Chapter 1356: There Is No Negotiation Without Conditions

The Void Battleground was in a complete mess. The Black Sea’s water poured in and the Heaven-Destroying Sword’s terrifying apocalyptic sword radiance caused a flurry of never-ending void hurricanes inside the Void Sea, and they just kept wracking havoc.

Xuan Li returned to the Heavenly Cosmic Ray World inside Mount Yujing. Her expression remained the same as it had always been, and she didn’t say a word as she returned behind Lin Feng.

Lin Feng was sitting cross-legged, and back-facing the miniature Black Heavenly Treasure Tree. He closed his eyes once more and his tone sounded as plain as ever when he spoke to Zhu Yi’s Great Sun Avatar. “You guys can handle what remains.”

The Great Sun Avatar appeared a little pale, and his soul seemed to quiver while the image of the apocalyptic sword radiance lingered in his mind for a long time.

He tried to orientate himself as he bowed towards Lin Feng respectfully and said, “Yes, Master. I understand.”

Zhu Yi got onto the Higan Golden Bridge inside the Void Battleground, and fixed himself in place within the chaotic void space.

On the other side, Shi Tianhao managed to stabilize himself as he had the Crucible of the Divine Lands and the City in the Sky while he took care of Shi Zongmao at the same time.

The turmoil and disarray inside the Void Battleground was petrifying. It had been many years since something like that happened, and its scale and power exceeded anything that came before. Even Shi Zongmao, who was a third-level immortal soul stage cultivator, had to be careful in the face of this calamity.

Without Shi Tianhao’s aid, he would have been swept away into some unknown place even if he could protect himself.

Shi Xingyun didn’t attempt to stabilize herself amidst the chaos. She let the hurricanes sweep her away, and she focused on protecting herself from harm.

She flashed a faint smile at Zhu Yi, Shi Tianhao and Shi Zongmao. “That was Master Lin? Master Lin’s mastery is incredible – truly admirable and formidable.”

Zhu Yi’s answer wasn’t humble, but neither as he arrogant. “We are incapable of describing and evaluating my master’s abilities and methods.”

Shi Zongmao glanced at Shi Xingyun with an inscrutable look. “Where are you going to go, Xingyun?”

Shi Xingyun replied, “There must be somewhere I can go in the whole wide world. The dragons are a dangerous threat, but once I completely awaken and when I have completely removed the Earth Dragon King’s mark, the dragons cannot find me if I lay low and keep a low profile. You don’t have to worry, uncle Gunyang.”

“Do consider the suggestion that I have just proposed,” Shi Zongmao sighed and continued, “Perhaps we can return to Xiling City and you can take your time to decide.”

With Shi Xingyun’s current prowess, the Great Qin Empire wouldn’t be able to stop her if she wanted to leave even if she returned to Xiling City first.

Shi Xingyun smiled and said, “I will find an opportunity to visit my mother and my brother once I have stabilized myself. Of course, I want to visit Jingyun and the others too.”

Her mother was Shi Yu’s concubine. Even though she was only in the aurous core stage, she had been alive for a thousand years and was still living a healthy and peaceful life.

Shi Xingyun’s brother naturally referred to the crown prince, Shi Chongyun. The two of them shared the same mother.

Shi Jingyun was born from another one of Shi Yu’s concubines, but Shi Xingyun practically watched her grow up since she was born, and their relationship was intimate.

Shi Xingyun didn’t mention Shi Zongmao, and neither did she mention Shi Zongtang and the other members of the royal family. Shi Zongmao couldn’t help but laugh bitterly inside and replied, “Xiling City will always welcome your return.”

“You don’t have to think so much, uncle Gunyang,” Shi Xingyun continued, “You wanted to interrupt my awakening so that you can keep the Immortal Dragon City. I can understand that. In the end, it is likely that I harbor hatred and vengeance towards the Great Qin Empire. Safely taking back the Immortal Dragon is ultimately the most beneficial for the Great Qin Empire.”

Shi Zongmao’s expression became even more heavy and complicated when he heard her words.

Shi Xingyun kept going. “I understand your rationale, so I will not pay any heed to it. However, I will never return under the Great Qin Empire, and I hope that you can understand my choice – do help me pass the message to the current emperor.”

Shi Zongmao could tell that Shi Xingyun’s mind was made. At least, she wouldn’t change her mind for the time being, and all he could do was close his mouth and sigh in exasperation.

The Gu Dynasty had Gu Jun, who was a powerful cultivator in the Cardinal Tribulations Beginning Stage, and they also had the Longevity Lotus Seat, which was a Destiny-level magic treasure. Their strength was enough to overpower the Great Zhou, the Great Qin Empire and the Royal House of the Northern Tribes even if the three parties teamed up.

The Great Void Sect and the Mount Shu Sword Sect sealed off their mountains, and the Celestial Sect of Wonders expressed their indifference and that they wouldn’t interfere. If someone said that the Great Qin Empire didn’t feel any pressure from the Gu Dynasty, that would be a lie.

The Great Qin Empire would be in a much better state in the face of the Gu Dynasty if they managed to take back the Immortal Dragon City, and the pressure would be heaped onto the Great Zhou Empire and the Royal House of the Northern Tribes.

Taking back the Immortal Dragon City was hopeless at this point, and all they could hope for was for Shi Xingyun to return home on her own accord.

Shi Zongmao wasn’t speaking empty words. Shi Xingyun could be considered the most powerful cultivator in the Great Qin Empire, and if she actually did return to Xiling City and if she did take over the throne, the Great Qin Empire would have accepted her graciously.

The only person that would have something to say against that would probably be the current emperor, Shi Zongtang. However, with the current political backdrop and the immense pressure on his shoulders, it was likely that Shi Zongtang would pass on the throne.

Passing the royal throne in the human world of cultivation was similar to that of traditional empires, but there were still some differences.

Of course, traditional and hardheaded people like Zhu Hongwu would never allow women to meddle in politics. Even if that female was powerful, he would have still objected.

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However, for everyone inside the Great Qin Empire, they would have sincerely accepted her as queen if Shi Xingyun returned on her own accord.

Shi Zongmao contemplated the problem as quickly as he could when he failed to interrupt Shi Xingyun’s awakening. He interacted with Shi Xingyun and brought out the Great Qin Empire’s greatest sincerity.

In terms of pure cost and benefit, returning to the Great Qin Empire was still Shi Xingyun’s best choice. The Great Qi Empire persevered through everything, and even though they sustained heavy losses, their foundations were still there and they still possessed all sorts of resources and materials. Resting peacefully and resisting against the current pressure that she faced could give her a more stable future.

Rich and ample resources were also beneficial for Shi Xingyun’s personal cultivation and would definitely allow her to strengthen her abilities.

If she became the emperor of the empire, then allocating these resources would become a lot easier and smoother for her.

What exasperated Shi Zongmao was that Shi Xingyun didn’t want to return to the Great Qin Empire at all.

Shi Zongmao could tell that the crux of the issue was in Shi Xingyun truly didn’t want to return, and it wasn’t because she was being coy or that she wanted more benefits. This made Shi Zongmao even more flustered.

He wasn’t afraid of negotiating and accepting outrageous terms, but he was afraid of her not wanting to negotiate at all. He wasn’t afraid of her pressing difficult conditions, but she just didn’t want to discuss them at all and neither did she want to think about it – he was at his wits’ end.

At this point, Shi Zongmao could only ponder about speaking to Shi Xingyun’s mother, to her brother, to Shi Jingyun and the others after returning to Xiling City. He could only wait for Shi Xingyun to come back and visit her loved ones and attempt another round of negotiation.

Furthermore, he needed an official meeting and discussion with the current emperor, Shi Zongtang.

Shi Zongmao came into the Void Battleground in high spirits, but he was about to leave with a defeated will. He could only force a laugh and console himself. “At least the dragons have been severely wounded once more. The Great Qin Empire now faces diminished pressure from the demons, and they won’t be a concern in the near future.”

Shi Xingyun’s soul sat cross-legged on the enormous dragon head. The large dragon frame gradually disappeared into the chaotic void turbulence as she greeted Zhu Yi and Shi Tianhao respectfully and said, “Much gratitude to you for protecting me today. I managed to survive attacks from the Earth Dragon King and the Shen Dragon King because of the two of you. Farewell, and hope we meet again.”

“I will visit the Kunlun Mountain Ranges in the time to come so that I can express my gratitude to Master Lin. I do hope to see the two of you again when that happens.”

Zhu Yi replied, “You’re too polite, Xingyun. Our sect doors will always be open to you.”

Shi Tianhao laughed and said, “The most suitable place for you to cultivate is the Ancient Desolate Galaxy.”

Shi Xingyun chuckled in response and said, “I wouldn’t dare. Do pass on my regards to Master Lin, and farewell.”

Shi Xingyun’s soul and her dragon body vanished into the billowing spatial turbulence as she spoke. She surged through the layers of void space and eventually disappeared from everyone’s sight.

Zhu Yi turned towards Shi Zongmao and said, “Do forgive us, Prince Gunyang, that my junior brother and I cannot help you.”

Shi Zongmao laughed bitterly and nodded his head. “That’s alright.” He heaved another frustrated sigh, and he had a hard time pacifying his stirring emotions in his heart.

Shi Zongmao quickly returned to the Divine Lands after the void hurricanes settled down, and after he bid well to Zhu Yi and Shi Tianhao.

He returned empty-handed, but hope was not completely lost. The Great Qin Empire had to gather their high-level cultivators to discuss their future direction.

Zhu Yi and Shi Tianhao weren’t in a hurry to leave. Shi Tianhao’s Yingyuan and Huangshen Body sat cross-legged in midair and quietly recuperated their strength and consolidated their masteries.

He had just reached the second-level immortal soul stage before he threw himself in an epic battle with the Earth Dragon King. He needed to stabilize his foundations, and he had to consolidate the gains from this encounter.

This would speed up his cultivation and would also benefit him a lot more than otherwise.

Zhu Yi stood silently on the Higan Golden Bridge at the side and stood guard for his junior brother. He surveyed the Void Battleground before them while his eyes sparkled with flowing radiance.

He had already withdrawn his virtual entity at this point. However, another Yi Daoist Talisman suddenly glowed in his pupils once again.

The Yi Daoist Talisman quietly rotated in his eyes, and suddenly shot out several golden beams that snaked around inside the dark void space, eventually creating a light projection.

The light projection appeared broken and incomplete. It seemed overly simple and decrepit, but one could still tell that it was a mighty and dignified dragon.

Zhu Yi’s eyes sparkled once more. “The Immemorial Celestial Dragons’ concepts of power are truly mystical and profound. However, they are becoming much clearer to me.”

He placed his hands behind his back and scrutinized the golden dragon light projection before him. He subtly shook his head after a moment and the light projection dissipated immediately before he turned towards Shi Tianhao.

Twelve light shadows shimmered above Shi Tianhao’s Huangshen Body. The Twelve Divine Generals transformed into the Twelve Men of Gold and back into their spiritual forms continuously, while an inscrutable and mystical pagoda glimmered above his Yingyuan Body. It toggled incessantly with the City in the Sky.

Profound and indescribable principles and concepts exuded from Shi Tianhao’s body. The vast barrens and vitality, the great Chaos and bleariness and the unpredictable transformations of destiny oscillated between each other and cycled over and over again.

Shi Tianhao’s Huangshen Body and his Yingyuan Body opened their eyes at the same time after a moment and stood up as they took a step out.

The two of them stood side by side, and both entities intended to take a step forward. They were supposed to be parallel, and it wasn’t possible for their paths to intersect in any way. However, the moment this step was taken, Shi Tianhao’s Huangshen Body and his Yingyuan Body instantly merged into a single entity.

The City in the Sky and the Twelve Divine Generals above his head also integrated back together and transformed into a sprawling city that was covered by layers of brilliant light, and one could not be told apart from the other.