All eyes on the spot shifted to the speaker, "Xiao..."
A man riding a nine-headed centipede, clad in golden armor and a python robe, appeared. It was none other than Emperor Piaoyan!
Emperor Piaoyan looked at Ming Zhitian, his gaze subtly concealing its heat, "Ming Zhitian? What brings you here?"
Ming Zhitian replied, "I'm not looking for you. I'm here for Xingchen... the Empress."
Emperor Piaoyan, surprisingly hospitable, said, "She's out, not at the Divine Emperor Sacred Land Sect. "
Ming Zhitian asked, "When will she be back?"
Emperor Piaoyan gestured, "I don't know. Perhaps noon, perhaps evening. You can wait in the sect. Please, come in."
"There is no other way," Ming Zhitian said, ushering Bai Liuli in.
Gu Zhenyang was displeased, "Piaoyan, what do you mean?!"
Emperor Piaoyan's face turned cold, "Gu Zhenyang! Speak to this Emperor with more respect! Our guest is here, and this is your way of hosting?"
Gu Zhenyang laughed in anger, "Well said, 'Our guest is here.' You intend to trick this brat out of the 'Shu Jian Lu,' don't you? Wanting to hoard it all for yourself? Even so, you should at least give me a share. After all, it was my reckless courage that earned us the right to contend for the 'Shu Jian Lu'."
Hearing this, Bai Liuli recalled her anger, "Gu Zhenyang! Give me your life!"
Seeing her summon the Sea Liuli, Gu Zhenyang quickly retreated a step.
"Enough!" Emperor Piaoyan's aura flared, "Don't forget who the master of this place is! I am still the Sect Master. You will not cause chaos in the Divine Emperor Sacred Land Sect. Gu Zhenyang, put away your petty schemes, and don't force me to unleash my fury."
"I!..." Gu Zhenyang wanted to say more, but upon meeting Emperor Piaoyan's undeniable gaze, he had to swallow his words.
Escorting Ming Zhitian into the sect's main hall, Emperor Piaoyan waved his hand and sat down, then gestured, "Sit anywhere you like, don't be polite. I've already heard that since you are Chen'er's friend, you are naturally my friend as well. With me here, no one in the Ancient Cultivation Realm would dare provoke you."
What a tactic to win hearts. Regardless of whether Emperor Piaoyan was the murderer of Shi Sheng Ran Yizhou, or if he was after the 'Shu Jian Lu', Ming Zhitian remained unfazed by his enthusiasm. All he needed to know was one thing: Emperor Piaoyan was not a good person.
After waiting for a long time, Empress Xingchen had not returned. Ming Zhitian suspected she was at the Heavenly Water Pavilion.
Just as Ming Zhitian was growing restless, Emperor Piaoyan spoke first, "Brother Zhitian, let's dispense with pleasantries and get straight to the point. I want the 'Shu Jian Lu' in your hands. Give it to me, and you can name your price."
Bai Liuli looked at him with disdain. She hadn't expected that Emperor Piaoyan, like Gu Zhenyang, would also covet the 'Shu Jian Lu'. It seemed they had long harbored ill intentions towards it.
Ming Zhitian feigned surprise, "Oh? Your Excellency the Emperor is also interested in the 'Shu Jian Lu'?"
Emperor Piaoyan said, "A fine sword for a hero. Naturally, the 'Shu Jian Lu' suits me, Piaoyan. Who wouldn't desire it? Speak, state your wish."
Ming Zhitian's wish was for him to die, but he remained composed, "What can you give me?"
Emperor Piaoyan chuckled. Since negotiations had begun, there was room for compromise. "Wealth, women, power, cultivation, I can give you all of it..."
He looked at Ming Zhitian as if seeing through him, "If you agree, my woman, Chen'er, you can have her. How about it?"
Though Emperor Piaoyan said this, in his heart, he planned to kill this brat Ming Zhitian the moment he obtained the 'Shu Jian Lu'.
"Empress Xingchen?" Ming Zhitian was taken aback. He hadn't expected Emperor Piaoyan to be willing to pay any price, including his own woman.
What was said sounded enticing. Anyone hearing these words would be moved. People spend their lives pursuing three things: money, power, and beauty.
In other words, obtaining money is equivalent to obtaining beauty, and obtaining power is also equivalent to obtaining beauty. In summary, a man's life is all for beauty.
And the condition Emperor Piaoyan offered was the most beautiful woman in the Ancient Cultivation Realm, Empress Xingchen. Who wouldn't be tempted?
However, Ming Zhitian saw through it all, "I am not interested in any of what you've said."