Tea Aredia gratefully accepted the Fire Serpent Inner Elixir. The moment it touched her palm, a searing current of pure Yang heat shot straight through her viscera. Her body, gravely depleted, surged with intense vitality from the warmth.

The Corpse Emperor chuckled again. "Little girl, you cultivate Fire-element abilities, but your innate physique was never strong to begin with. Moreover, you've recently overdrawn your innate vital essence several times, damaging your core energy. Once you merge and slowly absorb this Fire Flood Dragon Inner Elixir, your physical body will eventually become as formidable as that Flood Dragon nearing its transformation into a true dragon. Then, overdrawing your essence a few more times won't matter in the slightest."

A pillar of fire erupted from Aredia's palm, and the Flood Dragon Inner Elixir shot into her body along the fiery stream. The onlookers watched as a fierce crimson light traced its way through her arm meridians directly to her Dantian, where it settled. The aura emanating from Aredia immediately transformed; the once somewhat delicate woman now carried an inherent, lofty, and domineering presence in her demeanor.

Gu Xichen stepped forward and bowed to the Corpse Emperor. "Master, your disciple and the others have only just entered your fold; we have achieved nothing yet..."

The Corpse Emperor waved a grand hand, cutting off Gu Xichen. He laughed, "Enough of this flowery nonsense. Our Nine Nether Dao is an Evil Sect; an Evil Sect must act the part. Don't be so delicate in your speech or actions. The merit you’ve earned is already substantial. Heh heh... You gave your mandated one-tenth share of the magic treasures to Peng Hua. That affair has agitated quite a few old fossils. Otherwise, why would your Master rush here to hold the fort? It's precisely to keep an eye on those shameless old coots and stop them from snatching our benefits."

Extending a long arm, he clapped Gu Xichen on the shoulder. The Corpse Emperor chuckled, "You have already brought immeasurable merit to this sect. Therefore, all of this is what you deserve."

Gu Xichen stopped his rambling; they were all sensible people, after all.

The Corpse Emperor tapped the ground with a finger, and four white stone cushions materialized out of thin air. He gestured for Gu Xichen, Peng Hua, and the others to sit upon them. Yue Hua and Yue Ling proceeded to serve everyone a cup of Blood Vine Nectar.

Holding the teacup, Gu Xichen cautiously studied the bizarre, blood-red liquid that carried a pungent, fishy odor. He stealthily took a small sip. The Blood Cherry Nectar was foul and odorous upon entry, but as it reached the base of his tongue, it turned intensely fragrant. A warm current slid down his esophagus, exploding in his abdomen like a bombshell. A soul-refreshing, deep fragrance surged out through his pores, surprisingly pulling out wisps of grayish-black filth. He broke out in a sweat, and his entire body instantly felt lighter.

Gu Xichen exclaimed in awe, "Magnificent tea!" He hurriedly gulped down another large mouthful, and even more grayish-black impurities seeped out of his body.

Peng Hua boasted proudly, "Of course, it's good tea! Senior Brother here doesn't know how much arduous effort was expended to procure it. We only manage to offer a little over a pound as filial piety to the Master every ten years!"

Serene also quickly took a sip. The strange sensation and the miraculous efficacy in purging impurities from the body earned Serene’s effusive praise as well.

Aredia stared at the Blood Cherry Nectar in her hand with a strange expression. She furtively glanced at the faint black and gray residue coating the faces of Gu Xichen and Serene, then furtively used her Fire-element ability to instantly vaporize the tea in her cup.

The Corpse Emperor glanced at Aredia and smiled. Shaking his head, he addressed Gu Xichen, "The reason I waited for you here, besides fearing someone might ambush and snatch you on the way, is that there is something else I need to discuss with you."

Gu Xichen set down his teacup and nodded. "Please enlighten me, Master."

The Corpse Emperor asked directly, "There is a vacant seat in the Lower House of the Federal Council. Are you interested in filling it?"

A Federal Councilor? Gu Xichen's heart hammered violently a few times. He glanced at Peng Hua, asking with confusion, "Why me?"

The Corpse Emperor stated plainly, "Don't look at Peng Hua. These bastards are experts at murder, arson, and robbery. Asking them to mingle in the Council... Do you want the Federal Council chamber to stage a horror film at midnight? Or perhaps these wretched fools would be sold off and still count the money for the buyer. Such tasks cannot be entrusted to them."

After pondering for a while, Gu Xichen nodded. "Then, why me?"

This question seemed identical to the first, but the Corpse Emperor understood and replied, "Because you possess the qualifications now. The data regarding Wanderer Star... well, what the Federation calls Paradise Star—that information came from you. The Federal populace holds a very high opinion of you.

Furthermore, you single-handedly destroyed dozens of first-class warships belonging to the Roman faction. Based on this achievement alone, with just a little bit of manufactured hype, and some strategic boosting from our side, securing this seat, and even winning re-election in the Federal General Election two years from now, is absolutely guaranteed."

The Corpse Emperor sneered sinisterly, "It is precisely because your recognition among the Federal populace is so high right now that certain parties deliberately sought to diminish your influence when you returned to Earth. However, they dreamt too sweetly."

Clapping Gu Xichen’s shoulder with a massive hand, the Corpse Emperor roared with laughter, "Go take care of your own affairs; don't worry about anything else. As long as you're willing to be this Councilor, the position is guaranteed to be yours!"

He pressed down on Gu Xichen's shoulder, and the Corpse Emperor said gravely, "Peng Hua is your Senior Brother. He is past the stage where continued arduous cultivation alone can advance his power. What he needs now is to experience the ways of the world and the human heart. So, while you are busy with your own matters, let Peng Hua follow closely by your side and offer him proper guidance."

Peng Hua’s face instantly darkened.

Gu Xichen nearly burst out laughing. He nodded vigorously, accepting the arrangement.

Yet, one thing still struck him as odd, so he subconsciously inquired, "But the Federal Lower House was perfectly fine; why did the position suddenly become vacant?"

The Corpse Emperor tucked his hands into his sleeves. After a moment of silence, he sighed, "The elderly man had a bad heart... He was frightened half to death late one night by something unsavory he saw, suffered a heart attack, and that was that..."

Gu Xichen fell silent; Serene was speechless; Aredia was dumbfounded. Only Peng Hua gave the Corpse Emperor a thumbs-up with fawning admiration. "Master, excellent maneuvering!"

The Corpse Emperor chuckled a few times, then stood up. As he rose, it was quite a sight; his forehead nearly brushed against the ceiling of the flower hall. Even ordinary Roman figures were a foot shorter than the Corpse Emperor. It was hard to tell if he was naturally built so grandly in life or if he had cultivated some rare arcane technique to attain such immense stature.

Lowering his head, he stepped out of the hall. The Corpse Emperor stated sternly, "Little fellows, amuse yourselves. This Seat is off to spar with those monks (lit. bull-noses). Otherwise, that one-tenth share of magic treasures will be docked by at least half! Hmph hmph. Once something enters the jaws of our Nine Nether Dao, how can it ever be given back?"

A gust of sinister wind swirled, and the Corpse Emperor's massive figure vanished without a trace.

Peng Hua, Serene, and Aredia all turned to look at Gu Xichen. Serene stretched lazily and asked, "So, what do we do now?"

Gu Xichen asked Yue Hua for a cup of Blood Cherry Nectar. Sipping the tea indifferently, he stated plainly,

"What do we do? Find a room to take a bath... And then, go find Commander Beard!"

The restructuring of the Hell Angels Mercenary Group should be starting; many matters required his attention. Gu Xichen had plans for this mercenary group—no, now upgraded to a security corporation—for significant future use.

The old zombie went off to collect his magic treasures.