23: Western Regions Witch Queen

"The Western Region is adept in sinister Gu poisons and shamanic arts. The Southern Region flourishes in Buddhism and Daoism, with Buddhas and nunneries everywhere. The Northern Region is a gathering place for the Yao Race, bitter, cold, and treacherous. As for the Central Region..."

She paused, "It is the most mysterious, the location of the Hidden Families and the nine great Holy Lands, ethereal and difficult to find."

As Chu Ye listened, his eyes gradually lit up. Expanding territory?

It sounded very exciting, but also a bit tiring?

Qin Ni Chang seemed to see through his thoughts, her lips curling slightly as she continued, "The benefits of conquest lie not only in territory and resources. But more importantly... in people."

She looked into Chu Ye's eyes and slowly recited a ballad that circulated secretly among the top powers of the continent:

"In the East, there is an Empress; in the West, a Witch Queen; in the South, a Buddhist Abbess; in the North, a Fox Immortal; and in the Center, a Divine Maiden."

"Five Great Beauties, world-renowned. The Empress..."

Her tone paused slightly, her meaning ambiguous, "You already know her flavor. So what kind of peerless grace do the other four, who can stand as my equals, possess?"

"The Witch Queen of the Western Regions is mysterious and enchanting, skilled at manipulating hearts; the Buddhist Abbess of the Southern Region is a green lotus before the Buddha, holy beyond compare; the Fox Woman of the Northern Region is born with allure, captivating all living beings; the Divine Maiden of the Central Region is rumored to be a descendant of Immortals, ethereal as the Profound Moon of the Nine Heavens..."

Chu Ye's eyes grew brighter and brighter with her words, finally looking like two small lanterns!

The Immortal Empress in his arms was indeed top-tier, and he still couldn't put her down after daily 'cultivation', but hearing that there were actually four other beauties of the same level scattered across other maps... his 'collector's' heart, combined with his desire to 'eat soft rice the hard way,' was completely stirred!

"Witch Queen? Buddhist Abbess? Fox Immortal? Divine Maiden?"

Chu Ye repeated, his face showing a smile that was a mix of great interest and hunting desire, "They all sound... very challenging, and also very 'nourishing'."

Qin Ni Chang looked at his eager expression, her heart feeling an unknown emotion, but her face remained calm: "If you want beauties, first expand the territory. The Western, Southern, and Northern Regions... even the mysterious Central Region, there must be a reason, an entry point."

Chu Ye sat up abruptly, pulling Qin Ni Chang up as well, his eyes shining: "Your Majesty's words are exactly what I'm thinking! Expanding the territory and finding some beauties along the way, how wonderful!"

"Where should we start? The Witch Queen of the Western Regions sounds very exciting, the Buddhist Abbess of the Southern Region... ahem, a pure Buddhist land also seems to have a different charm? The Fox Woman of the Northern Region... the Yao Race, I haven't tried that yet..."

Seeing that Chu Ye had already begun to seriously 'plan,' Qin Ni Chang lowered her eyes, hiding a flash of profound meaning.

Directing this 'Taotie's' appetite toward the outside world, toward stronger opponents and more tempting targets, might be... the best choice to restrain him, for her, and for Great Qin.

As for whether he could 'swallow' the others... Qin Ni Chang felt the surging Immortal Qi within her and the still-solid blood pact. If he really could... then the structure of this world might truly be turned upside down.

Chu Ye held the soft Qin Ni Chang, who exuded Immortal Qi, in his arms, his fingers idly twirling her waterfall-like black hair.

Listening to her 'incidentally' mention the situation in the Five Regions, hinting that the Western Region was rich in resources but weakly defended, how the Saintess of the Ice Palace in the Northern Region was cold and aloof, and how the Yao Race of the Southern Wilds was rebellious... as he listened, Chu Ye became amused.

He rolled over, propping his head with his arm, lying on his side next to Qin Ni Chang, looking playfully at her peerless Immortal face, which had recovered seventy percent of its coldness but was still tinged with thirty percent of a rosy blush from the recent storm.

"My Empress,"

Chu Ye drawled, "The beads of your abacus are about to hit me in the face. You want to use me as a 'blade' to help you expand your territory and clear obstacles? Sure, no problem."

He agreed exceptionally readily.

Qin Ni Chang's eyelashes trembled slightly as she looked up at him, her Immortal eyes deep, waiting for him to continue.

"However," Chu Ye leaned in, his nose almost touching hers, their breaths mingling, "I guess... you don't just want to drive the tiger to swallow the wolf. What you really want is to catch those 'Phoenixes' and 'Divine Maidens' who fly in the sky, swim in the water, and used to be your equals—those who still look glamorous—pluck their feathers, and throw them into this 'quagmire' of mine, right?"

He smiled like a fox that had stolen a chicken, "Your own wings are wet, so you can't stand to see others flying high? You want to pull everyone down and step on them in the mud to feel balanced?"

Qin Ni Chang's pupils shrank slightly before she regained her composure, turning her head away and remaining silent.

That momentary stiffness, however, betrayed her.

Chu Ye didn't press further, knowing he had hit the mark. He lay back down, playing with a strand of her hair, following her previous topic: "The Western Region, right? It's close, they play dirty, and can't win in a direct confrontation. Sounds like a soft bone to chew..."

"Hmm, the information is quite complete. Troop distributions, lists of experts, specialty resources, even the habits and weaknesses of several major tribal leaders?"

"Your Majesty, your homework for unifying the world is quite detailed. This hasn't been a matter of just a day or two, has it?"

He spoke jokingly, but in his heart, he knew clearly that this woman was ambitious and had likely simulated the conquest of the world in her mind countless times.

Well, Chu Ye complained in his heart, before it was his Imperial Father and the Old Ancestors rushing to help him 'find a wife,' and now it's been replaced by the newly 'married' Immortal Empress helping him 'scout' for new targets?

And it even comes with a detailed walkthrough?

This soft rice... is truly becoming more and more systematic and strategic.

While listening to Qin Ni Chang continue to analyze the situation in the Western Region in her cold voice, his mind moved slightly to communicate with the System: "System, perform a remote scan. What's the quality of that most mysterious Witch Queen in the Western Region?"

[Command received. Ultra-long-range pinpoint scan initiated... Luck points consumed.]

[Scanning target: Master of the Hall of Ten Thousand Witches in the Western Region, Witch Queen Jiu You.]

[Cultivation: Peak Great Emperor (Suspected to have touched the barrier)]

[Talent: Innate Nether Physique, proficient in ancient Shamanic Curses, can communicate with the Nine Netherworlds, and wields part of the authority over life and death.]

[Appearance: Mysterious and demonic, born with allure, year-round shrouded behind black gauze and mist. Rumor has it her true face is enough to make the sun and moon lose their luster.]

[Comprehensive Score: 99 (Peerless)!]

[Special Note: Her Nether Physique has a potential strong resonance with the Yin and Yang Qi of the 'hundred phoenix diagram' already owned by the host, and also has a complementary effect with the vitality of the 'primordial tree embryo'. If combined, it will bring immeasurable benefits to both parties. System rewards are expected to be extremely special.]

99 points! Another 99!

And it's a mysterious-type Nether Physique! Chu Ye's eyes instantly lit up, and he felt that the land of the Western Region had become kind and lovely.

By the time Qin Ni Chang finished 'reporting' on the Western Region, from its historical origins to the current distribution of toilets, Chu Ye had heard enough.

He stretched and sat up under Qin Ni Chang's slightly puzzled gaze.

"Your Majesty's analysis is very thorough, thank you for your hard work." Chu Ye patted her fragrant shoulder, "But for such a big matter, I have to go back and discuss it with Imperial Father and those Old Ancestors at home who have nothing better to do. After all, in war, there is strength in numbers."

Hearing that he was leaving, an extremely complex emotion flashed through Qin Ni Chang's Immortal eyes, too fast to catch. Was it a sigh of relief?

Or... a faint hint of reluctance?

Chu Ye didn't give her much time to savor her emotions. He neatly dressed in his magnificent robes with her assistance, then turned and pinched her chin: "Don't overthink things."

"With this hundred phoenix diagram, if I want to see you, it's a matter of minutes. This diagram not only forms its own world and obscures heavenly secrets, but also comes with a top-tier teleportation array function, much faster than your Great Qin's official post roads."

He leaned in and lowered his voice with a wicked smile, "In the future, when I 'summon' you, you must be available on call and 'keep the appointment' well, understand? Even an Immortal Empress... must follow the 'family rules'."

The last sentence caused a faint red blush to fly back onto Qin Ni Chang's jade-like cheeks, which had just regained their coldness.

She lowered her eyes and nodded almost imperceptibly.

Chu Ye smiled with satisfaction. With a thought, his figure slowly faded into the shimmering light of the hundred phoenix diagram, leaving only one last sentence echoing in the hall:

"Wait for my good news, my Empress. Maybe next time I come back... I'll bring a 'Witch Queen of the Western Regions' to keep you company?"

Qin Ni Chang stood alone in the empty hall, looking in the direction where Chu Ye had disappeared. Her peerless Immortal face flickered with changing expressions, finally turning into an almost inaudible light sigh that blended into the hall's shimmering light.