Ethereal World: Vicious Cannon Fodder's Immortality Road - Chapter 817

Chapter 817: Reunited With Tai Hua Lei
The two male concubines discreetly observed her from their shadows, their broad shoulders trembling as if they struggled to contain something within — perhaps a fear of retribution from Shen Xian, or something deeper that surpassed mere apprehension.

Without warning, Shen Xian swept his sleeve in a grand gesture, clearing the room of its occupants. His anger simmered beneath the surface, yet his expression held an impenetrable mask. His winter-grey eyes reflected a darkness, and his smile bore the weight of unspoken pressure.

Most would have missed it, but those keen enough to sense the shifting atmosphere would know that even the stoic emperor, known for his unyielding demeanor, could be rattled — all for the sake of a woman whose origins remained a mystery.

As the chamber emptied, a tall figure glided in, his presence commanding yet silent as he moved with an ethereal grace, as if he were gliding above the ground. His robe draped elegantly, accentuating the result of countless hours of rigorous training, molding him into a vision of strength and poise.

Though his features were unremarkable, there existed a unique beauty in his seriousness. The air around him felt charged; his expression, as sharp as the talons of an eagle, indicated that he was not one to entertain trifles. His lips were set in a firm line, betraying no hint of emotion.

“Did you torture someone again because they failed the mission? Is the life of others so worthless in your eyes?” the man asked expressionlessly, with a slight note of disgust in his tone.

If anyone were to speak to Shen Xian like this, their souls would have been lost long ago. Yet, when the question came from this man, not only did it not anger the Demon Emperor, it, on the contrary, shifted his unreadable expression to one of helplessness and sadness.

“A’Lei, how come you speak to me like this? I didn’t do anything to them. Can you treat me like a good person for once? It really hurts my heart. Don’t be angry with me, okay?” The once merciless and brutal Demon Emperor stood up from his throne and walked toward the man, his tone sad, as if the whole world had abandoned him.

Fortunately, no one was here to witness this scene; otherwise, even in death, they would never have anticipated their emperor’s behavior. Everyone was aware of how deeply he loved and cherished the tall figure before him, but they would have never imagined that he would resort to such lengths to appease him and avoid his ire.

The moment the man named A’Lei appeared, Shenlian Yingyue’s impassive facade cracked. She blinked in disbelief, unable to reconcile the sight before her with her previous understanding of the situation.

What was he doing here? Hadn’t he been sent to train in the dimensional realm prepared by Shen Xian? And why did he radiate the same heavy aura as the demon race?

Enough with your hypocrisy! I can’t stand it. At first, I agreed to come with you to become strong enough to protect the person I cherish. But ever since, you have isolated me from the world. You allow me to go wherever I want, but you never let me go and find her. I’ve been practicing in that dimensional space for over three hundred years; when will I be able to go to her?” Tai Hua Lei finally frowned, unable to contain himself.

This person was indeed Tai Hua Lei, who had left everyone to be by Shen Xian’s side for his training. His last departure with Shenlian Yingyue and the others had been at Golden Candle City in the Inner Domain.

At that moment, before Shen Xian could respond, Xiao Meng entered and knelt, saying, “Greetings, Your Majesty. This is the item you asked me to retrieve.”

In her hand, she respectfully presented Shen Xian with a jade box containing something precious.

Shen Xian snapped his fingers, and the box appeared in front of Tai Hua Lei. He said affectionately, “A’Lei, look at what I’ve prepared for you.”

Inside the jade box lay a seven-colored glowing round pill. It was the pill to break through the True Immortal realm and advance to the Golden Immortal Realm.

When Tai Hua Lei saw Xiao Meng, his eagle-like eyes held an endless chill. Ignoring the twisted, jealous gaze she directed at him, he took the jade box from Shen Xian’s hand and placed it into his superior purple-cyan storage ring without saying a word.

This ring had been given to him by Shen Xian. At that time, he had refused it, but Shen Xian had threatened him, stating that if he didn’t accept it, he would cause trouble for Shenlian Yingyue.

Tai Hua Lei accepted everything inside the ring with determination. Shen Xian’s kindness was something he would repay tenfold in the future. He would repay kindness with grace, but he would never let Shen Xian go if that man harmed his idol.

He had practiced hard at the Mountain of Azure Dragon in a secret dimension to which only Shen Xian had the key. While three hundred years could seem like an eternity to mortals, for immortals, such a span was inconsequential.

At that time, however, he was not yet an immortal. Each passing year felt like an unending torment. He battled against malevolent creatures and grappled with the unforgiving terrain of that realm, struggling to sustain his life.

Though Shen Xian had entrusted Xiao Meng with his care during these trials, he rarely checked in on Tai Hua Lei’s welfare. As a Demon Emperor, he was burdened with countless responsibilities. He made the occasional visit, yet Tai Hua Lei never yielded an ounce of respect.

Shen Xian was confident that nobody would dare to rebel against him. He was correct; those who had entertained such thoughts were no longer part of this world.

What Shen Xian failed to realize was that Xiao Meng, someone he had never deemed a threat, was the very source of Tai Hua Lei’s adversity.

Born timid, Tai Hua Lei had struggled with low self-esteem his entire life. However, everything shifted the day Shenlian Yingyue defended him publicly—he resolved not to be that timid creature any longer, rejects the notion that he was inferior due to his spiritual roots, especially when compared to the favored sons of the heavens.

He never uttered a word of complaint to Shen Xian; his pride as a man forbade it. He endured through the hardships, vowing to stand by his idol’s side as the best version of himself.

On the other hand, Xiao Meng harbored resentment that simmered beneath the surface. Why did this man win the affection of His Majesty? For centuries, she had stood steadfastly by Shen Xian’s side.

Unbeknownst to them, Shenlian Yingyue observed the situation, seemed to be shrouded in invisibility. She noted the malice directed at Tai Hua Lei from Xiao Meng.

Once she turned her gaze towards Tai Hua Lei, their eyes met unexpectedly.

In that fleeting moment, the intensity of their connection sent tremors through them both.