King of Creation
Chapter 212 - 209: Golden Mouth Soul-Cutting Talisman

Chapter 212: Chapter 209: Golden Mouth Soul-Cutting Talisman

"Not only can I appoint you as Prince Iron Hat, but out of the thirteen states and 81 counties of Black Water Kingdom, you may choose one-third as your fiefdom! How about that?"

As he made this offer, the Third Prince Zhu Kun’s gaze was fervent as he stared at Ye Zhen, closely watching his every move, not even missing a blink, trying to discern Ye Zhen’s true reaction from his face.

However, Ye Zhen’s reaction disappointed the Third Prince Zhu Kun.

Aside from the initial hint of surprise, Ye Zhen’s eyes grew colder and colder.

"Not enough?"

The Third Prince Zhu Kun clenched his teeth, determined.

"Apart from allowing you to choose one-third of the states and counties for your fiefdom, within your fiefdom, everything is under your control! Whether it be tax collection, appointment of officials, or even... the military!"

After speaking the words ’the military,’ even the corners of Third Prince Zhu Kun’s mouth twitched slightly.

He was well aware of the significance of the promise he was making.

What composes a country?

Besides the most important elements of land, population, taxation, and the ruling class, it is the military.

When these elements come together, a new country is born.

And in the Third Prince Zhu Kun’s offer of a fiefdom to Ye Zhen, these five elements were all included.

In other words, he was giving Ye Zhen a country within a country.

Even more so, if Ye Zhen chooses his fiefdom wisely, it would essentially be creating a new country, not even a country within a country.

For the sake of the imperial throne, Third Prince Zhu Kun’s bet on Ye Zhen was astonishing.

Similarly, Ye Zhen was shocked by the Third Prince Zhu Kun’s promise, especially the word ’military,’ which completely stunned him.

This was not an enfeoffment; it was practically splitting the entire Black Water Kingdom in two.

Should Ye Zhen desire it, he could establish a separate nation, independently making decrees, becoming the Supreme ruler of an empire.

One must say, the price thrown out by the Third Prince was high and ruthless.

It was almost like trading an imperial throne for another.

If this were offered to any martial artist with the slightest ambition, they might agree immediately, but unfortunately, the Third Prince Zhu Kun had met Ye Zhen.

Imperial throne?

A ruler of a country, the Nine-Five Supreme?

Pity that on this point, Ye Zhen had long seen through it all.

How about being an Emperor?

Or the Nine-Five Supreme?

Just as with Emperor Yuankang, he is an emperor, he is the Nine-Five Supreme, right?

Yet in front of Guo Qijing and Chu Taiping, he didn’t even dare to use his customary ’We’ and deliberately, cautiously, switched to ’I.’

In the decision jointly made by Guo Qijing and Chu Taiping, he had not the slightest power to resist.

It was the same for the Black Water Kingdom, and inside the Phantom Divine Empire, Sword Origin Nation, and Gu’an Kingdom of the Black Dragon Domain.

In the Black Water Kingdom, where two top sects vie for supremacy, the emperor can still play both sides to have relatively good days.

In Phantom Divine Empire and Sword Origin Nation, where only one top sect guides the Martial Arts of the world, the life of the emperor is even more unbearable.

It is said that the successor to the throne of the Phantom Divine Empire is entirely decided by a single word from the leader of the Phantom Divine Sect, and the emperor of the Phantom Divine Empire, upon meeting the Sect Master, must stand, not even allotted a seat.

The Sword Origin Nation’s situation is even more severe.

The ruler of Sword Origin Nation must personally visit the Sect Master of the Sword Origin Sect, Yu Ruhai, yearly, and with each visit, must perform the kneel-and-kowtow ceremony.

The sect elders of Sword Origin Sect even hold the esteemed title of Prime Minister of the Sword Origin Empire, where the promotion of key officials within the empire must be according to the wishes of the Sword Origin Sect.

Such a stifled emperor would be better off not being one at all!

Ye Zhen had seen through it all, in these times, one must rely on one’s abilities, with high cultivation and personal strength, what counts an emperor!

Just like last night, when Ye Zhen publicly refused Princess Huayang, had it been an ordinary official, they would have been minced into meat sauce by now, but Ye Zhen was perfectly fine.

In other words, as long as Ye Zhen is willing, as long as he speaks the word, not to mention marrying a princess as a wife, but even if he were to take ten princesses from the Royal Family as concubines, the Royal Family would have to happily lift him into their home with a palanquin.

Besides, such things are not unprecedented.

More than thirty years ago, Emperor Yuankang’s own younger sister, renowned for her unparalleled beauty, Princess Yu Xiang, was carried in a small palanquin into the Qiyun Sect’s Dingguang Peak to become the junior consort to the then sixty or seventy-year-old Hong Banjiang, a fact still unknown to the world.

This secret piece of gossip was something Zhongli Jing had once mentioned to them casually.

In other words, as long as Ye Zhen progresses in Martial Arts and his cultivation soars, what counts an emperor!

Not being an emperor but better than one!

Seeing Ye Zhen lost in thought without a word, Third Prince Zhu Kun mistakenly believed that Ye Zhen was tempted and about to agree!

"Rest assured, I will definitely not renege afterward! If you do not trust me, I can swear an oath with the Golden Mouth Soul-Cutting Talisman right now."

The Golden Mouth Soul-Cutting Talisman is a contractual Jade Talisman.

Oaths sworn by activating the Golden Mouth Soul-Cutting Talisman are binding; should the swearer break their promise, they would die instantly, making it an extremely formidable talisman used to enforce sworn promises, though quite precious.

Having prepared this Golden Mouth Soul-Cutting Talisman in advance showed the sincerity of Third Prince Zhu Kun.

However, this sincerity only made Ye Zhen even colder!

A prince with no bottom line, if he ascends to the throne, how would that be a blessing to the people?

Today, for the sake of the throne, lands can be distributed and territories divided; perhaps tomorrow, land will be ceded in servitude, or even betraying the country to save oneself.

This man, Ye Zhen truly could not allow him to ascend to power.

In the anxious gaze of Third Prince Zhu Kun, Ye Zhen firmly shook his head.

"I have no interest in this matter!"

The eager Third Prince Zhu Kun was instantly stunned,

"Why?

Is it because the fief is too small, or do you have other demands? You can make them!"

Ye Zhen suddenly let out a sneer.

"Hmph, I certainly don’t want my descendants, my family, to live like those of you in the Royal Family."

Why would Third Prince Zhu Kun make such an unconditional offer, desperately seeking Ye Zhen’s support?

Simply because, throughout history, losers in the struggle for the throne never end well.

When a new emperor ascends the throne, the unlucky ones are directly executed under some pretext, and even the lucky ones are placed under house arrest or end up dying in depression!

Now that the wind of the Black Water Kingdom has shifted towards the Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan, Third Prince Zhu Kun would resort to such a desperate strategy, but in doing so, he has undoubtedly revealed his true nature.

"This...."

Recalling the shady dealings within the Royal Family, Third Prince Zhu Kun’s face turned red. At the same time, Ye Zhen had already risen to his feet.

"I take my leave!"

This made Third Prince Zhu Kun completely panic.

"Ye Zhen, why worry so much about descendants? The condition I offer you is almost like founding another nation, you could take the title of emperor and rule as a king...."

"Take the title of emperor and rule as a king? So what? Aren’t you still begging me, accommodating me everywhere? What use is an emperor? Hahaha...."

With a long laugh, Ye Zhen stepped away from the room, his gaze already resolute beyond measure—Third Prince must absolutely not become emperor!

Zhu Kun’s face instantly turned ashen, his forehead veins bulging prominently, and his face distorted horribly.

"Ye Zhen, you’d better think it through before you step out of this room! Otherwise, you might regret it," Zhu Kun’s voice sounded menacingly.

"Oh? Are you threatening me?"

Ye Zhen spun around like lightning, his gaze firmly fixed on Third Prince Zhu Kun, his aura brimming with killing intent!

"So what if I am threatening you? Can you kill me?" Third Prince Zhu Kun was also throwing caution to the wind.

Almost simultaneously, an emaciated, sinister-looking old eunuch appeared silently beside Third Prince Zhu Kun. The chilling aura that emanated from him made Ye Zhen take several steps back instantly!

"A Spirit Transformation Realm martial artist!"

Ye Zhen’s pupils contracted sharply.

Such an astonishing aura, Ye Zhen had only ever encountered it on Spirit Transformation Realm experts, and certainly not those of the mere First or Second Stage.

Ye Zhen estimated that this old eunuch’s cultivation might very well be at the Third or even Fourth Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm.

"Hmph, now you know fear!"

Third Prince Zhu Kun sneered.

"Ye Zhen, think it over carefully. With the War Soul Blood Flag in your hand and Guo Qijing and Chu Taiping protecting you, this prince cannot deal with you."

"But...."

Zhu Kun’s words hadn’t finished when Ye Zhen’s gaze had already become icy cold.

The news that he held the War Soul Blood Flag in his hands, yet this Third Prince dared to speak so freely in front of a third party, was utterly deserving of death!

"But don’t forget about your family! I can’t deal with you, but within the Empire, dealing with your family and clanspeople is an easy task!"

"What did you say?"

Instantly, Ye Zhen became like an enraged tiger, his hand swiftly moved to his sword hilt, his gaze fixedly staring down Third Prince Zhu Kun, as if he wished to devour him alive.

"Haha, and here I thought Ye Zhen feared neither heaven nor earth, turns out you have fears too!"

Seeing Ye Zhen getting angry made Third Prince Zhu Kun even more triumphant!

"Ye Zhen, I advise you to cooperate with me obediently. Everything I promised you won’t be reduced by a bit! But if you persist in your delusion! This prince guarantees that the more than a thousand members of your Ye Family in Gold City County Town will await slaughter!"

"Slaughter my Ye Family? Have you arranged someone?" Ye Zhen’s teeth clenched with a grinding sound!

"What a joke, does your Ye Family’s background even warrant this prince’s arrangements? Any of the death soldiers under me could annihilate your entire family and clan effortlessly!"

"So, you know fear now?"

Seeing Ye Zhen with a murderous look, Zhu Kun was filled with utmost satisfaction, having finally found Ye Zhen’s Achilles heel!

"Ye Zhen, it’s not too late for you to cooperate with me even now...."

"Seeking death!"

Two words charged with killing intent burst forth from Ye Zhen’s mouth.

In the instant that the two words erupted, the War Soul Blood Flag in Ye Zhen’s embrace stirred, and a streak of blood light swiftly flew out from within Ye Zhen, directly entering his body!

A terrifying aura and an immense killing intent suddenly surged from Ye Zhen’s body!

"Your Highness, be careful!"

Sensing that something was wrong, the sinister-looking old eunuch shouted sharply, as the Spiritual Power of a Spirit Transformation Realm expert exploded forth, protecting Third Prince Zhu Kun like a lightning bolt!

Clang!

The Sky Crystal Sword of Ye Zhen was swiftly unsheathed! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)