Chapter 932: Ordered to Show Off

The imperial decree concerned the envoys from the Baize and Si'e tribes. In short, these two subordinate tribes of Yan Yue had arrived to sign a ceasefire and a thousand-year treaty, but the negotiations were not going smoothly.

There were repeated indications that hostilities might resume, even though a full-scale war was unlikely. The two tribes maintained an overbearing stance, making numerous highly unreasonable demands. Such a prolonged stalemate was far from ideal, especially with the upcoming Ancestor Worship Ceremony. Consequently, someone in the main hall of the imperial palace suggested asking Xu Qing to mediate.

The suggestion received unanimous approval from the officials, leading to the issuance of the imperial decree. Although Xu Qing was in secluded study, he found it difficult to directly refuse the imperial decree, particularly since his involvement was indeed the most suitable for this matter. After a moment's contemplation, he rose, left the Heterodox Immortal faction, exited the Imperial Academy, and proceeded toward the Foreign Affairs Pavilion, where the negotiations were held.

He walked slowly, reflecting on his progress over the past month. During this time, he had thoroughly studied all the legacies and ancient texts of the Heterodox Immortal faction, leaving no stone unturned. These texts included insights into the shifting diagrams of the deities, cultivation experiences shared by countless predecessors, and profound aspirations for the future of the Heterodox Immortal faction. All of this knowledge, like nourishment, integrated into Xu Qing's mind.

Gradually, a nascent idea began to take shape in Xu Qing's mind. This outline was for a unique cultivation method, perfectly suited for him, which would allow his self-created Heterodox Immortal techniques to fully integrate with him during his return to the Void. However, self-creation is inherently difficult, and the Heterodox Immortal faction, being more of a conceptual pursuit, presented an even greater challenge.

Yet, Xu Qing was not rushed; he already had a nascent sense of direction. It still needed to be refined and tested multiple times before it could be finalized. Xu Qing murmured to himself, his mind deep in thought as he walked. Occasionally, his right hand would unconsciously rise, forming hand seals in accordance with his developing ideas. As a result, a strange phenomenon began to manifest around his body. His entire form would at times appear blurry, then clear, then overlapping, sometimes vanishing completely only to suddenly reappear further away. Furthermore, the ethereal sensation that the Heterodox Immortal Faction Master had observed on him that day was now even more pronounced. Faint threads of laws materialized seemingly from thin air, shimmering around him. Yet, he made no attempt to grasp any of them, content to simply sense and observe them silently.

And so, time flowed by with each step he took.

Meanwhile, within the Foreign Affairs Pavilion in the imperial capital—a building dedicated to hosting foreign delegations—intense negotiations, ongoing for over a month, were still in full swing. Inside the pavilion's main hall, human cultivators occupied the left side, led by the First Prince, who was responsible for the treaty signing and negotiation. Relevant personnel from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided assistance, and a Heavenly King was also present to oversee the proceedings. This Heavenly King was a woman, precisely King Ruolan, who was rumored to have a close relationship with the Sixth Prince.

At that moment, with the exception of King Ruolan, who sat with her eyes closed and a serene expression, most of the human delegation looked grim, glaring angrily at the foreign cultivators seated opposite them. On the opposite side of the human delegation, to the right of the Foreign Affairs Pavilion's main hall, sat dozens of representatives from the Baize and Si'e tribes. Most of them had cold eyes, exuding an air of condescension. Though they spoke little, their presence was distinctly chilling and filled with latent aggression. Notably, one individual from each tribe sat radiating an astonishing aura—these were the Heavenly Kings of their respective peoples. Though not at the multi-realm Divine Embodiment stage, they appeared to be of one or two realms, their gazes fixed on King Ruolan with a hint of disdain.

As for those who spoke among the tribal representatives, their words were particularly sharp. They refused to budge an inch on certain contract clauses; instead, they became even more aggressive, making exorbitant demands.

"There's no need to discuss this matter further; our Baize tribe will absolutely not relinquish any of the areas we have already conquered!" one declared. "Furthermore, concerning prisoners, our Si'e tribe will only agree to a one-for-one exchange with your human race. As for the remaining human captives, you must ransom them at our stipulated prices."

"How can the supposedly dignified human race be so stingy even when ransoming its own people?" another taunted. "Moreover, to foster tribal friendship and forge a thousand-year pact of amity, the exchange of secret tribal techniques must naturally be conducted with fairness, requiring a one-for-one trade!"

Upon hearing the First Prince's words, the representatives of the Baize and Si'e tribes surged with indignation, their eyes flashing with cold hostility. For them, agreeing to a ceasefire was already a concession, and deep down, they harbored immense dissatisfaction, yet they could not defy Yan Yue's decree. Given this mindset, it was inevitable that the negotiations would not proceed smoothly and that they would adopt such an arrogant demeanor. In their view, had it not been for Yan Yue's intervention, continuing the war, while perhaps not leading to the complete absorption of the human race, could certainly have crippled them by summoning a few more subordinate tribes to join the military campaign.

Consequently, the Heavenly Kings of both the Baize and Si'e tribes now harbored intense killing intent in their eyes, while King Ruolan's gaze remained equally sharp, unwilling to concede an inch. Though a woman, she possessed an explosive temperament and was even more bloodthirsty than most men. Notably, whenever she led troops into battle against foreign tribes, she left no prisoners. All captives were, by her command, executed. For the sake of victory, she had even carried out massacres of foreign cities on multiple occasions. Even her own subordinates, when their sacrifice was necessary for the greater triumph, she would not hesitate. Indeed, if the overarching objective truly demanded it, she would even sacrifice herself. The title "King Ruolan" was steeped in the blood of foreign races and an air of madness.

King Ruolan spoke slowly, her hoarse voice carrying a bloody intent that instantly permeated the entire hall. "Enough idle talk. After over a month of this charade, I have little patience left. You will immediately order the resumption of war, for this King's appetite for slaughter in this conflict is far from sated."

The Heavenly Kings of both the Baize and Si'e tribes also surged with martial intent, rising to their feet. Seeing the situation escalate once more, the First Prince felt a headache coming on. This was the fifth time such a volatile scene had unfolded over the past month. Each time, the tension seemed closer to erupting into outright conflict. Although he understood that a full resumption of war was unlikely, he nonetheless worried about the slight possibility, as no one could be entirely certain in such volatile matters. What was particularly concerning was that the Yan Yue Inspector, representing the two tribes, had only made a brief appearance on the first day of negotiations a month and a half ago and had not been seen since. If this individual had intervened, the negotiations likely wouldn't have reached this impasse, as they represented Yan Yue, and the ceasefire order itself had been issued by Yan Yue's three highest authorities.

"Why is Fan Shishuang behaving this way? Is he avoiding Xu Qing?" The First Prince hesitated, unsure of many details, and thus was very puzzled by Fan Shishuang's actions. Now, seeing both sides inflamed with anger, the First Prince could only steel himself, preparing to intervene as he had done on previous occasions to de-escalate the situation and conclude the day's talks.

Just then, a calm voice subtly drifted from the main entrance of the Foreign Affairs Pavilion. "What's all the noise about?"

As the voice echoed through the hall, expressions of surprise and delight instantly appeared on the faces of the human delegation. The First Prince abruptly stood up, swiftly stepping forward as if greeting the Human Emperor himself. In stark contrast, the cultivators from the Baize and Si'e tribes had their expressions drastically change in an instant. Even the two Heavenly Kings flinched, their gazes darting towards the entrance.

Under everyone's gaze, a figure dressed in a green robe, with long hair cascading over his shoulders and a handsome face like that of a banished immortal, entered with a serene expression, bathed in the glow of the setting sun. Sunlight formed a halo around him, as if captivated by his presence and willing to attend him.

It was Xu Qing.

The First Prince swiftly stepped forward, approaching Xu Qing and bowing deeply in a junior student's salute. "Greetings, Grand Tutor."

Other human cultivators also bowed in unison. "Greetings, King Zhencang."

King Ruolan, too, quelled her murderous intent. Though her face remained expressionless, she nodded towards Xu Qing. Xu Qing reciprocated with a nod, then his gaze swept across the room, settling on the two tribes seated on the right.

The moment his gaze fell upon them, the cultivators of the Baize and Si'e tribes fell silent for a few breaths. As Xu Qing's eyes grew colder, they immediately left their tables and knelt before him. Regardless of their cultivation level, even the two Heavenly Kings, no one was exempt! No matter their inner struggles, their reluctance, or their suppressed growls, they all had to kneel.

Because he was the Great Profound Heaven!

"Greetings, Great Profound Heaven!"

Subordinate tribes are required to kneel in deference to the Great Profound Heaven! Even the revered Heavenly Kings of the two tribes, as long as they valued their peoples and held reverence for the Yan Yue Profound Heaven, were bound to obey. This was the established rule. Breaking a rule set by the Yan Yue Profound Heaven was considered more severe than death itself.

For a moment, every human present was profoundly affected by the sight, their hearts stirred by a shock as immense as a tidal wave. While they were aware of the Great Profound Heaven's might, understanding it intellectually was vastly different from witnessing it firsthand. Thus, seeing Xu Qing's true standing with their own eyes left them utterly stunned. Even King Ruolan's eyes gleamed, clearly indicating a stir within her own heart.

Xu Qing's gaze swept over the cultivators of Yan Yue's two subordinate tribes, finally resting on one individual, and he spoke calmly. "Where is Fan Shishuang?" The imperial decree had naturally informed him of Yan Yue's current representative.

"Reporting to the Great Profound Heaven, King Fan is currently in secluded cultivation." The Baize tribe representative, under Xu Qing's gaze, felt a tremor in his heart. Having personally witnessed Xu Qing's terrifying battle with Yan Xuanzi, he steeled himself and responded.

Xu Qing offered no comment, walked toward the human delegation, and took a seat in a corner. "You may continue."

With that, Xu Qing closed his eyes, immersing himself in the ongoing self-creation of his Heterodox Immortal techniques, appearing entirely uninterested in the surrounding proceedings. However, his very presence undeniably conveyed a clear message.