Qian Renxue's swift, decisive refusal was like a bucket of ice water poured straight over Emperor Xue Ye's burning head.
The manic excitement and smug delight on his face froze instantly.
He stood there, stiff as stone, as though struck by a petrification spell, unable to react for several long breaths.
Then he suddenly snapped his head around.
Bloodshot eyes locked onto Qian Renxue, his voice trembling with disbelief and incomprehension.
"No… no?"
"Qinghe—why?!"
At that address, Qian Renxue's beautiful brows furrowed ever so slightly.
Golden light surged around her.
In an instant, the familiar Crown Prince's attire vanished, replaced by a luxurious, sacred golden long dress. Her radiant hair cascaded down like molten sunlight, and her exquisite face carried a clear, undisguised impatience.
"Correction," she said coldly.
"My name is Qian Renxue, not Xue Qinghe."
Emperor Xue Ye nodded reflexively, then impatiently waved his sleeve as though brushing away a fly.
"That's not the point!"
He stepped forward, his old face screaming Are you out of your mind?!, his voice rising several octaves.
"The point is—I'm giving you the entire Heaven Dou Empire! Why would you refuse?!"
"This is an empire!"
Watching his expression—heartbroken as if he had just lost the entire world—Qian Renxue merely rolled her eyes.
She calmly picked up a tender slice of fish, placed it into her mouth, and savored it.
A genuine, blissful smile bloomed across her face.
Only after swallowing did she lazily lift her gaze, looking at Emperor Xue Ye as though he were a fool beyond saving.
"To sit on a throne and work yourself to death every day, drowning in endless trivial affairs—how is that more comfortable than being a regular customer in Senior's shop?"
"And besides…"
She continued unhurriedly.
"Dining here lets you enjoy delicacies unmatched in this world."
"You gain benefits beyond imagination."
"Even becoming a god is not out of reach."
She tapped her temple lightly, her gaze proud and absolute.
"Tell me—can your miserable imperial throne offer me any of that?"
Silence.
The entire restaurant fell into an eerie stillness.
Everyone subconsciously looked down at the steaming dishes before them.
Indeed.
Compared to the opportunities hidden in this shop, a mere empire seemed laughably insignificant.
"Hoo—"
A long breath escaped.
Dai Tianfeng collapsed back into his chair, his body going limp as though all strength had drained from him.
He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, feeling that those few minutes had exhausted him more than decades of warfare.
Good—thank the heavens.
This girl hadn't been fooled by that mad old man.
As for Emperor Xue Ye, he was left utterly speechless.
He stared blankly at Qian Renxue, his mind empty.
Because everything she said… was undeniably true.
Even he himself—after tasting that Mapo Tofu—had briefly thought:
Why not just stop being Emperor?
If it could let him break through like Dai Tianfeng…
No—forget rank ninety.
If it could grant him even ten more years of life, he would gladly abdicate.
But he couldn't accept this.
He absolutely could not watch the Heaven Dou Empire—protected his entire life—be devoured by that bastard Dai Tianfeng after his death.
In just a few breaths, Xue Ye's gaze shifted from despair… to struggle… and finally to desperate resolve.
He leaned forward again, his imperial dignity completely gone.
Only an almost pleading eagerness remained.
"H–Holy Maiden Your Highness…"
His tone softened into negotiation.
"I know Senior's dishes are divine. I know they can defy fate."
"But you must think of Spirit Hall's future… of the Supreme Pontiff's grand cause, mustn't you?"
He spoke patiently, coaxingly.
"Spirit Hall has the strongest Spirit Master force on the continent, yes—but your territory…"
He coughed lightly.
"…is only Spirit City."
A calculating spark reignited in his eyes.
"Don't you want to expand?"
"To acquire land?"
"To plant Spirit Hall's banner in every corner of the continent?"
Qian Renxue's chopsticks paused midair.
She set them down.
Resting her chin on her hand, a thoughtful glint appeared in her golden eyes.
"Hm…"
"What you're saying… does make some sense."
There's hope!
Emperor Xue Ye's heart surged with excitement. He slapped his thigh hard.
"More than some sense!"
"It makes absolute sense!"
He pressed forward eagerly.
"Why do Star Luo and the Upper Three Sects dare oppose Spirit Hall?"
"Isn't it because—"
"Cough! Cough!"
An urgent cough cut him off.
Ning Fengzhi, who had been quietly watching from the sidelines, shot to his feet.
His face was flushed red, completely abandoning his Sect Master composure.
"Your Majesty!"
"It's the Clear Sky Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect!"
"This has nothing to do with our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School!"
He thumped his chest and turned toward Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue with a smile overflowing with survival instinct.
"Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School has always been Spirit Hall's most loyal ally!"
Absolutely loyal.
Utterly loyal.
What a joke—he had just gotten on Senior's good side.
If he got dragged into hostility now, he'd be finished.
Emperor Xue Ye coughed awkwardly, finally remembering their presence.
"In short!"
He regained momentum.
"They look down on Spirit Hall because your territory is small!"
His voice rose again, burning with fervor.
"Holy Maiden Your Highness—accept the Heaven Dou Empire!"
"I've already thought everything through!"
His eyes shone with wild ambition as he spread his arms, as if embracing the future itself.
"Once you ascend the throne, Spirit Hall will officially establish a nation!"
"The Heaven Dou Empire will be renamed—the Martial Soul Empire!"
"You will be its founding Empress, revered for ten thousand generations!"
"With one command, we'll integrate both powers and march south—flattening the Upper Thr—"
"Cough."
He glanced at Ning Fengzhi's stiff expression.
"…the Upper Two Sects!"
"Then we'll conveniently wipe out the Star Luo Empire!"
"Completing a continental unification unseen for ten thousand years!"
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