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Before going to Jiangnan, Your Majesty the Emperor was the only person who had given him hope, and Shen Yuan had never forgotten this.

It was the ray of light he encountered at the lowest point of his life.

At that time, he’d been awakened, abandoned the martial path for the scholarly one, and to avoid falling into a situation where he had to look up even to his own younger brother or those other half-siblings, he had taken the examinations and earned accolades.

By Imperial appointment, he’d become the Second Place Scholar.

Though many in his family still looked down on him, at least he had won some respect outside.

He vividly remembered the day the Emperor had summoned him to the palace, a privilege not even that year’s top scholar had received. He was valued by the Emperor, sent to Jiangnan to keep an eye on Chen Qing...

His initial hostility towards Chen Qing was because he was too eager to achieve merit, thinking that as long as he could handle the tasks for Your Majesty and find Chen Qing’s wrongdoings to bring him down, it was highly likely that he’d be promoted to Governor of Liuzhou.

After a few more years of effort, if he could climb to the rank of a Fourth Rank official and win an imperial commendation for his mother, wouldn’t it bring honor to a family like the Shen Family?

Then, after an unexpected turn of events, he followed Chen Qing and found a better way out. Upon his return to the Capital City, the Emperor no longer paid attention to such an insignificant person as him, but he always had some unease in his heart.

What if one day the Emperor decided to settle old scores? What then?

He hadn’t expected that day to come so soon.

"Your Majesty..." Shen Yuan took a deep breath. His body felt extremely heavy, as if his eyelids weighed a thousand pounds, but still, he endured the discomfort and performed a scholar’s salutation to the Emperor.

The Emperor frowned slightly when he looked at him.

When the other had left the Capital City, he’d held an official post and would naturally perform an official’s salute.

Now, however, he was using the scholar’s salute, saying nothing, and yet this demonstrated his stance—he was a scholar of the Jiangnan Academy, not the magistrate that Great Jin had originally appointed.

"Do you know that Chen Qing’s situation is more perilous than auspicious?" the Emperor asked after a moment’s gaze.

"I know..." Shen Yuan nodded with a bitter smile on his face.

Though involved in receiving the inheritance, he could see everything happening below with crystal clarity.

Perhaps it was the influence of the inheritance, but everything below seemed to slow down.

Chen Qing’s impulse was something he saw distinctly; at the moment, all he had wanted to do was leap over to save him, but under the inheritance’s control, he couldn’t move an inch.

He could understand Chen Qing’s actions. The Western Sea Army had come to his rescue and if he were to watch them be wiped out without doing anything, it would be detrimental both for the subsequent occupation and morale.

But now the situation was that the Western Sea Army was without a leader, Chen Qing’s life and death were unknown, and the powers of Jiangnan might be completely ousted from this struggle.

If everything were to come to an end here, although the Shen Family members and Xuu Hu had ensured the foundation in Jiangnan was intact, they would have lost the soul.

Shen Yuan didn’t quite understand the grand situation, but he knew that without Chen Qing, Jiangnan couldn’t possibly stand against Your Majesty.

"Knowing this, would you still choose Chen Qing?" the Emperor asked quietly.

"Your Majesty has shown me great kindness in recognizing my abilities, but he has granted me a second lease on life!"

"Isn’t there a difference in the magnitude of these debts of gratitude?" the Emperor nodded and then continued, "In that case, if Chen Qing is not dead, you may follow him again, and I will not stop you. But if his life and death remain uncertain, you must side with me, how about that?"

"This..." Shen Yuan was stunned. Was the Emperor’s magnanimity too great, allowing him to waver like this?

However, he quickly realized the current significance of his situation.

Now that he had acquired the real White Tiger Inheritance, although he hadn’t yet deciphered its contents, the glimpse he’d seen earlier made him understand the value of what he held.

It was perfectly normal to be courted for such an inheritance.

"You may give it serious thought. You need not rush to respond, I know you are a filial person. Your family is all in Jiangnan, and I can assure you that if Jiangnan were to falter, I’d prioritize your family’s safety and honor. How about that?"

Shen Yuan was stunned and suddenly remembered his mother in Jiangnan.

"Will this trip with your lord to Yundu be dangerous?"

"No, Mother, rest easy. It’s just an exchange."

"That’s good... If there’s danger, remember, don’t expose yourself. I’m content here and need nothing more. Your safety is my greatest support. Do you understand?"

"I understand... Mother, don’t worry..."

Shen Yuan closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, "If Your Majesty were to come into conflict with the Western Sea Army..."

"I will try to avoid conflict as much as possible. But if it’s unavoidable, you may try to assist them."

"If there is news from our Lord, Chen Qing,"

"I also allow you to seek him out immediately."

Shen Yuan clenched his teeth and immediately knelt on one knee, "Thank you for Your Majesty’s appreciation. Mr. Shen will devote all his efforts."

"Good... Your Majesty is satisfied with your promise..." The Emperor nodded slightly, still as domineering as ever, but the condition he offered was surprisingly generous.

Yet before his words fell, someone came to disrupt the situation.

"Your Majesty is truly adept at winning people’s hearts."

The aged voice was incredibly heavy, making Shen Yuan’s heart tremble before he turned with a frigid gaze toward the newcomer.

That person was none other than the one who had pushed Chen Qing to the brink of life and death and had almost decimated the Western Sea Army...

"Old Celestial Master, you are too kind.

" The Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, turning his head to smile at the other person, "The Ancient Demon Clan truly has an astonishing foundation. Old Celestial Master, you were so grievously wounded by Chen Qing, and yet you’ve recovered your vital energy so quickly? "

To be honest, though his words sounded casual, his inner feeling was extremely grave.

He had seen clearly when Chen Qing made his move—it was surely a King Level power. Under such a forceful impact, not only did the Old Celestial Master not die, but he also managed to recover so quickly? What kind of recovery method did he use?

The depth of the Ancient Demon Clan was indeed extraordinary.

It was unknown how many times such a method could be used.

If it could be continuously utilized, that would indeed be troublesome.

Unless it was a fatal blow with one strike, the opponent would be able to recover, and he was also a top space master.

All the surrounding spatial formations were set up by him in advance.

Killing such a person with one strike was as difficult as reaching the heavens!

"Your Majesty flatters me..." The High Priest looked coldly at the other, "Perhaps Your Majesty would reconsider?

If Your Majesty is willing to cooperate, the Imperial Clan of my Ancient Demon Clan can sign a contract with you, to coexist eternally, never to leave or forsake, and to share the world together! "

As these words were spoken, the powerful beings following the High Priest were stunned, never expecting their Priest to make such an offer. It was as if binding the life of a prince to this human.

How highly did they regard this human?

But what seemed like an overly lavish offer to the Ancient Demon Clan did not cause the slightest ripple in the Emperor’s eyes; he merely laughed coldly, "I am the supreme ruler of this world. How could a bunch of insects like you share it with me?"

"Seeking death!!"

The several experts behind the High Priest were enraged, but just as they were about to make a move, they were stopped by the High Priest.

"The methods of this human Emperor are domineering; do not fall for his provocations," said the High Priest, looking deeply at the Emperor. "If I’m not mistaken, Your Majesty is using the Overlord’s Nine Revolutions, the technique created by King Xiang himself?"

"You have good insight..." The Emperor did not hide it, speaking forthrightly, "Indeed."

The Overlord’s Nine Revolutions, a technique created by King Xiang himself, was incredibly domineering.

Few peers could withstand his power for more than three moves.

Since the rise of King Xiang, there was no record of any King Level defeating him.

Some even evaluated that King Gui Xiang was the strongest of the King Level!

The techniques of King Xiang had never spread; none of the Reincarnators from the guild had mastered it.

It was said that those who tried to grasp it would mostly perish from their bodies exploding.

Throughout a cycle of reincarnation, no Reincarnator had mastered it, yet now, a human had, which was indeed troublesome.

"What do you say?" The High Priest suddenly glanced in a direction.

There was originally nothing there, but suddenly, the space twisted, and the silhouette of a figure in red, drawing back the surrounding space like a curtain, appeared, smiling in front of everyone.

It was Shenyue!

"Does the High Priest truly wish to cooperate with me?"

"Why not?" The High Priest spoke gravely, "You are not your true self, but rather a transformation of your inner demons, the body of a Demon Buddha. How difficult it must be to consume the original you. With the assistance of my Ancient Demon Clan, your task would be half as tough!"

"Oh?" Shenyue looked amused yet serious, "And what does the High Priest require of me?"

"Let us cooperate, eliminate him first, and then discuss the next step."

Shenyue glanced at the Emperor, put away her smile, and responded with rare seriousness, "Agreed!"