“Why?! Are you regretting your choice? Do you now want to take refuge in Ding Lin Country after acting so noble and upright earlier?! It’s too late to change your mind now!” roared Ren Youran, his aging face flushing red.
“No. I know that my lord will never forgive me for humiliating you. I just hope that my lord will fulfil my one wish before I die. All I want is to know what benefits the first prince offered you that even the dignified Wu Feng Hall of Ding Lin Country would be bought over by him,” said Ling Chuxi with sincerity.
“Hmph. If this only involved him, how would he have the qualifications to buy Wu Feng Hall over? The first prince agreed to double the highest tribute from Nan Xia Country for the next three hundred years as a condition for our help. He wagged his tail and begged us to strike and help him seize Nan Xia Country’s throne. That’s all,” said Ren Youran with disdain. His face did not conceal the revulsion he felt towards the Crown Prince. To have such a member of the royal family ascending the throne, it was no wonder why Nan Xia Country was always so far behind and looked down upon by people forever. It was fortunate that he had already broken away from this country.
“What!” Everyone was completely shocked. Ling Chuxi frowned. The first prince was so foolish and useless to the extreme. Was there any meaning in being an emperor who had lost all his power and humiliated his country? At first, she thought the first prince had merely employed Ren Youran to murder her and the rest in an attempt to get rid of dissenters like them with strong cultivation that could not be used by him. She never thought that his real purpose was to usurp the throne. And at such a cost. At the cost of double the highest tribute from Nan Xia Country for the next three hundred years!
Double the highest tribute for three hundred years! What kind of concept was this? It was clear that their country had finally become a Tier 1 Vassal Country with much difficulty and now had the opportunity to rest and recover. But if they were to pay double their highest tribute for the next three hundred years, that would only cause Nan Xia Country to become poorer and fall further behind. Any hopes they had of rising up in the future would be even more difficult to make a reality. As for the Crown Prince, would he just be an emperor who cared only for his own pleasure? Was that his wish?
“Now, you can rest in peace,” said Ren Youran as his expression turned cold. He had felt unbearably humiliated by Ling Chuxi’s words earlier. Right now, his only wish was to shred her body into ten thousand pieces.
“Wow, you’re so terrifying! Old uncle, you must maintain a peaceful state of mind otherwise it would not only be detrimental to your cultivation, but it will also intensify the wrinkles on your face!” mocked Ling Chuxi loudly. Then the corner of her lips hooked upwards as she sneered. “I’m so sorry, but I still don’t wish to die yet.”
“That’s not up to you!” roared Ren Youran once more. He felt that he was almost driven mad by her. A strong Battle Qi was released from Ren Youran’s body. At the same time, four of the older men by his side and the other ten middle-aged men also released their menacing Battle Qi one by one.
A strong suppression came over the Nan Xia Country fleet. Rounding up the number of people from both parties present, there were no more than a hundred in total. Yet, the surge of solemnity which permeated the space made it seem as if there were a thousand soldiers and ten thousand horses in battle against each other. The pressure was so suppressive that it became difficult for one’s heart to beat.
The hearts of Ling Chuxi and the rest sank. Ren Youran and the four other older men all possessed cultivation in the realm of Great Fulfilment, while the other ten middle-aged men all had Battle Qi in the ranges of Level 8 to 9 as well. Ling Chuxi had encountered Ren Youran before this, so she knew that his cultivation had far surpassed other people. Both Ling Yichen and Baili Han had not yet fully recovered. With the cultivation powers of only the three of them, it would be difficult for them to retreat without any injuries. But, so what? Even if precious jade and wretched stone were to burn here together, she would absolutely not retreat!
Ling Chuxi withdrew the Luo Chen Sword and narrowed her eyes. An enormous surge of Battle Qi poured forth from her with a dazzling light. The Luo Chen Sword emitted a whirring sound that became louder and louder, it seemed to be excited and clamoring to fight, it was full of battle intent!
There was a deadly silence all around. Even the insects hidden in the bushes and crevices of the rocks were frightened till they stopped chirping under the immense pressure of the suppression.