Chapter 56 High Priest

On the third day after pacifying Gu City, Emperor Cao Xukun was lying on a rocking chair in the City Lord's Mansion, munching on spirit fruits native to the Southern Border, watching Li Tieniu lead soldiers to inventory Gu King's treasury, grinning from ear to ear.

"Oh my god! Emperor Xuan, look at this! This Gu King really knew how to hoard! Gold piled up like mountains, millions of spirit stones, and a whole room full of gu insect medicinal herbs! We've hit the jackpot this time!" Li Tieniu hugged a chest filled with night-luminescent pearls, jumping with excitement.

"Basic operation, don't overreact." Emperor Cao Xukun spat out the fruit pit, looking calm. "They are just Sons of Destiny working for me; their specialty is hoarding treasures to give to me. Long Aotian sent the whole Dragon Clan package, and Gu King sent the Southern Border gift set. Their service is getting better and better."

As he was speaking, Wu Ling walked in quickly, a hint of hesitation on her face. "Your Majesty, this concubine has a request."

"Oh? What is it? Speak freely."

"It is about my mother." Wu Ling lowered her head and said softly, "My mother, Grand Priestess Wu Yue, is the former Grand Priestess of the Witch Tribe and the true pillar of the tribe. She opposed Gu King practicing evil gu arts back then, so he crippled part of her cultivation and has kept her under house arrest in the forbidden Cave of Ten Thousand Insects for three years. I beg Your Majesty to show mercy and release my mother."

[Ding! Golden Luck female detected: Grand Priestess Wu Yue]

[Identity: Grand Priestess of the Witch Tribe, mother of Wu Ling, orthodox guardian of the gu god inheritance]

[Cultivation: Early stage of Spirit Transformation (sealed)]

[Favorability: 0 (Wary)]

[Conquest Difficulty: ★★★★☆]

[Special Bonus: Subjugating her grants the faith of the entire Witch Tribe, and any offspring will possess the Golden Luck gu god supreme bloodline! Unlocks the complete ancient gu god inheritance!]

"Damn, another Golden Luck!" Emperor Cao Xukun's eyes lit up. "That brat Gu King hid her well, actually locking such a great beauty in the forbidden area. Let's go, take me to see her."

The Cave of Ten Thousand Insects was located deep underground in Gu City; it was dark, damp, and filled with crawling gu insects everywhere. For an ordinary cultivator, they would be gnawed to the bone within three breaths of entering, but Emperor Cao Xukun had the gu god pearl protecting him, so all the gu insects would smell his aura from afar and scatter in fear.

In the deepest part of the cave, a woman wearing white witch robes sat cross-legged. Although she was past middle age, she still retained her charm. Her brows and eyes held a bit more mature elegance and a holy aura compared to Wu Ling, though her face was pale and her aura was weak.

Hearing footsteps, Grand Priestess Wu Yue opened her eyes abruptly, her gaze as sharp as a knife: "Who is it?"

"Mother!" Wu Ling rushed over, crying as she said, "Mother, I've come to save you! Gu King has been killed by Emperor Xuan, we are free!"

"Emperor Xuan? Emperor Cao Xukun?" Grand Priestess Wu Yue looked at Emperor Cao Xukun, her eyes full of caution and hostility. "Is that the human emperor who led a great army to trample the Southern Border and killed countless members of the Witch Tribe?"

"Hey, hey, hey, don't talk nonsense." Emperor Cao Xukun leaned against the stone wall, hands in his pockets. "I only killed Gu King's minions; I didn't touch a single hair on the innocent commoners. It was your precious disciple Gu King who slaughtered children to refine gu, making the Southern Border a living hell. I am doing this for the sake of heaven."

"Even so, you are an outsider. The affairs of the Witch Tribe are not for outsiders to interfere with." Grand Priestess Wu Yue said coldly. "Thank you for saving me, but the Witch Tribe does not welcome you. Please take your army and leave the Southern Border."

"Mother! Don't be like this!" Wu Ling was anxious. "Emperor Xuan is a good person! He abolished all harsh laws, distributed land to us, exempted us from taxes, and even made me the leader of the Witch Tribe! If it weren't for him, we would have been killed by Gu King long ago!"

"Ling'er, you are too naive." Grand Priestess Wu Yue shook her head. "Human emperors are always untrustworthy. He is only being good to us now because he wants to use us. Once he has squeezed all the value out of the Witch Tribe, he will kick us aside."

Emperor Cao Xukun sneered and casually pulled out the gu god pearl. The black pearl hovered in mid-air, erupting with dazzling black light. All the gu insects in the entire Cave of Ten Thousand Insects instantly prostrated themselves on the ground, emitting respectful low chirps.

"You say I am an outsider?" Emperor Cao Xukun raised an eyebrow. "Then ask the gu god pearl who it recognizes as its master? Ask these gu insects who they listen to?"

Grand Priestess Wu Yue's pupils constricted, and she cried out involuntarily: "The gu god pearl! How could it be in your hands?!"

"Of course, Gu King gave it to me." Emperor Cao Xukun looked smug. "That brat not only gave me the gu god pearl, but also summoned the phantom of the gu god to help me kill him. He really specialized in digging his own grave and delivering it to my door."

With a flick of his finger, a stream of spiritual energy from the gu god inheritance shot into Grand Priestess Wu Yue's body. She trembled all over, and her sealed cultivation instantly recovered, even becoming better than before.

"I not only have the gu god pearl, but also the complete ancient gu god inheritance." Emperor Cao Xukun said indifferently. "Gu King stole a bit of fur and dared to call himself the reincarnation of the gu god; in my eyes, he was just a joke. Now, do you think I am qualified to manage the affairs of the Witch Tribe?"

Grand Priestess Wu Yue looked at Emperor Cao Xukun, her eyes complex. She could feel that the gu god aura on Emperor Cao Xukun was a hundred times purer than Gu King's, and even richer than that of all past Grand Priestesses. Moreover, he had indeed saved the Witch Tribe, abolished the tyranny, and given the Witch Tribe a way to survive.

She was silent for a long time before finally lowering her head slowly: "It was I who misunderstood Your Majesty. Thank you, Your Majesty, for removing the scourge for the Witch Tribe and saving the two of us, mother and daughter. I, Wu Yue, am willing to lead the entire tribe to swear allegiance to Great Xuan and to Your Majesty until death."

"There is no need for allegiance." Emperor Cao Xukun stepped forward, reached out to help her up, and a wicked smile curved at the corners of his mouth. "How about you come back to Luoyang with me? Having Wu Ling watch over the Witch Tribe is enough. You stay by my side and help me manage matters related to gu arts."

Grand Priestess Wu Yue's face turned red instantly. Looking up to meet Emperor Cao Xukun's deep gaze, her heart couldn't help but accelerate. She had lived for hundreds of years and had never seen such a domineering yet gentle man. Not only was he powerful, but he also had the world in his heart, and he was so good to her and her daughter.

She bit her lip, nodded gently, her voice as soft as a mosquito's hum: "Everything is up to Your Majesty's arrangement."

[Ding! Successfully conquered Golden Luck female, Grand Priestess Wu Yue!]

[Received reward: Faith of the entire Witch Tribe! Complete ancient gu god inheritance!]

[Received reward: Cultivation skyrocketed! Only a thin line away from the Void Refinement Stage!]

[Unlocked special ability: Submission of Ten Thousand Insects! Can control all gu insects in the world!]

A pure force of the Witch Tribe's faith surged into his body, and Emperor Cao Xukun's cultivation skyrocketed again, the spiritual energy around his body almost solidifying. He nodded in satisfaction and reached out to wrap his arm around Grand Priestess Wu Yue's waist: "That's right. Follow me, and you will enjoy endless glory and wealth in the future."

Li Tieniu happened to come in with soldiers and, seeing this scene, hurriedly covered his eyes: "Oh my! I didn't see anything! Emperor Xuan, please continue!"

"Get lost." Emperor Cao Xukun laughed and scolded. "Pass down the order, the army will return to the capital tomorrow! Pack up all of Gu King's treasury and take it back to Luoyang, don't leave a single penny!"

"Yes, sir!"

Early the next morning, the army broke camp and set off. Emperor Cao Xukun, bringing Grand Priestess Wu Yue, Wu Ling, and a group of generals, walked through the air. The commoners of the Southern Border lined the road to see them off, their wailing shaking the sky.

"Long live Emperor Xuan!"

"Your Majesty, you must come back to see us often!"

Emperor Cao Xukun waved at the commoners and turned to look in the direction of Luoyang.

Long Aotian and Gu King, two Sons of Destiny, had both become his stepping stones.

The Mortal Realm was unified, all tribes had submitted, and his cultivation was about to break through to the Void Refinement Stage.