From the Imperial City back to the Azure Cloud region, even he would need several days.
Suddenly, Wang Jinhu was startled. Li Kuangren unexpectedly turned around again and headed towards the imperial court!
The civil and military officials in the imperial court were all shocked. They were all old foxes of the court; how could they not see the Human Emperor's intention? The Human Emperor had completely abandoned the southern border, completely abandoned the Li family!
Just as they were afraid that Li Kuangren from the Azure Cloud region would speak recklessly.
They saw Li Kuangren cup his hands towards the jade throne above. His voice boomed, and he laughed wildly.
"Just now, I left in such a hurry that this commoner forgot to thank His Majesty for his grace!"
"This commoner thanks Your Majesty for having once bestowed upon our Azure Cloud region Li clan the name 'Iron-Boned Immortal Clan,' and thanks Your Majesty for bestowing upon us Sky Jade City!"
"This commoner dares to ask Your Majesty a question. Your Majesty said that the Dynasty's territory is vast, and that my Li clan can choose a place to settle and obtain the title of Region Prince. Is this truly so?!?"
The assembled officials all frowned.
Imperial Preceptor Min Youguo angrily rebuked him, "Insolence! His Majesty's words are golden and true, naturally, it is true! You can, of course, choose any place in the northern territory!"
"Then good."
Li Kuangren's eyes flashed with a sharp glint. "Then my Li clan wants the Azure Cloud region!"
"Insolence!" Min Youguo said angrily. "His Majesty has already granted the Azure Cloud region to the Wu Clan. Why do you repeatedly insist on the Azure Cloud region? Could it be that you want His Majesty to tear up the agreement and go seize the Azure Cloud region?"
"Hahaha!"
Li Kuangren's laughter boomed. Before he came, he had truly thought that the people in this imperial court were all some kind of extraordinary figures. He had heard that every one of them came from noble backgrounds, and every one of them held great power. Now, it seemed, they were all a bunch of garbage, useless trash!
"Imperial Preceptor speaks well! This commoner was rash!"
He narrowed his eyes, staring fixedly at these court officials. He wanted to remember their indifference in his heart. His voice began to turn cold, "Then, this commoner dares to ask, if my Li clan were to retake the Azure Cloud region?!?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the assembled civil and military officials looked at each other, not a single person saying anything more. But the playful expressions in their eyes said it all.
Retake Azure Cloud region? If they truly had that capability, wouldn't it still be the Azure Dynasty's land?
Above on the jade throne, the Human Emperor said in a deep voice, "Li Kuangren, today We have already shown you great tolerance. Speak, and do not test Our patience further."
"Then good."
Li Kuangren exhaled a long breath. "I want the Dynasty's cultivators above the Nascent Soul stage, if without my Li clan's permission, not to set foot in the Azure Cloud region. Azure Cloud region will not pay taxes for generations to come, and in the imperial court, we will not kowtow!"
The imperial court erupted in an uproar!
"You are outrageous!" Min Youguo roared, but his gaze remained calm.
How arrogant! This is demanding that the entire Azure Dynasty treat the Azure Cloud region like an ancestor to be worshipped!
But all the civil and military officials knew that Li Kuangren's arrogant words were nothing more than a dying struggle. Azure Cloud region, an isolated region, a small family, what could they use to resist the Wu Clan army?
Above on the jade dais, the Human Emperor fell into a long silence. There seemed to be anger rising, but in the end, there was a long, drawn-out sigh. "We... grant it."
"Then my Li family can fight to the death for this!"
Li Kuangren smiled. He cupped his hands towards all the civil and military officials. "This commoner wishes all of you, esteemed officials, a steady rise in rank, and I wish His Majesty the Human Emperor to be equal to Heaven!"
"And I also wish my Li family victory in battle!"
He turned around and strode forward. All the civil and military officials in the court watched his departing figure!
He was going back to the Azure Cloud region!
This time, seeking aid, he did not bring back the Azure Dynasty's army. He only saw a bunch of bastards who didn't care about the Azure Cloud region or the Li family. But at least he had secured a future for the Li family, a future not in league with this group of useless trash!
Wang Jinhu, standing by the door, was covered in cold sweat. He looked at Li Kuangren, this young man not even a hundred years old.
It was hard to imagine how Li Kuangren dared to be so brazen and unyielding in front of all the civil and military officials.
"General Wang, how long will it take to return from the Imperial City to Azure Cloud region?" Li Kuangren's expression was calm, without even glancing back at the Heavenly Palace behind him.
"Half a month."
Wang Jinhu frowned. "Li Kuangren, you're still going back to the Azure Cloud region? Half a month, it's too late."
But his persuasion was completely useless. He discovered that Li Kuangren's eyes were so bright!
"You're wrong!"
Li Kuangren's lips curled up. "Everyone in the entire Azure Dynasty is wrong. Everything is still in time!"
"What?"
Wang Jinhu was stunned. He didn't know where this young man's confidence came from.
Li Kuangren laughed wildly, as if mocking the entire Azure Dynasty.
"My clansmen will never give up hope!"
"Once, the entire Azure Cloud region was the enemy of my Li clan, yet we still stood on the land of Azure Cloud region. The Wu Clan invaded, they set foot in Merit City, yet we still struggled to survive in despair!"
"General Wang, take me back. I want to celebrate with my clansmen."
Wang Jinhu didn't say whether he agreed or disagreed. He gritted his teeth and, in the end, took Li Kuangren and left.
At least, he hoped, in the Azure Cloud region, in that kind of desperate situation, there could truly be a celebration, a celebration that the entire Azure Dynasty should have fought for over thirty years ago.
.....
Inside the Heavenly Palace.
Everyone watched Wang Jinhu leading Li Kuangren away, their backs to the court. They no longer cared about Li Kuangren's earlier arrogance. Then, they all turned their heads to look at the jade throne. The matter of Li Kuangren's arrival was cast aside from their minds.
It was nothing more than the ravings of a man facing imminent death.
Min Youguo had already taken the lead in kneeling and bowing to the Human Emperor. His voice was loud and clear, as if ceding the twelve border regions and leaving the Li family to fight alone in the Azure Cloud region was something worthy of praise.
"The Human Emperor, Your Majesty, is benevolent and kind-hearted, able to tolerate even such an arrogant and reckless man as Li Kuangren. This is truly the good fortune of our Dynasty, the good fortune of the entire world!"
"May the Human Emperor, Your Majesty, live as long as Heaven!"
The assembled officials shouted in unison.
Their voices seemed to spread throughout the entire Dynasty.
The Heavenly Palace was so resplendent and magnificent. Below the Heavenly Palace, within the Imperial City, the common people lived and worked in peace and contentment, with songs and dances celebrating prosperity.
It was truly a scene of harmony and well-being.
---
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