klisemfg Chapter 910 Dragon and Phoenix Clash, Is This Ridiculous?
Chapter 910 Dragon and Phoenix Clash, Is This Ridiculous?
The Wu Dynasty Imperial Palace is located in the very center of Wudu, at the Santian Palace.
The manor where Ye Kang previously lived, as well as the Dragon Guardian Land, were all within the territory of the Celestial Palace, only at the waist level.
The Holy Emperor's harem is located at the top of the Heavenly Palace, deep in the clouds and mist, surrounded by thousands of rays of light, with divine trees extending their branches and cranes circling around it.
Ye Kang followed behind the Holy Emperor's procession, marveling at the awe-inspiring palace in the clouds.
If the martial artists I saw before still retained traces of humanity, those who lived here were no different from immortals.
It truly deserves to be called the most prestigious place in the entire Leizhou. Just one glance at it is a dream that many people could never realize in their entire lives.
Soon, the imperial carriage landed in a white jade palace, and Ye Kang followed. The maids lined up in two orderly rows, holding fine wine, delicacies, snacks and fruits.
The Holy Emperor and Holy Empress walked slowly into the garden in front and sat down casually on a stone chair.
The Empress smiled and beckoned to Ye Kang: "Come here, child."
Ye Kang quickly cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Your Majesty."
"No need for formalities. This is the front garden, a place where His Majesty entertains his ministers. There are no formalities here. Just relax and make yourself at home."
Ye Kang nodded, but still looked apprehensive.
The Empress tells you to be casual, but if you really are casual, then you're being too casual.
The Holy Emperor also said, "Ye Kang, to be honest, I always thought Jiu Yuan would be the top one. You have given me a big surprise. An unknown nobody has shone brightly in the blessed land. It is truly remarkable."
Ye Kang bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, it is all thanks to the blessings bestowed upon me by Your Majesty. Without these blessings, I would never have been able to break through so quickly and even be able to fight against His Highness the Ninth Prince."
"There's no need to be so modest. A martial artist's martial arts are the greatest secret. Even the Empress and I wouldn't ask you about this. You can rest assured."
"I will never forget Your Majesty's grace!"
"Yes, it's good that you have this intention. The reason I've kept you here is to encourage you. After all, you are the number one genius right now, and the future of the entire Martial Dynasty is inseparable from you. You should carefully consider the responsibility on your shoulders."
The Holy Emperor spoke in a teasing tone, seemingly casually, yet it sent chills down Ye Kang's spine.
The meaning is actually very simple: it's both encouragement and a warning. Since you are such a genius, you must be loyal to the Wu Dynasty, wholeheartedly serve the Holy Emperor, and always remember your role and position.
Ye Kang was naturally extremely grateful, bowed deeply, and said, "Ye Kang will remember this!"
The Empress smiled gently and nodded repeatedly: "What a fine child. So young, yet so composed and accomplished. He must have endured a lot of hardship along the way."
Ye Kang was taken aback; he hadn't expected it to be just a casual chat!
He quickly replied, "It's all for the sake of martial arts. All martial artists must be giving their all for it. My little hardship is nothing."
The implication is that it's a bit bitter.
As expected, the Empress Dowager immediately showed a pained expression: "Poor child, but that's how we martial artists are. The fact that you persevered is remarkable. Here, this is a small gift I prepared for you as a greeting present. It's not expensive, just a nice little token."
The Empress waved her hand, and a maidservant immediately presented a jade plate with both hands.
Ye Kang's eyes widened, and he was dumbfounded.
There's even a gift for meeting you!
So generous!
He quickly bowed again: "Your Majesty's kindness is too much. I, Ye Kang, have done nothing to deserve it!"
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Don't worry about it. It's nothing valuable. Consider it a reward for winning first place. Even if it were someone else, I would still bestow a reward upon them. His Majesty will also bestow a reward later, so don't keep him waiting."
"Thank you, empress!"
Since that's what they said, Ye Kang naturally had no choice but to accept it. On the jade plate was a small bag, and inside the bag was a flame.
The Empress said, "A trace of my true fire is sealed inside. If you encounter an enemy in the future, open the bag. Anyone below the late stage of the Returning to True Realm will surely die if they receive it."
My god! This is so high-end!
Ye Kang was overjoyed. This was like a life-saving charm. He never expected that the Empress's gift would be so practical. It was truly rare.
Seeing Ye Kang accept the bag, His Majesty smiled and said, "It seems that the Empress Dowager thinks highly of you. Then I can't be stingy. Well, I originally wanted to give this to you after you returned to the immortal realm."
The Holy Emperor shook his head and then took out a beam of light.
The moment Ye Kang saw the beam of light, his eyes narrowed instantly.
Because he recognized that beam of light!
Not only do we know each other, we're very familiar with each other!
This is the aura of a rare and precious treasure!
Ye Kang once obtained a celestial mountain from beyond the heavens and integrated it into the Ink Jade Realm, which expanded the area of the small world by half, greatly benefiting the perfection of the small world.
Could it be that the Holy Emperor is so powerful that he can bestow a rare treasure upon us with just a simple gesture?
As expected, the Holy Emperor laughed and said, "This was a gift from Emperor Huai of Wuzhou. Emperor Huai is the ruler of Wuzhou and controls all the spiritual roots in the world. Even a newly sprouted branch of his is a treasure to others. The sprout in my hand is called Green Profound Heaven, and it is a natural wood-type grotto-heaven spiritual treasure."
After saying that, he looked at Ye Kang and said, "You should know that once you reach the Returning to Truth Realm, you will have the ability to refine a grotto-heaven treasure and turn it into your own unique grotto-heaven. But that doesn't mean that only those in the Returning to Truth Realm can refine it. I'm giving you this Green Profound Heaven. The rest is up to your own destiny."
Ye Kang's head was buzzing. At this moment, he even wanted to be the Holy Emperor's dog.
That's so passionate!
To receive such an amazing gift on the very first audience with the emperor is practically the treatment of a favored son! Isn't that absurd?
This time, Ye Kang did not refuse. He bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty! Ye Kang will serve Your Majesty with utmost loyalty and devotion until his dying breath!"
"You flatter me. They are just some small gifts. By the way, take some desserts back with you. Later, there will be more rewards delivered to your residence. After the Dharma assembly ends, I have something else to entrust to you."
"Ye Kang obeys the decree!"
Afterwards, Ye Kang took the Green Mystic Heaven and a plate of desserts, and swaggered out of the palace, his face full of excitement.
After he left, the Holy Emperor and Holy Empress dismissed their attendants, their expressions simultaneously turning somber.
"You're quite the businessman, using the old locust tree's things as a reward. Whatever tricks the old locust tree played in it, it's none of your business," the Empress Dowager sneered.
The Emperor glanced at her helplessly: "Why do you always think so badly of me? Am I that kind of villain? I've already cleaned up the mess the old locust tree left inside."
"I just added a few of my own touches."
The Holy Emperor said with a serious expression.
The Empress rolled her eyes, knowing it wouldn't be that simple.
She said irritably, "Why bother? You have to use such methods to win over every confidant you've recruited. Are you that afraid they'll betray you?"
Upon hearing this, the Holy Emperor's expression hardened: "How could someone who serves me be disloyal? I have bestowed upon him great fortune. As long as he remains loyal and dutiful, these methods will be ineffective. What is there to fear? As for you, you immediately unleashed your own true fire. Such a generous gift, what are you planning to do? Are you trying to arrange a marriage for some imperial brother-in-law?"
"Heh, my methods are nothing but petty tricks, how can they compare to His Majesty's way of managing his subordinates? But we have an agreement beforehand, even if he discovers something is wrong and doesn't refine your Green Profound Heaven, you can't make things difficult for him. Why not hand him over to me and make him a carefree and good son-in-law?"
"Him? No matter how talented he is, he's just a mere Nirvana cultivator. How could he possibly see through my plans?"
"Your Majesty, are you getting old and forgetful? Ye Kang is from Wuyang City. How do you know that King Wei has no designs on him? If King Wei makes a move, hehe."
The Empress showed no respect to the Emperor whatsoever, completely unlike her usual refined and dignified demeanor, befitting a mother of the nation.
After saying that, she turned and left, leaving behind a murmured remark: "And your concubine Ye, why don't you go and sleep with her? Aren't you afraid she'll cause trouble?"
The Holy Empress disappeared, leaving only the Holy Emperor.
He brazenly leaned back on the stone chair, raised his right foot, and started picking at it.
While picking at his toes, he muttered, "Do you think I don't want to sleep with that girl? It's a pity she's a spy sent by Emperor Huai, I dare not touch her."
He said it nonchalantly, then seemed to have thought of something: "Yeah! You want to find a good husband, but it's like I don't have any daughters. My dynasty has a lot of princesses, but they can't compare to those few impolite nieces?"
……
Beneath the towering palace.
Ye Kang returned to the manor excitedly, but only then did he dare to suppress his expression and let out a helpless sigh.
"They've been targeted..."
That's right, Ye Kang isn't some naive fool anymore, so he naturally understands that something is amiss.
Although he had shown his talent, he was ultimately only at the Nirvana Realm and was not worth the Holy Emperor and Holy Empress's efforts to win him over.
There are only two reasons Ye Kang can think of.
First, the Holy Emperor and Holy Empress were not on good terms; they were each betting on one another and trying to win each other over.
Secondly, there's something I need to do.
And it's definitely going to be a matter of life and death.
Regardless of the reason, he was undoubtedly caught in a huge vortex, and it seemed impossible to escape.
Unless one can attain enlightenment and escape the vortex on their own.
As for what the Holy Emperor and Holy Empress gave...
To be honest, Ye Kang didn't dare use any of them, especially the Green Profound Heaven given to him by the Holy Emperor.
It's definitely a good item. If it can be integrated into the Black Jade Realm, its enhancement will be enormous.
However, this was bestowed by a Dao-Merging Great Power, and given how strange these two people were, Ye Kang suspected there was something wrong with it.
Of course, he couldn't possibly tell on his own, but luckily he had a cheat code.
"System, check Green Mystic Heaven."
【Ding】
【Green Mystic Heaven: A grotto-heaven treasure, transformed from a tender sprout nurtured by the Locust Emperor of Misty Continent. It forms its own world within itself, but it only possesses the wood attribute, which is quite limiting】
[Note: There are two restrictions within the Green Mystic Heaven on the host's hand, each originating from a different Dao trace]
really!
That old man is really cunning!
Ye Kang was furious. He never expected that they would directly use Dao traces to set up a restriction. Was it really necessary?
And there are two more lines on the front?
Ye Kang didn't think that the Holy Emperor had used two Dao traces; it was really unnecessary. To him, one or two Dao traces made no difference.
Unless, besides the Holy Emperor, someone else left a restriction.
Ye Kang almost instantly thought of the Huai Emperor of Wuzhou. Was the gift he sent also sealed with Dao traces?
Wuzhou, Huai Di, Lü Xuantian, and that Ye Guiren, they're probably all from this group.
Damn it, Emperor Huai sent a beautiful woman to the Holy Emperor and even had to set a trap for her. These guys are all incredibly cunning!
Ye Kang shook his head: "Can it be removed?"
【Ding】
[System notification: The Dao Integration Realm can be cleared]
That meant the system was unwilling to do it, and Ye Kang didn't force it. Instead, he first put Lv Xuantian into the Purple Mansion.
At least the restriction remains inside; as long as you don't refine it, nothing will happen.
He sighed and entered the manor, where he found several people already waiting for him at the entrance.
Su Hongxiu, Shen Guili, Jin Lingfeng, Wei Huanyan, and the two from Pengze County all looked at him with surprise.
The person in charge surprised Ye Kang even more; it was actually the stern-faced team leader.
Jiang Yueqing, General of Wuyang City.
"Ye Kang, how was it? What did the Holy Emperor say to you?"
Jiang Yueqing asked excitedly.
Ye Kang didn't hide anything and took out the dessert, giving each person a piece.
Therefore, there's no need to say anything more; everyone understands that Ye Kang has won the Emperor's favor!
"Wow, Ye Kang! You must be so envious of everyone else!" Jin Lingfeng laughed heartily and patted Ye Kang's arm.
Jiang Yueqing also breathed a sigh of relief, and her face became rosy again.
"In that case, get some rest and wait for tomorrow's insights. Go to your room; your rewards have all been sent over."
"Thank you, Commander-in-Chief."
Ye Kang bowed respectfully, greeted everyone, and then returned to his room.
Sure enough, a bunch of things were already laid out on the table in the room.
This is the ranking reward for the first stage of the Great Dharma Assembly.
Ye Kang glanced at the contents: a royal martial arts manual, a Nirvana Divine Weapon, three Qi and Blood Pills, an official robe, and corresponding official rank certificates.
All these things are the privilege of the top player.
For example, this official robe is something that all the top ten have, and they were all granted the title of Fourth-Class Heroic Nobleman, and they could also receive a salary.
But Ye Kang's rank was not fourth class, but third class valiant.
This is already a very good title in the Wu Dynasty. Although it is just an honorary title, it means that he has won the favor of the Holy Emperor and will be treated with respect wherever he goes.
The other rewards were just average for Ye Kang.
First, there was that royal martial arts manual. Ye Kang didn't even glance at it; he just tossed it into the Ink Jade Realm for them to practice.
After all, his martial arts level is already very high, so he doesn't need to learn anything else.
Those three Qi and Blood Pills are quite good; they can be saved for when you break through to improve your physical strength.
What surprised Ye Kang the most was that Nirvana Divine Weapon.
It turned out to be a bright silver spear, imposing and quite strong.
Ye Kang refined it and obtained information about the spear.
Named "Heavenly Concealment," it can automatically conceal the shape of its spear when it attacks, making it difficult to defend against due to its deceptive and unpredictable nature.
"That's good. With this gun, we can temporarily hide Tianyue Qiongcang and prevent Ye Yinghuan from discovering it so quickly."
Ye Kang smiled slightly, then looked at his biggest gain this time.
The method of earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a technique that allows one to escape within a small area).