CHAPTER 163: CHAPTER 161: ISSUING A CHALLENGE_1

This made Wang Shou feel as if his perception was wrong! According to the intelligence of the Divine Court, the most powerful Martial Artist in the Nine Great Dao Domains was the fallen Impermanence Saint, who possessed Great Saint Level cultivation. But within the grand hall, there was a Supreme Saint, a Great Saint, and several Mid-Saints. What about the powerhouses outside the hall?

"Wang Shou, envoy of the Divine Light Court, pays respect to Your Majesty!" Wang Shou greeted him respectfully. The strength of the Qin Empire was enough to make him treat it with caution, even placing it on an equal footing.

Minglong stood to the side, not saluting. However, seeing Wang Shou’s respectful demeanor, he also refrained from acting offensively. He was just arrogant, but not foolish!

Early-stage Saint Realm... his strength isn’t bad! He looked at Qin Wudao, secretly probing his strength and was inwardly astonished. Such a genius from the insignificant Nine Great Dao Domains? Incredible!

"You are an envoy of the Divine Court. Attendants, bring him a seat!" Qin Wudao’s majestic voice echoed through the grand hall, his eyes falling on Minglong. His strength was not greater than Minglong’s, but as an earth-level Alchemist with formidable soul power, he could clearly sense Minglong’s subtle movements.

Two eunuchs brought chairs, placing them respectfully behind Minglong and Wang Shou.

"Many thanks, Your Majesty!" Wang Shou glanced at the stool but did not sit. He said seriously, "I heard that during the Sand Scorpion Clan invasion, your kingdom employed a powerful military formation capable of repelling Saint King Realm experts. Might I be allowed to take it back to the Divine Court for examination?"

A military formation! Qin Wudao’s pupils constricted slightly. He had speculated that the Divine Light Court’s visit was related to the Sand Scorpion Clan, but he never imagined they were after the Four Divine Beasts Formation! However, on second thought, it all clicked. The Divine Light Court’s strongest Martial Artists were merely at the Saint King Realm. The Great Qin’s possession of a military formation that could defeat Saint King Realm experts likely made the Divine Light Court extremely uneasy. Their desire to obtain it was understandable.

"Envoy Wang, you jest. The military formation is fundamental to the Qin Empire’s survival. As the sovereign of this nation, how could I possibly hand over our ’foundation’, just as your esteemed Divine Light Court would not allow me to peruse the "Divine Light Scripture"?" Qin Wudao refused coolly, his tone indifferent.

At the same time, he felt a sense of helplessness! Possessing a treasure truly is a magnet for trouble! To think that even the military formation would be coveted. Thank goodness I didn’t reveal the ’Spirit Tree’, otherwise...

"Emperor Qin, don’t be so quick to refuse. Some time ago, the Qunxian Sect invaded and, though defeated by the Great Qin, their Sect Master, Wanlihai, is a man who harbors grudges over the slightest offense. He is already in contact with the Sea Clan. As for what they are discussing, I’m sure Your Majesty can guess!" His proposal rejected, Wang Shou showed no annoyance. With his hands clasped behind his back, he said with a smile.

"The Sea Clan? That Qunxian Sect is truly shameless! While we were defending against the Sand Scorpion Clan, they launched a sneak attack from behind. Now they’re colluding with an outside race? Utterly shameless!"

"I hear the Sea Clan is also a hegemon-level power. If the Qunxian Sect allies with them, what are we to do?"

"Two king-level powers... How will we manage this?"

The officials were all in shock, especially the old officials of the Qin Empire. Having transitioned from a small empire to a regional hegemon, their mindsets had yet to fully adjust, and they turned pale with fright. Two king-level powers meant at least two Saint King Realm experts, weighing down on everyone’s hearts like two great mountains.

Among all the civil and military officials, only Zhuge Liang, Yuan Tiangang, and Jia Xu remained unfazed.

Qin Wudao, seated above, took in everyone’s expressions and felt somewhat disappointed in the old officials of the Qin Empire.

"So you are using this to threaten me? To threaten the Qin Empire?" Qin Wudao’s expression turned grim. A terrifying imperial might erupted from him, flooding the entire grand hall. Faint dragon roars echoed, making everyone’s spirits tremble.

Wang Shou’s heart trembled, and he involuntarily retreated two steps! He quickly snapped back to reality, his expression flickering as rage seethed within him. Just as his own formidable aura was about to surge forth, he felt several even more terrifying auras descend upon him. Any sudden move, and he would face devastating suppression!

HUFF!

Wang Shou took a deep breath to calm himself. Cupping his hands, he said, "Even if Your Majesty does not consider it for your own sake, you must consider it for the people of the Qin Empire! An invasion by two great king-level powers is no trivial matter. As long as Your Majesty hands over the formation diagram to the Divine Light Court for observation, the Divine Court will ally with Great Qin to jointly resist the Qunxian Sect and the Sea Clan!"

Qin Wudao’s expression was cold. After waiting for two minutes, he ordered coldly, "Attendants, see our guests out!"

Under no circumstances could the Four Divine Beasts Formation be handed over. He knew all too well how terrifying this military formation was. Zhao Yun and the others, leading Great Qin soldiers of only average strength, could repel Saint King Realm experts. And the Divine Light Court, as an established power, had elite legionaries whose strength was generally at the Fasang Realm. If they obtained the Four Divine Beasts Formation, it would be like giving a tiger wings; their strength would increase severalfold. Once the Divine Light Court learned of the military formation’s power, their first act would undoubtedly be to ensure its secrecy. And how would they ensure that secrecy? By annihilating the Qin Empire, naturally, and killing everyone who knew of it. It could be said that handing over the ’Four Divine Beasts Formation’ would be planting the seeds of the Qin Empire’s destruction!

Two squads of imperial guards marched into the grand hall, flanked Minglong and Wang Shou, and made a gesture inviting them to leave.

HUMPH!

Wang Shou had a gloomy expression as he prepared to leave.

"Wait!" Minglong shouted, taking a step forward. Under everyone’s gaze, he said in a heavy voice, "Emperor Qin, do you dare to fight a Genius War against me, this Prince? We’ll wager that military formation you control!"

"Oh?" Qin Wudao rose and walked to the edge of the nine-tiered imperial platform. He couldn’t help but mock, "You want to challenge me, yet you want to use my possessions as the stake? Are you a fool?"

"Are you implying that I, this Prince, will lose?" Minglong paused, then it dawned on him. His face flushed red as he declared, "If I lose, I, this Prince, will give you one hundred million Spirit Stones! Now, Emperor Qin, will you accept this Prince’s challenge?"

One hundred million Spirit Stones—it was an astronomical sum. Even he couldn’t possibly produce that much. And the reason he dared to say it was because he had never considered the possibility of losing!

One hundred million Spirit Stones... just enough to nurture the ’Spirit Tree’! Qin Wudao mused to himself, his thoughts fervent. Truthfully, whether Minglong proposed a wager or not, he would have agreed to the battle. Minglong wanted to defeat him to obtain Fortune and the military formation; he, too, wanted to defeat Minglong to claim the Fortune on him, as well as another sign-in opportunity.

"Issue the order! Prepare for my arrival at the Martial Arts Arena!" Qin Wudao commanded in a resonant voice, striding out of the hall. A terrifying aura erupted from him, seeming to roil the very winds and clouds.

"Excellent!" Minglong offered a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. He followed with Wang Shou, his heart filled with delight. In his view, he would obtain the Formation very soon!

The Martial Arts Arena was not far from the Imperial Hall. After passing through a palace wall, they arrived at a vast square. Standing within it, they seemed as tiny as ants.

RUMBLE!

Formation patterns flickered!

The square began to tremble, and a colossal raised platform emerged, inscribed with spatial formations capable of withstanding battles between Saint Realm Martial Artists.