Chapter 97.1: Overbearing Bright Palace

"When my clan was destroyed, I barely escaped with my life, and fled to Great Shang. By coincidence, I ended up joining the Divine Radiance Sect," Lord Withered Tree said in a calm, detached tone, as though recounting another man's story.

Qi Yuan couldn't help thinking that "by coincidence", the sect master was referring to how he'd been captured by the Demonic Desire Sect, and was planted into the Divine Radiances Sect as a spy.

"My clan was wiped out, and a treasure of my clan was lost. It eventually became one of the prizes for those who make it into the top hundred of the Eastern Lands' Prodigy Ranking. Four years from now, when the ranking is finalized, I need you to enter the top hundred and retrieve that treasure for me."

Then, Lord Withered Tree explained the details. The Eastern Lands' Prodigy Ranking offered tremendous rewards to the top hundred, including chances to step into the Violet Palace realm. The higher the rank, the earlier one could apick their prize.

The treasure of Lord Withered Tree's clan was extremely special, but those who found it didn't know its true worth. Hence, they had treated it as just another valuable item, and included it among the ranking's reward treasures.

"Top hundred? That's no problem," Qi Yuan said confidently. "But Sect Master, what about that great opportunity you mentioned before?"

Lord Withered Tree's eyes, usually as still as an ancient well, flickered with a trace of pain. He took out a small gourd and explained, "The item is called the Void Soulwood. By consuming it, anyone below Violet Palace realm can raise their soul strength by a small tier."

Qi Yuan's eyes lit up. That was an actual treasure. It was most useful for the late stage Nascent Soul cultivator attempting to break into the Violet Palace realm. After all, taking it greatly increased one's chances of surviving the Tribulation.

Lord Withered Tree had never used it himself, saving it for his own breakthrough. As fate would have it, he had to give it to Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan uncorked the small gourd and saw a translucent, jelly-like rod inside. His eyes gleamed. "Sect Master, you really are a good man! Even if you are a spy from the Demonic Desire Sect, I'll still acknowledge you!"

This was exactly the kind of treasure he lacked most, a soul-strengthening treasure!

"This item is immensely precious," Lord Withered Tree said, twitching at Qi Yuan's words. "You'd best save it until you're on the verge of breaking into the Violet Palace."

The soul could be strengthened by a tier. Obviously, the later Qi Yuan uses it, the greater the effect.

"Is it the same with that Heavenly Dao class?" Qi Yuan asked curiously.

Lord Withered Tree hesitated. "Most likely, yes."

He had never seen such a thing himself. How could he know?

Qi Yuan nodded.

So even if it's precious, I'll just swallow it first and talk later.

Power came first.

"For now," Lord Withered Tree continued, "focus on improving your cultivation. When the Heaven's Chosen Contest begins, I'll tell you the rest." He turned to leave.

"Wait, Sect Master!" Qi Yuan called out. "May I make a small request?"

Lord Withered Tree gave him a wary look. "Don't push your luck."

"It's not much," Qi Yuan said earnestly. "It's just that my wife has a little hobby. She likes eating snacks."

"Get to the point," Lord Withered Tree said, his expression darkening.

"I want the sect to buy up the Blood Crystal Mine in Bloodless City. All the blood crystals mined there should be sent to me."

Lord Withered Tree gave him a long look, then snorted. "You call that a small request?"

The Blood Crystal Mine was famous among rogue cultivators, many relied on it to strengthen themselves. To monopolize it could stir hostility from them. Of course, to the Divine Radiance Sect, such hostility was trivial.

Still, as Sect Master, Lord Withered Tree had to consider the broader picture and what best served the sect's interests.

"Give me five days," he said finally, and left.

Only Qi Yuan and Little Bride remained inside the shabby wooden hut.

Qi Yuan stared at the gourd, his eyes glinting greedily. "Let's hope this can push my soul into the late stage Foundation Establishment realm. Only then can I fully unlock the second game and truly descend into it, instead of being trapped in the Flowing Wind World."

He raised the Void Soulwood and began to devour and absorb its essence.

***

The Great Shang Kingdom, Royal Palace.

Over a thousand civil and military officials knelt upon the vast square, the sight was magnificent.

"First, we offer to Heaven!" "Second, to the Celestial Immortals!" "Third, to the ancestors of our line!"

Their thunderous voices echoed across the capital. Banners snapped in the wind, drums rumbled, and solemn, majestic music filled the air.

Dong Xian ascended the steps slowly. Ministers held their jade tablets upright, symbolizing loyalty and devotion. Eunuchs lifted the royal scepters that embodied supreme authority.

Before countless watching eyes, Dong Xian seated himself upon the Dragon Throne.

"The new king ascends..."

All officials knelt again. Clad in his dragon robe, Dong Xian's expression was calm, yet his heart surged with excitement and disbelief. Without great trials or perilous struggles, he’d become king just like that. The throne he'd dreamed of his entire life finally became his.

"

Artifact Master

," he whispered inwardly. "

Maybe I'm just dreaming

?"

Artifact Master's voice echoed in his mind. "

Hmph! You're too green, boy. So what if you are the king of a Great Shang? Among the Hundred Nations, there are hundreds of kings. Yet not one among them has reached the Violet Palace realm. Focus on cultivation. Spend a few thousand years breaking through, and then rebuild my body.

"

Artifact Master's words shattered Dong Xian's momentary elation.

Right... What is a king really? My father had been one too, and where had that led him?

Dong Xian calmed himself. Becoming king was only a means to gain more resources to reach the Violet Palace realm faster. Still, he allowed himself a brief smile. A new king should at least feel some joy.

Just then, a booming voice rolled across the heavens. "Is the king of Great Shang present?"

From the sky descended an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, radiating immense pressure.

𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"Who goes there?" demanded the barefoot monk Wu Dian, the royal Nascent Soul guardian. He floated up to block the stranger.

"I am an envoy of the Bright Palace of Cuiyun Continent, under the Eastern Lands. By decree of the Palace Master, Great Shang is hereby included in the Bright Camp."

The envoy's tone was lofty as he threw down a glowing decree. Wu Dian scanned it with his divine sense, found no anomalies, and presented it to the emperor.

Dong Xian opened it, read a line, and his face turned stormy.

The envoy's voice echoed again. "In half a year, or three at most, the Hundred Nations Blood War will begin. The Bright Camp will clash with the Demon Camp. Since Great Shang shows no rampant demonic taint, our benevolent Palace Master wishes to include you among the Bright Camp. When war begins, your nation will send troops alongside other Bright Camp kingdoms to slaughter the demon forces!"

His tone made it sound as though he was granting Great Shang a favor.

Dong Xian's head buzzed with fury.

The Bright Palace is being utterly unreasonable!

Great Shang was not their vassal, why should they be forced into an alliance? And who had given them the right to dictate a Hundred Nations Blood War? Did Bright Palace think itself ruler over all nations?

Dong Xian clenched his fists. Yet he knew that the Bright Palace was a true behemoth, filled with Violet Palace experts. Even if all the Hundred Nations united, they couldn't challenge it.

Then the envoy said almost casually, "Before that, you are to hand over two disciples of the Divine Radiance Sect, Kang Fulu and Qi Yuan to Bright Palace."

Such an outrageous demand!

Immediately Dong Xian replied coldly, "Absolutely not!"

The envoy blinked, then smiled thinly. "If Great Shang refuses, then when the Blood War begins, your country shall be counted among the Demon Camp. And all in the Demon Camp is to be slain. Great Shang will be annihilated."

Dong Xian trembled with rage and humiliation.

Bright Palace is tyrannical beyond belief!

"Seven days," the envoy said before turning to depart in a streak of light. "If the two are not handed over, Great Shang shall stand with the demons."

Only fury remained on Dong Xian's face.

No one would be handed over!