The Strongest Mythical Emperor
Chapter 184: Bewitching the Hearts of People

Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Bewitching the Hearts of People

"Who are you?" Qin Jun approached the yellow-robed Taoist and asked, Li Yuanba stepped aside upon his arrival, and the Taoist’s eyes lit up as soon as he saw Qin Jun.

"I am Zhang Jue, a wandering Taoist. Having heard of Your Highness’s wisdom, I’ve come to pledge allegiance. I have a premonition that Your Highness will change the landscape of the Southern Domain!" said the yellow-robed Taoist with a respectful smile.

Pfft—

What the hell?

Zhang Jue?

Qin Jun was immediately dumbstruck, a bad feeling welling up inside. He quickly called out in his mind, "Bring up this old guy’s attribute list, quick!"

No sooner had he spoken than the system published Zhang Jue’s attribute list:

"Zhang Jue, from folk tales."

"Race: Human Clan!"

"Cultivation: Golden Elixir Realm Nine Layers!"

"Cultivation method: Taiping Scripture!"

"Magical treasure: Exorcism Yellow Charm!"

"Saintly Qi: Energy of Bewitching Hearts!"

"Loyalty: 92 (out of a full 100)!"

Oh, crap!

So weak!

Qin Jun couldn’t believe his eyes and almost lost it. His cultivation was only a bit higher than Qin Jun’s, which was utterly intolerable.

In the history of Huaxia, Zhang Jue was no minor figure; he led the Yellow Turban Rebellion at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty. His uprising exposed the ferocity of the regional lords, with figures like Liu Bei and Cao Cao taking part in suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebels, eventually leading to the era of heroes that was the Three Kingdoms.

At that moment, Qin Jun suddenly realized that Zhang Jue possessed saintly Qi!

So far, the only person he had met with saintly Qi was Chen Shuli, who was born with an aura of commanding righteousness.

Saintly Qi occurs when one’s ancestors achieve the great heights of the Daluo Realm, causing a spontaneous transformation in the descendants’ bloodline, giving them a chance to manifest saintly Qi. Qin Jun wasn’t quite sure of its effects yet, but the system had mentioned that Chen Shuli, endowed with commanding righteousness, could become a great official of the era and even deter demons, which suggested the significance of saintly Qi.

Energy of bewitching hearts?

Qin Jun couldn’t help but recall that in the late Eastern Han period, this guy managed to rally hundreds of thousands of peasant followers while the court was none the wiser. His ability to beguile and lead was indeed freakish.

A powered-up Zhang Jue would undoubtedly be even better at influencing people. If he were placed in an enemy state...

Crap!

This guy might not be as weak as he seems!

Thinking this over, Qin Jun’s gaze upon Zhang Jue turned intensely fervent. Zhang Jue might not be as formidable as Li Yuanba and the others, but his saintly Qi definitely had its clever uses.

Qin Jun, at this point, wasn’t short on martial experts. What he lacked was a variety of talents.

Zhang Jue would be perfect for subverting the common folk, low-level cultivators, and even officials and generals in enemy states. One should not underestimate low-level cultivators because they are always the most numerous.

"Very well, Zhang Jue, from now on you are my subject. I hope you won’t disappoint me!"

Qin Jun patted Zhang Jue on the shoulder with a look of approval, and although Zhang Jue was a layer higher in cultivation, Qin Jun was confident he could take him down in a heartbeat, so he naturally didn’t need to flatter.

After all, he was going to be an emperor; he had to maintain his dignity!

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Overcome with emotion, Zhang Jue knelt and kowtowed to Qin Jun. Li Yuanba, standing nearby, sneered dismissively, "Why would you take in someone this weak?"

While helping Zhang Jue to his feet, Qin Jun turned to Li Yuanba with a smile, "Yuanba, sometimes the world isn’t ruled by fists alone."

After saying that, he turned back to Zhang Jue and soothed, "Zhang Jue, Yuanba is straightforward; pay him no mind, this guy’s really just a child at heart."

Valuing the virtuous and respecting the capable outweighs any downside!

"I have long heard of the fame of the Twin Hammer God of War, so Zhang Jue would naturally not harbor any ill feelings. I believe I will change Brother Li’s opinion," Zhang Jue said with a laugh. He addressed Li Yuanba as Brother, which, though awkward, did make sense.

Despite Qin Jun saying that fists aren’t everything, the basic rule of this world is the survival of the fittest, the strong are revered!

If Li Yuanba is stronger, he should be respected!

Soon, Evening Star and others also came out one after another. Qin Jun gave them a brief introduction. Apart from Evening Star, the others didn’t pay much attention to Zhang Jue, and Qin Jun didn’t go out of his way to defend him, after all, Zhang Jue had not yet proven his worth.

"Perhaps Zhang Jue could become a trump card in Your Highness’s hand," Evening Star said with a stroking of his beard, which made Zhang Jue beam with joy, while the others remained indifferent.

A Golden Elixir Realm minor figure becoming a trump card?

In Qin Jun’s words, was he there to be a joke?

"All competitors gather at the main gate, your attendants need not come!"

Just then, the voice of Fei Yushu suddenly spread throughout the entire mansion, signaling the start of the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts Competition.

Qin Jun and the others set off together, with Qin Jun, Qin Yun, Li Yuanba, Zhu Yanqing, and You Fenghuang leading the way, while the rest followed at a distance. Although Fei Yushu said attendants were not allowed to accompany them, after yesterday’s commotion, they had to follow to protect Qin Jun.

"What if I let Wujing kill the Nanzhuo sovereign? Would that count as completing the side quest?"

As Qin Jun walked, he curiously thought that within five days, the sovereign from the Nanzhuo Dynasty would send assassins after him, and naturally, he would not sit idly by.

Whether you are a king or an emperor of a dynasty, if you want to kill me, you must pay with your life!

With that thought, Qin Jun’s lips curled up, revealing a sinister smile, which made Qin Yun shiver next to him.

Seeing such a smile on Qin Jun’s face clearly meant he was planning against someone.

"I wonder which poor soul has caught the attention of Brother Emperor," Qin Yun thought sympathetically. If he knew Qin Jun was planning against the Nanzhuo sovereign, he would be greatly shocked.

Although each of Qin Jun’s men was incredibly strong, he still didn’t believe Qin Jun could threaten a dynasty, at most the Nanzhuo Dynasty couldn’t do anything to them.

Soon, Qin Jun and his group arrived at the main gate, where the other contestants had also gathered. Their gazes involuntarily fell upon Qin Jun.

The incident from the previous day spread like wildfire throughout the dynasty, and within the Imperial Capital, everyone was aware of it.

Qin Jun’s fame had risen to a level that competitors in the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts Competition looked up to.

"Alright, follow me, I’ll lead you to the front of Imperial Palace Peak," Fei Yushu glanced at Qin Jun and Li Yuanba, then said aloud before turning to walk outside the mansion, with the contestants whispering behind him.

Most people were discussing how the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts Competition would unfold, and, of course, they couldn’t help but mention Qin Jun and Li Yuanba, because the two of them were just too prominent!

The procession walked grandly down the street, drawing many murmurs from the monks passing by on both sides.

"Did you see that? The white-clothed youth over there is Qin Jun!"

"My heavens, Qin Jun is so young?"

"That person next to him looking like a sick ghost, isn’t that Li Yuanba? He’s so thin? He looks very different from the rumored image of boundless strength."

"Don’t be fooled by his sickly appearance; he’s someone who can go toe-to-toe with General Zhou Liang!"

Hearing the chatter of the passersby, Qin Jun strutted with his head held high, exuding an imposing aura.

The fools of the Nanzhuo Dynasty, worship me!

Just then, he suddenly felt a chill rising from his back, and he instinctively looked around but didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

"What’s going on, it felt like someone was staring at me?"

Qin Jun wondered to himself, and couldn’t help but think of the Nanzhuo sovereign, could that person have already sent someone to act?

"Your Highness, be careful."

Li Yuanba suddenly spoke up, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings continuously.

Qin Jun broke out in a cold sweat; even Li Yuanba couldn’t sense where the other person was. Didn’t that mean the adversary was very strong?

He looked back to see Evening Star and others following a hundred meters behind; that distance was quite dangerous!