Great Li Martial God

The Grand Manager of the Treasure Assembly Trading House’s complexion was poor, and he simply stared hard at Zhao Muning.

Being seen through by the Great Xuan Seventh Princess left him gripped with a sudden surge of fear.

Even so, he did not address her question directly, and only asked, ”What exactly does Your Highness the Seventh Princess intend?”

Zhao Muning shook her head, her eyes fixed on the Grand Manager, ”With an Intestinal Fiend Worm implanted, the moment something happens to my father, you die as well.”

”And I know my father may be listening to what we are saying right now.”

As she said this, Zhao Muning paused, then let a quiet look of sadness surface in her eyes and sighed, ”Father Emperor, since you have chosen to shed your shell and escape, please let the matter rest here.”

”As long as you do not interfere in Great Xuan’s affairs again and bring Great Xuan to ruin, I will not breathe a word of this to anyone.”

At those words, the Grand Manager said nothing, his expression shifting silently.

In the next moment, he suddenly clutched his head, his face contorting into a look of extreme pain.

Then just as swiftly, the look of pain vanished from his face, and a voice not his own began flowing slowly from his lips, ”Muning, Father has always known you are a clever and perceptive child. If you had not been born a daughter, the throne of Great Xuan would not have gone to that unfilial wretch Kuang.”Zhao Muning looked at the Grand Manager before her, who seemed like an entirely different person, and a faint flicker of something crossed her eyes.

As far as she knew, the Intestinal Fiend Worm could control its host’s life or death and allow one to hear everything the host heard and saw. But it could not control the host’s body.

Yet what she was watching her father do at this moment went beyond that, which meant he had not only implanted the Intestinal Fiend Worm in the Grand Manager but had very likely also used the Soul-Searching Technique on him.

With that thought, Zhao Muning instinctively stepped back several paces, keeping her eyes on the figure before her, ”Will my father let the matter rest?”

She then continued to press her case, ”Father Emperor has already fallen into the demonic path. If you continue to govern Great Xuan, it will only lead the kingdom into irreversible ruin. I do not wish to see that day come.”

At those words, the Grand Manager fell silent for a moment, then shook his head, ”Muning, you are still young. You do not understand.”

”The young lord of Great Li whom you brought into the Great Xuan imperial palace tonight said something that struck Father deeply. What is the distinction between the demonic path and the righteous path? Anything that can be used to my benefit is without question the path of righteousness and glory.”

At those words, Zhao Muning’s expression shifted and her brow furrowed, ”The Eighth Prince of Great Li?”

Zhao Muning naturally understood who the Great Xuan emperor was referring to.

The Grand Manager’s face carried no particular change of expression, and he continued with composure, ”In all the world today, who else among the young has martial cultivation this terrifying? Moreover, Father just confirmed his identity beyond any doubt.”

As he said this, the Grand Manager shook his head, ”Father could not have imagined that Great Li, beset by threats from within and without and on the verge of ruin, would see its prince pay no attention to the situation at home and instead make this long journey to Great Xuan to cause such upheaval.”

”Father truly does not know what he was thinking. He even forced Father to feign death and retreat from the field for now.”

Zhao Muning’s gaze shifted with unspoken thoughts. She had not been without her suspicions about Li Musheng’s identity, but she had also not truly believed a prince of Great Li would come to Great Xuan given the state of affairs there.

And in her heart, what she had secretly hoped was that Great Xuan itself had produced a talent like Li Musheng, so that he could be recruited into the Great Xuan court.

”It seems I was letting my imagination run away with me. A young expert like him is extraordinarily rare in this world. How could two of them appear at the same time?”

A deep look of regret and disappointment crossed Zhao Muning’s eyes. At that, the Grand Manager narrowed his eyes and continued, ”Muning, you must understand Father’s position. Entering the demonic path was not something Father chose freely.”

”Great Xuan stands last among the five kingdoms under heaven, plagued by threats within and without. If Father had not sought another way forward, it would only have been a matter of time before the other four kingdoms swallowed us whole. Everything Father has done has been for Great Xuan.”

At those words, Zhao Muning said nothing. She looked at the Grand Manager for a long moment, ”Your daughter understands your reasoning, Father Emperor. But you have already strayed from the right path. Turning back is the only way forward. I ask my father to withdraw from this and go no further down this road.”

The Grand Manager went quiet for a moment, then let out a slow, meaningful laugh, ”Muning, Father will think carefully about what you have said.”

”But Father’s injuries are severe and controlling this man cannot be sustained for long. I am afraid tonight’s conversation will have to end here.”

As the words fell, the Grand Manager’s expression froze in the next instant. He clutched his head and shook it hard several times before gradually coming back to himself.