Chapter 565

I Am Foremost in Corruption

“Your Excellency the Emissary!”“Your Excellency the Emissary!”

Zhou Qing'ang’s voice was not loud, but to He Zhenghao and the other man, it was like a clap of thunder.He Zhenghao was stunned for a moment, then his face turned ashen: “His Excellency the Emissary has emerged from seclusion? Why wasn’t I informed?”Gao Yuan also looked utterly shocked, an expression of disbelief on his face.However, Zhou Qing'ang’s next words brought them some slight relief.

“His Excellency the Emissary has not yet emerged from seclusion…” Zhou Qing'ang said calmly.“But if some people believe their petty schemes can deceive His Excellency the Emissary while he’s in seclusion, then that’s quite laughable…”Zhou Qing'ang’s words held a hint of meaning, his gaze sweeping over the two men.The guilty He Zhenghao said sheepishly, “We all know that His Excellency the Emissary’s methods are extraordinary; we would certainly never dare to deceive him!”Gao Yuan no longer had his previous air of composure. His mind raced, and seeing Zhou Qing'ang’s unusual demeanor since emerging, he thought of more possibilities.Cold sweat immediately drenched him, and he was filled with dread.His mind worked rapidly, contemplating countermeasures, but his body mechanically echoed He Zhenghao’s words.

Seeing the two men still trying to deny it, Li Fan sneered inwardly.He then sharply raised his voice a few octaves and angrily rebuked them: “You two, embezzling the capital raised for the Emissary behind his back; acting recklessly while he was absent; treating the Celestial Alliance’s laws as nothing, selling official positions and titles, and making exorbitant profits...”“All these things—do you two really think you can hide them from His Excellency the Emissary, who possesses vast supernatural powers?”“How could you be so foolish!”

He Zhenghao felt as if struck by lightning, trembling uncontrollably like a sieve.Gao Yuan’s face was also deathly pale. He opened his mouth but couldn’t utter a single word.

“Hmph, don’t just look at His Excellency the Emissary’s surface cultivation level as merely Golden Core; you should both understand the true extent of his terrifying power.”“While it’s not quite ‘knowing everything under heaven without leaving home,’ how could the filthy deeds within this small Cloud Sea region escape his venerable gaze?” Li Fan boasted.“Ever since you, Fellow Daoist He, misappropriated the unclaimed raised capital, His Excellency the Emissary has been watching you.”

Upon hearing this, He Zhenghao’s legs gave way, and he slumped to the ground.“I...” He Zhenghao opened his mouth to defend himself, but his mouth was full of bitterness, and he couldn’t speak.The figure of Zhou Qing'ang sighed faintly, “However, he doesn’t care about such a small amount of contribution points. And you were the very first cultivator to follow him after he awakened. So His Excellency the Emissary turned a blind eye.”“Consider it your compensation for your diligent efforts, He Zhenghao.”“But the things you’ve done in the past two years have truly disappointed His Excellency the Emissary.”

The voice of Zhou Qing'ang turned stern: “Selling official positions and titles, is that wrong? Many in the Myriad Immortals Alliance do that. His Excellency the Emissary is not ignorant of human nature; why would he stop you?”“If you had openly and honestly applied to His Excellency the Emissary to use this matter to accumulate wealth, perhaps he would even have lent you a hand!”“But your greatest mistake, your gravest error, was acting on your own initiative in everything. The proceeds from selling various positions must amount to no less than a million contribution points, I presume.”“Did you ever report it to His Excellency the Emissary even once? After all, these actions violate the Celestial Alliance’s laws. If one day the truth comes out and blame is assigned from above, His Excellency the Emissary, as the highest-ranking official in Congyun City, will undoubtedly be held accountable.”“It would be bad enough if you merely embezzled, but to actually try to make His Excellency the Emissary your scapegoat—your intentions are truly despicable!” Zhou Qing'ang said sharply.

He Zhenghao, slumped on the ground, felt utterly wronged at this moment.He wanted to retort that His Excellency the Emissary had repeatedly warned him before leaving not to disturb him unless it was for something important.Furthermore, how could one report acts of corruption and illicit gains to a superior? Was he afraid of not dying fast enough?But despite his myriad frustrations, speaking them aloud now would be useless.Looking back at his actions over the past two years, He Zhenghao felt as if he were in a dream.The contribution points he had painstakingly earned and cherished in the past had, in his eyes, become mere strings of numbers.They had lost their practical value.Even if he spent over a hundred thousand contribution points in an instant, he wouldn’t feel the slightest pang of regret.With immense contribution points at his disposal, his mindset had unknowingly changed.He had originally sworn to follow His Excellency the Emissary, who might be a fallen Immortal Venerable of Longevity, and achieve great things.To return gloriously to Tianyu Prefecture and reconcile with Heng Ruoshui...But as time passed, he had lost himself amidst the flattery of others and the seemingly endless supply of contribution points.He forgot his grand ambitions, only wanting to use more illicit methods to embezzle as many contribution points as possible.For his own pleasure.There were so many female cultivators in the world; why did it have to be only Heng Ruoshui?With enough contribution points, what kind of female cultivator couldn't he obtain?At that time, such thoughts would even occasionally flash through his mind.Thinking about it now, it was indeed ridiculous.But back then, he was truly deeply immersed and unable to extricate himself.Scene after scene flashed through his mind. He Zhenghao felt as though he had just been pulled from water, completely drenched.“How did I become like this?”He Zhenghao’s heart was filled with confusion and remorse.“His Excellency the Emissary will surely not spare me, will he?”He shivered, as if seeing himself being punished by Li Fan, his body and spirit extinguished.

However, a glimmer of hope still lingered in He Zhenghao’s heart.The reason was simple: since the truth had come out and His Excellency the Emissary had decided to punish him.According to his past conduct, he shouldn't have sent Zhou Qing'ang to say so much to him.And Fellow Daoist Zhou's earnest advice this time, coupled with his mention of doubling the 160,000 contribution points just now...Thinking of this, He Zhenghao couldn't help but raise his head and look at Zhou Qing'ang.

Li Fan watched He Zhenghao, who had been silently slumped for a long time, his eyes filled with despair and despondency, now suddenly look up.He smiled faintly inwardly and finally spoke again: “Although your crimes are heinous, you are, after all, among the first to follow His Excellency the Emissary.”“Therefore, His Excellency has decided to give you another chance to atone for your mistakes.”

As soon as these words were uttered, an astonishing light burst forth in the eyes of both He Zhenghao and Gao Yuan.“Please, Fellow Daoist, enlighten us?”Gao Yuan hastily bowed and inquired.“As I said just now, the war in Tianling Prefecture is nearing its end.”“So His Excellency the Emissary’s meaning is...”Li Fan paused: “Seize this final opportunity.”“And rake in another hefty sum!”The decisive voice echoed through the Governing Hall, lingering for a long time.Hearing this, both men exchanged glances.They looked at Zhou Qing'ang, a hint of suspicion inevitably appearing on their faces.