His words were blunt, causing the Tianguan behind him to anxiously signal him with his eyes. Someone like Ji Bozhai wasn’t necessarily tied to Sunspire City—how could they speak to him like this? The Minister Superior was too accustomed to his lofty position. What if the man simply turned and walked away?
Unexpectedly, the man in the hall showed no anger, only letting out a light chuckle. "Yong Wang is mediocre, yet he dares to covet Ming Xian’s position. Sunspire City stands little chance of winning."
Harsh, but true. Ming Li’s expression darkened. "Yong Wang is my son."
Ji Bozhai nodded. "Then let him inherit the city’s legacy. Why must the Minister Superior block my path?"
Originally, he was supposed to leave Sunspire City after the competition, needing time to pack and plan his route. But the people of Sunspire City had seized their Flying Beast Cart without explanation, showing no intention of returning it—clearly intending to forcibly detain him and Mingyi.
On Sunspire City’s turf, there was no way to resort to force. So here he stood, watching Ming Li’s face shift between shades of pale and green, until the man finally stiffened his neck and declared, "You are also my son."
Ji Bozhai laughed. "I have neither your Imperial family registry nor a proper midwife to attest to my birth. How could I possibly bear the weight of such words from the Minister Superior?"
The standards for imperial bloodlines were strict—one couldn’t just claim kinship at will. Ming Li knew this, but he had no other choice. Sunspire City couldn’t afford to lose. If they fell from the Upper Three Cities, the entire populace would be left with nothing to rely on.
"You came today because you have something to discuss with me, don’t you?" Ming Li calmed himself. "What do you want?"
"Yong Wang and Lord Dan Er bear the blood debt of my near-death. Ming An holds the grudge of my torment. If you hand these three over to me, Sunspire City might just win the upcoming competition."
Ming Li shook his head without hesitation. "Ming An is negotiable, but Yong Wang and Dan Er are of noble status. There’s no way they can be handed over to you."
"Then we have nothing more to discuss." Ji Bozhai smiled faintly. "Ming Xian contributed so much, yet this is how you treated him. How could I dare set foot in your Ming family’s halls again?"
With that, he turned to leave.
"Wait!" Ming Li frowned and called out to him. "You still carry the blood of Yan Pin and me. How can you bear to walk away just like that?"
The man at the door paused, sighing deeply before turning back, his eyes tinged with reluctance. "All these years, you never sought me out. If not for my strong Essence Power, you wouldn’t even acknowledge me today. Such callousness—what am I to do?"
He seemed torn, as if he wanted to stay. But after one last glance at the cold-hearted Minister Superior, he stepped slowly over the threshold, filled with resentment and heartbreak.
A child lost for so many years yearned most for love. Yet they not only withheld it but also shielded his enemies and sought to exploit his Essence Power. This city was as cold as ice—he felt helpless, aggrieved, and utterly despondent. That was the gist of it.
This emotional performance left Ming Li deeply shaken. Seated on his high throne, he began to wonder if he truly had been too heartless. Wealth and status couldn’t sway Ji Bozhai—only sincerity might stand a chance.
Watching this, the Tianguan couldn’t help but speak up. "Of the three he wants, aside from His Highness Yong Wang, the other two are more manageable.""Dan Er is not someone to be trifled with," Ming Li sighed deeply. "The imperial consort's clan holds immense power, and he is her kin. If we move against him, the Meng Family will not let it go."
Originally, the intention was to use these powerful noble families to consolidate the throne. Yet now, the interference of the consort's relatives in governance has created an irreversible situation. Some decisions, even if he wished to make them, were simply beyond his authority.
"If he were willing to return, dealing with the Meng Family in the future wouldn’t be difficult for the Minister Superior," Tianguan mused. "Perhaps we should extend an olive branch first, at least to let him know that the Minister Superior still cherishes their blood ties."
Ji Bozhai had no interest in gold or jewels. The only gesture that could possibly sway him was Ming An.
After much deliberation, the Minister Superior finally issued a secret decree.
"The Slave Arena?" Mingyi stood up from her dressing table, staring at Ji Bozhai in astonishment.
He held a transcribed copy of the secret decree and placed it before her. "That Slave Arena is now under my control. If Ming An goes there, I can ensure he survives."
Compared to exile elsewhere, Star Yearn City's Slave Arena was indeed the better option. Mingyi looked up at him with a complicated expression before finally murmuring, "Thank you."
"You're not happy?" He raised an eyebrow.
It wasn’t that she was unhappy—after all, Ming An’s life would be spared. But as for happiness... Mingyi wrinkled her face.
Ji Bozhai remained composed. "Debts must be repaid. If I let him off too easily, it would only create a rift between us. Better to have him repay his debt—just one year, and I’ll grant him freedom. I’ve already spoken to him, and he agreed."
Ming An had never imagined he’d get a chance to live again. When he suddenly saw Ji Bozhai, he assumed it was for revenge. Yet Ji Bozhai stood outside the cell and simply said, "The grudges of the past generation have nothing to do with us, and I don’t want them to spill into the future. Repay me with a year of hard labor, and I’ll set you free."
The toil in the Slave Arena was no easy feat, and with Ji Bozhai’s special attention, his days would undoubtedly be grueling. But to clear the debt in just one year? Ming An thought it was worth it. After all, his hatred was for Yan Shi, not Ji Bozhai himself.
So he agreed without hesitation, adding with a faint smile, "Thank Mingyi for me."
Others might not understand why Ji Bozhai spared him, but Ming An knew perfectly well.
Her father was clever, but the daughter was slow on the uptake. Sitting in the room, she stared blankly at him and asked, "After all this trouble, what’s in it for you?"
"To accumulate virtue and good deeds, so I can ascend to the Western Paradise after death," he scoffed.
Mingyi’s lips twitched.
"Don’t believe me?" He leaned closer. "Then how about this—I don’t want to sever any chance of a future with you."
Her heart clenched, and she quickly averted her gaze. "That’s even more absurd than the first reason."
"You can tell what’s true and what’s not. I won’t argue with you." He straightened up. "Don’t go to tomorrow’s competition."
Uncomfortable, Mingyi muttered, "Why?"
"Winning this competition means you’ll never leave Sunspire City. Is that what you want?"
Of course not. But given the current circumstances, even if they didn’t win, the Ming Family wouldn’t let them go.
Reading her hesitation, Ji Bozhai pressed a finger to the furrow between her brows and said softly, "I know you’re capable, but you can trust me sometimes. I’m not weaker than you."
Especially when it came to playing mind games—he had always been a master.Sunspire City was now desperate for any solution and determined to keep him to bring glory to the city. Ji Bozhai also showed a more conciliatory attitude after the Ming An incident, even paying a visit to the Secluded Hall.
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