Chapter 1816: Game

"What, what game?"

Ping'er's gaze darted away. Young Master Li was different today, not like his usual self; it was as if he were a changed person.

A group of maids surrounded them, some playing the zither, others serving wine, and still others peeling spiritual fruits to offer. Upon hearing his words, they all paused in unison, casting surprised glances.

Young Master Li appeared cynical and carefree, but in reality, when he was in the Listening Rain Pavilion, he was quite a serious person. He usually discussed important matters and rarely had time for such "games." After so many things happened today with the envoy from the Cloud Mountain Imperial Realm, he was suddenly in the mood for this?

Xu Xiaoshou squinted his fox-like eyes and chuckled, "A fantasy game."

"Fantasy..." Ping'er's small face instantly flushed.

"Young Master, what kind of fantasy game is it? Can we join besides Ping'er?" A maid nearby offered him a grape, her eyes showing a hint of eagerness, clearly a schemer.

"Yes, everyone can join. The more, the merrier." Xu Xiaoshou was very generous. He held the grape in his mouth without swallowing it, chewing slowly as he said, "Have any of you been to the Crying Imperial Realm?"

Seven people playing... And fantasizing about playing in the Crying Imperial Realm... Ping'er clutched her sleeves, her heart pounding with nervousness. She dared not look left or right, her vision narrowing to only Young Master Li's handsome face, exuding an intoxicating fragrance.

"No," the other maids shook their heads in unison. They were born in the Cold Palace Imperial Realm and were chosen by the Listening Rain Pavilion when they were sixteen or seventeen, in the prime of their youth. After that, their lives primarily consisted of commuting between the Listening Rain Pavilion, the spirit site, and their hometowns, a three-point line. Let alone leaving the Cold Palace Imperial Realm, they hadn't even fully explored most of the scenic landscapes within their own realm.

"It doesn't matter if you haven't been there; I said 'fantasy,' didn't I?" Xu Xiaoshou had anticipated this. "You've all been with me for quite some years. I haven't hidden much from you regarding everyday affairs, big or small, and you've heard about them all." He clapped his hands, like signaling the start of a scene, and looked at the maids. "From now on, it's fantasy time."

The maids gathered closer, both nervous and expectant. Young Master Li squinted his eyes and said with a smile, "Imagine if you now possessed the combat power to rival a Saint Emperor, and you were going to the Crying Imperial Realm to challenge powerful figures. What would be the thing you fear most?"

The maids were stunned. Young Master Li looked at them with a serious expression, raising a finger. "Each of you can only name one thing you fear most, no more."

"Oh, so it's *this* kind of fantasy..." Ping'er's delicate shoulders slightly relaxed, and she secretly let out a breath, feeling both relieved and a little disappointed.

"What else could it be?" Xu Xiaoshou overheard her murmur. There was nothing he could do; she was the closest. *By the way, if you're going to massage my shoulders, do you really need to straddle me? What a debauched life Moon Palace Li lives every day, that damn horny fox...*

After their initial disappointment, the maids quickly got into the game's rhythm and began to "fantasize": "The Crying Imperial Realm feels so gloomy and terrifying. The thing I fear most must be all those little Beihuai... life forms there."

"How so?" Xu Xiaoshou looked at the girl who had offered the grape. "Didn't Young Master Li say that there are many little Beihuai there, all life research conducted by Great Beihuai? Some have human heads and snake bodies, others have lion faces and plant bodies, like they're haphazardly stitched together. Just thinking about it is so scary,嗚嗚嗚 (sob)..."

Xu Xiaoshou was taken aback. He knew Beihuai was involved, but he hadn't imagined *this* kind of involvement. It was genuinely disgusting. "What's so scary about that? And 'sob sob'? Aren't they just some ghost beasts?" Xu Xiaoshou dismissed her. "Next."

"Me, me!" The zither-playing maid raised her hand from the back, finding the game quite interesting and fearing her good ideas would be fantasized by the other girls first. "The thing I fear most is what Young Master Li said: that there isn't a single living person in the Crying Imperial Realm. All those little Beihuai are Great Beihuai's consciousness avatars, and even plants possess life vitality."

"Even a Saint Emperor, walking through the Crying Imperial Realm, must feel constantly watched everywhere. I can't stand being stared at by so many eyes; that feels the most terrifying!" She clenched her fists, pumping herself up, clearly having already fantasized about reaching the stage of undergoing trials in the Crying Imperial Realm.

*That terrifying?* Xu Xiaoshou thought, *Isn't it absurd that there isn't a single living person? Dao Qiongcang converting the Dao Department of Gui'e Sacred Mountain into a full celestial mechanism puppet setup, with only Yu Zhiwen remaining, was already abnormal enough. But Beihuai... the *entire* Crying Imperial Realm? Is he still human? Doesn't he have his own kin there?*

"Shuangshuang-jie has a point! I'm afraid of that too. Didn't Young Master Li say that if Northern Sword Immortal hadn't gone to the Cloud Mountain Imperial Realm to seek a sword back then, he would probably be a ghost beast host now?" The woman serving wine shuddered as she spoke. "So oppressive, so hard to imagine..."

*Did he really refine all his clansmen?* Xu Xiaoshou truly wasn't very clear about such private matters concerning the Crying Imperial Realm; Dao Qiongcang didn't seem to have mentioned such details. Shuangshuang's words, the zither player, sparked a lively discussion. The maids chattered, one after another expressing strong agreement, and Xu Xiaoshou listened in silence. From their descriptions, he could envision the Crying Imperial Realm as a gloomy, oppressive, hellish landscape, constantly under surveillance by countless eyes.

"The most terrifying thing should be the Great World Locust, right?" The maid on the right, holding a *dongxiao* flute, had tender pink lips and beautiful emerald-like eyes. "Young Master Li always says that the Crying Imperial Realm relies on the Great World Locust for its existence. As long as the ancestral tree isn't destroyed, the Crying Imperial Realm will not perish."

"Even if I were a Saint Emperor, and I used sound wave techniques to eliminate all the Beihuai, large and small, in the Crying Imperial Realm, as long as the Great World Locust still has a trace of vitality, everything could start anew." The *dongxiao* maid looked soft and sweet, but her words exuded a valiant spirit, as if she truly wanted to avenge the perished clansmen of the Crying Imperial Realm and obliterate Beihuai.

However, by the end, she sighed with an air of aged weariness, like a hero facing decline, pouting her red lips in resignation. "But the Great World Locust has merged with the Crying Imperial Realm and with Beihuai. To destroy the Great World Locust, one would have to annihilate the entire Crying Imperial Realm and, along with it, utterly eliminate Beihuai. This is simply impossible. It's better not to go there for trials." She lightly patted her chest, as if she had already fought a fierce battle worthy of a Saint Emperor in her mind, and said nervously, "The Crying Imperial Realm is truly terrifying. Fortunately, I wasn't born there; the Cold Palace Imperial Realm is much better."

*The Crying Imperial Realm, Beihuai, the Great World Locust... a three-in-one entity?* Xu Xiaoshou was pensive. Given that Beihuai was already a Saint Emperor, this cursed place was truly sickening. It would be better to lure him out first before fighting. Let alone the *dongxiao* maid, even he was glad he hadn't chosen to just wander into the Crying Imperial Realm earlier. Who knows, he might not even be able to die easily there, simply captured by Beihuai's true form, experimented on and turned into a ghost beast, refined into a little Beihuai, and then used against himself.

The words of the *dongxiao* maid drew a chorus of agreement and twittering from the surrounding women. During this, Xu Xiaoshou heard terms like "creation and destruction" and "reincarnation." It seemed Beihuai's primary cultivation was not just the Dao of Divine Soul. *Was the essence of his ghost beast research "reincarnation"? Was he actually trying to enter the Dao through the Divine Soul, using a "reincarnation" that surpassed even the Medicine Ancestor's, to achieve oneness, then reduce it to nothing, thereby attaining true transcendence? The real ambitious one was here after all...*

"Since we're talking about Ancestor Gods, let me share my thoughts too." The maid who had stayed quietly behind the others, rarely interjecting, spoke up. She seemed to be the silent type. Her figure was graceful and slender, and it was clear she was different from the inexperienced Ping'er, who seemed to have only recently arrived at the Listening Rain Pavilion. She likely had some experience and perhaps had heard more stories about the Crying Imperial Realm from Young Master Li.

"Sister Dai'er, hurry and tell us!" "Ah, Sister Dai'er also has thoughts. Shuangshuang is curious." "Young Master Li, Sister Dai'er hasn't spoken much lately. She must have something on her mind. Do you have time to guide her?"

Xu Xiaoshou looked at Dai'er. He hadn't really noticed her before, but now, with a single glance, he saw that Dai'er was slightly different from the surrounding maids.

"Tell me," Xu Xiaoshou said with interest. Dai'er curtsied slightly and got straight to the point. "If I were a Saint Emperor entering the Crying Imperial Realm, the first thing I would fear would be... the God of Death, whom Young Master Li mentioned!"

Xu Xiaoshou raised an eyebrow, gesturing for her to continue. "Didn't Young Master Li suspect that Beihuai's research is either controlled and influenced by the God of Death, or rather, the Dao of Reincarnation of the Ghost Ancestor? Or, he found the remnants of the Ghost Ancestor's will, counteracted it, gained the essence of reincarnation, and is now attempting to transcend reincarnation. Regardless of which it is, Beihuai cannot simply be categorized as an ordinary Saint Emperor. His level of strangeness almost reaches that of an Ancestor God, or even surpasses it."

Xu Xiaoshou's heart tightened, but he quietly praised, "Your fantasy has more depth than theirs..." The other women weren't jealous. They all looked at Sister Dai'er with admiration, feeling that only she had truly hit on Young Master Li's thoughts.

Dai'er continued, "Young Master Li also mentioned that the Four Great Saint Emperor Families—oh, now it's three... The remaining three Saint Emperor Families' blockade of the Crying Imperial Realm is actually just symbolic. The fundamental reason Beihuai doesn't come out is that Beihuai himself doesn't want to." She paused, shaking her head slightly. "And the power of an Ancestor God far surpasses that of a Saint Emperor. Even if I were a Saint Emperor, I wouldn't need to enter the Crying Imperial Realm. The moment I intended to go there, attempting to harbor ill intentions toward the Crying Imperial Realm... I believe the residual Ghost Ancestor of the Crying Imperial Realm would already have a premonition."

Xu Xiaoshou's heart trembled. At that moment, he almost wanted to retreat again and let Jin Ren control the situation here. The water was too deep. Xu Xiaoshou couldn't handle it. But Jin Ren could, because Jin Ren was born brave and feared no death.

The maids beside them were practically overflowing with admiration for Sister Dai'er. Her words always made so much sense; even Young Master Li seemed lost in thought. Ping'er, straddling Young Master Li's lap, trembled slightly with fear, her small hands tucked into her chest, looking delicate and weak. "Then, according to Sister Dai'er, if we're discussing the Crying Imperial Realm here now..."

Sister Dai'er smiled, stepped forward, and gently ruffled Ping'er's head, comforting her: "Don't be afraid, little sister. Young Master Li is very powerful. Besides, this is the Cold Palace Imperial Realm. They might fear the Crying Imperial Realm, but we don't. Didn't everyone just call out 'Beihuai front, Beihuai back' earlier, and nothing happened with the God of Death or the Ghost Ancestor?"

Xu Xiaoshou felt as if he were the one whose head was being ruffled; he even felt a little comforted. Dai'er said, "The Ghost Ancestor might sense it, but He also dares not appear because He has His concerns. As for what He fears..."

"Do Ancestor Gods also feel fear?" Ping'er, so nervous that she clutched the lapel of her dress, exposing a large expanse of pale skin without realizing it, almost tumbled into Young Master Li's arms. Sister Dai'er was speaking to her.

"Of course!" Dai'er leaned in, her eyes curving into a smile. "Ancestor Gods can only fear other Ancestor Gods."

At that moment, Xu Xiaoshou's pupils trembled slightly. Dai'er's reminder was correct: the Cold Palace Imperial Realm also had an Ancestor God! But... Xu Xiaoshou pondered, and could only think of one, the Saint Ancestor. Because the Cold Palace Saint Emperor had previously appeared on the Sacred God Continent, and the strike that Xu Xiaoshou had barely managed to block, even after pouring all his Heavenly Ancestor power into it, had used extremely pure Saint Ancestor power. Or, there was another possibility. Xu Xiaoshou's perception didn't even dare to extend far into the Cold Palace Grotto-heaven at this moment. He suspected that after so many years of seclusion, the Cold Palace Saint Emperor might have one foot—or even both feet—fully stepped into the Ancestor God realm, only needing to "emerge from seclusion"!

"Hiss." Xu Xiaoshou inhaled sharply. The maids all looked over, only to see Young Master Li click his tongue and say nonchalantly, "Dai'er's insight is truly unique. You shall be rewarded!"

"A reward for what?" Dai'er looked at him with amusement.

"A grape." Xu Xiaoshou personally peeled a grape for Sister Dai'er and brought it to her lips. This was originally an immense favor. Young Master Li was actually feeding a maid a grape with his own hands. Ping'er, nestled in his arms, pouted her lips, wanting one too.

Dai'er's oval face stiffened. At that moment, she couldn't advance or retreat. Finally, her delicate lips parted slightly, and she had no choice but to suck the verdant grape into her mouth.

"Is it delicious? The grape fed by this Young Master is the best grape in heaven!"

"Delicious..." Dai'er forced a smile. "So sweet..."

*You damn flamboyant old Daoist, may this sweetness be your undoing! Among the maids in the Listening Rain Pavilion, there's actually a celestial mechanism puppet. You're too brazen, brazen to the heavens! If it weren't for the over-Dao-fication of Life Mystery discerning the different life patterns, and the over-Dao-fication of Intent Mystery sharply perceiving the oblivion... Under the circuitous guidance of deliberately forgotten memories, this Young Master didn't even notice that you were actually Dao Qiongcang.*

Xu Xiaoshou marveled inwardly. Given that Ping'er even straddled Young Master Li for a shoulder massage, showing such intimacy, he couldn't even imagine what might have transpired between Dai'er and Moon Palace Li... *Moon Palace Li, you're corrupted.*

However, the fact that there was an Ancestor God in the Cold Palace Imperial Realm only surprised Xu Xiaoshou for a moment, after which he dismissed it. At the very least, if Dao Qiongcang dared to act so provocatively here, it indicated that the residual Ancestor God power in the Cold Palace Imperial Realm was either less than in the Crying Imperial Realm, or it was somehow restrained. His own continuous mischief in this place without any incidents was also the best proof.

"But Jin Ren absolutely cannot return to the Sacred God Continent; dying within the Five Great Saint Emperor Families is his best outcome. Even I, after returning, will have to carefully examine my will to see if it has been contaminated by anything..."

After calming his thoughts slightly, Young Master Li gently pushed away Ping'er, who was so scared she almost seemed to melt into him, and asked: "Let's have another fantasy. It's the same question, but this time you're not going to the Crying Imperial Realm, but to the Dry Origin Imperial Realm. What do you fear most?"

Ping'er, looking disappointed, said nothing. Xu Xiaoshou didn't expect anything from this young maid, whose mind was full of trivialities, and instead turned to Dai'er, who was still pretending to chew the grape, reluctant to swallow it. "You're smart, you go first."

Dai'er choked, almost swallowing the grape, and coughed lightly, stifled.

"Oh, my poor little dear..." Young Master Li was alarmed by the sight. He roughly pushed Ping'er away, stood up, and gently patted Dai'er's pale, jade-like back. "No rush, don't choke. Finish the grape first, then speak." Without another word, he fed her a piece of pastry. Finally, he offered her a cup of liquor to accompany the food, helping her swallow everything in her mouth. "To moisten your throat. This Young Master's heart aches for you."

The maids were astonished; Young Master Li was incredibly gentle. Ping'er sat on the ground like a duck, her small fists clenched, looking tearfully wronged. She also wanted Young Master Li to care for her like that.

Dai'er was on the verge of collapse. *Stop this!* But Young Master Li saw her swallow several times and was still not satisfied. Finally, with two fingers, he gently opened her delicate lips, carefully checked that her mouth was empty and everything had been swallowed, then said contentedly, "It's all swallowed. My heart is greatly consoled."

Dai'er's eyelids twitched wildly. She could barely suppress the surging anger in her heart, but she could only bow slightly, gritting her back teeth as she said, "Dai'er is guilty. Dai'er made Young Master Li worry..."

"If you're guilty, then speak while kneeling." Young Master Li gracefully returned to his recliner.

Dai'er froze in place, her slender hand trembling behind her back as she pulled out a dagger.

"Just kidding!" Young Master Li burst into laughter. After his laughter subsided, he became serious again, staring at Dai'er. "You are an external Saint Emperor. If you went to the Dry Origin Imperial Realm, what would you fear most?"

Dai'er subtly hid the dagger, then sneered, "Moon Beihua bypassed the Dao, and the Dao bowed last. What is there to fear? According to Young Master Li's previous intentions, Dry Origin is nothing; if one wishes, one simply goes to their doorstep and wipes out their entire clan."