Battle Through the Heavens: Flame Emperor, Please Restrain Yourself—Your Brother Is Really Quite Honest Chapter 34

"The Azure Vault Ranking is a manifestation of the World Will. Mu Chen might well be a child of destiny."

"It seems that although destiny is elusive, it truly exists."

With that thought, Zhang Yuan rose and stretched his body.

Ying Huanhuan was a member of the Ice Spirit Clan from the Great Thousand World who had descended to the lower realm, and Lin Qingtuan was also from the Great Thousand World. It was entirely possible that Qing Yanjing, a prodigy of the Futuo Ancient Clan, had descended as well. There had to be a reason why she brought misfortune to those around her.

Even without the Thunder God Visualization Diagram, he now wanted to study this woman properly. If she truly was a visitor from the Great Thousand World, perhaps he could find the Origin of the Emperor through her. At the very least, it would be more convenient to reach the Great Thousand World through her in the future.

With that in mind, Zhang Yuan set off for the Myriad Books Pavilion.

Meanwhile, Princess Yaoye appeared in the neighboring room and looked at Jia Xingtian with a resentful expression. "Imperial Great-Grandfather, Zhang Yuan is so annoying. Do I really have to learn the art of rulership from him?"

"Yes." Jia Xingtian nodded. "Though he is even younger than you, he handles matters with considerable order. If you possessed even thirty percent of his skill in dealing with people and affairs, this old man could rest easy."

"Ever since your grandfather and father passed away one after another, there have already been faint signs of instability within the Jia Ma Empire. If you lack the strength to subdue everyone, then you must possess the political acumen to balance all factions."

Princess Yaoye remained unconvinced. "I admit Zhang Yuan is very clever, but he is only sixteen. His experience is still inferior to mine. What could he possibly know about the human heart?"

"Hehe." Jia Xingtian clasped his hands together on the table and chuckled. "Yaoye, do you know that a powerful expert is hidden at his side, protecting him? That person's strength is no less than mine."

"What?" Princess Yaoye's eyes widened.

Jia Xingtian was a peak Dou Emperor, someone who could become a Dou Zong at any time.

Yet Zhang Yuan actually had a peak Dou Emperor secretly guarding him?

"He has genuine ability, so learn from him properly. Even if he does not, befriending such a prodigy would bring only benefits and no harm." Jia Xingtian lowered his head slightly, and a glint of light reflected off his monocle.

There was one thing he had not told Princess Yaoye: he had not discovered the expert beside Zhang Yuan on his own. Rather, the other party had deliberately revealed their aura for him to notice. The timing had been when Zhang Yuan was lecturing Princess Yaoye.

The other party had clearly done so on purpose, adding weight to Zhang Yuan's words.

"But Grandfather, aren't you afraid he might be harmful to the empire?" Princess Yaoye asked doubtfully.

"Harmful?" Jia Xingtian sighed. "Yaoye, if someone can deploy a peak Dou Emperor to protect Zhang Yuan, how powerful do you think the force behind him must be?"

Princess Yaoye's heart jolted as she realized she had been overthinking things.

If the force behind Zhang Yuan had designs on the Jia Ma Empire, the imperial family would be unable to resist anyway.

At that moment, Princess Yaoye realized that the background she had always taken pride in was nothing remarkable. For the first time, she truly began to mature within.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yuan had already ridden to a five-story pavilion that occupied a considerable area. The plaque above its entrance bore the two words "Myriad Books."

The doors stood open. Looking inside, he could see rows of neatly arranged bookshelves, all packed with books. It was somewhat like a library from his previous life.

"Li Qingchang greets Commander Zhang." A middle-aged man emerged from inside and cupped his fists in greeting.

Zhang Yuan had some impression of this man. He was the one at Twin Dragon Pass who had asked whether Zhang Yuan wished to cross the Illusionary Mist Mountain Range with them.

"Has everyone else arrived?" Zhang Yuan asked as he dismounted and handed his horse to the guards at the entrance.

"They have all arrived. Please follow me, my lord." Li Qingchang stepped aside and invited Zhang Yuan in.

Upon entering, Zhang Yuan smelled the fragrance of books and ink.

Quite a few people were selecting books before the shelves, most of them children and elderly people.

Remembering Princess Yaoye's words, Zhang Yuan asked Li Qingchang, "We met at Twin Dragon Pass last time. What position do you hold in the Myriad Books Pavilion?"

"Reporting to my lord, I am the chief steward of the Myriad Books Pavilion. I am responsible for buying and selling books," Li Qingchang replied.

"Chief steward? Then you must have served the Myriad Books Pavilion for quite some time." Zhang Yuan spoke as if casually.

"Not at all." Li Qingchang shook his head. "My lord may not know this, but I have only worked for the Myriad Books Pavilion for half a year, and I will leave after another half year. The Myriad Books Pavilion has a unique rule, known throughout Qingyun Town: every year, the steward and a batch of guards and maidservants are replaced."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuan understood.

This was likely a precaution Qing Yanjing had come up with. Perhaps she also believed herself to be an unlucky person.

That would make it even more difficult to befriend her.

While he pondered this, Li Qingchang led Zhang Yuan to a private room on the third floor.

Meng Xing and the others were already seated. When they saw Zhang Yuan, they all rose and saluted him.

"There is no need for such formality, everyone. Meeting is fate."

Zhang Yuan gestured for them to relax and naturally took the seat of honor.

Qin Hai first drained three cups of wine, saying it was to thank Zhang Yuan for helping him that day. Then he took out a round pearl and placed it on the table. "Commander Zhang likely has no use for ordinary things. I obtained this item while escorting goods. At the time, two fourth-rank magical beasts fought fiercely over it, and both ended up severely wounded, allowing me to profit from their misfortune."

"I have studied it for half a year and even asked a Third-grade Alchemist to examine it, but none of us found anything mysterious about it. So I am offering it to you as a token of gratitude. Perhaps when your strength is sufficient in the future, you may unravel the mystery within."

Was the pearl valuable?

It had made two fourth-rank magical beasts, comparable to Dou Ling experts, fight to the death over it. It was certainly valuable.

But no matter how valuable something was, if no one could identify it and it could not be used, it was no different from scrap metal.

For Qin Hai, using this seemingly valuable but useless item to thank and befriend Zhang Yuan was well worth it.

"Escort Master Qin, you are too courteous."

It had only been a small effort, and Zhang Yuan had no intention of accepting.

If anyone could befriend him merely by giving him something, then his friendship would be far too cheap.

Before he could voice his refusal, Ling Ying's voice suddenly rang in his ear. "Young Master Zhang Yuan, this is a good thing. Take it quickly."

Ling Ying was a peak Dou Emperor and a member of the Ancient Clan, with extraordinarily high standards.

For him to call it "a good thing," it definitely wasn't anything ordinary.

Princess Yaoye had claimed Qing Yanjing would bring disaster upon those around her. Wasn't she bringing him good fortune instead?

The smile on Zhang Yuan's face remained unchanged as he continued to be polite. "I'm not a greedy man."

Hearing this, Qin Hai appealed to both his emotions and reason, hoping he would accept it.

"Ah!"

After three rounds of offering and declining, Zhang Yuan sighed and put away the pearl. "Very well. If I keep refusing, I'll seem difficult to please. Then I'll accept it without further ceremony."

He hadn't wanted it either, but he simply couldn't refuse such sincere generosity.

Ling Ying: "..."

Miss, come take a look at how well this man could put on an act.