Ling Zhantian's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.
Ling Xueyao did not leave immediately.
She glanced at her father, then at Chu Yunfei, her phoenix eyes filled with barely concealed worry.
Since entering the main hall, Ling Zhantian's gaze toward Chu Yunfei had been consistently scrutinizing.
Now, the fact that they are being spoken to separately clearly indicates that it's not just a simple matter of exchanging greetings.
"Father, is there anything you can't say in front of your daughter?"
Ling Zhantian leaned back in the main seat, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.
"I only wish to ask Young Friend Chu a few questions privately; I will not make things difficult for him."
"Go wait in the side hall first. After we finish talking, I will send someone to find you."
Ling Xueyao pursed her red lips.
She certainly dared not disobey her father, but her unease did not lessen; on the contrary, it grew stronger.
The more Ling Zhantian urged her to leave, the more she felt that the upcoming conversation would not be simple.
Chu Yunfei noticed her hesitation and gently squeezed her palm.
"Your Highness, please proceed."
"Your Majesty wouldn't be going to eat people right after waking up, would he?"
Ling Xueyao glared at him.
Stop talking nonsense.
She lowered her voice, her tone carrying a clear warning.
"I am right outside."
"If your father makes things difficult for you, then call me."
These words were ostensibly a reminder to Chu Yunfei, but were actually meant for Ling Zhantian as well.
A barely perceptible glint of something unusual flashed in Ling Zhantian's eyes.
Chu Yunfei, however, seemed oblivious to the underlying meaning, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Rest assured."
"I only exchanged a few words with His Majesty."
Ling Xueyao was still somewhat uneasy.
She glanced at her father again, then bowed and turned to walk towards the palace gate.
After walking a few steps, she stopped and turned back again.
Chu Yunfei nodded at her.
Ling Xueyao then stepped across the threshold.
Ling Changkong glanced at the two of them with a complicated expression, sighed, and turned to leave as well.
The heavy palace doors slowly closed, blocking out the last ray of sunlight.
The hall fell silent once more.
Nine ancient bronze lamps hung between the pillars of the hall, their pale blue flames flickering gently, illuminating Ling Zhantian's slightly pale face.
The gentleness he had shown when facing his daughter had faded away.
Chu Yunfei stood in the hall, neither bowing his head nor speaking, despite the fact that the other party was the Emperor of Great Qian.
Ling Zhantian also did not speak immediately.
He simply observed the eighteen-year-old young man before him in silence.
When the topic of the Heaven-Slaying Sword Emperor killing five emperors with a single sword strike was mentioned earlier, Chu Yunfei did not lose his composure.
When the topic turned to the Vast Waves Sacred Academy, which stood above the Seven Sects, he only showed a little interest.
Even now, facing an emperor at the Divine Sea Realm Ninth Level alone, he still stood straight and remained calm.
This temperament surpasses that of most of the sect's holy sons that Ling Zhantian has seen.
People like Qin Hao and Yue Chenzhou may have good talent, but they are easily swayed by their pride and emotions.
Chu Yunfei, however, was different.
He may seem flamboyant in his actions, but when faced with truly important matters, he is surprisingly calm.
More importantly, he matured too quickly.
A few months ago, he was only at the Body Tempering Realm.
He has now reached the Sixth Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm and possesses almost invincible combat power below the Divine Sea Realm.
If given ten years, no one can predict how far he will go.
"His Majesty deliberately sent the princess away; what he is about to say is probably not suitable for her to hear."
Chu Yunfei met Ling Zhantian's gaze and spoke calmly.
"In that case, Your Majesty may speak frankly."
Ling Zhantian paused for a moment, his fingers resting on the armrest.
This young man seemed to lack the patience to play along with his roundabout approach.
"Young friend Chu, I have a question for you first."
He leaned forward slightly, and his tone became a bit more serious.
"Do you know why the Seven Sects chose the capital city as the venue for their Seven Sects Grand Competition at this particular time?"
Chu Yunfei's eyes flickered slightly.
He had thought about this problem before.
The night Ling Changkong appeared, he even suspected that the fact that the Seven Sects Grand Competition was held in the capital might be related to the Blood Baleful Intent Tower.
However, there has never been conclusive evidence.
"As far as I know, the Seven Sects Grand Competition is held once every three years."
Chu Yunfei pondered for a moment.
On the surface, this is a competition between the younger generation.
"In fact, the results of the competition are related to the redistribution of spiritual veins, secret realms, and various cultivation resources in the Eastern Continent over the next three years."
The venue is usually decided through joint consultation among the seven parties.
He raised his eyes.
"The choice of the capital city this time is probably not a coincidence."
Ling Zhantian nodded.
"According to the information I have received, it is the Blood Baleful Intent Tower that is behind this."
Chu Yunfei's expression did not change significantly.
This answer was not unexpected.
The fact that the seven sects could simultaneously accept the imperial city as the venue for the grand competition without each sect immediately noticing anything amiss is something that very few forces in the Eastern Continent could do.
The Blood Baleful Intent Tower happens to have this ability.
Lu Shaoyuan's last words proved that thirty years ago, the Blood Baleful Intent Tower had been secretly recruiting powerful figures from the seven sects.
The golden-masked assassin who used the Devil-Suppressing Hand technique had intricate connections with the Heavenly Evil Devil Sect.
Thirty years have passed.
The Blood Baleful Intent Tower's infiltration of the Seven Sects will only deepen.
"Since Your Majesty knows that the Blood Baleful Intent Tower was behind this, you must also know their purpose."
"I know."
Ling Zhantian tapped his fingers on the armrest.
"They're here for the royal family."
" The Blood Baleful Intent Tower intends to use the Seven Sects Grand Competition to provoke conflict between the Seven Sects and the Great Qian, thereby breaking the century-old agreement."
Chu Yunfei frowned slightly.
"The royal family has never participated in the Seven Sects Grand Competition."
"Even if the grand competition is held in the capital, the royal family only provides the venue. As long as they don't interfere in the outcome of the competition between the seven sects, how can the Blood Baleful Intent Tower instigate conflict between them?"
Ling Zhantian did not answer immediately.
He looked at Chu Yunfei, his gaze deepening.
"If it were before, I might not have known either."
"But now, I know."
Chu Yunfei stared at him for a moment.
A few breaths later, he suddenly smiled.
"Your Majesty means..."
"They want to use me to incite conflict between the Seven Kingdoms and the royal family?"
"Good."
Ling Zhantian did not deny it.
" Nangong Wuhen has long held a mortal grudge against you for the key to the inheritance of the Heaven-Slaying Sword Emperor."
"After you arrived in the imperial city, you offended both the Puppet Sect and the Cangyun Sect."
"In the battle of the Jingyuan Hall, you killed a true disciple of the Cangyun Sect, severely injured Yue Chenzhou, the holy son of the Puppet Sect, and also severed Qin Hao's arm."
"Yesterday, you clashed again with Li Tianxing Son of the Heavenly Evil Devil Sect."
He paused slightly.
"In total, you've offended four out of the seven sects."
Chu Yunfei did not refute.
Heavenly Sword Sect, Cangyun Sect, Puppet Sect, Heavenly Evil Devil Sect.
Indeed, there are four cases.
But none of these troubles were things he actively sought out.
Nangong Wuhen wanted to seize the Giant Que Sword, and even later hired the Blood Baleful Intent Tower to kill him.
Han Kui threatened others in public for the sake of the Purple Lightning Heart-Devouring Vine, and he wouldn't give up easily afterward.
Qin Hao, on the other hand, provoked Ling Xueyao repeatedly because Ling Xueyao harbored jealousy and hatred towards him.
As for Li Tianxing, he was the first to make a move on the street.
All he did was retaliate.
Ling Zhantian continued:
"These conflicts were not necessarily all orchestrated by the Blood Baleful Intent Tower."
"But recently, rumors have been circulating in the capital, and someone is secretly stirring things up. They are trying to portray you as someone who is an enemy of the Seven Sects, yet is protected by the royal family."
Chu Yunfei's gaze darkened slightly.
Ling Zhantian slowly uttered the last sentence:
"In the Blood Baleful Intent Tower's view, you are the most suitable pawn to leverage the relationship between the Seven Sects and the Royal Family."