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**
Of course, at this moment, it wasn't just the old Dou Zong from the Dark Abyss Gate; many other Dou Zong powerhouses more or less revealed expressions of excitement that were difficult to conceal.
Just as the Emperor of the Sky Serpent Empire had said, everyone here was a powerhouse who had cultivated to the Dou Zong level. In their earlier years, who hadn't left behind some hidden internal injuries within their bodies?
Never mind the others; on this point, even Xiao Lin couldn't guarantee he was clean!
Even if Xiao Lin's body seemed perfectly fine now, he couldn't be certain that as he aged, hidden injuries from his younger days wouldn't resurface. After all, hidden injuries were almost impossible to detect before they flared up.
Most people only saw these internal wounds manifest once they reached a certain age.
The presence of hidden injuries would, for one, affect a person's ability to exert their full strength. For example, you might clearly be a Three-Star Dou Wang, but due to the influence of hidden injuries, you might only be able to display the strength of a One-Star Dou Wang.
Additionally, hidden injuries easily affected a person's lifespan. Take the old Dou Zong of the Dark Abyss Gate for instance; the internal injuries in his body had already begun to affect his longevity.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have reacted so passionately after the Emperor of the Sky Serpent Empire claimed the Red Flame Celestial Liquid possessed the effect of healing such wounds. Since he could live longer, why would he want to die?
"That is correct. These are the two great effects of the Red Flame Celestial Liquid. My Sky Serpent Imperial Family spent over a hundred years and exhausted countless resources to finally brew it."
"Today, during this 800th anniversary Founding Ceremony, I offer it for all of you to taste, as a token of my gratitude. Please accept this gift; let us appreciate it together!"
At this time, the Emperor of the Sky Serpent Empire spoke heroically to the gathered Dou Zong powerhouses.
Simultaneously, a Dou Huang attendant of the Imperial Family stepped onto the altar and poured a cup of the Red Flame Celestial Liquid for the Emperor himself. After finishing this task, the Dou Huang attendant quickly retreated.
In a setting filled entirely with Dou Zong powerhouses, he had no right to remain.
As for those Dou Huang powerhouses who had come to observe the ceremony below the Dou Zong level, they naturally were not qualified to enjoy the Red Flame Celestial Liquid either. Consequently, they could only watch the scene with eyes wide with envy.
"We thank His Majesty Tian She for his generosity!"
"Indeed, I thought my cultivation would never advance another inch in this lifetime."
"Can the hidden injuries in my body finally be cured?"
"As expected of the Emperor of the Sky Serpent Empire. To give away such a precious gift so freely is truly admirable!"
"Is it not so? If my sect had such a treasure, we would absolutely be loath to bring it out and share it with others."
"Is that not why the Sky Serpent Empire is a top-tier power in our Northwestern Continent? It is because they have this kind of boldness!"
"True, our empires fall far short in this regard!"
...
At this moment, the Dou Zong powerhouses from various factions were just short of singing hymns of praise for the Emperor.
One had to know that the congratulatory gifts they had brought for the Founding Ceremony weren't worth even half the value of this small cup of Red Flame Celestial Liquid.
Even the Tier 7 Pill formula sent by the Jia Nan Academy was, in Xiao Lin's view, inferior in value to this liquid. Of course, all of this was predicated on the Red Flame Celestial Liquid actually having the effects the Emperor claimed.
While others might have fallen for the Emperor's "devilish" charm, Xiao Lin remained skeptical.
Even though he had observed it for a long time and even utilized his Heaven Realm soul power, he still couldn't detect any problems with the small cup of Red Flame Celestial Liquid in front of him.
However, Xiao Lin felt that the Emperor of the Sky Serpent Empire would not be so kind-hearted. As for what the other party's scheme was, Xiao Lin simply didn't know yet. Naturally, those keeping a similar guard as Xiao Lin were the few individuals from the Sky Serpent Mansion.
The Sky Serpent Mansion was, after all, the strongest faction in the Sky Serpent Empire, even standing above the Imperial Family. Therefore, how could they not see the abnormality in this Founding Ceremony?
If they hadn't sensed anything, the Sky Serpent Mansion would deserve to be subjugated by the Imperial Family.
"Mansion Master, what do you think that fellow Heaven Snake is trying to do?"
After glancing at the excited expressions of the surrounding Dou Zong powerhouses, Mu She asked Jin She, the Mansion Master of the Sky Serpent Mansion, with a grim expression.
"Second Brother, isn't it obvious? That old fellow Heaven Snake wants to use this to win over people's hearts!"
Before Jin She could even speak, Tu She cut in. In Tu She's view, the Emperor giving away something as good as the Red Flame Celestial Liquid was surely a move to gather public favor.
"No, I think it's more than that. Our Emperor's mind is incredibly deep; he thinks of nothing but subjugating my Sky Serpent Mansion at every waking moment."
"In today's Founding Ceremony, he has staged such a massive display. I don't believe he is willing to give away something as precious as the Red Flame Celestial Liquid just to win over hearts."
"After all, if the Imperial Family truly moved against our Sky Serpent Mansion, do you think these Dou Zong powerhouses would be foolish enough to stick their necks out just because of this favor? I expect they would offer verbal support at most."
"Therefore, there must be a conspiracy here that we don't know about!"
After a moment of contemplation, Jin She, the Mansion Master of the Sky Serpent Mansion, reached his conclusion. To this, Mu She and Tu She looked at each other and chose to believe him.
They also didn't want to believe the Imperial Family could be this benevolent.
"Mansion Master, then what should we do next?"
When Tu She asked this, he glanced at the tiny cup of Red Flame Celestial Liquid before him.
The Sky Serpent Imperial Family had treated them identically, providing the Sky Serpent Mansion members with a cup as well—this was the fundamental reason they suspected a conspiracy!
One had to know that the struggle between the Sky Serpent Mansion and the Imperial Family had nearly come out into the open; he didn't believe the Imperial Family would be so kind as to use the Red Flame Celestial Liquid to increase their strength!
Putting themselves in the other's shoes, the Sky Serpent Mansion would absolutely never do such a thing. Was the Imperial Family a bunch of fools? That was clearly impossible. In terms of scheming, Jin She admitted he couldn't match the Emperor.
That being the case, what other explanation was there besides a conspiracy?
"We act according to the situation. We will not drink this cup of Red Flame Celestial Liquid!"
Suppressing the longing for the liquid in his heart, the Mansion Master spoke decisively.
Regarding Jin She's decision, Mu She and Tu She both nodded.
"What a pity..."
A glint flashed through Tu She's eyes as he looked at the small cup of Red Flame Celestial Liquid on the table with considerable regret.
As for Mu She, who was already a man of few words, he simply nodded.
**
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