Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 1366 - 1366 0777 More Ruthless Than Anyone_2

Chapter 1366: Chapter 0777: More Ruthless Than Anyone_2 Chapter 1366: Chapter 0777: More Ruthless Than Anyone_2 Fortunately, none of these princes and princesses had lost their heads and charged forth themselves; they instead clamored to their most loyal cultivators, ordering them to move forward and capture Qi Tian.

Just as a tragic conflict was about to erupt, from the eastern side, a figure swiftly flew through the air. “Master Qi, I am here.”

The person who had arrived was none other than Emperor Jianwu, the first to send a Message Paper Crane to Qi Tian. From a distance, one could see Emperor Jianwu dressed in imperial robes, wearing a purple-gold crown, and standing on a flying sword, giving the impression of a divine being descending from the heavens.

The princes and princesses could not discern Emperor Jianwu’s face with the same clarity as Qi Tian, but even from afar, they could make out the imperial robes, and the five-clawed golden dragon on them shone brilliantly in the sunlight, dazzling their eyes.

The princes and princesses hardly had the time to distinguish whether these were the same robes their father the emperor often wore; almost instinctively, they identified the approaching figure as Emperor Tian Rui and burst into cheers, shooting Qi Tian a look that said, “You’re done for.” In their eyes, Emperor Tian Rui was the most powerful person under heaven. To them, anyone who met their father the emperor would have no choice but to kneel and proclaim their loyalty.

Emperor Jianwu, having hurried over, arrived before any other prince could, the first to land in front of Qi Tian. Without glancing at anyone else, he folded his hands in a respectful bow toward Qi Tian and asked, “Master Qi, I am here. What are your orders?”

The hundred-plus cultivators present were all dumbstruck, and those from the Imperial Master Mansion doubted their eyes. Why would someone clad in imperial robes act so humbly before Qi Tian? This overturned their worldviews; such a sight should not happen, yet it unfolded right before them.

The situation was even more unbearable for the princes and princesses. Besides sharing the same shock as the cultivators from the Imperial Master Mansion, they also realized one thing: the person in the imperial robes was not their supposed backer, Emperor Tian Rui, but someone else entirely, someone unfamiliar to them. Yet, they remembered something Emperor Tian Rui had told them before leading them into the Imperial Family Secret Territory: within the Secret Territory, anyone who dared to wear imperial robes was certainly a retired emperor of Great Zhao Nation, an elder of theirs. It didn’t matter whether it was the princes and princesses or even Emperor Tian Rui himself; in front of such a figure, all must show the utmost respect.

No matter what, the princes and princesses could not fathom why this elder, whose name they did not know, was so courteous to Qi Tian. Had he forgotten his status? Had he forgotten the glory of the Great Zhao imperial family? Had he forgotten that in the Imperial Family Secret Territory, it was their Great Zhao imperial family’s domain, where everyone must bow to them? Why, then, instead of Qi Tian, was it Emperor Jianwu who was bowing?

Qi Tian paid no attention to the others’ astonishment; he simply waved a hand, signaling Emperor Jianwu to rise and stop the formalities. He beckoned his fellow sect members to come over.

Despite being stunned by what they had just witnessed, the disciples from the Imperial Master Mansion were not foolish enough to hesitate when Qi Tian called them over. They hurried to him, respectfully saying, “Mansion Master, do you have any orders for us?”

This title of Mansion Master was something they had not used since their reunion with Qi Tian; before Emperor Jianwu’s arrival, they had only referred to Qi Tian as “Senior Brother,” never uttering the word ‘Mansion Master’, indicating that in their minds, Qi Tian had not yet reached the point where he could be equated with the Mansion Master.

Qi Tian pointed at Emperor Jianwu and said, “Have you not hurried to pay respects to Lord Jianwu?”

The disciples from the Imperial Master Mansion were utterly shocked. Although they had never met Emperor Jianwu, they knew of the existence of such a prince in the history of the Great Zhao Nation—at least several centuries ago. Now, the legendary former emperor of the Great Zhao Nation had appeared alive and well in front of them. How could they not be shocked? They were so taken aback that they had forgotten to follow Qi Tian’s instructions to pay their respects to Emperor Jianwu.

Emperor Jianwu seemed to be in a particularly good mood. He chuckled and said, “Master Qi, these are your fellow disciples, I believe? This is the first time I have met them. Back in the days when I governed the Great Zhao Nation, there was no such thing as a National Master Manor. I contemplated whether to follow in the footsteps of other nations and establish a National Master Manor in the Great Zhao Nation to recruit talent. However, I had not managed to implement this before I abdicated the throne, and hence the matter was left unresolved. Who would have thought that after so many years, I would see the disciples of my Great Zhao Nation’s National Master Manor? This truly gives me great comfort.”

Only then did the disciples from the Imperial Master Mansion come to their senses and hurried to kowtow and greet Emperor Jianwu.

With a wave of his hand, Emperor Jianwu used a gentle force to help the kneeling disciples of the Imperial Master Mansion to their feet. He flipped his wrist and suddenly several pills appeared in his hand. Each was plump and emitted a rich medicinal fragrance—these were top-grade pills that every Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator yearned for in their dreams. He handed the pills to them and said, “Meeting is a form of destiny. These pills are for you. Take them when you are on the verge of a breakthrough in a minor realm; they will ensure a one hundred percent success rate in your advancement.”

Such pills were so precious that even if the disciples from the Imperial Master Mansion spent all their resources, they might not be able to obtain them. They desperately desired them but dared not accept them, so they all turned to look at Qi Tian for guidance.

For Qi Tian of the present, such pills were of no value. He nodded and said, “Since they are gifts from Lord Jianwu, you may accept them.”

Only then did the disciples of the Imperial Master Mansion dare to take the pills from Emperor Jianwu’s hands, and they collectively thanked him.

Emperor Jianwu laughed heartily, finding it well worth it to give away such worthless pills in front of Qi Tian.

The princes and princesses standing nearby were dumbfounded. They were very eager to obtain these pills too. Despite being Emperor Tian Rui’s children, they would also have to pay a significant price to acquire such pills. But now, without doing anything, the disciples from the Imperial Master Mansion had these godsent pills fall into their hands. How could they not feel envious and jealous? Especially since the giver of the pills was Emperor Jianwu, one of their ancestors, whose bloodline they shared directly. Why didn’t Emperor Jianwu give the pills to them?

The princes and princesses exchanged glances and then approached Emperor Jianwu to pay their respects, calling him “Great-Grandfather” with sweet-tongued reverence.

Emperor Jianwu glanced at them and, not recognizing any of them, turned his head away without any further interest in giving them a second glance. Emperor Jianwu could sense the bloodline connection with these princes and princesses, but what was blood worth in the Imperial Family Secret Territory? Nothing. The Great Zhao imperial family was abundant in it. But to what end? When fortunes were at stake, they showed no mercy, ready to fight and slay without hesitation, especially those more distantly related, striking with even greater ruthlessness.

With how many generations separating them, Emperor Jianwu felt not a shred of kinship with these royals. Why would he regard them at all? In his eyes, seeking favor from Qi Tian to please him was what truly mattered. Everything else was secondary. That he had not smacked them all to death already was a grace, merely out of respect for the blood they shared. Otherwise, given their audacious attitudes in his presence, he would have shown no courtesy.