A Blade of Grass Must Know Its Place

Ye Chen's gaze deepened as he studied Qin Tian carefully. Something about this man was profoundly unsettling. Ever since his rebirth, everything had aligned with his memories—everything except events connected to this enigmatic figure.

The Da Zhou War Emperor, who was supposed to perish in the Ancient Desolate Forbidden, was saved. Ji Lingxian, who in his past life had shown no interest in anyone, now appeared to have someone on her mind.

Ye Chen wasn't naive. He could sense that Qin Tian represented an unknown and formidable danger.

"Princess Lingxian, I'll take my leave for now." Ye Chen gave Ji Lingxian an apologetic nod. His priority was to unlock his Battle Saint Physique and enhance his strength.

As someone who had survived countless battles in his previous life, Ye Chen knew that strength was the ultimate answer to all uncertainties. With power, fear could be conquered, and mysteries unraveled.

As he glanced once more at Qin Tian, still smiling serenely, Ye Chen felt a chill run down his spine.

For now, he only hoped the Immortal-Demon Secret Realm would open soon so he could acquire the ancient Nine-Layered Tower. He needed that treasure to feel truly secure.

Watching Ye Chen leave the Immortal Terrace Pavilion in a hurry, Qin Tian's smile widened.

"Run all you like, little blade of grass. You can't escape the harvester."

Inside the Da Zhou Palace

Nearby the royal palace, magnificent halls and towers stood in splendor. Spirit cranes soared gracefully through the skies, and dragonfish swam lazily in crystalline lakes. Rare spirit beasts and medicinal herbs that were treasures in the Qingyun Realm were scattered like common plants.

"Yaya! Yaya!"

The bear-like creature, Yi Yi, leapt off Qin Tian's shoulder. Its little eyes gleamed as it spotted a brilliantly colored herb. Without hesitation, it grabbed the plant and took a bite, only to spit it out with disgust moments later.

Throwing the herb aside, Yi Yi scurried back up Qin Tian's shoulder, chomping on the ancient stones Qin Tian had prepared for it.

Seeing this, the Da Zhou War Emperor chuckled instead of showing anger. "Your companion is no ordinary beast, my lord. To disdain even third or fourth-grade spirit herbs—it must enjoy treasures of remarkable quality."

Qin Tian sipped his spirit wine leisurely. "I plan to stay in Da Zhou for a while. I trust the War Emperor can make the necessary arrangements."

"Of course, my lord. It would be our honor," the War Emperor replied, his face lighting up with visible delight. He was thrilled that Qin Tian, the mysterious figure from the Upper Realm, would remain in Da Zhou. If necessary, he would even vacate his palace for Qin Tian.

The War Emperor understood all too well how much Qin Tian's presence had influenced the power dynamics between Da Zhou and the neighboring Da Xia. Rumors had spread that the War Emperor owed his life to Qin Tian in the Ancient Desolate Forbidden. The very idea had given Da Zhou breathing room.

For now.

He knew this uneasy peace wouldn't last forever. The Da Xia dynasty had its backers in the Upper Realm. They were likely gathering information and would strike with overwhelming force once they confirmed Qin Tian's true standing—or lack thereof. Da Zhou's lack of a human emperor was an undeniable weakness.

"Arrange for me to stay in a residence near the Ye family's estate," Qin Tian said casually, setting his wine cup down.

"Oh, and I'll need detailed information about everyone in the Ye family, especially the heir, Ye Chen."

The War Emperor's brow furrowed slightly in confusion but quickly masked it. Although he didn't understand why Qin Tian was so interested in the Ye family, he dared not question the request. If Ye Chen did happen to cross this formidable figure, he wouldn't hesitate to eliminate him for the greater good of Da Zhou.

The War Emperor immediately ordered one of his guards to deliver his token to the Imperial Clan Office to gather the requested information.

Qin Tian observed the War Emperor's decisiveness and couldn't help but smirk. "Efficient. As expected of a former sovereign. A little push, and he gets the job done cleanly."

"I hear you're stuck at the threshold of the human emperor realm," Qin Tian remarked, his tone casual.

The War Emperor's expression froze. He nodded, hiding his surprise that Qin Tian could discern his bottleneck so effortlessly.

"I happen to have a royal-grade medicine that might help." Qin Tian reached into his storage ring, producing a shimmering herb.

The War Emperor's breath hitched. A royal-grade medicine was an unparalleled treasure. With this, breaking through his bottleneck might not just be possible—it might be certain.

"I… This is too generous…" the War Emperor stammered, overwhelmed by Qin Tian's nonchalance.

"Consider it a token of goodwill." Qin Tian smiled faintly. "A little carrot alongside the stick keeps the gears moving smoothly."

To Qin Tian, the royal-grade medicine was worth little compared to the amusement he found in manipulating the players on this grand chessboard. After all, a blade of grass should know its place in the harvest.