Chapter 1423: Invitation Expedition

Ye Liuyun thought that if the Empire hadn't ordered it, this Martial Cultivator certainly wouldn't have asked like that.

At least, the Empire wants to test him.

"Are you asking this on behalf of the Empire?" Ye Liuyun retorted.

"Of course not, I don't have that ability. I'm just asking in my personal capacity," the Martial Cultivator said.

"I don't mind, it depends on the conditions. Helping anyone is the same! It all comes down to what the task is and whether I'm willing to do it," Ye Liuyun thought this was also a trivial matter.

As long as he gets a benefit, helping or not helping the Empire makes no real difference to him.

Anyway, he's not from this world; at worst he can just walk away.

Hearing that, the Martial Cultivator didn't continue the topic, requested a meeting with Qujing, learned about his previous relationship with Ye Liuyun, verified Ye Liuyun's words, and then took his leave.

"What does the Empire mean? Do they want to accept us? Or just keep us stable?" Qujing asked Ye Liuyun.

"It's still unclear. Do what you need to do, don't worry about them for now. As long as you're strong, you'll have bargaining power. Otherwise, even if you submit, you'll eventually be framed again!" Ye Liuyun said bluntly.

Qujing nodded and said to Ye Liuyun: "I also think, whether the Empire recruits us or not, it's the same for my 200,000 people. But I think the Empire has set its eyes on you!

Even if they don't need your help, they don't want to be enemies with you! By yourself, you've already taken down nearly a million of their troops! I doubt the Empire has many like you, someone who can defeat a million soldiers alone."

Ye Liuyun did consider that point. However, he didn't want to be as concerned as Qujing.

"I can cooperate with anyone, it mainly depends on the person, the conditions, and what the task is!"

Their Warship sailed northward. The cold weather followed them north as well. Wherever they passed, the temperature soon dropped and snow began to fall from the sky.

From then on, the area became completely covered in white snow, with no longer any distinction of the four seasons.

Ye Liuyun used this to analyze that the underground Ice Power, Luanfeng He might just be a breakthrough point.

The truly extreme Ice Power may not be there. It is likely that someone previously discovered it as a breakthrough and suppressed it.

He also wondered whether this extreme cold power was related to Xueyu, but the distance between them is too great, making it seem unrealistic.

So he always thought that place was just a second area similar to Xueyu.

Qujing and the others' Warship would reach the border of Xueyu in a few days.

Qujing and his group plan to go to the last city, purchase some supplies. Ye Liuyun also intends to escort them here. The road ahead holds no danger that Qujing cannot handle, so he has no need to follow further.

Thus the group disguised themselves and entered the city, first buying supplies, then going to a tavern for a meat feast, which also served as a send‑off for Ye Liuyun.

While they were eating, the room's door was suddenly pushed open.

A young man, dressed plainly, but his realm was Earth Sovereign, Fifth Rank.

"Sorry to disturb you! I'm short on money lately, so I came to share a meal with you!" the young man said familiarly.

Everyone was puzzled by the young man's origin, but after Qujing examined him, he immediately stood up, looking very nervous.

"The Empire's Fifth Prince, Meng Zhangxing!" Qujing instantly sent a Transmission Voice to Ye Liuyun.

At the same time, he asked Meng Zhangxing: "Your Highness the Fifth, what do you mean?"

Ye Liuyun hadn't expected that a prince would dress as plainly as he does.

Wen Chengang and Qu Wanying, upon hearing he was an Empire prince, immediately stood up nervously, while Ye Liuyun stayed put.

He is already a Wanted Fugitive of the Empire, so he need not be courteous to its people.

He scanned the tavern with his Divine Sense and found no hidden masters.

"Hey, why are you all so nervous? I'm not here because of you! Sit down, everyone, sit down!"

He said that and was the first to sit down.

Wen Chengang at that moment silently alerted the army outside the city to go on alert.

After Meng Zhangxing sat down, he didn't wait and began eating immediately.

"I've been starving these past days!" he said sloppily while wolfing down the food.

Only after he finished a plate of meat did he pause, lift someone else's cup of wine, and take a sip.

Ye Liuyun's Golden Pupil kept watching his core, and saw no hostile intent.

Meng Zhangxing let out a breath, seeming satisfied with the meal, then said to Qujing: "You probably know that I can't stay in the capital, I just wander around.

I was also traveling in this area, heard the Empire had a Wanted Fugitive who was quite capable, so I came to take a look. I suppose this is Ye Liuyun, right?"

While saying that, he bowed to Ye Liuyun and introduced himself: "I am Meng Zhangxing, an idle person, I don't involve myself in state affairs, Young Master Ye need not worry!"

Hearing his self‑introduction, which omitted his Imperial status and went straight to his name, Ye Liuyun found the prince rather interesting.

"Prince Meng, you came uninvited; what brings you here?" Ye Liuyun asked.

Meng Zhangxing, hearing that, suddenly became interested and said to Ye Liuyun: "I heard you're quite capable, so I want to invite you to explore the Nan Xiang Empire together.

I was born to love adventure, I don't like meddling in Imperial politics, and I'm not greedy. So you needn't worry; I won't capture you for a reward."

Ye Liuyun smiled and bluntly said, "I won't go on an expedition with someone I don't know!"

Meng Zhangxing, hearing that, "clap" slammed the table, startling everyone.

"Haha, I knew you'd say that! So I've decided to hang out with you for a while; once we get familiar, we'll go together!"

"Uh…" Ye Liuyun hadn't expected to be roped in like this.

But Ye Liuyun immediately asked, "How did you know we were here?"

"Oh, I ran into an Imperial envoy, asked around, and then hurried over," Meng Zhangxing said, then resumed eating.

Ye Liuyun didn't believe his claim of not involving himself in state affairs.

If he truly stayed out of state affairs, how could he know an Imperial envoy and track their whereabouts?

Moreover, he just said he wanted to explore the Nan Xiang Empire, which clearly aims to lure Ye Liuyun away so he can't cause trouble in the Northern Eagle Empire.

Nevertheless, Meng Zhangxing's proposal did intrigue Ye Liuyun.

Since the Northern Eagle Empire is now after him, a trip to the Nan Xiang Empire wouldn't be bad! Perhaps there he'll find other opportunities!