[Vol. 6] Chapter 219: Someone Worth Dealing With!
“Oh… so basically, he wants to take advantage of Spirit Veil Immortal Island’s benefits while avoiding disadvantages? This Saint is very greedy~”
Hearing Violet’s blunt and somewhat sharp observation, Mu Ze could only shake his head helplessly.
“Miss Violet, I’d advise you not to say such things in front of His Holiness. He’s a very prideful man, with an exceptionally strong desire for control. A born ruler, you could say. He can’t tolerate anything slipping beyond his grasp. I understand that you’re not afraid of His Holiness, but as a favor to me, could you please give him some leeway?”
“Respect is mutual. My actions will depend entirely on that old man attitude. Let’s not dwell on this. Before I meet that old man, can you tell me what you know about him?”
Hearing the unyielding tone in Violet’s response, Mu Ze exhaled slightly and nodded.
“I can’t say I know everything about His Holiness, but I’ll share what I can that might be useful.”
Shangguan Qiuyue, the Saint of Eastern Kingdom, is a name that sounds almost delicate but belongs to someone whose reputation echoes across the four nations.
Unlike the other three nations, the Eastern Kingdom has had only seven Saints since its founding. The second through sixth Saints each ruled for periods ranging from several decades to over a century. However, the seventh Saint, Shangguan Qiuyue, has reigned over the Eastern Kingdom for nearly 200 years and continues to this day.
Among all the Saints in history, excluding the legendary first generation, Shangguan Qiuyue’s reign is the longest. Even now, he remains in his prime, showing no signs of decline or struggle to maintain his position.
His true strength is shrouded in mystery. As the ruler of an entire nation, Shangguan Qiuyue rarely has the opportunity to fight personally, so he has not been ranked in the [Ancient Spirit Realm Top 100]. However, the fact that he has maintained an unchallenged rule over the Eastern Kingdom for nearly two centuries speaks volumes.
Combined with scattered historical records, Shangguan Qiuyue has been listed as an exception on the “Top 100 Rankings”, with some speculating that his strength may rival that of the first-generation Eastern Saint. He is even rumored to have broken through to realms beyond [Eternal Life]. Realms that remain largely unknown.
In addition to his formidable personal strength, Shangguan Qiuyue, the seventh-generation Eastern Saint, is a remarkably talented ruler. He values talent, prioritizes water management, stabilizes agriculture, governs with diligence, strengthens the military, and punishes corruption.
He pays great attention to the livelihoods of people across the regions under his rule. Not only has he severely cracked down on corruption, but his own lifestyle is notably simple. Over his 200-year reign, he has initiated very few projects related to luxury or personal enjoyment, earning him recognition as one of the most virtuous Saints.
His leadership is also one of the main reasons why the Eastern Kingdom consistently holds the top position in comprehensive national strength among the four nations.
Most of what Mu Ze shared was already known to Violet.
A ruler who has held the throne for two centuries is bound to have pride and dignity. That’s only natural. In other places, or without the balancing presence of Spirit Veil Immortal Island, this man could have been excessively deified, leading to a cult of personality.
Violet just hoped he would be reasonable. While this man might not be a "good" person in the moral sense, he was undeniably an outstanding ruler. Unless absolutely necessary, Violet had no intention of creating conflict with him.
“We’ve arrived. His Holiness should have just returned and appears to have been attending a routine meeting. I’ll go in and announce your presence. Please wait here for a moment,” Mu Ze said.
He led the two women to the entrance of a grand and solemn hall. After knocking a few times, he stepped forward, about to speak with the guards. However, before he could proceed, a thunderous and authoritative voice erupted from within the hall:
“Outrageous! These scoundrels are utterly brazen! Do they think our Holy Sect fears them?!”
“?”
The two young women, who had just steadied themselves, exchanged puzzled glances, their faces full of questions. Mu Ze, on the other hand, seemed to have anticipated this, his expression darkening.
“The worst-case scenario has happened… It seems war is now inevitable. Please wait here.”
He quickly stepped forward, retrieving an object and flashing it before the guards, who had been ready to block his way. Startled, the guards immediately lowered their weapons, bowed respectfully, and allowed Mu Ze to pass into the depths of the hall where the Saint resided.
Not long after, Mu Ze returned alone, his expression heavy, and rejoined the two women.
“Thank you for waiting. His Holiness has agreed to meet you and has already gone ahead to the reception hall.”
Violet nodded but couldn’t hide her curiosity.
“Was he just having a meeting with his subordinates? What exactly happened?” Violet asked.
Mu Ze shook his head, his expression complicated.
“Let His Holiness explain it to you. Follow me.”
Leading them further along the corridor, Mu Ze brought the group to an outdoor area with no guards in sight. He pushed open a small door and stepped in first.
Inside the quaint and elegantly decorated room, three figures were already waiting.
At a low square table, with fine tea prepared on it, stood two individuals Violet recognized. One was Shangguan Hong, the chief disciple of the [Shocking God Sect], known for his heterochromia eyes. The other was a girl with a black braided hair, who was once known as [Xuan Shu]. When they saw Violet and her companions enter, both offered kind smiles. Similar, but each with subtle differences in intent.
The third person sat cross-legged behind the low table. Dressed in a dignified blue and gold robe, the man radiated an air of unyielding authority. Though Violet had only seen him from a distance before, this was her first close encounter.
This was the Saint of Eastern Kingdom. The true ruler of this powerful nation.
He was strong. Stronger than Mu Ze. Violet immediately sensed it from the restrained yet piercing aura emanating from him.
This man... had reached the “Pseudo-God” level?
Though there was likely still some gap between him and the Peach Blossom Sage, who had achieved the [Ultimate Transformation] pinnacle and was considered a true demigod, his power was already comparable to the [Bone Immortal] of the [Seven Heavenly Demon Lords].
Surpassing human limits was the ultimate and rarest achievement in human evolution. To reach the “Pseudo-God” realm required a perfect combination of miracles and unparalleled talent. Even so, aside from anomalies like [Nameless Demon Sovereign], who carved their own path, almost no ordinary person could even dream of achieving such heights.
Thinking further, Violet recalled that the Four Saints were said to carry the bloodline of the Four Holy Beasts. The Western Saint, Yuan Qianqiu, had indeed reached the “Pseudo-God” level, but could such power truly come without a cost?
“Your Holiness, they’ve arrived,” Mu Ze announced.
Mu Ze spoke at just the right moment, breaking the silent stare between Violet and the Saint of Eastern Kingdom. Shangguan Qiuyue nodded, and Mu Ze, now standing behind him, quietly closed the door.
Contrary to Violet’s expectations, the Saint didn’t display the arrogance of a ruler, nor did he demand gestures of respect like bowing or kneeling. Instead, he simply raised his hand in a calm, expressionless manner.
“Please, have a seat.”
He was more approachable than she had imagined. Given his earlier outburst, Violet had assumed he might have a fiery temper.
Without hesitation, Violet took a seat across from him at the low table, settling onto the soft cushion provided. However, Xiao Kong didn’t follow her lead. Instead, she stood behind Violet with her hands folded, mirroring Mu Ze’s stance.
Seeing this, Shangguan Qiuyue subtly raised an eyebrow but said nothing, quickly moving on to the matter at hand.
“Miss Vi, and Miss Kong… correct?”
Oh! Did he just call her ‘Miss Vi’? This man is unbearable!
“Should I feel honored that the Saint remembers my name?”
The Saint offered a faint smile, a stark contrast to his stern demeanor outside.
“Miss Vi, there’s no need for false modesty. [White Rainbow] and [Silver Cat], you’re both the top contenders for the championship in the finals. In Xingyuan City, there are few who haven’t heard your names. Why would I be an exception?”
Violet gave a noncommittal nod, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the compliment. She remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
As expected, Shangguan Qiuyue quickly got to the point.
“I’ve already received reports about what happened in the west of the city. The other party is both brazen and well-prepared. If possible, I hope to form an alliance with you two to deal with this external threat together.”
“However, before that, there’s something I need to confirm.”
“Oh~?” Violet raised an eyebrow playfully, showing little concern for formalities.
The ruler of the Eastern Kingdom, who had maintained his reign for two centuries, ignored her casual tone and spoke with deliberate intent.
“Miss Vi, what is your view of this country, and of the [Ancient Spirit Realm] as a whole?”
“Or, to put it more plainly. Are you our ally?”