Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 1399 - 1399 794 Celebrated Too Soon

Chapter 1399: Chapter 794: Celebrated Too Soon Chapter 1399: Chapter 794: Celebrated Too Soon Chapter 0794: Celebrated Too Soon

Several days later, Qi Tian returned to Great Zhao Nation with Xiao Xiaowu, the Mansion Master of Imperial Master Mansion, and Gao Jinmei. Before leaving the Imperial Family Secret Territory, Qi Tian had cut ties with everything and everyone related to it. He had eliminated the Servant Pacts he imposed in the sea of consciousness of several Princes like Emperor Jianwu and Huoyang Emperor, restoring their freedom. Additionally, Qi Tian sought Gao Jinmei’s opinion, for if she wished to stay in the Imperial Family Secret Territory like Zhao Haiying, he would have agreed. Nevertheless, Gao Jinmei was resolute in her decision to leave with Qi Tian. Though Gao Jinmei might not be of much help to him anymore, bringing her back to Great Zhao was possible, where she could be appointed to a position in Imperial Master Mansion or simply granted her freedom.

Qi Tian did not first bring Xiao Xiaowu to the Capital City of Great Zhao, but to the new location of Imperial Master Mansion. On their way back to Imperial Master Mansion, Qi Tian didn’t hide anything from Xiao Xiaowu regarding the past events that transpired there, telling him everything in detail.

The last time both men met, Qi Tian had briefly informed him about the situation. This time, he provided a more detailed account. Although Xiao Xiaowu was already aware of the circumstances the last time, hearing it again from Qi Tian still left him astounded. If not for Qi Tian, it’s uncertain what the Imperial Master Mansion would have become.

When they arrived at the Imperial Master Mansion, Xiao Xiaowu saw the manor gate from afar. Back in the Capital City, the manor already boasted impressive architecture, rivalling the grand entrance of average Prince Manors. Now, however, the gate of the Imperial Master Mansion was even more majestic, dwarfing even that of the imperial palace.

As they flew closer, one could see a plaque hanging above the gate inscribed with “Chizao Imperial Master Mansion” in dazzling golden characters. The handwriting was not very elegant, somewhat crooked, but it bore the golden seal of the current emperor.

This level of treatment was something Xiao Xiaowu had never experienced during his time as the Mansion Master. It made him feel deeply emotional. Before Qi Tian, he had been the Mansion Master for over a hundred years, earning great honor and reverence for accumulating such wealth for the Imperial Master Mansion. However, compared to Qi Tian, his stewardship was undoubtedly not as commendable.

Qi Tian, Xiao Xiaowu, and Gao Jinmei flew to the gate of the Imperial Master Mansion together. Gao Jinmei took the lead and loudly announced, “People of the Imperial Master Mansion, listen up! Mansion Master Xiao and the Young Master have returned. Open the gates immediately and line up to welcome them!”

Gao Jinmei’s voice spread throughout the Imperial Master Mansion, alerting all within. Nobody dared to delay; they all came outside, looking towards the gate eagerly. Soon enough, someone recognized Mansion Master Xiao and Qi Tian, and the crowd burst into joyous exclamations, “The Mansion Master has returned! The Mansion Master has returned!”

Of course, there were also those calling out, “The Young Master has returned! The Young Master has returned!”

But those chanting for the return of the “Young Master” were far fewer than those for the “Mansion Master.” Qi Tian was unconcerned. Xiao Xiaowu was the founder of Imperial Master Mansion and held an irreplaceable position in the hearts of everyone there. Even though Qi Tian had averted disaster for the mansion during troubled times, his methods of managing the mansion were not as gentle as Xiao Xiaowu’s but decisively lethal as he had executed some within the mansion. It was only natural that his reputation could not match Xiao Xiaowu’s. Besides, Qi Tian had no interest in competing with Xiao Xiaowu over who was more esteemed; it was pointless.

Soon the gates of the Imperial Master Mansion swung open, and various hall masters and elders filed out, prostrating themselves on the ground to welcome Xiao Xiaowu and Qi Tian’s return.

Qi Tian glanced at these hall masters and elders, his eyebrows imperceptibly knitting together. Among these people, he noticed the absence of two individuals who had close ties to him. One was Guan Xun and the other was Prince Zhao, the son of the current Emperor of Great Zhao, who was formally Qi Tian’s disciple. The former consistently referred to Qi Tian as his senior brother. When Qi Tian left Imperial Master Mansion to search for Xiao Xiaowu, he employed special techniques to forcefully advance Guan Xun to the Gold Core Realm, then appointed him to act as the deputy Mansion Master to handle all the affairs of Imperial Master Mansion. By rights, Guan Xun should be leading the hall masters and elders to welcome them, but he was nowhere to be seen, and this was highly unusual.

As for the latter, Qi Tian did not assign him any duties but left him at Imperial Master Mansion to cultivate. Leaving other matters aside, his disciple should certainly come out to meet his returning master; however, his absence was also incorrect.

From Qi Tian’s previous accounts, Xiao Xiaowu knew all that had transpired within Imperial Master Mansion. Along the way, he was eager to see what kind of person Guan Xun was, who had been appointed as the acting Mansion Master by Qi Tian. Yet now, glancing through the crowd that had come to welcome him, he only saw familiar faces; Guan Xun was not among them.