Chapter 392

"You're saying you're out of money?"Jiang Cheng asked, puzzled, "Surely not? You're a magnificent ruler of a realm; how could you be broke?"He thought when she said she had no money, she genuinely meant it.Unexpectedly, the Divine Empress merely gave him an indifferent glance."Of course I have money.""But my money isn't for you."

"I lent money to the Little Realm King. He'll slowly return those resources to me.""So, what I have available right now is truly very little."

Jiang Cheng almost spat blood upon hearing this."So you *still* don't have money?!""Your words contradict themselves."The Divine Empress calmly replied, "Everything I said is true.""Being without money is true, and having money is also true; there's no contradiction."

Jiang Cheng was utterly convinced.Her reasoning was airtight, her logic flawless.But he was quite annoyed!"So what do I do? Am I supposed to wait here for several millennia?""This place is completely new to me. How am I supposed to survive?"

The Divine Empress glanced at him again, a hint of pity in her eyes."Well, you could become a handyman in the outer sect.""Start as an outer sect handyman, slowly accumulate resources, and perhaps in the future, you could be promoted to the inner sect.""You might even manage to become an immortal official."

Jiang Cheng nearly exploded with rage upon hearing this.He, the esteemed Sect Master Jiang, a powerful figure revered by over three thousand Emperor Realm experts and hundreds of thousands of immortal officials......was actually being told to become a handyman in the Divine Empress's Palace?If word of this got out, how could he ever show his face again?

"Impossible!"He refused angrily.The Divine Empress seemed to have anticipated his reaction.She said calmly, "It seems you look down on the status of a handyman.""Let me tell you, many Immortal Kings from the lower realms, and even higher-ranking experts, must also start as handymen after arriving at the Heavenly Palace.""The Heavenly Palace doesn't care for superficial titles; it only values strength, do you understand?"

Jiang Cheng truly didn't quite grasp it.In his view, strength and reputation were inextricably linked.Without a good reputation, who would pledge allegiance to you?And without anyone pledging allegiance, how could you develop and grow?"I won't do it! I'll never be a handyman in this life!""I'd rather starve to death, or throw myself off this place, than do something like that!"

The Divine Empress showed no annoyance, merely watching him calmly."You might want to reconsider.""Starving to death or jumping from here aren't good options for you."

Jiang Cheng thought to himself, *I can be flexible.*Being a handyman was out of the question.But living off someone else? That was an option."You could also take care of me!""I'm a very excellent man—handsome and powerful!""With me, you definitely won't regret it, and you'll even find happiness!"

The Divine Empress maintained her unruffled composure."I am a married woman.""Furthermore, your strength is too low; you're not worthy."

Jiang Cheng almost blacked out from indignation.He was the esteemed 'Holy Lord'; how could his strength be considered low?What's more, he had annihilated Divine Monarchs—two of them!"You are humiliating me!""Listen to me, woman, you have offended me!"

The Divine Empress remained completely unruffled, her expression unchanged."You haven't offended me.""It's simply that your strength is indeed too low.""In your eyes, eliminating one or two Divine Monarchs might seem remarkable.""But in my eyes, that doesn't even count as a basic achievement."

Jiang Cheng was utterly stunned.He couldn't fathom such a level of power.Among all the powerful individuals he had encountered, Divine Monarchs represented the pinnacle.Even he himself was merely a Holy Lord.Yet, this woman before him was claiming that Divine Monarchs were nothing at all?

"Who exactly are you?"The Divine Empress calmly replied, "I am the Divine Empress."

Jiang Cheng froze.He was familiar with the title "Divine Empress."But he had never imagined that the weight of that title could be so immense."You are the Lord of the Heavenly Palace!"The Divine Empress calmly responded, "Reluctantly, one might say so."

Jiang Cheng was utterly dumbfounded.He had always thought the Heavenly Palace was merely an organization founded by Divine Monarchs, similar to the Immortal Kings' organizations in the Immortal Realm of old.He'd assumed titles like 'Heavenly Emperor' and 'Heavenly Empress' were just honorifics.Now, he was being told that the Heavenly Palace's status far exceeded his wildest imagination.And this Divine Empress before him was, in fact, the supreme ruler of the entire Heavenly Palace!He finally began to understand why she had remained so completely unruffled.

Facing such an existence, his proudly held strength and accomplishments were indeed utterly insignificant.The two Divine Monarchs, who seemed world-shattering in his eyes, were probably no more than two inconspicuous ants in the Divine Empress's estimation.

Jiang Cheng even felt a sense of profound disillusionment.He had always believed he stood at the apex.Yet, it turned out he was merely a frog in a well.Before a truly supreme master, he was utterly insignificant.

"I understand now," he said, sighing deeply, his voice having regained its calm.The Divine Empress continued to watch him silently, as if awaiting his next decision.

"Being a handyman is still out of the question.""I, Jiang, would rather starve to death, or throw myself off this place, than become a handyman!"