Chapter 1514: Revealing the Subtle Essence

"Master Yan is gone?" Qiao Xueying had been on edge, fearing an interrogation, but after learning their purpose, she breathed a sigh of relief. "I don't know either. Yesterday, after we finished talking, I left. I didn't notice anything unusual about her at the time."

"Oh? What did you talk to her about yesterday?" Yun Jianyue was also puzzled. Yan Xuehen wasn't someone who acted carelessly; for her to disappear like this, something unexpected must have happened.

"Nothing much..." Qiao Xueying's face flushed. "Just asking about Sister Chu's recent situation and so on."

She couldn't very well admit that she had been discussing with the other woman how to deal with Yun Jianyue's disciple in the future.

"That's it?" Yun Jianyue frowned deeply. Logically, there shouldn't be any master in the royal court capable of threatening the Ice Stone Maiden. Even if someone's cultivation was higher than hers, a fight wouldn't occur without any commotion.

"Yes," Qiao Xueying nodded eagerly.

"Xue'er, is something wrong?" The Great Elf King approached, deliberately tossing a lock of hair from his forehead. This was a movement he had carefully perfected over the years to best showcase his unparalleled beauty and elegant demeanor, a move that would cause gaggles of young girls and even older women to shriek in excitement whenever he appeared in public.

He didn't genuinely like anyone he charmed; after all, in his eyes, none of these females were as beautiful as he was.

He did it to revel in the shocked and adoring gazes of women captivated by his exquisite features.

Unfortunately, Yun Jianyue was not such a shallow woman, and she was already vexed by Yan Xuehen's disappearance. His performance struck her as nothing but pretentious. "In that case, I'll go ask elsewhere."

She knew the Great Elf King had likely come to inquire because he was worried she might bully his daughter. Since Qiao Xueying knew nothing, she couldn't be bothered dealing with this narcissist.

Watching her leave, the Great Elf King couldn't help but sigh, "She has a decent face, but what a pity she's blind."

"Blind?" Qiao Xueying was taken aback.

"Otherwise, why would she be unaffected by my unparalleled beauty? If she's not blind, then she must not be a woman," the Great Elf reasoned further.

Qiao Xueying was speechless.

"Is it possible she's met men handsomer than you, which is why she reacted that way?" Unable to tolerate her father's narcissistic delusion, she couldn't help but retort.

"Impossible! Who in this world could possibly be as handsome as I am?" The Great Elf King was instantly enraged.

Qiao Xueying snorted, too lazy to respond. She instinctively gazed at Zu An on the high platform, a glint of pride shining on her delicate face.

"So it's him," the Great Elf King huffed. "You're under the halo of love, so your father will forgive you. By the way, after this is over, return to the Elf King's manor. I've arranged for several elders to personally guide you in handling tribal affairs. As you know, I was imprisoned in the heavenly prison for a while, and too many matters piled up. Recently, the Empress Dowager has also generously bestowed many honors upon the elf tribe, and these related matters need to be implemented."

Qiao Xueying immediately grew anxious. "Isn't that your job? Why aren't you going?"

She was planning to go find her lover later. It had been one thing when he was in the human realm; the physical distance had left her with only longing in her heart.

Now that she had finally come to the demon race, they still spent little time together.

At this, the Great Elf King proudly lifted his chin. "These tedious matters are too taxing. They would damage my flawless skin and accelerate my aging, so naturally, I can only entrust them to you."

Qiao Xueying was speechless for a moment. "Aren't you worried about these problems affecting me?"

"You're still young; there's no need to worry." The Great Elf King waved his hand. Seeing her pout in reluctance, he changed his approach. "You're quite fond of that young man, aren't you?"

"Isn't that obvious? If I didn't like him, would I have given him 'Half-Life Affinity'?" Qiao Xueying gave him a look usually reserved for idiots.

The Great Elf King wasn't offended. "Then all the more reason for you to do those things."

"Why?" Qiao Xueying was completely bewildered.

The Great Elf King's gaze lost its usual frivolity, replaced by a look of profound wisdom. "As far as I know, that young man has many female confidantes, all of them paramount figures of this era: the Medusa Queen, the successor of White Jade Capital, the Saintess of the Demonic Cult, the Mermaid Princess of the Sea Tribe, and even a demon princess... In terms of beauty and status, none are beneath you. Moreover, each of them commands a powerful faction, and due to their identities, their experience and methods are far beyond what a naive girl like you can compare to. In the future, those women might just devour you whole."

"Furthermore, I've observed that both Master Yan of White Jade Capital and Cult Leader Yun of the Demonic Cult seem to harbor strong feelings for that young man. If you don't accumulate some experience and tactics, how will you contend with them?"

Qiao Xueying rolled her eyes. "Are you mad? They are Chu Chuyan's and Qiu Honglei's masters; how could they possibly fall for their disciples' man?"

"Trust your father's judgment," the Great Elf King said with a serious expression. "There isn't a woman in this world who would be indifferent to your father's unparalleled beauty. Since they are women and not blind, there's only one possibility: they already have someone in their hearts, leaving no room for other men in their eyes."

"You're just spouting nonsense," Qiao Xueying scoffed, dismissing it as another episode of her narcissistic father's delusion. However, even though she didn't believe those two senior women would fall for Zu An, she accepted her father's advice, feeling it necessary to handle elf tribal affairs to hone her own skills and prepare for the future.

After the enthronement ceremony, the Little Demon Empress had a mountain of matters to attend to, and Zu An couldn't very well go seek her out in broad daylight.

Yu Yanluo needed to establish a new snake tribe office in the royal court with Xingnu. The Little Demon Empress had bestowed upon them a new grand mansion and other rewards, and the two of them, mistress and servant, needed to handle many remaining tasks.

Additionally, she had made significant progress recently and needed to enter secluded cultivation to break through to the Grandmaster realm.

Due to possessing the Sacred Spirit Pearl and her innate bloodline talent, coupled with the Adamantite Jasper Zu An had given her earlier for earth-element cultivators to break through, it was safe to say this breakthrough to Grandmaster realm carried no risk and required no one to guard her.

Yan Xuehen was nowhere to be found, Yun Jianyue had also disappeared to who knew where, and Qiao Xueying had left in a hurry for reasons unknown...

After looking around, Zu An found he had no one to seek out, so he simply returned to the imperial palace.

He collected a batch of materials from the imperial palace's treasury. Having been constantly concerned about the damaged Taia Sword, now that he had free time, he naturally wanted to repair it as quickly as possible.

Previously, the 'Divine Rune Weapon Compendium' had activated a forging system, allowing him to repair weapons, but it required various materials.

In the past, this might have been troublesome, but with his current status and power, acquiring these materials was quite simple.

Last night, he casually mentioned it to the Little Demon Empress. By then, she was utterly submissive to him, practically obedient to his every whim, and immediately handed him her personal token. Coupled with his status as regent, the guards of the treasury wouldn't dare obstruct him.

After returning to his room, Zu An felt a surge of excitement. The spoils he had acquired this time were somewhat unexpected.

A large quantity of Heaven-rank ores, which were essential basic materials for repairing Heaven-rank weapons.

He also obtained eleven Fiery Meteor Pills. These were extremely valuable; the entire demon race's imperial palace treasury only contained this many.

These pills were not meant for consumption but for forging peerless divine weapons.

He planned to use the Primordial Tribulation Gold, which he had unexpectedly acquired from gem gambling at the Green Garden, to repair and simultaneously upgrade the Taia Sword's quality.

Even true fire might not be enough to melt a peerless material like Primordial Tribulation Gold. It would require the aid of Fiery Meteor Pills, which could significantly boost the power of various flames, not in an explosive manner, but by allowing fire elemental energy to work uniformly, greatly increasing the chances of success.

Last night, after learning of his idea, the Little Demon Empress thought it unwise to waste Primordial Tribulation Gold on a Heaven-rank weapon.

Zu An, however, didn't agree. The Taia Sword held special significance for him, and since he had managed to obtain Primordial Tribulation Gold, he would naturally have opportunities to acquire other peerless metals in the future.

Seeing his persistence, the Little Demon Empress said no more, soon losing herself in another wave of frenzied passion.

However, neither the large quantity of Heaven-rank ores nor the rare Fiery Meteor Pills were the sole reason for his excitement.

He was ecstatic because he had found Profound Marrow Jade in the demon race's imperial palace treasury—one of the three divine materials Mi Li had mentioned were needed to reshape her body!