Chapter 1565: Qin Yi's Olive Branch

Qin Qu's face had turned green from anger. Li Tianji was truly inhumane—he had not only chosen not to rebuke Li Luo, but wanted her, a Palace Master of the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin, to apologize to a junior. He was clearly attempting to humiliate her.

Qin Zhongyuan's expression sank. "Lineage Chief Tianji, it looks like you don't plan to continue with the alliance negotiations."

Li Tianji helplessly replied, "The Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin wants too much. We can't find any space for compromise."

Qin Zhongyuan could sense that Li Tianji had changed tack and was now taking a harder line, so he indifferently said, "It looks like you think that two sixth-grade Transcendent Dukes will improve your situation significantly."

Li Tianji smiled. That was indeed the case. The timely arrival of the two meant that the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li now possessed two more Pinnacle Dukes, ones that stood at the top even amongst them. If they were to join hands, perhaps even a King might not be able to resist their onslaught.

"The Other Tide is vicious. Although the two of them can run rampantly through the Others, the soldiers of the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li will be negatively affected by the Stygian Rain's influence and will bitterly struggle in their battles, causing casualties to rack up. Do you truly believe that these two are enough to get through an endless horde of Others to destroy the Stygian Rain Core Platform? The Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin has created the Evil Cleansing Spring Rain Formation with Qin Yi as the core. It's capable of alleviating the issues brought about by the Stygian Rain, bolstering your soldiers and reducing their injuries," Qin Zhongyuan said.

"Palace Master Zhongyuan, everything you've said make sense. However, we are still willing to cooperate with your bloodline. After the Other Tide has been beaten back, the ownerless territories will be divided between us, though we will be taking seventy percent and you thirty percent," Li Tianji rebutted.

These words immediately incited acrimonious looks from the opposing three Kings. The seventy-thirty split was their original condition, but Li Tianji had literally flipped it on its head.

"Then we can only hope that your sixth-grade Transcendent Dukes resolve the Other Tide eruption." Qin Zhongyuan knew that negotiations had fallen through. Li Tianji's counter offer was completely unable to satisfy the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin. Thus, his expression turned cold and he no longer deigned to speak, flicking his sleeves and turning to leave.

At this point in time, Qin Yi, who had not spoken a word from start to end, stood up and followed the trio out of the room.

However, when she passed by Li Luo, she paused.

Li Luo was looking at her absolutely beautiful face. In terms of appearance alone, Qin Yi was one of the few women he had met who could compete with Jiang Qing'e. His feelings towards Qin Yi were also complicated. Although they had competed against each other many times in the past due to their respective positions, there were no grudges between them and they admired each others' talent and character. It was a pity that Qin Lian had made it so that they could never be friends; even though that woman was long dead, friendship probably wouldn't be possible. After all, even though Qin Lian deserved to die, she had fallen to the hands of Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e.

"Lady Qin Yi, it has been a while." Li Luo gave a smile as he nodded to acknowledge her presence.

Qin Yi's eyes were like lakes reflecting the moon, shimmering as the water rippled. She stared at Li Luo for a few moments before her expression turned cold. She stretched her jade-like hand out and waved it in front of Li Luo's face as though shooing him away. "Li Luo, I'll meet you again sooner or later to resolve the debt with my mother."

Li Luo stretched his hand out and grasped her slender hand with a frown as he sternly rebuked, "Lady Qin Yi, my wife is also here. Please watch yourself."

Qin Yi snorted coldly and retracted her hand, turning to leave with the group.

As Li Luo watched her go, his expression turned strange. He opened his hand and found a droplet of light-blue water. It had been passed over when he momentarily grabbed Qin Yi's hand, preventing him from being struck by her. The droplet of water then melted into his palm, transforming into a soft whisper that lingered in his mind.

......

In the deep of night, on a plain dotted with verdant lakes a hundred miles south of North Qin City.

Li Luo descended from the skies, landing by the lakeside. He could see an enchanting figure sitting gracefully on a rock. It was none other than Qin Yi.

Her bare, snow-white feet gently touched the clear water as moonlight slid down her legs, causing tiny ripples on the surface. It was a moving sight.

Li Luo walked forward righteously and said with a smile without turning away, "Does the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin plan to trap me with beauty?"

Qin Yi lightly turned her head, shifting the long hair that cascaded down her back, and grinned. "You already have a wife with extraordinary beauty and temperament. I'm afraid such schemes wouldn't work on you. However, since you dared to come... aren't you afraid that the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin is planning to ambush you? After all, you now qualify as a threat to us."

Li Luo honestly replied, "My mother and the other two Lineage Chiefs are just nearby."

Qin Yi paused and then helplessly replied, "Here I was thinking you were courageous."

"Doesn't hurt to be careful." Li Luo didn't find his actions shameful. They were near the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin's territory, and it would be risky if Qin Zhongyuan and the rest decided to take desperate action and plot against him.

"Lady Qin Yi, what do you plan to do by inviting me to this secret rendezvous?" He didn't plan to waste time chatting with her, so he went straight to the point.

Qin Yi flicked her finger, causing a jade tablet to fly out of her sleeve towards Li Luo. He paused momentarily before grabbing it, and after sending his resonant power into it, a large amount of information was transmitted into his mind. Then a look of shock appeared on his face.

"The Evil Cleansing Spring Rain Formation?" The tablet contained information on how the formation was created. This was the entire reason why the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin had an edge in the negotiations and why they wished to exact a heavy price for the alliance.

"Mhm. The Evil Cleansing Spring Rain Formation was created by me personally. Consider it a gift from me," Qin Yi calmly replied.

Li Luo was taken aback, and after hesitating for a moment, he spoke up. "Lady Qin Yi, you've allowed me to experience your charm, and while I appreciate your kindness... my wife is watching from just a short distance away."

Qin Yi's eyes were fixated on him, and she sighed a few moments later. "Li Luo, you really are very thick-skinned."

Li Luo coughed dryly with a look of disbelief. "Well, you just gave me a wondrous present without any reason. Was it not because of how attractive I am?"

"The Evil Cleansing Spring Rain Formation is something that only I can activate. This is because the most important part of it is the combination of the ninth-grade rain and water resonances. Thus, even though the method of its formation is in your hands, you cannot activate it in the same way," Qin Yi explained.

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

When Li Luo heard those words, he was about to fling the jade tablet back towards her. "Then why did you go through so much trouble to give me something so useless?" he asked, his annoyance clear in his tone.

"If you provide this to Lineage Chief Li Qingying, with her knowledge in formations, she should be able to use the Evil Cleansing Spring Rain Formation as a base to create an appropriate Evil Cleansing Formation for you. Your wife has a light resonance of a high grade, and if it's customized well, the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li will have a way to deal with the Stygian Rain and reduce the number of casualties," Qin Yi explained.

"Ah." Li Luo finally understood, then he asked suspiciously, "Why are you doing this? I don't think the Palace Masters of the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin approved of this, right?"

"There are many reasons, but you can take it as the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin making a different decision," Qin Yi responded coolly. "Between the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li and the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Zhao, Palace Master Zhongyuan has chosen to befriend the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Zhao. However, I feel that the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li will become much stronger in the future and might even become the strongest Heavenly Emperor power on the Heavenly Origin Divine Continent. After all, the Dragon's Fang Lineage possesses both you and Jiang Qing'e. I don't want to have to pay for the Palace Master's mistakes and arrogance when I finally take over the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin. Instead of doing that, I have made my choice early and decided to plant a few seeds."

Li Luo was a little surprised. Although Qin Yi looked gentle and affectionate, she was truly confident and proud. Her words also implied that she would definitely become the Bloodline Chief of the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Qin in the future. That said, Li Luo expressed admiration for her farsighted decision and choice.

"I have to say... you're good at judging people."