"Can I lie to you about this? This is the highest secret of our Liuli Empire's royal family."
"If it's a secret, then how do you know?"
"Because my family is one of the most powerful forces in the Liuli Empire. To be precise, apart from the royal family, my Dugu family is the largest force in the Liuli Empire. My grandfather is the Imperial Tutor of the Liuli Empire. Although this immortal mansion belongs to the royal family, they can't monopolize it completely. They occasionally let powerful individuals from other major forces in the Liuli Empire explore it. Otherwise, there would definitely be rebellions. However, the royal family has a decree that anyone who leaks this secret will have their entire clan exterminated. My grandfather accidentally told me, but he repeatedly warned me not to reveal any information."
"Haha, then why are you telling me?"
"You said you were returning to the Taigu Academy, but I really wanted to spend a few days alone with you. So, in a moment of desperation, I thought of using this secret to entice you to stay. If my grandfather found out, he would surely beat me to death."
"Don't worry, I won't say anything." Zhou Hong could understand that if this secret were revealed, all the major and minor forces on the Tianyang Continent would come. If one could enter an immortal mansion, even if they found a latrine and dug out a piece of excrement, it might be useful for alchemy, as it was left by an immortal.
"Then where is this immortal mansion?" Zhou Hong asked.
"Why are you asking this? Do you have some other ideas?"
"Don't worry, I'm just asking casually."
"You can't have any such intentions. Right now, outside this immortal mansion, there are many powerful individuals guarding it. Even my grandfather is guarding it, and not even an ant dares to approach."
"Oh, oh, then what is your grandfather's cultivation level?"
"My grandfather is in the late stage of Soul Transformation."
"Then, among your family, is your grandfather the strongest?"
"How is that possible? The strongest in my family is the Old Ancestor. He is already in the early stage of Body Integration. Besides him, there are six others as strong as my grandfather."
"Oh, oh, then what is the strength of your Liuli Empire's royal family?"
"I'm not very clear about that. I think the strongest in the royal family is at least in the middle stage of Body Integration. Otherwise, how could they manage so many family forces? And the royal family has more resources. Those who cultivate to the Body Integration stage are at least ten. After all, it's a medium-grade empire. There are even more in the Soul Transformation stage. If not 50, then at least 30."
Zhou Hong nodded. A medium-grade empire was indeed powerful.
At present, Zhou Hong felt he was too weak to even consider the immortal mansion. He was only in the early stage of Soul Transformation. Although with his strength and formations, even someone in the late stage of Soul Transformation, like Dugu Shuang's grandfather, might not be his match, he couldn't contend against the sheer numbers.
"Zhou Hong, what are you thinking about?"
"Nothing. By the way, Dugu Shuang, has your empire discovered any treasures from this immortal mansion yet?" Zhou Hong asked.
"Not yet, because the restrictions of that immortal mansion are very strong, and it's impossible to enter."
"Oh, does this immortal mansion have a name?"
"Of course, it does. The inscription at the entrance of the immortal mansion reads 'Yideng Immortal Mansion'."
"Mm." Zhou Hong stopped asking.
At this moment, in Zhou Hong's mind, his grandfather scoffed, "Trash."
"Grandfather, what trash?" Zhou Hong quickly asked in his mind.
"I'm referring to the Yideng Immortal Mansion as trash. If I'm not mistaken, this is just a lowest-grade immortal mansion. In my previous life, when I was alive, such an immortal mansion wasn't even good enough for my dog to live in."
Zhou Hong was speechless, but he thought that his grandfather in his previous life might not be lying. After all, he was a Celestial King in his previous life. Although Zhou Hong didn't know the ranks of immortals, a Celestial King was definitely not low.
"Grandfather, then what level of immortal do you think the owner of this Yideng Immortal Mansion was?"
"At most a Middle Immortal, or even less. Of course, I wouldn't bother to glance at it, but for you now, it's not on the same level. If you have the chance to enter this immortal mansion, it's indeed not a bad thing. If you can find anything, it will be very beneficial for your cultivation," said Zhou Hong's grandfather.
"But there's no opportunity now, and the restrictions of this immortal mansion are very strong. Even powerful individuals in the Body Integration stage can't enter."
"Heh heh, this doghouse-level immortal mansion, do you think it's possible for me to not be able to enter with grandfather here?" Zhou Hong's grandfather's tone was extremely arrogant, calling it a doghouse with every mention. How much did he look down on this level of immortal mansion?
"Grandfather, do you mean I should try to approach this immortal mansion?"
"Under safe conditions, it's worth a try. Then, grandfather will directly take this immortal mansion for you. After all, it's a magic treasure, or even an immortal artifact."
"Okay."
"Zhou Hong, what are you thinking about?" Dugu Shuang saw Zhou Hong spacing out and quickly called out to him.
"Nothing, come, let's do it again." Zhou Hong was in a good mood and prepared to reward Dugu Shuang again.
"Do what again, ah." Dugu Shuang let out a scream, and Zhou Hong immediately pinned her down.
After an unknown amount of time, the two finally got up.
Dugu Shuang looked at Zhou Hong with a sweet expression.
"Zhou Hong, it's getting late outside. I need to go home quickly," Dugu Shuang said, glancing at the sky outside.
"Okay, I'll go back with you. Then, you can tell your family members that I'm your boyfriend from Taigu Academy." Zhou Hong took the initiative to suggest it. Originally, Zhou Hong had no interest in going to her family, but now, he wanted to know more information about the immortal mansion, so he had to visit her family.
"But will my family believe it? After all, you are the renowned, greatest genius in the history of Taigu Academy. My family had already noticed you and asked me to find a way to sleep with you, even if it was for free. Now, to suddenly say you're my boyfriend, my family will surely not believe it's true."
"Heh heh, you don't need to worry about that. I'll handle it then. Besides, we've already had sex, so what is there not to believe?"
"Mm mm, when my family sees you, having cultivated to the Nascent Soul stage at such a young age, they will surely be incredulous," Dugu Shuang said with worship and excitement.
Zhou Hong curled his lips and said, "Let me tell you a secret."
"What secret?"
"The Nascent Soul stage was eight years ago. These eight years, I've improved further. I'm now in the early stage of Soul Transformation."
"Ah?" Dugu Shuang was instantly dumbfounded. She was so stunned that she wondered if Zhou Hong was lying to her.
"Don't just stand there foolishly. Let's go. Take me back to your family."
"Mm mm." Dugu Shuang quickly regained her senses, still finding it hard to believe that she had become the girlfriend of such an unprecedented genius, especially since they had just done it twice.