Orion tilted his head, a sly grin curling on his lips.
"Why should I clear my own name?" he asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Isn't that the Baichao Chamber of Commerce's job? You have the evidence that proves I didn't do it, don't you? Why not just release it yourselves?"
Baili Guard froze, caught off guard. His mouth opened, but no words came out. Orion had a point.
Why should the Baichao Chamber of Commerce step forward to help him? Baili thought. After all, their branch in Shuofang City had been looted by Orion himself. The Chamber wasn't known for being generous, especially toward those who had wronged them. Why should they go out of their way to prove his innocence?
"Prince Lu, it's not like that," Baili Guard stammered, attempting to regain his composure. "The Baichao Chamber of Commerce is willing to speak on your behalf… as long as you help us find the real culprit behind the massacre. Once the murderer is brought to light, we will publicly clear your name."
Orion shrugged, entirely uninterested. "Doesn't matter to me. I didn't kill them, and I don't care what anyone says. If people want to cause trouble, they can find me."
He wasn't worried about the rumors. In a world ruled by power, strength spoke louder than reputation. False accusations were merely noise. Orion leaned back, unconcerned with the title of "mass murderer" being thrust upon him.
Baili Guard's heart sank. He could see that Orion wasn't going to play along. And why would he? In a way, this made things even more complicated. Without Orion's help, dealing with a demon cultivator of this caliber would be nearly impossible.
"Since Prince Lu is unwilling, we'll drop the matter," Baili Guard said with a sigh, disappointment heavy in his voice. He had hoped to use Orion's strength to eliminate the demon cultivator, but that plan had clearly failed.
As the Baili Guard turned to leave, Orion watched him closely, his eyes glittering with thought. Xu Chu, who had been standing silently by Orion's side, leaned in and whispered, "Lord, shall I follow him and eliminate him?"
Orion's eyes flickered with a cold light. "The Baichao Chamber of Commerce thinks they can use me as a pawn. They'll regret this." A cruel smile formed on his lips. "Baili Guard is a half-saint, isn't he?"
Xu Chu nodded, his excitement barely contained.
Orion chuckled, his voice low and deadly. "A half-saint's luck value must be worth something." He shifted in his seat and gave the order, "Xu Chu, follow him. Make sure there's no chance for him to escape."
Xu Chu grinned, cracking his knuckles with a loud pop. "Understood."
The moment Baili Guard disappeared from sight, Xu Chu moved, his steps silent as death.
Hours later, a soft chime echoed in Orion's mind.
[Ding! Host has successfully eliminated a half-saint. You have gained 200,000 luck points!]
Orion smiled, satisfied. He hadn't lifted a finger, and yet he had still gained exactly what he wanted. His luck points now surpassed 10 million, enough for another emperor-level lottery.
"Perfect," Orion whispered to himself, his heart racing with anticipation. "System, start the emperor-level lottery."
[Ding! Emperor-level lottery initiated…]
A moment passed, then—
[Ding! Congratulations to the host! You have received the exclusive guard: Emperor Qingyun!]
Orion's eyes widened as he read the result. "Emperor… Qingyun?" His voice trembled slightly. This was it, finally an emperor!
In the blink of an eye, the space in front of him shimmered and cracked, as if reality itself were bending. A man dressed in flowing green robes materialized, his presence overwhelming. He was tall, with sharp brows and piercing eyes that seemed to hold the wisdom of the ages. His every movement was graceful, yet there was a lethal power behind it.
The figure knelt before Orion, his voice steady and filled with reverence. "I, Qingyun, greet my lord."
Orion gazed at his new guard, awestruck. Emperor Qingyun wasn't just powerful—he was a being of unmatched strength, a martial artist who had reached the late stages of Emperor Wu cultivation. And in his hands, he held the Qingyun Sword, an ultimate imperial weapon. His skills—Qingyun Nine Styles, Qingyun Palm, and Qingyun Fist—were renowned in the martial world.
As Emperor Qingyun stood there, it was as if he had fused with the world itself. His aura was calm yet immeasurable, like an ocean that could drown anything in its path. Even though he restrained his energy, his mere presence exuded a sense of transcendence, as if he had stepped down from the heavens.
Orion's heart pounded with excitement. Finally, the emperor-level lottery had given him a true powerhouse. He had been patient, and now it had all paid off.
With Qingyun by his side, he felt unstoppable.
At that moment, the world around Orion seemed to grow quieter, as if even fate itself was pausing to see what he would do next. The next chapter of his rise to power had begun.