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

Chapter 543 You want to use me as a pawn? But you'll pay the price! (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

The two of them played a game of cat and mouse, one pretending not to know the other's little scheme, and the other suppressing his inner anxiety.

The incense smoke rose gently from the hall, casting a hazy veil over the undercurrents of their conversation.

Finally, as Maurice took his leave, Li Chen said meaningfully, "Please give my regards to the Pope. I will visit him personally when I have the opportunity."

Morris's departing figure stiffened slightly, but he quickly recovered.

As he walked out of the palace gates, gazing at the majestic imperial city of Tiance, he sighed inwardly: This young emperor is even more difficult to deal with than he had imagined.

As expected of the emperor of a superpower, he's no pushover.

In the imperial study, the scent of sandalwood wafts through the air.

Li Chen sat alone before the dragon-shaped desk, the gold-embossed envelope lying quietly before him, the Holy Cross emblem gleaming faintly in the candlelight.

Some time ago, the Pope of the Eternal Day Empire sent an envoy named Morris to propose the establishment of churches and the propagation of his doctrines within the territory of Tian Ce.

At the time, Li Chen did not directly refuse, but wrote a reply, which was polite in wording but contained a sharp edge:

[Your Holiness the Pope: Regarding the matter of missionary work, I need to consider it carefully. Furthermore, I have heard that your church has predicted an impending natural disaster; what is the basis for this prediction?]

The Pope's reply is now right before our eyes.

Li Chen opened the envelope, and a pure wave of holy power immediately spread out.

The Pope's handwriting on the letter was neat and solemn:

[Your Majesty, Emperor Tian Ce: The prophecies of natural disasters are too numerous to be fully described in words. If Your Majesty has the time, I sincerely invite you to visit the Papal Palace to see the amethyst barrier bestowed by the Divine Brightness. This object can reveal fragments of the future, at which time all will be clear.]

Upon reading this, Li Chen raised an eyebrow slightly.

He remembered that ancient books recorded that the amethyst barrier was the most precious treasure of the Eternal Day Church, and legend had it that it could reveal future calamities.

It was through this item that successive popes were able to prepare for impending disasters.

"Predicting the future?" Li Chen scoffed and continued reading.

[Enclosed is a Papal token, which grants you unimpeded access. We await Your Majesty's arrival. May the light be with you.]

Sure enough, a purple crystal token slipped out of the envelope. It felt warm to the touch, and there seemed to be flowing light inside.

Li Chen fiddled with the token, his thoughts drifting away.

He recently consulted a large number of ancient books and gained a deeper understanding of the so-called "superior race".

The immortals reside in the Nine Heavens, the gods dwell in the sacred realm, and the demons occupy the hell.

According to ancient records, after ascending to heaven, humans can join one of the three major races, which also make them a superior race.

Li Chen scoffed at this. As the Human Emperor, he always believed that the human race was the strongest race in the world, and these three races were merely derivatives of the human race.

If this were ancient times, when the immortals, demons, and gods were still here, Li Chen's remarks would definitely have been burned.

But then again, Li Chen felt that in ancient times, with his abilities, it was uncertain who would burn whom.

Just as Li Chen was preparing to head south, there was someone else who was also preparing to head south: Tuoba Zhen, the Khan of the Snow Eagle Kingdom, whom Li Chen had defeated not long after he ascended the throne.

After the defeat at the Battle of Holy Mountain City, Tuoba Zhen originally planned to retreat to the Great Snow Mountain, since the place was extremely cold and the Tian Ce warhorses could hardly move an inch.

Even if soldiers manage to get inside, their combat effectiveness will be greatly reduced.

It has always been a natural barrier for the northern tribes.

But who knew that there were many traitors among the northern tribes this time? Many of them betrayed Tuoba Zhen and even managed to capture the cities in the Great Snow Mountain. Tuoba Zhen had no choice but to seek refuge with the Great Luo Dynasty further north.

The Great Luo Dynasty, this mysterious kingdom covered in ice and snow all year round, is like a white behemoth lurking deep in the northern border.

The majestic snow-capped mountains act like natural walls, isolating this land from the outside world.

The beasts here are enormous with thick fur, capable of surviving in sub-zero temperatures; the soldiers are all burly and strong, fighting in the icy wilderness as if on flat ground.

However, this vast land has a fatal weakness: its sparse population.

Although rich mineral deposits lie beneath the snow-covered landscape, the harsh climate makes farming exceptionally difficult. Therefore, when Tuoba Zhen led his remaining forces to seek refuge, Emperor Luo Hou of the Great Luo Dynasty, though wary, had no choice but to accept this new force.

The reason is simple: if he doesn't accept it, Tuoba Zhen has no way out and will have to fight to the death.

"Your subject Tuoba Zhen is willing to serve the Great Luo Emperor with utmost loyalty!" Inside the golden tent, the once arrogant Snow Eagle Khan knelt on one knee, his forehead almost touching the cold ground.

His personal guards also knelt on the ground, their posture extremely humble.

Rahu sat high on his throne, which was inlaid with ice crystals, looking down at the man who had once been his equal.

The emperor of Daluo was tall with white hair and beard, and his eagle eyes were sharp as knives: "Tuoba Khan, please rise. Since you have submitted to my Daluo, I will naturally not treat you unfairly."

Thus, Tuoba Zhen was appointed as the Northern Border General, leading his troops to guard the frontier.

On the surface, Rahu treated him with great courtesy, not only bestowing upon him a luxurious mansion and beautiful women, but also frequently hosting banquets to entertain him.

But in reality, this shrewd and calculating emperor never let his guard down.

"Your Majesty, why not just eliminate Tuoba Zhen?" the Grand Chancellor asked in a low voice in the Imperial Study.

Luo Hou sneered, picked up the ice jade wine cup and took a sip: "Killing him is easy, but those Snow Eagle tribe warriors are not so easy to subdue. It's better to let him gnaw on those tough nuts."

In fact, killing Tuoba was not easy, and Luo Hou knew this too.

Therefore, Tuoba Zhen was sent to conquer the surrounding tribes that refused to submit.

Every time he went to war, his troops would be assigned to the most dangerous battlefields.

But this ruthless man remained patient and shrewd, always completing his missions perfectly, even deliberately injuring himself to show his loyalty.

In the dead of night, Tuoba Zhen was alone in a secret room in the general's mansion, sketching on a map of the northern border.

In the candlelight, the scars on his face looked particularly ferocious: "Old man Rahu, you want to use me as a pawn? But you'll have to pay the price."

He secretly bribed the soldiers of the Great Luo Kingdom to create friction on the border.

Today they'll rob a few cartloads of grain, tomorrow they'll clash with the Tian Ce soldiers.

These "accidents" were carefully orchestrated as personal feuds between soldiers from both countries, gradually escalating into border tensions.

What's even more interesting is that these conflicts all occurred in the defense zones of other generals.

Tuoba Zhen's own residence was peaceful and quiet; he didn't even meddle in other people's business, acting as if he were "honest and law-abiding."

When the Tiance Dynasty appointed Han Wu to lead the northern army, Tuoba Zhen knew that his opportunity had arrived.

He knew Li Chen well; that young and impetuous Li Chen would definitely not stand this kind of attitude.

You, Luo Hou, are so tolerant, thinking it's a trivial matter, but Li Chen might just decide to beat you up.

When Li Chen is chasing you and beating you up, you'll definitely need my help. That's when I can start negotiating.

The current Tuoba Zhen is acting like a dog, a loyal dog.

Inside the general's mansion, Tuoba Zhen had to deal with the beauties bestowed upon him by Luo Hou every night.

These women were all incredibly beautiful; some were skilled in singing and dancing, while others were experts in massage.

But Tuoba Zhen knew perfectly well that they were all Luo Hou's spies.

In this daily disguise, Tuoba Zhen gradually wove his own web of revenge.

He dreamed that one day he would not only reclaim the territory of the Snow Eagle Royal Court, but also annex the Great Luo and the Heavenly Strategy, becoming the emperor with the largest territory on this continent.

Having just finished acting with the beauty, Tuoba Zhen looked towards the distant south.

He didn't know how his mother was doing now, or about his beloved concubines whom he kept in the Holy Mountain City.

Tuoba Zhen could rest assured about this, because every time intelligence came from the north, Li Chen would go to Tuoba Zhen's mother and his concubines for in-depth discussions.

(End of this chapter)