On the road back to the imperial capital.
General Qin Rusong, clad in golden armor, led over a dozen armored grandmasters through the dense forests. The group, all formidable warriors, moved at incredible speed, traversing towering mountains and rugged terrain as if walking on flat ground.
Gu Qingfeng, however, due to his low cultivation, was assigned to ride in a palanquin.
Two grandmasters carried the palanquin, one in front and one behind.
They chose not to travel by flight, as the journey was long, and prolonged aerial travel would severely deplete their strength. If enemies ambushed them, they’d be at a disadvantage. Moreover, the sky offered no cover, making them far too conspicuous. Thus, Qin Rusong opted for the land route.
Gu Qingfeng lounged leisurely inside the palanquin, enjoying his dinner with a cup of fine wine. It had to be said—having grandmasters carry the palanquin was exceptionally smooth. Despite the constant climbs and descents over rugged terrain, not a single drop of the prized Ziyang wine spilled, as if he were riding a high-speed train.
The dinner was lavish, featuring chicken, duck, fish, and fresh vegetables—all generously provided by the demons from the alternate dimension.
Thanks to the demons’ diligent efforts, the alternate dimension had transformed into a veritable paradise, complete with orchards, vegetable gardens, livestock, and even a pond—giving it the charm of a rustic retreat.
The food was surprisingly delicious, prepared by the paper puppets of the yellow weasel spirits. After days of practice, these puppets had improved rapidly, their cooking skills now rivaling those of professional chefs.
Though the taste was excellent, the meal came at a cost—literally.
Every dinner resulted in the incineration of two or three paper puppets.
As Gu Qingfeng savored his meal, his mind wandered to the future.
Just the thought of soon becoming a Peerless Prince—a title of supreme prestige—filled him with joy.
A prince! And not just any prince, but the most exalted rank possible! In both his lifetimes, he had never held such a lofty position.
Sure, he was already a god, and mortal power shouldn’t matter. But gods were still human at heart—how could he distance himself from the masses?
What was the point of floating high above, detached from the world?
Besides, what was the purpose of gaining strength if not to live freely and indulge in life’s pleasures? After all his hard work, wasn’t he entitled to enjoy the perks of being a prince?
It was no different from the modern world—why work hard to earn money if not to spend it on a better life?
Once he reached the imperial capital, he’d demand a grand estate from the emperor, along with mountains of gold and silver, and a harem of beauties to experience the legendary "three thousand concubines" lifestyle.
What man hadn’t fantasized about such pleasures?
After all, it was in a man’s nature—nothing to be ashamed of!
Some just didn’t dare say it out loud, while others, like him, had no qualms admitting it.
"Heh heh heh..." Gu Qingfeng chuckled to himself, taking another satisfied sip of wine.
**BOOM!**
A deafening explosion erupted outside the palanquin!
The carriage lurched violently, tilting wildly to one side.
**CRASH!**
Gu Qingfeng’s dinner and the half-empty bottle of Ziyang wine spilled across the floor.
The sudden disturbance left him momentarily stunned.
He stared blankly at the ruined feast and the priceless wine now staining the palanquin. Then, like a volcanic eruption, fury surged from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head!
Outside, the sounds of battle and panicked shouts filled the air.
"Fire Crow Taoist! How dare you infiltrate the heartland of the Great Yan Dynasty! State your purpose!"
"Kekeke... Qin Rusong, I heard the inheritor of the Ageless Pill has appeared. I’ve come to claim one for myself. Minions—attack!"
Instantly, the temperature skyrocketed, and the flapping of countless crow wings filled the air.
Deafening clashes and the chaos of battle shook the earth.
Qin Rusong’s urgent voice rang out: "Protect Gu Qingfeng—get him out of here!"
The Fire Crow Taoist was a sixth-level Dragon Transformation demon. Under normal circumstances, Qin Rusong wouldn’t fear him, but he was still recovering from severe injuries. Combined with the need to protect Gu Qingfeng, he was forced into a defensive stance, quickly losing ground.
The dozen grandmasters accompanying them unleashed frantic attacks against the swarms of fire crows, trying to carve an escape path for Gu Qingfeng.
Then—
**SWISH!**
The palanquin’s door swung open, revealing Gu Qingfeng’s enraged face.
The grandmaster carrying the palanquin paled in shock. "Young Master Gu, get back inside! It’s too dangerous—"
"WHO THE HELL DID THIS?!" Gu Qingfeng’s furious roar was so loud that even Qin Rusong and the Fire Crow Taoist momentarily froze in their intense duel.
Both turned their heads toward him.
"Gu Qingfeng! Run!" Qin Rusong shouted.
The Fire Crow Taoist narrowed his eyes, grinning eerily. "Kekeke... So this is the inheritor of the Ageless Pill? With me here today, you’re not going anywhere."
"SCREW YOU, YOU ****! I asked who just ruined my dinner—and a bottle of wine worth ten thousand gold! WAS IT YOU?!" Gu Qingfeng bellowed, glaring at the Fire Crow Taoist.
The demon was momentarily stunned. Even the battling forces paused, bewildered.
Amid a life-and-death struggle, was this guy seriously asking about spilled food?
And since when did wine cost ten thousand gold? Was it divine nectar or something?
A dangerous glint flashed in the eyes of the Fire Crow Taoist as he hissed darkly, "You insignificant human whelp, do you even comprehend the consequences of reckless words?"
"I know your mother's a *****, you feather-faced bastard! ****** (censored, omitting five hundred words) ******! If I don't beat the shit out of you today, it’ll only be because you’ve already emptied your bowels!"
Gu Qingfeng’s voice roared over the battlefield, momentarily freezing the clash. Everyone stared at him in stunned silence, the scene turning eerily still.
Never had they imagined the world contained such a vast treasury of... *eloquent* vocabulary.
Truly, hearing his words was like witnessing a masterclass in cursing—a real eye-opener, like a tiny knife slicing one’s backside.
"RAAAAH! I’LL KILL YOU!" The Fire Crow Taoist’s enraged howl shattered the silence.
His demonic power surged, flames flickering wildly, before tens of thousands of fire-formed crows erupted like artillery shells, hurtling toward Gu Qingfeng.
Qin Rusong snapped out of his daze, his face paling as he desperately threw himself in front of the flaming onslaught. His hands conjured a blazing golden sun, colliding with the fiery crows in a deafening explosion.
"Activate the teleportation array—now! Get out of here!"
The dozen or so grandmasters, shaken from their reverie over Gu Qingfeng’s *poetic* tirade, scattered into formation. Hands weaving intricate seals, they channeled their energy, and a ripple of spatial distortion engulfed them.
A flash of light—and they vanished.
Only Qin Rusong and the apoplectic Fire Crow Taoist remained.
---
A hundred miles away, atop a desolate mountain.
The air shimmered like disturbed water.
Gu Qingfeng and the grandmasters tumbled out of the spatial rift. The latter gasped for breath, their bodies drained from the strain of long-distance teleportation.
"Quick, escort Young Master Gu to the capital. Once we reach the Great Yan Dynasty’s capital, we’ll be saf—... Huh?! Where’s Young Master Gu?!"