Qi Feng arrived at the Honglu Palace as quickly as possible. Chen Xi and Chen Jie were both lying on the steps outside, their faces swollen and bruised—truly a sight to behold. When Qi Feng arrived, both of them immediately reacted in the same way: their noses and eyes ran with tears, each one rushing toward the other’s leg, clutching it tightly. "Bro Qi, you absolutely have to avenge us! That man inside was incredibly brutal—he started attacking us just because we said a few slightly provocative things." Chen Xi wept so heavily his tears streamed like rain, as if he had been treated terribly dozens of times. "Yes, we only said a few words that challenged him, and he immediately started hitting us. He was merciless," said the tall, handsome Chen Jie. "We weren't even able to hold our own, and he didn't spare us a single moment. Look at how badly we were beaten—Bro Qi, you must absolutely restore our dignity!" Qi Shen narrowed his eyes, saying, "Anyone who dares to fight me? As the saying goes, even when you're chasing a dog, you still have to look at the owner..." At once, both of their faces drooped He chuckled and corrected, "My point is that the other party was simply outrageous. We are the specially appointed negotiators sent by the Jade Emperor himself. How could he just decide to strike without any notice? What about the laws of the realm? What about justice?" The two exchanged a look, thinking—when you were beating up their representatives, did you ever mention the laws or justice? Clearly, this was all about settling scores. Otherwise, why would they have acted so fiercely? So at the end of the day, it was all Qin's fault. By the side, Qingya asked, "Even if the demonic faction is proud and assertive, this is still the Heavenly Palace's territory. What exactly did you say to them that led to the physical confrontation?" The tall, handsome young man frowned, "Actually, we didn't say much. We simply imitated the method Qin used last time to provoke the demonic representative. And we made a solemn vow—no single word was altered from his original statements. Yet last time it was the demons who were beaten up, and now it's our turn. Isn't that completely unfair?" "Even though Qin Shao has an incredibly thick skin, he couldn't help but feel embarrassed for them. Your intelligence truly leaves something to be desired—when you deliver the same message to different people, the outcomes naturally vary. How could anyone fail to knock you out when you greet the female relatives of the Sacatos family right from the start? And yet, you both knew this visit was from a royal-level demon lord, yet still insisted on approaching them with such humility—adding both new grievances and old grudges. How could they possibly refuse to fight? These two must have regretted not accompanying Qin Feng last time, feeling finally blessed with an opportunity to confront a demon lord. So eager were they to step forward, they jumped in immediately. As the saying goes, 'If you don't make a desperate effort, you won't die.' That's exactly what they're doing. "I'm telling you, just settle down—any more tears and nosebleeds on my pants, and I'll personally give you both a good beating," Qin Shao muttered. The two immediately stopped, staring at him with wide eyes. Qin Shao turned and walked off. Right away, Tao Chao called out, "Qin brother, where are you going? Qin also found him rather overbearing—how could he ignore his colleagues being beaten up? Without so much as a glance, Qin simply said, "I'll go change first." An hour later, dressed in clean clothes, he reappeared. Worried that Qin wouldn't take action on their behalf, Chen Xi quickly added, "I always knew Qin was a man of integrity—how could he have watched us get beaten up and simply stood by, doing nothing?" "Stop flattery," Qin cut him off, openly exposing Chen Xi's underhanded scheme, with a sniff. "But rest assured—even if that man didn't hit you, I'll make sure to give him a beating." "Qin is truly admirable," Chen Jie couldn't help but add his praise. "Just stay here. We don't want the others to think you and they are allies—otherwise, they'll lose face." Before entering, Qin gave Qingya a knowing glance: "Yaya, come with me. A negotiation must have its dignity." "Alright," Qingya agreed without hesitation. Qin Shao added, "Just stand by and unleash your lightning when the battle begins." "Hmm." Qingya had expected him to win her over with his grace, but in the end, he settled for the most straightforward approach. As they entered the hall, the damage caused by their previous altercation had yet to be fully repaired—many of the furnishings still looked shabby. Upon seeing the main figures arrive, several deities from the Honglu Palace brightened instantly. Without the presence of international guests, they would have surely seized Qin Feng by the collar and demanded compensation from him for his rather unassuming demeanor. Damage to public property certainly required compensation. New chairs had been installed, and a middle-aged magical being over six feet tall sat comfortably, flanked by two senior magical generals who radiated a sharp, determined air. Clearly, the seated figure was none other than the legendary King of Crystalline Stars, Safiotus. Safiotus’s eyes, though not particularly large, gleamed with the sharp, discerning intelligence befitting a true sage, as he studied Qin Feng from head to toe. Qin Feng was also observing him, and from the first glance, he sensed that this man was no ordinary type—definitely not comparable to the group from last time. It would be quite difficult to successfully deceive him. As for the two magi generals behind him, Qin Shao completely ignored them. Height or muscle mass meant nothing—battle prowess mattered far more than appearance. Following the customary diplomatic approach, most cunning individuals would do so, and Qin Shao was no exception. He smiled and said, "You are the representative of the Magi." "Correct," the man replied with dignity. "I am King Saifitos, the sovereign of Crystalline Star. Due to your celestial forces' intervention, my entire army of tens of thousands has been annihilated. Therefore, I have come personally to seek justice." Huh. As an unworthy invader, you're still claiming justice? Your sense of dignity is truly remarkable. For someone with a thick skin, Qin would certainly feel a sense of mutual appreciation, as he himself is skilled at this trait. But if the person's skin is even thicker than his own, then things take a different turn—he'll simply beat you senseless. Clearly, Safitos's thickness of skin exceeds Qin's threshold for mutual appreciation. He gave a cold smile and asked, "Lord of Crystal Star, do you know who I am?" Safitos glanced at him and replied, "I do. Last time, the delegation I sent was the one you defeated. They provided a detailed account of your appearance to me." Qin brightened at this: "What did they say exactly? Did they mention that I look very handsome?" "Ahem..." Safitos struggled to keep up with his pace, clearing his throat twice and saying, "Actually, no. The ones who were beaten only describe the person who beat them as unattractive. How could they praise you as handsome?" "Very well, then, let me introduce myself to you." He extended his right hand, brushing gently at his neatly combed forehead, and said in a clear, deliberate tone, "I am a Daoist from the State of Huaxia. I only recently ascended to the celestial realm three months ago. You need not be surprised—back then, it was I who led the Immortal realm in resisting your demonic clan's invasion. My given name is Qin. We've been adversaries for some time now, so there's no need for formality. Simply call me Qin Feng, the Daoist."