"Hehehe, if Emperor Zhengyong wants to deal with them..."

Just then, a prolonged and clear voice echoed in their ears.

"Your Majesty has arrived~!"

Upon hearing these words, the other cultivators were all taken aback and instinctively stood up.

But the Four Ghosts of Shannan shouted in secret and swiftly dashed out of the main hall.

"Isn’t it delightful to have friends coming from afar?"

"Since you have come to My Imperial Palace to see Me, why the hurry to leave now?"

As soon as the words fell, a burst of glowing light suddenly poured down outside the hall, blocking the paths of the Four Ghosts of Shannan.

"Damn it!"

The leader among the Four Ghosts was surprisingly a child who appeared only half a person’s height.

This child looked no more than seven or eight years old, with rosy lips and white teeth, a ponytail tied high on his head, and bright red cheeks.

But the strange thing was, his pupils were greyish-white, surrounded by fine crow’s feet.

"Big brother! The array!"

"Let’s attack together and break it!"

"Attack!"

"Hoo...!"

In an instant, all the Four Ghosts of Shannan took action.

The pale child opened his mouth and spat out a pale flame which surged and struck the light screen, causing ripples to spread.

The woman in red let out a charming laugh, her figure flickered, and surprisingly a blood-colored long snake was flung out, baring its fangs and biting fiercely on the light screen, producing a harsh grinding sound.

The third person was a middle-aged man, with a thin body and a face full of pockmarks.

He formed hand seals rapidly, and a pitch-black flying sword appeared out of thin air, transforming into a black light that slashed fiercely at the light screen.

The last one was an old man who seemed to be at the end of his life, with white hair and beard, but his head was completely bald.

He smiled, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.

Then he patted his storage bag, and a giant skeleton over a human’s height turned into a mass of black fog, surrounded by more than ten small skullheads, and crashed frantically against the light screen in front of them.

For a while, most of the main hall was within the attack range of the Four Ghosts of Shannan.

The others instinctively distanced themselves, but also looked at the Four Ghosts of Shannan in shock.

Especially the light screen descending from above, enveloping more than ten of them within it.

Is that an array?

Or something else?

It can block the Four Ghosts of Shannan for such a long time!

To know, among these Four Ghosts of Shannan, there is a Qi Cultivation Late-stage Cultivator!

For a moment, the entire hall was filled with ghostly wails, and demonic flames surged.

"Clap, clap, clap..."

Just then, a series of crisp clapping sounds was heard.

Everyone instinctively looked over, only to see a man dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe being surrounded by a group of eunuchs and palace maids as he walked out from behind a screen.

He was clapping as he walked.

Emperor Zhengyong!

He stood tall, with deep and bright eyes, seemingly able to penetrate the depths of people’s hearts.

His brow exuded a regal aura, with sword-like eyebrows drooping, adding to his majesty and dominance.

Dressed in a dragon robe, embroidered with the soaring snake in golden threads, regal yet commanding respect.

At this moment, his gaze was filled with intrigue as he watched the Four Ghosts of Shannan.

"Well done~ rewards!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Liancang next to him patted his waist storage bag, and a large handful of shiny objects appeared in his hand. He casually tossed them to the entrance of the main hall.

To be precise, right at the feet of the Four Ghosts of Shannan who were constantly casting spells on the array outside.

Uh...

The first to be dumbfounded, of course, were the dozen or so people still waiting on the side.

A pair of eyes stared fixedly at the shiny objects rolling on the floor of the main hall.

Those are... Spirit Stones!

"Spirit Stones!"

"Forty pieces of Spirit Stones!"

"What is he doing?"

"Rewarding with Spirit Stones!"

"What a waste, I..."

In the midst of the exclamations, the child-like cultivator among the Four Ghosts of Shannan, who was still attacking the array vigorously, was the first to stop, instinctively looking down at his own feet.

What is that?

He blinked, unable to believe his eyes.

Then hurriedly stopped his attack, bent down, and grabbed two shiny items from the ground for a closer look.

"Spirit Stones!"

"Full of Spiritual Qi, without any depletion... it’s actually a Spirit Stone brimming with Spiritual Qi!"

"This..."

He instinctively looked around, then without hesitation squatted down and started stuffing the Spirit Stones from the ground into his arms.

"Big brother?"

"Big brother!"

"What are you doing?"

"Spirit Stones!"

"So many Spirit Stones!"

The remaining three hurriedly stopped and rushed to the spirit stones on the ground, scrambling for them.

"Second brother, stop grabbing! Leave some for me!"

"Big brother, your hands are already full, give me some!"

"Third sister, quick, there’s still one over there..."

"Big brother, should we still run?"

"Pfft...!"

Watching the four compete in grabbing, someone in the corner couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Amidst that, the room burst into laughter.

"Hahaha..."

"Hehehe..."

"Is this the Four Ghosts of Shannan? They care not about their dignity just to snatch spirit stones!"

"Identity? What does that matter? These are forty spirit stones, each of them can get ten!"

"If they were given to me, I’d fight for them too..."

Amidst the chatter, everyone instinctively looked toward the instigator.

Seated upon the Dragon Throne, indifferently watching them was the Emperor of Great Yu, Emperor Zhengyong!

At this moment, Zheng Yi was also watching this group of loose cultivators with interest.

With a glance, there were thirteen loose cultivators in the hall.

Apart from the Four Ghosts of Shannan he rewarded, there were seven others, forming three distinct groups.

The actions of the Four Ghosts of Shannan were already anticipated by him.

And his countermeasure was to use spirit stones as "rewards," to prove his strength and sincerity.

Previously, every loose cultivator in Great Yu faced a severe shortage of spirit stones.

Normally, loose cultivators held around three spirit stones.

Even a Qi Cultivation Late-stage Cultivator had less than ten spirit stones.

Even entire cultivator clans had only twenty or thirty spirit stones.

For instance, Elder Celestial Master Zhao Xizheng of Taiyii Dao only had accumulated ten or so spirit stones.

Cultivators cherished them, mainly because they were extremely hard to find.

Some cultivators went their whole lives without finding a single spirit stone.

But now, Zheng Yi casually rewarded with forty.

Faced with the Four Ghosts of Shannan who were eager to flee, it was indeed a surprising sight.

The Four Ghosts of Shannan, wanting to escape, were rewarded with so many spirit stones.

If they stayed, wouldn’t they profit greatly?

"Thank you... Your Majesty for the reward!"

At this moment, the leader of the Four Ghosts of Shannan, looking like a child, stepped forward respectfully.

But the next second, his expression changed dramatically.

"Qi Cultivation Late-stage!"

"Fellow cultivator...no, Senior!"

"Youlinzi pays respect to Senior!"

"What? Qi Cultivation Late-stage!"

"The current Emperor is actually a Qi Cultivation Late-stage Cultivator!"

"Indeed... that aura, eighth-layer Qi Cultivation!"

"We juniors pay our respects to Senior...!"

The other loose cultivators sensed something and hurriedly went forward to pay obeisance.

Zheng Yi did not conceal his cultivation.

The aura of eighth-layer Qi Cultivation was particularly clear within the hall.

Zheng Yi scanned with divine thought and shook his head slightly.

No wonder they were loose cultivators.

Among the thirteen, only two were Qi Cultivation Late-stage.

No wonder, after sensing his eighth-layer Qi Cultivation, they all settled and became extremely obedient.

But purchasing a bone horse for a thousand gold, this batch of loose cultivators was merely the first batch.

As long as he displayed sincerity and magnanimity, he could ultimately gather all the cultivators of Great Yu.

He said with a smile, "Fellow cultivators, there is no need for formalities. I am aware of your reasons for coming here today."

"I shall not mince words; as long as you genuinely join my Great Yu Immortal Dynasty, then I will not mistreat you!"

"Qi Cultivation Early-stage Cultivators get three spirit stones per month!"

"Qi Cultivation Middle-stage Cultivators get five spirit stones per month!"

"Qi Cultivation Late-stage Cultivators get twenty spirit stones per month!"

"Those who possess one of the Hundred Skills of Cultivation will receive additional rewards!"

"Those willing to offer their Soul Fire will have their treatment doubled!"

"Besides these, any cultivator who joins my Great Yu Immortal Dynasty and achieves great merit will receive rewards."

"Cultivation techniques, magical artifacts, spirit pills, array maps... everything is available!"

"How about it?"

Looking at the thirteen shocked loose cultivators, Zheng Yi smilingly gazed at Youlinzi, leader of the Four Ghosts of Shannan.

"Youlinzi, fellow cultivator, what do you think?"

Youlinzi suppressed his surprise and immediately said, "I... naturally join!"

"Alright, then may you introduce your brothers?"

"I... obey the command!"