Hearing such secrets, the middle-aged man’s expression turned subtle, clearly not believing the words of the Blood Noble.
He shifted his gaze from the box containing the source blood and said, “There are twenty-seven continents, and to this day, we have not fully explored them. The topmost continent has yet to be reached. Where is this new world you speak of?”
The Blood Noble, facing the skepticism of the middle-aged man, showed no surprise but smiled, “I must admit, I too was skeptical at first. But since my master has promised such a great price, it cannot be a mere joke, can it? If it were a joke, the cost would be far too high.”
The middle-aged man nodded, finding the reasoning sound. He pointed at the source blood and asked, “If the deposit is the source blood, what about the reward?”
The Blood Noble held up a finger, “One, a drop of green blood from Zhao Jiandu.”
The middle-aged man said indifferently, “What use is a single drop of green blood?”
The Blood Noble explained, “You may not know this, but with Zhao Jiandu’s current cultivation, he can only produce three drops of green blood. One drop will be used as the key to open the new world, one drop will be kept by my master, and the third will be given to you.”
“If there are only three drops, why not wait for him to enhance his cultivation further before extracting it?”
The Blood Noble sneered, “If he becomes a Divine General, how could we control him? Do you have any special means to kill him then?”
The middle-aged man fell silent, nodding slowly. A genius like Zhao Jiandu, even at the War General stage, could challenge opponents several levels above. If unprepared, killing them on the battlefield was already difficult. Once they broke through to become a Divine General, with one or two unique abilities, they would be like eagles soaring in the sky or fish in the sea. Even if the Great Lord personally intervened, it would take considerable effort.
The Blood Noble continued, “Secondly, the gate to the new world will appear only briefly. Once the origin force tide passes, the opportunity may be lost. The next origin force tide will be centuries later, and who knows if there will still be a chance to discover the new world then.”
“What use is this drop of green blood to me?”
“Hasn’t your human race long had methods to absorb origin crystals? The same principle applies. Green blood enhances potential, far beyond what origin crystals can do. This method, Your Excellency, should be well-known to you, right?”
His last words were a veiled taunt about the human race’s internal strife. The middle-aged man ignored it, pondering silently.
The Blood Noble, growing impatient, said, “Is there anything else to consider? A drop of green blood is equivalent to one-third of Zhao Jiandu’s bloodline power. With it, even a waste can become a Divine General, and an ordinary Divine General can ascend to a higher rank. The only limit is the realm of the Heavenly King.”
The middle-aged man sighed lightly, “In matters of bloodlines, you indeed have a thorough understanding.”
The Blood Noble then said, “The second item, a drop of Prince-level source blood, confirmed to come from one of the twelve ancient clans.”
The middle-aged man nodded.
“As for the third…” The Blood Noble took a piece of paper, wrote down two names, and handed it over.
The middle-aged man read it, frowning, “These are two Dukes from the Spider Demons and Demon Kin, correct? What makes them special?”
The Blood Noble smiled, “These two are quite outstanding in commanding fleets. It seems your Empire’s Imperial Guard Fleet has never gained the upper hand against them.”
The middle-aged man considered for a moment, “Indeed.”
The Blood Noble fixed his eyes on the middle-aged man and spoke slowly, “I don’t care whether you are truly the Right Prime Minister or just his subordinate. My master knows that the Right Prime Minister works tirelessly for the human race and the Empire. Therefore, we offer these two fleets to you. By taking them out, the situation on the floating land will fundamentally change. If you still can’t win after this, you can’t blame us.”
This time, the middle-aged man finally showed emotion, “Your master’s meaning is…?”
“We will provide you with all the information on the movements of these two fleets and arrange for them to take appropriate actions at the right time.”
The middle-aged man’s expression changed, and he pondered for a long time, still hesitating.
The Blood Noble saw this and said, “Although the human race lost an unparalleled genius, I must say, such geniuses appear every few years in the Evernight. Most either die prematurely or do not fully develop. Resources are limited, and not every genius can reach their full potential. How much they can achieve depends on their ability.”
“True words.”
“So, similarly, whether Zhao Jiandu will grow into a formidable force is still uncertain. For these two drops of green blood, my master has made a significant investment. The price we offer is no small matter. From another perspective, this is like the human race using a possible future powerhouse to exchange for immediate benefits. This transaction will give the human race a decade of advantage. Whether it is a profit or a loss depends on how you develop in these ten years.”
The Blood Noble paused, smiling deeply, “I hear the Right Prime Minister has extraordinary talents. To not utilize ten years properly would be inexcusable.”
The middle-aged man ignored his words, still pondering, without responding.
The Blood Noble sneered, “Once the gate to the new world opens, the Parliament will certainly devote all resources to exploring it. Losing a floating land is a small matter. Besides, exploring the new world will require immense energy and resources. Without the green blood, missing the opportunity to explore the new world, these resources will surely be used against the human race. Weigh the pros and cons for yourselves!”
Finally, the middle-aged man looked up and said calmly, “Then let’s agree on this. But I want those two fleets first.”
The Blood Noble laughed, “Your appetite is quite large. But to show our sincerity, we can agree to this condition. We will send the intelligence soon. This is no small favor; make sure to plan it well!”
“Of course, we understand.”
“Then I shall take my leave.”
The middle-aged man said coolly, “The journey is perilous, and you are injured. Be cautious. If you cannot return to the Evernight, it will be interesting.”
The Blood Noble laughed heartily, “Fear not! Many wish to see me dead, but many also wish me to live. I will be safe on this journey.”
“I hope so, farewell.”
The Blood Noble was escorted back in the carriage that brought the middle-aged man. The middle-aged man then took a piece of paper and swiftly wrote down several names, all young geniuses of the Empire, including Ji Tianqing and Li Kuanglan, along with a few lesser-known names.
At the top of the list was Zhao Jiandu.
Below Zhao Jiandu and above Ji Tianqing, there were two names: Song Zining and another name, less known.
He first crossed out Zhao Jiandu at the top, then after a long pause, added a Li beside it. Just a surname, no name.
He hesitated, then added Qian Ye beside Li. Looking at the name, he sighed, thinking for a long time before erasing half of it.
The rest of the list, he filled out quickly. As dusk approached, the paper was almost illegible.
He reviewed it several times, burned it in the candle flame, and sighed again.
The middle-aged man left the study and ordered, “Prepare the carriage, return to the estate.”
Soon, a carriage drove out of the estate, heading toward the capital.
As night deepened, the palace was not quiet.
Usually, Empress Li would return to her chambers at this hour, but tonight, she specially moved to Fengwu Palace, her designated place for meeting guests.
Inside Fengwu Palace, someone was already waiting—the middle-aged scholar who had recently parted ways with the Blood Noble.
Empress Li entered and sat down, glancing at the scholar, slightly surprised, “Since the Right Prime Minister is here, and not an outsider, why the need to change appearance and hide?”
The Right Prime Minister touched his face, instantly changing his features and slightly altering his physique. His demeanor became calm and composed. He bowed, “Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty.”
Empress Li said coolly, “Meeting me in such a manner, if the officials found out, they would gossip endlessly.”
The Right Prime Minister smiled, “Even if I were transparent, they would still gossip. It’s better to give them some fodder. At least, I know what they will say about me in the court, rather than having them constantly watching me for ammunition.”
“True enough. The Right Prime Minister does not come here in the dead of night just to give them fodder, does he?”
“Of course not. I have important matters to report.”
Empress Li waved her hand, and the attendants retreated, a faint light barrier falling, rendering their figures blurry. Others could see them but not hear their conversation.
“You may speak now.”
The Right Prime Minister said solemnly, “I am here to verify something.”
“What is it?”
“I heard that Your Majesty has plans for the Li family. On what basis?”
Empress Li’s expression remained unchanged, “What basis do you think it should be?”
The Right Prime Minister said, “I heard that the Li family will soon have a prodigious talent. Is this true?”
Empress Li’s face turned cold, and she remained silent for a moment before saying, “Only you would dare to ask such a question. What do you mean by this?”
The Right Prime Minister, undaunted, smiled, “From Your Majesty’s expression, it seems to be true. My intention is simple. Previously, I was indecisive about the matter. But if the Li family truly produces a pillar of the nation, why not lend my skills to them?”
Empress Li’s hand trembled slightly, then steadied, “The Right Prime Minister’s decision seems hasty.”
“I only wish to add another pillar to the Empire and the human race. If the Li family’s son truly has exceptional talent, I will certainly support his growth.”
Empress Li sipped her tea, giving a barely perceptible nod.
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