I just reached the maximum level, and you want me to be a puppet emperor?

Chapter 489 Top-Tier Wingman, Dai Xiaoyao! (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)
Li Chen left Xuanji and Fairy Yunya at Guanhai Tower to continue searching for clues about the disciples of the Eight Gates Heaven-Shattering Palace, while he quietly left with Dai Xiaoyao.

Seeing the two acting mysteriously, Xuanji and Fairy Yunya exchanged a glance, assuming it was a confidential political matter between the two countries, and wisely refrained from asking further questions.

After all, one is the Emperor of Tian Ce and the other is the King of Xing Luo, so there are some things that are indeed inconvenient to say in front of them.

"Sister, let's split up. I'll go to the port to investigate, and you go to the cultivator market in the city." Xuanji was a workaholic. Whatever Li Chen asked her to do, she would do her best to complete it. That was her belief.

Fairy Yunya nodded in agreement, but secretly thought to herself: "Why does Dai Xiaoyao look at His Majesty like a brothel madam?"
At this moment, Li Chen had already left Lin Yuan City with Dai Xiaoyao and had been traveling along the winding mountain road for about half an hour.

Ancient trees tower along the way, vines entwine, and occasionally you can see a few medicinal herbs that emit a faint glow.

The further you go in, the richer the spiritual energy becomes, until finally even the stone path under your feet glows with a faint blue light.

“Your Majesty, Qinglin Village is just ahead. Although this place is remote, it is quiet. My godmother loves tranquility and lives here in seclusion to cultivate.” Dai Xiaoyao pointed to the village that was faintly visible in the mist, his face full of flattery.

Li Chen stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over his surroundings.

This small village may seem ordinary, but it actually hides a secret. The old locust tree at the entrance of the village is at least a thousand years old, and the natural patterns on its trunk form a hidden array. The layout of the few thatched houses also corresponds to the position of the Big Dipper, making it no ordinary village.

"Your godmother certainly knows how to pick a location, and the person who built this place must have been a master," Li Chen nodded and said.

"Your Majesty is truly astute, seeing through the clues at a glance." Dai Xiaoyao seized the opportunity to offer a flattering compliment.

"Lead the way." Li Chen was indeed curious to see just how precious Dai Xiaoyao's so-called treasure really was.

"Your Majesty, this way please." Dai Xiaoyao was overjoyed and straightened his back a bit.

He kept talking the whole way, from Charles of the Eternal Day Empire's wolfish ambitions to the Starfall Kingdom's unwavering loyalty to Tian Ce.

When he got excited, he even patted his chest and guaranteed: "As long as His Majesty gives the order, my Xingluo Kingdom's 100,000 troops are willing to be the vanguard!"

Li Chen smiled noncommittally. How could he not know Dai Xiaoyao's little scheme?

Back then, his elder brother Dai Wuchang defected to the Yongzhou Empire, only to be overthrown by Dai Xiaoyao in a coup.

The King of Xingluo may seem loyal now, but in reality he is merely using Tiance's power to protect himself.

However, Li Chen did not point it out.

The southern kingdoms are like chess pieces on a chessboard; if used well, they can be a powerful tool to restrain the Eternal Day Empire.

Moreover, Dai Xiaoyao's mother in the palace was indeed very good at serving people.

"We've arrived!" Dai Xiaoyao stopped in front of a small courtyard with a bamboo fence. There were three thatched huts in the courtyard, and several medicinal herbs were planted in front of the door, emitting a faint fragrance.

He straightened his clothes and gently knocked on the door: "Godmother? Are you there?"

The courtyard was completely silent.

Dai Xiaoyao rubbed his hands awkwardly: "At this hour, my godmother should have gone to the back mountain to gather herbs. Why doesn't Your Majesty go in and rest first?"

He was about to push the door open as he spoke.

Li Chen waved his hand: "No need, we'll just wait."

As a seasoned expert, he knew that in such situations, first impressions were crucial, determining whether the other party would quickly take the bait.

Dai Xiaoyao also admired Li Chen's demeanor; no wonder he was the emperor of a superpower, he was truly incomparable to him.

To avoid an awkward silence, Dai Xiaoyao started trying to find topics to talk about.

After we had finished chatting, we suddenly heard light footsteps coming from the woods.

Dai Xiaoyao's eyes lit up: "It's my godmother back!"

Li Chen turned around and saw a graceful figure slowly walking towards him through the morning mist.

The woman was in her early thirties, her voluptuous figure draped in a plain white silk dress, and she moved with the grace of a willow swaying in the breeze.

Her jet-black hair was loosely tied up with a single wooden hairpin, with a few strands of black hair hanging down beside her snow-white neck, adding to her languid charm.

She carried a bamboo basket, the herbs inside still glistening with morning dew, clearly freshly picked. Most striking was her oval face, with eyebrows like distant, misty mountains, eyes like rippling autumn waters, a high yet delicate nose, and lips like a touch of vermilion, slightly upturned.

Time has not diminished her charm; on the contrary, it has added a touch of mature femininity.

Especially her fair wrist exposed outside her sleeve, with faint blue veins visible beneath her smooth, creamy skin, made one want to hold it in their hand and play with it.

At first glance, Li Chen could tell that she was an extremely mature woman with unsatisfied desires.

This seems very subtle, but once the land is successfully cultivated, it becomes incredibly persistent.

Li Chen never expected that there would be such a voluptuous and beautiful woman in this small mountain village.

Looks like this trip wasn't in vain; Dai Xiaoyao is quite something.

"It's Xiaoyao!" Tang's mother exclaimed in surprise when she saw Dai Xiaoyao standing in front of the courtyard gate, her eyes wide with surprise.

She glanced instinctively at Dai Xiaoyao's side, and when she saw the exceptionally handsome young man, a hint of doubt flashed in her eyes. "Huh, where's Xiaoshan?"

Tang's mother wondered why Dai Xiaoyao had returned with another person when he and her son Tang Shan had left together. Had something happened to Tang Shan? Dai Xiaoyao seemed to sense Tang's mother's worry.

Dai Xiaoyao quickly stepped forward and took the medicine basket from Tang's mother: "Godmother, Xiaoshan is doing very well in Xingluo Kingdom, so don't worry. I came back this time on other important matters."

He then winked at Li Chen.

Upon hearing that her son was safe and sound, Tang's mother's tense shoulders visibly relaxed.

With her husband gone, this son has always been her pillar of support, and she cannot afford to lose him.

She tidied a stray strand of hair at her temple and gave Li Chen a polite smile: "And this young master is?"

"Godmother, this is none other than Young Master Li, a member of the royal family of Tian Ce!"

Dai Xiaoyao deliberately lowered his voice, yet Tang's mother could still hear him clearly.

"Young Master Li has businesses in various southern countries, and even the trade routes of Xingluo Kingdom rely on his patronage."

This is Dai Xiaoyao's strategy: at this point, he cannot reveal Li Chen's true identity and must proceed step by step.

However, we couldn't downplay Li Chen's status, lest Tang's mother offend him. So, saying that Li Chen was a member of the royal family was enough.

The royal family of Tian Ce is becoming increasingly powerful, and not everyone can afford to offend them.

It's different now. In the past, the royal family only acted arrogantly in some large cities under the official control of the Tian Ce government.

Even the royal family couldn't hold their heads high if they encountered disciples from powerful sects.

Now, when the sects of Tian Ce hear that their opponent's surname is Li, they have to confirm whether the opponent is a member of the royal family before they dare to make a move.

Otherwise, the same old plot will play out: if you beat the younger one, the older one comes along; if you beat the older one, then something incredible happens.

Li Chen was the one who defied the heavens within the royal family.

Upon hearing this, Tang's mother unconsciously clenched the hem of her dress.

Although she lived in seclusion in the mountains, she had heard of the illustrious reputation of the Tian Ce royal family.

The young man before me had an extraordinary bearing, and the jade pendant at his waist shone brightly, clearly not an ordinary item.

"My humble abode is simple and unassuming, I hope you will forgive my rudeness, Young Master Li. If you do not mind, please come in for tea." Madam Tang stepped aside to open the courtyard gate and gracefully gestured for him to enter.

Li Chen nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over Tang's mother subtly.

Upon closer inspection, this beautiful woman is even more captivating than I had imagined.

The curves faintly visible beneath her silk robes, the swaying waist as she walked, and the subtle herbal fragrance all contributed to a sense of tranquility and delight.

"Then I'll trouble you," Li Chen said politely.

(End of this chapter)