Chapter 223 - Meeting

Chapter 223: Chapter 210 MeetingAfter enduring a five-year-long war, both the Snow Tribe and the Northern Territory were utterly exhausted. The Snow Clan Great Emperor finally admitted that Hanguguan Pass could not be breached by brute force and agreed to sit down with the queen of the Sahe family for peace talks, aiming to end this endless war.

To fend off the northern Snow Tribe’s invasion, the entire empire invested no less than ten million soldiers into the northern battlefield, sacrificing countless young lives for the empire. Upon receiving the Snow Clan Great Emperor’s invitation for talks, they immediately agreed to the request.

"Your Majesty, this must not be done!" In the temporary residence of the Queen at Hanguguan Pass, several generals knelt and said: "The Snow Tribe persisted for five whole years without giving up; there must be deceit in their sudden request for talks!"

Nono looked at the kneeling generals with a calm expression, picked up a cup of tea casually, and did not rush to speak.

After waiting for a while, the generals became somewhat anxious about not receiving a response from Nono: "Your Majesty, please give us some insight."

Nono smiled and said, "I am, of course, aware that Bu Sheng will not abandon his invasion of my northern territories. Whether these talks are genuine or not, what difference does it make? It is equally an opportunity for us."

Nono, having been tempered by years of war, had at this moment fully developed the qualities of a mature queen. Amidst Konstantin’s struggle for resources, she brought the entire Northern Territory under her command through the cohesion of war. If confronted with Taishang now, it would undoubtedly not be the same scene as it was five years ago.

Of course, Taishang would also no longer oppose her; the queen was already nurtured and could now retire.

"The Snow Tribe is cunning; it is not good for the queen to risk herself. I still urge the queen to dispatch us for the talks, and then we can assassinate the Snow Clan Great Emperor and completely end this war!" General Fan Rong said solemnly, "I believe this plan is feasible!"

Nono shook her head, "If I do not appear, how will Bu Sheng show his face?"

"But..." The ministers wanted to say more, but Nono did not give them the chance: "The lily will ensure my safety. This is our opportunity to end this absurd war and strive for some peace for the Northern Territory. I am duty-bound in this matter; all of you should continue to guard your posts diligently. Do not relax, and be on guard against any Snow Tribe sneak attacks."

Nono stood up and tidied her wrinkled skirt, saying, "Very well, you may leave. I wish to rest now."

"My Queen..." They tried to speak, but Nono’s icy gaze sealed their mouths tightly, preventing any arrogance.

After the ministers left, the lily armor was quietly replaced for Nono, and she said solemnly, "Your Majesty, can we really kill the Snow Clan Great Emperor?"

"Have faith; you are the main force in this assassination. Don’t let the chain break." Nono gave the lily a calm look; since the stance taken five years ago, although she had not driven the lily away, her attitude toward her had long become official, lacking the closeness of the past.

"Yes!" The lily knelt on one knee, responding solemnly, "I will do my utmost, even offering my life for the country!"

"No one asks you to sacrifice; we must all live on." Nono helped the lily up, "For those who have gone before, we must live on well."

The lily showed a trace of bitterness; after five years, the queen still thought of him.

Nono prepared thoroughly for these talks, selecting a group of warriors from the army, all at the Second-Transformation Peak, just a step away from the Third Transition. In other words, they were at the pinnacle.

The empire was like this, and how could the Snow Tribe be earnest in talking? Snow Clan Great Emperor Bu Sheng was also counting people in the army, harboring the same intent to kill the queen.

An Nuo, a close minister beside Bu Sheng, said: "My king, if you want the assassination to be successful, there is a possible plan."

"Oh? What plan do you have to ensure my certain kill of Fina?" Bu Sheng smiled, "Such remarks are not to be made lightly."

"Of course, but we must be willing to make certain sacrifices," An Nuo bowed and said, "I have studied the ancient pact for days and found some subtle points."

"What did you find, a loophole?" Bu Sheng became interested and put down the military register, asking, "If you can help me successfully kill Fina and promote me to the third level, I shall bestow you the title of Marquis of Northern Peace."

"Thank you, my King." An Nuo immediately knelt in thanks, then continued, "It depends on whether Your Majesty is willing to make some sacrifices."

"What exactly is the plan?" Bu Sheng frowned, a little annoyed by An Nuo’s rhetoric.

An Nuo promptly replied, "A Third Transition strong one cannot interfere with continental wars, but it is not impossible to act. The ancient pact’s determination begins to mete out punishment from the moment a Third Transition strong one takes action. If this strong one is powerful enough, they could strive for half a breath’s time."

"Half a breath..." Bu Sheng understood. If he were willing to sacrifice a Snow Tribe strong one, a Third Transition strike would inevitably crush a Second Transition in absolute fashion; the queen would be unable to resist. Sёarch* The Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Wonderful! Wonderful!" Bu Sheng exclaimed with joy, "For the foundation of the Snow Tribe, what is one strong person’s sacrifice? I will arrange it immediately."

"My King!" An Nuo hurriedly said, "This matter cannot be done directly. The Northern Territory’s queen surely has many protective means; we must first dismantle these defenses to ensure nothing goes amiss."

"Good! I have not misjudged you. You are indeed a talent; if this succeeds, you shall surely be named a marquis or duke!"

"Thank you, my King!"

Three days later, on Qian Mountain outside Hanguguan Pass, Snow Clan Great Emperor Bu Sheng and Northern Territory Queen Fina Noro simultaneously led their teams up the mountain from opposite sides, as per the prior arrangement, with neither allowed more than ten followers.

The location for the meeting was the mountaintop of Qian Mountain, with an altitude exceeding seven thousand.

Three hours later, Bu Sheng and Nono arrived simultaneously at the summit; the two top forces of the Star Sea finally met.

Bu Sheng smiled slightly, "I have long heard of the Northern Territory queen’s incomparable beauty. Today confirms the truth."

"Thank you for the praise, Great Emperor of the Snow Tribe, but beauty is only skin deep," Nono replied coolly.

"The queen is right," Bu Sheng bowed slightly, "I was being narrow-minded."

After a simple exchange of greetings, the parties lined up in a row, and tables and chairs were moved from the Space Ring. Bu Sheng and Nono each sat down, with neither in a rush to break the silence. They listened quietly to the roaring cold wind, savoring the magnificent mountain top views.

After a long time, Bu Sheng grew restless and spoke, "Your Majesty, how do you find the rivers and mountains?"

"Splendid, beautiful, and should not be ravaged by war," Nono responded, "This invasion by the Snow Tribe is not just."

"The queen jokes," Bu Sheng replied, "Within the Hanguguan Pass, three hundred thousand miles should belong to my Snow Tribe, which was seized by the Sacred Empire tens of thousands of years ago. This magnificent land should rightfully belong to my Snow Tribe. This time, I broke the pass only to reclaim our ancestral property and restore the Snow Tribe’s entirety." Bu Sheng’s reply was crafty, standing on the moral high ground and refuting Nono’s unjust allegations.

"Oh? Tens of thousands of years ago it was your Snow Tribe’s enterprise; what about hundreds of thousands of years ago, before your Snow Tribe’s ancestors created you, to whom did this land belong then?" Nono sharply retorted, "In the end, your territory was also seized. The reason no one is asking you to return it is merely that those people are all dead. My empire swept through your Snow Tribe tens of thousands of years ago; this land is our spoils of war. The Human Race has lived on this land for tens of thousands of years; it no longer belongs to you."

"Haha." Bu Sheng refrained from further words; after all, it was just verbal sparring, but what would unfold later would be dramatic!

Nono continued, "Did you arrange the troop withdrawal, Great Emperor, since you invited me to the talks?"

"Withdrawal?" Bu Sheng shook his head, "I hope you’ll return the ten thousand miles within Hanguguan Pass to my Snow Tribe; this is our basis for the ceasefire."

"Return?" Nono sneered, "Was I not clear enough just now? Hanguguan Pass belongs to the empire; don’t even think about it!"

"If Your Majesty maintains such persistence, I fear we have nothing to discuss. My Snow Tribe’s four million soldiers are ready, unafraid to fight again." Bu Sheng’s tone was indifferent.

Nono was not afraid, immediately laughing, "Does the Snow Tribe have only four million troops? My Northern Territory still has seven million; if you do not retreat, I will no longer just defend. When the time comes, the army crossing into Snow Tribe territory and sweeping it entirely is not impossible!"

"Isn’t Your Majesty speaking prematurely?" Bu Sheng bowed his head and said, "If you truly had the power to counterattack, why would you have simply defended Hanguguan Pass for five years?"

"In a word, if you do not withdraw, my Northern Territory is unafraid of war!"

"War it is!"

Neither Nono nor Bu Sheng intended the talks to yield results; naturally, their attitudes were equally unyielding.

Harboring mutual intent to kill, they simultaneously overturned the tables, and two swords were unsheathed in unison, their blades clashing with a crisp cry.