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When the Flying Dragon Guard was fervently engaged at the Azurecloud Sect, Xu Bai finally returned to the royal city.

Even though he was at the Nascent Soul Stage, fighting at the Azurecloud Sect and then flying such a long distance was still exhausting.

When Xu Bai announced his audience with the Emperor, the Emperor was taken aback.

"Where is my Flying Dragon Guard? Where is Third Brother?" Emperor Li Shiqing glared at Xu Bai. "Why are you the only one who returned?"

He already had a bad feeling about this.

Xu Bai, with a mournful expression, said, "Your Majesty, the Third Prince and the Flying Dragon Guard have both fallen into the hands of the Azurecloud Sect."

"What?" Li Shiqing exclaimed.

He had several sons, and losing the Third Prince wasn't that significant.

However, the Flying Dragon Guard was a force that the entire empire had invested countless resources and decades to cultivate.

Even for a vast empire like the Cloudmount Empire, selecting a few thousand individuals capable of cultivation was no easy task.

After all, those with the best aptitude had long been recruited by the sects.

Those with less aptitude, if they could find a path within the sects, who would be willing to serve as soldiers for the Royal Dynasty?

More importantly, the destruction of the Flying Dragon Guard shattered the Emperor's ambitions.

He had hoped that once this army matured and reached the Golden Core Realm, they would be unstoppable!

And now they were gone just like that?

Thinking of this, Li Shiqing was so furious he felt like spitting blood, and he slammed the dragon desk with a thunderous sound: "How dare the Azurecloud Sect act so boldly, attacking my people when I sent them to negotiate? Summon the Imperial Preceptor, I need a way to destroy the Azurecloud Sect, or I won't be able to swallow this anger."

Xu Bai hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the Flying Dragon Guard is still intact, and the Third Prince is too. The Azurecloud Sect captured them and is demanding a ransom."

"They can be ransomed?" The enraged Emperor was taken aback again, exhaled deeply, adjusted his demeanor, and glared fiercely at Xu Bai: "Why don't you quickly explain what exactly happened?"

Xu Bai recounted the events and then said bitterly, "We never expected that the Azurecloud Sect would hide such terrifying power. Everyone was powerless to resist and fell into the hands of the Azurecloud Sect."

The Emperor snorted coldly, "That Third Brother, still so arrogant and domineering, despite my orders to negotiate properly with Azurecloud, he handled things in such a reckless manner?"

Xu Bai remained silent, thinking to himself that if the Emperor hadn't hinted for the Third Prince to act, would he have dared?

Moreover, sending out the few Nascent Soul stage Eunuch Xi from the royal family, and claiming you didn't want to provoke the Azurecloud Sect?

This was just hitting a brick wall and looking for a scapegoat.

After venting his anger, the Emperor asked Xu Bai, "Can you estimate the level of power the Azurecloud Sect possesses?"

Xu Bai awkwardly smiled, "Your Majesty, I am merely at the Nascent Soul Stage, how could I discern the true power of the Azurecloud Sect? However, judging from the Flying Dragon Guard's encounter, the Azurecloud Sect's power surpasses the Nascent Soul Stage. It's unclear whether it's at the Divine Soul Stage or the Dao Integration Stage, or how many possess such power. After all, the Azurecloud Sect's history is so long, it's impossible to gauge their depth. Therefore, I believe that taking action against the Azurecloud Sect is an extremely unwise idea."

The Emperor kept a stern face, "I don't know how Third Brother made such a decision, but when he returns, I will punish him properly. As for ransoming the Flying Dragon Guard, what do you think about this matter?"

Xu Bai shook his head helplessly, "Your Majesty, regarding this matter, I dare not speak rashly."

He was the commander of the Flying Dragon Guard, and matters concerning them naturally had to be decided by the Emperor.

If he showed too much concern for the Flying Dragon Guard, it could become a source of trouble.

The Emperor furrowed his brows, pondering whether he should consult the Imperial Preceptor.

After thinking for a long time, he instructed a nearby eunuch, "Go invite the Imperial Preceptor!"

This time, compensating the Azurecloud Sect would certainly cost the Cloudmount Empire dearly, conveniently reducing the tribute to the Heavenmyst Sect.

The Imperial Preceptor soon arrived, and after hearing the events, he quickly asked, "Commander Xu Bai, who acted on behalf of the Azurecloud Sect?"

"I didn't see anyone, only a giant hand formed by a cloud," Xu Bai answered honestly.

The Imperial Preceptor said solemnly, "This wasn't the action of an individual, but the power of the Azurecloud Sect's protective formation—the Skyazure Grand Cloud Formation. Therefore, the Azurecloud Sect's power might not be that strong. Perhaps they have someone at the Divine Soul Stage, but definitely not at the Dao Integration Stage.

The Azurecloud Sect has been in decline for many years; if they had a Dao Integration Stage expert, they wouldn't be in their current state.

Only those great sacred grounds and super sects have Dao Integration Stage experts, like the world-renowned Langya Sacred Ground's Elder Tan Qiushui, who is a Dao Integration Stage expert."

Emperor Li Shiqing shook his head helplessly, "Imperial Preceptor, even if the Azurecloud Sect only has someone at the Divine Soul Stage, it's still a major problem.

This time, the Flying Dragon Guard is trapped in the Azurecloud Sect, along with my most beloved Third Prince... Alas, the Azurecloud Sect has set conditions for their ransom. As a ruler and a father, I have no choice but to agree. Therefore, the tribute to the Heavenmyst Sect will likely be greatly reduced."

The Imperial Preceptor's eyes narrowed, and he continued, "Your Majesty, why don't I report this matter to our sect and have them mediate? Perhaps we can retrieve the Third Prince and the Flying Dragon Guard at minimal cost."

The Emperor smiled happily, "If that can be done, it would be wonderful."

The Imperial Preceptor also smiled, "Then the tribute to the Heavenmyst Sect must not be reduced."

"Of course!" The Emperor agreed.

He didn't mind; after all, a large amount of resources had to be handed over anyway.

Afterward, the Imperial Preceptor flew away.

The Emperor snorted coldly, pondered for a long time, and then instructed again, "Go invite the King of the South, Shen Jun."

When the King of the South arrived, the Emperor had Xu Bai recount the events to him, then said in a deep voice, "This time, you will lead the negotiations with the Azurecloud Sect. You must bring back the Flying Dragon Guard."

The King of the South, Shen Jun, looked at Xu Bai, then at the Emperor, and asked, "Your Majesty, negotiations must have a bottom line. What is our bottom line?"

"If the Azurecloud Sect demands resources, negotiate as you see fit! Take the spirit stones and resources we've prepared, and if it's not enough, you can promise more on credit." The Emperor gritted his teeth and continued, "The ultimate bottom line is the thousand-mile territory of Qing Prefecture near the Azurecloud Sect!"

Even if it meant ceding territory, he was determined to retrieve the Flying Dragon Guard.

If they couldn't defeat the Azurecloud Sect, they could always fight someone else, couldn't they?

"I understand!" The King of the South replied solemnly.

He felt a heavy burden, knowing that if he ceded Qing Prefecture, he would likely bear a huge stigma.

However, he had no way to refuse.

The Emperor sighed and said, "Wait for news from the Imperial Preceptor. The Heavenmyst Sect will send someone to accompany you to the Azurecloud Sect to discuss this matter in detail. The Heavenmyst Sect can assist in negotiations, but the real decision-making power lies with you."

"I understand!" The King of the South nodded.

Two days later, two Divine Soul Stage experts from the Heavenmyst Sect, along with the Imperial Preceptor, joined the negotiation team and boarded the Heavenmyst Sect's flying vessel, heading towards the Azurecloud Sect.