Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 1259 - 1259 725 There are still things to do

Chapter 1259: Chapter 725: There are still things to do Chapter 1259: Chapter 725: There are still things to do Chapter 0725: There Are Still Tasks to Attend To

Emperors Bahuang, Huoyang, and several princes did not expect Emperor Jianwu to act so swiftly, beating them to the punch, and being the first to express his loyalty to Qi Tian. While they cursed Emperor Jianwu for seizing the opportunity and expressing his loyalty to Qi Tian before anyone else, they quickly followed suit. Each made a similar declaration, emphasizing their resolve to restrain all of their subordinates and to strictly forbid them from entering the Saint’s Tomb again to prevent any accidents.

The princes had declared their loyalty, which Qi Tian found trustworthy, as after all, they were his Immortal Slaves. However, he questioned whether their efforts to control their followers would be entirely effective. Human hearts are unpredictable, and no one can guarantee that others will remain entirely loyal and steadfast. Moreover, the coffin in the Inner Underground Palace undoubtedly contained immense treasures. To expect everyone to turn a blind eye would be quite challenging. As for Qi Tian, he could only do his best and leave the rest to fate. If anyone insisted on ignoring his warnings and forcefully entered the area, then whatever ensued could not be blamed on him.

Qi Tian spoke, “This exploration into the Inner Underground Palace, though fraught with danger and near-fatal threats on multiple occasions, yielded a relatively satisfactory outcome thanks to everyone’s concerted effort. Everyone gained something. Even those who did not enter the Inner Underground Palace and instead cleared the Outer Palaces obtained their share of spoils. More importantly, you preserved your lives, unlike those who entered the Inner Underground Palace and suffered casualties. As the saying goes, ‘don’t forget the well-digger when you drink the water.’ I once promised to reward contributions, and now it’s time for me to fulfill that promise. Next, I will announce the recipient of the minor space.”

Upon hearing this, all five princes stood tall and watched Qi Tian eagerly, awaiting the announcement of the recipients.

Qi Tian did not keep them in suspense but said directly, “The five princes have all made significant contributions and expended considerable effort in the course of this adventure. However, as the saying goes, ‘in literary pursuits there is no first, and in martial arts, no second,’ there are still differences in the contributions that you have made. Among you, Emperor Bahuang has made the greatest achievement, followed by Emperor Jianwu. Undoubtedly, according to our prior agreement, the recipient of the minor space is Emperor Bahuang. Please step forward, Emperor Bahuang.”

Before Qi Tian made the official announcement, Emperor Bahuang felt somewhat uneasy. He had assessed the magnitude of his contributions and believed that they surpassed those of the other princes. However, as a former emperor, he knew all too well that the recognition awarded for one’s contributions often did not correlate with the magnitude of those contributions. Many loyal subjects who achieved great things had been executed on trumped-up charges—deprived of their merits—and he would not have been surprised if such a fate befell him. After all, in terms of closeness, the relationship between Emperor Bahuang and Qi Tian could not compare to that between Emperor Jianwu and Qi Tian.

When Qi Tian announced the list, the heavy stone in Emperor Bahuang’s heart fell to the ground. His gaze towards Qi Tian changed, seeing that Qi Tian, unlike others, rewarded contributions without mixing in other factors; this alone deepened his admiration for Qi Tian.

Emperor Bahuang walked forward briskly, reached Qi Tian, clasped his hands in a fist, and bowed deeply to him. Although his gesture was not as humble as Huoyang Emperor kneeling on one knee, it was still a very respectful display of courtesy.

Qi Tian, with a smile, took out the minor space he had obtained at the beginning, held it with both hands, and handed it to Emperor Bahuang, saying, “The fact that I have this minor space is largely due to you. I had thought of awarding it to you when you had not yet made many contributions, but I feared it might not sit well with everyone, so I abandoned the idea. Unexpectedly, it seems that this minor space and you indeed share a destiny, and in the end, it must be awarded to you. I hope you will make good use of this treasure and not forget the hardships you have endured to acquire it.”

Emperor Bahuang, filled with excitement, accepted the minor space and said respectfully, “Thank you for your gracious award, Master Qi. Rest assured, I will make good use of this treasure and strive to achieve greater merits under your command.”

Qi Tian patted Emperor Bahuang’s shoulder, signaling him to step back. The crowd burst into applause, congratulating Emperor Bahuang; among them, the emperor’s subordinates were the most enthusiastic, sharing in the glory of their master’s fortune.

Qi Tian glanced over everyone’s faces, and before he could speak, the room fell silent. After all the recent events, Qi Tian had established absolute authority in their eyes, and no one dared to challenge his authority anymore.

Qi Tian said, “Now, I would ask the princes to hand over the registers of contributions they have tallied, so I may reward each accordingly.”

All five princes hurried forward, consolidating their tallied contributions into a single ledger and presenting it to Qi Tian.

Qi Tian spent some time reviewing these contributions. First, he had to deduct some for certain individuals, as he had already distributed some rewards in advance before entering the Inner Underground Palace, and now was the time to settle accounts.