I just reached the maximum level, and you want me to be a puppet emperor?

Chapter 731 A Backstab at the Critical Moment! (Please Subscribe, Please Vote for Monthly Tickets)

The scene when Li Chen left the Holy Capital was quite "touching".

The new Real Madrid manager, Vittoria von Wijnaldum, not only personally led his officials to see his mentor off at the ten-mile-long pavilion outside the city, his eyes red with reluctance, but also thoughtfully considered his mentor's "later years" life.

In his mind, a hermit's retreat is always a lonely affair.

Matvey meticulously dressed up all the concubines and beauties in the palace who had been "favored" by Li Chen, regardless of their social status, under the pretext that "serving the Witch Ancestor and going to the holy land for cultivation is the highest honor."

They formed a rather impressive procession and were sent together into Li Chen's Witch Ancestor's Blessed Land.

Not only that, Mavit also solemnly promised Li Chen: "Master is in seclusion, how can he be left without someone to take care of his daily life and relieve his loneliness? Your disciple has thought it through carefully. Starting this year, our Great Luo Dynasty will hold a 'Holy Maiden Selection' every year."
"We select virgins from all over the land, those of impeccable character, exceptional talent, and beautiful appearance, and send them to Master's blessed grotto to serve him. This is a great favor and honor for them and their families, and also a small token of our Great Luo royal family's filial piety towards you, Master."

Looking at the beautiful group of women in front of him, and at Mavit's expectant expression that seemed to say, "Is this your disciple's filial piety?", Li Chen couldn't help but smile.

His disciple may still need to hone his political skills, but his ability to understand the emperor's intentions and cater to his preferences is something he has mastered without a teacher and has won his favor.

He maintained the composure of a hermit, nodding slightly: "Your disciple is thoughtful. This is a good deed, which can not only add fresh blood to our witchcraft sect, but also benefit the families of believers. Very good."

This can be considered tacit approval and endorsement of the arrangement.

Upon returning to the misty, vibrant Wuzu Cave Heaven, Li Chen did not rush to leave the Return to Heaven Strategy.

He first made proper arrangements for the women sent by Mavit, with old sages from the grotto-heaven, such as Fairy Youlan, in charge of their management and guidance.

For a period of time thereafter, the prestige of the "Witch Ancestor" reached an unprecedented peak within the territory of the Daluo Dynasty.

His deeds—how he turned the tide, stabilized the court, persuaded the new emperor to avoid war with Tian Ce, saved the people from suffering, and finally retired gracefully—were passed down by believers and became increasingly mythologized.

He has almost become the only true God who embodies salvation, compassion, and power, and the number of believers has expanded dramatically, with the power of incense and faith becoming more powerful and pure than ever before.

This situation was not a threat to Mavit, but rather an excellent aid to consolidating his rule.

Because he was not only the emperor, but also the only direct disciple of the "Ancestor of Witchcraft"! Of course, this was only his opinion.

However, this identity gave him a transcendent status in the hearts of believers.

When he needs to implement a policy or requires local support, he often only needs to raise the banner of "disciple of the ancestor of witchcraft" and "for the development of witchcraft religion," and witches and believers in various places will respond actively, forming a powerful force of popular support.

Conversely, Mavit would also grant official recognition and numerous privileges to the witches, thus ensuring their social status and practical interests.

The two sides have formed a solid, mutually beneficial alliance, which is far more stable than a simple blood tie or interest-based bond.

After enjoying a few leisurely days in the blessed land, and feeling the gradual improvement in cultivation brought about by the power of faith,

Li Chen then formally handed over the management of this place to Fairy Youlan, who was exceptionally capable and had considerable experience in managing spiritual plants, and quietly returned to the long-lost capital of Tian Ce.

Inside the magnificent Tian Ce Imperial Palace, Li Chen removed the mysterious robe symbolizing the Witch Ancestor and put on a bright yellow imperial robe embroidered with a nine-clawed golden dragon, signifying supreme imperial power.

In the mirror, his face was still young and handsome, but his brows held a more unfathomable majesty and the maturity that comes with experience.

With a slight thought, he summoned the mysterious system interface that had been with him for so long. Sure enough, the status of the quest [System Quest: Sharpening the Blade in the Northern Territory], which had been shimmering with dark gold light, had changed from an incomplete gray to a brilliant gold indicating completion.

"Task rating: Perfect."

"Task rewards are being distributed."

As the system notification sounded, Li Chen felt that several items had appeared in his storage space.

With his mind focused, he saw the details of the reward: three [Void-Breaking Pills], each the size of a longan, perfectly round, and radiating a seven-colored glow;
A bottle contains only three drops of the [Eternal Earth Core Milk], yet it contains an immense amount of life-giving essence.
And a small throwing knife, as thin as a cicada's wing, almost transparent, and radiating spatial fluctuations, called the "Sky-Piercing Blade".

These rewards are all treasures that can greatly benefit experts at the Void Breaking Realm.

The [Void-Breaking Pill] can improve cultivation and stabilize one's realm; the [Ten-Thousand-Year Earth Core Milk] can restore a large amount of vital energy and even heal Dao injuries at critical moments; and the [Void-Breaking Blade] is a rare weapon of attack containing spatial laws, with astonishing power.

Li Chen nodded in satisfaction. This trip to the Northern Territory had yielded far more than expected. He had not only completed the system missions but had also managed to conquer a vast empire through his own efforts.

Just as he was tallying his spoils, the system interface flashed again, and a new task notification appeared:

[System Quest: Dragon Soaring in the East Sea]

[Mission Description: Deep within the East Sea, the Dragon Palace looms, its secrets and potential threats surging. Infiltrate the Dragon Palace to investigate its hidden mysteries and hidden threats.]

[Mission Hint: Dragons are proud and cannot enter without invitation; the underwater world has entirely different rules.]

[Mission Rewards: Depend on exploration results and completion rate.]

"The Dragon Palace of the East Sea?" Li Chen looked at the new mission, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes.

He had been to the Dragon Palace once before, but he went secretly and didn't have time to explore it properly.

Li Chen greatly admired the beauties of the dragon race, whether for their unique and elegant demeanor or their graceful figures that were so different from those of women on land.

Indeed, there were more than ten concubines from the sea tribe in his harem. For this reason, he even specially built a "water palace" in the palace, which was made of flowing water, for them to live in and relieve their homesickness.

However, there was one thing that Li Chen was never quite satisfied with: the relationship between the sea race and the human race was quite tense and there were constant frictions.

"If we were to launch a campaign to conquer all the races of the heavens in the future, the sea races, especially the powerful dragon races, would be a force that cannot be ignored."

Li Chen stroked his chin, a calculating glint in his eyes.

"Even if we can't win them over, we must never let them stab us in the back at a crucial moment."

His ambition was to unify the continent, and even a wider territory. These powerful forces that occupied all directions would either submit or be crushed.

It seems that the [East Sea Dragon] mission issued by the system coincides perfectly with his strategic plan, and it's time to put going to the sea tribe and dealing with the dragon tribe on the agenda.

Just as he was lost in thought, a light footstep accompanied by a silvery call came: "Brother! You're finally back! Where have you been having fun all this time? You haven't been in the palace with Si Ning!"

(End of this chapter)