Chapter 167

Beside him, a big eunuch with a hairless face, sinister eyes, and wearing a luxurious python robe stood respectfully.

It was precisely the notorious Eastern Depot Admiral who held power over the imperial court, and also the most trusted confidant of the current Emperor—Wei Wei Zhongxian.

At this moment, he was lowering his head and eyes, carefully reporting the latest intelligence about the Battle of Brightness Peak to Zhu Zhu Houzhao.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, according to the secret report sent back by the Jinyiwei."

"That Iron-Clad Divine Marquis Zhu Zhu Wushi, and his one-hundred-thousand-strong Shenji Camp army, have indeed... indeed been completely annihilated on Brightness Peak."

Wei Wei Zhongxian’s voice carried a trace of imperceptible... schadenfreude?

Hearing this, Zhu Zhu Houzhao’s hand reviewing the memorial paused slightly.

He slowly raised his head, a flash of imperceptible sharp light in his deep eyes.

"Oh? The Imperial Uncle... died?"

His tone was so flat that no joy or anger could be heard.

As if the person who died was just a stranger who had nothing to do with him.

Wei Wei Zhongxian quickly bowed and said: "Returning to Your Majesty, it is absolutely true."

"It is said that he was suppressed and killed on the spot by the Flood Dragon Island Master of Peach Blossom Island, his soul and body destroyed."

"Even that Land Immortal Jin Dan, which was hard-won, was... was swallowed by that demon dragon."

"Flood dragon?" The corners of Zhu Zhu Houzhao’s mouth curled into an inexplicable arc, a flash of playfulness in his eyes.

"That’s interesting."

"My Imperial Uncle, who prided himself on being invincible in the world and was full of ambition, didn't expect... that he would eventually fall into the hands of a loach."

He paused and asked again: "Is that flood dragon really as powerful as the rumors say? Can it even easily suppress and kill a Land Immortal?"

Wei Wei Zhongxian quickly replied: "Returning to Your Majesty, according to the intelligence sent back, that flood dragon’s strength is indeed unfathomable, far exceeding that of an ordinary Land Immortal."

"Not only is its physical body incredibly powerful, but it can also speak human language and display all kinds of incredible divine powers and demonic arts."

"Even True Person Zhang Zhang Sanfeng of the Wu Dang Sect had to bow his head and soften his stance in front of it, offering the 'Taiji Fist Scripture' to escape."

"Oh? Even Zhang Zhang Sanfeng..." Hearing this, Zhu Zhu Houzhao’s eyes flashed with a trace of surprise.

He recognized Zhang Zhang Sanfeng’s strength quite a bit.

An existence that could make even Zhang Zhang Sanfeng choose to concede, its strength was indeed not to be underestimated.

"Your Majesty, in this old servant’s opinion, Zhu Zhu Wushi’s death can be considered a good thing for us." Wei Wei Zhongxian said tentatively, a flash of sinister light in his eyes.

"At the very least, in the imperial court, there is one less major hidden danger that could threaten your imperial power."

"As for that flood dragon... although its strength is fierce, it is after all a demonic object and is far away in the East Sea, so it cannot threaten our Great Ming’s mountains and rivers for the time being."

"Why don't we... temporarily put this matter aside and wait and see?"

Hearing this, Zhu Zhu Houzhao pondered for a moment, nodded, and said:

"Hmm, what you said also makes sense."

"Although Zhu Zhu Wushi deserved to die, he was after all a member of the royal family, my Imperial Uncle."

"If he died at the hands of a demon dragon and I didn't ask or care, I’m afraid it would be difficult to explain to the subjects of the world."

He paused, a flash of imperceptible cold laughter in his eyes:

"How about this, you draft an imperial edict for me and announce it to the world."

"Say that the demon cultists on Brightness Peak colluded with the demon dragon of the East Sea, causing chaos in the martial arts world and harming loyal officials, a crime that cannot be forgiven."

"Order all major sects in the world, as well as people with lofty ideals, to jointly crusade, annihilate the Ming Cult, and kill the demon dragon."

"Whoever can succeed will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold, titled a Marquis of Ten Thousand Households, and bestowed with a golden plaque of 'Martial Arts Alliance Leader'!"

"However..." his tone changed, the corners of his mouth curling into a playful arc, "on this reward order, do not mention the name of that flood dragon, and do not point out its specific strength."

"I want to see how many fools in this world who are not afraid of death will go and provoke that man-eating demon dragon for the sake of this false fame and profit."

He was borrowing a knife to kill, using those so-called martial arts heroes to test Ning Chuan’s bottom line.

At the same time, it could also manifest the "majesty" of his Great Ming royal family.

"Your Majesty is wise!" Hearing this, Wei Wei Zhongxian’s eyes flashed with a look of admiration, and he quickly bowed to accept the order.

He knew that this emperor, who seemed addicted to Daoist cultivation, had a depth of scheming and a ruthlessness in his methods that were in no way inferior to any emperor with great talent and bold vision!

At the same time, in the distant Mongol Mongol Yuan Empire, inside the magnificent golden tent.

The pride of heaven, Genghis Khan, who swept across the Eurasian continent, was sitting on the golden throne symbolizing supreme power.

Below him stood several figures with powerful auras and solemn expressions respectfully.

They were precisely the protector mage of the Mongol Mongol Yuan Empire, the number one expert of the Tantric Sect, Ba Si Ba.

And the Shao Min Princess Zhao Min, who had just fled back from Brightness Peak in a wretched state but still could not hide her peerless beauty and extraordinary intelligence.

Besides them, there were several Mongol tribute experts with strange clothes and equally unfathomable auras, such as the teacher of the Xuanming Elders, Bai Sun Daoist, and Meng Chi Xing, who was skilled in spiritual secret arts.

Genghis Khan’s sharp eyes, like those of a goshawk, slowly swept over the people below, his voice low and majestic as he said:

"Regarding that black flood dragon on Peach Blossom Island in the East Sea, and everything that happened on Brightness Peak, presumably you all already know."

"Speak, what are your thoughts?"

Ba Si Ba put his hands together, chanted a Buddhist name, and said in a peaceful voice:

"Reporting to the Great Khan, that black flood dragon’s strength is unfathomable, far from what an ordinary Land Immortal can compare to."

"The various divine methods it displayed are already close to those of the legendary gods and demons."

"If we fight it head-on, even if we use all our strength, I’m afraid it will be difficult to gain any advantage, and we might even suffer heavy losses."

Although he was also a Land Immortal-level existence, after hearing about Ning Chuan’s terrifying, world-destroying battle record, he had to admit that he was likely not its opponent.

Zhao Min also stepped forward and bowed, saying: "Great Khan, I believe that although the Flood Dragon Island Master is powerful and acts domineeringly."

"It is not an unreasonable person."

"I have had brief contact with it before and reached some... tacit understanding with it."

She cleverly covered up the fact that she had been planted with flood dragon essence blood by Ning Chuan and was completely controlled.

"I feel that if we can show enough sincerity and goodwill, perhaps... there is a chance to win it over and use it for our Great Mongol Yuan."

She secretly rejoiced and felt proud in her heart; her master was indeed world-shaking, making even figures like the Great Khan and Ba Si Ba wary of him!

Hearing this, Genghis Khan raised his eyebrows slightly, a flash of interest in his eyes.

"Oh? Win over?" He pondered for a moment and said: "Minmin, you have always been resourceful; since you say so, presumably you already have some plans in your heart."

"Then I will leave this matter entirely to you."

"I don't care what method you use, whether it’s coercion or inducement, the only result I want is—"

"Let that flood dragon become the sharpest claw of our Great Mongol Yuan Empire! Help our Great Mongol Yuan step over the Central Plains and unify the world!"

His voice was filled with unquestionable dominance and powerful ambition!

He paused and looked at Zhao Min again, his tone slightly softer, but carrying a trace of refusal-intolerant meaning as he said:

"However, Minmin, you are not young anymore; it’s time to consider your lifelong affairs..."

"The marriage contract I set for you and that child Tuo Lei before, I think it’s time to start preparing."

"After you are married, I will hand over the power to conquer the Southern Song to Tuo Lei."

He was using the marriage contract to further pressure and control Zhao Min.

Hearing this, Zhao Min’s heart sank violently, and a flash of imperceptible resistance and bitterness appeared on her beautiful face.

But she knew that in front of the Great Khan, she had no room to resist.

She could only force a smile and bow in response: "I... obey."

In her heart, she was secretly calculating how to get rid of this unwilling marriage and how to better complete the task her master had given her.

At the same time, in the distant Great Song, the heartland of the Central Plains, the Songshan Shaolin Temple on Mount Song.

Inside the simple and solemn Mahavira Hall, the atmosphere was heavy and sorrowful.

Hundreds of Songshan Shaolin monks wearing cassocks were gathered here, all with sorrowful faces and indignant expressions.

In front of them sat dozens of old monks with deep auras and majestic faces.

They were precisely the current power-holders of the Songshan Shaolin Temple—Abbot Xuan Ci, and the heads and elders of the Bodhidharma Hall, Arhat Hall, Discipline Hall, and other departments.

They had just received the bad news from the Songshan Shaolin branch in Great Ming.

Learning of the tragic result of the Battle of Brightness Peak, and the news that thousands of monks from the Great Ming Songshan Shaolin Temple, along with three Du-character generation divine monks who had been in seclusion for many years, had all died tragically at the claws of that evil dragon from Peach Blossom Island!

"Amitabha!"

Abbot Xuan Ci threw the prayer beads in his hand heavily to the ground, his face, which was always compassionate and peaceful, now filled with uncontrollable anger and grief!

"Unreasonable! That evil dragon of Peach Blossom Island actually dared to be so insane, slaughtering the innocent and butchering my Buddhist disciples!"