Supreme Emptiness

Chapter 2257: Chapter 2301: Imperial Jade Seal

"What did those people say?" the Big Black Dog asked in a deep voice. It had a faint feeling that it was related to its master.

The Prime Minister’s eyes were narrowed to mere slits. A flash of helplessness crossed his gaze as he hoarsely spat out four brief words, "Choose a new Monarch!"

Just as expected! The Big Black Dog’s expression darkened. On the eve of Nanqian’s recovery of the Divine Country, the Monarch had disappeared without a word for several months. Left leaderless, it was inevitable that Nanqian would choose a new master. It just hadn’t expected that the Daqian Divine Kingdom would personally issue the decree! No wonder the Bone Struggle Sage didn’t take it seriously. So, its master had already lost his qualifications as the Monarch.

It smiled bitterly. "No wonder... Then why didn’t you tell me earlier? Why did you still imprison me?" It was its master’s dog. Since its master was no longer tolerated in Nanqian, neither was it.

"We kept you here for two reasons," the Prime Minister said hoarsely. "First, you can stay in Nanqian and continue your loyalty to us. Second..."

At the mention of this, the eyes of all the core experts of Nanqian present gleamed sharply. Pairs of eyes converged on the Big Black Dog, as if anticipating something.

The Prime Minister continued, "Second, Nanqian’s Jade Seal is still in your master’s hands. You’ve been out for several months this time. You must have found him, right? Where is he now?"

The Jade Seal? The Big Black Dog gave a self-deprecating smile. This was the real reason the Prime Minister had kept it here.

It shook its head and said, "Unfortunately, I didn’t find my master. No one knows where he is."

The Prime Minister sighed softly, not particularly surprised. If the Big Black Dog had found its master, why would it return all alone?

Jiang Fan’s expression darkened. The Jade Seal wasn’t in Nanqian? Instead, it was with His Majesty Nanqian? His main purpose in coming to Nanqian was to borrow Nanqian’s Imperial Jade Seal to expel the Heavenly Dao energy from the Jiangshan First-class Building Owner’s body. And now they were telling him that Nanqian didn’t have the Jade Seal? Didn’t that mean he had made this trip for nothing?

He frowned and asked, "May I ask where His Majesty Nanqian is most likely to have gone?" The Jiangshan First-class Building Owner had ended up in such a state because of him. If the Owner couldn’t be cured, he wouldn’t be able to face his godmother upon his return.

The Prime Minister glanced at Jiang Fan and replied, "The northern heavens."

The north? Jiang Fan furrowed his brows. In the northern heavens, the two greatest factions were the Northwest Armory and the Northeast Heaven Court. Could His Majesty Nanqian be in one of those two great worlds? He had never been to the Heavenly Court. As for the Martial Vault... he had never heard of anyone like His Majesty Nanqian there...

Wait!

Jiang Fan suddenly shuddered, stormy waves surging deep within his heart!

That mysterious, invincible expert! The man had claimed he could slay the Chaotic Ancient Blood Marquis! He had also entrusted Jiang Fan to personally hand over a black Jade Box to the Prime Minister!

Thinking about it now, a person capable of intimidating all the experts of Nanqian and being reverently addressed as "His Majesty" by billions of living beings... How could his strength be anything less than an unparalleled, pinnacle existence in Nanqian? The man had specifically asked him to deliver something to the Prime Minister. This was enough to prove that he had inextricably close ties to Nanqian.

His identity was obvious! His Majesty Nanqian! He had actually already met His Majesty Nanqian?

He immediately recalled the black Jade Box he was escorting, and his heart began to pound wildly. Could it be that inside that sealed black Jade Box was Nanqian’s Imperial Jade Seal? The Jade Seal needed to save the Jiangshan First-class Building Owner had been on him all along!

"Have you remembered something?" A sharp gaze shot out from the narrow slits beneath the Prime Minister’s eyelids.

Jiang Fan’s loss of composure was impossible to hide. This matter was simply too shocking, far exceeding the expectations of anyone in the heavens.

The Bone Struggle Sage and the others all turned their gazes toward Jiang Fan.

Jiang Fan suppressed his racing heartbeat and forced himself to stay calm. He knew it was no longer possible to hide it completely, so... "To answer the Prime Minister, I have indeed met His Majesty Nanqian."

What? The eyes of everyone in the great hall trembled violently.

"You’ve met His Majesty? Where is he?"

"What did His Majesty say to you?"

...

It was clear that even though the Daqian Divine Kingdom had issued a decree to select a new Monarch, Nanqian still highly respected this Majesty.

Even the Prime Minister’s eyelids twitched. His slit-like eyes widened considerably, shining with unusual brightness. "Is our Majesty doing well?"

Jiang Fan nodded. "He is perfectly fine."

Hearing this, the Prime Minister’s expression relaxed, revealing a look of profound relief.

Beside him, the Big Black Dog’s three canine eyes widened in shock. It stood up on its hind legs, placing its front paws on Jiang Fan’s shoulders as it asked in disbelief, "You’ve met my master? Where did you meet him?"

Jiang Fan answered, "The Martial Vault."

What? The Big Black Dog’s eyes bulged. "The Martial Vault? I was at the Martial Vault! When did Master see you?"

Jiang Fan replied, "I ran into him when I was leaving the Martial Vault."

The Big Black Dog barked anxiously, "Let’s go, let’s go! I’m going back to the Martial Vault! Master is waiting for me at the Martial Vault!"

Jiang Fan didn’t move. How could the people of Nanqian let him leave so easily?

The Prime Minister’s eyes flashed as he asked, "Did His Majesty entrust you with any instructions?"

Jiang Fan shook his head, his expression unchanged. "It was just a chance encounter. He asked if I was Jiang Fan, a Central Earth person. Then he left without a trace."

Everyone wore expressions of disbelief.

The Bone Struggle Sage snorted. "Our Majesty’s actions have always been far-sighted and meticulously planned. He would never show himself to you for no reason. You had better tell the truth, or else you won’t walk out of Nanqian."

Jiang Fan’s face remained impassive as he said, "Could it be you suspect he entrusted the Imperial Jade Seal to an outsider like me to deliver to you?"

This...

Everyone pondered for a moment. They indeed had this suspicion. But thinking about it carefully, the Big Black Dog had also been at the Martial Vault. Why wouldn’t His Majesty Nanqian have the Big Black Dog deliver it, and instead entrust it to a Central Earth person? It defied logic. The Imperial Jade Seal probably wasn’t on Jiang Fan. More likely, His Majesty had gifted Jiang Fan some unknown benefit instead.

A brief surge of excitement flickered in the Prime Minister’s eyes before fading into dimness. He sighed softly. "The Imperial Jade Seal is the symbol of our Nanqian’s imperial power. If it falls into another’s hands during a great war and is used to command our Nanqian army, it will be disastrous. Pass down the order! Organize a team to head to the Martial Vault and search for His Majesty! At all costs, the Imperial Jade Seal must be recovered!"

Everyone voiced their assent in unison.

Only then did the Prime Minister finally look at Jiang Fan, as well as Qing Jiu and Liang Feiyan beside him. "Why did you come to Nanqian?"

Jiang Fan took over the conversation and said, "The two of them are here to gain experience. I came to request the use of Nanqian’s Imperial Jade Seal." He took out the Crystal Ball containing the Jiangshan First-class Building Owner’s soul.

With just a single glance, the Prime Minister identified the problem with the Jiangshan First-class Building Owner’s soul. His eyes widened, a trace of horror seeping into his gaze. "The power of the Heavenly Dao? What has this soul been through? Why has it been corrupted by the power of the Heavenly Dao?"

Even his voice carried a hint of fear toward the unknown entity.

Jiang Fan briefly explained the situation.

After listening, the Prime Minister’s eyes filled with disbelief. "Impossible. What power in this world could possibly vie with the Heavenly Dao for a soul?"