Chapter 343 149: Summoning the Emperor with a Single Word

So the Emperor and Empress were heading out today.

The Emperor was indeed quite young, a youth of sixteen or seventeen.

However, the Empress beside him was, surprisingly, a young woman in her twenties.

This came as a bit of a surprise to Xu Lei.

'Generally, the Empress's age should be about the same as the Emperor's.'

'Or perhaps younger.'

'It was rare for one to be so much older than the Emperor.'

'Of course, it was possible the original Empress had been deposed!'

'And then the Emperor had taken a liking to this new Consort, promoting her to Empress.'

Although Xu Lei hadn't yet looked into the details, he suspected this was the case.

Just then, Qing Lian, who was beside him, gasped in surprise, her hand flying to cover her mouth.

Xu Lei glanced at Qing Lian, puzzled.

"Senior, I know that Empress."

Qing Lian leaned in and explained in a whisper, "Actually, it's not that I truly know her.

To be precise, I've seen her before.

I think she's a Cultivator!

Back when my master was still alive, I traveled the lands with him.

Though he only took me out with him a few times...

...on one of those occasions, I saw that woman.

She looked just like that. Yes, I'm sure I'm not mistaken.

I think she was a Loose Cultivator.

Back then, I believe she was practicing her Cultivation deep in the mountains.

I never would have thought she'd become the Empress!

And if that's the case, it means there's a Cultivator by the Emperor's side.

Senior, how will you get those artisans from them?

Killing our way through is impossible.

If we get surrounded by a massive army, we'll be ground down eventually.

After all, the Emperor has the Empress protecting him.

His own life isn't in danger.

If we make an enemy of the Emperor, he could command the entire imperial army to hunt us down relentlessly.

We'd have to flee for our lives and become fugitives!

And if we try to negotiate directly, won't they make some outrageous demand?

Like forcing us to help them assassinate other Vassal Princes or something?"

Xu Lei was also taken aback to hear this.

'In that case, I really can't just use my Magical Power to stage a grand display and intimidate the Emperor.'

"This is a bit unexpected."

Then Xu Lei said, "But it's nothing to worry about.

From the very beginning, I never intended to rely solely on Magical Power to achieve my goal.

Right now, the Vassal Princes everywhere have grown too powerful.

The Emperor must be desperate to bring them to heel.

The thing is, I have a much more advanced Steel Refining Technique.

It's far superior to the carburizing Steel Refining Technique my men used today.

If I present it to the Emperor...

...and assuming he isn't a fool...

...I should be able to trade it for that group of death-row artisans.

Don't worry. As they say, it's best to keep things peaceful.

If we can cooperate, why create conflict?

The Empress is a Cultivator, true, but why hasn't she been able to help the Emperor unify the realm?

Is she hoarding her Magical Power, unwilling to expend it and risk her own life assassinating the other Vassal Princes?

Or do the other Vassal Princes have Cultivator bodyguards of their own?

Besides, in a power struggle like this, a faction doesn't necessarily collapse just because its leader dies.

That Vassal Prince the Little Emperor eliminated before probably died so suddenly that his followers were left without a leader, allowing the Little Emperor to take advantage of the chaos.

But the other Vassal Princes have deeply entrenched networks of heirs, trusted subordinates, and allied Noble Families. Their interests are all tangled together, and they have no shortage of talented people.

Even if a Vassal Prince dies, someone else will just take his place and maintain control over their territory!

So, the Empress alone is obviously not enough to help the Little Emperor pacify the realm!

They're going to need me!"

Qing Lian was taken aback.

But then, she remembered that Xu Lei was so mature at just ten years old and possessed such incredible Magical Power.

'He might be the reincarnation of a legendary Ancient Spirit Immortal!'

'So my surprise just now was unwarranted.'

"You are amazing, Senior."

Therefore, Qing Lian simply said, "I'm in awe."

The Steel Refining Technique was still useful.

Over the years, Xu Lei had learned a thing or two about how Cultivators performed Artifact Refining.

Artifact Refining, as it turned out, was not the same as steel refining.

Most Artifact Refining was still done with Bronze Artifacts; the key difference was that they would be inscribed with all sorts of Rune Arrays.

This gave them immense power and made them incredibly hard and durable.

Some were even harder than steel.

But this kind of crafting method couldn't be mass-produced or taught to the general populace.

Mortals couldn't learn it.

They couldn't replicate the process.

This was also why other Cultivators of this era didn't possess more advanced steel refining technologies.

It was what allowed Xu Lei, back in the day, to use the carburizing Steel Refining Technique to help Shang Yin unite the realm.

By the same logic, if Xu Lei now offered an even more advanced Steel Refining Technique—

—one that was faster and yielded better quality steel—

—it would undoubtedly strengthen the combat power of the Emperor's army.

If that wasn't enough, Xu Lei could also offer other inventions from Earth to help the Emperor unify the realm.

'In any case, boosting the Emperor's army to the point where it could crush the forces of anyone else in this era... Xu Lei felt that would be no problem at all.'

At that moment, the other customers in the noodle shop were all looking outside as well.

The shopkeeper and his wife also ran to the doorway to watch.

Although the pedestrians on the street had to kneel before the Emperor,

customers like Xu Lei and his companion, who were in a small shop set a little farther back, didn't have to. They just watched the spectacle from a distance.

Those on the street had come face-to-face with the Emperor's procession.

To not bow would be a sign of disrespect.

But since Xu Lei and the others were inside the shop, no one was really paying them any mind.

So no one bothered to kneel.

"So that's His Majesty the Emperor? And the new Empress?"

The shopkeeper's wife, her hair streaked with gray, commented in a gossipy tone, "They certainly have an air of nobility!

Look at the jade ornaments hanging on that carriage! Just one of those casually placed pieces...

...is probably worth enough to buy our whole little shop!"

"That jade could probably buy several shops like ours!"

Her thin, dark-skinned husband added, "Jade like that... we could never afford it in a lifetime.