I Accumulate Spirit Roots for My Next Life

At the critical moment when Jin Zhaoyu was about to take his own life, Li Jizhou’s light and airy voice sounded like celestial music to Consort Zhen’s ears.

At the same time, the vertical eye on Hong Luan’s forehead scanned across, instantly collapsing the Divine Soul pressure of the second elder of the Jin family.

"Qian’Er!" Consort Zhen hurriedly ran towards Li Jizhou.

"Mother, do not worry, your child has it all handled." Li Jizhou smiled reassuringly, then strode over to the cell where Jin Zhaoyu was held.

"Grandfather, you have suffered."

"Qian’Er, you... you shouldn’t have come! This has nothing to do with you, leave quickly!" Jin Zhaoyu regained clarity, glanced at Li Jizhou from afar, then stepped back three steps, turning his back, refusing to look at Li Jizhou.

"Haha, grandfather, you have worked hard for the country and the people, such tremendous achievements, what is it? Don’t want your grandson to share in your glory?" Li Jizhou teased with a smile.

"Ha~" The two elders of the Jin family sneered.

They had no respect at all for Li Jizhou’s arrival and even secretly sighed at the foolishness of the Seventh Prince, who still dared to get involved in this mess, talking about glorious achievements.

However, when Li Jizhou heard this sneer, his previously gentle smile towards Jin Zhaoyu changed in an instant, turning cold as he faced them.

"How dare you! In the presence of this prince and yet you do not kneel?"

Li Jizhou’s sudden roar shocked the two siblings of the Jin family, leaving them trembling.

The two exchanged a look when they saw Li Jizhou’s cold expression.

"Your Highness, Seventh Prince, according to seniority, we are of your grandparent’s generation, you..." Backed by Consort Rong, and believing the Seventh Prince would be stripped of his title, they were not afraid of him, furthermore, with Li Jizhou’s current power at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment compared to their Nascent Soul Stage, they were less inclined to fear any consequence from him.

"Guards, seize them, for failing to kneel before me, showing contempt for the royal family, which is contempt for the dynasty and the Saint Emperor!" Li Jizhou gave them no chance to argue.

The Qingzhou City Guard Army, which had followed Li Jizhou down to the dungeon, immediately stepped forward.

"What are you doing? We are members of the Jin family."

"Hmph, the Jin family? The Jin family’s slight face in Qingzhou is only because Jin Zhaoyu is my grandfather. What do you count as?" Li Jizhou stared coldly at them.

"This... this commoner greets Your Highness, Prince Qing!" The two of them from the Jin family dared not to directly confront, kneeling in unison.

Li Jizhou paid them no more heed, turning back once more: "Grandfather,"

"Qian’Er, you... sigh!" Jin Zhaoyu sighed helplessly, having no choice but to turn around, pointing at Li Jizhou with a mixture of annoyance and affection, shaking his head.

"Grandfather, come out quickly." Li Jizhou gestured with his eye towards the dungeon official.

The official hurried forward to unlock the frigid gold cell door.

"This... this cannot be, Qian’Er, heed Grandfather, leave quickly, Grandfather has committed wrongs deserving death, death is not to be regretted, this matter does not concern you." Jin Zhaoyu was alarmed when he saw the prison guard so obediently open the door.

Without an edict from the Saint Emperor, who dared release someone with sins this grave?

He thought Li Jizhou had pressured them with his authority, coercing the Governor of Qingzhou to release him.

Thus, even if he left now, a saintly decree would soon return him, adding more guilt, and the Seventh Prince would surely face severe punishment.

Li Jizhou gave a slight smile, using Divine Sense to communicate, conveying everything in detail.

"What!" Jin Zhaoyu was shocked beyond measure, staring at Li Jizhou in bewilderment.

He never imagined that this grandson of his had accomplished so much.

Moreover, he had turned his wrongdoings to rights, forcibly turning a mistaken oversight into a monumental achievement!

"This... this... my good grandson... my good prince!" Jin Zhaoyu finally recovered after a long pause, rushing out of the dungeon, gripping tightly to Li Jizhou’s shoulders.

"Grandfather, let us go out before we discuss more!" Li Jizhou said, supporting Jin Zhaoyu with a smile.

"Insolent, Jin Zhaoyu, you have committed egregious sins and yet still dare to escape prison? Are you not afraid that your entire line will be wiped out?" The second elder of the Jin family couldn’t help themselves.

With this reminder, both Jin Zhaoyu and Li Jizhou turned to look at them concurrently.

"Second Brother, Fifth Brother, sigh, you really disappoint me!" Jin Zhaoyu sighed deeply.

If it were not for his good grandson, his entire lineage would indeed have been extinguished.

"Take them into custody, await sentencing!" Li Jizhou glanced at Jin Zhaoyu, issuing an order to the Qingzhou City Guard Army.

The two from the Jin family instantly grew fearful: "What are you doing? Why are you detaining us?"

Li Jizhou gave them a cold glance: "Because I am Prince Qing!"

"You..." The older Jin family member wanted to argue further, but the second held him back.

"Very well, very well, Prince Qing’s authority is immense, us commoners dare not oppose His Highness, we will comply!"

"Hmph, I’d like to see how long some people can remain arrogant!" The fifth elder was still unyielding with a cold snort, but did not resist the boundings from the city guards.

Originally, they thought Li Jizhou would not take further action, but,

"Swish~" A flash of light.

Blood-colored Evil Qi surged, and a long saber whizzed forward.

"Ah!" In the next moment, one of Jin family’s elder’s arms was severed and fell to the ground.

The Profound Celestial Treasure, Blood-Drinking Saber, although its Artifact Spirit was near-death and its grade had fallen, and Li Jizhou, at Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, could not exert even a fraction of its might, still, with the Blood Evil Realm’s endless blood fiends empowering it, it was not something the Jin family’s fifth elder could withstand, given it was once a Profound Celestial Treasure.

"Your Highness, Prince Qing, please quell your anger! We admit our wrongs and beg for mercy." The second elder was instantly terrified, recognizing that although to Consort Rong, the Seventh Prince might not amount to much, and was soon to be stripped of his title, he was, after all, still the son of Saint Emperor Li Yuan, and even if they were killed, what could be done?

"Hmph!" Li Jizhou sneered, paying them no further mind.

The edict should arrive soon; since Jin Zhaoyu was to be rewarded, how could those who slandered him avoid punishment?

In the heart of the Saint Emperor, nearly having his campaign to exterminate the Demon Race thwarted by them made them unpardonable!

"Grandfather, Mother, let us not speak of this to others, if anyone inquires, a smile will suffice; the rewards from the Saint Emperor will soon arrive." Having exited the dungeon, Li Jizhou casually relayed the matter of the Red Flame Demon Race.

"My son, you truly have grown!" Consort Zhen wept openly, today had truly been a trial for her.

"Hahaha, my... Prince Qing is wise and mighty, the Saint Emperor will be most pleased, hahaha, good, very good!" Jin Zhaoyu felt exceptionally gratified.

Without delving further, Li Jizhou pulled Jin Zhaoyu aside, highlighting an important matter.

The trade affairs with the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp could now be widely operated, and with this Red Flame Demon Race incident, the swamp shielded the Jiuli Dynasty from the Demon Race’s fury, perfectly opportune for expanding the trade route.

In addition to communicating with the Wanshu Daoist Venerable’s trade alliance, they must assist Qianji City in selling High-Tier puppets.

As for clients for these High-Tier puppets, they could target several dynasties to the northwest of the Central State, particularly those which have constantly held conflicts with the Spirit Race.

Regarding internal matters of the Jin family, Li Jizhou asked no further; after this event, if Jin Zhaoyu could not manage the family like a watertight ship, it would be truly disappointing.

Once finished, Li Jizhou bid farewell to Consort Zhen and Jin Zhaoyu, heading alone to the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp, not only to appease the Wanshu Daoist Venerable and Master Mu Yu after their impending discovery of being deceived but also to seize the Celestial Punishment!

This will serve as a sword for unifying the nine great dynasties of the Central State under his rule!