Atop the mist-shrouded summit of the guest peak, Zhao Changhe stood quietly, letting the clouds swirl past his legs. The spirit qi here was so dense it almost seemed to coalesce into form; it was richer than even that of Ye Wuming’s Night Palace.0

Even the jade dew wine he had just sipped brimmed with potent essence, further reinforcing his grasp over the Other Shore. The effects were significant, and his cultivation had become noticeably more refined.0

No wonder this place was counted among the most formidable forbidden zones of the main universe. This was the training ground of an Other Shore Emperor.0

His divine sense spread outward, faintly perceiving that despite the surface calm, remnants of the mountain-guarding array still held lethal traps and lingering murderous intent. Certain paths practically screamed danger, radiating unease with just the lightest sweep of perception. The serenity here was no more than a facade.0

It was just like Sovereign Withered Wood himself. He had not truly been bested in that single exchange earlier. He had simply chosen not to summon his magical treasures at the outset. Had the initiative been reversed, the outcome might have been far less certain.0

Ye Jiuyou had been silently observing alongside him when she finally spoke in a soft voice, “Do you really believe this emperor can be trusted?”0

“There’s a foundation for cooperation. Trust, though… that still needs work,” Zhao Changhe replied softly. “Today’s demonstration, the gift, the appeal to reason, I’ve done everything I could. Now it’s up to him to show what kind of man he really is.”0

Ye Jiuyou said, “If it were up to me, I wouldn’t choose to cooperate at all. No matter who he is, he’s still an Emperor, someone who governs over an entire star system. You shouldn’t mistake him for a random reclusive hermit living in an immortal mountain. The mind of a ruler is inscrutable and filled with hidden traps. He makes a poor ally. In my view, the purpose of...0