The white cloud dispersed. Shen Lian bowed slightly, considering that they have met.

　　Emperor Xia said coldly: “Since you have come, do not leave then?”

　　Shen Lian smiled slightly: “I could still leave.”

　　Emperor Xia waved his hand, in an instant, armors as dense as the forest has assembled outside the hall. A divine dragon swirled above the palace, its faint roar could be heard. The growlings of strange beasts of all kinds could be heard, one after another. Even the clan leader from major tribes was seen releasing their qi dynamic, awaiting.

　　Emperor Xia sneered and said: “How would you leave this way?”

　　There were tens of thousands of elites from Xia Clan that have had the main hall surrounded from the outside. Gradually advancing level by level, their Qi of Vigour filled the atmosphere. Any supernatural Dao techniques cast in this environment would be greatly reduced in effect.

　　Not to mention the place where Emperor Xia stood, that in itself was an insurmountably high mountain. His cold face was full of callous intent, releasing his qi dynamic and holding Shen Lian down with it.

　　Shen Lian casually uttered: “the dense bamboo forest could not hinder the flowing river, nor could the high mountain obstruct the passing clouds.”

　　Emperor Xia laughed hysterically, and said: “I am like the burning sun, even if you are the flowing river or the white cloud, you will eventually dry out or dissipate.”

　　Shen Lian whispered: “I’m afraid that Your Majesty’s glare was insufficient to dry out the flowing river that I am. As for clouds, it would be unusual for clouds to gather in the first place.”

　　Emperor Xia narrowed his eyes, his radiance seemingly flickering. The entire earth began to tremble. The microdust in the air was rotating at exceedingly high speed.

　　At this moment, Xia Canal suddenly stopped, and the spiritual vigor of entire Diqiu went towards Xia Tai. Everyone felt a chill and an invisible sharpness in their heart.

　　The sharpness was like a sword’s will, it was also like an indispensable rule.

　　Shen Lian remained where he stood. He was obviously there, but Emperor Xia’s pounding Qi dynamic and the invisible sharpness seemed to have nothing to do with him. It was as if he has detached from the world.

　　Lei Jing subconsciously leaned towards Shen Lian, and the closer she leans, the smaller the pressure was.

　　She thought in her heart: “Even if the heavens had fallen, mister would be here.”

　　Emperor Xia grunted coldly.

　　Suddenly, the tremors of the earth stopped, and the spiritual planes that converged on Xia Tai began to be bound by an immense force, subsequently retreated like the receding tides.

　　He kept the coldness displayed on his face. He quietly looked at Shen Lian, and said: “Da Xia lacks a national advisor.”

　　He said nothing more, but everyone knew what Emperor Xia meant. The usually arbitrary emperor had actually compromised and decided to invite Shen Lian as Da Xia’s national advisor. This was an unprecedented scenario.

　　Even more so, they understood that Emperor Xia’s compromise was not something achievable by relying on Shen Lian’s ability alone, but also on Tianyi’s. To think that the sword’s will would be able to drive the geographical spiritual vigor of Diqiu. How terrifying Tianyi’s cultivation experience was.

　　To have another person as strong as Tianyi in the hall, was the truly terrifying part.

　　For a while, Shen Lian remained in silence. He then leisurely said: “I think I might be competent.”

　　“I see that you truly would be able to qualify for the position of the national advisor.” Emperor Xia said softly.

　　Shen Lian smiled and nodded without saying anything.

　　Emperor Xia said: “someone provides a seat for the national advisor.”

　　As a result, Shen Lian sat in the lower right of where Emperor Xia was sitting, not far from the throne.

　　Emperor Xia seemed to have asked unintentionally: “National advisor, what is your Daoist name?”

　　Shen Lian said softly: “Your majesty can call me Qing Xuan.”

　　“Da Xia has the virtue of green wood, and black robe as its beauty. The two words ‘Qing Xuan’ could be said to be a perfect match with Da Xia. It seemed that the fate of the national advisor and Da Xia has been determined on the onset.” Emperor Xia said gently. His speech refined and abstruse, the appearance of a cruel emperor was nowhere to be seen.

　　The courtiers were not at all surprised.

　　Shen Lian remained indifferent. He and Emperor Xia talked about the Heaven, earth, life and all creations, the impermanence of the universe, indifferent to introspection, Xia and Emperor Xia talked about heaven, everything in life, the universe was impermanent, all within the language. Although his voice was weak, it was not covered by any noise, every word was audible to the fellow courtier, and they could not help but secretly admire this person.

　　Daoist Mu Zhen and the monk from Da Jue Temple were considered articulate among their peers. However, compared to Shen Lian’s knowledge, they pale in comparison. Causing them to feel ashamed.

　　A crisis was alleviated just like that, fellow courtiers had laid their hearts at rest. Otherwise, considering the strength of Emperor Xia, and the dire situation then; it would be thought that there would be people that would die.

　　Da Xia has awe-inspired the earth. Even though these aristocrats possess extraordinary force, but it was nothing compared to the gut of their ancestors.

　　Otherwise, how could Emperor Xia act arbitrarily, treating the courtiers as trifle beings?

　　Shen Xia thought that Emperor Xia was an extremely rigid person. He did not think that he also had a soft side. However, rather than calling it soft, tough would be apter.

　　The difference between steel and iron lies in that steel was tougher than iron.

　　The more Shen Lian finds Emperor Xia troublesome, the more motivated he is. It was fun to compete with the Heaven and earth, but it was even more so with people.

　　He could not fathom why would Emperor Xia want him as his national advisor. It could even be an obvious trap. But if it was, it was one Shen Lian jumped in without any hesitation.

　　There were no other reasons. Emperor Xia needed a buffer, and so does Shen Lian.

　　Emperor Xia thought that he had figured out the details to Shen Lian when in fact he did not. He did not know that Shen Lian’s huge primordial spirit had yet to be fully converted. He had, at the very least, underestimated Shen Lian’s strength by 30%.

　　What was more important was that Shen Lian did not want to leave Diqiu so soon, more so in an unpleasant way. However, he deliberately provoked Emperor Xia with the stone sculpture to demonstrate his strength. It was seen that there were contradictions in his heart.

　　Fortunately for Emperor Xia’s and Shen Lian’s respective compromises, a terrifying crisis seemed to have at least superficially subsided.

　　On the other hand, Emperor Xia’s mood was also somewhat complicated. If he were to make a decision between Tianyi and Shen Lian, to choose a more easily defeated opponent, Emperor Xia would unhesitantly choose Tianyi. It was not because Shen Lian was stronger, but because he was a fearless person.

　　However, Emperor Xia had to admit that Shen Lian’s personal charisma was one he has rarely seen. Subconsciously, he has spoken his views about practice and cultivation with Shen Lian. When he noticed it, he does not know whether to laugh or to cry.

　　Actually, to have reached this step, the path beyond was uncharted. Everything would be upon them to grope in the dark. The loneliness was one difficult to be described.

　　He regarded the courtiers as trifle beings, precisely because these people did not deserve to speak with him.

　　The kind of loneliness that goes deep into the bone was not something that outsiders could understand.

　　The palace banquet continued until dawn. The envoys who had previously talked to Shen Lian had met Shen Lian again before dawn, and they all came forward to bid their greetings.

　　They discovered the troop of guards around Shen Lian, keeping a reasonable distance. They seemed to be guarding Shen Lian.

　　The envoys from Di tribe could not help but be even more curious as to Shen Lian’s identity. This youth from Xi Liang Kingdom was definitely not ordinary.

　　One of the envoys said: “Young sir seemed to have an interest in our Northern Plains. Therefore, we would like to give you some of our specialties. But because young sir had abruptly left, so we have been waiting for you.”

　　Shen Lian nodded slowly and said: “I would like to thank fellow brothers for your kind intentions. It was just that I don’t have any belongings with me, I am afraid there was nothing I could give in return.”

　　That envoy smiled brightly, and said: “It was just some local produce, It was nothing precious.”

　　Another envoy then said: “We did not know where did you go. Last night, a strange phenomenon had happened in Wang Cheng. We wondered if you knew?”

　　Shen Leng smiled and said: “Everyone, let’s go out and talk.”