Qian Ran had his sights set on taking down Ye Xishui, but he hadn't succeeded yet.
"Do you really think I'd believe your nonsense?" Xu Tianran sneered coldly.
At this point, Xu Tianran didn't believe a word coming out of Qian Ran's mouth. To him, Qian Ran was nothing but a despicable man humiliating him.
During Qian Ran's time in the imperial palace, he had likely been mocking Xu Tianran as a broken, incomplete man.
"Suit yourself. But it's true that I have a good relationship with the Holy Spirit Cult. Recently, we've been working closely together," Qian Ran said with a smile. To be precise, Ye Xishui had been begging him to cooperate.
If Qian Ran wanted to become the leader of the Holy Spirit Cult, Ye Xishui might even agree.
She was eager for Qian Ran to take an interest in what she held. Only by being valuable to him could she secure her position and gain more in return.
Ye Xishui wasn't a child. In an adult's world, those without value could be discarded at any moment.
She was deeply worried that Qian Ran would abandon her. Beyond the Enlightenment Tea, Ye Xishui vaguely guessed that even if she advanced to the peak of a demigod through her own cultivation, she would likely need Qian Ran's help to truly ascend to godhood.
"Why?"
Xu Tianran asked himself. He had already given the Holy Spirit Cult so much. It was precisely because he was weak that the cult had invested in him for maximum benefit. What more could they want? Did they expect him to hand over the entire Sun Moon Empire?
"Maybe because I'm handsome," Qian Ran quipped.
"But if you want to continue working with the Holy Spirit Cult, it's not impossible. My stance represents the cult's stance," Qian Ran said mockingly.
He had come this time to flex his power to Xu Tianran.
Once Xu Tianran understood Qian Ran's true position, future cooperation would be much smoother.
After all, he wasn't yet the emperor of the Sun Moon Empire. Many variables still stood in the way of him inheriting the throne. If Xu Tianran wanted the crown, he would have to serve Qian Ran well.
Of course, in the end, Xu Tianran's fate would remain unchanged.
Xu Tianran's pupils contracted.
Qian Ran's stance represented that of the Holy Spirit Cult? How was that possible? Did Qian Ran truly hold such a high position in the cult?
Xu Tianran realized he had underestimated Qian Ran and his influence within the Holy Spirit Cult. Qian Ran's power might be far greater than he had ever imagined.
The Holy Spirit Cult alone was enough to disrupt the balance of the continent. Behind Qian Ran stood another vast sect.
Together, these forces could likely overthrow an entire nation.
While armies could eventually exhaust even a Titled Douluo, if too many Titled Douluo-level experts appeared, no empire's military could hold them back.
"I can continue supporting you. After all, our Holy Spirit Cult values you," Qian Ran said, watching Xu Tianran sit silently in his wheelchair. As he spoke, he playfully toyed with the woman in his arms.
Xu Tianran no longer put up any resistance.
Even though Qian Ran disrespected him, he didn't care.
If Qian Ran truly held such a high position within the Holy Spirit Cult, his status was far above Xu Tianran's own. What complaints could he have? If the Imperial Preceptor desired one of his maids, would he dare show anger? He would probably deliver the maid himself.
To Xu Tianran, Qian Ran was no different from someone like Zhongli Wu—an opponent he couldn't afford to provoke for now.
Xu Tianran was a smart man. In the palace, he had climbed this far by outwitting the strong despite his weakness. If he cared about dignity, he would've died long ago.
Ultimately, the power Xu Tianran commanded was vastly inferior to Qian Ran's. He needed Qian Ran, not the other way around.
"That's more like it. In a few days, the Holy Spirit Cult's Saintess will come to work with you. She will oversee all external matters of the cult. We can discuss further cooperation then."
The saintess, Zhang Lexuan, carried Ye Xishui's reputation as her disciple and was the face of the Holy Spirit Cult.
Zhang Lexuan could leverage the cult's influence to delve deeper into and control the Sun Moon Empire.
Xu Tianran breathed a sigh of relief. If the Holy Spirit Cult abandoned him, his position as crown prince would be untenable.
As long as he could secure his position, he could one day erase today's humiliation. Both Qian Ran and the Holy Spirit Cult would be destroyed.
In the past, the cult had been friendly to Xu Tianran, and he had even held the upper hand in their cooperation.
After all, Xu Tianran was destined to become emperor. The cult, as a group of evil soul masters, needed the empire's protection more than anything.
But now, neither Ye Xishui nor Zhongli Wu cared much about the Holy Spirit Cult. Compared to becoming gods, other interests were expendable.
Moreover, Ye Xishui's cultivation had recently soared to the demigod level. Did the Holy Spirit Cult really fear the Sun Moon Empire anymore? Ye Xishui alone could rival at least two Ultimate Douluo-level experts. Combined with Long Xiaoyao, Zhongli Wu, and others, their high-level combat power was terrifying.
"Alright, I've said what I needed to. Time for me to go."
"Oh, by the way, leave this little girl here to serve me." Glancing at the pitiful woman in his arms, Qian Ran lazily spoke to Xu Tianran.
Even though he didn't even know her name, he figured she'd suffer Xu Tianran's wrath if left behind without his protection.
Since Qian Ran planned to visit the Crown Prince's estate frequently, he would need a few personal attendants.
Xu Tianran's face turned an ugly shade of green and white.
Though reason told him to stay calm and avoid clashing with Qian Ran, he couldn't fully suppress his anger. He had never endured such humiliation in his life. Even during his power struggles with his brothers, he had never been treated with such disdain.
While others gave Xu Tianran respect because they feared his future revenge as emperor, Qian Ran didn't care.
"I haven't tried an imperial consort yet. Maybe I should. And... Princess Xu Tianzhen—you still haven't introduced her to me, have you?" Originally about to leave, Qian Ran changed his mind upon noticing Xu Tianran's dark expression. He leaned down and sneered wickedly.
"Are you insane?" Xu Tianran's eyes widened in fury. To him, Qian Ran was a lunatic, utterly insane to target such a place.
Qian Ran didn't bother responding and simply left.
In Qian Ran's eyes, Xu Tianran had little value. If not for Zhang Lexuan needing time to familiarize herself with the Sun Moon Empire's affairs, Qian Ran would have gotten rid of him already.
Of course, his last remarks were purely to disgust Xu Tianran. The Crown Prince had yet to realize his true place. Still, if Xu Tianran did manage to deliver, Qian Ran wouldn't mind indulging his curiosity.
(End of Chapter)
Notes-You can read advanced chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X