"Good for nothing, ruining everything."
Watching Wu Yuan leave, Yao Wuchen spoke with the frustration of one who hated iron for not becoming steel. Afterward, Yao Wuchen quickly left the Son of Heaven Hall.
The Imperial Palace dungeon.
"Zhao Wuji, I'll give you one last chance to submit to my Medicine King Valley. Otherwise, I'll slaughter every last descendant of your Zhao clan."
Although Yao Wuchen had taken control of the entire Imperial City, the Xiling Empire was vast, and there were still feudal lords of every size throughout its lands.
If Yao Wuchen had been a descendant of the Zhao imperial family, then even if he had murdered his father and seized the throne, as long as the Zhao imperial family's old ancestors did not step forward, those feudal lords might not rebel.
But Yao Wuchen was not a descendant of the Zhao imperial family at all. If this news were made public, the feudal lords across the land would certainly rebel. There was a great chance they would each proclaim themselves king.
Although Medicine King Valley had experts capable of suppressing those feudal lords, the entire Xiling Empire would descend into chaos, and other empires would take advantage of the opening to invade.
Neither outcome was something Yao Wuchen wanted to see. If he had not wanted Zhao Wuji to submit, Yao Wuchen would have already slaughtered him.
"Yao Wuchen, don't even think about it."
"Even if I die, I will never submit to you. So what if you control the Imperial City? Once the feudal lords everywhere learn of this, do you think your Medicine King Valley can still sit securely on this throne?"
"Is that so?"
"I have long been thinking of Zhao Shanshan and Zhao Yingying. The Medicine Attendants have just sent word that both of them have already been captured."
"Tell me, what would it feel like if I played with them before every member of your Zhao clan?"
"And after I am done playing with them, I'll hand them over to the Medicine Attendants. How many days do you think the two of them can endure?"
Having lurked in the Imperial Palace for so many years, Yao Wuchen had long known that Zhao Wuji's most beloved children were not any of the princes, but the two princesses, Zhao Shanshan and Zhao Yingying.
Otherwise, Zhao Wuji would not previously have ordered the Spirit Guards to risk their lives to send the two of them away. Using Zhao Shanshan and Zhao Yingying to threaten Zhao Wuji would certainly work.
"Yao Wuchen, your Medicine King Valley will surely die a horrible death!"
Sure enough, after hearing Yao Wuchen's words, Zhao Wuji's face flushed red with rage. He wished he could eat Yao Wuchen's flesh alive, but unfortunately, his cultivation had already been sealed by Medicine King Valley's old ancestor.
"Ha ha ha...!"
"Zhao Wuji, you need not trouble yourself over that. If you refuse, then once the two of them are brought back, it will be too late even if you agree."
"I can promise you this: as long as the four of you submit to my Medicine King Valley and allow us to plant a Master-Servant Contract, and you announce to the world that you are passing the throne to me, I guarantee I will not touch a single member of your Zhao clan."
"I'll give you the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Think it over carefully."
In truth, Yao Wuchen was helpless as well. If that old fellow Wu Yuan had not been so careless, he would not have needed to resort to such a desperate measure.
Now, the only option was to enslave Zhao Wuji and the other three. That way, even if Zhao Shanshan and Zhao Yingying were rescued, he would still have the four of them as bargaining chips.
Moreover, as long as Zhao Wuji passed the throne to him, he could do many things openly and legitimately.
At this moment, Zhao Wuji could only glare fixedly at Yao Wuchen. He blamed himself for being careless back then and for not having the Spirit Guards continue their investigation.
Otherwise, none of this would have happened. But it was too late to say anything now. If he did not agree to Yao Wuchen's proposal, he knew Yao Wuchen would certainly do as he said.
"Zhao Wuji, the time for a cup of tea has passed. Have you made up your mind?"
"How am I supposed to believe you? If I submit to your Medicine King Valley and you go back on your word afterward, there will be nothing I can do to you."
"You can rest assured about that. As long as the four of you allow me to plant the contract, I can swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao that I will never harm any member of your Zhao clan."
Yao Wuchen was overjoyed inside. Zhao Wuji would ultimately have to agree to his demands. He had already begun fantasizing about the future.
As for not killing a single member of the Zhao clan, that was nothing more than a joke. He might not kill them himself, but if others did, there would be nothing he could do about it.
"I want to see my two daughters first. Before I can confirm that they are safe, I will not submit to you."
"You...!"
Yao Wuchen nearly choked with anger. See them, my ass.
If he had captured those two, would he still need to come here and threaten Zhao Wuji? But he could not say that outright!
"Zhao Wuji, I have already agreed to swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao. Do you still not trust me?"
"Ha ha ha... Ha ha ha...!"
"Yao Wuchen, you never captured my daughters at all, did you? Otherwise, I only asked to see them once. Why would you refuse?"
As the emperor of the Xiling Empire, Zhao Wuji was himself an old fox. Earlier, he had merely been too worried about Zhao Shanshan and Zhao Yingying.
Now that he saw Yao Wuchen's reaction, Zhao Wuji guessed that he had definitely not captured his daughters. Otherwise, he had merely wanted to confirm that they were safe, and Yao Wuchen should not have refused.
The only explanation was that Yao Wuchen had not captured his daughters at all.
As long as his daughters had not been captured, then even if they could not invite Senior to rescue them, nothing would happen to them.
Moreover, as long as the two of them escaped, what happened here would surely reach the ears of the feudal lords. No matter what intentions those feudal lords harbored, Yao Wuchen would certainly not have an easy time of it.
Bang!
Yao Wuchen suddenly struck, sending Zhao Wuji flying with a palm strike. With his cultivation sealed, Zhao Wuji immediately spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Yao Wuchen, if you have the guts, then kill me!"
Zhao Wuji paid no heed to his injured body. Looking at the Yao Wuchen who had flown into a rage from humiliation, he became even more certain of his guess.
Yao Wuchen had not captured his two daughters at all. He had merely come to swindle him. Fortunately, he had not agreed to Yao Wuchen's demands.
"Zhao Wuji, don't celebrate too soon. Capturing those two is only a matter of time. When that happens, there will come a day when you kneel and beg me."
After saying this, Yao Wuchen left. Since Zhao Wuji's path was blocked, he could only rely on the sect.
Meanwhile, after Wu Yuan followed Yao Wuchen's orders to place the entire Imperial City under martial law, he also sent Yao Wuchen's message back to Medicine King Valley.
After receiving the transmission, Medicine King Valley's sect master, Yao Tianxing, knew that something major must have happened. He hurried to see Medicine King Valley's old ancestor.
Although Medicine King Valley was still a Second-grade sect, because it primarily consisted of alchemists, it ranked among the top three of the ten great Second-grade sects.
Not only that, Medicine King Valley was also the wealthiest sect. Eighty percent of all medicinal pills within the Xiling Empire came from Medicine King Valley.
Furthermore, Medicine King Valley had the most connections. Essentially, sects large and small throughout the Xiling Empire owed Medicine King Valley favors.
That was because many high-grade medicinal pills could only be refined by Medicine King Valley's alchemists. Naturally, many great experts came seeking medicine.