225: I hereby pardon you.

Inside the study, a middle-aged man dressed in bright yellow casual robes stood before the window, overlooking the vast territory outside.

His features were rugged, and his gaze was profound, as if he could perceive everything in the world.

Though he did not deliberately emit any aura, a supreme majesty—one that controlled the universe and overlooked all living beings—radiated from him, making one unable to help but feel awe and a desire to prostrate in worship.

He was the current ruler of the Qitian Dynasty—Emperor Qi Beichen.

A peerless powerhouse whose cultivation had reached the Peak of the Ninth Turn of Undergoing Tribulation!

"Your Majesty." Xiao Zhantian bowed respectfully outside the door.

"Come in." Emperor Qi Beichen's voice was steady and powerful.

Xiao Zhantian stepped into the study, bowed respectfully, and reported what had happened in the dungeon to Emperor Qi Beichen.

After hearing Xiao Zhantian's report, Emperor Qi Beichen slowly turned around.

A ripple flashed through his profound eyes.

"Since when did such a Prodigy appear in the Divine Land?"

This simply did not make sense!

Even he had only reached the Mahayana stage after planning for thousands of years.

Could it be that this Chen Jiu had started comprehending the Law from his mother's womb?

The higher the cultivation, the lower the chance of conception.

Especially for those Undergoing Tribulation, even if conception occurred, the fetus would take anywhere from several years to several hundred years to gestate.

Could he have really been Cultivating in the womb?

He pondered for a moment, a sharp light flashing in his eyes, and made a decision:

"Pass on my imperial decree: invite that Chen Jiu to rest at the Star Gazing Pavilion and treat him with courtesy. I want to meet him in person."

"Your subject obeys!"

Xiao Zhantian felt a shiver in his heart, knowing that His Majesty valued this person to the extreme.

The Star Gazing Pavilion was a place for receiving the most distinguished guests.

It was extremely rare for His Majesty to personally meet a young man of unknown origin.

Half an hour later, led by the Silver-Clad Commander, Chen Yuan left the gloomy dungeon, passed through layers of palace guards, and arrived before a tower that towered into the clouds.

The tower was built entirely from a dark blue star stone, and a faint starlight flowed across its surface.

Above the tower's lintel hung a plaque with three vigorous, sweeping characters written on it—Star Gazing Pavilion.

Stepping into the pavilion, Chen Yuan immediately felt a pure and vast power of the stars permeating the air.

Cultivating here would indeed have twice the result with half the effort for Cultivators who were comprehending star-type Cultivation Technique and Divine Ability.

The interior of the pavilion was simple and elegant, without too many luxurious decorations.

Before long, steady footsteps could be heard outside the door.

Chen Yuan composed himself and stood waiting quietly.

The study door was pushed open by an attendant, and Emperor Qi Beichen, dressed in bright yellow casual robes, walked in slowly.

He did not display any imperial pageantry, as if it were just an ordinary meeting, but that invisible pressure from someone who had long held a high position was more intimidating than any display.

Chen Yuan's expression was calm; he bowed neither humbly nor arrogantly:

"Loose Cultivator Chen Jiu greets Emperor Qi."

He did not perform the full kneeling bow, his posture composed.

Emperor Qi Beichen's gaze was like a torch, landing on Chen Yuan, as if he wanted to see through him inside and out.

He sat down casually in the main seat and waved his hand: "Young Master Chen, no need for formalities. Sit."

After Chen Yuan sat down, Emperor Qi Beichen did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point:

"Young Master Chen, to have such cultivation at such a young age, and to be able to easily break the Spirit-Restricting Shackles specially made by our Dynasty's Ministry of Works, is something I have never seen in my life. May I ask who your master is?"

This was a test, as well as a routine interrogation.

Hearing this, Chen Yuan raised his eyes and looked straight at Emperor Qi Beichen.

Since he had decided to take this opportunity to latch onto the Qitian Dynasty, he did not intend to hide his identity too much; being timid would only make him seem inferior and invite suspicion.

"Since Your Majesty asks, I will not hide it."

Chen Yuan's tone was steady, "Chen Jiu is a pseudonym; my real name is Chen Yuan."

"Chen Yuan?"

A sharp light flashed in Emperor Qi Beichen's eyes. He had heard this name; his little granddaughter had mentioned it to him just last night.

He leaned forward slightly, revealing a look of interest, "Is it that… Chen Yuan from the Eastern Wasteland who stirred up the Southern Continent and left the Mo family feeling humiliated?"

"It is indeed me." Chen Yuan admitted frankly.

Emperor Qi Beichen leaned back against the chair, his fingers tapping gently on the armrest: "You are quite frank. Do you know that the Mo family has currently issued a sky-high bounty for your head?

You revealed your true identity to me; aren't you afraid that I will capture you and send you to the Mo family? I could obtain a generous gift and also do the Mo family a favor."

Hearing this, Chen Yuan not only showed no fear, but instead smiled, his smile filled with confidence.

"Your Majesty is joking. Since I, Chen Yuan, dared to enter the Divine Land alone and set foot in this Qitian City, I have never truly taken the Mo family's bounty to heart.

If they really had the ability to find and capture me, I would not be sitting here talking with Your Majesty right now."

He paused, looked at Emperor Qi Beichen, his words indifferent and calm:

"As for whether Your Majesty would send me to the Mo family…"

He paused and continued: "I believe Your Majesty will not. Because Your Majesty is a smart person, a heroic ruler.

Sending a nineteen-year-old in the Late Mahayana Stage and a nineteen-year-old Sword God to an opponent might gain a momentary advantage.

But if I do not die today and return another day, would Your Majesty not have created a powerful enemy with infinite potential, one destined to fight to the death, for yourself and for the Qitian Dynasty?"

"This deal, no matter how you look at it, is not worth it."

Chen Yuan's words echoed clearly in the Star Gazing Pavilion.

Emperor Qi Beichen stared at Chen Yuan. In the eyes of this young man, he did not see any bluffing, only confidence!

This kind of confidence, he had only seen in a very small number of truly peerless Prodigies.

If an ordinary person dared to speak to him like this, they would have long been dragged out, hacked into ten thousand pieces, and their entire clan executed.

But at this moment, Emperor Qi Beichen was not only not angry, but a strong interest arose in his heart instead.

It had been a long time since he had encountered a young man who dared to look at him directly and converse with him in an equal, or even slightly sharp, manner.

"Hahaha!" Emperor Qi Beichen suddenly let out a hearty laugh, breaking the slightly stagnant atmosphere,

"Good! Well said! You have courage, you have spirit! All Geniuses have a backbone, and what I appreciate is your frankness and confidence!"

"Being able to reach the Late Mahayana Stage at nineteen proves your talent is that of a Prodigy, but being able to rule the entire Eastern Wasteland at nineteen shows your capability."

"You should have learned of the actions of my sons while in the dungeon. I wonder who you think I should appoint as the Crown Prince?"

Emperor Qi Beichen said, taking out a small booklet.

"Here are some of the absurd things my sons have done and the forces standing behind them. I pardon you today; tell me from your perspective who should be appointed as Crown Prince."

Chen Yuan looked at the booklet in front of him, his heart shaken.

It was estimated that those princes could never have imagined that every move they made was under the surveillance of Emperor Qi.