347: A million-dollar bounty? Shaking the martial arts world across the land.

"Is this matter true?" the Emperor of Bei Li asked coldly.

"It is absolutely certain..."

"Dammit, how could that bastard be so strong? Even Eternal Life Li and Southern Palace Spring Water back then didn't have such powerful combat strength."

"How old is that brat Duan Zhengchun? It would be one thing if he had the strength of the Earth Immortal Realm, but to have such formidable combat power as well—what kind of existence is he? How is this possible? It's absolutely impossible," the Emperor of Bei Li roared.

Everyone fell silent; this news had already spread across the entire Nine Provinces continent, and it could not be faked.

Of course, if one insisted on being skeptical, it wasn't out of the question.

After all, not a single soldier from the Jin Kingdom survived this incident. If one were to stubbornly claim that the Kingdom of Dali deliberately released this news for the sake of boasting, it could barely be considered a plausible explanation.

However, to truly believe that would be a bit like deceiving oneself.

The Jin Kingdom's sudden military move against the Kingdom of Dali was something spies from every nation were watching. After the event occurred, they sent the news back as quickly as possible.

The Emperor of Bei Li also knew that this news couldn't be false.

That Duan Zhengchun's strength was indeed not weak, and Turbid Clarity being killed was no accident.

"Your Majesty, what should be done next? We have already offended this Duan Zhengchun, and given his character, he certainly won't let it go at this," grand eunuch Jinxuan stood nearby with a blank expression and lowered eyelids.

"Hmph, even if he is powerful, it's impossible for him to know that I was the one who sent people to assassinate him."

"Outsiders have no idea about the true identity of the Dark River," the Emperor of Bei Li said with a confident expression.

"Your Majesty, it is better to be careful with such matters."

"Given Duan Zhengchun's character, he doesn't need evidence; he only needs suspicion to take action," grand eunuch Jinxuan reminded him in a low voice.

Hearing Jinxuan's words, the Emperor of Bei Li's face instantly turned somber.

If that were truly the case, then things would be difficult to handle.

Duan Zhengchun's strength was right there for all to see. If he really came to the palace to cause trouble, who in the palace could be his match?

If Eternal Life Li were here, he wouldn't worry, but Eternal Life Li had been missing for decades, and no one knew where he was.

Currently, the strongest people in the palace were the several grand eunuchs by his side.

However, none of these grand eunuchs were Masters of the Earth Immortal Realm. How was this supposed to work?

"Then how should this matter be handled?" The Emperor of Bei Li looked at Jinxuan with a grim expression.

"If possible, it would be best to sue for peace," Jinxuan said after a moment's thought.

"Sue for peace? Impossible. Even back then with Eternal Life Li, I never sued for peace."

"I don't believe that he, Duan Zhengchun, from a tiny border country, would actually dare to go to war with me," the Emperor of Bei Li roared emotionally.

Seeing the Emperor's attitude, Jinxuan felt a sense of helplessness in his heart.

For such a useless piece of work—if not for his high birth, what right would he have to be Emperor?

Does he have no brains at all? It's already come to this, and yet he's still putting on a front here?

Does he really have to wait until Duan Zhengchun comes killing his way to the door to know regret?

"Your Majesty, have you forgotten the news we just received?" Jinxuan reminded him helplessly.

At the mention of this, the expression on the Emperor of Bei Li's face froze.

Thinking about how Duan Zhengchun could single-handedly wipe out forty thousand troops of the Jin Kingdom, he felt a chill run through his body.

However, to ask him, the dignified Emperor of Northern Li, to take the initiative to seek peace with a mere prince like Duan Zhengchun—he could not do such a thing.

"Is there really no other way to resolve this?" The Emperor of Bei Li's face looked somewhat distorted.

"Your Majesty, think of Eternal Life Li back then," Jinxuan sighed helplessly.

The expression on the Emperor of Bei Li's face stiffened. He opened his mouth, but for a moment, he didn't know what to say.

Ever since he became Emperor, Eternal Life Li had been like a sword hanging over his head.

He had always wanted to get rid of Eternal Life Li, but he never succeeded; instead, he was humiliated by Eternal Life Li every time.

Entering the palace as if it were an uninhabited place left the Emperor of Northern Li with no prestige at all; he had lost all face.

Everyone in Northern Li knew that there was an invincible existence in the Academy named Eternal Life Li. The true controller of Northern Li was not him, the Emperor, but Eternal Life Li, the founder of the Academy.

"Dammit, I've only just gotten rid of Eternal Life Li for how long? Am I to be suppressed by an outsider like Duan Zhengchun again?"

"No, absolutely not. Use every possible means to kill Duan Zhengchun for me."

"He must not be allowed to live. The five of you lead all the Masters of the Dark River and Yellow Springs to strike together. Furthermore, issue a bounty."

"A bounty of a million gold. Regardless of the method used, anyone who can kill Duan Zhengchun will receive a million gold. Moreover, I will provide a peerless martial art—any that exists on this Nine Provinces continent will do," the Emperor of Bei Li roared in a red-eyed rage.

He had been dominated by Eternal Life Li for decades and had developed a psychological shadow.

He would not return to that darkest hour. Even if he died, he could not return to a situation where he was dominated like that.

Jinxuan opened his mouth, wanting to advise him further, but seeing the Emperor's distorted face, he ultimately held back.

He knew his Master well. If he advised him further at this time, the Emperor would surely explode in anger, and he himself would likely be punished.

He was just a subordinate; it was better not to overstep in his Master's affairs.

"Yes, I will go and prepare now," Jinxuan bowed and departed.

However, as he turned to leave, a mysterious smile appeared at the corner of Jinxuan's mouth.

Clearly, he had already lost confidence in this Master of his.

Soon, word spread through the assassin organizations that someone had placed a bounty of a million gold for Duan Zhengchun's head.

Furthermore, it included a Cultivation Technique that exists in the Nine Provinces, regardless of its level.

This caused a sensation throughout the entire assassin world.

With such a bounty amount, anyone who wasn't incredibly stupid could guess that the identity of the person offering the bounty was definitely not simple.

It was very likely a bounty offered by a royal family, though no one knew which royal family it was.

A million gold was not a million taels of silver, but a million taels of gold, plus a peerless Cultivation Technique.

The temptation was immense. Moreover, when Jinxuan issued the bounty, he added one more condition: whoever obtained Duan Zhengchun's belongings could keep them.

All they wanted was Duan Zhengchun's head.

This made everyone even more excited, and consequently, the assassin world of the entire Nine Provinces was in an uproar.

Martial Artists from both the Righteous Path and the Demonic Path were also excited.

After all, a million gold and a peerless Cultivation Technique would tempt anyone.

The news soon reached Duan Zhengchun's ears in Dali. Hearing this, a playful and cold sneer appeared on his lips.

In the current situation, he didn't even have to think to know who would dare to issue such a bounty on him.

The Emperor of Bei Li—this bounty for assassination was definitely the work of that Emperor of Northern Li.

He didn't know others well, but he had researched this Emperor of Northern Li.

He had been dominated by Eternal Life Li for decades, which he considered the darkest period of his life.

It was only with great difficulty that Eternal Life Li left with his wife to guard that place, finally allowing the Emperor of Bei Li to breathe a sigh of relief.