On this day, the atmosphere on a martial arts platform was heavy.
Su Ming's Face was slightly pale, and he stood with his sword, his Early Stage Profound Immortal Qi fluctuating, clearly having expended a great deal of energy.
Opposite him stood a young man clad in crimson-gold armor, his vital Qi like a Dragon. This was Ye Qing, a capable general under Xuanyuan Po, and his cultivation had reached the Late Stage of the Profound Immortal Realm!
Around them, several Cultivators with extraordinary Qi surrounded them, subtly forming a pincer movement. They were all Xuanyuan Po's followers, the lowest among them being Profound Immortals, and each of them would be considered a Prodigy in the outside world.
But their willingness to follow Xuanyuan Po now was enough to prove Xuanyuan Po's strength and methods.
"Junior Brother Su Ming, why be so stubborn?"
Ye Qing's voice was like a grand bell, carrying an undeniable sense of pressure.
"Senior Brother Xuanyuan values talent and wishes to recruit you into the Human Emperor Palace to achieve great things together. This is a great Opportunity! As long as you agree, resources and Legacy will be abundant, far surpassing your arduous cultivation in Lingxu Heavenly Palace."
"And if your Daoist Senior Brother could also come, that would be even better. When Senior Brother Xuanyuan achieves the position of Human Emperor, we will all receive immense benefits. Proving Taiyi will be possible, and the Great Luo will not be difficult either!"
At this point, Ye Qing's eyes were filled with anticipation.
The Human Emperor's Luck was not something only the Human Emperor could enjoy exclusively; his followers would also receive great benefits.
The so-called 'Dragon-following merit' was precisely this.
One must know that even though they were all Human Race Prodigies, achieving the Great Luo through normal means was one in ten thousand.
Damn it!
Su Ming cursed inwardly.
He had been tricked this time. Originally, he didn't want to participate in the struggle for the Human Emperor's Luck, but a Senior Brother from Lingxu Heavenly Palace, who sided with Xuanyuan Po, had orchestrated his arrival here. If he didn't agree, it would be difficult to escape.
"Thank you for your kindness, Brother, but I have no intention of following anyone."
Su Ming pressed his lips together, his gaze firm.
Even if he were to achieve Great Luo, he wouldn't need such external force.
Even if he achieved Great Luo then, being severely bound to the Human Emperor's Luck would impose too many restrictions, and he wasn't willing to accept that.
"Hmph! You don't know what's good for you!"
Ye Qing's Face darkened, feeling that Su Ming was being a bit ungrateful.
At the same time, he felt a bit jealous of the other party's talent.
He knew that the other party had just stepped into the Profound Immortal Realm and was already able to fight him, a Late Stage Profound Immortal, to a standstill.
If the other party joined Xuanyuan Po's camp, his own position might even decline.
Thinking of this, Ye Qing's vital Qi surged, and he unleashed a punch. His Fist Intent transformed into a roaring fire Dragon, carrying the momentum of burning the heavens and boiling the seas, directly charging at Su Ming.
This punch had long exceeded the scope of a "spar" and carried clear malice!
Su Ming's pupils constricted, feeling a fatal threat. He fully activated his sword array for defense, but anger had already risen in his heart.
Did they think he was easy to mess with?
Su Ming's heart turned cold, and just as he was about to pull out his trump card...
An unexpected change occurred!
The roaring fire Dragon, within three feet of Su Ming, seemed to hit an invisible and intangible barrier.
"Hmm?"
Ye Qing's Face changed dramatically. He abruptly retracted his punch, looking around in surprise and uncertainty.
Only to see a tall figure appear.
"Senior Brother Xuanyuan..."
Ye Qing's Face changed greatly, and he immediately dared not continue to attack.
Su Ming also stood stunned, wondering what the other party was up to.
Xuanyuan Po's appearance suddenly changed the atmosphere in the arena.
He had a tall and straight posture, a handsome Face, and Dragon Qi subtly coiled around him, exuding an inherent imperial demeanor that commanded respect without needing to show anger.
At this moment, he frowned slightly, his gaze falling on Ye Qing, carrying evident disappointment and slight displeasure.
"Ye Qing!"
Xuanyuan Po's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying an undeniable authority.
"How do I usually teach you all?
You should be eager for talent, treating them with sincerity and virtue, not relying on power to coerce them and commit such barbaric and unreasonable acts! What does your action make of me? What does it make of the reputation of the Human Emperor Palace?"
His reprimand was righteous and stern, as if he knew nothing of Ye Qing's actions and deeply detested them.
The color instantly drained from Ye Qing's Face. He hurriedly bowed, his voice filled with panic:
"Your Highness, please calm your anger! It... it was my momentary impatience. Seeing Junior Brother Su's exceptional talent, I was eager to recruit a hero for Your Highness, which led to... to my excessive actions. Please punish me, Your Highness!"
He lowered his posture extremely, taking all responsibility upon himself, appearing as a loyal subordinate who had simply used the wrong method.
Xuanyuan Po snorted coldly, then his gaze turned to Su Ming, and the anger on his Face instantly transformed into warmth and apology:
"Junior Brother Su, you've been startled. It's my lax management that has made you laugh and caused you grievance."
His tone was sincere, carrying just the right amount of self-reproach.
Su Ming watched this sudden scene unfold, a colder sneer forming in his heart.
These two were playing a good cop, bad cop routine, one singing the red Face and the other the white Face, coordinating quite tacitly.
If Ye Qing hadn't had Xuanyuan Po's tacit permission or even instruction, how would he dare to so brazenly pressure him, a true disciple of Lingxu Heavenly Palace?
Seeing that coercion wouldn't work, he immediately put on another Face, attempting to move him with "sincerity," and incidentally clearing himself of responsibility, maintaining Xuanyuan Po's upright image.
"Your Highness Xuanyuan, you speak too seriously."
Su Ming suppressed the sarcasm in his heart and bowed with a calm expression.
Since the other party wanted to play the good guy, he might as well go along with the act.
"Brother Ye was just eager for talent, and his methods were a bit inappropriate. I understand. However, my mind is already made up; I do not wish to participate in the struggle for Luck and only wish to focus on cultivation. I hope Your Highness will grant me this."
His words both gave the other party a way out and clearly reiterated his own stance.
Upon hearing this, a trace of imperceptible gloom flashed in Xuanyuan Po's eyes, but the smile on his Face remained gentle:
"Junior Brother Su's aspirations are high, and his dedication to the Dao is something I, Po, deeply admire. Since Junior Brother's mind is made up, I naturally wouldn't dare to force you. However..."
He subtly shifted his tone, his gaze sweeping over the eyes that had gathered, either due to the previous conflict or his appearance. He raised his voice a few notches, ensuring many could hear:
"What happened today was, after all, an offense by my subordinate against Junior Brother.
To express my apology, and to ensure Ye Qing remembers this lesson, in three days, I will host a small banquet in the Human Emperor Hall. Firstly, to apologize to Junior Brother Su, and secondly, to have Ye Qing personally offer you a toast of apology.
At that time, several fellow Daoists will also be present, and we can discuss and exchange insights.
I implore Junior Brother Su to honor us with your presence, otherwise, my heart will be uneasy, and the outside world might say that I, Xuanyuan Po, do not understand etiquette and indulge my subordinates."
His words were impeccably phrased.
He both expressed his apology and separated the "apology banquet" from the "struggle for Luck," bringing up "etiquette" and "outside perception," subtly creating a new kind of pressure.
If Su Ming didn't go, he would appear to be ungiving of Face, unappreciative, and might even affect the relationship between Lingxu Heavenly Palace and the Human Emperor Palace.
Su Ming cursed inwardly that Xuanyuan Po was indeed much more difficult to deal with than Ye Qing, and his methods were more sophisticated.
This seemingly Face-giving "apology banquet" was actually a carefully designed trap, making it difficult for him to refuse easily.
If he went, it would inevitably involve other things.
"Agree to him."
A voice suddenly rang out in Su Ming's mind.
Su Ming was startled, but quickly realized it was Han Xuanji transmitting a message to him. Su Ming didn't hesitate and agreed to the matter, though he was also a bit puzzled.