For the next period of time, Qin Wentian stayed in the governor's manor. The major and minor powers of the northern city regions all took the initiative to pay tribute. There was basically no need for him to personally go out to collect the tributes. In fact, Qin Wentian even gave the order not to take the initiative to collect the tributes. By doing so, it actually increased the pressure on the major powers of the northern city regions.
In the governor's manor, Xu Li came to report. He stood before Qin Wentian and stared at the handsome figure before him as he sighed ruefully in his heart. Back then, he once listened to the Barbarian Emperor's suggestion to kill Qin Wentian. After tens of years passed, the current Qin Wentian had actually grown to this extent. In the immortal emperor realm, he was like a divinity. Even the Evil Emperor had to admit that he wasn't a match for Qin Wentian.
If Qin Wentian had such combat prowess back then, maybe the Lifire Empyrean wouldn't have been captured. The Jialan Monarch would most probably already be a dead man.
Let's hope that one day, Qin Wentian would still be able to rise up, strong enough to defeat the Lifire Empyrean. Only then would they have a chance to save Ye Qianyu.
"How is it?" Qin Wentian asked.
"All the major powers have finished paying their tributes. In addition, almost all of them have made up for the four times they didn't pay." Xu Li replied. The threat of that battle was simply too great. Over twenty immortal emperors died, including several peak-stage immortal emperors. Who would still dare to act arrogantly?
"Oh?" Qin Wentian's eyes flashed. "That side has also paid their tributes?"
"Mhm, on the surface, the major powers of the Jialan Clan have all taken the initiative to pay their tributes. Not only that, they didn't cause any trouble." Xu Li nodded.
"Jialan Clan." Qin Wentian murmured as a cold light flickered in his eyes. Such an enemy was truly terrifying. On the surface, they would never do anything to you, nor would they give you any excuse to deal with them. But in the dark, they were filled with killing intent, to the point where you wouldn't even be able to detect their silhouettes.
"In the future, be careful of the Jialan Clan." Qin Wentian instructed.
"Yes." Xu Li nodded. He naturally understood how dangerous the Jialan Clan was. The Jialan Clan was like a venomous snake. As for these tributes, they were nothing to the Jialan Clan.
"The number of people in our governor's manor is still too little. Should we expand?" Xu Li asked. Although right now, the governor's manor's prestige was extremely high, how could Xu Li not understand that this prestige was brought by Qin Wentian alone? If it wasn't for his strength, how could the governor's manor have such a glorious scene today?
During the battle at the Ancient River Auction House, when Xu Li saw the number of experts from the various major powers, he felt that the governor's manor was simply too weak. Any random first-tier power would be able to contend against the governor's manor, and the number of immortal emperors they had would only be slightly more than the governor's manor. Once Qin Wentian was gone, they wouldn't have any deterrence at all. Hence, he decided to take this opportunity to expand the governor's manor.
"Indeed." Qin Wentian nodded, but after that, he frowned again as he spoke, "However, there's no rush. Wait for me to return from the Lifire Palace and distribute the rewards to everyone. After that, I will release the news to recruit more people. Those with high cultivation bases aren't fools, they would naturally understand that the governor's manor isn't as safe as we imagine it to be. The only thing that can attract them is cultivation resources."
"Also, the Evil Emperor has to personally oversee the recruitment of vice governors and attendants. Do you understand what I mean?" Qin Wentian asked.
Xu Li's eyes flashed. After that, he nodded, "I understand. It's true that it's easy for people to infiltrate the governor's manor. It's just that I'm afraid many people wouldn't be willing to be controlled by the Evil Emperor willingly."
"I'll only ask a single question, we definitely won't probe into their secrets. If they don't agree, I'd rather not accept them." Qin Wentian spoke. Xu Li nodded and departed.
After Xu Li left, a look of contemplation appeared on Qin Wentian's face. Not only did he have to guard against the Jialan Clan, he also had to guard against the Lifire Palace. If he allowed the governor's manor to grow stronger, what if one day the Lifire Empyrean acted against him? With a single command, the people of the governor's manor would directly target him and his subordinates. What should he do then?
He had to think of all these things in advance.
…
In the Lifire Palace, the tribute date arrived. The governors of the five city regions once again gathered in the garden of the Lifire Empyrean's manor. There were serving maids waiting on them.
However, the difference was that the atmosphere this time around was a little strange.
In the past tens of years, the northern governor, Qin Wentian, was so low-profile that it was terrifying. He rarely appeared in public and every time he came here, he would inevitably hear mocking words. This was especially so from the central governor, Xia Hou, who didn't show any mercy when he mocked Qin Wentian.
However, this time around, they had naturally heard of the incident in the northern city regions. Qin Wentian's domineering battle, sweeping through all the immortal emperors and killing several peak-stage immortal emperors. Although they didn't personally witness it, they could still imagine how tyrannical and domineering Qin Wentian was. In the past, Xia Hou had insulted Qin Wentian many times before. Now that this matter was spread out, it was like a slap to his face. Although Qin Wentian didn't say anything, the atmosphere was still somewhat abnormal.
The five governors sat in their respective locations. Qin Wentian was dressed in white and was quietly sipping his tea. Xia Hou was drinking his wine, not saying a word and had a tense expression on his face, as though he was very unhappy.
Xia Hou naturally had his reasons to be unhappy. Tens of years ago, the matter regarding the Emperor Pavilion in the central city regions caused his governor's manor to be embroiled in a storm of scandal. The palace lord's personal serving maid, the Purple Moon Immortal Emperor, personally went to spread the news. After that, the governor's manor gave in and released the Emperor Pavilion. From then on, the Emperor Pavilion's development was unstoppable. Right now, it had long become one of the largest transaction markets in the central city regions. Every time he heard people talking about how Grandmaster Di created another divine weapon, he would feel extremely unhappy.
Right now, Qin Wentian, whom he had always mocked, rose up again. It was rumored that this time around, the northern governor's manor had collected all the tributes they hadn't collected in the past tens of years. No other powers dared to not pay up. Only using fifty years, Qin Wentian broke through to the mid-stage of the immortal emperor realm, causing such a huge commotion in the northern city regions. But in the past, even if Qin Wentian heard his insults, he couldn't be bothered to reply.
Beauty Xiao propped up her chin with both hands, her beautiful eyes unmoving as she stared at Qin Wentian. She smiled, "You are getting more and more handsome."
In the past when she praised Qin Wentian, Yin Qiu would always mock Qin Wentian. But this time around, Yin Qiu didn't say anything. She merely glanced at Qin Wentian who was quietly sipping his tea.
"Governor Qin." Beauty Xiao called out. Qin Wentian turned his gaze over and smiled, "Governor Xiao, do you have any instructions for me?"
"I've already invited Governor Qin for tens of years. Why hasn't Governor Qin come to my southern governor's manor as a guest yet?" Beauty Xiao's beautiful eyes flashed with a charming smile, as gentle as water.
"During these years, I've truly been busy with my cultivation. Governor Xiao, please don't take offense." Qin Wentian smiled.
"Now that you are already at the mid-stage of the immortal emperor realm, you should be done with your work, right? When would you be free to come over?" Beauty Xiao didn't seem to be tactful at all, she continued smiling.
"If there's a chance, I will definitely come." Qin Wentian laughed.
"If you are willing to come, you can treat my governor's manor as your own home." Beauty Xiao giggled, her voice seemed to contain some hints. Yin Qiu turned pale, he glanced at Qin Wentian, feeling extremely unhappy. This slut, he would always try to seduce Qin Wentian. He had been eyeing Qin Wentian for a very long time but Beauty Xiao had always ignored him.
"If Governor Qin is free, you can come to my manor for a walk." Lin Ba also laughed.
"He merely did what he should do. Also, he spent fifty years to accomplish it. Is there a need for you guys to act like this?" Xia Hou spoke in a low voice, his tone filled with unhappiness. Lin Ba started, he glanced at Qin Wentian and smiled but didn't say anything.
Beauty Xiao and Yin Qiu also smiled at Qin Wentian only to see Qin Wentian sipping on his tea. He slowly placed the teacup down as a mocking smile appeared on his face. Regardless of him or his avatar Di Tian, this Xia Hou didn't give them any face at all. In the past, he kept a low profile and didn't want to cause trouble but this Xia Hou was as arrogant as ever.
"Speaking of which, I'm ashamed. My cultivation base is too low and I spent a total of fifty years before I was able to help palace lord resolve your worries. Given Governor Xia Hou's prestige, I'm sure that when you were at the mid-stage of the immortal emperor realm, you would have already been able to dominate the northern city regions and settle everything easily. It's just that palace lord disdained to send Governor Xia Hou there. It's too much of a waste of talent." Qin Wentian calmly spoke, everyone could hear the mockery in his tone.
Xia Hou turned his head and glanced at Qin Wentian, "Don't be so sarcastic with your words. This is just the beginning, how can you be so complacent?"
"How can I be as imposing as Governor Xia Hou? Sitting in the central city regions and ruling over a region, there's nothing I can't accomplish. Back then, when the Emperor Pavilion's matter caused a huge commotion, did Governor Xia Hou even care about it?"
With a cracking sound, the wine cup in Xia Hou's hand shattered into dust. His eyes turned incomparably cold as he slammed his palm on the table, "Are you trying to stir up trouble?"
"BANG!" Qin Wentian similarly slammed his palm on the table as a cold intent gushed forth from him. "Governor Xia Hou has mocked me for so many years but I ignored him. Now that I replied to Governor Xia Hou with a single sentence, it seems like I'm the one trying to stir up trouble. Governor Xia Hou is truly impressive."
"What do you want?" Xia Hou's eyes gleamed with coldness.
Qin Wentian's eyes narrowed as an evil smile appeared on his face. "Since Governor Xia Hou can't stand this Qin, let's have a battle then. Whoever loses will give up the position of governor and scram out of Lifire City. How about it?"
Everyone here was shocked. The light in Beauty Xiao's eyes grew even brighter. Qin Wentian was getting more and more handsome.
Lin Ba and Yin Qiu also stared at Qin Wentian. This fellow actually issued a challenge to Xia Hou.
Xia Hou's expression was extremely heavy. A mid-stage immortal emperor actually issued such a challenge to him. This by itself was a very face-smacking matter. This was simply looking down on him.
"I'm happy to accompany you." Xia Hou coldly spoke.
"Are you guys done messing around?" A voice rang out. After that, everyone saw Zhuge Xiong flying over as he descended.
"Grand Governor." Everyone stood up and clasped their hands to Zhuge Xiong.
"How dare the two of you cause trouble in the Lifire Empyrean's place?" Zhuge Xiong coldly snorted.
"It's good to be a little angry. In addition, Qin Wentian has contributed greatly this time around. If he didn't have anger, how would he be able to settle the matter in the northern city regions?" The Lifire Empyrean's voice rang out. After that, the Lifire Empyrean came over together with his two serving girls!
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
