Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 663 - 663 0427 Bei Rong National Teacher_2

Chapter 663: Chapter 0427: Bei Rong National Teacher_2 Chapter 663: Chapter 0427: Bei Rong National Teacher_2 “Don’t be disappointed though. When I say I won’t go, it doesn’t mean I won’t let you go. Gao Jinmei, you even wouldn’t want to avoid going. Jin Jin, you can help Gao Jinmei if you wish.”

Both Gao Jinmei and Jin Jin had been a bit disappointed initially, but now that they had Qi Tian’s promise, they both were visibly overjoyed. They saw the opportunity to make a fortune.

Just then, a flying boat emerged from the horizon. Its shape and size were similar to a flat-bottomed river boat; it wasn’t large and could only accommodate a few people.

This is a common traveling tool for cultivators. It certainly can’t compete with flying swords in regard to speed, but its advantage lies in its inner space, which can be used to carry people. Not only can it carry cultivators, but it can also carry ordinary people. Although a flying sword can also carry people, usually cultivators would not use it to carry ordinary people. If there is any carelessness, it could harm those ordinary people.

Qi Tian had seen such flying boats in Wanjie City. Compared to this flat boat, those were much grander. Gao Jinmei had also seen many similar tools, and even Jin Jin, who had less experience, wasn’t easily fooled. Looking at the flying boat in the sky, they appeared cool and collected.

Soon, the flying boat from the sky arrived in front of Yanming Pass. It then hovered diagonally in front of the pass and slowly descended. It finally came to a halt at the same level as the wall of the pass.

When the flying boat finally stabilized, a man emerged from the cabin. His gaze swept over each of their faces before finally resting on Qi Tian. He saluted Qi Tian and asked, “Are you Qi Tian?”

Qi Tian nodded, saying, “Indeed I am. And who might you be?”

“I am the National Master of the Bei Rong Kingdom, Jiang Yalin. I am over a hundred years old and my cultivation skill is at the second stage of the Gold Core realm.”

“Since you are the National Master of Bei Rong, you should know about the three National Masters of the Great Zhao Nation. I wonder whether you have any other relationships with them,” Qi Tian inquired.

Jiang Yalin shook his head right away, “I’m sorry, your question involves many secrets that I can’t disclose easily. I’m not sure about your fate if I were to tell you, but I would definitely face severe punishment. So, I can only apologize.”

Qi Tian nodded and said, “I understand. So then, why have you come here? To plead on behalf of your emperor?”

Jiang Yalin quickly replied, “You misunderstand, immortal. We people of Bei Rong keep our word. Didn’t you ask us to execute the three high-ranking officials who advocated invading the Great Zhao Nation? After receiving your message, our emperor personally issued the decree according to your demand, punishing these three by execution and having their clans eradicated. Please look here, this is the proof.”

As he spoke, Jiang Yalin took out a wooden box and handed it to Qi Tian. Gao Jinmei casually took it and inspected it. Being a professional killer, she was very familiar with the methods of killing and would not be fooled if Jiang Yalin had done something sneaky with the box.

Fortunately, Jiang Yalin hadn’t rigged anything. The box was ordinary, and inside were three heads, each with eyes wide open in death.

Qi Tian slammed the box shut and said, “I’m not sure if these three individuals truly were the proponents of war, however, I’m inclined to believe they meet the criteria. I can tentatively say you have fulfilled your duty. But you better pray you haven’t tampered with these heads. If I find out you’ve deliberately exchanged the heads, I won’t be polite.”

Jiang Yalin assured him, “Please rest easy, immortal. They indeed were three high-ranking officials advocating for invasion of the Great Zhao Nation.”

Qi Tian nodded, “You have satisfied my first requirement. What about the second one? The prepayment of ten million taels of silver for compensation?”

Qi Tian extended his hand towards Jiang Yalin, who took a glance at the expecting hand and reluctantly handed over a bag, “There’s a lot of gold and silver stored in here, along with various pieces of jewelry and jade. You check and see if it can cover the ten million taels of silver.”

Qi Tian took the bag from him. It was an ownerless Storage Bag, and just as Jiang Yalin had said, it contained a large amount of gold and treasures. Judging from the piles of riches he saw, they should be enough to be traded for ten million taels of silver.

Qi Tian no longer had any interest in gold and silver now. The main reasons he demanded so much money were to compensate the victims of the Great Zhao nation and punish the Bei Rong people, to make them think twice about starting a war. Moreover, he wanted to give some to Prince Zhao.

Prince Zhao was the child whom Emperor Tian Rui least favored. He not only had no royal title but did not even become a Marquis. He was eventually sent to serve as the head of a remote village. In such a god-forsaken place, how much money could Prince Zhao accumulate?

Although Qi Tian had managed a while ago to coerce many princes and nobles to support Prince Zhao, greatly enhancing his wealth within a short period, this wealth was illusory. If Prince Zhao did not have a good financial foundation once he became the crown prince, he would certainly live a frugal life. It would be even more difficult for him to develop connections, appease officials, and manage the localities without money.

Since Qi Tian was planning to support Prince Zhao, he wanted to prepare him fully, especially in terms of financial solidity. That way, Prince Zhao would not have to penny-pinch or be overly cautious about everything. He could then display the demeanor and vision befitting a wise ruler.

Qi Tian casually kept the Storage Bag and said, “I asked for fifty million taels of silver as compensation, and this barely amounts to ten million taels. The remaining forty million taels, I hope that you can come up with it within two years. If it takes you longer, don’t blame me for charging you interest.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yalin silently exhaled in relief. He had feared that Qi Tian would not be easy to talk to and would demand fifty million taels outright. Even though he was a second-stage Gold Core cultivator, he couldn’t procure such a sum all at once. Not even if they emptied the entire treasury of Bei Rong.

Qi Tian said, “I have made several other demands. Isn’t it time for you to fulfill them?”

Both Qi Tian and Jiang Yalin knew that either executing the officials who advocated the southern invasion or the advance payment of ten million taels of silver were actually trivial matters that they can easily manage. Just as with the execution of the officials, as long as they were willing to take action themselves, who could escape? The same was true with the silver; even though Jiang Yalin claimed he could not afford it, he could easily obtain it by executing a few rich merchants or raiding a few treasuries.

The core demand among the multiple demands Qi Tian made, was for the crown prince and the emperor to appear in person to apologize to the citizens of the Great Zhao Nation. In addition to that, it was required for the crown prince to be handed over to Great Zhao nation as a hostage, an unprecedented event in the history of Bei Rong.

“Speaking of which, I just remembered. Why are you here to meet me instead of your emperor and crown prince? Aren’t they showing up at all? Do they look down upon me, Qi Tian? Or do they think Qi Tian can be easily bullied and that my words can be dismissed?”