Chapter 1670 — I Simply Won't Sign
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 5
"Five Daoist brothers, this way, please. " At the Wendao Academy of Jingping, Yuchenzi, Wei Suifeng and the others received the Heavenly Court's envoys of negotiation.
This time the one sent at the command of Emperor Haotian to lead the delegation was the Five Inner Emperor Thrones.
The Five Inner Emperor Thrones was a vital office in the Heavenly Court, wielding enormous power, second only to the Seven Dukes.
The Heavenly Court held many Emperor Throne-level powerhouses; the Seven Dukes, the Four Ministers, the Three Preceptors, the Two Aides, the Five Emperor Thrones and the Five Inner Emperor Thrones were all posts that only Emperor Throne-level powerhouses could hold. The Five Emperor Thrones and the Five Inner Emperor Thrones were the reserve for the Four Colored Great Emperors: should one of the Four Colored Great Emperors fall in battle or turn traitor, the Five Inner Emperor Thrones would fill the place.
That the Heavenly Court had sent out the five great ministers of the Five Inner Emperor Thrones for these talks showed just how seriously it took them. Each of them brought several hundred retainers, an imposing show of strength; these retainers were not there to wait on their food and lodging, but were the Heavenly Court's masters of divination arts and its elite negotiators.
Nian Guanhe of the Five Inner Emperor Thrones suddenly halted, watching as a young girl hurried over, hung a bright mirror on the plaque above the academy gate, and hurried away.
Nian Guanhe was surprised. He looked at Yuchenzi, Wei Suifeng and the rest who had come out to welcome him, and laughed, "Jingping hangs up a mirror the very moment we arrive—could it be a demon-revealing mirror? Do you mean to force us to show our true forms?
" Wei Suifeng burst out laughing. "Brother Nian, you are over-suspicious. You carry the bloodline of the Nian beast; who does not know it, who has not heard of it?
What hangs in that mirror is a Dao Question, a custom of the Wendao Academy, kept for exchange. If someone meets a difficulty in cultivation, they hang up a bright mirror, and the talents of the world will try their hand at answering it. The Emperor likewise sets aside a portion of coin from the national treasury, a generous reward for whoever solves the hard questions.
" "So that is how it is. " Nian Guanhe raised his head and studied the bright mirror. "No wonder Jingping's scholarly air is so flourishing—even a Heavenly Venerable must reincarnate into Jingping to study. " Suddenly Meng Xianqiu of the Five Inner Emperor Thrones laughed. "The wealth in Jingping's treasury is the Heavenly Court's wealth as well. How can Emperor Yanfeng take the Heavenly Court's wealth and hand it out to others at random?
By law his head should be struck off!
" Wei Suifeng's expression shifted slightly. He sneered, "Little Meng, Jingping has not surrendered yet.
You come to behead my Emperor of Jingping—believe me, shall I butcher you first? " "Emperor Yunluo, once Jingping surrenders, killing you ought to be no more than a word from me, would you not say? " Meng Xianqiu said with a half-smile.
Yuchenzi hastily put in, "The people of Jingping are the Heavenly Court's people too. The Emperor gives the Heavenly Court's wealth to the Heavenly Court's people—the meat still rots in the pot, it has not leaked out.
Esteemed sirs, this way, please! " The five powerful ministers of the Five Inner Emperor Thrones laughed heartily.
Meng Xianqiu praised him, "It is Yuchenzi who knows how to talk. This way, please! " Yuchenzi bent low, raised a hand, and smiled, "After you, five envoys.
" The party filed in and entered the Wendao Academy. Meng Xianqiu sat down with a swagger, legs spread wide.
"The previous rounds of talks went slowly, and His Majesty was greatly angered.
Therefore he ordered us to work through the night, to copy out His Majesty's will.