Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 661 - 661 0426 Good News and Bad News_2

Chapter 661: Chapter 0426 Good News and Bad News_2 Chapter 661: Chapter 0426 Good News and Bad News_2 “This is unacceptable.” Yelu Hongli insisted anxiously.

“Whether it’s acceptable is not for you to decide, it’s for me to decide. After you go back, send a message to your emperor. If he doesn’t agree to my demands, then I will kill him and replace him with someone who does. If he agrees and the Crown Prince doesn’t, then the Crown Prince has to be killed and replaced with someone willing.”

Listening to Qi Tian’s threatening words filled with murderous intent, Yelu Hongli and his men couldn’t help but shudder. They did not doubt Qi Tian’s ability to carry out his threats, knowing that if they didn’t agree to his terms now, Qi Tian could invade the Bei Rong Kingdom and plunge it into chaos.

“Senior, apart from these three conditions, do you have any other demands?” Yelu Hongli asked.

Qi Tian raised a finger again, “My time is extremely limited and precious. I don’t want to waste it waiting. Therefore, I’m only giving you one day. Before this time tomorrow, I want to see your emperor and Crown Prince at Yanming Pass, along with the first payment of compensation, at least ten million tales of silver. If your emperor and Crown Prince do not show up on time, I won’t be polite anymore.”

A day might seem like a long time, but it wasn’t enough for the trip between Bei Rong’s capital and Yanming Pass, not to mention, Qi Tian also requested that the Emperor of Bei Rong bring ten million tales of silver in compensation. But they were at his mercy. Qi Tian was in control, and his words were orders that could not be questioned or altered.

“That’s it for my demands, you may leave now.” Qi Tian waved his hand, as if driving away a swarm of flies.

Like pardoned prisoners, Yelu Hongli and others quickly got up from the ground. They rushed to help the two companions who were knocked down by Qi Tian, then hurriedly mounted their horses, and fled Yanming Pass with the rest of the retreating troops.

Watching their hasty retreat, Gao Jinmei asked, “Master, should I secretly follow them?”

Qi Tian shook his head, “I doubt they dare not come. Besides, it would be even better if they don’t. I can use this opportunity to invade Bei Rong, like I did with Chi Di, kill their Gold Core experts, plunder their wealth, and sever their heritage to eliminate the northern threat of Bei Rong once and for all.”

Gao Jinmei instantly became interested. When they were in Chi Di, she had made a great harvest; several storage bags of Gold Core experts whom she killed had become hers, significantly expanding her personal collection. Such gains made her eager for more. “Master, why don’t we go to Bei Rong now and wipe out their Gold Core realm experts?”

Qi Tian shook his head, he was not a bloodthirsty killer and generally did not willingly kill. Besides, there wasn’t much to gain from killing Chi Di’s Gold Core experts or Bei Rong’s. Their living conditions were poor, and their wealth was limited. What could he gain from killing them? More importantly, Qi Tian did not want to waste his time on these worldly affairs. What benefit would he gain from killing more strong men like Master Ju and supporting a few emperors who share his values? Could that help him improve his cultivation?

Instead of wasting time on these matters, he re-preferred to settle his grudges and karma in the Great Zhao Nation as soon as possible, and head to Wanjie City. That was the most suitable place for his long-term cultivation.

Qi Tian and his men followed the retreating Bei Rong army into Yanming Pass. The Bei Rong army retreated hastily, leaving behind a large amount of supplies. Moreover, there were numerous unattended corpses inside and outside Yanming Pass. Some were from the attacking Bei Rong army, some from the defending Yanming Pass, and some were innocent civilians. A rough estimate put the number at over ten thousand.

Qi Tian shook his head disapprovingly, thinking of a saying, “Better to be a dog in peaceful times than a human in chaotic times.” These people could have lived peacefully, but due to the cowardice of the Crown Prince of Zhao, the negligence of the officials, and the greed of Bei Rong, they met their demise and entered the Netherworld.

This time he forcefully intervened in the battle at Yanming Pass, not just to save face for Prince Zhao, to reduce his future internal and external difficulties after his ascension to the throne despite his shallow foundations. But also, he was trying to give the people of the two countries a chance at a stable and peaceful future. This is one of the few things he could do for ordinary people now.

Qi Tian sat cross-legged on top of the City Gate Tower at Yanming Pass, bathing in the sunlight and a gentle breeze, gazing at the vast sky and earth outside the pass. His heart was filled with peace and tranquility, feeling as if his soul was being cleansed by this magnificent scene.

Gao Jinmei and Jin Jin stood underneath the City Gate Tower, looking up at Qi Tian. They both sensed a strange change in him, but the change was unclear, especially for Jin Jin, whose cultivation resources and knowledge were far inferior to Gao Jinmei’s, making his perception of Qi Tian’s changes even more vague and bewildering.

Jin Jin sidled up to Gao Jinmei. He was very afraid of her. Back in Chi Huo City, even though he had never fought with Gao Jinmei, he knew that several Gold Core Realm practitioners who were no weaker than he was had been killed by her effortlessly. In other words, she could easily kill him as well, without giving him any chance to escape.

How could Jin Jin not fear such a person who could control his life and death? Until today, he hadn’t dared to say a single word to Gao Jinmei, always submissive in her presence. It was the first time that he actively approached her, wanting to seek her advice, simply because Qi Tian’s condition was too strange.

“Senior Gao, what’s happening to our master?”

Jin Jin asked this question without even expecting Gao Jinmei to answer him.

Unexpectedly, Gao Jinmei replied, “I’m not quite sure myself. But based on my experience, our master is probably about to break through.”

“Break through?” Jin Jin looked up at Qi Tian’s youthful face bathed in sunlight, his mouth twitching. His master, Qi Tian, was already frightening as he was. Despite being less than twenty years old, he was already at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment. Wouldn’t a breakthrough mean reaching the utmost peak of Foundation Establishment – the tenth level? Could the word genius even begin to describe his master’s talent?

Gao Jinmei continued, “I have a feeling that the breakthrough master is trying to achieve isn’t in the realm of cultivation, but in some other aspect. However, I’m not sure exactly what that might be.”

“If it’s not the realm of cultivation, could it be physical strength? The master’s physique seems to be ridiculously strong; if it gets any stronger, I might not be able to stand up to a single punch from him.” Jin Jin muttered to himself.

Gao Jinmei shook her head, not sure where Jin Jin’s assumption went wrong. “Regardless of where the master’s breakthrough is, one thing is certain: a breakthrough in any area will lead to a substantial increase in his strength. Before his breakthrough, if I were to duel with him one on one, I would lose eight or nine times out of ten. But if he successfully breaks through this time, I am sure I would lose one hundred percent of the time. Jin Jin, do you understand what I’m saying?”

Jin Jin nodded, “I understand. The stronger the master becomes, the less value we have to him.”

“Exactly, that’s what I meant. The master’s sudden increase in strength is great news, but for us, it’s actually quite bad.”