Chapter 845: Let's Directly Start from the Most Useful Step

Since Jia Rong dismissed his troops, it proves he has no intention of doing to Great Qian what he did to Great Yin.

This is a good thing.

When over a thousand cavalry entered the imperial city, there were various welcoming crowds along the streets, but many people were longing for the absent Grandmaster of the Ultimate Sect, with Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai leading the way.

Without wearing the crying and laughing masks, plus the lagging Jia family grand guardian.

Everyone suddenly felt, to hell with the Grandmaster of the Ultimate Sect, it's good he didn't come.

Even if they came, they wouldn't be looked at.

Where is Tang Luo? At this time, Tang Luo was already in the Imperial Study.

Accompanying him were the imperial clan grandmaster and the recruited attendants, plus Grandmaster Mei Qingsheng, whom everyone had met once before on the martial arts field that day.

Gu Ling is temporarily absent; he went to welcome the Jia family army, needing to appear completely seamless with them, as close as family.

So he will only come over later; for now, only a few grandmasters are keeping him company.

In the vast Imperial Study, only the voices of Mei Qingsheng and Tang Luo could be heard.

Mei Qingsheng spoke cautiously, while the other grandmasters dared not even breathe freely, directly switching to internal breath circulation, able to hold it for several hours.

Grandmaster of the Ultimate Sect! The legendary Grandmaster of the Ultimate Sect, finally seen alive.

Don't look at the few grandmasters trying to keep expressionless faces; in reality, their hearts were already blooming with joy.

"I have exchanged blows with the Grandmaster of the Ultimate Sect."

I just want to ask you, how impressive are you?

Moreover, they thought they might later be able to seek advice from Jia Rong, outwardly claiming it was "discussing the Dao while seated." I just ask you, how impressive is that?

Thus they behaved like diligent elementary school students, proper and proper.

It wasn't because of fear.

What Tang Luo displayed was the image of a heavenly realm master, not a blood-handed slaughterer, killing countless people.

If it were changed to the Weeping Death God or the Smiling Yama, becoming the Grandmaster of the Ultimate Sect in front of these people, they would then be afraid to even breathe.

"The Duke of the Nation has arrived." A shout came from outside.

Duke Li Lindao arrived, and several people stood up, including Mei Qingsheng.

Only Tang Luo remained as stable as Mount Tai.

Li Lindao entered, slightly gestured to the others, clasped his fists and bowed, saying: "I pay my respects to Profound Venerable." His expression was slightly awkward.

Actually, he didn't want to come, but the Kaiyuan Emperor personally wrote him a letter, crying to his grandparents, insisting he must come.

Li Lindao had no choice but to come.

As the self-decided "Great Clever One" who chose to duel the Jia family to reassure the Kaiyuan Emperor, Li Lindao saw Tang Luo somewhat awkward, plus Tang Luo's twelve golden tablets directly entering Great Yin.

After Li Lindao went to the border, he became even more awkward.

Besides guarding against the Great Cauldron, he was also guarding against "Jia Rong."

As a result, the person has now become the Grandmaster of the Ultimate Sect. What duel is Lin Dao still planning? Don't you value your life?

He planned to stay outside for a year or so, unfortunately he lacks Tang Luo's decisiveness; the Kaiyuan Emperor's heartfelt letter just recalled him.

Actually, this is also good; everyone sat down, laid things out openly, no need to daily worry and lose sleep.

At the same time, conducting redistribution of interests.

As long as Tang Luo does not step on their底线, then there will be no problem.

Tang Luo did not stand up, only smiled and nodded at Li Lindao, counting as a greeting.

Matching that youthful, handsome face, it gives people a slightly incongruous feeling, as if he were the elder.

But in fact, isn't he just an elder?

The accomplished become teachers; Grandmaster of the Ultimate Sect, having reached this realm, appearance and age actually no longer matter.

The vast majority of people in the world look at Tang Luo and see an elder, unconsciously bowing their heads.

Several people casually chatted, chatting about martial arts content.

As they chatted, they discovered that "Profound Venerable's" understanding of martial arts seemed not to be formidable, but rather "the Dao of combat," which translated means having special insight in fighting.

After a while, the Kaiyuan Emperor arrived with a radiant smile: "Welcome back, Profound Venerable! Having Profound Venerable in my Great Qian is truly a blessing from heaven upon Great Qian……"

Before even meeting, a flood of beautiful words was mindlessly flung out, blowing Tang Luo's existence into the greatest fortune since Great Qian's founding.

"Your Majesty need not worry, I intend to leave."

Tang Luo's words interrupted the Kaiyuan Emperor's boast of breaking through the heavens.

The Kaiyuan Emperor stopped, opened his mouth a bit, feeling somewhat unsatisfied. Speaking frankly, having been emperor for so many years, he is usually the one being praised, rarely praising others.

Today he let loose and blew hard, suddenly feeling like he found the feeling of past years.

For the first time, he realized that flattery could also be quite refreshing.

He very much wanted to say to Tang Luo: Don't, don't interrupt, I can still boast.

"That…… Profound Venerable wants to leave?" The Kaiyuan Emperor's expression turned strange; upon hearing this, the big stone in his heart instantly dropped, feeling relieved yet simultaneously empty.

"Well, Your Majesty knows I contracted a piece of land in Great Yin." Tang Luo said, smiling and shaking his head, "Cannot say it that way; now Chang'an Commandery belongs to me, that place, namely a strategic point for the three states."

"Yes." The Kaiyuan Emperor became solemn, "We have all put in considerable effort there."

Here, "we" refers to Great Qian, Great Ding, and Great Yin these three states.

That place is a battlefield of wilderness, heroes, villains, and national spies scheming and contending.

Instantly changing, utterly chaotic.

Now, the nominal owner of that place, having changed from Great Yin to the Grandmaster of the Ultimate Sect, the heavenly realm Jia Rong.

This news, like Lü Bu going bald and growing wings, spread wildly across the world.

The Kaiyuan Emperor naturally understood it clearly.

"The people there, I have already ordered them to withdraw." The Kaiyuan Emperor said, releasing goodwill.

"Mm." Tang Luo nodded. "I plan to build the number one city under heaven there."

"The number one city under heaven?"

"Right, the number one city under heaven. That city will be called 'Number One Under Heaven'." Tang Luo said with a smile.

Everyone thought — mm, okay, actually pretty normal.

The number one expert under heaven, the Supreme Grandmaster, building a number one city under heaven — what's strange about that?

The name might be a bit domineering, a bit presumptuous, but the other party's status and strength are right there.

You can't exactly demand everyone be humble.

"So, no need to worry that I'll harm your interests." Tang Luo continued.

At these words, Li Lindao and Emperor Kaiyuan both felt a bit awkward; honest men don't speak in riddles.

They were of course worried that Tang Luo's rise would harm their interests.

The cake is only this big; one more person sharing means everyone originally there gets a smaller bite.

Every shift in interests is accompanied by blood — this time not necessarily, because "Jia Rong" is too strong; unless he steps on their absolutely intolerable bottom line, they'll all satisfy him.

"I also have no interest in vying for supremacy over the world." Tang Luo said.

"Of course, of course." Emperor Kaiyuan nodded repeatedly.

If he wanted to vie for supremacy over the world, taking over Great Yin would be the best choice. The fact he didn't do that proves he really won't.

"Being an emperor is too tiring and too boring." Tang Luo said.

"Cough cough." Emperor Kaiyuan couldn't very well respond to that — he's the one who's tired but not bored.

"But a person lives one life in this world; one ought to accomplish something." Tang Luo continued, telling the few of them his "ideals." "Doing nothing at all would be too much of a waste."

Emperor Kaiyuan and the others didn't speak, not quite clear on the meaning in Tang Luo's words.

You don't want to vie for supremacy over the world or contend for the Central Plains, yet you want to accomplish something — what do you want to do?

Could it be that building a number one city under heaven counts as accomplishing something?

As a Supreme Grandmaster, his vision shouldn't be this shallow.

"So, I plan to set the rules, be the referee." Tang Luo said with a smile. "I'll make everyone act according to the rules I set."

"..." You might as well be an emperor.

Even an emperor can't make everyone act according to the rules he sets.

"Relax, the new rules will benefit everyone." Tang Luo said. "Can avoid so many deaths. Giving you a heads-up here in advance — remember to support and back me later."

Emperor Kaiyuan and the others smiled awkwardly. You haven't even said what the rules are, and you want us to support you?

What if you want to collect taxes from the whole world — am I supposed to support that too?

"Let's talk business." Tang Luo waved a hand. "Your Majesty, do you want to completely sever ties with me, with the Jia clan, or keep a thread of incense-affection?"

"Is there a difference?" Emperor Kaiyuan asked.

"Completely severing means I take all the Jia clan people with me." Tang Luo said. "Oh, the ones in Jinling don't count — actually it's just the people of the Ning and Rong manors; other 'Jia's are whatever. From then on we go our separate ways; I'll announce the Jia clan has established itself independently, no longer Great Qian subjects."

"And the incense-affection?" Emperor Kaiyuan asked.

"Incense-affection means I leave the Rongguo Manor branch people here, so everyone knows there's still a bond between me and Great Qian." Tang Luo said. "As repayment, I plan to take ten thousand people with me."

Emperor Kaiyuan blinked. Why does it feel a bit off?

Complete severance is one thing. But incense-affection — shouldn't it be hiding a few Jia clan people, paying some price, letting Great Qian secretly look after them as a back road?

Instead you put the people here and still want us to owe you a favor?

And you still want to take ten thousand people away?

Emperor Kaiyuan wasn't angry, just puzzled.

"With this incense-affection in place, I won't come attack Great Qian. Pretty good." Tang Luo said.

"Attack Great Qian?" This time Emperor Kaiyuan wasn't puzzled — he was shocked.

Tang Luo's tone carried a matter-of-fact air: "Yes, look, I'm going to set rules, be the referee, make people obey. On what grounds?"

Right, on what grounds?

"Definitely have to beat them up first, then they'll be willing to listen to me." Tang Luo said. "Great Yin's already been beaten. Next, while building the Number One Under Heaven City, I'll go beat Great Ding, beat them too, and finally beat Great Qian."

"Beat all of you up, and everyone will listen to me."

"With the incense-affection, Great Qian doesn't need to be beaten — you just directly support me."

Oh, so that's how incense-affection is used.

It exempts you from a beating.

Might as well rename it "Beating Exemption Pass."

Emperor Kaiyuan looked at Li Lindao; Li Lindao looked at Mei Qingsheng.

Mei Qingsheng stared at the crossbeam. You guys chat; I'm just a martial brute, don't understand these things.

If he wants to beat you, I can't stop him either.

"This — can we not fight?" Emperor Kaiyuan asked. "Can you win? And we can sit down and discuss first."

"Can win, can't not fight." Tang Luo shook his head. "Never mind Great Ding — even you lot, if I put it like this, would you listen? People, they won't shed tears until they see the coffin. Starting with negotiations, nothing comes of it; since that's the case, might as well skip that step and let us start directly from the most useful step."