Chapter 67: What did you receive?
Luo Pu appeared beside Ashen, whispering into his ears: “Young Master Ashen, Not many people know this but Peak Master Xia is the Princess of the Xia Kingdom!”
“Oh!” Ashen smiled as he understood everything.
“Does that mean she is the daughter of the current king of the Xia Kingdom?” Ashen asked with a calm but curious expression.
Lo Pu, shaking his head, answered: “No Young Master, She is the sister of the current king of the Xia Kingdom!”
Ashen, a bit surprised, nodded before asking curiously: “What is her name?”
“It’s Xia Wuling!” Lo Pu answered immediately.
“Xia Wuling… Hmm, If I remember correctly, isn’t there another disciple with the same surname?” Ashen asked, remembering about Xia Wuyao.
Lo Pu was a bit surprised to know that Ashen knew about her, but nevertheless, he informed: “She is the daughter of the current king and princess of the Xia Kingdom!”
Ashen, wearing a puzzled expression, inquired: “Huh? If she is a princess then why was she captured by Mo Chen? Why didn’t she reveal her identity to him and Why was she pretending to be from a poor background?”
Ashen was curious to know what was going on, however, this at least explained the high luck that she possessed.
Lo Pu calmly explained: “Young Master Ashen, it is the way of the royal family. In the Xia kingdom, a prince or princess is given a choice to join one of the top ten sects and make a name for themselves without revealing their identity unless absolutely necessary.
They are only allowed to use their talent and ask for a limited amount of resources. The most talented individual among them is crowned as the crown prince or princess. It is just a race for the throne.
Only a few elders and the sect master know about these princes’ and princesses’ identities. I just happened to be one of them.”
Ashen nodded in understanding before commenting: “That’s some way of selecting the next king or queen!”
In response, Lo Pu sneered: “In my opinion, it is a better way to select the successor. At least the siblings are not after each other’s lives. The Empire’s succession is just a blood bath. Brother after Brother’s life. I pity those Princes and Princesses who are thrown into this swamp of political and bloodied battle from their birth.
Sigh… at least they are given a choice to not participate but I’ve heard that some Princes are ruthless enough to go after a prince who is not participating just to eliminate the threat.
But I suppose it is necessary to create a suitable emperor who can command the strongest empire in the world, right?”
Lo Pu looked at Ashen with a smile.
“R-Right!” Ashen nodded, the corner of his mouth twitching due to his previous words.
Wasn’t he talking about him?
And what was he saying about eliminating someone who wasn’t participating?
Was this true?
He also hadn’t announced his participation yet, does that mean one of his siblings could go after his life as well?
Ashen felt the desire to get stronger increase inside of him.
“Elder Lo Pu, thanks for your information and the kindness you’ve shown me. I’ll not forget it. I’ll take my leave now!” Ashen informed with a bow after expressing his gratitude.
Lo Pu nodded with a smile in acknowledgment.
Mo Chen’s Private Mansion, Far from Phoenix Feather Sect,
Ashen sat on a luxurious chair as he asked: “Have you done what I asked of you?”
Mo Chen nodded, reporting to Ashen: “Yes, Your Highness, I’ve gathered more than 8000 cultivators with 2-star spirits from small cities and villages under the Mo Family’s influence.
Also, there are more than 5000 cultivators with 3-star spirit.”
Ashen nodded in satisfaction: “Good, now go and inform them of the risks involved!”
Mo Chen nodded in understanding: “As you wish, Your Highness!”
Mo Chen went out of his mansion with the guards of the Mo Family.
In front of him was a large crowd, waiting patiently for him.
He took on a high ground to announce: “Everyone, As you’ve been informed, I discovered a tomb of a mysterious demonic cultivator yesterday. There is a voice at the entrance that only allows 2-star spirit cultivators to enter.
Once a cultivator enters, he will send his spirit to a secret room where he will be judged according to the goodness and evil their spirit contains. If the spirit is pure, you will be rewarded with treasures and if it is evil then it will be consumed!”
He continued: “Also, there is a quota of the 2-star cultivators that can enter. Once the quota is completed, only 3-star cultivators will be able to enter from then on.”
Hearing his announcement, Murmurs and shouts, filled with shock, and questions began to echo in the area.
“What? our spirits will be consumed?”
“Also, what kind of treasure will we receive? Gold, pills, herbs, or something else?”
“But our spirits, can they be really consumed? I haven’t heard of anything like that”
“Without our spirits, wouldn’t we be unable to advance in our cultivation?”
One of them sneered: “What cultivation? With 2 and 3-star spirits, the most we can attain is the nascent soul realm. And that too will take a huge amount of time and resources. Wouldn’t it be better to take the treasure and then sell it so that we don’t have to work anymore?”
“Yeah, if we get a great treasure and sell it for a high price, we won’t have to work anymore!”
“But what if we don’t get anything? Didn’t you hear, our spirit will be consumed and we won’t get anything!”
Hearing this, Mo Chen interjected as instructed by Ashen: “There is one more option. You can offer your spirit and get the treasure in exchange. This method is the safest of them all.”
Knowing this, Many had their hesitation fade away.
At this moment, Mo Chen asked: “Are you all willing to give it a try?”
Most of them pondered before agreeing: “Yes!” They shouted in unison.
After all, making a decision after someone had tried the formation would be easy.
“Then, follow me!” Mo Chen instructed before getting inside a carriage. The carriage traversed a long path, traveling a long distance before stopping at their destination.
It was the outer layer of the Spirit Beasts Thicket.
Since the crowd was comprised of cultivators, they had no problem following the carriage.
Mo Chen exited the carriage before pointing at a cave.
“That is the tomb that I discovered!”
The crowd’s gaze fell on the cave as they asked:
“Huh? Isn’t this just a normal cave?”
Mo Chen, ignoring them, asked: “Who wants to go first?”
No one raised a hand. No one knew what was inside, why would they take the risk?
However, soon, a hand was raised.
“Come!” Mo Chen called the man who had raised his hand. The man came forward before bowing to Mo Chen and then standing in front of the cave.
“Show your spirit, cultivator. Only 2-star cultivators can enter!” A mysterious, old, and domineering voice reverberated in the area.
The crowd was convinced hearing the voice, recognizing the truth in Mo Chen’s words.
The man nodded before summoning his 2-star spirit, a two-tailed rat!
“Hmm,” The voice nodded in satisfaction before giving its permission: “You can enter!”
The man entered, adhering to the voice.
The crowd was surprised as they saw the man simply disappear as soon as he entered. Normally, he should’ve been visible in the cave, however, it seemed as if no one had entered.
After about 2 minutes, the man came out of the cave as innumerable curious gazes fell on him.
“What did you receive?” Mo Chen inquired as a reluctant expression appeared on the man’s face.
After some moments of hesitation, he sighed and took out a low-level heaven-grade skill.
Though it was a demonic skill, it would sell for millions of gold.
Mo Chen and everyone present had their eyes widened in shock and disbelief.
The crowd was unable to hide their emotions:
“What? A low heaven-grade skill? Doesn’t that mean he is rich now?”
“Yeah, he wouldn’t have to work anymore. Heck, he can even hire some cultivators as bodyguards!”
“How is his luck so good? Why wasn’t I in his place?”
The crowd was jealous and wanted to gain something similar.
Mo Chen nodded: “Congratulations! You can leave now!!”
“Next! Who wants to enter?” Mo Chen asked.
This time, though most were reluctant and wanted to observe some more, some raised their hands instantly.
Mo Chen chose one guy from the back: “You, You go!”
The guy, wearing a delighted expression, repeated the previous cultivator’s actions.
He entered and returned after two minutes.
“What did you receive?” Mo Chen inquired.
He was also reluctant but nevertheless, took out a high-level sky-grade sword artifact.
The crowd was once again baffled:
“What? He also received a good treasure?”
“Are the chances of getting your spirit consumed so low?”
Mo Chen ignored them as he carried on and chose another cultivator.
Sure enough, he also came out with a high-level treasure.
The crowd had their minds made up. They were going to participate.
Their luck couldn’t be so bad right?
But what they didn’t know was, this was all Ashen’s plan to get them to offer their spirits!
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(A/N – Thanks for reading. ^..^)
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