Sixth Ancestor, the Boundless Saint Emperor: A Lavish Offer

Martial Saint Peak!

A storm of towering waves surged through Sixth Ancestor's heart.

He had cultivated for more than thirteen hundred years and had met no shortage of Martial Saints.

The Great Yu Dynasty had more than a dozen Ninth-Rank Martial Saints in the open and in secret, but the vast majority were at the Early Martial Saint Stage.

Only four, including him, had reached the Mid Martial Saint Stage. Across the entire Great Yu Dynasty, just two had reached the Late Martial Saint Stage.

And at Martial Saint Peak... there was only the Supreme Ancestor!

That Supreme Ancestor was the true pillar that steadied the Great Yu Dynasty.

He was the ultimate deterrent that kept the surrounding dynasties and demons from making a reckless move!

And now, a Martial Saint Peak stood right before him!

If he could persuade this man to join the Great Yu Dynasty, Great Yu's peak fighting strength would double overnight.

With two Martial Saints at their peak guarding the dynasty, even if one remained in seclusion year-round and the other did nothing but stay within its borders, they would be a tremendous deterrent to demons and rival dynasties alike!

Those forces already itching to make a move would have to weigh their chances first.

Could they withstand the wrath of two Martial Saints at their peak?

What was more, the demon seal was on the verge of collapse, and the pressure on the front line grew heavier by the day.

The Supreme Ancestor and the other Ninth-Rank Martial Saints had to remain stationed at the seal's crucial points year-round and could not move lightly.

If another expert of the same level joined them, whether he helped shoulder the burden or fought alongside them, it would be an immense boon to the Great Yu Dynasty!

Regret filled Sixth Ancestor's heart.

Had he known the Evergreen Saint Venerable was at Martial Saint Peak, he would have brought at least three times as many gifts.

The contents of those ten chests were hardly fit to present to a Martial Saint at his peak.

But it was too late to go back for more.

Sixth Ancestor suppressed his shock, and his gaze toward Lin Changqing grew fervent.

It was as though he had found a rare treasure.

No matter what, he had to win over the Evergreen Saint Venerable today.

He would spare no expense, however extravagant the terms.

Even if he ultimately failed, he could not afford to offend him.

At the very least, he had to forge a bond of goodwill!

Sixth Ancestor took a deep breath and wiped the surprise from his face.

His figure emerged from the void, his white robe stirring gently in the night breeze.

Wearing a kindly smile, he cupped his fists toward Lin Changqing from afar.

"You must be the Evergreen Saint Venerable, whose mighty name has resounded through Green Province of late. I am Su Tianheng, Sixth Ancestor of the Great Yu Dynasty's Su Clan, known as the Boundless Saint Emperor. I hope the Saint Venerable will forgive my unannounced visit today."

His voice was warm, his manner respectful.

He had lowered his posture as far as it would go.

Lin Changqing studied the white-haired elder before him.

Mid-stage Ninth-Rank Martial Saint cultivation, with a steady, restrained aura.

Sixth Ancestor of the Su Clan, one of the Great Yu Dynasty's ancestral pillars.

The man had indeed come all this way to win him over, just as he had expected.

Lin Changqing nodded slightly. With a thought, he withdrew his aura.

The terrifying saintly pressure around him vanished in an instant, and peace returned to the night sky.

"So you are the Boundless Saint Emperor. A guest who has traveled from afar is still a guest. Why would I take offense?"

He gestured in invitation.

"If you don't mind, Boundless Saint Emperor, why not come inside and talk?"

Seeing Lin Changqing's easy manner, Sixth Ancestor breathed a sigh of relief, and his smile broadened.

"How could I refuse the Saint Venerable's invitation?"

The two descended from the sky and entered the rear courtyard of the Prefectural Governor's Mansion, one after the other.

Lin Changqing chose a quiet pavilion. The stone table still held a trace of warmth from the day.

Bamboo groves sheltered it on all sides, and moonlight spilled across the flagstones, lending the place a rare tranquility.

"Please, sit."

"After you."

The two Martial Saints sat across from each other, and for a moment, silence settled between them.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded from the covered walkway.

Ma Yuanzhong came stumbling over, his hat not even on straight.

The clash of those two Martial Saint auras above Green Province City had shaken every roof in the Prefectural Governor's Mansion.

He had thought some great disaster had struck.

But when he reached the rear courtyard, he found two people sitting in the pavilion.

One was the Evergreen Saint Venerable. The other was...

Ma Yuanzhong stopped so abruptly that his eyes nearly popped out.

He recognized the white-haired elder.

Sixth Ancestor of the Great Yu Dynasty's Su Clan, the Boundless Saint Emperor!

Years ago, when he had gone to the capital to report on his duties, he had caught a glimpse of the man from afar.

This was one of the Great Yu Dynasty's own ancestors!

A man who had lived for over a thousand years!

"B-Boundless Saint Ancestor?!"

Ma Yuanzhong's lips trembled violently, and his legs went weak. He nearly dropped to his knees.

He had guessed the imperial court would send someone once it received the news, but never in his wildest dreams had he imagined Sixth Ancestor would come in person.

A Ninth-Rank Martial Saint had come to their door! A dynasty ancestor had personally come to invite him!

The honor was... beyond measure.

Ma Yuanzhong's heart pounded out of control, and his head buzzed.

One was a dynasty ancestor, the other a reclusive Saint Venerable. With two Martial Saints meeting here in the dead of night, they surely had important matters to discuss.

As mere Inspector of Green Province, he was hardly qualified to serve tea at a meeting like this.

No, wait.

Serving tea was the one thing he could do.

Ma Yuanzhong understood at once and hurried off at a trot to brew some.

Before long, he returned to the pavilion carrying two steaming cups of the finest Spirit Tea in the mansion.

"Please enjoy your tea, Saint Venerables."

Ma Yuanzhong set down the cups with utmost respect, then tactfully withdrew a hundred paces from the pavilion.

He made sure he could not hear their conversation but could still see the two Saint Venerables at any moment.

He stood ready to refill their cups.

Sixth Ancestor lifted his cup, took a sip, and set it down with a smile.

"Since emerging into the world, Evergreen Saint Venerable, you have swept through several demon-infested places in Green Province in a matter of days. You have slain countless rampaging demons and saved the people from fire and flood."

"I admire your concern for all living beings beyond words. In my youth, I too was full of spirit and traveled about slaying demons, but compared with you, Saint Venerable... I am truly ashamed of myself."

His words were utterly sincere, his manner humble, without a trace of a dynasty ancestor's airs.

Lin Changqing listened with his cup in hand, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

Then he set the cup down and cut straight in.

"Boundless Saint Emperor, there's no need for pleasantries. You didn't travel all this way in the middle of the night just to praise me, did you?"

"Whatever you have to say, say it plainly."

Sixth Ancestor did not take offense at having his intentions seen through.

Instead, his smile grew more genuine.

"Good. The Evergreen Saint Venerable speaks frankly, so I won't beat around the bush."

He set down his cup, his expression turning solemn.

"I came to invite you, Evergreen Saint Venerable, to join the Great Yu Dynasty as a State-Protecting Venerable."

With that, he swept his wide sleeve through the air.

Ten large chests covered in talisman seals inscribed with spirit patterns appeared out of thin air on the open ground beyond the pavilion, lined up in a row.

Each chest stood half as tall as a man. Their wood looked ancient, and the spirit patterns on their seals glimmered faintly beneath the moonlight.

Sixth Ancestor rose, walked to the chests, and opened them one by one.

Dazzling light burst from each chest the instant its lid opened.

The first chest was filled to the brim with Top-grade Spirit Crystals.

There were at least five hundred thousand of them.

The second held hundreds of thousand-year-old spirit herbs, stacked in neat rows.

Every stalk gave off a rich medicinal fragrance...

Once all ten chests were open, the concentration of spiritual energy in the entire rear courtyard soared severalfold.

Ma Yuanzhong stared from afar, dumbfounded.

Any single item from those chests would be worth more than everything he owned.

"Evergreen Saint Venerable, these are merely gifts to mark our first meeting."

Sixth Ancestor sat down again, his tone sincere beyond measure.

"If you are willing to join the Great Yu Dynasty, I can personally offer the following terms."

He raised one finger.

"First, you will be appointed a State-Protecting Venerable of the Great Yu Dynasty. You will stand equal to an ancestor of the Su Clan, enjoy an exalted position, and need not bow before the sovereign."

A second finger.

"Second, if you wish to enter the court and govern, you may choose any official post, including one of the Three Excellencies. If you have no interest in governing, that is perfectly fine too. The title may be yours in name alone."

A third finger.

"Third, you will be made a prince of a different surname, with a title your descendants will inherit in perpetuity."

"Of Great Yu's Fourteen Provinces and one hundred and twenty-six commanderies, you may choose any province as your fief. Its military affairs, administration, and taxes will be yours to control. The court will never interfere."

A fourth finger.

"Fourth, you will receive an annual stipend of one million five hundred thousand Top-grade Spirit Crystals. That figure is open to further discussion."

A fifth finger.

"Fifth, every Cultivation Technique and martial art in the Imperial Scripture Pavilion will be open to you, apart from the Su Clan's secret arts. You may read and cultivate them as you please, provided you do not pass them on without permission."

A sixth finger.

"Sixth, you will enjoy complete personal freedom and answer to no one's orders."

"You may involve yourself in court affairs if you wish. If you do not, no one can force you. We ask only that you lend your aid should the dynasty face a crisis that threatens its survival."

After laying out the terms, Sixth Ancestor looked intently at Lin Changqing.

"Evergreen Saint Venerable, these six terms are the minimum I have the authority to offer. If there is anything else you want, name it. So long as the Great Yu Dynasty can provide it, I will not haggle."

His eyes were full of hope.

There was even a trace of pleading in them.

If Lin Changqing agreed to join the Great Yu Dynasty, all of this would be worth it!

The value of a Martial Saint at his peak could never be measured in mere worldly possessions!

Lin Changqing held his teacup, his face betraying nothing.

Inwardly, though, he clicked his tongue in wonder.

The Great Yu Dynasty really was willing to pay a staggering price.

Setting the first five terms aside, the sixth alone showed plenty of sincerity.

Complete personal freedom, with no obligation to obey anyone's orders.

Put plainly, they were offering to keep an ancestor in their dynasty who might heed a call for help but would never submit to a summons.

And on top of that, he could choose an entire province as his fief, with full control over its military, administration, and taxes.

That was no different from ruling his own territory like an emperor.

The Great Yu Dynasty truly was willing to spare no expense to win him over. Such was the respect strength commanded.

As for the Su imperial clan's secret arts, other warriors might regard them as rare treasures, but he had no interest in them. Could even their strongest arts compare with the Cultivation Techniques the system gave him?

Besides, he would have to labor to comprehend them himself. The system simply granted him perfect mastery.

Just then,

a system notification sounded in his mind.

[Ding! Random quest triggered: join a native faction of the Heavenly Martial Continent, or establish a faction of your own within one week with no fewer than one hundred thousand members (0/1). Reward: perfect mastery of the Ninth-tier Supreme Grade defensive Cultivation Technique, Primordial Indestructible Golden Body.]

[Primordial Indestructible Golden Body: Ninth-tier Supreme Grade defensive Cultivation Technique. Once cultivated to advanced mastery, it greatly enhances physical and soul defenses. The body becomes as hard as divine iron and can withstand a full-force strike from a Martial Saint of the same rank without damage. Soul defenses take the form of a Golden Bell Shield, granting immunity to soul attacks from the same rank and greatly weakening soul attacks from one rank higher.]

Lin Changqing's interest stirred.

Another quest had appeared.

A Ninth-tier Supreme Grade defensive Cultivation Technique would pair perfectly with the Heavenly Gang Saint Armor.

One was equipment, the other a Cultivation Technique. With both layered together, his defense would be heaven-defying.

As for the quest requirement... join a native faction or create one of his own.

He had already considered joining the Great Yu Dynasty.

His main reason was to use the court's power to spread his reputation quickly and claim the quest reward for the Heavenly Gang Saint Armor.

Now that another quest reward had appeared right before him, he had even more reason to join the Great Yu Dynasty.

As for founding his own faction...

He could raise a force of more than a hundred thousand within a week. It was hardly impossible.

It would just be too much trouble.

Joining an established dynasty would save him more effort than anything else.

But... he could not agree too readily.

People did not treasure what came too easily.

Lin Changqing held his teacup, a thoughtful look on his face. His brows drew together slightly, as though he was dissatisfied with the terms—or weighing the gains against the losses.

The Sixth Ancestor's heart tightened at the sight.

Were the terms still not enough?

He was just about to offer more.

Lin Changqing set down his teacup and spoke slowly. "The Boundless Saint Emperor's offer is generous indeed. It shows the Great Yu Dynasty's sincerity. But I emerged to slay demons, vanquish evil, and protect the people, not for power or status..."

The Sixth Ancestor hurriedly said, "The Saint Venerable holds all the people of the world in his heart. That is precisely what this old man admires!"

"The Great Yu Dynasty would not dare claim to rule all the people under heaven, but it holds the Fourteen Provinces and their one hundred and twenty-six commanderies, with hundreds of millions of people. If the Saint Venerable joins Great Yu, how many more people could he protect than in one corner of Green Province?"

His voice was utterly earnest, with even a hint of pleading.

"Saint Venerable, the seals on the demons are on the verge of collapse, and the fighting at the front is desperate."

"Great Yu's Grand Profound Saint Ancestor has guarded the heart of the sealing formation year after year and cannot leave his post lightly. If the Saint Venerable joins Great Yu, with two at the Martial Saint Peak fighting side by side, what demon under heaven would dare run wild? It would be a deed of immeasurable merit!"

Lin Changqing remained silent.

His brows stayed furrowed.

The Sixth Ancestor pleaded for a good while longer, laying out the Great Yu Dynasty's plight, the people's suffering, and the sacrifices of the soldiers at the front.

Only then did Lin Changqing let out a long sigh.

His brow eased.

"Very well."

He looked at the Sixth Ancestor, a trace of resignation in his voice.

"Since the Boundless Saint Emperor has shown such sincerity, it would seem unfeeling of me to refuse again."

At those words, the Sixth Ancestor sprang to his feet.

"Does the Saint Venerable truly mean that?!"

Lin Changqing nodded.

"The terms offered already show the Great Yu Dynasty's sincerity. There is no need to add anything more."

The Sixth Ancestor was so excited that his white beard trembled.

"What noble spirit, Saint Venerable! On behalf of the Great Yu Dynasty's hundreds of millions of people, this old man thanks the Evergreen Saint Venerable!"