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Chapter 433: Chapter 433: Four Men and a Woman

Some knowledgeable officials were slightly surprised.

"Great Li Emperor, please take a look!" Zhong Shan said with a smile as he walked over and lifted the Nine-Dragon Crystal Cover.

The Nine-Dragon Crystal Cover could block divine sense, so no one could see what was inside. As Zhong Shan lifted it, a purple light flashed.

Everyone's eyes widened.

What was that? A baby?

They saw, on the tray, a tiny baby the size of a fist. The baby's mouth curled into a sinister smile, surrounded by a faint purple mist, looking incredibly eerie.

Everyone felt a rush of evil energy piercing their minds, making them feel uneasy. What was this thing? It looked so malevolent.

No, it wasn't a baby.

Everyone gulped, unsure of what they were looking at.

"Great Li Emperor, please take a look. This is what I obtained. I've only heard that consuming it can increase one's lifespan by at least a thousand years. I am not certain if it is true, and I would like to request your evaluation," Zhong Shan said with a smile.

Looking at the item next to Zhong Shan, Nie Fancheng's pupils contracted instinctively. He recognized it.

"Where did you get this?" Nie Fancheng asked.

"In the Great Jin Dynasty. It was discovered while we were assisting the Longevity Realm in exterminating the Demon Remnant Army headquarters," Zhong Shan replied truthfully.

Demon Remnant Army headquarters? Nie Fancheng smiled slightly, as if he had thought of something.

"Great Li Emperor, can you confirm the information I obtained? Does this item really have that effect?" Zhong Shan asked.

"It can indeed increase one's lifespan by a thousand years," Nie Fancheng nodded.

"Wow~~~"

The officials could no longer contain themselves and burst into excited murmurs. It was true, it was really an elixir of immortality? The elixir of immortality?

"Zhong Shan, are you planning to present this to the emperor?" Xiaoyao Hou Nie Kuang suddenly asked.

Xiaoyao Hou's question made everyone frown. They didn't want Zhong Shan to give it to Nie Fancheng, but they couldn't show it openly.

"Xiaoyao Hou?" Zhong Shan asked with a puzzled smile.

"Hmm?" Nie Kuang raised an eyebrow.

"This is my possession. It's not up to you to decide what I do with it," Zhong Shan replied with a smile.

Zhong Shan's words made the officials secretly breathe a sigh of relief. Though they couldn't have it now, who knew what the future held? But if it was given to the emperor, they could forget about ever getting it.

"Thank you, Great Li Emperor, for appraising this treasure for me," Zhong Shan said respectfully.

Nie Fancheng looked at Zhong Shan, sensing that Zhong Shan hadn't finished speaking. The rumors said Zhong Shan wanted to exchange this treasure for something from him.

"Great Li Emperor, I have a wife who is currently in the Great Li Celestial Dynasty. I hope the emperor can bestow blessings upon us and allow me to take my wife home," Zhong Shan said sincerely.

All eyes in the court turned to Nie Fancheng once more. The tension was palpable as everyone awaited his response.

After Zhong Shan finished speaking, the court fell into a strange silence. Requesting the emperor's blessing for him and his wife? What kind of nonsense was this?

However, Nie Fancheng seemed to understand. A hint of reluctance flashed in his eyes.

"Who is your wife?" Nie Fancheng asked.

Everyone looked at Zhong Shan. Yes, who was his wife, and why was she in the Li Fire Holy Capital? And why did he want the emperor's blessing?

"The princess of the Great Li Celestial Dynasty, Ling'er."

"Wow~~~"

The court erupted again. Princess Ling'er? Princess Ling'er? How audacious! What was Zhong Shan doing? Proposing? No, this was tarnishing the reputation of the Great Li Celestial Dynasty. When did Princess Ling'er become his wife?

"Audacious! When did Princess Ling'er become your wife? Are you trying to disgrace the Great Li Celestial Dynasty?" Xiaoyao Hou jumped out again, shouting.

"Great Li Emperor, in the past, the heavens were our witness, and my father-in-law attested to it. Ling'er and I have long been married. Only because the Phoenix Supreme sealed Ling'er's memory did she lose her recollection. Princess Qingqing can testify. If there is any falsehood in my words, may my cultivation forever halt. I am willing to exchange this 'elixir of immortality' to take Ling'er home with me," Zhong Shan said firmly.

The atmosphere in the court turned eerie. Xiaoyao Hou was furious, while Zhong Shan stood undaunted, asking the emperor for the princess in exchange for the elixir of immortality.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince of the Great Cheng Empire, Zhao Tiansha, is waiting outside," a eunuch announced respectfully as he entered the hall.

"Huh?" The ministers raised their eyebrows.

This matter was not settled yet.

"Summon him!" Nie Fancheng ordered.

"Summon the Crown Prince of the Great Cheng Empire, Zhao Tiansha!"

Zhong Shan frowned and turned his head. This interruption came at a crucial moment, which was very annoying.

Soon, a man in black robes entered the hall.

The man wore a tight black robe, with a black sword at his waist. The sword was slender, but it exuded a chilling aura. His long black hair draped over his shoulders, and his eyes were bright and piercing. A blood-red flame seemed to dance in the center of his forehead. His face was fair and extremely handsome.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Zhong Shan's pupils contracted instinctively.

Kaiyang Sect! Tiansha? The former second-generation disciple of the Kaiyang Sect and master of the Heaven-Slaying Sword Technique, Tiansha?

Zhao Tiansha? Tiansha?

Zhong Shan recognized Zhao Tiansha at a glance, and Zhao Tiansha also recognized Zhong Shan. This was the Zhong Shan he wanted to skin, disembowel, and drink his blood. So it was him. The rumors had only mentioned the name, and he thought it was someone else with the same name. It turned out to be this Zhong Shan. Hmph!

"Zhao Tiansha greets the Great Li Emperor!" Zhao Tiansha bowed to Nie Fancheng.

"Hmm!" Nie Fancheng nodded.

"Crown Prince of the Great Cheng Empire? Why have you come to the Great Li Celestial Dynasty?" Nie Fancheng asked.

"Your Majesty, I am here under the order of my emperor to seek peace with the Great Li Celestial Dynasty," Zhao Tiansha replied.

"Seek peace?" Nie Fancheng looked puzzled.

The court buzzed with discussion again. Seek peace? The Great Cheng Empire and the Great Li Celestial Dynasty had been at war for years. What did this mean? Had the emperor of the Great Cheng Empire gone mad?

"The emperor is willing to submit to the Great Li Celestial Dynasty from now on, and offer the Great Cheng Empire in worship to the Great Li Emperor," Zhao Tiansha said solemnly.

"Oh?"

"Wow~~~~~~~~~~~~~~" The court became noisy once more. Surrender? Impossible!

In his thoughts, Zhong Shan quickly analyzed everything. The Grand Cheng Empire was a neighbor of the Great Li Celestial Dynasty, but their relationship had always been strained, with continuous wars. Why would they suddenly surrender? No, the Grand Cheng Empire never seemed to have a crown prince. All of the Grand Cheng Emperor's sons had died. How could a crown prince suddenly appear? Not long ago, the Grand Cheng Emperor had celebrated his 4,000th birthday.

4,000 years? An Emperor Extreme Realm cultivator's lifespan is 4,800 years. That means he still has 800 years left.

"The Grand Cheng Emperor wants to submit to me? Although his lifespan is short, his ambition wouldn't allow him to submit," Nie Fancheng said in doubt.

"Reporting to the Great Li Emperor, all of this is because of me," Zhao Tiansha said.

"Oh?" Nie Fancheng questioned.

"It was recently confirmed that I am the emperor's distant descendant and his only bloodline. The emperor, feeling his end approaching, wanted to ensure my safety, so he willingly gave up the Grand Cheng Empire that he founded," Zhao Tiansha explained.

Upon hearing Zhao Tiansha's explanation, everyone immediately understood. With the empire's fall, the crown prince would certainly be hunted down by powerful enemies. To protect his only bloodline, the Grand Cheng Emperor was willing to give up his millennia-old foundation.

"Very well, I accept his terms," Nie Fancheng declared.

Given such a situation, how could he refuse? An empire handed over for free, who wouldn't want it?

"Reporting to the Great Li Emperor, my emperor also considered my safety. He stated that if the Great Li Emperor were willing to marry one of his princesses to me, the news reaching our capital would immediately result in our empire's submission to the Great Li Celestial Dynasty," Zhao Tiansha continued.

Indeed, there was no free lunch in the world. This was the hidden condition of the Grand Cheng Emperor. A princess's marriage would ensure Zhao Tiansha's safety, making him a prince consort. This request was not unreasonable; it was fair and logical.

"Oh? Which princess do you wish to marry?" Nie Fancheng asked.

Clearly, Nie Fancheng was intrigued. Everyone looked at Zhao Tiansha, waiting for his answer. Meanwhile, Zhong Shan suddenly felt an ominous premonition.

"The Princess of the Great Li Celestial Dynasty, Princess Ling'er," Zhao Tiansha stated.

"Wow~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"

Princess Ling'er? The court erupted again with discussions. The matter of Zhong Shan's wife was not yet settled, and now another suitor had appeared?

"Reporting to the Emperor!" Xiaoyao Hou suddenly spoke up.

"Speak!" Nie Fancheng looked at Xiaoyao Hou.

"Emperor, I have seen Princess Ling'er multiple times and have always admired her. She is the object of my day and night thoughts. Although she is a princess and holds a noble status, we are both the sixth generation descendants of the Emperor. I humbly request the Emperor to grant me a marriage with her to ease my longing," Xiaoyao Hou said.

The court was once again in an uproar.

Another suitor? If this weren't the court, the ministers would have cried out. Princess Ling'er had such immense charm?

Nie Fancheng frowned slightly.

"Reporting to the Emperor!" On the right side of the court, Shaofei Hou suddenly stepped forward.

"Speak!" Nie Fancheng ordered.

"Princess Ling'er is gentle and virtuous, lively and adorable, cheerful and generous. Seeing her once left me thinking of her day and night. She is the ideal partner I have always dreamed of. I never dared to harbor any presumptuous thoughts, but now, with so many pursuing her, I cannot give up. I am willing to exchange my past military merits for the Emperor's blessing in marriage," Shaofei Hou said, shocking everyone.

"Wow~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"

In the court, the ministers were about to go crazy. Again, Princess Ling'er? Four outstanding men were simultaneously seeking the Emperor's blessing to marry Princess Ling'er?