NOVEL WEB Chapter 908: It seems being the Emperor is not easy for you either.
Hearing Li Quan's words, Mu Zhengqing's expression turned even uglier. As a Saint and the ruler of the Skyfire Dynasty, he was now being threatened by a Semi-Saint.
If this matter were to spread, where would his authority as the Emperor lie?
Li Quan still looked at Mu Zhengqing with disdain. In his eyes, although Mu Zhengqing was powerful, for the sake of the Skyfire Dynasty and the Skyfire Clan, he would inevitably make concessions in everything.
The prosperity of the Skyfire Dynasty today was to some extent a result of Mu Zhengqing's concessions. The Royal Family had relaxed control, there were fewer rules, and naturally, they had attracted more people to the Skyfire World.
However, those who were attracted were often unruly people like Li Quan. Even though he had become a Guest Elder of the Skyfire Imperial Family, he did not regard the Skyfire Imperial Family or Mu Zhengqing, the Emperor, highly.
Mu Zhengqing coldly said, "These two have taken bribes in abuse of their positions, even going so far as to collect money from the Royal Ancestor himself. If I do not execute them, where is the dignity of the Royal Family?"
"What now, you are favoring these two so much, could it be that the Spirit Stones they have skimmed have all been given to you?"
Li Quan's brow furrowed, and his face instantly turned ashen, "Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this? Framing me without any evidence, could it be that Your Majesty thinks that the Skyfire World no longer needs Guest Elders and wants to drive me away?"
Li Quan had indeed accepted those Spirit Stones from the Cultivators, but in his view, there was nothing wrong with it, it was all deserved.
He brought people who offered him Spirit Stones; what was wrong with that? As for where their Spirit Stones came from, that had nothing to do with him.
Li Quan never believed that Mu Zhengqing would dare to completely fall out with him. If he left, then certainly other Semi-Saints would leave because of his departure, given that the Royal Family's actions were so overbearing. Those Semi-Saints would definitely feel that staying in the Skyfire World was no longer as comfortable as before.
Once there was a first, there would quickly be a second, and a third.
The current situation of the Skyfire Dynasty was also not very good. There were continuous agents from Imperial Mountain Quasi-Emperor demanding fealty from the Skyfire Dynasty, and the Skyfire Dynasty had also been persistently resisting.
At such a critical juncture, if Mu Zhengqing drove away the Semi-Saints, the strength of the Skyfire Dynasty would further decline. If at this time other worlds came to attack the Skyfire Dynasty, then it would probably be left with nothing but extinction.
It was precisely because of this that Guest Elders of the Royal Family had the audacity to be so arrogant in front of Mu Zhengqing, a Saint.
Indeed, Mu Zhengqing was genuinely concerned that driving away a Guest Elder would cause worry among the other Semi-Saints, especially at times like this.
But now, Li Quan, a Semi-Saint, was being so arrogant in front of the Heavenly Emperor. If he did not show some firmness, what would the Heavenly Emperor think of him?
To kill Li Quan was definitely not an option. If Li Quan were killed, it would further ignite the conflict between the Semi-Saints and the Royal Family, and afterward, no one would come to rely on the Royal Family.
Immediately afterwards, Mu Zhengqing released the intimidating presence of the Saint Realm and coldly said, "Li Quan, do you really believe I do not dare to expel you from the Skyfire Dynasty?"
"From this moment on, you are no longer a Guest Elder of the Skyfire Dynasty. Leave the Skyfire World at once, or else do not blame me for being impolite."
Feeling the pressure from Mu Zhengqing and hearing his words, Li Quan was completely stunned. He had always thought that Mu Zhengqing would not dare to do this, yet today Mu Zhengqing was actually going to drive him away.
What is happening?
Is Mu Zhengqing not afraid that other forces will attack the Skyfire Dynasty afterward?
After coming back to his senses, Li Quan coldly said, "Fire Emperor, I hope you will not regret your decision today!"
Li Quan clenched his teeth, turned around, and transformed into a streak of flowing light as he left the Skyfire World.
Seeing this, Lu Chen said with a laugh, "Fire Emperor, it seems that being an Emperor is not easy for you."
Lu Chen naturally understood what Mu Zhengqing was worried about; he had already roughly grasped the situation of the Skyfire Dynasty.
Although the system indicated that the Skyfire Dynasty had only three Semi-Saints, in reality, the number of Semi-Saints in the Skyfire Dynasty had reached more than a dozen. However, aside from the three Semi-Saints mentioned by the system, the rest were not of the Skyfire Clan.
Those Semi-Saints had been recruited by Mu Zhengqing. Once they found out that Mu Zhengqing had driven away a Semi-Saint, they would definitely wonder if such a fate could befall them one day, and by then, probably, even more Semi-Saints would leave.
While Semi-Saints are not as noble as Saints, if a Semi-Saint wishes, they can simply find a middle-tier world to live in and have a decent life. Even without relying on the Skyfire Dynasty, there would be plenty of powers wanting to court them.
"If an elder does not wish to stay, there will always be a place that welcomes the elder." Thus, they wouldn't hang themselves on one tree, which is the Skyfire Dynasty. This is also the reason why Mu Zhengqing, a Saint, did not dare to deal with a Semi-Saint casually.
Nowadays, times are troubled, and with the Heavenly Emperor yet to recover his strength and memories, Mu Zhengqing certainly could not afford to deal with a Semi-Saint rashly at this time.
After regaining his composure, Mu Zhengqing hurriedly said to Lu Chen, "Your Majesty has seen the fool in me."
Lu Chen spoke indifferently, "My strength has not recovered yet. Indeed, I need to keep a low profile. But once I regain my power one day, there will be no need for you all to do the same."
Hearing this, Mu Zhengqing felt very excited. It seemed that the Heavenly Emperor intended to continue supporting the Skyfire Clan. With the help of the Heavenly Emperor, the Skyfire Clan would one day be able to revive the glory of their ancestors.
Lu Chen continued, "Alright, go deal with your affairs. Lan'er and I are going to take a stroll."
As the voice fell, Lu Chen disappeared on the spot with Mu Qinglan.
"Farewell, Your Majesty!"
After Lu Chen had left, Mu Zhengqing sighed. He was actually a bit worried that showing such a weak side to the Heavenly Emperor might make him seem spineless and possibly cause the Heavenly Emperor to develop negative thoughts about the Skyfire Clan.
This put a lot of pressure on Mu Zhengqing, but from the Heavenly Emperor's recent words, it seemed the Emperor understood his difficulties.
Over the following half-month, news that a Semi-Saint had been driven away by the Royal Family spread throughout the entire Skyfire World, and everyone found it incredibly astonishing.
The Fire Emperor had always been rather compromising, so why had he suddenly become so resolute?
Moreover, the situation in the Skyfire Dynasty was not looking optimistic. There were more and more forces sending spies to probe into the condition of the Skyfire World. It was clear that the Imperial Mountain Quasi-Emperor intended to move against the Skyfire Dynasty.
At such a time, to drive away a Semi-Saint, wasn't the Fire Emperor afraid it would cause dissatisfaction among the other Semi-Saints? If those Semi-Saint powerhouses left, the strength of the Skyfire Dynasty would inevitably decline significantly.
As Mu Zhengqing had anticipated, after the news of the Semi-Saint being expelled by the Royal Family spread, two more Semi-Saints took it upon themselves to leave the Skyfire World.
Although the Skyfire World offered them favorable treatment, other powers could offer them the same.
Fortunately, Mu Zhengqing had not really acted against Li Quan. After the remaining Semi-Saints came to the Imperial City to inquire from Mu Zhengqing about why he had driven away Li Quan, they all felt that Li Quan indeed had gone too far.
Li Quan's subordinates had gone so far as to accept bribes even from the heads of the Royal Ancestors, displaying such an incredible lack of tact that it was no wonder Mu Zhengqing had expelled him.
The powerful individuals within the Skyfire Dynasty were mostly aware of the Royal Ancestor's attitude toward outsiders. Now that one of the Royal Ancestors was stopped outside his own home, he was undoubtedly very angry. This was what pressured Mu Zhengqing into expelling Li Quan.