"Father! Mother!"
In the Yong Imperial Palace, Princess Linglong threw herself into the arms of a graceful and noble woman, tears streaming down her cheeks. After being abducted by the Demon Sect, she never thought that she would ever see her parents again.
The woman's eyes were also brimming with tears. Holding her daughter's face, she asked with concern, "My poor daughter. You must have suffered a lot …"
Princess Linglong gazed at Li Mu. She hadn't suffered at all. The one who had truly endured humiliation and suffering was Li Mu. Wiping her tears, she looked at the woman and said, "Mother, don't worry. With Big Brother Li here, they didn't do anything to me."
The Yong Emperor and Empress respectfully bowed to Li Mu, gratefully saying, "Many thanks, Lord Li. If it weren't for Lord Li, my daughter would likely have met with misfortune …"
Li Mu waved his hand and said, "You're welcome. This is what the Great Zhou should do."
The Yong Empire paid so much protection money to the Great Zhou every year. This was the purpose of the protection money.
Soon after, Li Mu said, "Although I've already brought Linglong back, the danger from the Demon Sect has yet to be resolved. In three days, one of the Demon Sect's Three Patriarchs, an eighth level expert, will awaken from his slumber. It's very likely that he will take revenge on the Yong Empire. We need to prepare early."
When everyone heard this, their faces were filled with worry.
The Yong Empire was already unable to resist the seventh level Demon Sect's Five Patriarchs. If an eighth level Demon Sect's Five Patriarchs came, the Yong Empire would be in danger of annihilation.
Seeing their worry, Li Mu said, "Don't worry. I've already made arrangements. Even if the Demon Sect's Three Patriarchs really descend upon the Yong Empire, there is no need to fear them."
Who was Li Mu? He was the continent's legend. He had pacified the Great Zhou, allied with the Yao Nation, and allied with the Ghost Realm. Everything he had done was worthy of being recorded in the annals of history. Not long ago, he had charged into the Demon Sect's lair alone and rescued Linglong from the hands of the world's top experts. The people of the Yong Empire had long since regarded him as their backbone.
The Yong Emperor solemnly said, "If Lord Li has any instructions, the Yong Empire will definitely do them."
Li Mu nodded and said, "I need some high-grade spiritual jades and some top-grade materials for setting up arrays."
The Yong Emperor immediately replied, "We will have someone make the arrangements."
Li Mu had only felt the tip of the iceberg from Tian Jizi. That mountain-like pressure was still fresh in his memory.
There was an insurmountable gap between the Seventh Realm and the Eighth Realm. Even if several Seventh Realm cultivators joined forces, they were still no match for an Eighth Realm cultivator. However, if several of them were not enough, what about ten of them?
The State of Yong currently had three Transcendents, the southern states had the Five Daoist Sects, the Ghost Realm, the Yao Nation, the Four Buddhist Sects, and the Great Zhou. Li Mu hadn't calculated in detail before, but after doing so, he realized that he could mobilize so many Transcendents just by relying on his reputation and the subordinates he controlled.
If he could integrate this force, even the Three Ancestors of the Demon Sect wouldn't be able to return alive.
The only problem was that the Four Daoist Sects were still fine. They were originally in the south and could support the State of Yong in a short period of time. However, the Great Zhou, the Fu-lu School, the Yao Nation, and the Ghost Realm were too far away from the State of Yong and couldn't provide timely assistance.
Unless he could gather them together in an extremely short period of time.
Coincidentally, the Heavenly Tomes of the Spirit Array Sect recorded an ultra-long-distance teleportation array.
This kind of teleportation array could easily teleport people tens of thousands of li or even tens of thousands of li away in an instant. It could be said that it utilized the power of space to the limit. The only drawback was that it consumed too many resources.
Every teleportation required a large amount of high-grade spiritual jades as the energy source. Once or twice was fine, but if used too many times, even a large sect like the Fu-lu School would use up all of its spiritual jades.
If that weren't the case, Li Mu would have already constructed countless of these teleportation arrays.
One was in the Divine Capital, one was in the Yao Nation, one was in the Ghost Realm, and one was in Mount Baiyun. How much time could they save?
As one of the wealthiest people on the continent, Li Mu still hadn't chosen to construct this kind of teleportation array. This was enough to show just how expensive it was.
In the current situation, he had no choice but to do so. If the Three Ancestors of the Demonic Dao personally descended, the State of Yong would undoubtedly be destroyed. It could be said that apart from the Xuanzong, the Demon Sect could destroy any of the various powers on the continent.
If he constructed long-distance teleportation arrays in every region, he would be able to provide reinforcements when one side was in trouble. The cost of teleportation arrays was too great, so he wouldn't normally use them. He would only activate them when the various powers were facing a great crisis.
On the way back, Li Mu had already sent a message to the various powers, ordering them to immediately prepare the materials. In the following three days and two nights, he wouldn't be able to rest for even a moment.
After personally helping the State of Yong construct the teleportation array and teaching them how to use it, Li Mu immediately headed for the Spirit Array Sect. It would take too long for him to set up the teleportation array by himself. He needed to find some helpers from the Spirit Array Sect.
Meanwhile, in the State of Yong, Princess Linglong was telling the imperial family in detail about what had happened in the past few days.
A month ago, everyone, including the Emperor of Yong, believed that the Great Zhou's promise to help them rescue Linglong and that they had to wait for news was just a temporary prevarication.
Unexpectedly, a month later, Li Mu had brought Linglong back in one piece.
After hearing the entire story from Linglong, everyone's hearts were in turmoil, unable to calm down for a long time.
As a Realm Six cultivator, how much courage did one need to venture deep into the Demon Nest alone?
To put down one's noble status and use the most humble attitude to accept inhumane torture and humiliation every day, all for the sake of waiting for an opportunity, how many people could do such a thing?
More importantly, he had succeeded. He had successfully rescued Linglong from the hands of countless Demonic Dao experts. It could be said to be a miracle.
This should have been an impossible task, but he had done it. Not only had he rescued Linglong, but he had also snatched away the three pages of the Heavenly Tomes of the Demonic Dao, creating a miracle among miracles. It was no wonder that even the Empress of the Great Zhou had pledged her heart to him.
In Princess Linglong's mind, that tall and lofty figure had already become like a mountain.
The Empress of Yong sighed softly and said, "We owe Lord Li a huge favor. I don't know how we can repay him …"
The Emperor of Yong thought for a long time and said, "Why don't …"
The husband and wife looked at each other, understanding each other's intentions. The Empress of Yong said, "That will depend on whether Linglong agrees or not …"
Princess Linglong nodded repeatedly, "I agree. I agree to anything."
The Emperor of Yong said, "We are prepared to give the Emperor's Qi to Lord Li."
Princess Linglong said disappointedly, "So Father was talking about the Emperor's Qi …"
The Emperor of Yong looked at her and asked, "Then what did you think it was?"
Princess Linglong sighed softly and said, "I thought it was something else. Like I said, how could there be such a good thing …"
Two days later …
In these two days, Li Mu had traveled all over the Zu Continent's Sheng Continent, going back and forth to the Great Zhou, the Yao Nation, the Ghost Realm, and finally back to Yong. Although he was a little tired, he had at least finished setting up all the teleportation formations and no longer needed to be threatened by the Demonic Dao's Three Ancestors.
Although he had spent an immeasurable amount of resources, the effects were obvious.
The ultra-long distance teleportation formations were the foundation of the various factions' mutual support. Henceforth, when the various factions encountered a crisis, they would no longer have to fight alone. They would be able to gather their peak forces at the first moment. Similar incidents like the Heavenly Tomes of Yong being stolen would never happen again.
In the evening, the Yong imperial family held a grand banquet in his honor.
After the banquet, the Emperor of Yong cupped his hands and bowed to Li Mu, saying, "Lord Li has worked hard."
Li Mu waved his hand and said, "As long as all parties can work together to resist the Demonic Dao in the future, a bit of hard work is nothing."
The Emperor of Yong continued, "Lord Li has done a great favor for Yong. We have discussed it with our fellow clansmen and wish to give Lord Li a gift. Please accept it."
Li Mu waved his hand again and said, "Yong has paid tribute to Great Zhou, and Great Zhou has protected you. This official does not need any gifts."
The Emperor of Yong persisted, "If it weren't for Lord Li, Yong would have faced destruction. As the Emperor, We ought to thank Lord Li heavily. As her father, Lord Li has saved my daughter. Please give me a chance to repay you."
Since the Emperor of Yong was so insistent, Li Mu found it difficult to refuse. He said, "Since that is the case, I will accept deferentially."
The Emperor of Yong revealed a smile and said, "We have discussed it with the Madame and have decided to give Linglong …"
Li Mu's complexion changed greatly, and he hastily said, "You can't! You absolutely can't!"
One didn't necessarily need to repay a life-saving favor with one's body. Xiao Bai was still lining up, so how could Linglong have a turn? Moreover, her name wasn't in the Empress' booklet. The Emperor of Yong simply didn't know that he was biting the hand that fed him …
At this moment, the Emperor of Yong continued, "I will give Linglong's strand of imperial Qi to Lord Li. Please accept it …"
Li Mu stared blankly for a moment before asking, "So you were talking about imperial Qi …"
The Emperor of Yong nodded and said, "Half a year ago, Yong's ancestral shrine condensed another strand of imperial Qi. Originally, it was to wait for Linglong to advance to the sixth level before allowing her to refine it … What did Lord Li think it was?"
Li Mu coughed softly, his complexion returning to normal. He changed the topic and said, "No, no. This gift is too valuable. I cannot accept it."
However, the Yong Emperor persisted, "We have provoked such a powerful enemy. Even if Yong had another seventh level expert, it would be useless. Linglong has already agreed to this matter. Lord Li, please don't refuse …"
The Great Zhou hadn't condensed a single strand of imperial Qi for fifty years. The two factions had argued for several years over who should possess the imperial Qi. This gift could no longer be described as valuable.
Li Mu continued to refuse, "No, I truly cannot accept this gift."
The Yong Emperor thought for a moment before asking, "Does Lord Li mean that you want us to betroth Linglong to you?"
Li Mu flatly said, "How is that possible? Am I that kind of person?"
Hearing this, the Yong Emperor fell into deep thought.
Li Mu thought for a moment. He had too many beauties by his side. In the eyes of those who didn't understand him, he really did seem like that kind of person.
To prove that he really wasn't that kind of person, Li Mu could say, "In that case, it would be impolite for this official to refuse that strand of imperial Qi …"
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.
