409: The strength is not equal, that is, father and son.

In the empty, icy palace, Snow Queen Yekaterina sat alone on her frost throne, as dignified as an ice sculpture.

Her skirt, without wind, moved on its own, constantly scattering crystalline snowflakes, making the entire scene appear both tragically beautiful and sacred.

After confirming that no one was in the palace.

The Queen took off her heavy crown, revealing her elven ears, and sorrowfully called out: “Shalaman, Goddess of Nature, who presides over wildness and vitality, your divine messenger Yekaterina calls upon you!”

Whoosh!

In an instant, the stern-looking frost palace was filled with various plants.

In mid-air, a hazy figure floated.

It was an elven woman, wearing a wreath of flowers and a green robe.

The staff in her hand, like a tree branch, was covered in blossoms.

“Yekaterina, why do you lament?”

Goddess of Nature Shalaman asked from above.

Yekaterina lightly lifted the hem of her royal robe, knelt down, and confessed: “Goddess, please forgive my incompetence; my elven identity has been exposed. What’s even more worrying is…”

Yekaterina looked up at the Goddess of Nature, tears welling in her ice-blue eyes, and said: “The entrance to the Elf Civilization might also have been exposed.”

“What!?”

The Goddess of Nature frowned and asked: “How was it exposed?”

Yekaterina’s tears flowed like a spring, like a wronged girl crying to her mother: “Qin Yang discovered it. I don’t know how he knew, but he has already threatened me with it. I can’t hold on much longer. Humans… are truly cunning and despicable!”

...Shangjing City, Imperial Palace.

Qiu Yan, Zhan Tianxiong, and Han Chen, the three Sages, met with the Divine Emperor.

“Sage Han’s journey has been quite fruitful!”

Qin Yang looked at the ten large boxes full of breakthrough orbs, ten boxes of Demonic Energy crystals, ten boxes of weapons and equipment, and ten elven-like beauties from the Northern Kingdom, his mouth practically splitting into a grin.

These people and items were all gifts from Snow Queen Yekaterina.

Along with the gifts came a reply letter from the Queen.

“To the Supreme Divine Emperor.”

“The Divine Emperor is majestic and in his prime.”

“Yet he does not disdain this King, who is over a hundred years old and past her prime.”

“Such kindness, I fear to betray.”

“Forgive my inability to respond in person due to pressing state affairs.”

“I humbly offer ten beauties and several treasures.”

“On the day of the Divine Emperor’s Ascension Ceremony, this King will surely come in person.”

“At that time, we can have a deeper discussion with the Divine Emperor.”

“May Shenzhou last for ten thousand years.”

...“Haha! I’ve hit her where it hurts.”

Qin Yang chuckled and tossed the Queen’s handwritten letter aside.

Although the handwriting in the letter was delicate and carried a faint fragrance.

Observing the sharp strokes, Qin Yang could feel that the Snow Queen had written this letter with killing intent.

He could even imagine the Queen’s beautiful face twisted in anger, biting her teeth, as she wrote this humiliating reply.

Qin Yang looked at Zhan Tianxiong, who was beside him, and asked: “Has there been any large-scale troop movement in the Northern Territory?”

“Yes, there has.”

Zhan Tianxiong, one of the Six Sages, cupped his hands and said: “After Sage Han’s diplomatic mission to the Northern Kingdom, their Professionals quickly moved towards the border, and the number of border guards has doubled.”

Qin Yang sneered: “General Huo doesn’t need to go through the border at all; this is also a way to lure the tiger out of its mountain lair.”

Qiu Yan, who was beside him, asked: “Your Majesty, during the era of the Jiuzhou Federation, the Northern Kingdom was always friendly with us. Is what we’re doing a bit too much…?”

“A bit too much what? Destroying friendship?”

Qin Yang looked at Qiu Yan and said: “You doves are all idealists. Where do you find so much friendship between nations? It’s all just mutual exploitation.”

“That’s right.”

Zhan Tianxiong, who commanded the army, stepped forward and said: “From a military deployment perspective, the Northern Kingdom doesn’t treat us as friends either. They have an elite force permanently stationed on their border.”

Qin Yang nodded, indicating that Zhan Tianxiong had hit the nail on the head.

Interactions between nations have always been rational and ruthless.

Becoming friends means having common interests and equal strength.

If the strength is unequal, and they can still stand together due to common interests, then it must be a father-son relationship.

Of course, Qin Yang could also understand Qiu Yan’s grievance.

When he managed the economy of the Jiuzhou Federation, he signed many reciprocal treaties with the Snowy Northern Kingdom, and the friendship between the two nations was established by him.

But strategic security must always take precedence over economics.

With the new establishment of the Shenzhou Empire, all nations are eyeing it covetously.

For example, the Free Federation started a propaganda war even before Qin Yang’s Ascension Ceremony.

The major southern nations also act like they’re missing a screw, constantly hyping up the threat of Shenzhou domestically, as if Shenzhou would attack them at any moment.

In reality, these are all tests.

They want to see if the foundation of this new Empire of Shenzhou is solid and if its strategy is firm.

During this period, Shenzhou must project a more assertive image to the outside world to minimize trouble from its neighbors.

What’s more… something big will happen at the upcoming Ascension Ceremony.

The Eight Main Gods, who dominate world faith, are very likely to split into three factions on that day, and the entire world might follow suit.

It’s possible that the day Qin Yang ascends the throne will be the beginning of a world war.

Qin Yang’s current leverage over the Snow Queen, on the contrary, saves the cost of border garrisons.

The troops originally stationed in the Northern Territory can be moved south and east.

Of course, the most important thing is Zhang Lingxiao’s Sky Screen.

Thinking of this, Qin Yang asked Qiu Yan: “Is Si Zhenfeng ready?”

Qiu Yan cupped his hands: “Reporting to Your Majesty, Saint Si and the Imperial Advisor have led 6000 Divine Emperor’s disciples and are waiting below the Imperial Palace for an audience.”

“Divine Emperor’s disciples” was Qin Yang’s code name for this operation.

He would bestow the power of Xuanmen Professionals upon these 6000 ordinary people.

The Divine Emperor’s disciples would also cooperate with Zhang Lingxiao to remove the “thought imprints” from everyone in the world through the Sky Screen on the day of the Divine Emperor’s ascension.

“Hoo—”

Qin Yang exhaled a long breath.

Since his Awakening, he had accomplished many Heaven-Defying feats.

The most shocking of them was undoubtedly slaying Elebella’s Inner Divinity.

But no one had witnessed that.

This time, however, he was truly going to challenge the gods in front of the entire world.

“Doing such a big business, I’m actually a little nervous.”

Qin Yang took a few deep breaths and said towards outside the hall: “Have Saint Si bring the people in.”

Rumble!

Accompanied by the sound of thunder.

An irresistible proclamation echoed across the sky of Shangjing City.

“The Supreme Divine Emperor has decreed: Summon Saint Si, Si Zhenfeng, and 6000 Divine Emperor’s disciples for an audience before the main hall!”

Soon.

Hundreds of flying airships arrived at the edge of the airborne Imperial Palace.

6000 ordinary people disembarked from the airships in an orderly fashion and, led by Si Zhenfeng, majestically entered within the red walls… [Retired Emperors: National Day is coming soon, wishing everyone a happy holiday in advance!]

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