Chapter 768: Chapter 769: The Fall
“Enforcement Team member in name?”
“Is there such a maneuver?”
Li Xiaobai was somewhat astonished; he hadn’t anticipated such a concept, that merely holding a nominal position in the Enforcement Team could spare one from being hunted. It brought to his mind an old saying, “If you can’t beat them, join them!”
“Don’t think this is an easy matter. First of all, their assessment is extremely stringent. The function of the Enforcement Team is to root out evil, to slay cultivators with sky-high Sin Values. If you wish to join them, the pledge you need to make is to deliver the head of a cultivator whose Sin Value is comparable to your own.”
“Generally speaking, the higher a cultivator’s Sin Value, the stronger their strength. It’s not an easy task to chop off their heads.”
“The yearly tasks thereafter are exceptionally difficult. These unofficial members almost always face cultivators with Sin Values higher than their own, even far exceeding their own. You could say that undertaking missions is fraught with danger.”
“If you’re considering such a path, be aware that it’s a matter of life and death. As the Princely Heir of the Great Flame Dynasty, you represent our dynasty’s reputation. In my opinion, you should focus on accruing Merit Value by resting like that self-proclaimed ‘Son of Buddha,’ Ergouzi.”
The Grand Emperor spoke slowly.
With Ergouzi, one well-versed in the scriptures, naturally, he hoped that Li Xiaobai could benefit from being in close proximity, then gradually foster relationships, allowing Ergouzi to disseminate thought and preach the Dao to the disciples of the Great Flame Dynasty. Perhaps this could lead to a surge in the dynasty’s Merit Value.
Unfortunately, he was destined to miscalculate; Ergouzi was not some exceptionally talented Divine Beast but became adept in understanding the scriptures only due to the effects of the Justice Elixirs. To expect it to preach would likely lead the entire dynasty astray.
“Thank you for the kindness, Grand Emperor. I’ll see what I can do,” Li Xiaobai said.
“I heard from that elder from the Sword Dynasty that King Weiwu brought out several peerless geniuses from the Earth Spirit Realm?”
“I wonder how you plan to deal with them, Grand Emperor. If possible, I would like to have a sparring session with them.”
After continuing the pleasantries for a few more sentences, Li Xiaobai cut to the chase and asked.
It seemed that the Grand Emperor had anticipated this question, and without changing his expression, he said, “Heh, it’s good for young people to be ambitious, but one must not aim too high and miss the mark.”
“Even among the Super Sects, these individuals’ talents rank among the best. As long as they don’t meet an untimely death, given time, they will surely become powerful figures in their own right.”
“If you indeed reach that level one day, you will naturally have the opportunity to compete with them.”
The Grand Emperor said indifferently.
“Alright, I’ve said all that needs to be said. What you do from here on out is entirely up to you.”
With that, he waved his hand. Li Xiaobai immediately felt the world spinning around him, and by the time he realized what was happening, he was already outside the grand hall, along with Ergouzi who looked dazed and confused.
“Hiss, this old man is truly unscrupulous—pulling up his pants and refusing to acknowledge people, what a rascal,” Li Xiaobai murmured to himself. He had been sent out before he even began to ask the critical questions.
However, from the old man’s words, he could vaguely sense that the target was the Super Sects, and his wife would probably be sent to the Dragon Race’s sacred bloodline terrain, Ice Dragon Island, as King Weiwu had mentioned. The whereabouts of his senior brothers and sisters remained unknown.
After all, the only Super Sects he knew of in the Central Origin Realm were the Blood Demon Sect and Demon Sealing Sect.
“As long as I know they’re not in any immediate danger, that’s fine. Once I’ve blown up Yan City and extinguished those Princely Heirs as well as the neighboring Sect forces, I’ll go find them,” he decided.
The first batch of cultivators to enter the Earth Spirit Realm were from these major dynasties, and he hadn’t forgotten this grudge.
Although more powerful forces would continuously arrive in the Earth Spirit Realm later, he only wished to deal with these major dynasties for now.
“That old man’s cultivation level of Heavenly Immortal Realm is a bit problematic. Oh well, I’ll let him keep the Hellfire safe for me for a while longer. When the time is right, I’ll take everything, principal and interest together!”
Within the Imperial Palace’s great hall.
“Father, are we really going to let go of those geniuses brought back by King Weiwu so easily? Can’t we at least keep one?!”
Yan Nian said with a bitter expression, considering it a great opportunity for the Great Flame Dynasty to rise above the others and dominate, he was unwilling to let it slip by so easily.
“Nian’er, a true man can take losses as well as gains, only then can he be worthy of being a hero’s son. Those geniuses are entangled with great secrets beyond our reach, and honestly, we cannot afford to nurture them. By using this occasion to establish good relations and build connections with those Super Sects, the benefits we can reap are enough to profit us for a while,”
the Grand Emperor said indifferently.
“What exactly are those secrets?”
“Could they all be descendants of Saints?”
Curiosity flickered in Yan Nian’s eyes.
“Stop your wild guessing. Even I barely understand the secrets they hold. Let’s settle the matter as I’ve decided and say no more on it.”
“Go check on the whereabouts of the eighteenth son these past few days, see if his claims hold any truth. Furthermore, dispatch another team to delve into the depths of the Demonic Beast Mountain Range. Investigate the locations he mentioned to see if we can find any other treasures,”
the Grand Emperor instructed, unconsciously revealing a hint of intense desire in his eyes.
A land capable of producing a Divine substance like Hellfire is very likely concealing a heritage. If they can find it and absorb it, the strength of their dynasty would grow much more formidable than it is now.
“Understood. I will send people to investigate right away!”
“It’s just that, judging from the behavior and actions of the eighteenth today, they are vastly different from his usual conduct, as if he has undergone a complete transformation. What could have happened to cause such a drastic change in his temperament? Or could it be that all along he had been concealing his true abilities, and has only now chosen to reveal them?”
“Haha, not to mention your inability to see through him, even I am puzzled. However, there’s no doubt about one thing: that defiant and unrestrained aura is innate to him and not something that can be forged by a mere change in behavior or imitation,”
“I am more inclined to believe the latter scenario. The child is extremely clever, and knew how to hide his capabilities while young, playing the fool to catch the tiger off guard!”
“Nian’er, your judgment was clouded,”
the Grand Emperor said with a faint smile.
“Naturally, I cannot compare to Father’s wealth of experience,”
Yan Nian replied. It turned out just as he had suspected, Li Xiaobai had indeed been playing the fool to catch the tiger off guard, feigning weakness to lower the guard of his brothers. Once the time was ripe, he brazenly revealed his fangs. He had even managed to outplay him, the Emperor, his own father! This showed that the child had no understanding of respect for his seniors, and even the royal authority didn’t seem to matter to him. Such an uncontrollable Princely Heir, he did not need.
“Enough, go and take care of it,”
“and inform me at once if there is any news!”