Chapter 296: Making Preparations!
"Then why did he not ask me for help? I can also safeguard them."
Ashen smirked upon hearing his question.
He replied, "It's because you aren't capable of protecting them for 200 years. You cannot even be sure if you'll be able to live that long without getting killed."
He smiled and then added, "Moreover, you are just a king realm cultivator. What if an emperor realm threat is after their lives? For example, if one of the four beast emperors of the Forest of Beasts decides to kill these tiger kings, can you protect them?"
He paused before continuing: "Furthermore, asking you for help might have been burdensome for him. Since he sacrificed himself to save you, he mustn't have wanted to put you in danger any further."
Qin Feng remained silent after hearing Ashen's explanation, his gaze fixed on the floor.
It looked like he was in deep thought before he suddenly spoke:
"I understand." He looked at Ashen and asked with an imploring gaze, "Then, your highness, will you help me fulfill my friend's wish?"
Ashen looked at him and smiled: "Of course. Since he saved my subordinate, it's only natural that I safeguard his people."
Hearing his answer, a bright smile appeared on Qin Feng's face, and he expressed his gratitude.
Ashen only nodded in response before standing up and looking at the head servant standing beside the sofa, waiting for his orders.
He ordered, "Make preparations for the stay of these guests. Make sure they are comfortable."
The head servant bowed, accepting the order.
Ashen then left to talk with Shang Jiao.
He needed to make sure that the emperor wouldn't deny the hunt for Lin Feng, and with the Shang clan's support, it would be a piece of cake.
Half an hour later, Shang Jiao's study,
Ashen exchanged the formal greetings with Shang Jiao and explained the current situation to him along with the reason for his visit.
"Hmm, I understand." Shang Jiao said, rubbing his chin as he thought about the matter. After a few seconds, he continued, "But the emperor will ask for proof. Is there any proof that Lin Feng is the one who stole the treasure?"
"Huh?" Ashen was a bit taken aback by his question. "Is his mask and red lightning not proof enough? Is there anyone else who is at the emperor realm, cultivates the lightning path, has red-colored lightning, and wears a demonic mask?"
Shang Jiao shook his head: "Yes, those are enough to point in Lin Feng's direction; however, they still don't prove that it was indeed him."
He paused and added, "Moreover, the emperor only believes in a thorough investigation. He won't be swayed by something like this."
"Then what do you suggest, Uncle?" Ashen asked, hoping to get a way out; otherwise, he might have to use the last resort that he had in mind.
Shang Jiao looked at him and smiled: "Nephew, in these types of situations, you can use an enigmatic path cultivator to locate the location of the treasure, or better still, use them to find the identity of the attacker."
As I thought. It's good that Lord Lei Tian Hao had an artifact that could protect him from deductions of the enigmatic path.
Ashen mused internally before replying, "Then can we use the clan's enigmatic path cultivator to locate the treasure?"
"Of course." Shang Jiao replied. "I'll tell them to do so right away."
He paused and added, "We can then take the results to the emperor and ask him to leave the matter to you and the northern tribes."
A delightful smile crept up on Ashen's face as he expressed his gratitude: "Thank you, Uncle."
"It's nothing." Shang Jiao smiled. "You will gain the support of four northern tribes through this, so of course, I'll help. Also, helping you is helping the clan, so no need to thank me."
He then pressed a button of an artifact that was on his table. As he pressed the button, a string of qi travelled out of the room, and in the next second, a servant entered, ready to take his order.
Shang Jiao relayed the order to him to get the enigmatic path cultivators to deduce the location of the treasure.
After the servant left, he looked at Ashen and said, "Nephew, consider this matter over. You can relax and go to the Eastern region carefree. You can also take one or two emperor realm cultivators from the Shang Clan for this mission as well."
"You have my gratitude, uncle." Ashen bowed. "Then I shall take my leave."
He left Shang Jiao's study and made his way to his next destination.
Soon, he was standing in a huge garden with four tiger kings standing in front of him, looking at him with a respectful gaze.
"Listen, beasts," Ashen's voice was loud and clear. "Your master has left you in my care."
He paused to see their reactions. They all revealed a smile after hearing that. It was because now they won't have to worry about becoming wild beasts without any master.
"You have two choices now: either submit to me and accept me as your new master, or refuse and face the consequences."
Ashen's voice was indifferent and clear; however, it still sounded extremely cold to the tiger kings.
They exchanged glances among each other, having a short conversation through simple gestures.
Afterward, they bowed their heads in unison: "We will submit."
Since they had nowhere to go, it would be better to submit to a prince of the empire they lived in.
At least they wouldn't have a poor master. Moreover, if this prince successfully becomes the emperor, his tales will become etched in history, and with him, his beasts will also get a place in history books.
This was a chance to get their names recorded in history.
Seeing their response, Ashen nodded in satisfaction and said,
"Then my subordinates, listen to my first order."
The tiger kings had their ears perked up as they listened closely.
"Your size is too large for convenience, so my first order to you all is to undergo metamorphosis. You all need to get a human appearance."
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