Chapter 502 - 371

In the presence of Long Feifeng, uttering any imprudent words could easily lead to being dragged out and beheaded.

They were not Ye Tian, whose status and abilities were distinct from theirs.

“Princess, by the King’s command, none but those summoned may rashly enter.”

The Guard Army had been berated by the Princess not once or twice, but they stood their ground despite the pressure.

“Stand aside, get out of my way!”

Long Feifeng called upon her spells to contend with the guards at their posts.

The guards at the entrance were also practitioners from the Cultivation World, and to be stationed here meant that their ranks were not low either.

Long Feifeng was ruthless in her assault but had to use defensive techniques to protect herself, daring not to counterattack.

Seeing that she couldn’t land a hit on the doorway guards, Long Feifeng’s face reddened with irritation.

The guards’ power was slightly superior to hers, which was why she couldn’t strike them down.

Her attacks were vicious, and she dared not use her Spirit Talisman.

This was the entrance to the Imperial Palace, and Long Feifeng dared not cause too much commotion, for even a Princess sometimes faced punishment.

It seemed like her father, the King, doted on her, but in truth, it was not so.

Like her siblings, she might just be another one of the King’s tools.

Living in luxury and wealth, she could one day become a mere bargaining chip in a deal.

When Long Feifeng heard that her father intended to marry her off to another man, she felt reduced to a mere tool in his presence, a tool for a marriage alliance.

Ye Tian entered the palace and was brought before the King, who even had him take a seat on a stool at the side.

Seated on the Dragon Throne, Long Hong’s courteous demeanor—offering a subject a seat instead of making him stand or kneel—was not out of disrespect for his royal authority.

Ye Tian, a soul from another place, found kneeling uncomfortable, and fortunately, this King was tactful and never demanded it of him.

Ye Tian responded with a clasped fist salute, then unceremoniously took a seat.

The hall was empty save for them, and Ye Tian sensed that this audience with Long Hong boded ill.

It could also be a meeting not solely with him, but he momentarily couldn’t guess what the King was up to.

Long Hong summoned the palace maids to serve tea, fruits, and sweets—an overly polite gesture that was quite unusual.

The maids and eunuchs brought in a small table and placed it right before Ye Tian.

Two additional seats were prepared, likely indicating the arrival of more guests.

“Young General, has there been any military intelligence in the last few days?”

As the King, Long Hong knew that big events had transpired in the realm, and it was unusual for Ye Tian not to report; previously, officials had sent messages via courier stations.

In recent morning courts, the ministers had been clamoring about the brazenness of the bandits.

Those aligned with Ye Tian took pride in his achievements as if they were their own, incessantly praising him for eliminating harm and rescuing the populace, truly a Guardian God of the land.

The faction led by Tang Weiguo was gradually aligning with the Guardian God General, with hardly any objection.

Liu Xu’s faction, in the absence of the Prime Minister, endured the pressure and consistently rebutted, claiming that Ye Tian’s merits were not his alone, but a result of Long Hong’s competent leadership; Ye Tian was merely fulfilling his duty.

Such arguments were aimed at keeping King Long Hong from overly admiring Ye Tian and bestowing gifts upon him.

Previously, when Ye Tian returned, he had been rewarded, against the wishes of many ministers.

“My lord, I received information of bandits plaguing the people and went to eradicate them,” Ye Tian reported.

As if knowing everything, Long Hong curved his mouth like an old fox:

“Oh, did the Young General go alone?

I’ve heard that this time the people were poisoned, and the Young General had to seek the aid of a master to cure them?”

Ye Tian was well aware that the King before him wouldn’t be completely uninformed and spoke the truth:

“Indeed, there was such a matter.

I couldn’t resolve the poison that resembled the plague of rats myself; I had to ask for someone more capable.

Fortunately, a distinguished expert honored me with his presence and came to help, which solved the difficult problem.”

Upon hearing of this expert, Long Hong realized that he couldn’t even discern Ye Tian’s level of cultivation, a person more formidable than himself.

If Ye Tian could request the aid of such a person, it meant that this individual was his friend.

A hint of threat flashed in Long Hong’s eyes.

There was nobody like Ye Tian in the Imperial Palace; with his formidable capabilities, if he genuinely wanted to usurp the throne, he could have killed me in an instant.

As a King, I’ve considered inviting more experts to guard here too.

However, the experts that were invited were not as powerful as Ye Tian.

In the Cultivation World, the true powerhouses, how would they serve for a mere official position in the Imperial Palace?

Ye Tian’s family legacy was entirely devoted to the protection of our nation.

Just like the Ten Great Clans, they each have their own responsibilities and do not vie for control over the kingdom.

They consider various factors; power and wealth are secondary, serving merely to occupy those with lesser talent in the family, while the elite cultivators focus wholeheartedly on their cultivation.

Eternal life and Ascension to the Heavenly Realm are their ultimate goals.

Long Hong had not seen through this; for thousands of years, the Long Family’s tradition of reigning as kings had weakened with each generation in terms of cultivating their techniques, succumbing more to the lure of glory and wealth.

Indulging in delicacies and beauties, the pleasures of material riches, even when they knew they were inferior, they still kept their guard up against potential usurpers.

Those loyal to them were also guarded against and schemed to allow treacherous officials to rise to power, stripping the loyalists of some authority.

The Ye Family of the Guardian God, generation after generation of generals, were far more formidable than any reigning King of ours.

Long Hong was particularly afraid that Ye Tian, this Consort Prince from the Ye Family, would take his country from him, refusing to marry off a daughter to Ye Tian.

Long Hong was well aware that he needed the Ye Family to ensure his reign was secure, yet feared that they might rebel.

Just like now, hearing about Ye Tian’s astonishingly powerful friend, his concern grew even greater; yet, he also thought of the Supreme Elixirs currently circulating in the Martial World, precisely what he needed.

If he became stronger, he wouldn’t fear his son usurping the throne, and with a longer life, he wouldn’t die so soon.

As long as he grew stronger, he wouldn’t fear the threats of powerful subjects.

“Young General, is that Supreme Alchemist from Immortal Venerable City your friend?”

Of course, Long Hong had also heard about Ye Tian joining another’s shop, where a single Supreme Elixir sold for an exorbitant price, providing Ye Tian with no small profit.

Long Hong, reflecting on the depleted state of his nation’s wealth, realized he was less wealthy than a mere merchant.

He desired to close the distance with Ye Tian, to make that Supreme Alchemist his own.

If he granted him an official title, wouldn’t all the Supreme Elixirs he made afterward belong to him?

Then, all the wealth of the Cultivation World would also be his.

At the thought, Long Hong’s mind was filled with visions of mountains of gold and silver, a myriad of rare treasures and Supreme Elixirs.

One day, he might not only achieve eternal life but also ascend to become an Immortal Deity.

With these thoughts, he couldn’t help but laugh.

When Ye Tian heard Long Hong’s words, he instantly became alert; Long Hong had set his sights on his friend.

As a Guardian God, it was his duty to protect the nation under the responsibility bestowed upon his family by previous generations, even though his soul was from the modern era.

But that didn’t mean he was foolish—a pawn to be used and manipulated into betraying friends while counting other people’s money for them.

With his own responsibilities, fulfilling his duties was already giving enough to his country; he didn’t serve for the sake of the King alone.

Seeing Long Hong’s calculative expression, Ye Tian knew the King had already started to scheme against his friend.

How could that be allowed?

Was Long Hong crazed by his greed for money?

Or did he think he, as King, could overshadow the entire Cultivation World?

The real powerhouses don’t even acknowledge him!

“King, he is my friend, but we are not particularly close.

His ambition does not lie in holding an official position.

Besides manufacturing Supreme Elixirs to sell, his current undertaking is the establishment of an Immortal Sect, which is no longer a secret in the Cultivation World.”

Hearing Ye Tian’s words, Long Hong naturally knew how an Immortal Sect could amass followers.

The largest sects had thousands of disciples, their power and wealth sometimes even surpassing that of a king.

What mattered most were the Ten Great Clans, the First-rate Families, and the ordinary Noble Clans.

Their resources and capabilities in the Realm of Cultivation were something the royal family couldn’t compare to.

Long Hong reigning here as King, despite receiving tributes which sometimes included some valuable items, naturally didn’t acquire as many resources as those directly gathered by others.

Moreover, the royal family only consumed without contributing, and while all property in the Realm of Cultivation belonged to the nation, the wealth was not entirely his.

Knowing full well others had riches but not daring to seize them openly.