As Orion spoke, Zhou Qianfu couldn't help but laugh mockingly. The more Orion talked, the more absurd his words became. Zhou Qianfu couldn't help but wonder if Orion had forgotten who he was. After all, Orion was just a mere Martial Emperor, insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
Zhou Qianfu's real interest lay not with Orion but with Luo Yi, the Half-Emperor. Despite his initial pretense of wanting reconciliation, Zhou Qianfu had come here with the sole purpose of winning Luo Yi over to his side.
Ignoring Orion completely, Zhou Qianfu turned his gaze toward Luo Yi, smiling as he spoke, "Brother Luo, what do you think of my proposal? Join the Great Zhou Dynasty, and I promise you'll receive the best treatment and all the training resources you could ever need. It's far better than following this ant. Your status in the Great Zhou Dynasty would only be second to mine."
Zhou Qianfu's eyes gleamed with ambition. He knew the immense value of adding another Half-Emperor to the Great Zhou Dynasty. With Luo Yi on their side, the dynasty would have two Half-Emperors, making them an unstoppable force in Dongzhou Continent.
However, Zhou Qianfu's dreams were about to be crushed. Luo Yi, who was fiercely loyal to Orion, was enraged by Zhou Qianfu's audacity to try and sway him in front of his lord.
Luo Yi's voice was cold and filled with fury. "Hmph! I serve my lord in life and death. You think you can tempt me to betray him? Keep dreaming! If you try to drive a wedge between us again, I'll kill you where you stand!"
Zhou Qianfu was taken aback by the intensity of Luo Yi's words. He sighed, "What a pity. I wonder what kind of spell this Orion has cast over you. What future do you see in following this useless ant?"
Hearing Orion repeatedly insulted as a "useless ant," Luo Yi's grip on his Emperor-killing Spear tightened, the weapon creaking under the pressure. His voice turned icy as he said, "I'm really angry now…"
The idea that someone would dare to insult Orion, his lord, was intolerable to Luo Yi. His blood boiled with rage.
Zhou Qianfu, sensing that his attempts at persuasion had failed, grew impatient. "If you won't join me, then you leave me no choice. We will be enemies, and I deal with enemies by destroying them!"
"Hmph! Bring it on! I'm not afraid of you!" Luo Yi retorted, his aura exploding with power.
The Emperor-killing Spear in Luo Yi's hand buzzed with excitement, resonating with his fighting spirit. Zhou Qianfu, noticing the weapon's deadly aura, felt a twinge of unease but dismissed it with a sneer. A seriously injured Half-Emperor challenging him? The notion was laughable.
Zhou Qianfu's eyes lingered on the spear with greed. "A good weapon indeed. Too bad it's wasted on you. Soon, it will be mine."
As Luo Yi prepared for battle, Orion couldn't help but worry. "Luo Yi, you're injured. You don't have to do this."
Luo Yi gave Orion a reassuring smile, though it was tinged with sadness. "Don't worry, Lord. I can still fight. Yingmo, take the Lord away from here. If a fight breaks out, I might not be able to protect him."
Yingmo, understanding the gravity of the situation, nodded solemnly. The clash between two Half-Emperors would be devastating. Even the aftermath could be lethal to someone of Orion's level. She quickly whisked Orion away.
Left alone with Zhou Qianfu, Luo Yi gripped his Emperor-killing Spear tightly, feeling the weight of the upcoming battle. Though his body was battered, the spear's reassuring hum gave him courage.
"You mean… just stab him as hard as I can and it'll be over?" Luo Yi murmured, interpreting the vibrations of the spear. He hesitated for a moment, then his eyes steeled with resolve. "Alright. I'll trust you."
Now, it was time to fight, and Luo Yi had no choice but to put his faith in the Emperor-killing Spear and in his unyielding loyalty to his lord.