AZI Volume 3 Chapter 39.5 Intermission – The Immortal in Red and the Immortal Emperor of Yuling

In another time, in another era—during a time where the Leng Bing Realm had only just been created, there was once an emperor who had ruled over a land called the Yuling Empire.

Despite possessing the status of emperor, the emperor was not a man, but a woman—and unlike common emperors, she had reigned over her land for well over 300 years; thus, in the process of performing her duties to the people, the infant-aged world came to grant her the title of the "Immortal Emperor."

Yet, as history of other lands had shown, no emperor could reign forever, and no nation was everlasting.

Despite being called the Immortal Emperor, the emperor was not a genuine Immortal; she did not command supernatural forces, nor was she a natural disaster's incarnation.

She merely possessed a body—that was akin to the Immortals, which in turn, granted her a much greater lifespan than the common mortal.

Eventually, her body started to show signs of deterioration, and with it, she was left with two options—leave for Mount Changqiu with the hopes of seeking a true Immortal's aid, or continue her imperial duties until death.

Ultimately, she chose to leave for Mount Changqiu, and forcefully, staying by the emperor's side throughout her journey—was a man dressed in red robes.

During their journey together, the emperor had remarked—

"Young man, life is long. Don't think just because you have the body of an Immortal, you can belittle others."

"Life is long. Maybe that's the case for others, but for me… I have two years at most."

Similarly, to the emperor, the man in the red robes possessed an Immortal trait, his being in the form of physical strength—that no mortal may hope to contend against.

However, the man in the red robe's body had a defect, in which, their lifespan is miserably short.

"What do you mean?"

"Whatever is granting me my Immortal attributes is flawed. According to records left by the ancestors of the Yan Empire's imperial family, a person with a body like mine—is only able to live for up to 30 years."

"You wanted to obtain my family's Immortal art to extend your life, isn't that why—you entered my palace under the guise of a eunuch?"

"That was my original intention."

"And what is your intention now?"

"Your family's Immortal art won't work as well on me. All it does is transfer one individual's lifespan onto another. But the amount of life force—that an Immortal needs, to maintain their incomprehensible amount of longevity, isn't something that can just be obtained off an ordinary mortal or two. How many lives must be sacrificed for me—who possesses an Immortal's body, to live for a full year?"

"…"

"Brother Yu, no, Lady Yu—I ask that you be my eyes, watch over me to the end of my life, and live on as my proof; proof of me—having once walked on this earth. In exchange, so long as I live, I shall guard you from all manners of danger—to the best of my abilities."

Together, the two demi-Immortals journeyed towards Mount Changqiu—each with their individual goal in mind.