103 Subjugation

Palace.

“Father actually brought a cousin from the Remonstrance Office and even bestowed upon her the title of Imperial Noble Consort. He indulges in her beauty every day, neglecting the morning court sessions, and now he even wants to establish Left and Right Prime Ministers,” Zhao Wanquan slammed the table in anger.

“Brother, why be so upset? I think Father’s just acting on a whim; he’ll tire of it soon enough,” Ziyan replied, showing little interest in the affairs of state.

“I’ve heard many are trying to win over Li Xintian, but I’ve also received information that some officials intend to deal with him,” Zhao Wanquan said after a moment of calm consideration.

“He’s been gone for several days already; there’s no need to trouble ourselves with him,” Ziyan said with a smile, though her eyes betrayed her growing dissatisfaction with Li Xintian.

Yao Hua Private Garden.

Zhao Qixin had even moved the entire Yao Hua Private Garden into the palace to win a smile from the beauty.

“Your Majesty, it’s not that your humble servant is suspicious, but there is something that truly worries me,” Yao Shuang said, holding a bowl of soup and feeding Zhao Qixin spoonful by spoonful.

“If you have something to say, just speak plainly,” Zhao Qixin said, reclining sideways.

“Pardon me, Your Majesty, but I hope you will not be angry,” Yao Shuang stood and placed the bowl down, offering a slight bow.

“I forgive you,” Zhao Qixin said.

“Your Majesty, I worry about your health. Other consorts have drained you dry, but I still prepare nourishing soup for you,” Yao Shuang said as she lifted the bowl again and continued feeding him.

“Sigh, that’s precisely why I made you Imperial Noble Consort,” Zhao Qixin sighed.

“Your Majesty, do you wish to live forever?” Yao Shuang set down the bowl.

“Do you have some elixir that grants immortality?” Zhao Qixin sat up straight. Who wouldn’t desire eternal life?

“Not exactly, but I know methods of cultivating immortality and practicing the Dao,” Yao Shuang smiled coyly.

“What is that? Tell me more,” Zhao Qixin said eagerly, still searching for a way to achieve immortality.

“Since childhood, I have trained with a Daoist who said one can become a celestial being through cultivation. Once a person ascends to immortality, eternal life naturally follows,” Yao Shuang said as she rose and crouched beside Zhao Qixin, eyes shimmering with affection.

“Consort, is what you say true?” Zhao Qixin touched her smooth cheek.

“However, Your Majesty, if you wish to cultivate earnestly, you must no longer indulge in sensual pleasures,” Yao Shuang whispered shyly as she embraced him.

“Haha, I could easily ignore other women, but... to leave you, that I truly could not...” Zhao Qixin was interrupted before finishing.

“Your Majesty, if you wish to cultivate immortality, you will need to find someone to assist me in this endeavor. As for affairs of state...” Yao Shuang’s mind was already scheming.

“State affairs can be arranged. Let Chancellor Zhong handle them. But I wonder, Consort, who is this person you want me to find?” Zhao Qixin smiled.

“Your Majesty, it’s unwise to have Chancellor Zhong wield all power alone. I want you to find someone simple,” Yao Shuang sat on Zhao Qixin’s lap.

“What shall we do then?” Zhao Qixin held Yao Shuang’s waist.

“I think we should establish Left and Right Prime Ministers to watch over and restrain each other,” Yao Shuang said, intending to elevate an accomplice.

“That’s a good idea. But finding someone both virtuous and capable is difficult. You haven’t said who you want,” Zhao Qixin pondered. No one in the court seemed worthy of the prime ministership.

“I want you to find someone named Li Xintian to help me. Naturally, he can also assist you in cultivating immortality.”

“For the position of Prime Minister, I already have a suitable candidate in mind. Let’s see if Your Majesty can guess my intention,” Yao Shuang said, eyes gleaming.

“Li Xintian? I have heard of him. But now I want to see what’s truly in your heart,” Zhao Qixin said, lifting Yao Shuang into his arms. Her smile was unstoppable as they moved to the bed.

“Li Xintian, I will make you pay,” Yao Shuang thought fiercely.

Above the Great Yan Empire, a colossal golden dragon roared skyward. After its cry, it appeared weakened, surrounded by dark energy. This was Yao Shuang harnessing the empire’s fortune to cultivate, with Zhao Qixin as the perfect vessel.

Remonstrance Office.

“Chancellor Wang, congratulations,” Deputy Minister Jiang said. Having just made a deal with the Qingqiu fox and learning his identity, he now sought to collaborate with Wang Jinpin.

“Deputy Minister Jiang, if you have something to say, just say it,” Wang Jinpin, now chancellor, was growing arrogant.

“Haha, thank you, Chancellor Wang,” Jiang smiled.

Meanwhile, Li Xintian’s territory had become a pockmarked wasteland.

Zou Wu’s long tail swayed as his eyes fixed intently on Li Xintian.

Li Xintian had not rested for days.

“What exactly is this? So difficult to deal with,” Li Xintian muttered as Zou Wu pressed him relentlessly. Despite appearing calm, the golden dragon’s roar from the heavens, shrouded in dark mist, filled Li Xintian with dread. The empire’s fortune was clearly declining.

This roar was a dire warning, attracting the attention of many forces.

The Qingqiu fox elder noticed as well and quickly withdrew from the capital. Underground, a massive centipede was awakened and crawled forth.

“My chance to become a dragon has come,” the millennia-old centipede laughed.

Zou Wu gave Li Xintian no respite and charged.

Li Xintian braced himself, channeling righteous energy to cover his dragon head with a faint blue lightning, clashing head-on with Zou Wu.

Boom!

The fierce explosion rippled out, creating a vast field of craters, the land utterly transformed.

Zou Wu raised his forepaw and swatted at Li Xintian.

Li Xintian flipped backward, retreating swiftly.

Boom!

A large crater appeared. Zou Wu flicked his tail, scattering dust.

“I need to find a way to deal with him. He looks like a cat—wonder if he’d respond to a cat toy,” Li Xintian mused, noticing Zou Wu’s feline features.

He retracted the dragon head formed from righteous energy and transformed it into a cat toy.

Zou Wu’s red eyes softened, widening as he fixated on the toy, becoming docile.

“If only I had transformed it into a toy earlier, I would have saved days. But he does look kind of cute like this,” Li Xintian chuckled.

He did not approach, but Zou Wu slowly drew near.

Li Xintian shook the toy; Zou Wu’s gaze followed.

Li Xintian took a closer look and noticed a black token on Zou Wu’s chin, inscribed with two characters: “Black Emperor.” Had he not paid attention, he might never have noticed it.

“Li Xintian.”

At that moment, the Black Emperor appeared, snatched the token from Li Xintian’s hand, and vanished. Beside him stood a black dog baring its teeth at Li Xintian.

“Who are you? How do you know me?” Li Xintian warily eyed the figure clad in black with a fierce mask. Even Zou Wu growled at the Black Emperor.

“To think this is our first true meeting. Let me introduce you to some friends,” the Black Emperor said, summoning various eerie spirits behind him. Chills ran down Li Xintian’s spine.

Qiongqi, Taotie, Taowu, Hundun, and more appeared.

“Li Xintian, we shall meet again. This is just a greeting,” the Black Emperor smiled and disappeared, his ghastly entourage fading into darkness.

“Black Emperor?” Li Xintian thought he had never encountered such a being.

Thunder rumbled overhead, snapping Li Xintian back to reality.

The Thunder God had tracked the aura of the Pure Spirit Pearl and struck toward Hu Yuji.

Seeing the Thunder God, Hu Yuji quickly dodged.

“Demon fox, hand over the Pure Spirit Pearl,” the Thunder God commanded amid thunderclaps.

Hu Yuji channeled her demonic power, cloaking herself in the trees.

The Thunder God searched but found no trace of Hu Yuji. Passing a tree without noticing blood oozing down it, he departed.

“Thunder God, what were you striking just now? Did you find it?” Li Xintian arrived, encountering the Thunder God.

“I did, but it slipped away. No idea where it’s hiding.”

“Isn’t that a divine beast? And a benevolent beast, Zou Wu,” the Thunder God said upon seeing Zou Wu.

“So it’s the benevolent beast Zou Wu. Thunder God, do you recognize a token inscribed with ‘Black Emperor’?” Li Xintian nodded.

“Black Emperor? No recollection. I must continue tracking the Pure Spirit Pearl’s whereabouts. I won’t keep you,” the Thunder God said, bowing his fist before ascending.

“Mother, how are you?” Hu Xiaocui asked, having been driven out by Wang Yuanfeng, who had grown cold and ruthless. Having fallen into Yao Shuang’s trap with the Blood-Drop Green Snake, Wang Yuanfeng had become her puppet.

“Help me to the side; I need to heal,” Hu Yuji gasped, her breath unsteady.

“Who’s there?” Hu Yuji’s ears caught footsteps. The Thunder God’s departure had left her on high alert.

“It’s me. We’ve met before,” Li Xintian said as he approached. Zou Wu growled at Hu Yuji and Hu Xiaocui, who raised her hand protectively before Hu Yuji.

“Xiaocui, step back.”

“Sir, do you have business here?” Hu Yuji knew of Li Xintian’s vast righteous energy and the legendary divine beast Zou Wu at his side.

“May I guess you stole the Pure Spirit Pearl and thus attracted the Thunder God?” Li Xintian comforted Zou Wu.

“Since you know, I won’t hide it anymore. Yes, I stole the Pure Spirit Pearl,” Hu Yuji confessed, spitting out the pearl.