Chapter 352 - Six-Path Flower: Welcome to Hell

After hearing Lu Ran’s words, Emperor Yun inwardly cursed him.

Just because he’s contracted the Six-Path Flower, he thinks he can float around without a care? And now he’s claiming the Six-Path Flower told him to commit evil deeds?

Emperor Yun would stake his life on it—while the Six-Path Flower might indeed have instructed Lu Ran to do evil, it certainly wasn’t only evil deeds. It had to be a mix of good and evil. But generally, doing good was far more difficult than doing evil. Yet here he was, immediately thinking of extorting resources from the great imperial families.

Emperor Yun was convinced that Lu Ran’s heart was crooked. But from Lu Ran’s perspective, this was simply the most efficient way to grow stronger. In twenty days or so, everything would return to dust anyway. Why not just let him take the resources with him?

“Don’t even think about it. With the Six-Path Flower protecting you, I don’t need to worry about your safety. The frontlines are engulfed in constant battles, and people suffer everywhere. I’ll send you to the battlefield. Use your power to help the suffering civilians and accumulate merit.

“Every military achievement you earn, I’ll reward you tenfold in resources to help you grow stronger quickly. As my disciple, you must uphold your principles and integrity. If I ever catch you committing evil, I’ll be the first to punish you,” Emperor Yun warned.

“Master, I was just joking...” Lu Ran sighed.

Truthfully, most participants who entered an ascension realm didn’t treat it as a real world. To them, it was just a game. Many people wouldn’t care if they killed someone or stole something in a game.

While Lu Ran couldn’t bring himself to slaughter innocents or kidnap women, pulling off a bluff to swindle some resources or collect gifts was fine to him. It was just part of the game’s rules. But seeing how serious his imperial master was, Lu Ran began to reconsider.

“Then, Master, I’ll head to the frontlines in a few days.”

Now that he’d successfully contracted the Six-Path Flower, meeting the other guardian beasts didn’t matter much.

Lu Ran decided to follow Emperor Yun’s suggestion and train his familiars at the frontlines. Not only would he earn ten times the resources for his military achievements, but hunting vicious beasts was also a way to gather resources.

Most importantly, accumulating merit and doing good deeds would help strengthen his bond with Little Flower. Once their relationship deepened, he planned to convince it to help him resolve the Beastmaster Empire’s crisis and take down the rulers of the Four Great Beast Empires.

The rulers of the Four Great Beast Empires were even stronger than the Black Dragon King. Their body parts alone were at least Treasure resources. And as for the rewards for defeating them, a few Epic resources from the empire wouldn’t be too much to ask.

In fact, this plan was even better than extorting gifts from the imperial families. Plus, it would train his familiars.

“That’s more like it.” Emperor Yun smiled.

However, within Lu Ran’s contract space, the Six-Path Flower once again sensed his malicious thoughts. Although it was faint, Lu Ran was definitely scheming something. The Six-Path Flower felt it was necessary to discipline this guy.

There is no need to rush to the frontlines. He’s too weak. If he goes now, I’ll have to protect him. Instead of that, I’ll train him myself for a while!

Lu Ran froze, his lips twitching. However, Emperor Yun was delighted.

“That would be perfect.”

***

Soon after, Emperor Yun and Lu Ran left the spatial secret realm. Lu Ran returned to the Yan clan estate, while Emperor Yun, lost in thought, went back to the palace.

“Why do you look so troubled?”

Empress Jiang Ruan noticed Yun Hao’s pensive expression as soon as he sat down.

She poured him a cup of tea and asked, “Did the Six-Path Flower find Yan Lu’s character lacking? No one is perfect. Since you’ve decided to take him as your disciple, guide him onto the right path. That’s a master’s duty.”

Emperor Yun sighed deeply and looked at the empress. “If it were just that, it’d still be within my expectations.”

“What happened? Don’t tell me the Six-Path Flower actually agreed to train that Yan family youth?” The empress was surprised.

Did something beyond his expectations occur?

“No. It’s that my disciple... contracted the Six-Path Flower.”

“

Haha,

since when do you joke around?” The empress forced a smile, finding the joke in poor taste.

“Do I look like someone who jokes around?” Emperor Yun stared at her seriously.

Empress Jiang Ruan was also a Legendary beastmaster. She was the daughter of the previous emperor and a member of the Jiang imperial family. Emperor Yun recounted everything that had happened, and soon, the empress’ lips parted slightly in disbelief.

“That’s how it is. Soon, I’ll send him to the frontlines to train. But what troubles me now is that Lin’er is exceptionally talented. I had planned to nurture him into a ruler who could command respect, and was even planning to send him to the frontlines to accumulate military achievements... But now, with this development, he’s lost all advantage.”

Yun Lin, Emperor Yun’s eldest son, was a prodigy currently leading troops on the frontlines. If possible, every emperor would prefer to pass the throne to their own bloodline. But Lu Ran’s appearance gave Emperor Yun a headache. It was because Lu Ran seemed capable of resolving the empire’s crisis at any moment.

Moreover, as a messenger of a Legendary being, Lu Ran’s potential was absurd. No matter how hard his eldest son tried, he might never catch up. Under these circumstances, for the empire’s future, if he followed the first emperor’s teachings, Lu Ran would be the best candidate for the next ruler of the Beastmaster Empire.

“What are you thinking about?” the empress asked softly.

“What else can I think about? If passing the throne to this disciple benefits the empire, I’ll do it. It’s not that Lin’er isn’t outstanding. It’s just that this disciple is too monstrous. If he truly resolves the empire’s crisis, why not let him be emperor?”

The empress pondered and then said, “You still lack your daughter’s opinion. Think about it. If you’d followed Little Seven’s suggestion and arranged a marriage, wouldn’t this guy be your son-in-law now?”

“I...” Emperor Yun’s stomach twisted at the mention of marriage.

Originally, he hadn’t even considered it. But now, he had to admit his daughter’s judgment was sharp.

“We’ll see...”

𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

***

Meanwhile, at the Yan family estate.

After returning, Lu Ran went to visit Yan Feng.

“What?” Upon hearing Lu Ran’s plan to train at the frontlines, Yan Feng was shocked.

“Did Emperor Yun order this?” Yan Feng was furious.

Lu Ran was just recognized by the Yan clan and hasn’t even left behind any descendants, yet he is being sent to the dangerous frontlines? What is Emperor Yun thinking?

He immediately prepared to storm the palace for an explanation, but Lu Ran stopped him.

“No, it’s like this. Emperor Yun took me to meet the Six-Path Flower...”

“The Six-Path Flower?” Yan Feng’s expression shifted.

He’d heard of this guardian beast. Only the royal family and a few imperial family Legendary powerhouses knew of its existence. The Six-Path Flower was even stronger than the Lava Cataclysm Beast and had protected the empire for over a millennium.

“The Six-Path Flower gave me a task. If I perform well on the frontlines, it’s willing to train me.”

“I see.” Yan Feng nodded, though he still struggled to accept it. “But the frontlines are too dangerous. Think it over. With your Flame Spirit, training under the Lava Cataclysm Beast might suit you better.”

“Emperor Yun said he’d send people to protect me in secret.”

With Lu Ran’s insistence, Yan Feng had no choice but to let him go. He immediately turned to consult the family’s elders. But with Lu Ran’s mind made up, the Yan family couldn’t stop him.

In the end, unbeknownst to Lu Ran, the Yan family decided to send Yan Yingying with him to the frontlines, hoping the two might spark a romance during their task.

For now, though, Lu Ran had no time for such matters because the Six-Path Flower seemed serious about training him.

Not long after his return, it summoned him.

Come. Let me see your familiars.

With that, Lu Ran was pulled into a separate space resembling a domain. Due to the protection of his Legendary power, the Six-Path Flower couldn’t see Lu Ran clearly, and not being able to see someone irritated her. So it decided to start with his familiars. A familiar’s heart often reflected what kind of beastmaster it had.

“You’re serious, huh?” Lu Ran scratched his cheek, seeing Little Flower’s determination.

But if the Six-Path Flower trained him, it wouldn’t be a waste of time. After all, learning from a level 99 quasi-Legendary would be invaluable. It would be more precious than dozens of Treasure resources. This opportunity wouldn’t come again.

“Fine...” Lu Ran summoned his familiars one by one.

The moment they appeared, the Six-Path Flower’s temper flared. As soon as Captain Doofus materialized, it stared at the Six-Path Flower with eyes full of wisdom, its mind a muddy mess.

“

Awooo

~!”

Can I bite it?

Captain Doofus wagged its flowery sword, asking Lu Ran for permission.

“

Rawr!

”

Such a strong aura... I’m gonna die.

Sudden Death King took a step back, clutching his chest.

“

Caw!

A new member? So strong! This is great. Our world domination just got faster,

caw caw caw!

” Dark Crow flapped its wings, cackling wildly.

“

Plip, plip!

”

Little Five! Little Five! From now on, you listen to me!

Baby Cloud rejoiced at no longer being the newest member, oblivious to the gravity of the situation.

Initially, the Six-Path Flower had high expectations for the Divine Deer’s messenger’s familiars. But after seeing them all, it felt like it had stumbled into a den of thieves.

This is the team meant to oppose Legendaries? Is this the kind of human and familiars the Divine Deer, a Legendary kin, has chosen? How unreliable!

“Don’t mind them. They’re just kids. So, what’s the training plan? How about this—we’ll train for 18 days. I feel like I can break through to level 4 by then. We’ll then go to the Four Great Beast Empires and harvest the beast kings’ organs!” Lu Ran said.

In three weeks, the ascension mission would conclude. With the Six-Path Flower contracted, Lu Ran was confident he’d level up. He refused to believe other participants could contract a Legendary divine beast.

Lu Ran had it all planned out. Staying in the Imperial Beast City a while longer wasn’t bad. Even if he couldn’t extort resources directly, he hoped those families would be sensible and send gifts on their own.

“Hell Path—open!” the Six-Path Flower declared.