These ten Venerables included two from Jade Kunlun Palace.
The two Venerables looked to be in their fifties, their beards and brows streaked with gray.
One had a round face, the other a square one. Both had taut faces and solemn expressions.
The round-faced old man said gravely, "Imperial Son-in-Law, if the two of us leave together, the other residence will be empty. We must end this swiftly and return quickly."
The Venerables, who had originally been silent, immediately opened the floodgates.
"This operation hasn't been leaked, has it? If those with sinister intentions learn of it and seize the opening, all of us will become sinners of our sects."
"If not for His Majesty's secret decree, we would never have left the other residence together."
"This is far too risky."
"Ha, so all of you are the remaining Venerables on guard."
"Little Hu, doesn't your other residence have two Venerables? Is there a third?"
"...Of course there is."
"Little Hu, Little Hu—you haven't spoken a truthful word since you were young."
Chu Liezhao watched them with a smile, never saying a word.
Li Miaotan's delicate brows furrowed slightly, her jade-like face taut.
Yet they did not care about her expression.
Li Miaotan's status was immensely intimidating to ordinary citizens and even officials, but it could not intimidate them.
Even if Li Miaotan truly became the number one person under heaven in the future, she would not be able to throw her weight around over them.
What was more, Li Miaotan was not yet number one under heaven. She was still weaker than them.
"Quiet!" A burly old man waved his hand and said in a deep voice, "Why have the ten of us Venerables gathered here? Imperial Son-in-Law, you can tell us now, can't you?"
"Esteemed seniors."
Chu Liezhao's