’ve built is a hodgepodge of different elements. It hasn’t undergone any drastic integration or restructuring; it’s merely been pieced together.’

’However, I’m not concerned about that.’

’With my system panel, I’m absolutely certain my cultivation can maintain its rapid growth for a long time to come.’

’Therefore, there’s no need for me to waste precious energy purging the "original ruling class," like Genvieve, just to ensure the "purity" of my faction.’

’It is far more efficient to use seals and brute force to coerce them into plundering resources for me!’

’As for the hidden dangers that creates, they are nothing to fear.’

’By the time I become a Golden Core Master or a Nascent Soul True Monarch... these hidden dangers will crumble on their own, like sandcastles washed away by the tide.’

...

After organizing his thoughts, Su Ye’s gaze shifted toward Genvieve.

The Queen of Aino’s sweat-drenched clothes outlined her full, voluptuous curves. Strands of black hair clung to her fine, delicate, wheat-colored skin.

She exuded a sense of fragile, pitiable beauty, making her all the more bewitching and seductive.

The silver bangles on her wrists and the tasseled, golden-feather ornament on her forehead lent the Queen of Aino an air of mysterious, exotic charm.

A thought flashed through Su Ye’s mind. ’Plotting to murder one’s master requires a little punishment...’

He looked at Genvieve and used his Divine Sense to transmit the punishment directly into her mind.

"What...?" Genvieve’s body trembled.

Her black-onyx eyes dimmed.

Then, as if resigning herself to her fate, she took a deep breath, lowered her head, and spoke.

"I understand."

The two then took the white jade disk elevator back up the way they had come, returning to the surface.

It was now dusk.

The royal palace was shrouded in a dim, yellow twilight, making it appear somewhat gloomy.

"Let’s begin."

Su Ye said with a smile, looking at Genvieve.

With a flash of light from his Storage Ring, a leather collar with a leash appeared in his hand.

’A Beast Taming Ring, meant for subduing spirit beasts. It’s useless on humans, but it has its interesting applications!’

Genvieve trembled, her expression darkening.

Her gaze downcast, she swallowed hard, then raised a slender, jade-like hand to the first button of her collar.

Soon, a complete set of robes lay neatly folded on the palace floor.

"Your Highness, the Divine Son."

Genvieve knelt, a clear display of her submission.

Her delicate, smooth knees made contact with the marble floor.

As night approached, the temperature dropped. She felt a chill as a light breeze brushed against her skin.

"Let’s go. Accompany me on a tour of the palace."

Su Ye said, smiling.

「One hour later.」

The tour of the palace was over.

Su Ye was somewhat tired, so he decided to spend the night in the royal palace.

What a wonderful night!

...

「Night.」

「In the royal palace.」

Princess An Jie, with her dashing, heroic bearing and short, shoulder-length hair.

She stood in the garden, gazing at the brightly lit bedchambers in the distance.

She clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white, her face filled with humiliation and hatred.

Her voice trembled.

"Mother!"

"How could you do this..."

"He’s our enemy, and yet you..."