Chapter 564: Not, Just in Time

Mi Li was speechless.

A wave of fury erupted from Mi Li, registering 1024!

"You little brat, are you looking for death?!" she erupted in a rage, pulling a discipline ruler from seemingly nowhere and repeatedly striking his head. "Call me big brother, call me big brother, I told you to call me big brother!"

Zu An's head was covered in bumps as he scurried away, clutching his head. That woman was truly vicious! He wondered how a soul entity could inflict physical damage—was there no justice?

"Ah Zu, what's wrong?" Pei Mianman saw him muttering to himself, then suddenly clutching his head in apparent pain. She rushed over to check. "Does the 'Gluttony Devouring Heaven Art' have some side effects?"

"It's nothing, just a small issue," Zu An said with an awkward smile. Mi Li, having given him a thorough beating, seemed to have calmed down considerably. Seeing Pei Mianman approach, she returned to the Tai'e Sword without another sound.

"That's good, you scared me to death," Pei Mianman said, patting her chest, which jiggled with the motion.

Zu An comforted her for a few moments, then suddenly noticed two new strange bird patterns within his body. A thought struck him: previously, each time he broke through a major cultivation rank, a new bird would activate, and whether it was the Da Feng, the Bai Ming, or the Lan Fu, they all played a significant role. He wondered what kind of bird had awakened this time.

He saw that the fifth-grade formation had taken the shape of a phoenix. This phoenix was entirely snow-white, like a spirit from ice and snow, with two small characters carved next to it in small seal script: "Snow Phoenix!"

Truly beautiful!

Zu An was full of admiration. To be honest, the previous strange birds weren't particularly good-looking, but this Snow Phoenix was astonishingly beautiful. If he could summon it as a pet, he wondered how many young women's eyes would sparkle with delight.

Chu Chuyan, in particular, practiced an ice-element cultivation technique, so this bird would be a perfect match for her. It was a pity he couldn't give it to someone else.

With a casual wave of his hand, a phoenix cry resonated, and the Snow Phoenix flew out. As expected, everywhere it passed turned into an ice-bound, snowy landscape.

"This bird is so beautiful!" Pei Mianman's eyes lit up. "And it has an extreme cold effect; its power cannot be underestimated."

"This is an ability awakened when my cultivation technique reaches a certain level," Zu An explained, not hiding anything from her, giving her a rough overview.

"You truly have too many strange abilities; I'm jealous just looking at them," Pei Mianman said, though her face was full of smiles. "The only pity is that you're not an ice-element ability awakened, otherwise, this move would be even more powerful."

A thought struck Zu An. Before this, he had merely summoned these strange birds for use, never considering that they could be combined with corresponding elements.

No wonder he'd always felt the Lan Fu's ability wasn't particularly impressive, only sensing an affinity for water elements. It turned out these strange birds' powers were maximized only when used with their corresponding elemental abilities.

He wanted to try it out, but none of these strange birds were fire-elemental, and currently, he could only unleash fire-element abilities with Daji's help.

What about the other strange bird?

Zu An eagerly looked toward the sixth-layer formation. The strange bird pattern formed by it resembled a peacock, with magnificent plumage, exceptionally long pointed tail feathers, and numerous reddish-yellow and white eye-like markings on its wings.

Next to it, in small seal script, its name was noted: Azure Luan!

Zu An was somewhat curious; what would this bird be used for?

So he summoned it forth. As the azure figure just took shape, it cried out to the sky, "Life and death mean nothing; if you're not convinced, let's fight!"

It looked ready to challenge the heavens.

Zu An: "???"

This bird can talk?

Zu An tried to communicate with it, but unfortunately, apart from repeatedly shouting those few words, it had no other speaking function.

However, as it cried out, its entire form gradually transformed into a giant sword, plummeting directly from the sky. From a great distance, one could feel its incomparably sharp sword qi.

With a resounding crash, where the great sword landed, a massive crater several basketball courts wide formed around it.

All the original flora within the massive pit had been reduced to dust, with no trace of life remaining. Deep, fine marks crisscrossed everywhere, as if scraped by sword qi.

Zu An's body swayed slightly as a feeling of weakness washed over him. Clearly, he couldn't use this move multiple times.

Fortunately, its power was sufficient to serve as a trump card.

Pei Mianman's face was filled with shock, her mouth agape enough to fit an egg. "If you were a metal-element cultivator, using this move would be many times more powerful! Your strength is improving far too quickly."

Having learned the 'Gluttony Devouring Heaven Art,' absorbed Mosquito Daoist's cultivation, and now gained these two skills, Zu An felt the excitement of a significant upgrade.

He pulled Pei Mianman into a hug. "Manman, you're so smart! I hadn't even thought of using my own elemental abilities to activate them."

Pei Mianman's face flushed slightly. She thought to herself that it wouldn't be much use anyway, as he seemed to have awakened fire-element abilities now...

Just as she was about to speak, he kissed her tightly.

With a soft moan, her entire body instantly softened, and she embraced him, passionately returning the kiss.

"Ahem, ahem..."

At that moment, a soft cough came from nearby. Both of them subconsciously turned around and saw several people standing not far away.

Leading them was a middle-aged man with exceptionally pale skin, dressed in dark red robes, and phoenix eyes with an electrifying gaze. His entire being exuded a gloomy and cold aura, though at this moment, his eyes held a hint of strangeness not usually present.

The Grand Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guards—Zhu Xie Chixin!

However, their attention wasn't on him at all, but rather on a woman beside him, clad in snow-white robes.

The woman stood quietly, her robes fluttering and dark hair dancing in the gentle breeze, like a snow lotus blooming atop a ten-thousand-year-old glacier—pure, elegant, and ethereal.

On her beautiful, flawless face, she now gazed at the two with a noncommittal, half-smile.

Although the woman's gaze was incredibly cold, Pei Mianman reacted as if she had been scalded. She instantly pushed the man in her arms away, stepped back a few paces, and said with a hint of guilt, "Chu... Chuyan."

A hint of amusement appeared on Chu Chuyan's face. "Did I come at a bad time?"

Zu An really wanted to emulate Xiao Li Fei Dao, saying, "No, you came at just the right time," and then open his arms for a hug on both sides.

He hesitated for a moment and ultimately abandoned that death-defying idea.

Pei Mianman was incredibly frustrated. Chu Chuyan had already divorced him, so why did she still look like a guilty thief?

Just as she was about to speak, she saw Chu Chuyan approaching, and the courage she had just mustered instantly vanished.

Seeing her face flushed red, Zu An also realized that as a man, he shouldn't hide behind her at this moment. "I..."

Before he could explain, a fragrant breeze swept over him, and Chu Chuyan had already pounced into his arms.

Zu An was stunned. Chu Chuyan, whether from practicing the Snowflake Divine Sword or simply her innate nature, had always been cold and reserved, rarely showing emotion. This was the first time he had seen her so agitated, and so openly affectionate in public.

"Ah Zu, I'm just glad you're safe," Chu Chuyan said, her body trembling slightly as she hugged him tightly, as if fearing he might disappear.

Pity swelled in Zu An's heart, and he embraced her just as tightly.

They were newly married, but then a family crisis forced them apart, and only now had they been reunited.

The two embraced as if no one else was present, much to the chagrin of the surrounding warriors.

Those men had been with Chu Chuyan for days and were already captivated by her peerless grace.

Although they knew she had been married before, when someone was this beautiful, what did it matter?

Furthermore, everyone in the world now knew that the Chu clan had annulled the marriage with that live-in son-in-law, and she was single again.

Even though they knew such a fairy-like figure was beyond their reach, men's instincts still drove many to eagerly curry favor with her.

Especially during Zu An's disappearance, many outwardly offered comfort but secretly rejoiced.

Who knew that fellow would actually return!

But even if he returned, it didn't matter. He was wanted by the Emperor, clearly doomed to die.

Moreover, he was hugging another woman under everyone's watchful eyes, and Miss Chu saw it with her own eyes.

Hmph, Miss Chu must have seen through that scoundrel's true nature. From now on, she wouldn't have to worry about him anymore, and then they would have a chance.

But what was this scene? Where was the promised love triangle drama?

At the very least, she should go up and give that scoundrel a few slaps, right?

Or at least teach that home-wrecker a good lesson!

Huh, this other woman is actually quite beautiful, not inferior to Miss Chu at all, and her chest is really big...

Well, no wonder Zu An.

Seeing the constant stream of rage points from the system, Zu An couldn't help but be amused. These guys were giving him gifts as soon as they met!

Zhu Xie Chixin coughed. Clearly, the public display of affection made him uncomfortable. "Where is Mosquito Daoist?"

Chu Chuyan quickly transmitted her voice: "We learned that you were being pursued by Mosquito Daoist and followed you. We saw you both fall into a secret realm and vanish. Since we couldn't enter the realm, we could only wait nearby. We sensed a burst of vital energy from this direction just now, which is why we hurried over."

Zu An gave her a grateful look, then replied to Zhu Xie Chixin, "Mosquito Daoist just ran away."

"Ran away? She didn't kill you?" Zhu Xie Chixin asked with a suspicious look, clearly disbelieving him. "And what are these signs of battle around here?"

Zu An naturally didn't want to reveal his trump cards. Pei Mianman, with tacit understanding, said, "Just now, two mysterious masters appeared, repelled Mosquito Daoist, and then left before you arrived."

"Mysterious masters?" Zhu Xie Chixin examined the surrounding traces. One of the masters seemed to be a metal-element sword cultivator, and the other an ice-element one. "What are their origins? Why did they save you?"

Pei Mianman shook her head. "We don't know. We didn't even have time to ask their identities."

As she spoke, she subtly winked at Zu An, thoroughly muddling the waters and leaving Zhu Xie Chixin to slowly ponder the identity of the mysterious masters.

Zhu Xie Chixin indeed fell into deep thought, countless theories arising in his mind, only to be dismissed one by one. He pondered until his head nearly exploded, yet he couldn't figure it out.

"First, take the imperial fugitive back," Zhu Xie Chixin decided. He would wait until they returned to have the Embroidered Uniform Guards' intelligence network slowly investigate these matters and determine which forces had intervened.

Zu An had no intention of fleeing anyway, so he followed them cooperatively.

Chu Chuyan, meanwhile, walked over to Pei Mianman and said with a smile, "Manman, don't you have anything to tell me?"

Pei Mianman steeled herself and decided to lay her cards on the table. "Chuyan, Ah Zu and I became true husband and wife in the secret realm."

Since Chu Chuyan and Zu An were already divorced anyway, she might as well seize the opportunity to solidify her relationship with him, lest she feel inferior when seeing Chu Chuyan in the future.

"True husband and wife?" Chu Chuyan looked her up and down with a hint of doubt. "But you're clearly still a virgin?"

Pei Mianman: "???"

She finally realized. Although she and Zu An had been husband and wife for two lifetimes, having explored all sorts of intimate positions, they had entered that trial in soul form. Thus, in the real world, her body was still that of a virgin.

Pei Mianman's face instantly turned beet red, and she couldn't help but feel both embarrassed and annoyed: That scoundrel, he actually gets to deflower me three times!