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After lifting the poison from Emperor Xueye's body.
The recovered Emperor Xueye was naturally overjoyed and excitedly declared that Sun Zhongjing would be revered as the Imperial Advisor! From then on, he would be on equal footing with him, the Emperor, and would also enjoy offerings from the Empire, holding a high position and great power.
On the surface, the Emperor's act of repaying this gratitude seemed flawless, and even an ordinary person might feel that being an Imperial Advisor was quite good. But in reality, Sun Zhongjing could see that this old man simply wanted to cling to him. What was Sun Zhongjing's true identity, after all?
A level ninety-nine Limit Douluo!
A Soul Master of this level had already transcended mortal restraint. If he could use the position of Imperial Advisor to tie a powerhouse of this level to the Heaven Dou Empire's war chariot, damn, it would be an enormous profit!
To put it simply, Sun Zhongjing, this Limit Douluo, was like a nuclear warhead! Enough to pose a nuclear deterrence to other Factions! If he became the Imperial Advisor of the Heaven Dou Empire, it would mean the Heaven Dou Empire possessed a nuclear warhead! In this way, other nations, including other Sect Powers, would not dare to easily scheme against the Heaven Dou Empire. Even if they wanted to attack, they wouldn't do so overtly. Furthermore, the Heaven Dou Empire would henceforth stand tall in its diplomatic relations with other countries, gaining countless benefits without any drawbacks.
Such a deal was incredibly cost-effective, and all the Heaven Dou Empire needed to pay was merely the empty title of an Imperial Advisor and some offerings of wealth and resources.
They won big!
All the Nobles of the Heaven Dou Empire won big.
Only Sun Zhongjing lost out.
Not only would he be tied to this broken war chariot of the Heaven Dou Empire, allowing others to flaunt their power using his name, he might even be fooled like an idiot. All he would gain was an empty title and some worldly wealth and resources. But given his identity as a Limit Douluo, if he truly wanted these things, couldn't he obtain them? Even if he wanted to establish his own nation, there would be plenty of people flocking to him.
Thus, regarding Emperor Xueye's action—ostensibly an official conferment but actually a desire to cling to him—Sun Zhongjing naturally refused. He thought to himself, *You're dreaming. I'm certainly not joining your feudal Empire.* What's more, Sun Zhongjing's persona, from the moment it was created, was only to serve White Cloud City and cultivate talent. In the future, when his main body extended an invitation, he would naturally join. It was simply impossible for him to join other Factions.
After being politely refused.
Emperor Xueye's face showed a look of great regret. In fact, he knew that Sun Zhongjing couldn't possibly agree. Because joining the Heaven Dou Empire held no appeal for a Limit Douluo. The reason he still spoke, despite knowing he would likely be refused, besides expressing an attitude, was primarily because it cost nothing to try. If he got lucky and succeeded, wouldn't he have made a huge profit?
After being rejected, Emperor Xueye naturally couldn't just let it go without any expression of gratitude. After all, this was a life-saving favor. If it were an ordinary person, it would be simple: just grant a nobility title, bestow a piece of land, and be done with it. But the person before him was no ordinary person and certainly couldn't be appeased with ordinary things. Even if this individual might not care, Emperor Xueye had to make a gesture; it was a matter of attitude. "I might not want it, but you cannot refuse to give it!"
What to give, however, was a problem.
Finally, Emperor Xueye summoned the attendant outside the door and softly gave a command.
A moment later, the door was opened again.
A servant walked in carrying a brocade tray covered with a layer of red cloth. Something bulged underneath, its nature unknown.
Seeing this, Sun Zhongjing's heart stirred. He had some idea of what was on the brocade tray.
Emperor Xueye smiled and said, "Your Excellency Medicine King, great favors need no spoken thanks. Given your identity, I imagine you wouldn't fancy other mundane items. To express my gratitude, I can only bestow this national treasure upon you."
Sun Zhongjing said nothing, reaching out and directly lifting the red cloth. Immediately, the entire Imperial Bedchamber was enveloped in an intense treasure aura.
It was an extremely peculiar item, a three-dimensional, triangular object that was entirely a crystal-clear blue. It appeared to be carved from sapphire and was only the size of a palm. Within the shimmering blue light, a treasure aura emanated, and strange energy fluctuations continuously pulsed from within it. On the surface of this blue triangle, water-like patterns rippled. These patterns didn't look carved but rather as if they were alive. Circles of blue light shimmered, casting a faint treasure aura throughout the Imperial Bedchamber.
"Oh, it's actually this treasure," Sun Zhongjing said with some surprise.
Emperor Xueye smiled faintly, but his heart felt as if it was bleeding! One must know that the previous video had revealed this item to be an important object of the Sea God's inheritance. Anything related to a god, if one could comprehend its mysteries, would be of endless benefit. But unfortunately, this treasure had fallen into the hands of their Royal Family, and generations had studied it for who knows how long, yet they hadn't figured out a single thing. Clearly, they were not fated to have it. Furthermore, the true master of this item was the Sea God. If the Sea God wished for it, he could summon it back from tens of thousands of miles away at any time. Who knew when this thing would suddenly fly away on its own?
So Emperor Xueye felt that instead of waiting until it was all for naught, it was better to do a favor and give this item away while it was still in his hands. His logic was that he was handing the item over. If it was forcibly summoned away by the Sea God, that would be Sun Zhongjing's own business. It would have nothing to do with him.
"Your Excellency Medicine King, I believe you also know that this Vast Sea Cosmic Cover is a treasure related to the Sea God's inheritance! Regrettably, our Royal Family has possessed this treasure for many years, yet we have always been unable to glimpse its mysteries." Emperor Xueye looked at the Vast Sea Cosmic Cover, putting on a reluctant expression. "With your cultivation realm, even if you cannot inherit the Sea God's position, you might still be able to use this treasure of the Sea God to glimpse a sliver of the mysteries of a higher realm," he said. "Please, you must accept it."
"A treasure of the Sea God, huh..."
Sun Zhongjing looked at the Vast Sea Cosmic Cover on the brocade tray, remained silent for a moment, and finally nodded with a smile. "Very well. Since His Majesty has already been willing to bring out such a great treasure, it would be unappreciative for this old man to refuse again."
"This old man thanks His Majesty for his generosity."
As he spoke, Sun Zhongjing put away the Vast Sea Cosmic Cover. He recalled that for Neptune, one of the Sea God Nine Trials was to retrieve the Sea God's Heart. When that stage of the trial came, he could simply hand this item over.
Qian Renxue, standing nearby, watched him take the Vast Sea Cosmic Cover, a complex and indescribable emotion in her eyes. She had never expected that the mere Heaven Dou Imperial Family would possess such a treasure. If it weren't for the question-and-answer video exposing it, Qian Renxue would have never dreamed that right under her nose, there would be such a treasure so crucial to a god's inheritance.
(end of chapter)
The recovered Emperor Xueye was naturally overjoyed and excitedly declared that Sun Zhongjing would be revered as the Imperial Advisor! From then on, he would be on equal footing with him, the Emperor, and would also enjoy offerings from the Empire, holding a high position and great power.
On the surface, the Emperor's act of repaying this gratitude seemed flawless, and even an ordinary person might feel that being an Imperial Advisor was quite good. But in reality, Sun Zhongjing could see that this old man simply wanted to cling to him. What was Sun Zhongjing's true identity, after all?
A level ninety-nine Limit Douluo!
A Soul Master of this level had already transcended mortal restraint. If he could use the position of Imperial Advisor to tie a powerhouse of this level to the Heaven Dou Empire's war chariot, damn, it would be an enormous profit!
To put it simply, Sun Zhongjing, this Limit Douluo, was like a nuclear warhead! Enough to pose a nuclear deterrence to other Factions! If he became the Imperial Advisor of the Heaven Dou Empire, it would mean the Heaven Dou Empire possessed a nuclear warhead! In this way, other nations, including other Sect Powers, would not dare to easily scheme against the Heaven Dou Empire. Even if they wanted to attack, they wouldn't do so overtly. Furthermore, the Heaven Dou Empire would henceforth stand tall in its diplomatic relations with other countries, gaining countless benefits without any drawbacks.
Such a deal was incredibly cost-effective, and all the Heaven Dou Empire needed to pay was merely the empty title of an Imperial Advisor and some offerings of wealth and resources.
They won big!
All the Nobles of the Heaven Dou Empire won big.
Only Sun Zhongjing lost out.
Not only would he be tied to this broken war chariot of the Heaven Dou Empire, allowing others to flaunt their power using his name, he might even be fooled like an idiot. All he would gain was an empty title and some worldly wealth and resources. But given his identity as a Limit Douluo, if he truly wanted these things, couldn't he obtain them? Even if he wanted to establish his own nation, there would be plenty of people flocking to him.
Thus, regarding Emperor Xueye's action—ostensibly an official conferment but actually a desire to cling to him—Sun Zhongjing naturally refused. He thought to himself, *You're dreaming. I'm certainly not joining your feudal Empire.* What's more, Sun Zhongjing's persona, from the moment it was created, was only to serve White Cloud City and cultivate talent. In the future, when his main body extended an invitation, he would naturally join. It was simply impossible for him to join other Factions.
After being politely refused.
Emperor Xueye's face showed a look of great regret. In fact, he knew that Sun Zhongjing couldn't possibly agree. Because joining the Heaven Dou Empire held no appeal for a Limit Douluo. The reason he still spoke, despite knowing he would likely be refused, besides expressing an attitude, was primarily because it cost nothing to try. If he got lucky and succeeded, wouldn't he have made a huge profit?
After being rejected, Emperor Xueye naturally couldn't just let it go without any expression of gratitude. After all, this was a life-saving favor. If it were an ordinary person, it would be simple: just grant a nobility title, bestow a piece of land, and be done with it. But the person before him was no ordinary person and certainly couldn't be appeased with ordinary things. Even if this individual might not care, Emperor Xueye had to make a gesture; it was a matter of attitude. "I might not want it, but you cannot refuse to give it!"
What to give, however, was a problem.
Finally, Emperor Xueye summoned the attendant outside the door and softly gave a command.
A moment later, the door was opened again.
A servant walked in carrying a brocade tray covered with a layer of red cloth. Something bulged underneath, its nature unknown.
Seeing this, Sun Zhongjing's heart stirred. He had some idea of what was on the brocade tray.
Emperor Xueye smiled and said, "Your Excellency Medicine King, great favors need no spoken thanks. Given your identity, I imagine you wouldn't fancy other mundane items. To express my gratitude, I can only bestow this national treasure upon you."
Sun Zhongjing said nothing, reaching out and directly lifting the red cloth. Immediately, the entire Imperial Bedchamber was enveloped in an intense treasure aura.
It was an extremely peculiar item, a three-dimensional, triangular object that was entirely a crystal-clear blue. It appeared to be carved from sapphire and was only the size of a palm. Within the shimmering blue light, a treasure aura emanated, and strange energy fluctuations continuously pulsed from within it. On the surface of this blue triangle, water-like patterns rippled. These patterns didn't look carved but rather as if they were alive. Circles of blue light shimmered, casting a faint treasure aura throughout the Imperial Bedchamber.
"Oh, it's actually this treasure," Sun Zhongjing said with some surprise.
Emperor Xueye smiled faintly, but his heart felt as if it was bleeding! One must know that the previous video had revealed this item to be an important object of the Sea God's inheritance. Anything related to a god, if one could comprehend its mysteries, would be of endless benefit. But unfortunately, this treasure had fallen into the hands of their Royal Family, and generations had studied it for who knows how long, yet they hadn't figured out a single thing. Clearly, they were not fated to have it. Furthermore, the true master of this item was the Sea God. If the Sea God wished for it, he could summon it back from tens of thousands of miles away at any time. Who knew when this thing would suddenly fly away on its own?
So Emperor Xueye felt that instead of waiting until it was all for naught, it was better to do a favor and give this item away while it was still in his hands. His logic was that he was handing the item over. If it was forcibly summoned away by the Sea God, that would be Sun Zhongjing's own business. It would have nothing to do with him.
"Your Excellency Medicine King, I believe you also know that this Vast Sea Cosmic Cover is a treasure related to the Sea God's inheritance! Regrettably, our Royal Family has possessed this treasure for many years, yet we have always been unable to glimpse its mysteries." Emperor Xueye looked at the Vast Sea Cosmic Cover, putting on a reluctant expression. "With your cultivation realm, even if you cannot inherit the Sea God's position, you might still be able to use this treasure of the Sea God to glimpse a sliver of the mysteries of a higher realm," he said. "Please, you must accept it."
"A treasure of the Sea God, huh..."
Sun Zhongjing looked at the Vast Sea Cosmic Cover on the brocade tray, remained silent for a moment, and finally nodded with a smile. "Very well. Since His Majesty has already been willing to bring out such a great treasure, it would be unappreciative for this old man to refuse again."
"This old man thanks His Majesty for his generosity."
As he spoke, Sun Zhongjing put away the Vast Sea Cosmic Cover. He recalled that for Neptune, one of the Sea God Nine Trials was to retrieve the Sea God's Heart. When that stage of the trial came, he could simply hand this item over.
Qian Renxue, standing nearby, watched him take the Vast Sea Cosmic Cover, a complex and indescribable emotion in her eyes. She had never expected that the mere Heaven Dou Imperial Family would possess such a treasure. If it weren't for the question-and-answer video exposing it, Qian Renxue would have never dreamed that right under her nose, there would be such a treasure so crucial to a god's inheritance.
(end of chapter)
