Court Reaction: They Must Win Him Over!

Court Reaction: They Must Win Him Over! Lin Changqing pondered inwardly and suddenly thought of a way.

He could borrow the power of the Great Yu Dynasty's officials. With so many merits under his belt now, the Great Yu Dynasty could not possibly remain indifferent.

When the time came, a single Imperial Edict from the emperor, proclaiming it to the world, would spread faster than any other method.

Just as he was thinking, he sensed an aura rapidly approaching. The sound of hoofbeats drew nearer and nearer.

A large banner unfurled in the wind, bearing the four words: "Green Province Inspector."

Lin Changqing halted midair and turned to look.

Perfect timing.

He had been wondering how to expand his influence, and now a useful pawn had delivered himself to his doorstep.

Green Province Inspector Ma Yuanzhong rode swiftly on horseback. From afar, he spotted the figure standing in the air.

He was so excited that he nearly fell from his horse. That was right!

It was him!

Over the past few days, the entire Green Province officialdom had been thrown into an uproar. Urgent battle reports had piled high across his desk.

Every single one concerned the same person—Evergreen Saint Venerable!

A reclusive Martial Saint who had never appeared before was slaughtering Demons throughout Green Province!

He had verified several of the most urgent reports at top speed and confirmed that the news was true. He had immediately thrown aside all official business and ridden out with his subordinates to search.

Now, he had finally found him!

Ma Yuanzhong leaped down from his horse and practically scrambled and rolled his way beneath Lin Changqing.

Then he respectfully dropped to his knees.

"This humble official, Ma Yuanzhong, Inspector of Green Province, pays respects to Evergreen Saint Venerable!"

The officials and guards behind him also knelt all over the ground.

Ma Yuanzhong's voice trembled noticeably.

"Since Your Excellency emerged into the world, you have eradicated dozens of Demon scourges across Green Province in only a few days! You have slain countless Demons and rescued the people from fire and water!"

"For such immense grace and virtue, Green Province's millions of citizens will remember you for all eternity! On behalf of all the fathers and elders of Green Province, this humble official kowtows in thanks to Your Excellency!"

His forehead slammed heavily against the ground, his voice hoarse.

"This humble official has served for twenty years and seen countless experts, yet I have never seen anyone as devoted to the common people as Your Excellency!"

"Not only does Your Excellency possess cultivation that reaches the heavens and pierces the earth, you also have the heart of a bodhisattva. You are truly Great Yu's fortune, and the fortune of the world!"

After saying that, he knocked his head against the ground three more times.

His respect came from the very marrow of his bones.

Lin Changqing looked down at him expressionlessly. An official who had risen as far as Inspector truly was a shrewd old fox.

His flattery came one line after another, never repeating itself.

After finishing his kowtows, Ma Yuanzhong cautiously raised his head.

Then he cautiously asked another question.

"Your Excellency's arrival in Green Province is this humble official's greatest honor."

"This humble official has ordered a modest banquet prepared at my residence. Might Your Excellency grant me the honor of attending, so that I may do my small part as host?"

Lin Changqing's heart stirred slightly upon hearing this.

Perfect timing.

These past few days, he had been considering how to borrow strength to spread his name farther.

Though the Green Province Inspector was merely a local official, he was still a high-ranking provincial authority.

Judging by the timing,

the Great Yu court had likely already received the reports from that Demon Suppressing Division Branch and the messages sent from all over Green Province. They surely knew of his existence by now.

Given the Great Yu Dynasty's increasingly dire Demon situation, they could not possibly overlook a Martial Saint willing to emerge and slay Demons.

They were most likely already sending people to win him over.

For now, visiting the Prefectural Governor's Mansion and sitting for a while would also give the Great Yu Dynasty an opportunity to make contact.

And even taking ten thousand steps back,

even if they had lost their minds and wanted to harm him, with his Ninth-Rank Martial Saint Peak cultivation, no one on the entire Heavenly Martial Continent could do anything to him.

Lin Changqing nodded slightly.

"Since that is the case, I shall trouble you for a moment."

The moment Ma Yuanzhong heard this, his eyes nearly popped out of his head with excitement.

The Saint Venerable had agreed!

He had really agreed!

He had only asked on the off chance, never expecting the Saint Venerable to be so approachable.

That was a Ninth-Rank Martial Saint!

The entire Great Yu Dynasty had only nine Ninth-Rank Martial Saint worshippers openly known to the world!

Every one of them was a lofty, elusive figure, like divine dragons that showed their heads but never their tails!

Forget a mere Inspector like him—even a first-rank court official would have to be utterly respectful before one!

Yet he had actually agreed to attend a banquet at his residence!

Ma Yuanzhong hurriedly scrambled to his feet and shouted at the guards behind him, "Quick! Bring this official's Wind-Chasing Colt!"

A guard sprinted over, leading a tall, snow-white steed.

Ma Yuanzhong personally accepted the reins and respectfully offered them with both hands.

"Your Excellency, please! Though this horse is no famed steed, it is this humble official's treasured possession. Today, I offer it to Your Excellency. I hope you will not disdain it."

Lin Changqing glanced at the horse. Its entire body was snow-white, its mane flowing freely. It truly was a fine horse.

But to him, riding a horse was merely for appearances.

If he truly wished to travel, he could simply tear through space, making him ten thousand times faster than any horse.

But he was in no hurry now.

Lin Changqing stepped forward in the air.

His body drifted down as lightly as a falling leaf, and he landed steadily in the saddle.

The movement flowed as smoothly as clouds and water.

Ma Yuanzhong hurriedly mounted his spare horse and personally led the way in front.

"Your Excellency, this way please. This humble official's residence is in the center of Green Province City, about a little less than half an hour away."

As they traveled, Ma Yuanzhong rode with his body turned sideways, never daring to present his back to Lin Changqing.

He spoke continuously as they went, afraid that silence might fall.

"Your Excellency's emergence into the world is truly a blessing for all living under heaven! The Demons tremble at the news, the people rejoice, and this humble official dares to say that Your Excellency is the savior of Great Yu!"

"If Your Excellency has any commands in the future, this humble official is willing to serve like a dog or horse!"

Lin Changqing merely nodded now and then without saying much.

That very indifference was the bearing a Martial Saint ought to possess.

Meanwhile.

Great Yu Dynasty, Capital City.

The magnificent Taiji Hall was brightly lit.

Great Yu's emperor, Su Gan, sat behind the Dragon Desk. The desk before him was piled high with urgent battle reports submitted from every region.

His brows were tightly furrowed as the vermilion brush in his hand rapidly marked one report after another.

Not one of them brought good news.

"Your Majesty."

At that moment, an elderly eunuch hurried into the hall, carrying two urgent memorials in his hands.

The old eunuch had served Su Gan for decades and had always been as steady as still water.

But today, his steps were clearly several degrees faster than usual.

Rare excitement was also visible on his face.

"Your Majesty, urgent reports from Green Province. One is Zhou Zheng's emergency battle report, and the other is a Flying Eagle message from Green Province Inspector Ma Yuanzhong."

Su Gan rubbed his brow. "Read them."

The old eunuch took a deep breath and unfolded the first memorial.

"Garrison Commander Zhou Zheng of the Cheng'an Prefecture Demon Suppressing Division Branch reports: A previously unknown Martial Saint has recently appeared within Green Province, calling himself Evergreen Saint Venerable..."

Su Gan abruptly raised his head.

"A Martial Saint? Are you certain he is a Martial Saint?"

The old eunuch nodded and continued, "Zhou Zheng has confirmed that this person possesses the means to tear through space. There is no doubt that he is a Ninth-Rank Martial Saint."

"And this person has stated that he is willing to emerge into the world, slay Demons, and protect the common people. At present, he has not joined any faction."

Then he unfolded the second memorial.

"A Flying Eagle message from Green Province Inspector Ma Yuanzhong states that Evergreen Saint Venerable swept across all of Green Province within days. He has slain six Seventh-tier Demon Kings, two Eighth-tier Demon Emperors, and eradicated dozens of Demon strongholds."

"The Demons of Green Province have suffered devastating losses and retreated across the board. According to the accounts of survivors in various locations, this person left behind the name Evergreen Saint Venerable wherever he went, seemingly intending to enter the world and make his name known..."

Su Gan abruptly rose to his feet.

"He slew six Seventh-tier Demon Kings and two Eighth-tier Demon Emperors in only a few days?"

He strode down from the dragon throne, snatched the memorials from the old eunuch, and personally read them from beginning to end.

When he reached the end, he drew a deep breath.

"Guards! Immediately summon the Chancellor, the Minister of War, and the Demon Suppressing Division's Chief Commander to the palace! Quickly!"

The old eunuch promptly acknowledged the order, turned, and hurried out.

Before the time it took an incense stick to burn, three people hurried into Taiji Hall.

Chancellor Zhao Wenyuan had white hair and beard, yet remained vigorous and sharp-eyed. He was the most senior minister at court.

Minister of War Han Tieshan came from a military background. He had the back of a tiger and the waist of a bear, his whole body radiating iron-blooded valor.

Demon Suppressing Division Chief Commander Xiao Qianjun likewise held a high position. He was at the Eighth-Rank Grandmaster Peak and wielded great authority.

Just as the three were about to salute, Su Gan directly waved his hand.

"Dispense with it! Read this first."

He handed the two memorials over.

After the three read them in turn, each changed expression.

"Evergreen Saint Venerable?" Chancellor Zhao Wenyuan's eyes lit up. "A reclusive Martial Saint? I have never heard that title before!"

Minister of War Han Tieshan clenched his fist. "To slay eight Demon Emperors within days—such strength is absolutely not that of an ordinary Early Martial Saint Stage expert! He is at least at the Mid Martial Saint Stage, perhaps even higher!"

Demon Suppressing Division Chief Commander Xiao Qianjun raised his head, his expression grave.

"Your Majesty, tearing through space is a technique exclusive to Ninth-Rank Martial Saints. Since this person can do it so easily, there is no question about his cultivation."

Su Gan stared at them.

"A reclusive Martial Saint has voluntarily emerged to slay Demons, and he happens to have appeared within Great Yu."

"This is the will of heaven! Heaven itself is aiding Great Yu!"

He stressed his words.

"You all know how great the shortage of Ninth-Rank combat power is on the front lines now."

"Other than the six ancestors, Great Yu has only three Martial Saint worshippers loyal to us. All who can be deployed have already been sent to the front lines, while the Demons continue to increase their troops."

"Now a Martial Saint has fallen from the heavens into our hands. If I fail to seize this opportunity, I will have failed those soldiers who died on the front lines!"

Chancellor Zhao Wenyuan nodded heavily. "Your Majesty is wise! We must win over such an expert as soon as possible. Moreover, he has not yet joined any faction, making this the best possible opportunity!"

Minister of War Han Tieshan hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I recommend immediately dispatching someone with lavish gifts to Green Province to make contact. If another dynasty or sect gets there first..."

Before he could finish, Xiao Qianjun interrupted.

"Lord Han is right."

"And as far as I know, neighboring dynasties such as Great Yan and Great Zhou have planted many spies in Green Province. With such a huge disturbance in Green Province, they must have received the news as well."

His voice sank several degrees.

"If Great Yu acts too slowly and another dynasty gets there first to recruit this Evergreen Saint Venerable..."

"Then the loss will be enormous."

Su Gan's heart tightened.

Xiao Qianjun was right.

Though the various dynasties had long stopped fighting among themselves under the pressure of the Demon crisis, all of them were desperately drawing experts into their own forces. The competition was exceptionally fierce.

What did a Ninth-Rank Martial Saint represent?

It meant that a dynasty had gained another top-tier combatant!

In the coming war against the Demons, one more Martial Saint meant one more chance of victory!

Su Gan made his decision at once. "Chancellor, immediately draft a letter. The wording must be respectful; we absolutely cannot slight this Saint Venerable."

"Chief Xiao, personally lead a group of Demon Suppressing Division elites to Green Province and make contact. You must make this Evergreen Saint Venerable feel Great Yu's sincerity!"

Xiao Qianjun clasped his fists. "Rest assured, Your Majesty. This minister will certainly handle the matter properly."

Su Gan nodded, then said to Han Tieshan, "Minister Han, prepare another batch of lavish gifts as well. Heavenly treasures, spirit stones, medicinal pills—the highest possible standard, according to the supreme standard for worshipper elders!"

"This minister obeys the Imperial Edict!"

After arranging everything, Su Gan suddenly recalled something.

"I remember that the Sixth Ancestor is currently stationed within the palace."

He immediately turned and walked out of the hall.

"Go make the preparations first. I'll inform Sixth Ancestor of this matter."

Su Gan hurried through layer upon layer of palace walls, arriving before a secluded courtyard in the deepest part of the Imperial Palace.

The courtyard was not large, containing only a few plain little rooms.

A white-haired old man sat in the yard, his eyes closed as he rested.

He was not particularly tall, and his aura was restrained. He looked like nothing more than an ordinary old man.

But if anyone swept him with their spiritual sense, they would discover what terrifying power lay within this "ordinary old man."

A Ninth-Rank Martial Saint—one of the Great Yu Dynasty's pillars holding the sea steady.

One of the Su Clan's patriarchs who guarded the clan, and the current emperor's Sixth Uncle-Grandfather.

"Sixth Ancestor, this grandson requests an audience."

Su Gan bowed respectfully outside the courtyard gate.

When you come across advertisements such as "Are you a True Person?", simply ignore them and close them. Do not scan the code or send text messages.