22: Revealing the truth again

"You all truly give me a headache."

Seeing the dozens of Elders climb up from the ground, Wu Tianxie looked at them with a tone of utter exasperation.

In just this short time, they had caused such a massive mess for him.

“Pavilion Master, you can’t blame us entirely; you never told us that person’s identity.”

An Elder at the Late Stage Quasi-Emperor realm spoke with an extremely innocent tone.

After all, who could have imagined that a Void Refining Peak cultivator would actually be the master of a Peak Great Emperor?

Standing nearby, Xu Daoshan had already seen through everything and shook his head.

"Tianxie, we were Set up."

"That person was just looking for an excuse. Even if the Elders hadn't spoken, he would have found another reason."

Hearing the Old Ancestor say this, Wu Tianxie quickly came to his senses and was filled with regret.

"However, this person’s background might be terrifyingly powerful. Perhaps he comes from above. Establishing a relationship with him using sixty percent of Heavenly Treasure Pavilion's profits might not be a loss."

Before Wu Tianxie could speak, Xu Daoshan continued.

But even so, that was sixty percent of the profit, which could amount to three to four hundred thousand Top-Grade Spiritual Liquid during good times. Who wouldn't feel the sting of that loss?

Now, they could only place their hopes on Gu Jixiao truly having the backing from above; otherwise, Heavenly Treasure Pavilion might suffer a total loss.

After suffering this loss, Wu Tianxie looked at the group of Elders, growing angrier the more he thought about it, and then spoke.

"Starting today, your annual stipends will be reduced by fifty percent."

"No!"

The Elders wailed in unison.

But who could they blame? They had only themselves to blame for mocking Gu Jixiao first.

Not long after, Gu Jixiao returned to the Imperial Capital.

The moment he returned to the Imperial Capital, he summoned Chen Guchuan and the others.

“Your Majesty, you have returned.”

Seeing Gu Jixiao return, Chen Guchuan and the other ministers quickly knelt down.

Gu Jixiao merely waved his hand, telling them to rise.

"I will be entering seclusion for a period of time. Matters of the court will temporarily be handled by Minister Chen and Beloved Minister Li."

"Additionally, I will establish a Department of Integrity and Governance and a Department of Public Opinion in every city within the Ancient Heavenly Dynasty to better manage the people of the Imperial Dynasty."

"As for the Dayan Dynasty, have they made their choice?"

Gu Jixiao had not forgotten the Dayan Dynasty, after all, it was a power not much weaker than the Ancient Heavenly Dynasty—at least, based on the Ancient Heavenly Dynasty's previous strength.

Hearing this, Chen Guchuan quickly spoke up.

“Your Majesty, I was just about to report on this matter.”

"According to reports from our spies planted in the Dayan Dynasty, it seems the Dayan Dynasty intends to become a vassal of a Seventh-Rank Dynasty."

As he spoke, the expressions of the ministers present all grew solemn.

Imperial Dynasties were divided by ranks. For instance, their Ancient Heavenly Dynasty was a Fifth-Rank Imperial Dynasty.

To become a Fifth-Rank Imperial Dynasty, one must have three Saint Realm experts guarding it.

If they wanted to advance further, to become a Sixth-Rank Imperial Dynasty, they would need three Great Saint experts guarding it.

And so on, to become a Seventh-Rank Imperial Dynasty, they would need three Peak Saint King experts guarding it.

With the Methods Your Majesty has currently displayed, the Ancient Heavenly Dynasty did not possess the strength to rival a Seventh-Rank Imperial Dynasty.

Furthermore, there were still differences in strength among the Seventh-Rank Imperial Dynasties.

Given the habits of the Dayan Dynasty, if they intended to become a vassal to a Seventh-Rank Imperial Dynasty, they would certainly choose one of the stronger ones.

But contrary to the ministers' solemnity, Gu Jixiao's heart was filled with excitement.

He had been worrying about not having an opportunity to swallow up those powerful dynasties, and now the Dayan Dynasty was providing him with just such an opportunity!

Gu Jixiao waved his hand, letting out a cold laugh.

"I was just worrying about how to Expand my Ancient Heavenly Dynasty."

"Proclaim this message in my name: If anyone dares to accept the Dayan Dynasty, they are making an enemy of my Ancient Heavenly Dynasty."

“Your Majesty, this absolutely cannot be done! There are numerous powerful Imperial Dynasties in the Tiannan Dao Domain. If they learn of this message, they might move against our Ancient Heavenly Dynasty.”

"Indeed, Your Majesty, please retract your decree."

Chen Guchuan and Li Xuan's faces changed drastically upon hearing this, and they quickly knelt to persuade him.

But Gu Jixiao waved his hand.

"My mind is made up. My beloved ministers need not persuade me further."

"Moreover, I never do things without certainty. You just need to carry out my orders."

"But..."

Li Xuan and Chen Guchuan were about to press further when they heard Gu Jixiao snort coldly.

"Do I need your permission to act?"

"This subject dares not!"

The two were inwardly terrified and had no choice but to stop discussing the matter.

However, they were already quite worried, as it involved a Seventh-Rank Imperial Dynasty.

Seemingly guessing their fear, Gu Jixiao did not hide anything and summoned three figures with a wave of his hand.

These were three of the ten Peak Saint King experts.

"To be frank, these three are Peak Saint King Powerhouses, and they are my subordinates."

"My beloved ministers, do you still have any objections now?"

When he finished speaking, he looked at the assembled court officials; every single one of them wore an expression of shock.

How many hidden trump cards did their Emperor still possess? How many more surprises would he give them?

That was the Peak Saint King realm, and there were three of them!

Having one Peak Saint King already made one an outstanding power among Seventh-Rank Imperial Dynasties, let alone three.

"None, none at all..."

At this moment, the fear in their hearts vanished completely, replaced by rampant ambition.

With three Peak Saint Kings, the scale of their Ancient Heavenly Dynasty would absolutely not stop here.

"Very well, since there are no objections, we shall adjourn the court."

Gu Jixiao waved his hand and then vanished.

After Gu Jixiao left, Li Xuan and Chen Guchuan suddenly realized something.

Wait, how exactly should the Department of Integrity and Governance and the Department of Public Opinion be Set up?

But since the matter was settled, they couldn't go ask Gu Jixiao again. They could only proceed according to their own ideas for now.

If Gu Jixiao blamed them later, they could just say that Gu Jixiao hadn't specified how to do it.

"Is this the resource for forging an Immortal-Grade Spiritual Root? It certainly looks precious."

Gu Jixiao took out the incomparably precious Heaven And Earth Treasure items one by one from his storage ring. Even the lowest grade among them was a High Grade Heaven-Grade Heaven And Earth Treasure.

If any of these were taken out to sell, they could fetch several thousand units of Top-Grade Spiritual Liquid.

Gu Jixiao felt no heartache, as this concerned his own talent.

He took out a Large Cauldron and placed the Heaven And Earth Treasures into it one by one.

Before long, he had brewed a Medicinal Liquid of incomparably vibrant, multicolored hues.

Seeing this, Gu Jixiao spoke.

"Gu Yue, guard me during this process."

"Yes, Master."

Gu Yue's voice slowly came from the Void.

Gu Jixiao looked at the Medicinal Liquid in the Large Cauldron before him, his expression somewhat solemn.

From the Method, he also knew that forging or improving the quality of a Spiritual Root was akin to defying the heavens and changing fate; the suffering endured would obviously be terrifying.

But Gu Jixiao was completely unafraid. Gritting his teeth, he jumped in.

For the sake of his Path to Invincibility, he would risk it all!

The moment he entered, the immense energy within the Medicinal Liquid followed Gu Jixiao's pores into his body, coursing through his limbs and bones, and finally condensing around the Spiritual Root above his Dantian.

Instantly, an incomparably painful sensation spread throughout Gu Jixiao's entire body.

"Ah, damn it! This hurts too much!"

Gu Jixiao cursed through gritted teeth.

This was far more painful than his tragic death in his previous life.

But for his Path to Invincibility, Gu Jixiao stubbornly endured it through gritted teeth.