Chapter 1581: Three-Party Deliberation

This was King Yao's private space for daily life and meals. His invitation to Bai Ziqi for breakfast here clearly indicated a desire for closeness.

King Yao was already in the pavilion. When they met, another round of pleasantries followed.

The morning sun was just rising, casting a good light that made King Yao's wrinkles and age spots even more noticeable. Having not seen him for several years, Bai Ziqi observed that his eyelids drooped and his eyes were a bit cloudy.

He was now a typical old man.

They had barely exchanged a few words when a palace servant announced the arrival of the Regent.

Qingyang had arrived.

Although she had stayed overnight in the palace, Qingyang had changed into a fresh outfit. Her long, peach-pink dress complemented her complexion beautifully, creating a stark contrast with King Yao.

She offered Bai Ziqi a faint smile and said, "Envoy Bai."

Indeed, it had been a long time since they last met—not since her expulsion from Beijia, in fact.

In Lingxu City, Bai Ziqi had once been her adversary; now, upon their reunion, their respective statuses were vastly different.

With no officials present, an experienced politician like Qingyang naturally showed no hint of discomfort. King Yao, however, watched the scene unfold with keen interest.

He had specifically invited He Lingchuan to Tianshui City for his birthday, solely to publicly humiliate Qingyang. Now, with Bai Ziqi—the investigator of the elixir of immortality case, and the very person who had sent Qingyang to prison—also present, how could King Yao possibly not invite Qingyang to attend?

It was a ready-made spectacle, and he wouldn't miss it for anything.

Yet Qingyang's gaze towards King Yao was remarkably gentle; she not only showed no resentment but seemed almost indulgent.

If He Lingchuan had seen her expression, he would have felt a shiver down his spine, for he knew very well the crucial premise behind Qingyang's magnanimity and lack of resentment:

Who quarrels with the dying?

It was the gaze one reserves for the dead.

Bai Ziqi noticed it and appeared pensive.

Each harboring their own thoughts, the three found the meal to have a peculiar flavor.

The previous night's banquet, being a public event, had only allowed for polite exchanges. Now, King Yao finally inquired about Bai Ziqi's travels, remarking, "I didn't realize the Heavenly Palace held this so-called Great Emperor of Nine Serenities in such high regard, even to the extent of dispatching Envoy Bai personally."

These words were heartfelt; he genuinely couldn't fathom why a heavenly deity would take such a character seriously. In his estimation, Bai Ziqi must have been assigned another significant mission on Golden Glimmer Plain, with this explanation merely serving as a polite cover.

Bai Ziqi sensed his skepticism but offered no explanation. Instead, he said, "It's always wise to be prepared. As I traveled through Golden Glimmer, I often heard commoners speak of the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities with deep reverence, while other heavenly deities on the plain received scant offerings. So, what is your opinion of the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities?"

Qingyang's gaze flickered.

Bai Ziqi had been tasked with investigating the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities half a year prior. At that time, the Great Emperor hadn't yet stirred up so much trouble; he was merely beginning to make a name for himself. Had he already caught the attention of the heavenly deities then?

The Heavenly Palace's reactions are not typically so swift, especially considering the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities emerged tens of thousands of miles away on Golden Glimmer Plain. *Scoffs.* She knew Chief Envoy Du Yun was not particularly fond of Bai Ziqi. Was this fellow, then, being sent away to undertake such a difficult and thankless assignment?

King Yao, who did not understand Bai Ziqi as well as Qingyang, immediately retorted, "What 'Great Emperor'? He's merely a cowardly rat hiding his true identity. If he dared to reveal himself, the iron hooves of the Yao army could flatten his hiding place within half a month!"

He didn't deny the individual combat prowess of the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities, given his record of publicly slaying Xue Zongwu. However, this so-called "Great Emperor"'s elite forces comprised little more than a hundred cavalry, with the rest being an assortment of ragtag and ersatz troops. How could they possibly contend with the regular army of the Yao Kingdom?

Can scattered, roving forces possibly stand against the machinery of a state? The very question is ludicrous.

Bai Ziqi quietly said, "From what I've observed during my investigation, the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities has very grand designs on the plain. Does Your Majesty know his true intentions?"

"Every now and then, such deluded individuals emerge on Golden Glimmer Plain," King Yao said indifferently. "They rise swiftly and vanish just as quickly, like a mere bubble. What purpose would it serve to probe his intentions?"

Let the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities do as he pleases; he will fail regardless.

Failure simply makes one weak. Who would bother delving into the mind of a weakling?

Golden Glimmer Plain has witnessed countless such figures. They come and go, ultimately staining the land with their blood.

For the past two centuries, only the Yao Kingdom has remained steadfast, observing the rise and fall of fortunes.

Bai Ziqi smiled. "Have there been similar figures in Golden Glimmer Plain before, widely acclaimed and spoken of?"

"Yes, there have," King Yao replied, picking up his *Xiangle* drink and taking a sip. The Yao people brew *Xiangle* powder, milk, and two or three types of herbs to create "Xiangle Drink," a beverage known for its smooth, rich taste. Each sip brings a feeling of contentment, making it particularly well-suited for winter consumption.

There are dozens of *Xiangle* drink recipes, each yielding a distinct flavor; some even include a few drops of sweet wine. However, King Yao preferred the simplest version.

"Not necessarily celebrated; their fame wasn't as widespread as the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities, but their notoriety could exceed his. Such figures always emerge, streaking across Golden Glimmer Plain like comets, only to eventually fade into obscurity for various reasons."

"Are you speaking of figures like Zhao Guangzhi, the Ogre King?"

"More than just him," King Yao said, citing examples casually. "For instance, before his death, Ghost King Xuanlu was a formidable power who dominated the central and western parts of Golden Glimmer Plain. And the former master of Luo Shengjia, who defeated him, had already caused years of bloodshed. Alas, the emergence of such figures is commonplace on our Golden Glimmer Plain."

"Don't you believe the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities might be different?" Bai Ziqi asked, taking a bite of his ice ba.

This was a secretly prepared chilled delicacy from King Yao's palace, one that He Lingchuan had tasted several times during his visits. Its flavor was remarkably similar to the ice cream he remembered: sweet, smooth, refreshingly cold, and melting instantly on the tongue.

This indicated that the Yao Kingdom not only possessed various aromatic herbs but had also developed the art of making cream.

King Yao chuckled. "Please, Envoy Bai, do enlighten me."

He reserved such patience only for prominent figures from the Heavenly Palace.

Bai Ziqi, however, turned to Qingyang and said, "Regent, you must have already made some observations, haven't you?"

Qingyang gently blew on her hot soup, then calmly stated, "The Great Emperor of Nine Serenities is unlike all previous warlords of Golden Glimmer. Others sought to expand their territory, but he competes with the gods for faith!"

"Faith?" King Yao dismissed the idea. "He's merely human; he cannot receive divine offerings. What use would he have for faith?"

"Human? Are you certain he is truly human?" Qingyang asked without lifting her head. "How could a human evoke the Black Dragon Mark?"

"That doesn't necessarily mean he isn't human; perhaps he merely harnessed the power of immortals or deities," King Yao argued, raising his cup and taking another sip. "Golden Glimmer Plain is abundant with powerful demons, and countless legends of immortals are widely circulated."

Upon hearing this, Bai Ziqi glanced at him. "Speaking of immortals, I heard that your esteemed nation once had dealings with them?"

"Not at all, not at all!" King Yao waved his hands dismissively. "My late predecessor once dreamed of an immortal. But a dream, after all, isn't reality."

As Bai Ziqi was a divine envoy from the Heavenly Palace, King Yao certainly didn't want him to misunderstand.