Chapter 543: Presumptuous!

"Does the Star Luo Emperor truly believe that I should release these captives without compensation?"

Qin Jian crossed his arms and sneered: "Your meaning is that since your Crown Prince ambushed me and died, the matter is settled, neither side owes the other, and even the prisoners of war are innocent, is that it?"

"Distorting the truth! Lacking any sense of right and wrong! The Star Luo Emperor's lack of character is truly contemptible!"

The words were sharp, almost pointing at his nose to scold him, yet every sentence was reasonable, well-founded, and irrefutable.

The Star Luo Emperor's face turned from green to red, shifting between light and shadow.

"Could it be that the Spirit Hall is determined to provoke a crisis?" he suddenly said slowly.

If you don't dare to start a war, don't put on airs.

Qin Jian curled his lips and said: "Our Spirit Hall has never intended to disrupt the peace of the Dalu. Our code of conduct is very simple: whoever is guilty shall be judged; we never stir up trouble without cause."

He thought for a moment and still gave the Star Luo Emperor a way out: "If your Star Luo Empire is willing to pay a price for this incident, then we naturally will not make things difficult anymore."

Sure enough, the Star Luo Emperor backed down.

Having lost the battle of words meant he could not incite public opinion or force the Spirit Hall to withdraw its troops, so he had no choice but to take the step down.

"This matter was indeed initiated by our Star Luo Crown Prince, and his death was... well-deserved. I wonder what compensation the Chief Judge requires?" the Star Luo Emperor said slowly.

Although his heart ached for his dead son, with national affairs at stake, he could only do his best to control himself.

"First, all Spirit Academies within the Star Luo Empire shall be placed under the jurisdiction of the Spirit Academy, with the Spirit Academy uniformly arranging teaching and student graduation."

"Second, the candidate for the Head of Family of the Zhu Family in the Star Luo Empire shall be replaced, and the Head of Family Token shall be handed over to this generation's Zhu Zhuqing."

As these two sentences spread, discussions broke out everywhere.

"The matter of the Spirit Academy can be agreed upon, but the Zhu Family..."

The Star Luo Emperor frowned: "Changing the Head of Family is fine, but if the Spirit Hall intends to separate the entire Zhu Family from the Star Luo Empire, then Star Luo will not accept it."

Qin Jian crossed his arms and said indifferently: "Rest assured, I have no interest in relocating the Zhu Family."

He slowly descended, landed beside Zhu Zhuqing, took her hand, and said: "I am merely fulfilling a wish for my beloved."

That sounds quite consistent with this Chief Judge's reputation...

However, the Star Luo Emperor naturally would not easily believe Qin Jian's words. Thinking from another perspective, he could also guess that Qin Jian wanted to sever the relationship between the Zhu Family and the imperial family, thereby weakening the Star Luo Empire.

This goal was very obvious and not much of a conspiracy, but it was impossible to refuse at the moment.

Because compared to Dai Mubai besieging the Spirit Hall Chief Judge, this request was not excessive.

One could only say that this Chief Judge grasped the limits too well; his asking price was exactly at his bottom line.

Forget it, it is impossible to make the entire Zhu Family and the imperial clan drift apart just by relying on the title of Head of Family.

Because their Martial Soul Fusion Skill dictates that the two families are bound together for generations...

"I accept the Chief Judge's conditions."

The Star Luo Emperor said calmly: "Please have the Spirit Hall Guard Army release our country's captives as soon as possible."

"Very good. The captives can be released right now; the Star Luo Emperor just needs to send people to accept the arrangements," Qin Jian said, waving his hand.

This was equivalent to signing a bilateral agreement. Once reached, it would not be easily reneged upon; otherwise, if the Spirit Hall launched a full-scale attack on the Star Luo Empire, other forces would have no room to intervene.

On the edge of the Imperial City, within the crowd of onlookers, a figure in dark red robes watched all of this quietly.

From beneath a bamboo hat came a faint, low murmur: "I've encountered this Spirit Hall commander again. I wonder if the goal of my trip can be achieved, and whether he... will become an obstacle... or be willing to help me..."

"If only... I really want to join his Spirit Judgment Hall; it seems tailor-made for me... but unfortunately, my background... will not be accepted..."

"..."

After the handover of the captives was completed, Qin Jian also began to arrange for the Spirit Judgment Halls in various places to take over the Spirit Academies and formulate relevant rules.

This matter had already been structured, so the arrangements were made quickly.

Next was the return of the Guard Armies from various regions, calculating military merits and providing pensions.

War always has casualties; this is unavoidable. Fortunately, the pension benefits for the Guard Army have always been excellent, so the families of the fallen Spirit Masters generally have no complaints.

"Let's go, next we will go to take over the position of the Zhu Family Head of Family."

Qin Jian beckoned, taking only two little beauties and one head maid as he walked into the Star Luo Imperial City.

Compared to the leisurely and exquisite urban characteristics of the Tiandou Imperial City, the pace of life in the Star Luo Imperial City was significantly faster.

Walking along the way, Qin Jian did not see much of an entertainment industry; instead, shops related to Spirit Master cultivation were lined up one after another, everywhere.

"It seems Star Luo is suitable for striving, while Tiandou is suitable for retirement..."

Qin Jian spread his hands, took Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and Guibao across the main street, and arrived at the Zhu Family estate next to the Imperial City.

The thousand-year-old family had an extraordinary aura, with magnificent buildings only a notch below the Imperial City, likely to avoid suspicion.

They had clearly received the news long ago, or rather, although Qin Jian's group strolled in leisurely, they were actually the focus of everyone's attention, with hundreds if not thousands of eyes watching them openly and secretly.

Just as they arrived, they saw a large group of people waiting outside the main gate. The man and woman coming to meet them wore dark-toned clothing, yet it was exceptionally luxurious.

"Lord Chief Judge."

The two spoke simultaneously, their expressions neither humble nor arrogant.

"Are you the Head of Family and his wife? Is the Head of Family Token ready?"

Qin Jian was too lazy to engage in pleasantries with them and went straight to the point.

Sure enough, the two who were just harmonious a moment ago had their expressions collapse slightly.

"According to the agreement between the Chief Judge and His Majesty, our Head of Family Token should not be handed to you, but to Zhuqing," said Zhu Youling, the Head of the Zhu Family, calmly.

"That is correct, but there is no real difference between giving it to my Zhuqing and giving it to me," Qin Jian said, crossing his arms and speaking very casually.

The expressions of the crowd opposite could not help but change slightly.

So this Chief Judge and the Head of Family's youngest daughter actually had such a relationship; this was truly something they had not investigated beforehand...

"That is not the same. After all, Zhuqing is my youngest daughter, and the Chief Judge does not even count as a son-in-law..."

Zhu Youling chuckled, looking very gentle: "Of course, if the Chief Judge is willing to marry into our Zhu Family, the position of Head of Family can be discussed..."

"Presumptuous!"

Before Qin Jian could speak, the expression of Guibao behind him suddenly turned icy, and nine Soul Rings rose into the air, pressing everyone opposite them down onto their knees.

It was only because the Head of Family of the Zhu Family, Zhu Youling, and her husband were Spirit Douluo that they could barely resist...

"Respected Title Douluo... I meant no offense... it was just... just a joke..."

Sweat beaded on Zhu Youling's forehead, and she was having some difficulty holding on.

He had never expected that this woman in a black dress, who looked like a head maid, was actually a Title Douluo!

(End of chapter)