Generous Treatment

Generous Treatment . . . 

In the days that followed, Qin Wentian found himself frequently wandering the bustling streets of Heavenly City, his appearance altered to avoid drawing attention. Nestled among the sprawling mountains, this city was a beacon of prosperity, teeming with experts and treasures beyond count.

In Heavenly City, if you possessed enough meteor stones, you could acquire almost anything your heart desired.

Qin Wentian decided to purchase a messaging crystal, a valuable treasure that could store immortal sense. Its operation was quite straightforward: he could communicate with someone who left a strand of their immortal sense within it. For instance, if he wanted to contact Beiming Youhuang, she only needed to leave her immortal sense within the crystal, and Qin Wentian could converse with her by sending his own strand of immortal sense.

However, due to the complexity of the materials required for its construction, these crystals were exorbitantly expensive.

Initially, Qin Wentian had thought himself quite wealthy after his time in the mine. Yet, just a few days in Heavenly City made him realize that he was woefully impoverished. There were treasures so costly that he couldn't even fathom affording them. For instance, crafting supremely powerful emperor-ranked weapons demanded astronomical amounts of emperor-grade stones and other rare materials, not to mention the cost of hiring a master weaponsmith. These prices were astronomical.

Moreover, the quality of emperor-ranked weapons in the Supreme Ancient Immortal Realms far surpassed those in the Azure Mystic Immortal Realms. They were more user-friendly, even for those with lower cultivation levels. This conferred a significant advantage upon cultivators from major clans and sects of the Supreme Ancient Immortal Realms, leaving unaffiliated cultivators in dire straits.

In this regard, the disparity between the powerful and the weak in a world became more pronounced.

Among unaffiliated cultivators, bandits reaped immense wealth. Even from an ordinary mine, their spoils were staggering. However, the stakes were life and death in their pursuit of riches.

Despite the carefree façade of Fairy Thousand Feathers, the moment her identity as a bandit was exposed, she would become the target of relentless pursuit.

Unbeknownst to Qin Wentian, the core members of the Thousand Feathers Palace received orders from their palace mistress to procure light-attribute and life-attribute emperor stones, preferably of high grade. These stones possessed slightly lower levels of law-attribute energy, but her orders were followed obediently, despite the puzzlement of her followers.

Qin Wentian was blissfully ignorant of these developments, but the Barbarian Emperor was well-informed. He sought out Qin Wentian with a cold intent in his eyes.

"Senior, how may I assist you?" Qin Wentian greeted the Barbarian Emperor as he entered the courtyard where he resided. The same immortal emperor who had clashed with him at the mine was the Barbarian Emperor.

"Let's go to the battle formation. We can finish what we started," the Barbarian Emperor declared coldly. Qin Wentian couldn't fathom what had provoked this animosity, but ever since his arrival at the Thousand Feathers Palace, the Barbarian Emperor had been harboring ill will and casting unfriendly glances in his direction.

"Senior, you are an immortal emperor, and I acknowledge my inferiority," Qin Wentian gracefully declined with a smile. Regardless of whether he could defeat emperors or not, this was the Thousand Feathers Palace. The Barbarian Emperor was a respected figure here, a trusted subordinate of the enigmatic Ye Qianyu. There was no advantage for Qin Wentian in defeating him. In his current situation, it was best to remain low-profile.

"We haven't determined a winner between us. You possess formidable combat prowess, and the palace mistress holds you in high regard. How can you, a cultivator of your stature, shy away from a battle?" the Barbarian Emperor scolded, his words carrying a tone of reproach. "Come with me."

"Senior, I'm merely a mid-stage immortal king. Why must you make things difficult for me?" Qin Wentian frowned, feeling somewhat displeased. What did the Barbarian Emperor mean by accusing him of cowardice? Wasn't this person an immortal emperor challenging him, a mere mid-stage immortal king? Yet, he spoke as if his actions were justified.

However, Qin Wentian chose not to voice his thoughts. If he could avoid unnecessary confrontations, he would gladly do so.

"Today, you must fight, even if you don't wish to," the Barbarian Emperor coldly snorted and stepped forward, causing a resounding boom to shake the ground. The sturdy flooring, though made of special materials, proved unable to withstand the force of his stomp.

"Why are you pushing me, Senior?" Qin Wentian's voice carried a tinge of irritation.

"So what if I push you?" The Barbarian Emperor advanced again, and the earth trembled under his power. The house Qin Wentian was in crumbled entirely as the vibrations resonated through his body.

"A'mun," a languid voice intervened, causing the Barbarian Emperor to halt. His gaze softened, and the vibrational energy dissipated. He turned toward the direction of the palace mistress's bedroom.

"Come to my chambers. Qin Wentian, you shall come as well," the voice rang out again. The Barbarian Emperor shot Qin Wentian a cold glance before stepping out. Qin Wentian followed, and moments later, they arrived at Ye Qianyu's opulent palace.

"Palace mistress," both the Barbarian Emperor and Qin Wentian greeted Ye Qianyu, who approached them wearing a different, elegant robe that accentuated her beauty. Her beauty and elegance seemed perfectly matched. The Barbarian Emperor's eyes gleamed as he observed her.

"A'mun, why are you provoking someone as talented as Qin Wentian? He's only an immortal king. Don't you have any regard for me?" Ye Qianyu spoke softly. The Barbarian Emperor bowed and replied, "Palace mistress, I only wanted to gauge his combat strength and see if he's worthy of the considerable resources you've invested in him."

"I know what I'm doing. When did it become your prerogative to make decisions on my behalf?" Ye Qianyu's voice grew colder, a solemnity Qin Wentian hadn't seen before. The Barbarian Emperor lowered his head, admitting his error. "A'mun acknowledges his mistakes. It's just that he has received such special treatment despite not achieving much yet. I couldn't help but feel unwilling."

"Hmph, do you think I'm unaware of your thoughts?" Ye Qianyu snorted coldly. "Since you destroyed Qin Wentian's residence, he will stay in my palace from now on. You may choose any room here."

"Palace mistress, you can't do this," the Barbarian Emperor protested, his expression shifting.

Qin Wentian appeared astonished. Residing here? Although she was undeniably beautiful, he truly didn't dare to live in the same palace with her. He would undoubtedly be tormented.

"Why? Do you dare to question my decision?" Ye Qianyu's voice grew even colder.

"A'mun doesn't dare to question your decision. It's just that, palace mistress..." the Barbarian Emperor attempted to explain but was silenced when Ye Qianyu waved her hand, preventing further argument. She continued, "It's settled then. A'mun, I understand your concerns. However, you must suppress these thoughts and focus on your cultivation. Don't let my father's expectations of you go unfulfilled."

The Barbarian Emperor's heart quivered as he gazed at Ye Qianyu. Her eyes softened as she looked back at him. He nodded in response, saying, "Elder sister Qianyu, A'mun will definitely not disappoint our master's hopes."

"Very well, you may go. Just remember to prioritize your cultivation," Ye Qianyu waved her hand. The Barbarian Emperor shot one last cold glance at Qin Wentian before departing.

Qin Wentian was drenched in cold sweat. Finally, he understood the connection between the two of them.

Ye Qianyu's father was the Barbarian Emperor's master. It explained why the Barbarian Emperor was so close to her. As an emperor, he willingly carried her sedan and was affectionately addressed as "A'mun" by her. This revelation weighed heavily on Qin Wentian's mind. How could he have missed the romantic affection the Barbarian Emperor held for Ye Qianyu? Yet, despite this, she invited him to stay in her palace. Wasn't she intentionally making things difficult for him? The Barbarian Emperor's parting glance only deepened Qin Wentian's confusion.

Seeing Qin Wentian's slight frown, Ye Qianyu actually burst into laughter. "What's the matter? Aren't you pleased that I've given you the freedom to choose a room in my palace?"

"I dare not, my lady. I'm concerned it might tarnish your reputation," Qin Wentian replied.

"Wow, you're quite considerate, aren't you? In that case, why don't you stay with me? No one would dare to say a word then," Ye Qianyu teased, giggling. Qin Wentian stared at the stunning beauty before him in astonishment. He couldn't help but shiver involuntarily. Observing his reaction, Ye Qianyu laughed even harder. Indeed, her figure was incredibly alluring.

"You must have heard A'mun's words earlier. Right now, you have no accomplishments, and people will surely gossip about you. I'm planning our next heist; you should join us, using your original features to exact revenge on the Jialan Monarch. What do you say?" Ye Qianyu suggested.

Qin Wentian's face showed signs of exasperation. He repeatedly shook his head, "Palace mistress, please spare me. I am your captive, and you can command me to do anything except becoming a bandit. If you wish, I can assist in managing the affairs of the Thousand Feathers Palace."

"But I've already assigned others to handle the palace's matters. You need to gain experience. Being a bandit isn't such a bad idea," Ye Qianyu encouraged. Qin Wentian remained resistant, showing no inclination whatsoever.

"You really won't consider it?" Ye Qianyu's tone grew slightly colder.

"Please forgive me, palace mistress."

"Alright, I won't force you," Ye Qianyu sighed lightly, disappointment tingeing her voice. Her captivating eyes cast a deep glance at Qin Wentian, who felt almost overwhelmed and ready to give in to her. This woman was incredibly bewitching; just a single glance from her could make people do anything for her.

"Femme fatale," Qin Wentian mused to himself.

Qin Wentian found a location and settled there, purposefully choosing a room far from Ye Qianyu's. She kept her word and didn't press him to become a bandit again.

One day, someone came to the palace where she resided. The individual was said to be a highly skilled formation grandmaster. After a long and busy day, Ye Qianyu sent a message to Qin Wentian, instructing him to meet her at the cultivation grounds.

Passing through the grand hall, Qin Wentian arrived at Ye Qianyu's cultivation grounds, a place usually off-limits to others.

Heavenly City was situated amidst a mountain range. Ye Qianyu's cultivation took place on a natural mountain peak laden with formations. Climbing the stairs, Qin Wentian reached a cultivation platform. As he gazed at it, he froze, unable to look away.

"How is it?" Ye Qianyu stood beside him, speaking softly. The cultivation platform radiated a resplendent light, and astral energy poured down upon it ceaselessly, creating an aura akin to that of an emperor's.

"Palace mistress," Qin Wentian's expression turned serious. This cultivation platform boasted seven law attributes, perfectly aligning with his seven astral souls. Having learned more about the Supreme Ancient Immortal Realms, he understood the astronomical cost of creating such a platform. Notably, the required law attributes needed to come from countless emperor stones. Even immortal emperors might struggle to afford such a creation.

Yet here, Ye Qianyu had provided one for him!