Chapter 365: 210, Enter Crane Emblem Country, Kill Golden Jiao (8k6 Big Chapter)_3
"What?"
"He is a Dao Pill Daoist?"
As the words fell, the gossiping officials near the Imperial Chariot were suddenly dumbfounded.
In the Crane Emblem Country, there was only one Dao Pill Daoist, a House Elder dispatched by the Starfall Sect to be stationed here.
A True Monarch, even within the Starfall Sect, was a major figure.
"We were too talkative and discussed a True Monarch without permission; please, True Monarch, do not blame us..." The officials who had just been gossiping all fell to their knees, pleading for forgiveness.
True Monarchs and Dao Lords were even more honorable than the Emperor. This was a statute written into the laws of the Crane Emblem Country, listed as the very first article.
Discussing True Monarchs without permission... In severe cases, offenders would be subjected to waist-chopping in the streets or dismemberment by five horses.
"It’s a trivial matter," Xu Xing said, shaking his head to comfort these officials. "None of you need to trouble yourselves over it."
Gossiping was human nature; no one could escape it. These officials also knew discretion; they hadn’t spoken in his presence, only gossiped behind his back. He wasn’t so petty.
"Thank you, Lord Xu, for pardoning our transgressions." The kneeling officials showed gratitude on their faces, bowing deeply to Xu Xing.
At this moment, they also understood. They understood why Wu Miao willingly humbled herself before Xu Xing.
Status and identity, in the face of absolute power, were worthless.
Moreover, one could tell with half a thought that this Lord Xu’s background was certainly extraordinary. Otherwise, he couldn’t possibly be just a True lineage disciple.
The Fire Phoenix Monster could travel thousands of miles a day.
Although the distance from the Welcoming Dust Station to Crane Capital, the capital of the Crane Emblem Country, was about 4,800 miles...
But with the Fire Phoenix Monster pulling the Imperial Chariot, in less than three hours, Xu Xing and Wu Miao arrived at the Crane Capital and met Wu Tianchen, the Emperor of Crane Emblem Nation.
"For my Royal Sister to find such a gem of talent as Lord Xu is a blessing for her and a blessing for the Crane Emblem Country..."
Wu Tianchen was dressed as a middle-aged scholar, with greying temples, a face full of wrinkles, and bloodshot eyes. He clearly had the body of a mortal, having only taken some Evading Dust Pills and practiced some rudimentary Qi Refinement techniques. When he first saw Xu Xing, he initially showed displeasure. However, upon learning of Xu Xing’s Cultivation, his attitude changed instantly, and his speech became much more deferential.
"I am now an Exiled Disciple of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace. Coming to the Crane Emblem Country might bring trouble to it..." Xu Xing stated his identity from the Flying Feather Immortal Palace.
He didn’t need to conceal his identity too much in the North Wilderness. With his strength, combined with the few Talisman Treasures left to him by the Giant Sword Daoist Monarch, he could deal with ordinary Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivators with power to spare and retreat unscathed. A First-Rate Dao Pill from a major sect’s True lineage was not something an ordinary cultivator could compare to.
Besides, even if Wu Tianchen knew his identity, he wouldn’t dare speak out of turn. After all, Wu Tianchen and Wu Miao were blood relatives. If Wu Tianchen were to leak his identity and implicate Wu Miao, the Crane Emblem Country would also suffer collateral damage...
"This... is a small matter. The Flying Feather Immortal Palace’s Power is in the Wangchuan Sea, and our Crane Emblem Country is in the North Wilderness. The Flying Feather Immortal Palace wouldn’t go so far as to launch a major offensive over this..." Upon hearing this, Wu Tianchen’s smile faded considerably. However, he managed to smooth things over, avoiding a loss of composure in the throne room.
"Given Lord Xu’s status, a figure of national importance, and a True lineage disciple of a major sect..." he muttered to himself, seemingly making a decision.
Mortal World marriage vows were different from the vows of dao spouses. Otherwise, the Flying Feather Immortal Palace wouldn’t have its disciples undergo the Palace Choosing A Son-in-law ceremony upon first entering the Sect. However, since Xu Xing and Wu Miao were both Cultivators, even a Mortal World marriage vow between them would be subconsciously perceived by others as a dao spouse vow.
"Royal Brother..." Wu Miao interjected, cutting off Wu Tianchen. "In a few days, I will return to the Sect to inherit the Sect Leader Position. Once I become the Sect Master of the Starfall Sect, it will be very difficult to make dao spouse vows."
One must not let prized assets fall into outsiders’ hands. If Xu Xing were a Disciple of the Starfall Sect and they became dao spouses, the senior elders within the School would have no objections. But... Xu Xing just so happened to be a Flying Feather Immortal Palace Exiled Disciple. At the level of the Crane Emblem Country, Xu Xing’s status as an Exiled Disciple had little impact on her. However, at the level of the Starfall Sect, the relationship with the Ten Major Sects had to be taken into account.
De facto dual cultivation and formally becoming dao spouses—these two were vastly different. Once Xu Xing and Wu Miao signed dao spouse vows and became dao spouses... How would the Flying Feather Immortal Palace, the Mingquan Sect, and other similar Schools view the Starfall Sect?Furthermore, would the Starfall Sect’s foundation be controlled and subsequently usurped by outsiders?
"Very well, I (the Emperor) shall not issue an explicit decree. It is enough that you two have feelings for each other," Wu Tianchen said with a nod.
He understood the implication in Wu Miao’s words.
The matter of an imperial son-in-law only needed his verbal acknowledgement. There was no need to issue an explicit decree, which would only give others leverage.
"Lord Xu’s arrival in our Crane Emblem Country at this time is indeed a fortunate event..." Wu Tianchen skirted the issue of dao spouses. This was his Royal Sister Wu Miao’s affair; too much interference from him would inevitably cause resentment and create distance between them.
So he changed the topic to matters of state for the Crane Emblem Country. "In recent years, a Golden Jiao has emerged in the Eastern Marshes Great Abyss of our Crane Emblem Country. This flood dragon’s hide is tough and its flesh hard, and it can also command its True Life Fire..."
"For some years now, the Crane Emblem Country has maintained a relatively harmonious relationship with it. But a few days ago, a fisherman, while fishing, injured its offspring. Since then, it has stirred up trouble, destroying several of our border cities..."
"This Jiao is like a frog in a well, ignorant of the Immortal Sects’ might. I (the Emperor) had originally intended to have He True Monarch go to the Starfall Sect to request reinforcements and slay this Jiao together."
"But now that Lord Xu has arrived—you are an Upper Sect Teaching True lineage disciple—if you and He True Monarch join forces, you can certainly slay this Jiao," he said slowly.
Xu Xing nodded after hearing this.
If the matter of the Golden Jiao were reported to the Starfall Sect, although the Crane Emblem Country could gain some benefits after its extermination, it was foreseeable that these benefits would not be substantial.