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

Chapter 498 You don't need to thank me, I actually never intended to let him go! (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

Yuan Tianhe understood; His Majesty wanted to speak privately. He immediately rose and led the way: "It is my honor! Your Majesty, please follow me."

The two left Lan Yue Pavilion and strolled slowly along the white jade corridor.

The white jade corridor meanders along the sides, with blooming flowers emitting a faint fragrance.

Once he was sure no one was around, Li Chen took out the Immortal Token he had obtained from the Guixu Wuyai Sect from his sleeve and gently rubbed it in his palm.

"Does Sect Leader Yuan recognize this item?" Li Chen asked.

Yuan Tianhe's gaze sharpened, and a look of surprise appeared on his face: "Isn't this the Immortal Token? This is a supreme treasure of the immortal sects and a symbol of the sect. Why does Your Majesty possess such a thing?"

He speaks his mind; we're all on the same level, and there's nothing to hide.

Yuan Tianhe felt that since Li Chen had it, he must know how to use it.

Li Chen lightly tapped the token's surface with his fingertip, causing it to glow faintly with golden light: "I wish to open the ancient ruins of the Fallen Immortal Mountain Range. Daoist Baichuan of the Guixu Boundless Sect has already lent this item to me."

Before he could finish speaking, Yuan Tianhe understood. His Majesty had already stated what he needed for it, and since other hidden sects had given it to him, how could the Eight Gates Heaven-Shattering Palace not give it to him?
Moreover, His Majesty's choice to discuss this privately is already a great concession. If he were to ask for it in public, where would he, as the sect leader, put his face?

Yuan Tianhe took a deep breath and took out a jade pendant that was entirely green from his bosom: "Since Your Majesty needs this item, this is my sect's 'Eight Gates Token'. Please accept it."

This thing is very precious; it can even be said to be a symbol of the immortal sect.

He would only give it to Li Chen if he asked for it. If it were the sect leader of the Guixu Wuyai Sect, Daoist Baichuan, asking Yuan Tianhe for it, Yuan Tianhe would definitely say: Get lost!

Li Chen accepted the jade token, sensing the immense spiritual power it contained, and nodded in satisfaction: "Sect Leader Yuan, rest assured, I am only borrowing it. I will return it once the ruins are opened."

Yuan Tianhe secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although the Immortal Token was precious, it was obviously insignificant compared to offending this supreme being of the world. Moreover, it was just a loan, and he could even make a good connection with him.

He didn't think that someone of Li Chen's caliber would go back on their word.

"Does Your Majesty have any further instructions?" Yuan Tianhe asked respectfully.

Li Chen put away the token, then suddenly changed the subject: "Your sect has been living in the south for a long time. Do you know anything about the Eternal Day Empire?"

Yuan Tianhe paused slightly, then replied, "I once discussed philosophy with a cardinal of the Yongzhou Empire for three days."

Li Chen became interested: "Oh? Tell me about it."

Yuan Tianhe carefully chose his words: "They are a group of madmen. They firmly believe that the so-called 'God of Holy Light' is omnipotent and that the Holy See is the only power in the Eternal Day Empire. They don't need many reasons to execute people. As long as they identify people as heretics, those crazy believers will kill themselves to eliminate heretics."

He shook his head as he spoke, "However, it must be admitted that their power of faith is indeed unique and completely different from our cultivation methods."

Li Chen naturally had some understanding of the power of faith.

He wouldn't say he was an expert in military strategy, but he had certainly read some of it.

Throughout history, the methods of commanding an army have been ever-changing.

Some emperors would gather the families of soldiers in the capital, ostensibly to provide them with preferential treatment, but in reality to hold them hostage.

In this way, soldiers will not betray the army, and their fighting strength will increase.

However, the Eternal Day Empire took a different approach, completely taming its soldiers into fanatical believers.

The image of those Templar Knights clad in silver armor charging into battle, shouting the name of the Holy Light.

Although they were mortals, they were not afraid of pain or death. Even after being cut in half at the waist, they could still drag half of their bodies to crawl and kill enemies, all because they firmly believed that their souls could ascend to the so-called "holy heaven" after death.

This power of faith is truly terrifying.

Ordinary armies would collapse if they suffered more than 30% casualties, but fanatics could fight to the last man.

The Tian Ce Dynasty chose the simplest option: high welfare benefits.

As long as the benefits are high and the number of slots is limited, there will be plenty of people who want to join the army.

Even if Mahei wanted to bring his clansmen to join the army, he still needed to find certain connections. Seeing Li Chen deep in thought, Yuan Tianhe cautiously added, "As far as I know, the most elite force in the Yongzhou Empire is not the army controlled by the royal family, but the 'Holy Flame Legion' controlled by the Holy See. It is said that every soldier must undergo a seven-fold baptismal ceremony until they completely abandon their self-awareness."

He had seen it during his travels before; the Holy Flame Legion was incredibly powerful, capable of crushing most combat units in the world.

Yuan Tianhe had heard that the relationship between Tian Ce and Yong Zhou was not good, so when Li Chen asked him this question, he was trying to figure out what Li Chen was thinking.

Perhaps we can glean the divine will from it.

However, Li Chen only mentioned it casually and didn't ask any further questions.

Having achieved the purpose of his visit, Li Chen prepared to take his leave.

Yuan Tianhe cupped his hands in farewell, but Li Chen raised his hand to stop him: "Sect Leader Yuan, please wait."

After Li Chen and his group had gone far away, Tang's mother's figure slowly appeared in this place.

"Greetings, Sect Master." Mother Tang bowed gracefully.

Yuan Tianhe remained motionless, his back to her, yet a chilling aura suddenly emanated from him: "I cannot accept Madam Tang's courtesy."

That cold tone was completely different from before; it was as if he had transformed back into the dignified master of a reclusive sect.

Tang's mother felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, but she still said softly, "Thank you, Sect Master, for sparing my husband."

"You don't need to thank me. I didn't actually intend to let him go," Yuan Tianhe sneered.

Twenty years ago, they were senior and junior brothers, one a prodigy of the sect, the other a stunningly beautiful junior sister.

Now, one is a high-ranking sect leader, and the other is a fugitive bearing the name of a traitor.

Yuan Tianhe felt as if his obedient childhood sweetheart had been kidnapped by a spirited young man.

The fact that he didn't kill Tang Chen directly shows that he has a very good character.

Actually, they had so many questions to ask each other and so many things to say.

How have you been all these years? Why did you betray your sect? Why did you choose that man instead of me?

But in the end, Yuan Tianhe only asked coldly, "I'm very curious, how did you manage to persuade His Majesty Li Chen?"

Tang's mother lowered her head: "I have a godson who is the king of a small southern country."

This was a way of avoiding the main issue, since she couldn't very well say that Li Chen only came because she took good care of him.

"I see." After saying that, Yuan Tianhe turned and left, his wide sleeves fluttering in the wind.

He never looked back at Tang's mother once, seemingly without any lingering affection.

But when Tang's mother returned, a pair of eyes were watching her from the shadows, accompanied by a sigh.

The sigh contained both resentment and reluctance.

Despite his cold demeanor, Yuan Tianhe has a soft heart.

If Tang's mother lowers herself to beg him, he can indeed let Tang Chen go, but on the condition that Tang's mother can never see Tang Chen again in this lifetime and return to the sect to reflect on her mistakes.

Even after twenty years, he still hadn't heard those words.

That's how powerful the "white moonlight" (a term referring to someone who is deeply loved or cherished) can be.

Every woman around Li Chen is someone else's unattainable "white moonlight."

The reason he has so much is because he adheres to the principle of 'do it first and think about it later'.

(End of this chapter)