Chapter 480 - 162: Three Saints Heart Refining Pill, Six Desires Pearl, The Gift Prepared for Her

It was already mid-morning by the time Jiang Lan woke up the next day.

He sat up in bed and glanced at his palm. It was as if he could still feel the slender, boneless touch.

He shook his head slightly and didn’t dwell on it.

He had actually suspected something last night when he felt his consciousness grow dim.

However, he hadn’t resisted. He had simply submerged his will deep into his Sea of Consciousness. While he appeared to be asleep, his mind had actually remained lucid.

Thus, he was aware of everything: Jiang Ruxian’s silent arrival last night, her staying by his side at the bath for half the night, and finally, her helping him to bed and tucking him in.

It was just that his mind had truly relaxed, and he had indeed been exhausted lately, which was why he eventually fell into a genuine sleep.

He only had a vague sense of when Jiang Ruxian had left.

"Master..."

You’Er, who had been standing watch by the bed, saw Jiang Lan wake up. A hesitant look immediately appeared on her face.

Last night, Jiang Ruxian had personally thrown her out of the bedchamber, and she had even gotten a large bump on her forehead from the fall. She didn’t know if Jiang Lan was aware of this.

Seeing her expression, Jiang Lan knew what she wanted to say. He smiled, beckoned her over, brushed her bangs aside, and gently rubbed the rather conspicuous bump. "Does it still hurt?" he asked softly.

You’Er stood obediently before him, her head not even reaching his chin.

Smelling the pleasant, aloeswood-like scent on Jiang Lan, her cheeks instantly flushed red. Her eyelashes fluttered, and her crystal-like eyes revealed a mix of joy and shyness. "N-No... it doesn’t hurt anymore..." she whispered.

"I already know what happened last night. Don’t worry." Jiang Lan bent down slightly and blew on the prominent bump, his tone like he was coaxing a little girl.

You’Er immediately nodded like a chick pecking at rice, her cheeks and jade-like earlobes turning a deep shade of red.

"You’Er... help your master get dressed..."

Outside the bedchamber, the Four Dukes had already prepared records of all the various anomalies from the Demon Abyss over the years. They weren’t sure if Jiang Lan was in the habit of eating breakfast, but they had instructed their staff to prepare a table laden with fine wine and exquisite dishes nonetheless.

So, Jiang Lan ate his breakfast while casually flipping through the records. He then instructed You’Er to record them with a Memory Stone, which would serve as his report to Emperor Xia upon his return to the Imperial Palace.

The Four Dukes could see Jiang Lan’s perfunctory attitude toward the matter, but they all maintained a tacit understanding.

After breakfast, they asked Jiang Lan if he wanted to take a trip to the outskirts of the Demon Abyss to inspect the situation.

Jiang Lan, however, had no interest in this. At his command, Ao Yin—clad in silver armor, her waterfall of silver hair tied into a ponytail—approached with a cold, reluctant expression. But when she stood before him, she lowered her head and composed her features.

"Greetings, Young Master." Although she was intimidated by Jiang Lan’s power, her voice remained cold.

The Four Dukes already knew Ao Yin’s identity. They were secretly shaken but didn’t dare to ask any further questions.

"Go to the outskirts of the Demon Abyss in my stead and investigate all activity there."

Jiang Lan had You’Er take out a pair of Celestial Observation Mirrors, handing the Sub-Mirror to Ao Yin. Although the Four Dukes were far overseas, they still knew of these mirrors forged by the Great Xia Celestial Craftsmanship Creation Institute.

Even from thousands of miles away, one could use the Mother Mirror to observe the situation on the Sub-Mirror’s side. Even mortals could use it, as it required no Magical Power to activate, making it quite miraculous.

Ao Yin accepted the Sub-Mirror. She hadn’t expected to be used as manual labor; this was a first for her. Still, she showed no sign of dissatisfaction.

After Ao Yin departed as a silver Divine Rainbow, Jiang Lan gave another order. He had a Sixth Realm Tributor who had come with him from the clan take some men and follow her. If Ao Yin were to slack off or feign compliance, they were to report back immediately.

’To still not understand her own position and circumstances... To put it nicely, she’s proud. To put it bluntly, she’s foolish and needs to be taught a lesson...’

The Prime Minister’s Mansion was the master, and the Dragon-man Race were slaves. Jiang Lan had no interest in playing an act of equality with her.

Besides, the Dragon-man Race had always harbored rebellious intentions. In the original story, this Ao Yin had been solely focused on overthrowing the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

Witnessing this, the Four Dukes were even more shaken. He was truly ordering the Princess of the Dragon-man Race around like a common servant.

With Ao Yin running his errands, Jiang Lan was happy to have the free time. He took the opportunity to ask the Four Dukes about Jiang Ruxian’s whereabouts.

How could the Four Dukes dare to reveal Jiang Ruxian’s location? Hearing his question, they were all conflicted, unsure how to respond.

Jiang Lan smiled, not pressing them. Jiang Ruxian’s brazen appearance last night meant she wasn’t afraid of him knowing she was here.

’In that case, there’s no need for me to be secretive either. I can even use her power to plot a few things.’

Through the Mother Mirror of the Celestial Observation Mirror, he had You’Er keep an eye on Ao Yin’s every move.

She, for her part, showed no intention of slacking. After leaving Prince Zhong’s Mansion, she shot off like a streak of light, heading straight for the Demon Abyss.

The Demon Abyss was located in the center of Immortal Ascension Island. It lay like a scar upon the heavens, stretching for an unknown number of miles. Its width was great enough to swallow several cities, and its depths were boundless.

The surrounding area, for thousands of miles, was completely shrouded in a cloud-like miasma. The deep forests and barren ridges were all a picture of primeval wilderness.

Many Demons, transformed long ago by the corrupting Demonic Qi, now lived in this endless forest. They would occasionally rush out to rampage across the lands, causing great disasters.

The armies of the Four Great Dukes were normally stationed along the forest’s edge. They had constructed towering city walls, as majestic and immense as a great dragon stretching for thousands of miles.