https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-743-Farewell-to-Nanyang-the-Road-of-Escape/13466292/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-745-The-Three-Paths-of-the-Divine-Dynasty/13466294/
Chapter 744: The Imperial Family Has No Spare Resources
Chapter 744: The Imperial Family Has No Spare Resources
Imperial City, Divine Department.
As a direct subordinate of the Emperor of Humanity, the Eight Bureaus were responsible for the clouds and rains of the world. The Demon-Slaying Bureau, in particular, oversaw the four continents, wielding the power of life and death, with countless strong experts under its command, making it a force that could sway the entire court.
Yet, this formidable entity was tucked away in an inconspicuous corner of this vast city.
It was hard to imagine that in the deeper, darker recesses of this office, in a small, modest study, sat the lean middle-aged man who was the head of the Divine Department, Lin Shuya.
"..."
At his gesture, Feng Xi took a seat at the table, without much small talk, and immediately handed over the prepared report.
"Are you the only one who came? Where are the others?"
Lin Shuya raised his eyes, sighed lightly, and reached out to take the report, flipping it open casually.
The secret letter he had sent out had not been in vain.
These veteran generals, who had fought for the Divine Dynasty for years with dedication and loyalty, should not die in vain just because of someone's whim.
He would save as many as he could.
"General Yang and General Yan are still defending the Southern Continent; they didn't come together", Feng Xi replied softly.
"..."
Upon hearing this, Lin Shuya fell silent for a moment, his brows slowly furrowing. He said nothing more but focused his gaze on the report in his hands.
As the neat rows of characters came into view, his eyelids twitched slightly.
This report was less a summary of the situation in the Southern Continent and more a record of one person's achievements, with a somewhat unfamiliar name popping up every few lines.
There was a great demon from the Jade Pool causing havoc in the Three Prefectures.
The Divine Sects, in their quest for Imperial Qi, sent disciples with magical treasures to disrupt the lives of the people.
All cultivation sects had withdrawn from the Central Continent, taking with them the True Deity relics that kept the Demon Locking Tower stable.
The Bodhi Sect ambushed the Southern Continent's titled generals.
Eight Fourth-Grade demons led a horde of monsters to invade Pine Breeze Prefecture.
The Great Southern Continent's leading demon, along with several Third-Grade demon lords, joined forces to break through the Southern Continent.
Each event was more shocking than the last, but the one constant was the same phrase that followed each incident.
Slain by General Nanyang!
Even from the text alone, one could sense the chilling aura of death and destruction.
The study was filled with the sound of pages turning. When the sound stopped, the room fell into a deathly silence.
"..."
Lin Shuya carefully read through the entire report, and the conclusion he drew made his breath catch.
The Great Southern Continent had actually been defended!
Feng Xi had not returned from withdrawal but had come to report.
And the reason for all this was the man known as General Nanyang.
Yes, the very person he had previously felt displeased with and planned to have the Southern Generals abandon.
"Is this true?"
Lin Shuya took a deep breath and carefully closed the report.
Even with his status, he felt his face burning with embarrassment. As the head of the Divine Department, he had made such a severe judgment error.
"Every word is true."
Feng Xi slowly stood up. "I ask that you inform His Majesty as soon as possible and arrange an audience for General Nanyang."
"Of course."
Hearing this, Lin Shuya pressed his lips together, a glimmer of light appearing in his eyes. In this world of suffering, to receive such good news was truly a cause for celebration.
With that, he reached to put the report away. "I will present this to His Majesty as soon as possible."
At that moment, Feng Xi placed a hand on the report, speaking calmly. "I will present it to His Majesty myself, if you don't mind."
"..."
Lin Shuya was taken aback for a moment. The meaning behind this gesture was clear: Feng Xi did not trust him.
His lips twitched, and a hint of melancholy flashed in his eyes. "May I ask why?"
Feng Xi looked at the lean middle-aged man, pondering for a moment. "If the court cannot spare resources to aid the Southern Continent, we can understand. But where is the reward that General Nanyang deserves? Where has the Divine Department sent it?"
"His Majesty has not determined any rewards", Lin Shuya shook his head.
Feng Xi, who had served as a Southern General for many years, was not fooled by this. He couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. "Do you mean to say that every reward in the past was personally decided by His Majesty?"
If that were the case, what was the purpose of having the head of the Divine Department?
"Exhale."
Faced with this pointed question, Lin Shuya let out a breath and closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, he looked at Feng Xi with the same calmness. "The Imperial Qi the court can mobilize is not abundant. The same amount of Imperial Qi, if used elsewhere, could save countless lives."
"You acted without reporting, slaying the Bodhisattvas of the Bodhi Sect and the San Xian Sect, escalating the situation and making the future of the Southern Continent look bleak."
"I cannot let other people bear the cost of your recklessness."
"Of course, I never expected we could hold onto the Southern Continent."
"But even if I had the chance to do it all over again, I wouldn't allocate that Imperial Qi to the South."
"..."
Feng Xi stared intently at the stubborn face before her, and a sudden image flashed through her mind: the figure hovering above the Southern Emperor, his mouth dripping with blood, nearly exhausted.
That battle was far from a sure win.
Any mistake could have cost the Southern Continent dearly. In such a situation, even the slightest boost in strength was crucial.
When that young man, who had just joined the Demon-Slaying Bureau, was fighting for the Divine Dynasty with all his might,
this Lord Lin, comfortably ensconced in the Imperial City, had casually chosen to abandon the effort.
For some reason, hearing those righteous words now, Feng Xi felt a chill in her heart.
Expanding the conflict... if it wasn't absolutely necessary, who would go out of their way to offend the San Xian Sect and the Bodhi Sect!
Those high-ranking Bodhisattvas, content to wait and feast on the Divine Dynasty's Imperial Qi, lived in such ease and comfort.
"Hmph."
She shook her head, losing all interest in further argument. She forcefully pulled the petition away and turned to leave the study.
Lin Shuya watched in silence as she walked away, then glanced at his empty hand. After a long moment, he sighed and clenched his fingers.
...
Deep in the Imperial City, late at night, outside the inner courtyard.
Feng Xi and Shen Yi waited on the spot. She turned to him, a little embarrassed, and said, "It shouldn't have been necessary to wait until now to see you, but His Majesty must have just woken up from his drinking."
Mentioning this, she felt a bit annoyed.
Really, it was fortunate that the cultivators' longevity was so great, and most of them had joined the Demon-Slaying Bureau long ago. Back then, the Emperor of Humanity was a revitalizing leader, and everyone had witnessed his diligence during those years.
If not for that reputation, the current old drunkard would likely have seen many of the Demon-Slaying Bureau's strong members scatter long ago.
"It's fine."
Shen Yi shook his head. Though he was eager to escape, he didn't mind waiting another day or so.
Besides, while the Divine Dynasty's Imperial City wasn't as secure as the True Deities' Sumeru Mountain, it was still one of the safest places in the world.
"Please, this way, my lords."
Soon, a maidservant holding a lantern came out to guide them to the courtyard with its wine pool.
Shen Yi walked quietly. Compared to his previous visit, he now had many suspicions, which gave him a different perspective on the surroundings.
As the rich aroma of wine filled his nose, Shen Yi stopped and saw the figure leaning against the edge of the wine pool.
Beside him lay the petition Feng Xi had just sent in, clearly already read.
There were no court officials around, not even Lin Shuya, who had been present last time. Apart from the departing maidservant, only the three of them remained by the wine pool.
There was no grand reception for a great hero of the Divine Dynasty.
"Go out, I want to speak with General Shen Yi alone."
The man in the wine pool waved, dismissing Feng Xi as well.
"..."
Shen Yi didn't care much about such formalities, but the scene before him was far too casual, completely different from what he had imagined.
Feng Xi gave him a reassuring look, indicating he shouldn't speak out of turn, before turning and leaving the wine pavilion.
"Come, sit."
The Emperor of Humanity patted the pebbles beside him.
Anyone else might have hesitated, given the unusual nature of such a meeting. Even if he offered a seat, at least a chair should be brought over.
But Shen Yi, though he had experienced a human empire, had never truly delved into its intricacies or understood its rules.
Since the Emperor had spoken, he paused for a moment and then walked over to sit beside him on the ground.
"I've read the petition."
The Emperor of Humanity spoke calmly, finally turning his head. His flushed face was slightly aged, nothing remarkable, just an ordinary old man.
His expression was complex, lacking any particular joy. He then asked a strange question, "Do you think... if they haven't personally experienced slaughter, they will still believe in the great cultivators of the sects?"
Those words alone made Shen Yi's eyes flash with cold anger.
One of his goals in entering the Imperial City was to confirm his suspicions, but he never expected the answer to come so quickly, so abruptly.
Just from those words, it was clear that the Emperor of Humanity had long anticipated the current state of the Divine Dynasty and might even have pushed for it.
"We've met twice now. Tonight, we're just chatting. It was a joke, don't take it to heart."
The man waved his hand, grinning widely.
Shen Yi's gaze was instantly drawn to the gap in the man's front teeth: "..."
The Emperor of Humanity seized the opportunity to change the subject, picking up the memorial and casually dusting it off. "Your achievements have really given me a headache. Tell me, what should I reward you with?"
"I don't know."
After Feng Xi's departure, the Emperor of Humanity had abandoned the use of the imperial "I", and Shen Yi, never one for formalities, had followed suit, which, combined with the previous inquiry, resulted in a somewhat stiff tone.
"Normally, I should promote you and grant you a noble title, but the few guardians are not cultivators. They only have the cultivation of a Second Grade due to the Imperial Qi they receive."
The man scratched his head. "They are all mortals with a fixed lifespan, so I can entrust these Imperial Qi to them without worry. But you are different. Judging by your progress, immortality is inevitable. Besides, the Imperial Qi is limited. If I give it to you, they will have to step down. Tsk."
At this, he patted his forehead. "How about this: I'll appoint you as a First-Rank General of the Divine Dynasty... without the Imperial Qi. What do you think?"
"..."
Shen Yi realized that this so-called Emperor of Humanity had no intention of discussing serious matters and was still acting playful.
He fell silent for a moment, then stood up again.
"Hey!"
Seeing this, the Emperor of Humanity finally put away his smile, smacked his lips, and called out to Shen Yi, his cloudy eyes gradually clearing.
He raised the memorial again and sighed. "You always rush into things... If not this, what should we talk about? Your bizarre resume?"
The Emperor of Humanity pointed at the paper with his index finger. "Though it's not mentioned here, look at this: the Bodhi Sect ambushed the general of Mount Wu. The report only mentions one Fourth Grade Ascetic and a Fourth Grade Wolf Demon. This doesn't seem like the monks' usual way of doing things. Where is the Bodhisattva this Fourth Grade Wolf Demon serves?"
"You just rescued the person like that?"
"Look here, protecting the scriptures, slaying sixteen Fourth Grade prodigies of major sects... those Bodhisattvas and Immortal Venerables just let you kill them? Clearly, you weren't acting as a representative of the Divine Dynasty."
"Right, and this one too."
The Emperor of Humanity pointed to a seemingly trivial matter. "The White Cloud Cave was granted a horse by the Heavenly Court, and a Heavenly Official arrived. You found out that the White Cloud Cave was harming people and exterminated them. The Heavenly Official just watched you kill and then left?"
"It's obvious, you're not just my Southern General of the Divine Dynasty."
The Emperor of Humanity put down the memorial and shrugged. "In this situation, how can I reward you?"
"..."
Shen Yi raised an eyebrow and sat back down.
A man with such clear thinking finally matched the title of a reviver of the realm.
So, why did he disregard the lives of the people, even pushing them into a fire?
Seeing Shen Yi's reaction, the Emperor of Humanity suddenly smiled. "Of course, I dare to reward you, because no matter who you are, you saved the Southern Continent. As long as your heart is for the people, I don't care what means you used."
Then, his tone shifted, and he looked helpless. "The problem is, I can't afford to reward you. I have Imperial Qi, but I can't give it to you."
The Emperor of Humanity pointed to the massive stone pillar in the pool. "I have big plans for these things. How about this: help yourself to the wine. Drink as much as you can."
Shen Yi followed the man's finger, and the once calm wine pool suddenly transformed.
It was as if he had pressed his eyes against the red sun, the intense golden light nearly blinding him, filling his vision. In an instant, his mind was shaken, and his Dao Fruit and Fruit of Enlightenment trembled as if they would shatter.
Fortunately, it only lasted a moment, and everything returned to normal like a fleeting reflection on the water.
Shen Yi sat stiffly by the pool, taking a while to regain his composure.
That was Imperial Qi! An immense amount far beyond his comprehension.
He suddenly looked at the Emperor of Humanity.
The man opened his mouth wide, revealing his missing front tooth, and laughed like a child showing off his most precious toy.
But his eyes held a deep meaning.
He had big plans for these things and couldn't afford to share any.
"In the end, you're just trying to weasel out of it", Shen Yi adjusted his mood and rolled his eyes.
He hadn't even noticed that, despite this being their second meeting and the man being the ruler of humanity, he had completely lost any sense of distance under the man's subtle influence.
"Let's negotiate, maybe find something else to compensate", the man rubbed his hands together and sighed. "The Emperor's household isn't exactly flush with resources."
(End of Chapter)
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