Stop it, Taoist, Your Fight almost Ruins the DAO!

For a moment, he seemed to see his father king's head morph into the shape of an azure dragon, with golden whiskers dancing as it emitted a heaven-shaking roar towards the sky.

Such a vision filled King Jing with inexplicable terror, and he couldn't help but speculate about the realm to which his father had cultivated.

Just as he was about to be overwhelmed, the Millennium Emperor, seated atop the grand hall, spoke, and the immense pressure melted away like ice and snow in an instant.

"Elder son, you're already four hundred and seventy-two years old this year, aren't you?" the Millennium Emperor said to King Jing with a smile.

"Indeed, Father's words are absolutely accurate."

Looking at the smiling Millennium Emperor, King Jing could not recall the last time his father had smiled at him; he felt a moment of trepidation, mixed with a touch of sadness.

In recent years, he had been walking on thin ice, living a life of exhaustion.

"Ying Jing, Ying Jing, these years must have been very hard for you. You've been King Jing for four hundred years, and your cultivation is by no means lacking. Now, you've even reached the mid-stage of cutting Dao, over these years, have you resented your father for not appointing you as Crown Prince?"

"I used to resent you, but over these past hundred years or so, Ying Jing has been through a lot and no longer resents Father. In fact, Ying Jing respects Father even more than before!"

"Being a prince is difficult, but being a father is harder. In Great Qin, fierce officials fill the court, sects watch us like tigers, and each family insists on its own course. Father has to strategize and also has to keep up with cultivation. Father is truly the hardest-working person in Great Qin!"

Ying Jing looked at the familiar yet strange face of the Millennium Emperor, his voice growing slightly emotional.

"Flattery will get you nowhere, but if one day you become Emperor and I abdicate or even leave, what do you plan to do with Martial King?"

King Jing was silent for a long while before answering, "Place him under house arrest, deprive him of his True Monarch realm, forbid him from leaving his residence for life to re-cultivate; anyone who violates this order will be executed!"

The Millennium Emperor listened with an indifferent expression as that immense pressure once again enveloped King Jing:

"Ying Jing, do you know why your father has never appointed you as Crown Prince? You are not like me. Throughout my journey, Prime Minister Lu has offered me a great deal of help. Later, when he and your father no longer shared one heart, he died."

"There's also your uncle the former Left Minister, who competed with your father for the throne. Shortly after your father ascended the throne, he bestowed death upon him. Ying Jing, with your womanly mercy, how can you bear the weight of the Emperor's throne, the heavy burden of our state?"

"Ying Jing, I'm so disappointed in you. Martial King is like me, but unfortunately, he lacks ability and discernment. Your father can give you one more chance. If you were to ascend the throne, how would you deal with Martial King? Answer me once more!"

The Millennium Emperor's thunderous roar echoed in the grand hall, like the wrath of an azure dragon!

Beads of sweat seeped from King Jing's forehead. With his expression unchanged and his teeth gritted, he spoke, "There's no need to consider, Father. I am the King of Great Qin, and I would rather die than waver. I am not Father's shadow. If one day I become Emperor, this remains my last answer!"

As his words rang out, the immense pressure within the hall dissipated at once, and a wild laugh swept through the room.

"Hahaha, Ying Jing, you are like me, Martial King is not. All these years, your unwavering determination has indeed sharpened you. The knife that is Martial King has truly honed you."

"What Great Qin needs is not a second Millennium Emperor, but a new era pioneered by you, Ying Jing!"

"From today forth, you are the Crown Prince of Great Qin. Go with my gold token to the Great Qin Imperial Dragon Vault and retrieve the Vermilion Bird Divine Armor from Elder Baili. As the Crown Prince, you are too weak at present!"

"Moreover, starting today, you may cultivate at the Heavenly Dome Nine Dragons Tower for as long as you wish. No matter how much gold essence is consumed, Great Qin can afford it. This will greatly benefit your future steps into the Dao Mastery Realm."

"Lastly, your coronation celebration will be in three days. Your father plans to hold a grand feast for all. Invite that Hidden Dragon friend of yours who is on good terms with you to come as well, and have him seated in the front row. Thanks to him, your father has also earned quite a bundle."

"Just like you!"

Having said this, the Millennium Emperor winked slyly, his eyes brimming with cunning, a stark contrast to his previous solemn expression, causing King Jing to feel as if everything was somewhat surreal.

….

….

"My lady, one shouldn't leave a conversation half-finished. What is this good news? Speak quickly!"

Inside the Jing Bamboo Heaven, Yi Chen could no longer sit still upon hearing the news from Qin Qingyun. Damn riddle-makers!

He detested two kinds of people the most: one was those who kept others in suspense, and the other was those who disliked it when he did the same.

Upon hearing this, he immediately dropped his fishing rod and pulled Qin Qingyun to find King Jing's wife.

"Since Daoist insists, I shall tell you. In five more days, Daoist will be able to see the Qilin Treasure Boots. My husband has indeed paid a considerable price to acquire them," said King Jing's wife, covering her mouth with a chuckle, "but don't tell anyone it was I who told you."