Soaring Dragon Empire's Recruitment

Chapter 22: The Soaring Dragon Empire's Recruitment

Qin Shiyue suppressed her emotions and sighed, "Hearing about this, your sister is also very sad. However, my matter is quite important, and I hope my sister can listen carefully as I explain..."

Ji Hongxue had no way to refuse, so she nodded.

The two began to take their seats.

Only then did An Bulang take the opportunity to size up the Grand Princess of the Soaring Dragon Empire.

She wore a white goose-down, one-piece mini-dress that accentuated her good figure. Her fair, tender, long legs were pressed together in the same direction, reflecting a faint sheen under the firelight. Her hair was tied up, adorned with a Jade Hairpin that gleamed with golden light. She had a prominent nose, delicate features, and a slender neck with a beautiful curve. When looking at Ji Hongxue, her eyes naturally exuded the arrogance and nobility of someone accustomed to looking down on others.

If Ji Hongxue's arrogance was feigned, then Qin Shiyue's arrogance was natural.

Her looks were decent, An Bulang silently awarded her two points in his mind.

Qin Shiyue first exchanged pleasantries with Ji Hongxue, not saying anything important. Instead, she suddenly turned her gaze to An Bulang beside Ji Hongxue, "Oh, this young man, why aren't you sitting?"

She flashed a friendly and gentle smile, "If you don't have a seat, you can certainly sit over here with your sister."

The woman sat upright, her tightly pressed snow-white legs unconsciously shifted slightly, as if revealing a hint of spring scenery. She seemed to trust someone completely, not caring about such matters.

"No, thank you. I just finished eating, and sitting would be bad for digestion," An Bulang replied clearly, politely declining.

Qin Shiyue chuckled, "That's fine. I heard earlier that Ji Hongxue had a genius cultivator by her side named An Bulang. You must be him. Seeing you today, you truly are a handsome and distinguished young man."

"Is there more?" An Bulang asked.

Qin Shiyue's expression faltered, "Huh? What?"

"About your compliments, are there any more?" An Bulang inquired.

Qin Shiyue: "..."

Is he really this shameless?

"Sister Shiyue, if you have something to say, please just say it directly. I'm quite busy," Ji Hongxue said, already a little impatient.

Qin Shiyue smiled softly, "My Soaring Dragon Empire is currently in need of talented individuals. Hearing that my sister Hongxue has a rare talent by her side, I came here to ask if sister Hongxue could bear to part with him..."

As she spoke, her beautiful eyes fell upon An Bulang.

Ji Hongxue was taken aback. She had initially thought the other party had come for her, but she hadn't expected them to want to poach An Bulang!

An Bulang pointed at himself, "You want me?"

Qin Shiyue smiled and nodded.

"How dare you! Trying to poach someone right under my nose?" Ji Hongxue's pretty face turned red, and she stood up angrily.

Qin Shiyue remained unhurried and confident, "This is fair competition. Ultimately, it still depends on Young Master An Bulang's wishes, doesn't it?"

Ji Hongxue was momentarily speechless, then her eyes dimmed slightly.

As Qin Shiyue had said, whether An Bulang stayed or left was not something she could decide. She and An Bulang had no clear relationship.

Seeing Ji Hongxue's reaction, Qin Shiyue's lips curved upwards slightly. She then looked at An Bulang and said, "Fellow Daoist An Bulang, you must surely understand the current situation. My Soaring Dragon Empire is determined to acquire the Azure Kingdom; no one can stop us. You really don't need to hang yourself on one tree."

An Bulang was not surprised that Qin Shiyue called him Fellow Daoist.

Qin Shiyue was also a cultivator, and a cultivator at the Profound Body Eighth Layer at that. Her strength was considered extremely formidable throughout the entire Azure Kingdom.

"I know you've hidden your cultivation. Being able to kill an elder of the Other Shore Pavilion, no matter how you did it, you are truly remarkable," Qin Shiyue stood up and walked in front of An Bulang, a calm smile on her face. "Therefore, you should also be a wise person and understand how to choose."

An Bulang nodded, indicating that her compliment was well-received.

"A person should strive for higher ground, and cultivators even more so," Qin Shiyue's face gradually showed a hint of pride. "Take the Azure Kingdom, for example. With its three million square li of territory, it's considered the largest among the surrounding kingdoms. You must surely feel this country is vast, right?"

"Very small," An Bulang replied.

"Uh!" Qin Shiyue paused.

She took a deep breath and continued, "However, the Soaring Dragon Empire spans tens of millions of square li. It has incomparably prosperous cities, cultivation sects that have developed to an extremely brilliant level, and even cultivators in the Heavenly Origin Realm residing there. If you stay in the Azure Kingdom, you'll only see a lake, but in the Soaring Dragon Empire, you'll see the true ocean. That is where you belong!"

Qin Shiyue gazed at An Bulang, her eyes filled with increasing pride and sharpness. "The imperial family of the Soaring Dragon Empire is powerful beyond your imagination. Therefore, don't let the affairs of a mere small country hinder your great future. Submitting to the imperial family of my Soaring Dragon Empire is the right path. I can provide you with unimaginable resources. What Ji Hongxue can give you, my Soaring Dragon Empire can give you ten, a hundred times over!"

With every word Qin Shiyue spoke, Ji Hongxue's face grew paler.

"Pfft..." An Bulang couldn't hold back any longer and burst out laughing.

Qin Shiyue blinked in surprise, "What are you laughing at?"

An Bulang looked at the woman before him, whose eyes held pride, and said with a smile, "Do you know what you look like to me right now?"

Qin Shiyue: "Like what?"

An Bulang shook his head, "Like a frog stuck in a well, constantly bragging to a roc soaring through the nine heavens about how big and vast its well is, and how much bigger it is than the well of the little frog next door."

Ji Hongxue looked on in shock.

Qin Shiyue's entire face sank. The friendly smile from before vanished, and she said coldly, "What do you mean by that?"

An Bulang did not answer. He silently pushed open the door to the reception hall and looked up at the starry sky.

Qin Shiyue watched An Bulang's back, waiting for his explanation.

"The roc doesn't wish to speak and has given the frog its back," An Bulang's voice suddenly echoed.

Ji Hongxue: "..."

Qin Shiyue: "???"

The air suddenly fell silent.

Boom!

An extremely potent killing intent erupted.

Qin Shiyue's veins bulged, her anger almost uncontrollable as she clenched her fists. "An! Bu! Lang! You called me a frog?"

In her entire life, no one had ever dared to belittle her so much.

An Bulang sighed, too lazy to argue. He said directly, "You can leave now. I refuse your invitation."

"Fine! Very fine!" Qin Shiyue took a deep breath, her eyes turning icy cold. "You don't even respect my Soaring Dragon Empire... I've seen many geniuses, but this is the first time I've met someone as arrogant and ignorant as you."

Qin Shiyue strode out with her long legs, passing An Bulang and exiting the door. "Ignorance breeds fearlessness. I already gave you a chance to live, and you threw it away. You will soon see what happens when you stand in the way of the Soaring Dragon Empire."

With that, the Grand Princess of the Soaring Dragon Empire proudly floated away, not bothering to say another word.

"An Bulang..."

From behind, a call filled with complex emotions suddenly came.

An Bulang turned around and saw the woman quietly gazing at him, her red lips pursed, her eyes seeming to still hold a watery depth.

An Bulang moved his feet, instantly appearing before Ji Hongxue. He wrapped an arm around her slender waist, leaning his face closer, able to even catch a whiff of her subtle, refreshing fragrance. "Hm? Looking at me so intently, do you want to do something?"