I, the Reborn Villain, After Nine Lifetimes of Simping Over the Empress, Crushed the System and Escaped - Chapter 21:

Chapter 21: Preparing for the Instance
…
Heavenly Dominion Empire, Taiji Hall.

The inner palace gates slowly opened. When Shangguan Qiuyue saw the person walking out, she immediately knelt down and said, “Welcome, Your Majesty, out of seclusion!”

Yu Xiyan, who had been in seclusion for a month, had relied on the awakening of part of her Ice Phoenix bloodline along with her cultivation experience from her previous life to successfully break through to the 8th stage Soul Sea Realm, just a step away from its peak.

She let out a soft hum, her brows slightly furrowed as she asked, “During the time I was absent from court, has there been any upheaval?”

Shangguan Qiuyue replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty, everything in the court is well-ordered, no major incidents have occurred.”

Yu Xiyan looked up at the sky and asked, “What month is it now?”

“It is already mid-October.”

“Mid-October?” Yu Xiyan closed her eyes and carefully recalled what had happened during this time in her past life. Suddenly, her beautiful eyes opened slightly as she said, “The once-in-a-decade Fuxi Abyss will open again. Has our empire received a passage token?”

Shangguan Qiuyue said, “The Ancient River Sect has already widely distributed passage tokens across the continent. Our empire has twelve families qualified to enter the Fuxi Abyss. In addition, there is still one token left for Your Majesty to decide who will enter.”

Yu Xiyan asked, “Where is the passage token?”

“It is in the Imperial Study.”

When the Fuxi Abyss opened, a number of passage tokens would appear. Only those with tokens could enter to explore and search for treasures.

Yu Xiyan pondered for a moment, then said, “This time I will personally go to the Fuxi Abyss to seize opportunities. During my absence, inform Ministers Fang and Du that court affairs will be in their care, while the regency will temporarily be handled by my younger brother, Xi Zhao.”

“Your Majesty!” Shangguan Qiuyue hurriedly tried to persuade her. “The Fuxi Abyss is full of danger. It is said that space and time within are often distorted, and one could even be transported back to the ancient wilderness era. Why must Your Majesty take such a risk personally?”

Yu Xiyan said, “As the ruler of a nation, my strength must be sufficient. Where there is danger, there is opportunity. The Fuxi Abyss opens rarely, and I do not want to miss this chance to increase my power.”

In truth, Yu Xiyan was dissatisfied with her cultivation progress. In her previous life, by this time she had already broken through to the 3rd stage Profound Void Realm thanks to the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Liquid given to her by Shen Zhao, and she did not need to go to the Fuxi Abyss. Shen Zhao had gone in her place and brought back a Dragon Essence and an Innate Dao Body. Once she fused them, her strength advanced rapidly, her cultivation soaring at astonishing speed.

But in this life, without Shen Zhao by her side, she had no choice but to go to the Fuxi Abyss herself. Once again, Yu Xiyan deeply felt how important Shen Zhao was to her. Without him, whether handling government affairs or cultivating, she could not act with ease.

She said, “No one must know that I am going to the Fuxi Abyss. If anyone asks, say that I am in seclusion. Especially my father and mother.”

“Understood!” Shangguan Qiuyue replied.

After Shangguan Qiuyue left, Yu Xiyan let out a silent sigh. In her previous nine lives, she had been protected too well by Shen Zhao. Her path as an empress had been smooth and untroubled, with no need for such exhaustion. For the first time, she realized how wonderful it felt to be cared for and cherished.

…

Outside the mountain gate of the Ancient River Sect, Shen Zhao and Ding Buer were blocked by disciples.

“What kind of stray dogs dare to come to our Ancient River Sect as guests? Don’t you know your place? Get lost quickly, or I’ll break your legs!”

Shen Zhao smiled faintly, while Ding Buer tried to reason, “Brother, at least look before you posture! This is a handwritten letter from the President of the Arbitration Association. Do you even know what the Arbitration Association is?”

The disciple sneered, “What Arbitration? Get lost before I lose my temper!”

Ding Buer scolded, “Where did you learn such arrogance? You don’t even know the Arbitration Association? Call your sect master out immediately, or you’ll regret it!”

“Go to hell!” The disciple suddenly kicked Ding Buer to the ground. “With that dead rat hanging from your waist, pretending to be a hunter? Get out of my sight, or I’ll beat your mother as well!”

Ding Buer scrambled to his feet, then glared at Shen Zhao who was holding back laughter. He said angrily, “I told you this wouldn’t work, but you wouldn’t listen! See? We can’t even get through the gate. And you still think we can get a passage token to enter the Fuxi Abyss? Dream on. Let’s just find another way.”

Shen Zhao patted his shoulder, leaned close, and asked, “Tell me, are the opportunities inside the Fuxi Abyss valuable?”

“Isn’t that obvious? Even a handful of dirt from there could sustain you for three years. You tell me, is that valuable or not?”

“Since it’s so valuable, why give up? We’ve come all this way. Should we just leave? Are you willing?”

“I understand your reasoning, but we can’t even get through the gate. What else can we do?”

“Then tell me, how should we get in?”

“Maybe spend some money. Those gatekeepers could be bought off with a few spirit stones. That should work, right?”

“Fine, you provide the spirit stones.”

“How is that fair? I only earn a few spirit stones a month. Of course you should pay.”

“That’s the problem. I want to get in, but I don’t want to spend money. What should I do then?”

“Impossible. If the Arbitration Association’s name doesn’t work, then money must. And that’s just for the gate. Once inside, there will be plenty more expenses.”

“So you’re saying that as the Arbitration Association’s Chief Executor, not only do I not make money, but I also have to hand over my wealth to this bunch of bastards?”

“That’s how the world works. To make big gains, you must first make sacrifices. Nothing gets done without spending.”

Shen Zhao chuckled and said, “Good. Then today, I’ll show you how I can get through the gates of the Ancient River Sect without spending a single coin.”

He patted Ding Buer’s shoulder and strode toward the mountain gate.

“Stop right there!” A disciple blocked his way. “Didn’t I make myself clear? Get lost, or you’ll die!”

Seeing the arrogant look on the disciple’s face, Shen Zhao only smiled and kept walking. As soon as he took two steps, he was shoved back roughly. “Are you stupid? One more step and I’ll kill you!”

Shen Zhao rolled up his sleeves. Ding Buer, watching from behind, felt his eyelids twitch and quickly stepped back to stay far away.

The disciple leaned forward with a mocking look, sticking his face out and taunting, “Go on, hit me if you dare!” His fellow gatekeepers burst into laughter.

The next instant, a sharp crack rang out. Silence fell. The arrogant disciple collapsed stiffly to the ground, his wish to be slapped fulfilled by Shen Zhao’s palm.

“You dare to strike us? Courting death!”

Furious, the other disciples rushed at him.

A storm of punches and cracks followed. One by one, the dozen gatekeepers fell, groaning on the ground after being beaten down by Shen Zhao’s straightforward and ruthless methods.

Clapping his hands, Shen Zhao beckoned to Ding Buer. “See? Problem solved. Come on.”

Ding Buer hurried after him, muttering, “Damn, you beat them half to death. What if people ask questions later?”

Shen Zhao said, “Does the Arbitration Association need to explain itself? Remember this: we can bully others, but we must not be bullied. Otherwise, what’s the point of my position as Chief Executor?”

Ding Buer sighed, “Fine, you’re amazing. But if the Ancient River Sect surrounds you later, don’t regret it.”

Shen Zhao said, “Let’s go. I told the girl we’d meet here later. First, we need to secure the passage token.”

Ding Buer groaned, “After all this, you’re still thinking about the token? I say we run while we can!”

“Relax, with me here, nothing will go wrong,” Shen Zhao said confidently.

The two slipped into the inner court of the Ancient River Sect. Just as they were about to enter the main hall, they heard the sound of a man and woman flirting in the nearby forest, which immediately caught their attention.