Chapter 173: Chu Yinghou and Luo Feng

Chudu, Marquis Chuyu's Residence.

"This is the situation," Emperor Chuyu said with a hint of helplessness. "Among the thirteen branches of the Imperial Family, only seven First-Grade Marquises have guest minister slots. I've visited all of them, but couldn't negotiate anything."

Luo Feng listened, then smiled and thanked him, "Brother Chuyu, thank you! I know that some of the thirteen Imperial Family branches don't have good relationships."

"My guest minister is Grand Sage Luo He; even if their attitudes aren't good, they wouldn't dare to be forceful," Emperor Chuyu chuckled. "However, they didn't even use their guest minister slots for the previous Heaven-level mission. These guest minister slots... are indeed very hard to get."

Luo Feng nodded. From Emperor Chuyu's attempts, it seemed very troublesome.

"What First-Grade Marquises of the Imperial Family care about most is their own cultivation path," Emperor Chuyu mused. "With this Heaven-level mission over, the next important mission might be thousands of epochs away... Brother Luo He will soon become a God King, and then he won't be able to participate in Chaos Realm competitions. Their unwillingness to agree is understandable."

"It's difficult for me to help them," Luo Feng nodded.

In the governance of the Ancient Kingdom of Yanfeng, over ninety-nine percent of affairs are handled by the First-Grade Marquises of the thirteen Imperial Family branches. Only truly significant matters are overseen by God Kings. God Kings also wouldn't dare to bully the weaker by killing a First-Grade Marquis. If anyone dared to do so, even the Emperor of the Ancient Kingdom of Yanfeng would likely intervene. First-Grade Marquises are core elites cultivated by the Imperial Family; the Ancient Kingdom of Yanfeng doesn't care about conflicts among those of the same level. But bullying the weaker? Absolutely not allowed! So, what if Luo Feng becomes a God King? How much help can an invincible God King at the first stage offer to a First-Grade Marquis of the Imperial Family?

"Are there other ways besides First-Grade Marquises of the Imperial Family selecting guest ministers?" Luo Feng asked.

"By our Imperial Family's rules, First-Grade Marquises select Chaos Realm guest ministers, and Imperial God Kings select God King guest ministers," Emperor Chuyu explained. "Additionally, the current Emperor can make exceptions to directly select some guest ministers."

"The current Emperor?" Luo Feng gently shook his head. Such a minor matter didn't warrant involving the Emperor.

"If the ancestor spoke up, it certainly wouldn't be difficult," Emperor Chuyu said.

"I'll think about it," Luo Feng said, standing up. Given his personality, he was unwilling to easily trouble his master, Emperor Chu.

Yuan, after all, had just reached the Chaos Realm and wasn't in a great hurry.

He could find a way once he himself became a God King.

Finding legacies wasn't limited to becoming a guest minister. Even if one became a guest minister, it didn't necessarily have to be in the Ancient Kingdom of Yanfeng.

"No rush," Luo Feng thought, many ideas flashing through his mind.

Chudu, Marquis Chuying's Residence. Marquis Chuying had naturally acquired a vast amount of resources from being ranked first in the previous Heaven-level mission. Moreover, he had been personally praised by 'Emperor Qing,' who greatly favored this elite descendant of the Imperial Family.

Emperor Qing was the most transcendent among the thirteen Emperors of the Imperial Family. His open praise made even some God Kings willing to associate with Marquis Chuying.

"Marquis, Grand Sage Luo He indeed wants a guest minister slot. Marquis Chuyu has recently visited many places in the thirteen Imperial Family capitals, looking for several First-Grade Marquises of the Imperial Family. I heard he was rejected by all of them," a steward respectfully reported.

"A guest minister slot?" Marquis Chuying's eyes were cold. "For whom is this slot requested?"

"I heard it's for a newly ascended Chaos Realm cultivator. According to our intelligence, the Eternal True God 'Yuan' from Grand Sage Luo He's cave recently reached the Chaos Realm," the steward replied.

Marquis Chuying smiled, "His old servant Luo Sa became a Chaos Realm cultivator long ago, and he never thought about getting a guest minister slot for him. Yet, as soon as Yuan broke through, he immediately tried to secure a slot. It seems that in Luo He's heart, this 'Yuan' is the most important."

"Alright, you may leave now," Marquis Chuying instructed. "Yes, sir," the steward immediately withdrew respectfully. Marquis Chuying looked into the distance.

"I've been in seclusion for so long, and as soon as I successfully emerged, I heard this news," Marquis Chuying chuckled. "It seems Luo He and I truly have a connection."

Marquis Chuying was originally the most profoundly accumulated among the seven First-Grade Marquises in terms of cultivation realm. With the immense resources gained from ranking first in the Heaven-level mission, and after hundreds of epochs, he had already comprehended a branch of the Grand Dao, and had only just emerged from seclusion.

Upon emerging from seclusion, he learned about Luo He's search for a guest minister slot.

"I've just comprehended a branch of the Grand Dao, my miniature universe hasn't transformed yet, and my divine body hasn't transformed either. Nominally, I'm still a First-Grade Marquis of the Imperial Family," Marquis Chuying mused. "By using my authority and spending some Imperial Family merits, I can apply for another guest minister slot."

Within the Imperial Family, First-Grade Marquises were also treated differently based on their standing.

Those 'First-Grade Marquises' at the Transcendent Chaos Realm level could even get free access to the treasure land left by Yuan! From the moment Emperor Qing took a liking to Marquis Chuying, his authority had significantly increased. "Once I break through, I'll be a God King. I need to consider the future."

"Someone who can become an invincible God King at the first stage without external aid is truly rare on the entire Origin Continent." Marquis Chuying clearly understood Luo He's immense potential.

Having made up his mind, Marquis Chuying immediately left alone. He flew over Chudu and soon quietly arrived in front of Grand Sage Luo He's cave.

Marquis Chuying stood outside the entrance of Grand Sage Luo He's cave.

"Go and deliver a message," Marquis Chuying said, looking at the guards at the entrance. "Tell them Emperor Chuying has come to visit Grand Sage Luo He."

"Marquis Chuying?" The two guards at the entrance were startled. He came alone without any attendants to visit? One of the guards immediately ran back to deliver the message. Marquis Chuying waited at the entrance.

"Marquis Chuying?" Luo Feng also arrived at the entrance, quite curious. Usually, powerful individuals would directly transmit their voices, but this Marquis Chuying was quite proper, sending a guard to relay his message.

"Grand Sage Luo He," Marquis Chuying said, looking at Luo Feng with a slight smile. "I've come today regarding the guest minister slot."

Luo Feng's eyes lit up. It seemed there was a turning point after hearing those words?

"Please enter," Luo Feng immediately motioned.

Inside the reception pavilion.

Both parties sat down. Luo Feng personally helped pour wine and asked, "From what Marquis Chuying implied, do you have a way regarding the guest minister slot?" Marquis Chuying nodded, "All the First-Grade Marquises across the thirteen Imperial Family branches are constantly competing, and the resources they have access to vary."

Luo Feng nodded.

"It just so happens that I am relatively outstanding among the First-Grade Marquises of the Imperial Family, which grants me some authority," Marquis Chuying said, looking at Luo Feng. "I can try to apply for another guest minister slot."

Luo Feng's heart swelled with joy.

"Guest minister slots are rare. Please tell me directly what I need to pay," Luo Feng said. Although he hadn't interacted much with Marquis Chuying, he had to admit that Marquis Chuying's demeanor alone made him the most extraordinary among the seven First-Grade Marquises of the Imperial Chu lineage.

The other six naturally deferred to Marquis Chuying.

This was because Marquis Chuying had consistently been far ahead in long-term competitions! In the previous Heaven-level mission, if Luo Feng hadn't intervened, Marquis Chuying would have been far ahead in all three sub-missions. Even with Luo Feng's involvement, Marquis Chuying still secured the top overall rank.

"It's just one slot," Marquis Chuying said with a slight smile. "My visit today is simply to make a friend of Brother Luo He."

From his understanding over the past few days, Luo Feng knew that even with Marquis Chuying's special status, securing another slot would likely come at a cost. The Imperial Family's rules had always been that any resources beyond free allowances had to be exchanged for merits.

"Brother Chuying, thank you," Luo Feng said. "I will remember this kindness."

Marquis Chuying nodded.

That one sentence was enough!

Powerful existences were increasingly mindful of karma! Marquis Chuying was well aware that the struggles among the high-ranking figures on the Origin Continent were brutal! The Imperial Families of the two great ancient kingdoms were in conflict with each other, and there were also ancient existences outside the Imperial Families, capable of contending with Emperors and Monarchs.

For instance, the Lord of Myriad Realms, the Eastern Extremity Domain, the most dazzling figures at the God King second stage, and hidden foreign powerhouses.

Each of them was vying for the resources left by Yuan.

"I am excellent among First-Grade Marquises, but after becoming a God King, it will be extremely difficult to maintain that excellence. I'll need to rely on myself, but also on assistance." Marquis Chuying held Luo Feng in high regard.

"Is this slot for Yuan?" Marquis Chuying asked.

Luo Feng nodded, "It is for him."

"Have him come to my residence," Marquis Chuying said. "By the time he arrives, the slot should already be approved."

"Alright," Luo Feng nodded.

"I'm to become a Chaos Realm guest minister?" Yuan had just broken through, his divine body was still developing, and he was originally in seclusion to consolidate his strength when Luo Feng directly summoned him.

Luo Feng said, "Becoming a guest minister of the Ancient Kingdom of Yanfeng grants you a direct credit of 100,000 merits. You can then choose the most needed legacy from the Legacy Hall. In the future, you can also gradually accumulate merits to exchange for resources."

Having stayed in Chudu for so long, Yuan was very aware of how precious a guest minister slot was!

Many Chaos Realm cultivators had lingered in the Ancient Kingdom of Yanfeng, willing to work for the First-Grade Marquises of the Imperial Family, precisely to secure such a slot.

"Isn't this slot difficult to obtain?" Yuan asked.

"Go to Marquis Chuying's residence immediately. Marquis Chuying will meet you there," Luo Feng said. "Don't ask too many other questions."

Yuan nodded without saying much, "Alright."

He set off immediately for Marquis Chuying's residence.

Luo Feng watched Yuan leave, a smile on his face.

"Finally, everything is settled." Luo Feng also breathed a sigh of relief. Yuan, another pillar of the human race, had also become a guest minister. With suitable legacies and resources, he believed Yuan's path forward would be much smoother. Marquis Chuying handled things very appropriately; that same day, Yuan officially became a Chaos Realm guest minister! He then went to the Legacy Hall and selected a legacy he desired.

When this news spread, it caused some Chaos Realm cultivators in Chudu to feel indignant. They had tried everything to get a slot but failed, yet now a newly ascended Chaos Realm cultivator had directly received one!

However, behind this newly ascended Chaos Realm cultivator were Grand Sage Luo He and Marquis Chuying, so they could only grumble.

Before long, Marquis Chuying also broke through and became a God King!

This marked the fourth God King from the Imperial Chu lineage, causing quite a stir. At Emperor Chuying's God King feast, Luo Feng personally brought gifts to offer his congratulations.

After Emperor Chuying became a God King, Luo Feng also entered seclusion, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to his cultivation.

Days passed.

The effect of the Clear Heart Elixir finally dissipated, and while a slight residue of the Hunyuan Crystal Spirit Fruit's effect remained,

"Ten Directions World Form?" Inside the Star Tower, Luo Feng sat cross-legged, staring blankly at some materials before him.

He had dedicated himself to comprehending the extremely difficult 'Ten Directions World Form,' without demanding that he *must* comprehend it within the Chaos Realm! Even if he failed, it would still be a form of training for his comprehension.

Yet, at this very moment, a complete 'Ten Directions World Form' fully materialized in Luo Feng's mind.

"I comprehended it?" Luo Feng murmured. Sometimes, pleasant surprises arrived so suddenly.