Confronting an Immortal Emperor

Confronting an Immortal Emperor . . .

Qin Wentian's voice reverberated through the grand hall like a thunderclap shattering the profound silence. It wasn't a booming roar, but its quiet intensity sent shockwaves through the hearts of all who heard it. The expressions of disbelief etched on their faces were mirrored in the wide-eyed astonishment in their gazes.

In that suspended moment, time itself seemed to pause. The room was filled with an eerie stillness as even the gentlest breaths ceased. All eyes were riveted on Qin Wentian and Jun Mengchen, hanging on every word, yet unable to believe what they were witnessing.

This extraordinary event, occurring once every century, had been building to a crescendo. With the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor's grand entrance and his intent to accept the top three rankers as his disciples, it was supposed to be a moment of unparalleled celebration. But now, in the final moments before the anticipated conclusion, the atmosphere had taken a startling turn. Even the immortal kings, who were accustomed to witnessing the rise of celestial talents, felt a disconcerting sense of unease.

These immortal kings were no strangers to greatness. They had seen countless prodigies who had reached the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, yet their hearts remained unmoved. But now, they found themselves on the brink of panic.

As the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor made his grand entrance, it was meant to be the prelude to the banquet's perfect finale. However, two of the top three rankers had just rejected the honor of becoming his disciples.

Though Jun Mengchen and Qin Wentian's rejections were articulated with courtesy and grace, their voices resonated with unwavering resolve and indifference. It was as if they had rehearsed their response and had come prepared for this moment.

The seasoned experts in the room were far from naive. With countless years of experience, they could read between the lines. It was painfully obvious that neither Jun Mengchen nor Qin Wentian had ever intended to accept the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor as their master.

In the immortal realms, the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor was akin to a deity, ruling over the thirteen prefectures. His personal appearance here had drawn the attention of all, only to be met with the rejection of two juniors. This was nothing short of a resounding slap to his prestige.

Who in the thirteen prefectures would dare to defy him like this? And to make matters more astonishing, these two rebels were merely juniors at the Celestial Phenomenon Realm.

In the hushed atmosphere, the silence stretched on. Even the immortal kings remained mute, seemingly struggling to digest the audacious words spoken by Qin Wentian and Jun Mengchen.

The Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor himself was momentarily stunned. This unprecedented turn of events had caught him off guard. In this historic moment, even Princess Glaze was taken aback. Her elegant eyes shimmered with astonishment. She had never anticipated that such a stunning reversal would unfold. As her gaze settled on the two resolute young men, she saw determination etched on their faces, and like everyone else, she awaited the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor's response in suspense.

In the realm of the Cloud Prefecture, the Idlecloud Immortal King, who had been brimming with jubilation mere moments ago, was now plunged into utter bewilderment. There was no trace of his former joy; instead, his gaze fixated on the two young men before him, his eyes wide with incredulity. He couldn't fathom what had driven them to such audacity.

"INSOLENCE!"

Finally, the silence was shattered by a single word, a word pregnant with coldness and a palpable intent to kill.

It was Dongsheng Ting who spoke, and the very thought that had briefly crossed his mind but had been hastily dismissed now returned with a vengeance. He had entertained the possibility only to reject it outright. Yet here they were, defying all odds, and this sent a shiver of dread coursing through his heart.

Could Qin Wentian be here for revenge?

Had he summoned the audacity to reject the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor before the eyes of all, including the formidable prefecture lords of the Thirteen Prefectures?

"Jun Mengchen, do you understand the gravity of your actions? Are you willingly relinquishing the opportunity I presented to you?" Dongsheng Ting's eyes bore into Jun Mengchen. When it came to Qin Wentian, Dongsheng Ting had already decreed his fate – death. However, he still clung to a glimmer of hope for Jun Mengchen, believing that Qin Wentian had unduly influenced him. There was a faint hope that Jun Mengchen might awaken from his apparent foolishness, hence the offer of a second chance.

"My father is the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor, the governor of the thirteen prefectures. With your remarkable talent, if my father accepts you as his disciple, your brilliance will outshine every other rising star of your generation. If you retract your earlier words, I am willing to intercede on your behalf with my father."

Dongsheng Ting stared intently at Jun Mengchen, his hopes resting on the young man's response.

Jun Mengchen, however, returned the gaze with unyielding resolve. Though he was known for his impulsive nature, his principles were unwavering. He was a disciple of the Heavenly Talisman Realm, brought here by a senior brother for a mission of self-improvement and growth. To him, this event was merely a means to hone his skills.

The prospect of becoming the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor's disciple held no allure for Jun Mengchen.

"I joined this grand event of the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect, from the preliminaries in the Cloud Prefecture to this stage, solely for the purpose of self-improvement and strengthening my skills. I have no intention of taking anyone as my master." Jun Mengchen's gaze remained fixed on Dongsheng Ting, his tone resolute. He continued, "Moreover, while it's a privilege for the top three rankers to become disciples of the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect, it has never been a mandatory requirement. I have never heard that achieving a top-three rank obliges you to accept the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect as your master. If it were so, I wouldn't have participated in the first place."

The room fell into an eerie silence as Jun Mengchen's words settled in. This once-a-century event had been steeped in tradition, with the top three rankers expected to become the disciples of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor. It was considered a matter of course, a time-honored tradition. Yet today, two young men had defied convention.

To reject the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor in such a grand gathering – was it not a deliberate affront to his prestige?

Never before had anyone dared to challenge this custom. Never before – until now.

Dongsheng Ting, despite his desire to intervene, was abruptly silenced by the commanding voice of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor, "Shut up."

Startled, Dongsheng Ting ceased speaking immediately. His gaze shifted to his father, who remained outwardly composed. His royal father's eyes, deep as ancient wells, betrayed no emotion. The faint smile that had once graced his face had vanished, replaced by an imposing gravity.

Indeed, the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor was genuinely incensed at this moment. As an exalted immortal emperor, he towered over all others, his status unparalleled. Yet, here he was, subjected to the public rejection of two mere juniors. How could he not seethe with anger?

"Please, everyone, resume your seats," the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor declared calmly. Despite his anger, he maintained the veneer of regal composure. The assembled guests obeyed in hushed silence, their spirits weighed down by the oppressive atmosphere.

"You two are fellow sect members, but which sect do you hail from, and who is your master?" The Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor's penetrating gaze bore into Qin Wentian. His eyes seemed to possess the power to peer into the depths of one's soul, and his voice resonated like the very essence of the Great Dao, reverberating in Qin Wentian's mind and setting his nerves on edge. The intensity was overwhelming, compelling him to speak the truth.

Qin Wentian felt a surge of power from within as his bloodline stirred. He returned the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor's unwavering gaze, though the disparity in their cultivation levels was staggering. Qin Wentian knew he had to tread carefully when dealing with experts of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor's caliber. His politeness stemmed from respect for strength, not servility. He clung to his determination and spirit.

"Your Majesty need not concern yourself with that," Qin Wentian replied politely. Whatever his thoughts, he recognized the necessity of maintaining a facade of respect when confronting someone as formidable as the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor. This wasn't submission but rather a display of reverence for the powerful.

"Is your rejection a consequence of past events?" The Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor inquired with an air of detachment, as if discussing a mundane topic. His mastery over his emotions was truly impressive.

"In the past, I should have become Your Majesty's disciple as a matter of course. But due to the condition—a once-in-a-thousand-years period of free time—I had no choice but to decline Your Majesty's generous offer. My actions were deemed arrogant and insolent, causing Your Majesty to rescind your invitation. Perhaps, to Your Majesty, this was a minor matter, for I am but a negligible speck in your eyes. Even if my pride were to be trampled, it would hold little significance. Your Majesty would likely forget about me in a mere instant," Qin Wentian remarked with a faint smile. "The events of the past, coupled with His Highness Dongsheng Ting's words and the fact that the disciple you took in my stead, Que Tianyi, was not burdened by the same arduous conditions, have led me to a conclusion. What transpired back then was not as straightforward as I once believed. Perhaps, Your Majesty, you are deliberately making things difficult for me."

Dongsheng Ting couldn't contain his outrage and took a menacing step forward.

"Allow him to speak," the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor commanded, halting Dongsheng Ting in his tracks. He then fixed his gaze back on Qin Wentian.

"For this disciple recruitment event, His Highness Dongsheng Ting deliberately targeted me unfairly in the first two rounds. In the initial round, the Dream Devil King attempted to invade my memories, and naturally, I struggled to break free from his dream realm. Consequently, I was ranked last in that round. In the second round, the devil statue exhibited an autonomous will, directly assaulting my mental fortitude, shattering it as soon as I entered. Nevertheless, I relied solely on my own strength to reach this point and secure the top ranking in the event."

Qin Wentian's unwavering gaze met that of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor as he continued, "Under such circumstances, does Your Majesty truly believe I would willingly join the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect? I wonder what treatment awaits me once I'm a part of it. At that time, His Highness Dongsheng Ting need only fabricate any excuse, and I would be condemned to eternal damnation, with no hope of redemption."

Qin Wentian's words resonated in the hushed hall, each syllable a declaration of his unwavering resolve. The tension in the air was palpable as his fearless speech reverberated through the hearts of all who listened.

"I came here, firstly, to temper myself, and secondly, to convey to Your Majesty that not everyone aspires to be your disciple," Qin Wentian declared with unshakable determination. "Even without entering your tutelage, I possess the power to surpass the geniuses of all thirteen prefectures and even those within your Eastern Sage Immortal Sect of my generation. Small characters have their own pride, and it cannot be trampled upon as you wish."

Having spoken his mind, Qin Wentian turned his attention to the Deepflame Immortal King, his tone laced with a hint of defiance. "Did you not, Deepflame Immortal King, imply to me earlier that some things are preordained? Yet, my response to you was that the ending remains uncertain until the very last moment. Have you now grasped the significance of this ending?"

The Deepflame Immortal King's countenance twisted in a sinister expression, but before he could react, the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor interjected with an indifferent tone, "Fascinating."

Qin Wentian returned his gaze to the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor, who remained composed and regal. The Emperor's eyes brimmed with a majestic presence as he continued, "Fascinating indeed, and truly remarkable. However, are you not apprehensive that I might end your life?"

As the Emperor's voice trailed off, an even weightier and stifling pressure descended upon Qin Wentian. It felt as though the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor held the power to extinguish his life with a mere thought.

"Back then, Your Majesty was summoned by the Evergreen Immortal Emperor to visit a tiny world and accept a disciple. I was well aware that it was Qing'er granting me an opportunity. However, Your Majesty chose to make it arduous for me, going against the intentions of the Evergreen Immortal Emperor," Qin Wentian asserted with an air of icy arrogance. "Now, I merely decline the honor of becoming your disciple, and you contemplate ending my life? Are you not concerned about the mockery that would echo throughout the realms of the immortals?"

Qin Wentian's words hung in the air, an audacious challenge to the immortal realm's status quo. Princess Glaze's eyes widened as comprehension dawned upon her. This was what Qin Wentian had intended to convey earlier.