Upon hearing this, Orion smiled warmly.
From a distance, he clasped his hands in a respectful gesture towards the two, his face brimming with satisfaction.
"Haha, you two generals, there's no need for formalities. Please rise!" he said with a hearty laugh. "You've slain two half-emperors; you've done an outstanding job! Your efforts are greatly appreciated."
"By the way," Orion added, "allow me to introduce everyone properly."
Orion proceeded to introduce Luo Yi and the others to Ye Yun and his group. Each party exchanged polite greetings, showing mutual respect despite the differences in their cultivation levels. After all, they all served the same master—Orion.
Once introductions were made and everyone became acquainted, Orion's gaze shifted to the two corpses Luo Yi and Xu Chu had brought with them. A sudden wave of concern washed over him as he asked, "So, how did it go? Did everything proceed smoothly?"
Luo Yi let out a hearty laugh before replying, "My lord, you worried far too much. When I arrived, General Cao Chun was already subduing the enemy. Honestly, he would've handled both opponents without much trouble, even if I hadn't stepped in."
Cao Chun, ever humble, quickly waved his hands, denying Luo Yi's praise. "No, no, General Luo gives me too much credit. It wasn't as simple as he makes it sound," he said modestly. "I was battling both opponents, but they had a few hidden tricks up their sleeves—especially Ancestor Chaoyang, who possessed a fragmented immortal weapon. Without General Luo's assistance, I may have been caught off guard and severely wounded."
A brief flash of fear crossed Cao Chun's face as he recalled the danger he'd narrowly avoided. Though stronger than his adversaries, he realized that strength alone wasn't always enough. External items, like magical weapons, could shift the tide of battle in an instant.
"Alright, alright, enough modesty," Orion said with a smile, shaking his head. "I have a pretty good grasp of your abilities, and in the end, what matters is that everything turned out well."
Still, Orion couldn't help but feel relieved that he'd sent Luo Yi to assist. His cautious decision had proved wise, as the unexpected encounter with the incomplete immortal weapon could've led to disaster.
As Orion and the others conversed, several shadow guards arrived, escorting Zhou Linglong. She walked with her head bowed, her expression lifeless, as if resigned to her fate. But when her eyes fell upon the corpses on the ground, her body stiffened.
Zhou Linglong's gaze landed on a token attached to one of the corpses—a golden-threaded nanmu token, symbolizing royal status and immense imperial power. The token bore the number three.
"Three..." Zhou Linglong murmured under her breath, her eyes narrowing in realization. "The Third Prince?"
Her heart sank. She recognized the tokens carried by members of the royal family, each engraved with their rank. And this one belonged to the Third Prince. Zhou Linglong's confusion deepened as she stared at the corpse.
Could it really be him?
Despite the body's demonized appearance, the faint traces of familiarity in the brows and eyes gave away the truth. The Third Prince—her own uncle—had succumbed to the demonic path and risen to the level of a half-emperor.
A wave of disbelief washed over her. The once-noble prince had turned into a demon cultivator, hiding his true intentions beneath a facade of loyalty. And now, even with his powerful cultivation, he lay dead at Orion's feet.
Grief mingled with sorrow as Zhou Linglong reflected on the fall of her uncle. She had once known him as a harmless, gentle man, but beneath that mask lurked darkness. Now, he was gone, slain by Orion.
Zhou Linglong's initial shock gave way to a resigned calm. After all, what use was it to dwell on these revelations? She was now a prisoner, stripped of power and at the mercy of Orion.
While Zhou Linglong kept her thoughts concealed, her emotions did not escape the keen eyes of the experts around her. Her energy had been completely suppressed, making her no more than a regular person. Her feelings were as visible as an open book to those attuned to the fluctuations of the soul.
However, Orion showed little interest in her internal struggles. He knew she had thoughts brewing, but they didn't concern him. For now, it amused him to let her believe there was still hope—before he crushed it, piece by piece. That, in his eyes, was far more entertaining.
At that moment, Cao Chun suddenly remembered something. From the void, he waved his hand, summoning two space rings. He handed them to Orion.
"My lord, both half-emperor enemies have been eliminated," he said, his tone respectful. "These are the spoils we recovered from them. Please have a look."
Orion took the rings, nodding in approval. "Thank you, Cao Chun. I'm eager to see what treasures these two carried."
With a flicker of thought, Orion's consciousness dove into the first ring—the Third Prince's. His face twisted in disappointment as he inspected its contents.
"Junk... nothing but junk," Orion muttered to himself. "It's all worthless."
He wasn't surprised. The Third Prince had only reached the half-emperor level through devouring others' power, and his possessions reflected that. His wealth and belongings were those of a holy realm cultivator, far below what Orion had expected.
But when Orion examined the second ring, belonging to Ancestor Chaoyang of the Hundred Dynasties Chamber of Commerce, his eyes lit up in excitement.
"I'll be damned... this is a treasure trove!"
Ancestor Chaoyang had amassed incredible wealth as the leader of the powerful chamber of commerce, which spanned the entire Dongzhou Continent. His ring contained more spiritual stones than Orion could count, valuable medicinal herbs, and rare eighth-grade elixirs.
"Not bad... not bad at all," Orion said, nodding in satisfaction. Ancestor Chaoyang's fortune was indeed fitting for someone of his stature—a treasure trove beyond imagination.
Orion couldn't help but think, The Ancestor of the Hundred Dynasties was certainly an incredibly wealthy man...