Chapter 298 A King's Promise Is Never Broken

Emperor Li Heming wore a smile on his lips.

"All of this is thanks to Old Master Ge's planning and guidance!"

The Supervisor waved his hand and shook his head, saying:

"The Great Jin Dynasty has been established for over a thousand years, and its Luck is already exhausted; it cannot last much longer. It would be better for you to refine the remaining Luck and take that final step!"

"As someone favored by the heavens with great Luck, Xue Bai has now built up significant momentum. It is the perfect time to harvest his Luck to extend the lifespan of the Great Jin Dynasty!"

Emperor Li Heming nodded, then asked hesitantly:

"If I make a Breakthrough to the next Realm, will I be repelled by the power of the world?"

Upon hearing this, the Supervisor frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and then nodded:

"That is certainly possible!"

"Therefore, before that happens, we must find the blessed land of Heavenly Pillar Mountain. As long as you enter the blessed land and ascend the Heavenly Pillar, you will be able to enter the Upper Realm!"

"Good!"

Emperor Li Heming's expression eased slightly. Just as he was about to ask something else, an old eunuch walked into the hall.

"This old servant pays respects to Your Majesty and the Supervisor!"

This old eunuch was Cao Gui, the current Head Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

In the current Ziwei Hall, only a few people were allowed to enter without being announced, and this old eunuch was one of them.

He was a trusted confidant of Emperor Li Heming.

"Great Companion, what is the matter?"

Cao Gui replied respectfully:

"This old servant has just received news that the Old Man of Tianshan and the monk with long eyebrows from the Ten Thousand Buddha Cave have entered Qingyang Palace!"

"What?"

Emperor Li Heming's pupils constricted.

"Are you sure?"

"I am sure!"

Cao Gui nodded and said:

"They were brought in personally by the Venerable Qingyang of Qingyang Palace!"

Emperor Li Heming narrowed his eyes and looked at the Supervisor beside him.

"What is Qingyang Palace planning? Do they intend to cooperate with the Buddhist sect and the rebel army to deal with Me?"

Old Master Ge, the Supervisor, stroked his long beard. Just as he was about to ponder, his brows twitched.

"Daoist Master Qingwei is here. I will step aside for now and see what he has to say."

As he spoke, his figure faded and disappeared, without even Cao Gui, a great expert who had opened three Divine Treasuries, noticing a thing.

Almost the next moment, the Emperor also sensed the aura outside. An aged, clear voice drifted into the Ziwei Hall:

"This old Daoist requests an audience with Your Majesty late at night. I hope you will forgive me for disturbing your cultivation!"

Although the voice was ethereal and traceless, the figure had already appeared outside the Ziwei Hall.

The several guards with profound auras hiding outside the hall braced themselves as if facing a great enemy.

The visitor was a figure from the Grandmaster generation of Qingyang Palace, who had spent years in secluded cultivation within the blessed land of Baoxi Mountain and almost never came down the mountain.

Yet, none of the guards in the palace were unaware of his great name.

The Ziwei Hall was silent for a moment before Emperor Li Heming's voice slowly drifted out:

"Daoist Master Qingwei, you speak too seriously. Please, come in and let us converse!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Daoist Master Qingwei performed a Daoist salute and stepped into the hall.

He paid no attention to the luxury of the hall, his gaze immediately drawn to the Emperor in the center of the hall, and he could not help but be secretly shocked.

"Immeasurable Heavenly Venerable!"

Daoist Master Qingwei flicked his horsetail whisk and draped it over his left arm.

"Your Majesty, it has been many days since we last met. Your cultivation has become even more profound; I fear you have already touched the next Domain, have you not?"

"Daoist Master, you praise me too highly!"

Emperor Li Heming kept his aura perfectly guarded.

"I have simply had some insights during my secluded cultivation in recent years. Compared to the Realm of the Dao Head, there is still a long way to go."

Daoist Master Qingwei smiled and did not answer.

Qingyang Palace had a long Legacy, and they possessed a marvelous technique for observing Qi, allowing him to vaguely see that the Emperor was clearly different from Cao Gui beside him.

Although he dared not guarantee that the Emperor's cultivation could surpass the Dao Head of Qingyang Palace, it was definitely far beyond that of an ordinary Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown; at the very least, he himself was certainly no match for him.

Although the outside world rumored that the Emperor was critically ill, Qingyang Palace had never believed it.

Because through their observation technique, they could see that the Emperor's own aura had never waned. He must have been planning something in the dark, which was why he sat by and watched as Xue Bai's rebel army fought their way to the Central Province.

This was also the reason why Qingyang Palace had not yet entered the fray.

Everyone had their own schemes, and no one wanted to be used as a tool.

It was only when even the Hanging Temple sided with Xue Bai, and seeing the Buddhist sect growing in power, that Qingyang Palace united with Dragon Tiger Mountain, intending to intervene.

"Daoist Master Qingwei, you have come here late at night; what is the matter?"

"Could it be that the previously agreed-upon plan has changed? If Xue Bai, supported by the Buddhist sect, succeeds, it will not be good news for the Great Jin Dynasty, nor for Qingyang Palace and Dragon Tiger Mountain!"

"I have always held Qingyang Palace in high regard, treated the Daoist sect with respect and courtesy, and bestowed constant rewards. I do not wish to see such a thing happen!"

Daoist Master Qingwei smiled slightly.

"Your Majesty, the world has seen how the Great Jin Dynasty treats the Daoist sect. This old Daoist has never denied it, and Qingyang Palace has always kept it in mind."

"At the beginning of the founding of the nation, the Founding Emperor issued an edict. The Daoist sect helped the Founding Emperor stabilize the world and pacify the people, and he decreed Qingyang Palace as the state religion of the Great Jin Dynasty."

"Over these thousand years, Qingyang Palace has never betrayed the imperial court."

"But all of this has a prerequisite: that Your Majesty has not sold out the Daoist sect for your own selfish interests."

Hearing this, the smile on Emperor Li Heming's face gradually faded.

"Daoist Master, why do you say that?"

Daoist Master Qingwei's smile remained undiminished.

"This old Daoist will be direct with Your Majesty, and I hope Your Majesty can also speak freely to me!"

"Tonight, the Old Man of Tianshan and the monk with long eyebrows from the Ten Thousand Buddha Cave visited our Qingyang Palace, saying that the imperial seal of the realm in Your Majesty's possession is related to the location of the blessed land of Heavenly Pillar Mountain. I wonder if Your Majesty is aware of this?"

"What? There is such a thing?!"

Emperor Li Heming looked surprised, completely unexpected.

The Old Man of Tianshan and the long-eyebrowed monk would actually know about this.

Daoist Master Qingwei continued:

"It seems Your Majesty is unaware, so this old Daoist will speak plainly."

"The Old Man of Tianshan and the Ten Thousand Buddha Cave want to cooperate with our Daoist sect to explore the blessed land of Heavenly Pillar Mountain together."

"But the Dao Head has said that Qingyang Palace is the state religion of the Great Jin Dynasty and will never betray the Great Jin Dynasty. As long as Your Majesty can hand over the imperial seal of the realm, after Qingyang Palace and Dragon Tiger Mountain find Heavenly Pillar Mountain, we are willing to explore it together with Your Majesty."

"After finding Heavenly Pillar Mountain, the imperial seal of the realm will certainly be returned to Your Majesty intact!"

Emperor Li Heming sneered in his heart.

Speaking of never betraying, yet now they wanted to seize the imperial seal of the realm; it was even more hateful than betrayal. These Daoist priests were just like the bald donkeys of the Buddhist sect; they could not be trusted at all.

"This matter is naturally acceptable!"

Although Emperor Li Heming had his own plans in mind, he said something else with his mouth.

"However, the Daoist sect must assist Me in suppressing the rebellion, exterminating the rebel army, and driving the Buddhist sect completely back to the Western Regions before I can hand over the imperial seal of the realm!"

As long as he had enough time to refine the remaining Luck of the Imperial Dynasty, relying on his own strength, even if the Dao Head and the Buddhist Head both came out, he would not have the slightest fear.

By then, he would truly be the ruler of the nation!

Truly supreme!

No one would be able to stand above him!

Daoist Master Qingwei pondered for a moment and nodded slowly.

"Good! This old Daoist will convey these words to the Dao Head and the Celestial Masters of Dragon Tiger Mountain. I hope Your Majesty will keep your word!"

"That is natural! A ruler does not break his word!"