183: Chapter 183 Cao Kun: Holy crap, that's awesome!

Cao Kun entered Zichen Hall alone.

The hall was vast, and the floor was paved with solid slabs of Top-Grade Spirit Stones.

Wisps of Spiritual Qi seeped from them, turning into a thin layer of white mist, making it look like a fairyland.

As Cao Kun walked, he couldn't help but complain inwardly:

"These wicked feudal emperors sure are extravagant!"

At the front of the hall, layers of bead curtains hung down, concealing everything behind them.

Vaguely, a graceful figure could be seen reclining on a wide dragon throne.

Her face was not clearly visible.

However, he could feel an undisguised pressure of a superior spreading through the white mist.

Mysterious and unattainable.

Cao Kun stopped in his tracks and looked at the figure behind the curtains without saying a word.

The person behind the curtains also remained silent.

This was the most common technique emperors used to control people.

Using silence to create a sense of oppression and time to wear down the other party's edge.

Whoever bowed their head first, spoke first, or showed fear first...

...would lose the initiative in this psychological game.

Cao Kun sneered in his heart.

"Trying to tame a hawk?"

He withdrew his gaze, completely ignoring the suffocating imperial pressure.

His eyes swept around, and he walked straight toward a white jade long table on the left side of the hall.

He plopped down in a seat, his movements extremely natural.

Cao Kun casually picked up the spiritual tea already prepared on the table, lifted the lid, blew on the floating tea leaves, and took a slow sip.

"Oh, this tea is really not bad." He smacked his lips and commented with great familiarity.

In the shadows at the side of the hall, an old eunuch standing in attendance suddenly looked up, his eyes fierce.

He had served three generations of emperors.

He had seen countless nobles, generals, and peerless Prodigies in this Zichen Hall.

Every single one of them entered trembling with fear.

This outsider at the Soul Transformation Stage actually found a place to sit on his own?

And he even drank the Empress's private spiritual tea?

"Impudent!"

The old eunuch took a step forward.

The Spiritual Pressure of the Peak Void Refining stage transformed into a cold astral wind, roaring as it charged straight at Cao Kun's face.

He wanted to suppress this arrogant madman who didn't know his place right then and there until he was prostrate on the ground!

To let him know that both thunder and rain are the Emperor's grace!

"This is the imperial palace! How dare you behave so wildly here!"

The astral wind hit his face, making Cao Kun's black hair dance wildly.

However, he didn't even lift an eyelid.

The Chaos Unity Manual within him operated on its own like a surging river, and a layer of dark golden aura appeared on his body's surface.

It actually dissolved all the cold astral wind into nothingness.

Cao Kun unhurriedly put down the teacup and glanced sideways at the old eunuch in the shadows.

"Where did this old dog come from? Why isn't it leashed?"

"The master hasn't even spoken yet, but you've already started barking."

"What? Has the grand Great Yan Dynasty become a place where eunuchs call the shots?"

"You're looking for death!" The old eunuch's sore spot was hit, and murderous intent surged in his eyes as he was about to attack.

"Stand down."

Just then, a cold voice came from behind the bead curtains.

The old eunuch paused, immediately withdrew his aura, and respectfully retreated into the shadows, though his gaze toward Cao Kun remained hostile.

Then,

Empress Yue Chan's voice rang out again, carrying a hint of scrutiny.

"Young Master Cao."

"The Great Yan imperial palace is not the back garden of your Hehuan Sect."

"Since you've seen me, why don't you bow?"

Cao Kun put down the teacup and looked directly at the hazy figure.

"Empress Majesty."

"You went to such great lengths, even at the risk of offending Taichu Holy Land, to fish me out of Tianfeng Province."

"It couldn't have been just to have me come here and kowtow to you, right?"

He leaned back in his chair and shifted into a more comfortable position.

"If Your Majesty wanted to find an obedient dog, there are plenty in the Great Yan Imperial City. Why go to the trouble of bringing me here?"

The hall fell into silence once again.

The old eunuch was trembling with rage.

But due to Empress Yue Chan's command, he didn't dare speak.

Two breaths later.

*Huala.*

Empress Yue Chan raised her fair wrist and gave it a gentle wave.

The layers of bead curtains in the hall rolled up to both sides simultaneously.

The view suddenly became clear.

The true appearance of Empress Yue Chan of the Great Yan was fully revealed to Cao Kun.

Even though he already had beauties like Yu Linglong and Leng Qingyue by his side...

...at the moment he saw Empress Yue Chan clearly, he couldn't help but praise her in his heart.

"Holy crap, she's amazing!"

A dark golden palace dress clung tightly to her body, fully showcasing her slender waist and magnificent assets.

A touch of bright red cinnabar was marked between her eyebrows, looking extremely enchanting.

A sacred, inviolable imperial majesty combined with a ripe allure.

Two completely contradictory temperaments were perfectly blended within her.

She exuded a fatal temptation that made one want to drag her down from the Nine Heavens and off her pedestal.

"The System didn't lie to me. Is this the value of an SSS-rank Jade Beast?"

Cao Kun didn't hide his gaze at all, scanning her up and down.

Empress Yue Chan looked at him expressionlessly.

"Young Master Cao, have you seen enough?"

Anyone else would have likely knelt in terror, begging for mercy and crying out their crimes.

But Cao Kun was very open about it.

His main trait was being shameless.

Sitting in his chair, he shook his head honestly. "Not enough."

"However, let's talk business first today."

"Your Majesty is so pleasing to the eye. If I keep looking, I'm afraid I'll delay you from handling Great Yan's national affairs."

Empress Yue Chan narrowed her phoenix eyes.

She realized that the man before her was not bound by any rules at all.

Her proud imperial aura felt like a punch landing on cotton in front of this man.

This bastard perfectly combined being a rogue with being clear-headed.

Since her initial show of power didn't work, Empress Yue Chan stopped beating around the bush and got straight to the point.

"The Ancient God Ruins are about to open."

Empress Yue Chan sat up straight, her voice echoing in the hall.

"Inside the ruins, there is suppression from ancient Heavenly Dao Laws. No matter how high your cultivation is outside, once you enter, you can only exert the strength of the Peak Void Refining stage at most."

Cao Kun listened quietly without interrupting; this information was indeed useful.

Empress Yue Chan continued, "Those old fogies who have lived for tens of thousands of years value their lives more than anything."

"With their cultivation suppressed, they would never easily take risks."

"Therefore, the main force fighting and competing for legacies and Luck in the ruins will be the younger generation of various factions and Void Refining stage experts."

At this point, Empress Yue Chan's gaze became sharp.

"I need you to help me kill everyone in Bi Yuntao's lineage within the ruins."

"Leave none alive."

As soon as she said this, the temperature in the hall plummeted.

Even the old eunuch was shocked.

As the Empress's close attendant, he naturally knew that the ambitious Prince Bi Yuntao was a thorn in Her Majesty's side.

But he never expected the Empress to so bluntly issue an order to execute a prince of the dynasty in front of an outsider.

Bi Yuntao had been secretly plundering the Luck of Qing Province, bribing officials, and colluding with foreign enemies for years; he had long been a cancer to the Great Yan.

However, his Foundation in the court was too deep; acting against him directly in the imperial capital would cause national instability.

But he never expected Her Majesty would so simply issue a secret order to execute the Prince's lineage in front of an outsider she had just met!

The Ancient God Ruins were the best place for a burial.

After finishing, Empress Yue Chan waited quietly for Cao Kun's answer.

She thought Cao Kun would hesitate, weigh the pros and cons, or even haggle.

To her surprise, Cao Kun's response was unexpected.

"No problem."

Just two words, crisp and neat, carrying a hint of impatience.

"You don't want to know how many people are in Bi Yuntao's lineage?"

"Don't want to know what trump cards he holds? Don't want to know which factions are backing him in the ruins?"

Cao Kun crossed his hands behind his head, his tone incredibly arrogant:

"There's no need for that."

"From the day he sent the Blood Fiend Twin Ghosts to Hehuan Province and threatened to capture my women as Cauldrons, he was already a dead man in my eyes."

Cao Kun looked at Empress Yue Chan, a murderous sneer appearing on his lips.

"Since he was going to die anyway..."

"...and now Your Majesty is willing to pay me to kill him, I'm even happier. Who wouldn't take a deal where you get something for free?"

Empress Yue Chan gazed into Cao Kun's eyes.

The murderous intent in those eyes was real, without a hint of falsehood.

She quickly made a precise assessment in her heart.

This man was not a killer driven solely by profit.

He already had a strong motive to kill Bi Yuntao.

Profit was just the icing on the cake for him.

This kind of person was far more reliable than a killer who only worked for money.

Because he wouldn't be bribed by the enemy.

Empress Yue Chan nodded slightly and spoke up, "Since Young Master Cao is so straightforward, I won't beat around the bush either."

"Tell me, what are your conditions?"

Empress Yue Chan