Pingyang Marquis

Green Mountain Town. Because of the previous battle, the bamboo forest had become wasteland. Jia Xingtian and Yun Yun sat cross-legged on the ground, each with two talismans affixed to their bodies. A circular golden seal confined them, while a Golden Bowl floated above their heads, its radiance enveloping them both.

Fa Hai had neither killed them nor said how he intended to deal with them. Nor did he watch over them—though after several attempts to struggle free, Yun Yun already knew that she would likely need seven or eight years to break the confinement Fa Hai had set. Instead, he sat beside the youth sleeping within the pillar of light and protected him. This left her deeply puzzled.

"Who is this person? Fa Hai seems to care deeply about him and even treats him with some respect?" Yun Yun Murmured her doubts.

"I don't know either. I only heard that he is also from the Huaxia Empire and seems to be a noble of the Huaxia Empire." Hearing Yun Yun's words, Jia Xingtian answered with a somewhat troubled expression.

"I never thought that after dominating the Gama Empire for most of my life, I would suffer such a clean defeat today!" Even now, when Jia Xingtian recalled Fa Hai's powerful strike, his heart still trembled.

"Elder Jia, the other party is a Dou Zong expert, and the Dou Techniques and cultivation arts he has learned are far beyond ours. Elder Jia, there is no need to take it too much to heart." Seeing the old man's grief-stricken look, Yun Yun consoled him with shared sorrow.

"This old one understands that, of course. I only wonder what will become of the Gama Empire in the future. Sigh!" The old man was consumed by worry. Outsiders were so powerful—what could his countrymen do?

"This... we can only leave it to fate." Yun Yun wanted to say something, but in the end, it could only become a silent sigh.

"Ah! Ah! That feels so good!" At that moment, the youth within the pillar of light finally opened his eyes and stretched lazily.

Seeing this, Fa Hai rose to his feet. As the pillar of light gradually faded and the youth emerged from it, Fa Hai cupped his hands and bowed. "Amitabha. Young Master, you have overcome your inner demons and broken through your obstacle. This is truly cause for celebration. This poor monk offers his congratulations."

"You flatter me, Grandmaster. I should also thank you for using the Buddhist Sect's supreme art to calm my state of mind." Ye Qiu cupped his hands toward Fa Hai. Though Fa Hai was a follower he had summoned, he still deserved thanks for helping him. He could now sense that although the Dou Qi Within The Body had not grown stronger, it had become more settled and stable, and was smoother to use. At the same time, he had gained some insight into the abilities of the Gravity Fruit.

Name: Ye Qiu

Age: 15

Talent: Six Stars

Realm: Three Star Dou Shi

Cultivation Art: Fire Dragon Art (Earth Rank Low Level)

Weapon: Aluminum Alloy Sword (B-Rank)

Item: Low Level Space Ring

Skills: C-Rank Ninjutsu Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique (Profound Rank Middle Level), C-Rank Ninjutsu Wind Release: Great Breakthrough (Profound Rank Middle Level), One Finger Yang Skill (Profound Rank Low Level), Light Magic: Light of Healing (B-Rank), Gravity Fruit Ability (A-Rank)

Pills: Grade 2 Qi Recovery Pill x8

Myriad Realms Coins: 260

"Hm? Who are they?" Ye Qiu, who had been about to say something else, suddenly noticed Jia Xingtian and Yun Yun being confined by Fa Hai not far away.

His gaze swept over the two of them, lingering especially on Yun Yun for a while. Her full, delicate body was wrapped in a plain dress, her blue-black hair gathered into a noble phoenix-style adornment. With her beautiful, captivating face and curvaceous figure, there is actually such a beauty in this world, Ye Qiu thought to himself.

"Hmph." Seeing Ye Qiu looking her over, Yun Yun could not help but snort angrily. Though it had flashed past in an instant, she had clearly sensed a trace of possessiveness in his gaze.

"Young Master, these two are Jia Xingtian, protector of the imperial family, and Yun Yun, Sect Master of the Yun Lan Sect. Because they obstructed this poor monk from spreading Buddhist Dharma and insulted the Buddha with their words, this poor monk captured them and waited for Young Master's judgment." Seeing Yun Yun act rudely toward Ye Qiu, Fa Hai pointed a finger. A force from One Finger Zen shot forth, directly sealing her vocal cords. He then respectfully addressed Ye Qiu.

"Oh?" Hearing Fa Hai's words, Ye Qiu immediately became interested. These two were major figures in the Gama Empire.

So she is Yun Yun. No wonder she is such a peerless beauty. What a pity that she was delayed by that bastard Xiao Yan in the original story, Ye Qiu sighed inwardly.

"This old one is Jia Xingtian. May I ask what identity you hold, young friend? This old one previously offended Zen Master Fa Hai many times. I hope young friend can put in a good word for me. This old one would be endlessly grateful!" Jia Xingtian had finally figured it out. This youth's status had to be above Fa Hai's, or why else would Fa Hai show him such respect?

"I... This Marquis is Ye Qiu, the Pingyang Marquis personally enfeoffed by the current Xuanyuan Great Emperor of the Huaxia Empire." Ye Qiu had originally intended to simply state his name, but the system suddenly appeared at that moment. Ye Qiu had no choice but to improvise an identity for himself.

"Ding! Main Quest (1): Make the Gama Empire a tributary state of Huaxia, offering tribute every year. Quest Reward: one 300-square-meter Intermediate Space Ring, A-Rank weapon Heavenly Silk Whip, Earth Rank Low Level Dou Technique—Thousand Mile Whip Lightning, A-Rank Ninjutsu Summoning: Rashomon, one B-Rank random Devil Fruit Summoning Card, one B-Rank random Pet Summoning Card, one B-Rank Alchemist Summoning Card, 10,000 Myriad Realms Coins."

"Ding! Weekly Task: Establish diplomatic relations with the Gama Empire in the name of the Huaxia Empire, serving as an ambassador. Time Limit: one month. Task Reward: one random Bloodline Limit Summoning Card from the Naruto World, one random Profound Rank cultivation art draw card from the Dou Qi world, one Profound Rank Dou Technique draw card, 1,000 Myriad Realms Coins."

"Oh? Pingyang Marquis of Huaxia Empire?" Hearing the youth's words, Jia Xingtian could not help looking at him again. The Gama Empire also had noble ranks. A marquis stood only below a prince and a duke. This man held no small status in Huaxia!

Oh heavens, Fa Hai may be powerful, but he is the only person by my side. Now I have to become some resident ambassador? What am I supposed to do? I only have one month! Ye Qiu appeared calm, but inwardly he was anxious. The Profound Rank Dou Techniques and cultivation arts were one thing, but the Bloodline Limit was an incredibly valuable reward. He really did not want to give it up! Besides, if this was handled well, perhaps both tasks could be completed at once. The Weekly Task could be abandoned, but if he did not complete the Main Quest, it would not refresh! Still, he could not push them too hard, or they might be driven to fight to the death.

"Are you a member of the Gama Empire's imperial family?" Ye Qiu's thoughts flashed rapidly before he asked calmly. There was a faint contempt for the Gama Empire in his words, as though it were merely some nouveau riche state.

Seeing Ye Qiu's manner, Jia Xingtian was not angry. After fighting Fa Hai, he had already experienced the gap in strength. This man's status in Huaxia was even higher than Fa Hai's, so it was normal for him to look down on the Gama Empire.

"This old one is. The current unworthy emperor of the Gama Empire is this old one's grandson." Jia Xingtian answered respectfully, then asked, "May I ask if there is anything this old one can do for you, Marquis, now that you have come such a long way from the Huaxia Empire?"

For an imperial family's supreme elder to address a marquis from another country as Marquis, there was truly nothing more to say!

"Oh? So you are the ancestor of the Gama Royal Family. Good, perfect. Old man, would your imperial family be willing to sign this?" Ye Qiu signaled Fa Hai to release Jia Xingtian from his confinement. With Fa Hai present, he did not believe Jia Xingtian could harm him.

At the same time, he spent one Myriad Realms Coin in the system to purchase a diplomatic document, which already bore the so-called imperial seal of the Huaxia Empire.

"This, this is..." Feeling the confinement around him disappear, Jia Xingtian stood up. He carefully accepted the diplomatic document Ye Qiu handed over and slowly opened it. The moment he read it, he was stunned.

It clearly listed a series of arrangements for establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries, including: 1. Allowing the many schools of the Huaxia Empire, including the Buddhist Sect, to freely spread their teachings throughout the Gama Empire.

2. Designating Green Mountain Town, Black Willow Town, Ningwu City, Ningyu City, Anlu City, and Black Rock City—a total of Four Cities and Two Towns—as the residence of the Huaxia Empire's ambassador to the Gama Empire, to be governed by Huaxia's envoy, Pingyang Marquis Ye Qiu. No force in the Gama Empire would have the right to interfere.

3. So long as the Gama Empire did not violate international law, the Huaxia Empire would guarantee the Gama Empire's security.

There were also some unimportant details. These were the three main points.

"This..." Jia Xingtian stared at the contents, his hands tightening unconsciously. He had already given up hope on the first condition when he and Yun Yun were defeated by Fa Hai.

The second condition required ceding territory. Though it was only Four Cities and Two Towns, all of those places were near the Demon Beast Mountain Range and connected together. With one sweep, they would lose one-thirtieth of the Gama Empire's territory.

The third condition was not bad, though. The Huaxia Empire would guarantee the Gama Empire's safety. But what was this international law? Was it a set of laws governing relations between nations? Huaxia had such a thing?

"So, are you willing to sign?" Ye Qiu crossed his arms and asked blandly.

"This... may I ask, Marquis, what does the third clause about not violating international law mean? This old one is ignorant." Seeing the contents, Jia Xingtian understood that while the other party wanted a piece of land within the Gama Empire, they did not intend to destroy the Gama Empire. Therefore, hearing Ye Qiu's question, he gathered his courage and asked.

"The third clause means that as long as the Gama Empire does not stir up trouble or do anything wrong, should any force attempt to harm the Gama Empire, our Huaxia Empire will stand up for the Gama Empire and settle everything." Ye Qiu said calmly, as though protecting the Gama Empire was no big matter at all for Huaxia.

"This..." Jia Xingtian was tempted, yet hesitant. After all, ceding territory was simply too...

"Don't worry. Those cities will still belong to the Gama Empire. It is simply that we, Huaxia, will send people to govern them, much like your feudal princes." Ye Qiu's words were like the final straw pressing down on Jia Xingtian.

"Very well. It is the Gama Empire's honor to receive the Huaxia Empire's regard." Jia Xingtian ultimately chose to sign.

"Good. In three days, Zen Master Fa Hai will hold his first public sermon in Green Mountain Town. We will formally sign and exchange diplomatic documents then. Elder Jia, please make preparations early." Ye Qiu took back the document. Since they had reached an agreement, he spoke to the old man with more respect and addressed him as Elder Jia.

"Yes, this old one understands. Please rest assured, Marquis. May I ask about Sect Master Yun Yun?" Hearing Ye Qiu call him Elder Jia, Jia Xingtian felt both excited and uneasy. Turning back and seeing Yun Yun still confined on the ground, he could not help asking.

"Grandmaster Fa Hai, I'll trouble you," Ye Qiu said.

"Yes, Marquis!" Since Ye Qiu said he was the Pingyang Marquis, Fa Hai addressed him as such.

Fa Hai opened his left hand, and the Golden Bowl floating above Yun Yun's head immediately withdrew its light and returned to Fa Hai's hand.

"Thank you, both of you!" Once the confinement was lifted, Yun Yun stood and cupped her hands toward Ye Qiu and Fa Hai.

"Mhm, no need for courtesy. Elder Jia, please arrange the matters concerning the Four Cities and Two Towns within half a month. For now, we will not interfere with the other cities. We will only use Green Mountain Town as our foundation. However, the Five Cities must still send half the money and supplies from their treasuries here. Green Mountain Town is truly too crude, and I want to renovate it properly in the style of Huaxia." Ye Qiu smiled at Yun Yun before speaking to Jia Xingtian.

"Yes, this old one understands." Jia Xingtian nodded.

"That is for the best. We still have matters to attend to, so we will be leaving first. Farewell." After saying that, Ye Qiu turned and headed toward Green Mountain Town without any hesitation, with Fa Hai following behind him.

"Elder Jia, what were you talking about just now? Why couldn't I understand it? What international law and such?" Only after Ye Qiu and Fa Hai had gone far away did Yun Yun speak up.

"Sigh." Jia Xingtian sighed and recounted what had just happened.

"What? Ceding territory?!" Yun Yun was shocked. They were asking for six cities right away.

"I had no choice. You saw Fa Hai's strength as well. Other than agreeing, did we have any choice? Besides, he promised to protect the Gama Empire. With a Dou Zong present, the Gama Empire can live a little more comfortably." Jia Xingtian said slowly.

"That is true. Sigh." Hearing Jia Xingtian's words, Yun Yun could only nod. This was the consequence of insufficient strength!

"Elder Jia, Sect Master Yun!" At that moment, several figures flew in from the sky. All of them had brilliant wings on their backs, and they were clearly Dou Wang experts.

"Oh? You have come as well!" Jia Xingtian and Yun Yun nodded at the newcomers.

"Elder Jia, Sect Master Yun, what happened here?" A Bald Man among the newcomers asked.

"Sigh, it is a long story..."