Fantasy: Unparalleled Prince, Conquering the Heavens!

"Who seeks an audience with His Majesty?"

A resounding voice came from within the city gate. Li Yuanba, carrying his bronze mace and clad in Chainmail, asked curiously. He had been guarding the Imperial Capital for several years, and this was the first time someone had requested an audience with Qin Wudao.

"General Li, it is I, this old blind man," the old blind man replied with a smile, seeming to be quite familiar with the person before him.

"Boy, did you disclose my identity to him?" Li Yuanba turned and berated the squad leader who had made the report. He and this old blind man didn't even know each other; otherwise, how would a blind man know his surname?

"General, your identity is confidential! Even if I had ten times the courage, I wouldn't dare disclose it!" the squad leader responded with an aggrieved look, also feeling puzzled as to how the old blind man knew it was Li Yuanba.

"Don't be angry, General Li. The squad leader indeed didn't say anything. I divined it!" The old blind man smiled, adding, "General, are you interested in having your fortune told?"

"Oh?" Li Yuanba's interest was piqued. He circled the old blind man, and the more he looked, the more startled he became. With his cultivation at the Great Emperor Realm, he actually couldn't see through the old blind man's cultivation.

Could it be that this old man's cultivation is even higher than mine?

"Old Sir, in that case, divine my origins, what do you say?" Li Yuanba suggested, a calculating look in his eyes as he decided to test the old blind man's divination skills.

"General, you're putting this old blind man in a difficult position," the old blind man said with a wry smile, which delighted Li Yuanba. But before Li Yuanba could enjoy his satisfaction for long, he heard the old blind man continue, "General, you are the reincarnation of a Golden-Winged Peng. You should have been emaciated, but later you consumed a supreme treasure, which allowed you to achieve your current cultivation!"

Li Yuanba's eyes widened to the size of saucers, a flicker of shock in them. The old man was absolutely correct. The fact that he was the reincarnation of a Golden-Winged Peng was known only to a select few. Outsiders couldn't possibly know this. It seemed he had encountered a true master!

"Old Sir, I will take you to meet His Majesty!" Li Yuanba said, a new note of respect in his voice. The Qin Dynasty was in desperate need of talent; if the old blind man was indeed a person of great ability, he deserved respectful treatment.

Amid the admiring gazes of the guards, the old blind man entered the Imperial Capital. With Li Yuanba leading the way, they quickly reached the Imperial Palace.

"Hm! What powerful cultivation!" As the old blind man entered the Imperial Palace, Guo Jia, who was attending to affairs of state in the Deliberative Pavilion, suddenly looked up. His figure flickered and vanished.

After a series of meticulous checks, the old blind man arrived at the Imperial Study, where he saw Qin Wudao reviewing memorials.

"Your Majesty, I have brought him," Li Yuanba announced with a respectful salute.

Qin Wudao nodded, looking up at the old blind man, and asked majestically, "I hear you were seeking me?"

"Such profound methods, Your Majesty! To think you've deceived the world, and even the Immortals' List!" The old blind man's fingers moved, performing a quick calculation, his face etched with astonishment as he spoke. This was the first time he had felt truly shocked since entering the Imperial Capital, and all the doubts that had been building up within him were suddenly resolved. He had previously been puzzled as to why the Immortals' List indicated Qin Wudao's cultivation was only at the Fifth-Turn Saint King Realm, placing him outside the top one hundred.

This was clearly not the strength an Imperial Star should possess!

So that was it... Qin Wudao had concealed his cultivation; he had already broken through to the Peak of the Ninth-Turn Saint King Realm!

"Old Sir, you seem to know quite a lot," Qin Wudao's expression remained unchanged as he quietly set down the memorial. His gaze, fixed on the old blind man, carried a faint chill.

The fact that he was concealing his cultivation absolutely could not be revealed!

"Your Majesty, rest assured. I, this old blind man, have come to pledge allegiance to the Qin Dynasty. Besides, it's not as if I, a blind man, could leave now, could I? Chancellor Guo, wouldn't you agree?" the old blind man calmly saluted Qin Wudao, then turned towards the doorway and asked.

The Void rippled, and Guo Jia's figure emerged. He gave the old blind man a deep look before bowing to Qin Wudao. "Your Majesty, this old gentleman is a powerful expert of the Ten-thousand-year Emperor Realm. Your humble servant was concerned, so I followed him."

"Chancellor Guo is meticulous!" Qin Wudao nodded, then smiled at the old blind man. "It is common knowledge that successors of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion cannot break through to the Emperor Realm. For you, Old Sir, to have broken the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion's curse is truly remarkable!"

The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion divined heavenly secrets and was thus spurned by the Great Dao; hence, its successors through the generations were unable to break through to the Emperor Realm.

It seems that with the advent of the Era of Immortal Opportunities, all sorts of unsavory characters are emerging!

The old blind man shook his head, offering no explanation. He saluted once more and said, "Your Majesty, as a pledge of my sincerity, I, this old blind man, have another piece of news for you: the Eternal Temple is preparing to make a move against the Qin Dynasty!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Wudao and Guo Jia exchanged a look, a complex silent communication passing between them.

"Old Sir, how will the Eternal Temple attack?" Li Yuanba asked, characteristically blunt.

"Your Majesty, Chancellor Guo, you both tend to overcomplicate simple matters. Since I, this old blind man, have brought it up, I naturally won't conceal the details. You are not as forthright as General Li!" the old blind man said chidingly.

Qin Wudao's and Guo Jia's expressions stiffened momentarily but quickly returned to normal. It wasn't that they enjoyed overcomplicating matters; it was merely a fundamental characteristic of those in positions of power.

"The Eternal Temple has made two-pronged preparations. Firstly, they will activate a hidden operative to launch an assault from Lu City towards the Imperial Capital, though this attempt will fail. Secondly, the Grand Elder of the Eternal Temple, Soul Annihilation, will strike from the Great Wall. Your Majesty will need to dispatch a powerful expert to intercept him!" the old blind man continued his report, seemingly having a crystal-clear understanding of the Eternal Temple's plans.

"What is Soul Annihilation's cultivation level?" Qin Wudao asked.

"The same as Chancellor Guo: Peak of the Origin Great Emperor Realm!" the old blind man answered without hesitation.

Hearing this, Qin Wudao asked no more questions. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the tabletop as he sank into thought. Whether his contemplation was genuine or feigned, however, was impossible to discern.

"General Li," Guo Jia transmitted his voice secretly to Li Yuanba, also giving him a pointed look, "please escort the old gentleman to a side hall to rest. I have some matters to report to His Majesty."

Although Li Yuanba was straightforward, he wasn't a fool. He cupped his fists and said, "Old Sir, court officials will be reporting state affairs soon. I'll take you to a side hall to rest first. His Majesty will summon you later."

"Then this old blind man shall not disturb Your Majesty any further. I bid you farewell." The old blind man respectfully saluted and left the Imperial Study with Li Yuanba.

After the two had departed, Qin Wudao waved his hand. A barrier materialized within the Imperial Study, capable of isolating it from any outside detection.

"Chancellor Guo, what are your thoughts on him?" Qin Wudao asked first.

"Your Majesty, he is unfathomable. Your servant cannot see through him." Guo Jia wore a solemn expression. After a moment's thought, he said, "However, what he said is likely true. The Eternal Temple may indeed be planning a significant move!"

"If Soul Annihilation takes action personally, then in the entire Qin Dynasty Saint's Court, only you can stop him!" Qin Wudao remarked quietly.

"Your Majesty, rest assured. Your servant will repel Soul Annihilation beyond our borders!" Guo Jia declared firmly, a murderous glint in his eyes.

Qin Wudao took a deep breath and said in a cold voice, "Take the old blind man with you. If Soul Annihilation doesn't appear, then there will be no need for him to continue existing."

He couldn't possibly fully trust the old blind man based on a single statement. Moreover, the old blind man's true intentions for pledging allegiance to the Qin Dynasty were still unknown.

Could he harbor some ulterior motive?