Liu Yilin and the others also peered curiously from the windows of the flying craft, as none of them had ever visited such a place.
For Liu Yilin, a scientist, the academic knowledge she had always received did not include such things. This world was unfamiliar to her, filling her with curiosity.
Ning Beichen felt the same. Although he had long known that there were heavens beyond heavens, and worlds of higher dimensions beyond his own, these had only existed in science fiction movies and television shows, unseen in reality.
However, for the Mad Emperor and Ya Dai'er, who hailed from other worlds, this was all old news.
Not long after, the flying craft arrived in the Mad Emperor's world. As he had said, this world was indeed a cold weapon era.
But it was strange that despite being a cold weapon era, they possessed flying crafts.
Even the Mad Emperor, a former monarch, did not know how these flying crafts came to be. He only knew that they existed from the moment he was born, and had for countless ages.
However, in the Mad Emperor's world, only the royal family possessed three flying crafts; they were not common.
It was with one of these flying crafts that the woman had sent the Mad Emperor to that desolate region, imprisoning him there.
Ning Beichen's flying craft landed in an uninhabited area, still a considerable distance from the royal city.
Initially, Ning Beichen had intended to land directly in the royal city, allowing the Mad Emperor to make a forceful entrance for revenge.
But the Mad Emperor wished to see how his empire had fared after so many years.
Ning Beichen readily agreed.
Though Ning Beichen wasn't obligated to concern himself with the Mad Emperor's affairs, having gone through life-and-death trials together, they had become good friends. Therefore, Ning Beichen decided to accompany everyone with the Mad Emperor to visit his empire.
Soon after, the Mad Emperor procured some local attire for them to change into, lest they stand out too much.
Liu Yilin and the others donned local women's clothing, exuding a distinct exotic charm. Their figures and allure, cinched at the waist, made Ning Beichen's mouth water.
However, the Mad Emperor did not lead them directly to the empire. Instead, he took them to a small mountain village. After traversing a valley, they arrived at a wooden house.
The wooden house was dilapidated, suggesting it had been uninhabited for a long time.
"This is a place I lived in as a child. Even that venomous woman doesn't know about it. Although I was born a prince, my childhood was not one of luxury. I had to be self-sufficient. This is part of how the empire has always trained its successors."
The Mad Emperor clearly held deep affection for the small wooden house and began to tidy it himself. Ning Beichen and the others helped him.
Undeniably, the place was quite peaceful, with no one to disturb them.
The Mad Emperor stayed there for a night and left with Ning Beichen and the others the next day.
Since they were not ordinary people, they did not travel like them. Before long, the Mad Emperor and Ning Beichen's group found themselves in a bustling city.
Although a city equivalent to the medieval era did not have the same population density as modern cities, its liveliness was no less than that of a contemporary metropolis.
After all, entertainment options were limited in this era, unlike today.
Street performers, vendors, and hawkers created a vibrant scene.
The Mad Emperor led them to a restaurant to eat. As the host, he naturally wanted to entertain Ning Beichen and the others properly.
Furthermore, a restaurant was an excellent place to gather information; virtually any news could be heard there, which was the Mad Emperor's objective.
When the Mad Emperor heard that the woman still held the throne, Ning Beichen clearly sensed a shift in his emotions. After all, that woman had not only usurped his throne but had also sent him to a death zone.
Therefore, how could the Mad Emperor remain calm upon hearing that the venomous woman was still the ruler?
"Mad Emperor, with your current strength as a Heavenly Venerable, why tolerate it? Simply storm the Imperial City and take that woman's life." Ning Beichen said to him.
"I no longer care about that position. I simply don't know who would succeed to the throne after her death." The Mad Emperor sighed, revealing his hesitation.
"This is your empire, don't you wish to reclaim it?" Ning Beichen asked.
"You are also a Heavenly Venerable. Do you think I would still desire that position?" The Mad Emperor said helplessly.
Ning Beichen pondered, realizing he was right. If he were in the Mad Emperor's shoes, he would likely refuse as well.
At their level of strength, they pursued things on a higher plane and naturally cared little for a mere imperial throne.
"Regardless, let's seek revenge first, unless you can let go of your hatred." Ning Beichen told him.
But could the Mad Emperor let go?
Ning Beichen didn't know; only the Mad Emperor himself could answer that.
That the woman had treated him so and he could endure it suggested he still harbored deep feelings for that venomous woman.
Emotions were the most complex matter, and Ning Beichen feared the Mad Emperor might hesitate to wield the killing blade.
However, this was a matter between the two of them, and Ning Beichen could not say much. He had decided to remain a mere spectator, and whatever decision the Mad Emperor made would be irrelevant to them.
For him now, the more important matter was to improve his strength. He did not wish to face such despair and helplessness again.
Therefore, he had also discussed with the Mad Emperor whether there was a higher realm beyond Heavenly Venerable.
After a long discussion, they both believed that Heavenly Venerable was not the ultimate end for human cultivators; there must be a higher realm above it.
However, to discover this higher realm, they would likely need to venture into those higher-dimensional worlds to find the answer.
What surprised the Mad Emperor was that under the management of that venomous woman, the empire had not only not declined but was flourishing, which greatly troubled him.
If the empire were in dire straits under her rule, he could have acted without any reservations.
But the opposite was true. After extensive inquiries, most people in the empire were grateful to their queen, while he, the former emperor, was no longer spoken of.
Eventually, they arrived at the capital. Witnessing the city's prosperity, Ning Beichen noticed the Mad Emperor's mood growing even more somber.
Ning Beichen did not know how to console him, whether to advise him to let go of his hatred or to tell him to kill the woman directly.
Neither seemed appropriate, so Ning Beichen and the others remained silent, leaving the decision entirely to the Mad Emperor.