Just as Jason Ji prepared to leave the Nether Abyss, he heard the steady, rhythmic sound of footsteps.
"Prince consort, where are you?"
Jason glanced toward the Blackwater Staircase and noticed it was Quentin Wei leading the Iron-Armored Guards, searching for him.
"These guys are bold," Jason raised an eyebrow, impressed that Quentin Wei and his men dared to descend into the depths of the Nether Abyss.
"I'm here," he called, waving.
"Prince consort...!!" Quentin Wei's face lit up with relief, rushing forward to support Jason's weakened frame. "prince consort, are you hurt?"
Jason shook his head, smiling. "No, just exhausted."
"And... the Netherworld Ghost King?" Quentin Wei's voice faltered, his gaze nervously sweeping the area.
"Dead. I killed him," Jason replied calmly.
"Wait... you… killed him?" Quentin Wei froze, processing the words. But as the seconds passed, he jumped nearly three feet in shock. "What?! You killed the Netherworld Ghost King?!"
Behind him, the three thousand Iron-Armored Guards were equally stunned, their mouths hanging open in disbelief.
Jason shrugged, raising his left hand and snapping his fingers. A wisp of dark fire flickered to life on his fingertip, dancing like a tiny spirit.
"Netherworld Ghostfire!" Quentin Wei gasped, instinctively stepping back. Although he'd never seen it before, he recognized it instantly—the Heaven's Gate Pavilion had etched all known mystical flames, including this one, into the minds of the continent's cultivators.
"You really killed him… the legendary Netherworld Ghost King..." Quentin Wei's voice trembled, his mind reeling. He couldn't begin to imagine the impact this news would have—a Starbound cultivator defeating a legend-level warrior. He couldn't fathom how Jason had achieved it, but he had one burning question: What in the world has happened?
The Iron-Armored Guards remained silent, looking dazed. Finally, Quentin Wei sighed, a tear in his eye—whether from fear or awe, he couldn't tell. "prince consort… let's go home. Leaving you out here… well, it just isn't fair to other cultivators."
Jason looked at Quentin Wei's conflicted expression and offered a helpless shrug. I'm simply following the plan; he thought as Quentin Wei supported him up toward the exit of the Nether Abyss.
As they emerged, dawn broke across the sky. Mounted on his steed, Jason enjoyed the cool morning breeze as Quentin Wei ordered the guards to secure the area. His task was to ensure Jason reached Chang'an safely—Jason's value to the Dong family was now beyond measure.
"prince consort, aren't you curious about our family's princess? She is, after all, your future wife," Quentin Wei coughed awkwardly, watching Jason, who was savoring the peaceful morning.
Jason opened one eye; his tone indifferent. "The number one wastrel princess?"
Quentin Wei stiffened, then forced a laugh. "Her Highness is… well, maybe a bit unruly, but calling her the 'number one wastrel' might be a stretch."
Jason smirked; eyes closed. "Oh, really?"
"At nine, she burned down the Empress's palace in the Great Hall; at ten, she shattered the Lingyan Pavilion that housed the Sacred Tang Empire's founding relics; at eleven, she shaved the Crown Prince's head and scarred the princess's face; at twelve, she broke the general's son's leg. By thirteen, the people of Chang'an called her 'Dread of the City.' Every time she stepped out, the ten-mile streets emptied."
"Did I miss anything?"
Quentin Wei coughed uncomfortably. "Well… those were indeed her notable… accomplishments."
Jason laughed, his expression softening as he turned. "But you're right; she's not the number one wastrel princess."
Quentin Wei blinked, caught off guard by the sudden change. How can you say that after everything she's done? he wondered.
Jason, ignoring his confusion, murmured to himself, "Every move she's made was part of a larger plan… She is, after all, the most brilliant woman in the novel."
Just then, Jason's gaze sharpened, focusing on the cliff edge to the southeast, where a girl in scarlet was being pursued by a group of black-robed cultivators. The girl, with fiery red hair and crimson eyes, looked around sixteen. Dirt and grime covered her disheveled form, making her appear worn and exhausted.
A system notification rang in his ear.
Ding! Scenario-based system mission released.
Mission 1: Save Hannah Ye reward: Tang Sect hidden weapon, Rain of Pear Blossom Needles.
Mission 2: Ignore Hannah Ye reward: Potion of the Poison King.
Ye Henry Hong!
Jason's heart skipped a beat at the name, and he instantly perked up. If memory served him right, the girl Hannah Ye would become the future Demon Queen! According to the original novel, she was forced off this cliff, falling into the Nether Abyss, only to be rescued by the protagonist, Ethan Ye.
Smiling, Jason chose the first mission—saving Ye Henry Hong. If he intervened, he'd gain Destiny Points by disrupting the protagonist's fate, something he sorely needed right now.
And even if the system hadn't issued a mission, Jason would've saved her. The future Demon Queen? He grinned. Saving her would bring countless benefits.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。