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

Chapter 499 You, Li Chen, can't exactly say you weren't in the capital! (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

At the Immortal Island Wharf, the Grand Elder respectfully presented Li Chen with a sandalwood box: "Your Majesty, this is a small gift from the Sect Master, sent by me to express my gratitude."

Li Chen casually opened the wooden box and saw a crystal-clear rhomboid crystal inside, with nebulae seemingly flowing inside, emitting a heart-palpitating energy fluctuation.

"A crystallization of divine destiny?!" Tang's mother exclaimed in shock, her face turning deathly pale instantly.

Isn't this the sect's most precious treasure that her husband stole years ago, causing their separation?
It is said that this object takes three hundred years to condense into one piece, and it is one of the treasures of the Eight Gates Heaven-Shattering Hall.

Ordinary disciples couldn't even dream of seeing it; her husband was sentenced to a hundred years of imprisonment for stealing it, yet Yuan Tianhe directly gave it to Li.

The Grand Elder stroked his beard and smiled, "The Sect Master said that this item might be helpful in opening the Immortal Ruins."

Li Chen closed the wooden box with a half-smile: "Please convey my gratitude to Sect Leader Yuan."

Xuanji and Fairy Yunya exchanged a glance.

Yuan Tianhe was quite sensible; he knew how to use someone else's flowers to present to the Buddha.

However, His Majesty's acceptance of this generous gift signifies that the Eight Gates Heavenly Palace's status within the Heavenly Strategy will be vastly different in the future.

Moreover, Sect Leader Yuan is so sensible that Li Chen really can't find any fault with him.

If Venerable Youhen had even 30% of Yuan Tianhe's abilities, his sect wouldn't have been destroyed by Li Chen.

Tang's mother stood there, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Sure enough, in the face of absolute power, sect rules and centuries of punishment are nothing but a joke.

The rules only restrict those who are not very capable; Li Chen is completely above the rules.

Tang's mother understood the reasoning; even if she were in Yuan's position, she would have done the same.

However, I am still somewhat impressed by Li Chen's strength.

Li Chen didn't think too much about it, handed the box to Xuan Ji, and then left by boat.

Having obtained another Immortal Token, Li Chen now possesses two.

We're still one piece away from opening the Immortal Ruins ahead of schedule.

According to the information provided by Fairy Shuyu, there is a fairy sect in both the north and the west.

They are the Ten Netherworld Palace and the Sumeru Lingxiao Pavilion.

Li Chen was considering which sect he should join.

After thinking for a moment, he realized that he often went to the west and always had a good 'harvest'. He hadn't been to the north for a long time, so he decided to go there and see how things were developing.

Since the Northern Royal Court has now been incorporated into the territory of Tian Ce, Li Chen usually only reads some memorials, but this time he went to conduct an on-site inspection.

Having made his decision, Li Chen took the three beauties north with him.

After all, traveling alone can be quite monotonous, so having someone to accompany you can help you pass the time.

Just as Li Chen was heading north, there was another person who was also heading north.

That was Prince Maurice, Charles's uncle and a high-ranking official of the Everlasting Empire.

In the imperial palace of the Eternal Day Empire, beneath the holy dome, golden and ivory-carved pillars support the majestic halls, while the murals on the dome depict the magnificent scene of the God of Holy Light descending divine punishment and cleansing heretics.

Each piece of stained glass is inlaid with mithril runes, reflecting a dazzling holy glow in the sunlight.

Royal knights clad in silver armor stood solemnly on either side, their armor flowing with mysterious energy, like guardians of a divine kingdom. In a side hall, Prince Maurice placed one hand on his chest and bowed deeply to Charles on the throne: "Your Majesty, I will do my utmost to complete the task you have entrusted to this old minister."

Charles toyed with the holy light gem at the top of his scepter and said calmly, "Remember, the matter of missionary work is the Pope's will. I am merely the messenger. If the Emperor of Tian Ce is displeased..."

Charles stopped there.

Morris understood immediately: "This old minister understands; the conflict should naturally be directed at the Holy See."

This is a typical example of shifting the blame. Charles didn't want to offend Li Chen at this time, otherwise, the pressure on him would be too great.

It is also a game between major powers, and an undercurrent of turmoil within those powers.

Chief Justice Albert emerged from the shadows, his robes embroidered with gold thread that concealed a defensive array: "His Highness the Prince represents the face of the Empire; he must neither be obsequious nor offend His Majesty."

“Of course.” Morris stroked his white beard, and the thorn pattern embroidered on his cuffs shimmered faintly—a protective magic rune unique to members of the royal family.

Three days later, the delegation, consisting of twelve gilded carriages, departed from the capital. Each carriage was engraved with the holy emblem of the Eternal Day Empire, and the horses pulling the carriages were rare unicorn hybrids, pure white with gleaming hooves.

When they passed through the first small country, the Duchy of Lorraine, the king had already led his civil and military officials to kneel on both sides of the official road, with a scarlet carpet laid out behind them, and a band playing a welcoming tune.

"His Highness's arrival is a great honor for Lorraine!" the king shouted, his forehead pressed to the ground, his posture extremely humble.

However, Maurice didn't even slow down, let alone get out of the carriage. He didn't even draw the curtains. The wheels rolled over the red carpet, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The king's face stiffened, but he dared not raise his head and could only watch helplessly as the delegation departed.

"Your Majesty, what should we do?" the minister beside him asked cautiously.

The Prince of Yongzhou showed no respect for the King, especially in front of all the civil and military officials, leaving the ministers at a loss for what to do.

"Shut up!" the king hissed, veins bulging on his forehead, but he dared not retaliate, only managing a stiff smile. "The Eternal Day Empire is indeed unparalleled in its majesty!"

As Maurice's delegation traveled north, when they passed through the Kingdom of Carson, the king even personally rode after the caravan, attempting to present the kingdom's most precious star gem as a gift.

"Your Highness! Please wait a moment!" King Carson, panting, blocked the way for the caravan, holding the jewels in his hands with a fawning expression.

However, Maurice's coachman merely glanced at him coldly, cracked his whip, and the carriage simply swerved around him.

King Carson's smile froze, his hands trembled slightly, but he could only suppress his anger and mutter in a low voice, "Yes...it was my presumption."

Upon seeing this, the accompanying Yongzhou officials whispered their admiration: "His Highness is indeed majestic. Do these rulers of small countries even dare to block our way?"

"Yes, a mere vassal dares to dream of attaching itself to the empire?"

Those familiar with Maurice know that this old prince, even within the Eternal Day Empire, only gives face to the Pope and the Emperor.

He held a very high position, being a key minister of the state and a veteran of three reigns.

Most importantly, Maurice was a very cold person, and few people had ever seen him smile.

It was mostly just polite conversation and silence.

However, he was able to do things in a way that made emperors throughout history very confident, which was the reason why Charles chose him to go to Tian Ce.

Morris was a bodyguard; to put it bluntly, aside from the Papacy, he was second only to the Papacy.

If someone of his rank goes to Tian Ce in person, you, Li Chen, can't just say you weren't in the capital, can you?
Finally, the delegation arrived at the border of Tian Ce.

As the mission drew closer, the accompanying officials began to grow nervous.

(End of this chapter)