Castle of Black Iron

“I know that five elders and two grand justices have many questions these days. You could ask me now…” after sitting on the throne of Dragon Emperor, Zhang Tie threw a glance at them calmly and said.

Zhang Tie’s deed made elders and grand justices more meticulous.

“Ahem…ahem…we wonder whether Grand Dragon Emperor had left some orders…or not…” after exchanging a glance with each other, Elder Xia opened his mouth first and said under the gaze of all the others.

After Zhang Tie took the throne of Dragon Emperor, the former Dragon Emperor had become Grand Dragon Emperor according to the habit in Motian Realm.

Since the former Dragon Emperor showed up suddenly a few days ago and solved the crisis facing Dragon Emperor City, none of the elders and grand justices in the assembly hall could sleep well as the words of the former Dragon Emperor always lingered in their ears. During these days, the elders and the grand justices were all restless. Even if they had plans for the sake of their own profits and had realized the possible problems in Dragon Emperor City, none of them could imagine that the problems would be so serious——a great number of powerhouses of demons and humans from other immortal palaces were already lurking in Dragon Emperor City, the total power of which could easily crack down the five elders and the two grand justices of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace. This time, if not the sudden appearance of the former Dragon Emperor, the outcome would be unpredictable.

“Left some orders” was just a euphemistic expression. Actually, they were all worried about being punished by the former Dragon Emperor.

“To be honest, the old man is really disappointed with you. So am I!” Zhang Tie replied as he shook his head, continuing, “The old man let me join Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace so that I could observe the situation facing Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace secretly. However, after joining Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace, I found that Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace has already lost its enterprising spirit. Additionally, it faces many problems inside. Although you also want to preserve Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace, to be honest, Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace is now lacking the spirit of cooperation. Elders and grand justices only care about own profit. That makes me disappointed. I think that is the reason why the old man handed this awful mess to me together with the right to dispose of you…”

Zhang Tie then revealed a casual smile as he looked at them, saying, “You know that the old man has a bad temper. Imagine how His Majesty would deal with you if you made such a big mistake when His Majesty was here. To be honest, before coming back, I thought that you would have long fled away. I’ve not imagined that you’d still be here…”

Those elders and grand justices changed their faces greatly. They knew that the former Dragon Emperor had a pretty bad temper. If His Majesty claimed for their responsibility, given the fact that they had lost all the territories of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace outside Dragon Emperor Big Domain and weakened the reputation of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace, they already made a felony. If the former Dragon Emperor really wants to punish them, His Majesty would only give them two choices——to die or to get back the immortal palaces and cities that they had lost.

Not to mention this awful mess facing Dragon Emperor City. How dare they wait for the former Dragon Emperor to deal with it for them. As long as they recalled the performance of the former Dragon Emperor who didn’t even feel like taking a look at them, the elders and the grand justices had felt their heart racing. When the former Dragon Emperor was absent, they were indeed paramount; however, the moment the former Dragon Emperor came back, they had become commoners in front of the former Dragon Emperor. They dared not resist the former Dragon Emperor at all.

Watching the faces of the five elders and the two grand justices, Zhang Tie lowered his voice, “You know how stubborn is the old man. You might have guessed how he planned to deal with you previously. These days, the old man had talked with me. I told him that if he wanted me to take over Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace for him, he had to meet my condition——from now on, I would take charge in everything about Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace. Even if he is the Grand Dragon Emperor, he’s still not entitled to interfere with it. He agreed, which means that he has handed the right of disposal of you to me!”

The elders and grand justices just listened to Zhang Tie’s words silently as they held their breath.

“I’m always discriminating in one’s rewards and punishments. As elders and grand justices are directly responsible for the problems facing Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace; especially this crisis facing Dragon Emperor city, you couldn’t avoid punishment. Therefore, from now on, you will not assume as the presidents of departments and grand justices anymore. I will appoint other people as the presidents of Earth-Treasures Department, Supervision Department, Immortal Generals Department, Heavenly Craftsmen Department and Military Department and the title of grand justices…”

After hearing that they were going to be fired without any chance of negotiation, the seven people’s faces turned bad at once.

Previously, Elder Shi the president of Immortal Generals Department still wanted to argue something; however, the moment he touched Zhang Tie’s eye light, he had given up the whim.

Zhang Tie watched them calmly, which carried a qi as hard and icy as steel. Zhang Tie didn’t fear them at all because he was two levels lower than them; instead, his eye light was as oppressive as that of a real emperor. As a result, Elder Shi could clearly feel that he would die for sure if he resisted Zhang Tie here in the public.

When he recalled the terrifying strike that the former Dragon Emperor casually made to destroy half of a mountain peak from 60 miles away by only pointing at it by finger, Elder Shi’s bad mood disappeared at once.

“We…follow the arrangement of Your Majesty…” After being silent for a short while, the 7 people lowered their heads towards Zhang Tie once again.

Zhang Tie’s eye light then turned soft; instead of being that aggressive anymore.

“After mentioning your punishment, I should talk about your meritorious services. During the past 900-odd years when the old man was absent, you could still preserve Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace. Although it’s benefited from the reputation of the old man, your meritorious services should not be ignored either. Although you’re a bit selfish, it’s reasonable; no matter what, you’re still loyal to Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace. Therefore, after you leave your current positions, you will be given other positions!”

Zhang Tie’s words gave hope to those elders and grand justices. As a result, 7 pairs of eyes fixated onto Zhang Tie again.

Zhang Tie put it straightforwardly, “Five elders’ identities remain unchanged. You’re still elders of the immortal palace; the two grand justices also become the elders of the immortal palaces. Additionally, I prepare to found a new agency above the five departments called Qianji Agency, which is in charge of the five major immortal palaces and helps me to deal with all the affairs of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace…”

After hearing Zhang Tie’s words, the 7 people were in a daze at once. Superficially, they had lost their privilege and power; however, Qianji Agency’s power was greater than any one of the 5 major departments. Previously, they had their own territories. Now, although they’re qualified to interfere with everything about the 5 major departments and the immortal palace, they couldn’t make decisions individually; instead, they had to make decisions together and should be responsible for Zhang Tie.

The 7 people didn’t know whether they had been punished or rewarded; therefore, they all had a complex mood.

Zhang Tie continued, “As for the presidents of the five major departments, I will promote the deputy presidents of the 5 major departments. As they’re all old ones in the 5 major departments and are familiar with you; it should be fine for them to collaborate with you. Nor would they influence the daily operation of the immortal palace. The candidates of the grand justices could be recruited from outside. Additionally, I will recruit two supreme immortal generals who have not founded their own immortal palaces or joined other immortal palaces…”

“Ah? Supreme immortal generals?” Ying Jiutian, one of the original grand justices of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace exclaimed, “Wouldn’t it be…”

“As long as they want to join Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace, they are welcome. It’s not a big deal even if they’re supreme immortal generals…”

The elders and grand justices then became silent. Although they were just fire immortal generals and were resistant to recruit supreme immortal generals, apparently, they couldn’t waver Zhang Tie’s mind at this moment. After hearing that Zhang Tie was going to recruit two supreme immortal generals as the grand justices of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace, the 7 people who were a bit delighted just now immediately had a sense of crisis.

If two supreme immortal generals really joined Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace, they couldn’t replace the importance of the original five elders and two grand justices in the immortal palace within a short period of time for sure; however, after the new supreme immortal generals won Zhang Tie’s trust and made enough meritorious services that everybody else knew, how could the original elders and grand justices manifest their value in Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace or in front of Zhang Tie? By then, how could the new supreme immortal generals respect them? By then, Zhang Tie could easily set another position above elders.

“Will Grand Dragon Emperor stay in Dragon Emperor City from then on?” Elder Shi finally asked.

“Later on, unless critical moments facing Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace or me encounter some crises, the old man would not show up any longer!” Zhang Tie said as he turned a bit solemn and meticulous as he said secretly using his battle qi, “You had already seen it that night. The old man has already mastered an unrivaled secret method. However, over these years, the old man has some health problems due to the cultivation of this secret method. He’s not fully mastered it. Additionally, the old man needs to have a good rest. He just entered secluded cultivation somewhere. If not Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace faces the life-or-death situation, the old man would not show up either. What I’ve told you are the top secrets in Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace. After leaving here, none of you’re allowed to expose them to anyone else…”

When they recalled the power of the casual strike by the former Dragon Emperor’s finger and the hoarse coughs that night, they completely believed in Zhang Tie…

By then, even if Zhang Tie told them the former Dragon Emperor was disguised by Zhang Tie himself that night, they would only think that Zhang Tie was joking with them.

It was the former Dragon Emperor who showed up that night.

And Zhang Tie was the very disciple of the former Dragon Emperor.

It was true that Zhang Tie had taken the throne of the former Dragon Emperor.

The only problem facing Zhang Tie was that his position and future in Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace fully depended on his own performance…

…

1 hour later, when the 7 people left Dragon Emperor Pavilion, they immediately noticed the entire Dragon Emperor Big Domain and all the branches of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace that they had officially admitted Zhang Tie’s identity as the new Dragon Emperor on behalf of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace…

After coming to Motian Realm for less than one year, Zhang Tie’s name was followed by two words “Your Majesty”…