23: Chapter 23 At the foot of Mount Luofeng, the Ancestral Dragon turned his head.

Northern Emperors Chief Minister?

Xu Mo’s head buzzed.

He had read about this divine position in ancient texts.

In the Taoist mythological system, under the Great Emperor Beiyin of Fengdu, there were famous ministers like Wei Zheng and Kou Zhun, but one who could be called 'High Minister' and possess such a grand status...

Before he could figure it out, a wave of 'Ancestral Dragon Qi'—a thousand times more domineering than the earlier passage of the netherworld soldiers—rolled out from the deep palace doors.

There were no escorts, no music.

Only a man of imposing stature walked out slowly.

He wore a dark black imperial robe with embroidered hems, a crown with twelve dangling jade ornaments on his head, and an ancient-looking long sword hanging at his waist.

He walked slowly, not intentionally releasing any oppressive aura, but every step he took caused the churning sea of clouds surrounding Luofeng Mountain to momentarily freeze.

That was not a display of power.

It was the inherent certainty of 'All under heaven is the King's land,' the absolute confidence that had settled over two thousand years after sweeping through the Six States and dominating all ages.

In the face of this aura, what were players?

Even the bosses of an s-rank instance were merely inferior horses in his stable.

Thud.

Xu Mo finally couldn't hold on.

The moment the man's gaze swept across the plaza, Xu Mo's psychological defenses completely collapsed.

Without needing his brain to give the order, his kneecaps heavily struck the white jade floor with a crisp sound.

Next was Lin Sa.

As if their spines had been removed, the two prostrated themselves, their foreheads tightly pressed against the cold ground, their bodies trembling violently.

This wasn't weakness; it was biological instinct.

It was like a rabbit encountering a fierce tiger; the fear etched into their genes deprived them of the courage to even lift their heads. Their very DNA trembled, shouting 'Surrender.'

The Emperor in black robes, originally looking straight ahead and about to leave as a streak of light, suddenly stopped his steps.

Those deep, abyss-like eyes pierced through the heavy guards and landed precisely on Pei Duo, who was standing by the railing, looking curious and the only one not kneeling.

To be precise, his gaze landed on the dirty, cracked black jade pendant, still stained with a bit of mud, hanging at her waist.

The air suddenly solidified.

Xu Mo, kneeling on the ground, nearly had his heart stop.

Tap, tap, tap.

The direction of the footsteps changed.

The Emperor in black robes, before whom even Black and White Impermanence bowed respectfully, deviated from the imperial path and walked straight toward Pei Duo.

As he approached, the overwhelming pressure miraculously bypassed Pei Duo, instead making the kneeling Xu Mo feel as if he were about to be crushed into the earth.

Pei Duo nervously clutched the jade pendant, looking at the man before her, instinctively wanting to shrink behind Black Impermanence.

But Black Impermanence was also lowering his head, not daring to breathe loudly.

The Emperor in black robes stopped three paces in front of Pei Duo.

He slightly bent over, and the stern, iron-like majestic face, capable of stopping children from crying at night, now had lines that softened slightly.

He extended a long, strong hand and pointed his finger lightly at the black jade on Pei Duo's waist.

"Two thousand years."

His voice was deep and mellow, possessing a metallic texture, yet carrying a hint of pride and nostalgia only revealed when facing the relics of an old friend:

"This item has been well cared for by that kid."

Pei Duo looked at him. She inexplicably felt that although this man's aura was terrifying, it held no malice. Mustering her courage, she stammered:

"This... this was given to me by my brother. He said... he said he picked it up at a street stall for two dollars..."

"Two dollars?"

The Emperor in black robes was first stunned, then threw his head back and burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha—!"

The laughter was like a dragon's roar, shaking the sea of clouds around the plaza into a frenzy, causing even the bronze palace doors to hum in resonance.

He lowered his head, looking at Pei Duo with eyes as if he were looking at his own junior.

"I know. That kid never speaks seriously."

He did not use 'Zhen' (Imperial 'I'), but instead used the more ancient and arrogant self-appellation—'Gu' (Solitary/I).

"That was my personal belonging when I was alive. It accompanied me when I swept away the Six States and suppressed the Eight Desolations."

Ying Zheng—the current 'Northern Emperors Chief Minister' of the Underworld—had a sharp glint flash in his eyes, "Since you are that kid's sister, you are an honored guest of the Underworld. Keep this thing."

Saying this, he seemed to be in a good mood and pointed toward the continuous black mountain range in the east.

"Little girl, if you tire of staying here, you may bring this jade to my Lishan Palace in the Underworld."

Ying Zheng's lips curled into a domineering arc: "I'll show you the Underworld version of the Terracotta Army. Those are the true elite soldiers who fought alongside me in the Nether Sea, much more interesting than those clay statues in the mortal world."

After speaking, he did not linger.

With a wave of his wide sleeve.

"Roar—!!!"

A dragon's roar that shook heaven and earth sounded.

This Eternal Emperor transformed into a thousand-zhang-long ink-black dragon, soaring upward, instantly breaking through the cloud layer above Luofeng Mountain and disappearing into the vast horizon.

Only when that terrifying pressure completely vanished did the kneeling Xu Mo and Lin Sa dare to gasp deeply. Both men were limp, as if they had just been pulled out of water, unable to move even a finger.

Xu Mo tremblingly raised his head, looking at the bewildered Pei Duo, who was still touching her jade pendant.

His worldview had shattered into dust.

That was... that was the real First Emperor of Qin!

That jade pendant wasn't some high-quality replica merchandise, but the personal token of the Ancestral Dragon!

He had actually mocked Pei Duo internally for cherishing a piece of junk, even trying to hide his embarrassment by adjusting his glasses...

Now, Xu Mo only wanted to slap himself twice.

That kind of thing—never mind an s-rank fierce ghost, even the Ten Kings of Hell would have to show some respect to it!

Pei Duo wasn't just carrying a protective talisman; she was wandering around the instance carrying the Imperial Seal!

"Um... Seventh Master?"

Pei Duo asked weakly after watching the First Emperor transform into a dragon and fly away, "Was that uncle just now very powerful?"

Xie Bi'an wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and gave a bitter smile: "Your Highness, that Lord is more than just powerful... Forget it, you will know in the future."

He straightened his robes, regaining his butler-like smile, and turned to point at the grandest central hall.

"Let's go, Your Highness."

"His Majesty has been waiting in the hall for a long time."