No matter how Zhao Chenlu pouts and protests, Wang Jiu’s decision on punishment has not changed; banning skincare products for five days is simply a catastrophe for Zhao Chenlu.

"Oh no, it’s over. I’m already swamped with work, constantly multitasking and frequently pulling all-nighters. My skin is already damaged, and now without skincare products, I’m going to become a 36-year-old old hag!"

Wang Jiu wondered: "Considering your age in the Jiuzhou Era, you should actually be..."

"Not at all! How can the previous experiences count?" Zhao Chenlu rarely opposed Wang Jiu’s opinion, and her attitude was very firm, "I reincarnated by taking over this body, not reconstructing flesh and blood. Why add my previous age to this body? Even if it needs to be considered, it should be calculated separately! I previously lived 17 years as Zhao Yuming..."

Wang Jiu was even more surprised, "You lived 17 years!?"

"Yes." Zhao Chenlu smiled sweetly, "I told you before, in my last life I spent many years living in a dog’s body."

Wang Jiu calculated: "Then your dog should be 122 years old."

"Hehe, you do remember my story well." Zhao Chenlu said with a slight blush, "And this life I’ve lived another 17 years."

Wang Jiu said: "You raised another long-lived dog?"

"Indeed, anyway, I was originally a vibrant young girl of 17, and with your punishment, I might become a 36-year-old old woman that people scorn. You... will be responsible for me, right?"

Wang Jiu said: "Of course, you are my most important friends, and have helped me eliminate the greatest crisis in Jiuzhou, I will naturally be responsible for your matters."

"...Hearing you say that, I feel like living this life was not in vain."

Zhao Chenlu sighed wistfully, "Actually, at the beginning of awakening, there were several times I thought it might be better to just die. Compared to the past, the newly born Xiangzhou Continent is at least a thousand years behind, with few people and small land, the Immortal Dao civilization is in decline, and I couldn’t find a single cultivator at Heaven Shattering Realm on the continent. Even the skincare products popular on the market are things my maids would have sneered at... And, in this world, there is not the person I most want to see."

Wang Jiu thought: "Shang Lanfei?"

Zhao Chenlu was momentarily speechless, eventually laughing, "Indeed, I would love to see Shang Lanfei’s expression now, after all that battle, it’s finally you and me who made it to the end, not others, not others..."

Bringing up this topic, Zhao Chenlu couldn’t quite relax, her smile melted away like snow in early spring.

"Yes, sometimes I do miss her, even though we used to fight over everything. But Shang Lanfei was truly a rare partner, with her by my side, everything seemed much simpler."

Wang Jiu said: "Or having Shen Kaishan around serves the same purpose, many complicated issues can be processed through his intuitive circuit and simplified to a binary approach."

Zhao Chenlu laughed: "That fool, back then he was the main culprit for lowering the intelligence average among the Jiu Immortal Venerables, but his descendants were also foolishly pitiable. If not for them being old acquaintances, I would’ve swallowed Shen City years ago."

Wang Jiu said: "Swallow Shen City? Why?"

Zhao Chenlu said: "It’s the first step in unifying the world, isn’t it? Isn’t this a basic skill for reincarnators? Besides, some things require pooling the world’s resources to achieve."

Wang Jiu curiously asked: "Are you planning to host the world’s largest beauty pageant and then crown yourself champion?"

Zhao Chenlu angrily said: "What’s so wrong with crowning myself champion? Whether in the old Jiuzhou or the current Xiangzhou, could you possibly find someone better looking than me?"

Wang Jiu replied calmly: "No."

"That’s right, so crowning myself champion is just being realist, there’s nothing wrong with it. Moreover, why gather world resources for a beauty pageant? The wealth and manpower of Golden Jade City would be enough... I want to unify the world to find someone, someone I couldn’t find with all my efforts at Golden Jade City, and many people advised me that this aimless search is pointless, but I believe he exists somewhere in Xiangzhou, waiting for my pursuit. Not finding him is simply because I haven’t invested enough resources; if I could unify the world and have everyone search for me, then I will surely find him."

Wang Jiu pondered: "Who are you looking for?"

"Of course you, who else could it be?" Zhao Chenlu said, "I’ve been searching for you since I awoke, I believe you are definitely here because if you’re not, I don’t know why I would revive, survive that ultimate battle, and continue living till now, all these coincidences and opportunities cannot be described as anything short of a miracle. And every miracle has its purpose, my purpose must be finding you. But... I’ve searched for you for 36 years, a full 36 years, but found nothing."

Wang Jiu said: "If you had come to QingCyan Cloud City earlier..."

"I know, at the weapon stall in the East City District vegetable market in QingCyan Cloud City, the boss sources goods from Cyan Cloud Adventurer Association, and the source is two young lovers who recklessly ventured to Qingshan for adventure; they found you in a rock fissure, and that fissure was created by an earthquake 25 years ago."

Zhao Chenlu’s tone had a hint of helplessness: "I once thought that perhaps when I woke up, you would still be asleep—because if you were to awaken, you would surely shine brightly in this era. But while you sleep, the treasures remain hidden, and trying to find you through those ordinary folks is as difficult as reaching the sky. But, no matter how hard something is, it must be done to know, who would have thought that dumb girl from the Shen Family would get there first. I’m really a bit unwilling."

Wang Jiu could well understand Zhao Chenlu’s feelings at this moment, if someone had cut down the Demon Emperor before him, he too would be extremely unwilling.

Zhao Chenlu didn’t dwell in sadness for too long and soon smiled broadly: "But it’s fine now, everything is back on track... Next, you should come live in Golden Jade City, I’ve already built a room for you, right next to my bedroom, completely designed after the look of the Sword Pool back in the day, with the Primordial Fire Sword Furnace beside it..."

Wang Jiu interrupted: "Yuming, have you noticed anything strange about this world since you’ve been awake?"

Zhao Chenlu said: "Of course, disregarding the Heaven and Earth Dao Laws for the time being, the origin of the Saint Sect is very strange, a leader of cultivators rebuilding human civilization, yet it wasn’t those prestigious families of the past, but an obscure so-called Saint Sect. The two founding Sect Leaders seemed to appear out of thin air. In addition, the chaotic nature of the four realms of Xiangzhou has inexplicably calmed down, making people always worry that one day a brand new world might suddenly descend on the borders of Xiangzhou. Furthermore, the bloodlines continued by the Jiu Immortal Venerables from back then have all more or less lost some core techniques, one or two is normal, three or four is luck, five or six even the Zhao Family is not immune, this is just too strange."

Wang Jiu nodded: "It seems that the issues you’ve identified are also those. So, have you had any results over the years?"

"Absolutely none." Zhao Chenlu answered rightfully, "My mind is all on you, how would I have the leisure to handle these insignificant little things. But, if you really care about it, from now on I’ll use Golden Jade City’s resources to help you investigate these matters."

As they spoke, Zhao Chenlu’s projection grew fainter, clearly struggling to sustain, and the woman, with a hint of regret, shook her head: "What a pity, this technique is still in its infancy, not yet perfected, so it’s only up to here for today."

Wang Jiu curiously asked: "Speaking of which, this Projection Technique of yours, I’ve truly never seen such an Immortal Technique. Spanning thousands of miles instantly creating a projection, the True Essence operation is creatively ingenious, quite mysterious and profound."

Zhao Chenlu smiled: "Do you like it? This technique is called ’Thousand Miles Together Under the Moonlight,’ it carries my day and night thoughts for you, as long as our emotions are connected, I can appear by your side anytime, anywhere."

Wang Jiu frowned at this: "With the mind being connected, does it involve the heart vessels? Your heart vessels are already damaged, and if you forcefully use your mental strength..."

Zhao Chenlu’s smile didn’t fade, though in the projection, her mouth had noticeably started to bleed, her voice was still as gentle and pleasant.

"This is the taste of willing devotion."

"I’ll be waiting for you in Golden Jade City, don’t forget to come."

——

When Zhao Chenlu’s projection finally dissipated, Wang Jiu turned to look at the girl silently leaning against the porch for a long time without speaking.

"Qingming, good midday."

Out of courtesy, the greeting did not receive the same polite response. Shen Qingming furrowed her brows, trying to keep her voice calm.

"Just now... was that City Lord Golden Jade?"

Wang Jiu said: "Yes, Zhao Chenlu, female, 17 years old..."

"...No need for introductions, I know her." After a pause, Shen Qingming added, "The famous City Lord Golden Jade, in Xiangzhou, anyone who doesn’t know her must be some hillbilly. Well, was she your past friend?"

Wang Jiu said: "Yes, formerly one of the Jiu Immortal Venerables, Zhao Yuming, female, 17 years old..."

"Don’t mention the 17-year-old thing! Only you would listen to that seriously!" Shen Qingming couldn’t help but object, then said, "However, she genuinely likes you."

"Of course." Wang Jiu responded, "Everyone likes me, my strength is great, my swordsmanship is exquisite, my true form is flawless, breathtakingly beautiful... Yuming, among humans, she could be considered the most beautiful, but if you widen the beauty contest to include both people and swords, she can’t compare to me."

"I... can’t comment on that." Shen Qingming felt very conflicted. "Anyway, are you going to Golden Jade City?"

Wang Jiu was somewhat excited and expectant: "Of course, there’s a replica of the Sword Pool and a Sword Furnace over there!"

Shen Qingming couldn’t help but say: "If you want a Sword Pool, we can also make one at home."

"Can we? Based on the current market price of bulk commodities, the cost of replicating a Sword Pool and Sword Furnace is approximately 15 million Spirit Stones." Wang Jiu said: "Considering the budget situation of the Li Family and QingCyan Cloud City, it’s unlikely."

"...Damn wealthy people!" Shen Qingming stomped her foot in frustration.