"The Rebellion Palace?" Lin Qian responded with a nod after hearing Yue Liqun's report. "Perfect timing. I was planning to seek them out for some assistance. Now that they've come to me, it saves the trouble."
Yue Liqun looked at Lin Qian curiously. "Your Majesty, what do you need from them this time?"
"You'll see soon enough. Lead the way; I'll go meet them," Lin Qian said, patting Yue Liqun on the shoulder, signaling him to take the lead.
Yue Liqun nodded and turned to guide Lin Qian to where the Rebellion Palace members were waiting.
The mountain city, crafted by the Dwarves, was built into the mountainside itself, with its structure utilizing the natural formations. To create more space, the city was constructed in multiple layers.
At this moment, the members of the Rebellion Palace were waiting in a mansion at the highest level of the mountain city.
This mansion had once belonged to the city lord, who was also a high-ranking general in the Blackhorn Army. However, he had been killed by Lin Qian's arrow in the early stages of the battle.
As Lin Qian stepped into the mansion, he noticed a middle-aged Blackhorn man pacing back and forth, deep in thought.
When Lin Qian and Yue Liqun entered, the man immediately sensed their presence and turned around.
"You must be the emperor of the Huaxia Empire that Yue Liqun spoke of," the Blackhorn man said, scrutinizing Lin Qian from head to toe.
Lin Qian also examined the man closely. On the way over, Yue Liqun had informed him that this visitor was not just any envoy, but the current leader of the Rebellion Palace, Shen Zhixing, the younger brother of the Blackhorn King.
Lin Qian was surprised that the leader of the Rebellion Palace had come personally, especially since Shen Zhixing's previous messages to Yue Liqun had been rather prideful. For him to come in person now was unexpected.
"Indeed, I am the emperor of the Huaxia Empire," Lin Qian acknowledged with a nod. "To what do I owe the honor of this visit, Palace Lord Shen?"
Shen Zhixing smiled as he looked at Lin Qian. "Nothing major. I just heard that someone from the legendary surface world had appeared in our Gu Lin World, so I came to see for myself."
"Now that you've seen me," Lin Qian responded with a smile, staring back at Shen Zhixing in silence.
The atmosphere between the two grew tense, with both men silently sizing each other up. Finally, it was Lin Qian who broke the silence. "In fact, Palace Lord Shen, I was planning to reach out to your Rebellion Palace myself. There is something I need your help with."
"Oh? And what might that be?" Shen Zhixing raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious about what Lin Qian could possibly want from them.
"I hope the Rebellion Palace can help spread a message to the rational members of the Blackhorn Nation," Lin Qian began, proceeding to explain the situation with the Military Initiation Brew.
After listening carefully, Shen Zhixing nodded. "I see. Thank you for sharing this information. However, I have something to convey to you as well."
"Oh?"
"Please do not interfere in the affairs of the Blackhorn Nation. This is a matter for the Gu Lin World and does not require external involvement," Shen Zhixing said, his tone polite yet chilling. "Do you realize that your reckless actions could ruin our plans?"
"Ruin your plans?" Lin Qian asked with a hint of amusement.
"In twenty years, the Rebellion Palace will take action to resolve the issues in the Blackhorn Nation ourselves," Shen Zhixing continued calmly. "So, it would be best if the emperor of the surface world returns to where he came from."
"Twenty years?" Lin Qian chuckled. "Do you know that within a few years, the Nine States of the Southern Region under my rule will be drained of their spiritual energy due to the Gu Lin World's interference? They will become wastelands. The source of the problem lies in the Blackhorn Nation's capital, and twenty years is far too long to wait!"
"If you do not want the Huaxia Empire to intervene, I'm willing to step back. But there's no need to wait twenty years. I can assist the Rebellion Palace in resolving the situation now."
Lin Qian finished speaking and waited for Shen Zhixing's response.
To Lin Qian's disappointment, Shen Zhixing simply shook his head. "Impossible. The Rebellion Palace has set the timeline for twenty years, and that is final."
"Palace Lord, waiting another twenty years means continuing the suffering of the Blackhorn people. With the Huaxia Empire's help, we can end this sooner," Yue Liqun interjected, trying to persuade Shen Zhixing. "Besides, resolving this quickly will also help those affected in the surface world avoid disaster."
"Enough!" Shen Zhixing snapped, raising his hand to silence Yue Liqun. He glared at him, frowning. "Yue Liqun, you are no longer a member of the Rebellion Palace."
Turning back to Lin Qian, Shen Zhixing's expression hardened. "This is not a discussion, surface dweller. Do not spread the word about the Military Initiation Brew. Return to the Four Tribe Domain and stay out of this. Do not interfere in matters that do not concern you."
"The Blackhorn Nation does not need an outsider like you meddling. I have no interest in the fate of your Nine States in the Southern Region."
"If you dare to disrupt the Rebellion Palace's plans, I will personally come and kill you." With that, Shen Zhixing's body began to dissolve into pure soul energy and shot out of the mansion.
As the sound of metal clashing with the ground echoed, Lin Qian, with a grim expression, stepped out of the mansion, followed closely by Yue Liqun.
When Yue Liqun caught up with Lin Qian outside, his face darkened at the sight before him.
The guards from the Blood War unit who had been stationed outside the mansion lay on the ground, their bodies disintegrating into ashes, leaving behind only empty suits of armor.
Nearby, the bodies of innocent civilians from the five races lay in pools of blood, with large holes in their chests where their hearts had been.
Staring at the scene, Lin Qian's face remained expressionless as he spoke to the seething Yue Liqun beside him. "Do you know where the Rebellion Palace is?"
"Of course I do, Your Majesty!" Yue Liqun growled, clenching his teeth as he looked at the slaughtered civilians.