"I know that. Although I don't know why Han Fengxue targets me, I'm not afraid of him or the demon race. I even want to kill more demons and earn merits."
"You're not afraid of the demon race, but if you're constantly besieged like this, do you expect people to rescue you every day? Even if you're not afraid of death, others find it troublesome.
Everyone on the Bitter Sea battlefield has their own tasks and designated defense sectors. Moreover, the demon race has repeatedly sent Demon Emperors, so those who rescue you naturally have to be Saints.
Having other Saints lead armies to save you will inevitably affect their own defenses and might even give the demon race an opportunity to exploit. This is not good."
Hearing this, Wan Lei pouted, thinking to himself that Han Fengxue targeted him because Xia Dayu brought him to the Bitter Sea last time.
Sensing Wan Lei's thoughts, Xia Dayu nodded.
"Yes, that's also possible. Han Fengxue has taken notice of you because he believes you might become the Heavenly Sovereign of the Prime Plane in the future. Even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance, Han Fengxue wants to eliminate you."
Wan Lei was stunned for a moment.
"Your Excellency, are you keeping me from the Bitter Sea because you're afraid of losing the Demonic Ring? From your expressions, this Demonic Ring seems very important."
Xia Dayu shook his head.
"If that were the case, I could simply keep the Demonic Ring with me. Why would I have you carry it and then forbid you from going to the Bitter Sea?
The Demonic Ring is important, but you are also important."
"Oh, alright then. It seems I can only cultivate peacefully in the Five Elements Hall from now on. Sigh…"
Wan Lei sighed with a dejected expression.
Xia Dayu glanced at him with a strange look.
"You brat, you must be overjoyed. Now that Qi Manyao has been resurrected, you no longer need功勋点 (merit points). With your lazy nature, you probably wish you could sleep in bed every day.
Don't even think about it. We've only resurrected Qi Manyao ahead of schedule. You still have to pay me all the merit points you owe."
"Ah?!"
Wan Lei's face immediately turned as sour as a bitter gourd.
"But I can't go to the battlefield now, so how can I earn merit points? I can't just go to the mission hall to pick up tasks every day. Those tasks only give a few merit points. How many lifetimes will it take to repay them?"
"Don't worry, we've already thought of a solution for you. If you can't join the expeditionary force, you can join the defense force. Then, you can bring your team, act alone, or act with the defense force to rescue those Prime Plane universes invaded by the demon race.
For the next period, you will shuttle through these Myriad Realms. Go wherever rescue is needed.
In the Prime Plane, our will supervises all universes, allowing us to reach any danger instantly. You don't have to fear the Demon Lord attacking you personally."
Wan Lei scratched his scalp, a sheepish smile on his face.
"How can I possibly accept this? How can I let you constantly watch over and protect me? I'm just an ordinary disciple of the Five Elements Hall. How can I trouble you so much? It's really not right.
How about this, I won't run around, and you don't have to keep watching me. I'll just cultivate peacefully in the Five Elements Hall."
Hiss…
Xia Dayu gasped, his teeth itching with annoyance.
"Why are you so lazy? Why is it so difficult to get you to do some work? If you don't want to go, that's fine. We'll assign Fang Xiaoyu the task to lead the team. You can stay in the Five Elements Hall and sleep soundly."
"No, no, no, that won't do. It's too dangerous. I'd better go. Besides me, no one in the Thunder Rain team is capable of being the captain."
Wan Lei patted his chest with assurance.
"Oh? You didn't want to go. We Saints never force anyone."
Xia Dayu sneered with a playful and mocking glint in his eyes.
"If I don't go to hell, who will? Your Excellency, you know that I hate the demon race the most. My hometown was invaded by demons. When I see those planes invaded by demons, I feel the deepest empathy and wish I could immediately go and save them from their plight. This matter, leave it to me."
"Don't say it like that, as if we're forcing you."
"No, no, no, not forcing. I am going voluntarily."
"Hmph, you little rascal, you have quite a few tricks up your sleeve. With this Demonic Ring, when you have free time, probe it with your divine consciousness often to temper your will and adapt to it as soon as possible."
Xia Dayu let out a cold laugh and his figure vanished.
"Alas…"
Wan Lei sat down on the stool with a dejected face. He had originally planned to take a break, but now he had been "voluntarily" recruited into the defense force.
He hoped there wouldn't be any idiots from the expeditionary force in the defense force, and that he wouldn't encounter anyone looking for trouble when he arrived.
"Alas, I'm so sad, so heartbroken. I need my wife's sweet embrace to comfort me."
Wan Lei, with a dejected face, was about to burrow into Fang Xiaoyu's arms.
"Get lost. We're not done with our business yet."
Fang Xiaoyu pushed Wan Lei's head away. Then, she crossed her arms, stood up, and with a cold face, looked askance at Wan Lei, saying sarcastically,
"Tell me, when did you take a concubine? I didn't know I had gained a good sister. For such a big matter as taking a concubine, shouldn't I, as the primary wife, have gone to deliver betrothal gifts, discuss the wedding date, and choose an auspicious day?
How did you secretly marry someone?"
Wan Lei was bewildered, but he couldn't help but laugh at her haughty, proud, and sarcastic demeanor.
"What are you talking about?"
"Heh, what am I talking about? Don't you have any idea yourself? While I was cultivating in the Creation Pagoda, you were secretly hooking up with women outside.
I must say, even though our family isn't a major wealthy household, we are a respectable family. We should deliver betrothal gifts and hold weddings as required; not a single step should be missed.
Moreover, the woman on the other side is a Saint, a being unparalleled in the Three Realms. Marrying into our family is already a compromise for her.
And yet, you're doing it secretly, out of sight. Doesn't that make her feel even more wronged? At least you should give her a proper title, don't you think? Otherwise, the entire Immortal Realm will be laughing at our family."
Seeing her serious and cute demeanor as she spoke with such conviction, Wan Lei's eyes revealed a doting smile as he quietly watched her performance.
"Also, don't just marry this one. It wouldn't be fair to the others, as quite a few women have fallen for you.
Qi Manyao, who arrived the earliest, still hasn't been given a proper title. And those two flirtatious girls, Yuan Jun and Qing Wu, though not exactly modest, are also from prominent families and have good looks and figures. They are barely qualified to be concubines."
Upon saying this, Fang Xiaoyu stroked her chin and pretended to ponder.
"Oh dear, but if that's the case, there will be five women in the house. You'll definitely be lingering among the flowers and forgetting your old loves. You, being so lustful, will surely find new favorites and forget the old ones, and will never look at me, this old hag, again.
Alas, it can't be helped. It's human nature. Men are all like that, and I can accept it."