Chapter 843: So Emperor Xia's Status Is This High

Upon returning to the Meng Estate, Meng Jingzhou sought out his father and related in exhaustive detail everything that had transpired within the walls of the Second Prince’s mansion.

Having heard the account, Meng Potian showed no hint of surprise at the Second Prince’s overtures toward Lu Yang.

He looked toward Lu Yang, a faint smile gracing his features. "Of the nine princes, the Second Prince is hardly the only one wishing to establish contact with young Lu. It seems he was merely the first to lose his patience. It figures; his usual conduct has always been somewhat lacking in composure."

"Not the only one?" Meng Jingzhou exclaimed in astonishment, realizing only now how remarkably sought-after old Lu truly was.

"Given the First Prince's distinct lack of ambition regarding the throne, it is only natural that other princes would develop an interest in succession. From the intelligence gathered, both the Fourth and Fifth Princes harbor intentions to contend for it."

"Is the throne truly that alluring?" Meng Jingzhou muttered to himself, thinking the crown was utterly worthless; he wouldn't take it even if it were handed to him.

Meng Potian cast a glance at his son and Lu Yang, knowing they were all family and there was no need for discretion. "That is the throne we speak of. It carries the weight of the nation’s destiny and bears the aspirations of ten thousand souls. It is an existence beneath one but above all others. So long as the entity dwelling within the forbidden depths of the imperial palace remains quiescent, the Emperor of Xia is the most venerable figure beneath the heavens, a man whose word none dare defy."

Within his spiritual expanse, Lu Yang pondered Meng Potian’s words, realizing that it did indeed seem to be the case; the Emperor of Xia did, in fact, appear to be an immensely exalted individual.

"Why did I never have that impression before?" Lu Yang wondered, casting his mind back to his previous encounters with the sovereign.

Then he remembered. His very first brush with the Emperor of Xia involved the Immortal Fairy attempting to make the emperor her fourth-in-command. Later, when the Immortal Fairy assumed the role of acting sect master, she not only challenged the four great immortal sect masters at the imperial palace but insisted on challenging the emperor as well. The display had so utterly terrified the Emperor of Xia that he granted Lu Yang extraordinary privileges: entering the court without hastening his pace, offering greetings without pronouncing his own name, and attending the throne room while girt with sword and shoes.

Having experienced such events, coupled with the Immortal Fairy’s constant daily chatter regarding the embarrassing mishaps of ancient immortals, it was exceedingly difficult for him to harbor any sense of profound reverence for the Emperor of Xia.

"You both have encountered cultivators of the Great Yu, particularly since your Single Question Sect captured True Lord Wanfa of the Great Yu Alliance, not to mention Wu Youdao, the unaccounted-for sixth Emperor of Yu, and the second Imperial Preceptor of Great Yu. Why do you think they chose to awaken at this specific juncture? Was it merely to achieve immortality? No, they also intend to supplant Great Xia and reconstruct Great Yu."

Meng Potian remained unaware that Wu Youdao and the second Imperial Preceptor of Great Yu had also been captured by the Single Question Sect.

"It is said that the entity within the forbidden depths of the palace will not intervene unless Great Xia faces existential ruin. Consequently, whoever ascends the throne becomes, in practical terms, the master of the Central Continent."

"Just what realm has that entity in the forbidden depths attained?" Meng Jingzhou had heard of an ancestral figure of the Jiang clan residing within the palace depths since his youth.

Meng Potian’s expression turned solemn, as though he were discussing a taboo subject, and he slowly enunciated two words.

"An Immortal."

"Oh, I figured as much."

The Immortal Fairy and Meng Jingzhou accepted this revelation with absolute equanimity, displaying none of the dramatic shock Meng Potian had anticipated.

Given that the founding emperors of both Great Qian and Great Yu were Immortals, it was only logical that Great Xia possessed one as well.

The corner of Meng Potian’s mouth twitched slightly. What exactly had these two boys encountered out in the wider world to be so entirely unfazed by the concept of an Immortal?

"No wonder our ancestor couldn't defeat the Jiang clan's ancestor," Meng Jingzhou murmured in sudden realization, finally understanding why their forebear had lost back then. Jiang Ping'an was an Immortal; how could the Scholar of Meng ever hope to prevail against him?

"Our ancestor really didn't live up to expectations. If he had won, I would be the First Prince right now."

Meng Jingzhou felt the burden upon his shoulders grow a fraction heavier. It appeared the duty of producing an Immortal for the Meng family now rested solely upon him.

"Thus, you understand why the throne is of such paramount importance. It is tantamount to acting as the spokesperson for an Immortal."

As they spoke, a knock sounded at the door, and Butler Xu stepped into the room.

"Master, someone is here to settle a debt."

Butler Xu rarely addressed Meng Potian as 'Elder Brother,' for doing so lent the impression that they were some manner of nefarious criminal syndicate—especially the phrase 'Elder Brother, someone is here to settle a debt,' which made the Meng family sound like an illicit enterprise.

The Meng family had always conducted business in strict accordance with the law, completely unlike the unorthodox sects that operated as unregistered, illegal organizations.

"Who is it?" Meng Potian inquired. Under normal circumstances, ordinary debts and repayments could be handled by Xu You without necessitating the patriarch's personal intervention.

For Xu You to bring it to his attention meant the counterparty possessed no small status, or perhaps the sum being repaid was substantial.

"The individual calls himself Shi Huagu, and he wishes to repay a debt of one billion spirit stones incurred in the past."

Meng Potian nodded. "One billion spirit stones is indeed no small sum."

"Shi Huagu... I recall he is the proprietor of that popular barbecue chain, 'Come Again Barbecue,' is he not?" Meng Potian possessed some recollection of this newly risen commercial prodigy.

"Yet I have no memory of us ever lending him funds."

Particularly where a loan of one billion spirit stones was concerned, Meng Potian would undoubtedly have remembered.

"The IOU has been verified; it was indeed issued by our Meng family. However, the debtor column bears traces of alteration via causal divine abilities. It appears he voluntarily assumed the liabilities of the original debtor."

Meng Potian was visibly moved. He had not imagined that a person of such profound honor and loyalty still existed in this world.

"Come, lead me to him."

Meng Potian had barely crossed the threshold when he turned back to call out to Meng Jingzhou and Lu Yang. "The pair of you have likely never witnessed the formal process of debt settlement. Come along and observe; consider it an expansion of your horizons."

Even had Meng Potian not suggested it, Meng Jingzhou fully intended to watch the spectacle unfold.

The name Shi Huagu was one he knew all too well.

The Meng Estate Guest Quarters.

The reception area comprised numerous private chambers, their quality varying according to the financial significance of the business at hand.

Within a first-class chamber, Shi Huagu waited anxiously for a representative of the Meng family who held true authority.

"Do not be nervous. Have you not already amassed the full one billion spirit stones?" Cult Leader Mu Baiyi had accompanied him. Shi Huagu’s debt was a legacy issue left behind by the previous cult leader, making it half a matter of official business, so he had come along to ensure nothing went awry during the process.

"At long last, I shall no longer be struck by lightning," Shi Huagu lamented with profound emotion. To see this day, he had waited a full four years. One tribulation lightning bolt per month—fifty tribulations in total. It was nothing short of a miracle that he had survived to this day.

He should never have let his hands wander back then, attempting to steal whatever treasure Qin Haoran possessed.

What manner of treasure was that supposed to be!

Had the Heavenly Court Sect not emerged to point out a path for him, he had no idea which lifetime it would have taken to amass such a staggering sum of spirit stones.

"You must be Master Shi Huagu?"

Meng Potian arrived, flanked by Meng Jingzhou and the possessed Lu Yang, his countenance radiant with a warm and genuine smile.

"Correct."

Shi Huagu noticed Meng Jingzhou and Lu Yang, freezing for a brief moment, surprised to find the two youths present.

He had met Lu Yang once when seeking out Tao Yaoye to place an advertisement, while as for Meng Jingzhou, he had only ever seen his portrait.

Mu Baiyi, on the other hand, had encountered the pair at the Corpse Driver’s Inn in the Desolate Province.

They were merely two talented juniors; Shi Huagu paid them no further heed as he proffered the IOU left by Qin Haoran, alongside a storage ring containing one billion spirit stones, handing them to Meng Potian while awaiting the verdict in suspense.

Meng Potian first scrutinized the IOU with meticulous care. The Meng family had always abided by the rules; money that did not belong to them would never be accepted.

He then inspected the storage ring three times over. The Meng family maintained strict protocols; not a single copper coin of what was rightfully theirs could be missing.

"Indeed, the IOU is authentic, and the storage ring does contain precisely one billion spirit stones."

Hearing this, Shi Huagu let out a long sigh of relief, as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He rose to take his leave, only to be halted by Meng Potian’s voice.

"Hold your steps. You have yet to settle the interest."