Chapter 917

Not long after, martial artists began gathering around the Xianxian Academy's training ground.

General Chilaowen's heart stirred—he knew the mystery was about to be revealed.

He hurried to the vicinity of the training ground, blending into the crowd.

Indeed, the training ground was now adorned with lanterns and decorations, and the raised platform teemed with heads.

Among them were many high officials dressed in purple robes with golden trim, and numerous Great Ming imperial patrons mingled among them.

"His Majesty the Emperor arrives!"

Not long after, a shrill voice rang out, and a young emperor slowly approached the platform, escorted by a retinue of palace maids and Embroidered Uniform Guard generals.

All martial artists present, including the Wu Dangqixia, bowed slightly and shouted, "Your Majesty!"

General Chilaowen dared not reveal any flaw—he too performed the proper bow.

After the young emperor ascended the dragon throne on the platform and ordered everyone to rise, he slowly spoke:

"This grand event of the Great Ming, with the presence of martial heroes from the Wu Lin, is truly a blessing for the Great Ming."

"I, on behalf of the Great Ming, thank each of you, martial sect masters and heroes."

As he spoke, the young emperor, despite his imperial dignity, bowed deeply on the platform.

The crowd below, including the Wu Dangqixia, returned the bow.

General Chilaowen internally scoffed—these Central Plains customs and rituals were truly excessive.

Yet on his face, he dared not show the slightest neglect, continuing to return the bow.

"During this journey to Qinglong Peak, I received gifts from the Great Dragon Head, Fourth Dragon Head, Sixth Dragon Head, and Seventh Dragon Head of the Qinglong Society—bringing glory to the Great Ming."

As the young emperor spoke of the Qinglong Society's Dragon Heads, his expression turned reverent, bowing respectfully toward the distant sky.

None of the martial artists present dared mock their young emperor.

After all, though the Great Ming still called itself an empire, all could see it had become a peripheral force of the Qinglong Society.

Even the current young emperor was placed on the throne by the Qinglong Society itself.

Moreover, the Qinglong Society's power and strength were terrifyingly immense, and its Great Dragon Head was the foremost taboo of the Nine Provinces.

Thus, the young emperor's words were not far off.

Only General Chilaowen, within his mind, continually despised the young emperor of the Great Ming.

He thought: how laughable—for an emperor to perform such childish acts.

The young emperor naturally did not know that someone below was silently mocking him.

After offering his distant homage to the Qinglong Society's Dragon Heads, the young emperor pulled a jade tablet from his robes and said:

"This is the task jade tablet granted by the Qinglong Society. Complete the task, and you shall receive a reward."

"The reward includes, but is not limited to, divine weapons, pills, and cultivation techniques!"

Whoa!

Rewards from the Qinglong Society!?

The martial artists now realized—the Great Ming court had gathered them to complete a task for the Qinglong Society.

And the Qinglong Society's tasks came with rewards?

They recalled how those who entered the Qinglong Society had soared overnight.

All martial artists burned with desire for the Qinglong Society's rewards.

General Chilaowen was even more surprised—it was the Qinglong Society itself that had issued this task to the Great Ming, with rewards for completion!

He had assumed the Great Ming received Qinglong Society tasks only because it was a vassal, and had not thought further.

Seeing the burning, feverish eyes of the martial artists below, the young emperor knew the atmosphere was perfectly primed.

He nodded in satisfaction and said:

"This task requires you to enter another world and retrieve three Tian Xiang Doukou!"

"Whoever returns with one shall claim an additional reward from the Great Ming imperial treasury."

"All who assist the Great Ming in completing this task may accompany me on my next journey to Qinglong Peak to receive your rewards."

Another world?

What is an "other world"?

The martial artists were momentarily stunned.

After all, they had never heard this term before.

But when the young emperor mentioned the rewards, even General Chilaowen could not help but feel his heart race.

Were the rewards this generous?

Not only could one claim an extra reward from the Great Ming imperial treasury, but also accompany the young emperor to Qinglong Peak?

Happiness came so suddenly!

716 Liu Sheng Danmasou?

Even General Chilaowen, upon hearing such rewards, felt his heart burn.

He naturally cared nothing for the Great Ming imperial treasury's rewards—after all, the Great Ming's power paled beside that of the Great Yuan.

But to ascend Qinglong Peak and receive Qinglong Society rewards?

That was the lifelong dream of every martial artist under heaven.

At once, General Chilaowen's heart burned with longing, gazing up at the platform, filled with anticipation.

The young emperor knew the moment was ripe—he tossed the task jade tablet into the air.

The task jade tablet transformed into a gate in the sky.

Beyond the gate, nothing could be seen.

"This is the door to the other world—you may proceed."

Remember, I and Great Ming need three Tian Xiang Doukou.

The young Emperor, through the Task Jade Pendant, had long known what the world of the task objective looked like.

But he had never known that one could reach another world through this door hanging in midair?

He was somewhat curious inside, but as ruler of a nation, he could not possibly be the first to enter.

The others also hesitated, none daring to step forward.

What humans fear most is the unknown!

This door is wondrous beyond measure—who knows what lies beyond it?

General Chilaowen was not afraid, but he did not wish to be the first to step forward, lest his identity be exposed.

Second, this is after all a Great Ming task; he could only interfere, not truly intend to complete it for Great Ming.

Though Great Ming was vastly inferior to Great Yuan, and General Chilaowen had already defected from Great Yuan, he still refused to aid Great Ming.

For a time, the door hung suspended in midair.

Throughout the training ground, there was a bustling crowd, yet not a single soul stepped forward for a long while.

The young Emperor felt quite embarrassed—why had everyone been so eager and excited at the start?

Now that it was time to act, why were they all making excuses?

He immediately turned his gaze to Cao Zhengchun, signaling him to step forward.

At this moment, Cao Zhengchun held the dual posts of Provincial Military Commander of both the Eastern Depot and the Western Depot.

Not only had his Wu Gong cultivation broken through to the late stage of the Earthly Immortal Realm, but his power was also rising rapidly in Great Ming.

He had gathered no few elite martial artists under his command.

He knew this task must be completed by Great Ming.

Otherwise, the young Emperor might not suffer, but this powerful eunuch who dominated the court would surely be ousted.

He immediately scanned the training ground, searching for the martial artists secretly loyal to the Eastern Depot and Western Depot.

Upon seeing their factory lord's piercing gaze, though still terrified of the unknown,

they could only grit their teeth and stepped forward.

"My fellow martial artists, this is the very moment to serve the court and win the Qinglong Society's favor—how can you be so cowardly?"

With that, the man immediately used his lightness skill and leapt straight into the door hanging in midair.

After entering the door, not a single sound remained.

"Are we not Wu Zhiren, who defy Heaven itself?"

Another martial artist secretly loyal to the Eastern Depot also leapt into the door.

As the martial artists secretly gathered by the Eastern Depot and Western Depot took the lead, more and more Wu Zhiren rushed one after another into the door hanging in midair.