Upon the throne, Emperor Jianyuan’s eyes darkened slightly.
This old man is utterly shameless!
According to that Blood Sea Junior Supervisor’s account, in this battle, Chu Xisheng, thanks to the help of the Ice City Princess, was virtually unscathed!
However, at this moment, Li Changsheng clearly had the upper hand, and arguing with him was a futile endeavor.
Emperor Jianyuan had already noticed the gaze of the Master of the Formless Sect, currently sweeping over Zhen Tianlai and the others.
He had long seen that Li Changsheng was apprehensive and had no intent to kill him.
However, the same could not be said for his Inner Court officials.
Li Changsheng could still find an excuse, or manufacture an accident to claim their lives.
Or, like Zong Qianliu and the Vermilion Bird Marquis, exile them to the North.
He believed that many civil officials from the outer court would also be pleased to see that happen.
Emperor Jianyuan absolutely did not want to see this scene.
Those like Zhen Tianlai and Bu Chaowu were the assets the Daning Royal Family accumulated over centuries; they were also his left and right arms.
Losing any one of them would shake his imperial authority.
Having already been forced to exile Zong Qianliu to the North, he could not afford to lose other valuable subordinates.
Thus, he had to offer compensation, but he couldn’t just let this old man dictate whatever he wanted.
"Is there such a matter? That indeed is my fault. Since this matter arose from the Imperial Palace, let the Treasury make amends."
Emperor Jianyuan smiled slightly, generously waving his hand: "Zhen Tianlai, afterwards, you personally go to the Treasury, select twenty Earth Evil Talismans and one Third Grade Magical Artifact. Remember, they must be of fine quality. Additionally, choose three bottles of Eight Refinement Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills and three bottles of Eight Refinements Golden Body Pills, and hand them over to Sect Master Li, besides this, I further reward ten thousand Divine Gold to pacify the Formless Saint Transmission.
By the way, not long ago, I heard you mention this Chu Xisheng; isn’t he the Deputy Thousand Households of the Police Pool of Blood? As of today, he is promoted to Deputy Commander; all salary and treatment will be the same as a Commander. All Third Grade and below martial arts of the Police Pool of Blood will be open to him."
Zhen Tianlai’s internal organs were still burning like fire, his Qi-blood in turmoil, yet he did not hesitate to respond: "The imperial eunuch understands."
In his heart, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Emperor Jianyuan was right not to ask Li Changsheng for specifics; asking would only complicate matters.
It was better to first draw a line, then negotiate from this foundation.
However, Li Changsheng’s expression remained cold as he shook his head: "Your Majesty, our losses are far more than this. This time, my Su Great Elder went against protocol to bring disciples to Returning Ruins. In truth, it was because we heard there was a Heaven and Earth Root within Returning Ruins, capable of converting Chu Xisheng’s bloodline to inherit the Blood Vengeance Saint Transmission. Yet your Imperial Palace cost us the chance for our Holy Transmission."
At Li Changsheng’s words, almost everyone was astounded, turning their eyes towards him in surprise.
Even the composed, elegant Grandmaster and Grand Protector were momentarily dumbfounded.
They seemed to be seeing the Master of the Formless Divine Sect, Li Changsheng, for the first time, closely scrutinizing him.
On the throne, Emperor Jianyuan was even so angry he laughed.
He knew Li Changsheng to be shameless, but he hadn’t expected him to be so utterly brazen.
This man even had his eyes on that Heaven and Earth Root in his Treasury!
Why didn’t this old man claim that Chu Xisheng also lost a Super-grade Divine Artifact?
His face stiff, his right hand in his sleeve trembled slightly.
Just as Emperor Jianyuan was pondering a response, the Grand Protector of the court, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke: "Sect Master, your words are deceitful. The ’Heaven and Earth Root’ is a rare treasure of the world. Its use not only allows one to change their bloodline talent but also to seize creation itself, enhance bloodline power, break through the Limit of Human and God, and enter the super-grade realm, as well as extend a Martial Cultivator’s life by a century.
Therefore, whether in our Human Clan or amongst the demons and Giant Spirits of the world, this object is highly prized. However, the quantity of ’Heaven and Earth Roots’ is limited; in the same era, there are no more than nine in existence. Only when one is consumed does another appear in the world.
To my knowledge, each of these nine ’Heaven and Earth Roots’ has an owner, and I haven’t heard of any Martial Cultivator recently entering the super-grade. Might I inquire from the Sect Master, where this Heaven and Earth Root in the Returning Ruins came from? Can there be evidence?"
Emperor Jianyuan’s eyes flickered, and he smiled without speaking.
In the Daning Dynasty, the positions of Grandmaster, Grand Tutor, and Grand Protector held no real power; they were merely honorary titles among civil officials.
The true governing authority was all concentrated in the hands of the Cabinet.
Nevertheless, those who held these three positions were leaders of the contemporary literary circle, the highest honor for scholars.
They represented the Confucian Sect across the world, the civil officials of the outer court, and were the leaders of the noble families and Gate Valve households.
Since the Grand Protector had spoken, it signified that the Confucian Sect would not sit idly by watching Li Changsheng’s brazen plunder.
Emperor Jianyuan’s heart, however, was devoid of any joy, and deep in his eyes, there lay a cold, icy gleam.
No one in the world wished to see another Blood Vengeance Blade Lord re-emerge, not even the Confucian Sect.
So Emperor Jianyuan felt no gratitude whatsoever.
When Li Changsheng burst into Harmony Hall, none of the Confucian Sects’ leaders in the outer court had stepped into Palace City to partake in the battle.
They stood by, watching as Li Changsheng humiliated him.
In the eyes of these people, did they ever see him as the ruler?
Li Changsheng also squinted, following the voice, meeting the gaze of the upright, noble-looking middle-aged man clad in a First Grade red robe, exuding an aura of purple Qi.
This was Wending Cangsheng—Wei Baoming.
This man was one of the heads of civil officials in the court, although not on the Heavenly List, his cultivation ranked among the top ten before the Heavenly List.
For two hundred years, this man has been the pillar of the Daning Dynasty, the stabilizer.
Li Changsheng’s gaze was not solely on the Grand Protector.