Invisible Security Guard
Chapter 848 - 847: Negotiation

Chapter 848: Chapter 847: Negotiation

Yusuf Zuck remembered that Devin King had once sought him for the Treasure Sword to extend the effect of the Purple Droplet by three minutes using a special cooling technique. Now, he wondered if it was possible to integrate the Purple Droplet with ice using the Art of Freezing, and then add the ice to his drink when consuming alcohol.

Of course, a prerequisite was that he needed to learn the Art of Freezing first. Only when he could freeze things quickly and easily could he carry out his grand plan.

At nightfall, after arranging accommodations for the four visiting Demon Cultivators, Yusuf Zuck called out Edmond Frost and Sophia, and the three of them went down into the basement.

...

Meanwhile, in the Capital City, the Saint Dragon Imperial Palace.

The palace resonated with a festive yet foreboding atmosphere, as today was the day for negotiations with the foreign Earth Immortals.

In the span of twelve years, the Emperor who unified the land, now named Heavenly Dao, had reached the Return to Void stage, the same cultivation level as the current-day Yusuf Zuck; both were late-stage Return to Void experts.

However, Heavenly Dao was not just any Return to Void cultivator; he was the most powerful among them, for he could command the world, as he was born with the mandate of heaven!

Heavenly Dao was still dressed in the traditional apricot-yellow dragon robe adorned with a golden crown, and standing in front of the throne was his guard, Leah Erickson. Oddly, Leah remained at the Foundation Establishment Stage; no one knew which secret technique she practiced that kept her at this stage for so long.

Yet her dark, piercing eyes were particularly sharp, seemingly possessing a power to intimidate and captivate, causing some of the Earth Immortals to avert their gaze without understanding why.

Furthermore, the Treasure Sword at her waist was an Imperial Bestowed Sword, one of the few Immortal treasures from the Royal Family.

This individual was always Heavenly Dao’s right-hand man.

There were two seats below the throne, situated just a few steps away from the Emperor, facing each other. One of them was occupied by Dean Austin, newly titled as the Protector King, a Four-clawed True Dragon.

Dean Austin, too, was bedecked in jewelry. Although he did not wear an apricot-yellow robe, he donned a gold-threaded shirt. His love for gold and silver extended to his clothes, which were woven from gold threads.

Opposite Dean Austin sat an eighth-grade Earth Demon Immortal, who also seemed to be protecting Heavenly Dao.

Beneath that were seats occupied by figures such as Master Blackwell, Jonas Hopkins, Zayn Reid, William Watts, and the Green Water Fairy among others—seventy-two Earth Immortals in total. Excluding the thirty-something from the Saint Dragon side, there were forty-plus Earth Immortals from a sect on the Eastern Continent that had pledged allegiance to Heavenly Dao.

For reasons unknown, all the Earth Immortals from that sect on the Eastern Continent obeyed Heavenly Dao’s command.

Over the past twelve years, many from the Mainland had become Earth Immortals, so now the Saint Dragon side boasted thirty-something Earth Immortals. However, they were all first-grade, and despite twelve years passing, not a single one had advanced in rank.

Advancing from first to second grade wasn’t something that could be achieved in ten or eight years, not even with the help of Miracle Elixirs; because according to legend, Earth Immortals face a tribulation every thousand years. You must survive another thousand years for your tribulation to arrive. If you overcome it, then you advance to second grade. If you fail, instant death!

In the Council Hall, there were several hundred seats arranged. The first row was reserved for twenty-something eighth-grade Earth Immortals, followed by those of seventh, sixth, fifth, fourth, third, second, and first grades.

Altogether, there were over three hundred individuals—easily five times more than the Saint Dragon side—and this wasn’t even everyone, as each sect had members left behind to guard their homes!

Despite this, the grand hall was eerily quiet; no one dared to make a fuss.

Dean Austin alone served as a pillar among the immortal assembly!

The negotiations had been ongoing for a day. Heavenly Dao had drafted ten terms, but the foreign Earth Immortals had agreed to only two, leading to a deadlock and a continuous battle of wits and words.

For an entire day, no one had anything to eat or drink.

Emperor Qing still had some integrity; the moment these people arrived at the palace, he hadn’t prepared any wine or fruits, so everyone had sat there parched for the entire day.

The first of the ten conditions proposed by Emperor Qing was to allow the sects from the Four Directions Continent to establish themselves on the Saint Dragon Continent, on the condition that they must abide by the laws of the Sacred Dragon Citizens and must not kill indiscriminately.

This was the first condition, and the visiting Earth Immortals agreed to it as well.

The second condition was to pay taxes; the sects had to pay a head tax based on the number of disciples they took in, and this tax would not be in the form of gold or silver, only Elixirs, and specifically Golden Core Pills.

The Golden Core Pill is a supreme medicine capable of helping those at the Foundation Establishment Stage achieve a Golden Core, and it is extremely precious.

The wealthy and powerful visiting Earth Immortals, after some discussion, surprisingly also agreed to this.

The third condition was that people from the Saint Dragon side must be stationed at each sect, numbering at least three to five individuals. These people, after being stationed, did not need any special treatment; they simply needed the same treatment as the other disciples.

This condition seemed simple, but in reality, it was a grand scheme of Emperor Qing. By sending people to learn the magical powers and Divine Skills from other sects and then imparting them to the Sacred Dragon Citizens, the sects could learn from each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Moreover, after this continued for a hundred years, it would yield significant results. By that time, every one of the Sacred Dragon Citizens would be a cultivator, and every household would pursue the Dao. Therefore, the Saint Dragon Continent was bound to thrive and flourish, with geniuses emerging incessantly.

The fourth condition was even more outrageous. Emperor Qing required that each sect send their strongest members to join the army every year and then follow the imperial army to the four great desolate frontiers to expand the territory.

The fifth condition was intermarriage; female cultivators from outside must marry men from the Mainland, and male cultivators must marry Mainland women!

The following conditions from the sixth to the tenth were all exceedingly harsh!

"I am not negotiating with you; this is an ultimatum!" Emperor Qing’s cultivation level was the lowest, but his momentum was the strongest. Having been emperor for over a decade, he increasingly carried the pressure of the Heavenly Dao, and it was unknown what Divine Skills he had cultivated that caused him to be enveloped in the thick aura of the Heavenly Dao.

"Your Majesty of Saint Dragon, if that is truly the case, then there is no need to continue our discussion. Additionally, we have no interest in your six Immortal Mansions and one Divine Palace here. We are merely passing by. Once we find Bryson Campbell, we will leave immediately. How does that sound?" An eighth-level Earth Immortal stood up, his voice icy cold, because Emperor Qing was simply too much to handle.

The six Immortal Mansions and one Divine Palace that he referred to indicates that the Saint Dragon Continent actually had six Immortal Mansions and one Divine Palace—an utmost secret of the Saint Dragon Continent that someone had leaked, and was now spreading wildly.

"Indeed, we are only looking for Bryson Campbell. We cannot agree to your ten conditions, so let’s disband!" The more than twenty eighth-level Earth Immortals all stood up, followed by the uproar of hundreds of people behind them.

Emperor Qing sneered coldly, "Everything under the heavens is the Emperor’s subjects; every inch of land under the sky is the Emperor’s land. You need to think over the consequences of refusal well!"

"We take our leave!" The visiting Earth Immortal sneered coldly, without even the attempt at a courteous bow; everyone turned around and left!

"You have ten days; if you continue to be stubborn, then do not blame me for not being polite!" Emperor Qing spoke with a deep voice.

However, all the visiting Earth Immortals did not look back, completely ignoring him!

Emperor Qing took a deep breath. It was only after all the visiting Earth Immortals roared off, leaving the palace and then Capital City, that he suddenly stood up and bowed to an eighth-level Earth Demon Immortal sitting below: "Mr. Tu, all of the conditions you proposed earlier, I have agreed to them. However, ten days later, you must assist me to completely eradicate the foreign menace!"

"Haha, well said, well said. Our Monster Tribe Alliance is fully prepared. These small cultivators from the Four Directions Continent are mere chickens and dogs!"

Emperor Qing had secretly conspired with the Monster Tribe Alliance, so he had such confidence in facing the visiting Earth Immortals!