So everyone followed His Majesty to the Imperial Library, which had already been prepared in advance. The royal family members who usually practiced cultivation here were gathered together, leaving the Hundredfold Path empty.
At the command of the Emperor, the sealed door of the Hundredfold Path, which had not been opened for hundreds of years, was opened once again with a rumble, and a stale smell wafted out.
The Emperor secretly glanced at Owen Bertram and then smiled at all the cultivators, saying, "I will wait outside for your outstanding talents. You are the best young cultivators of our dynasty, don’t let me down."
The cultivators bowed neatly and were about to enter the Hundredfold Path when Kawashima Yosuke suddenly shouted from behind: "On behalf of the lower country, I ask the Emperor for permission: if it so happens that my Sangdao is present for this grand event, it is indeed a blessing. I wish to send disciples with your permission to participate and broaden their horizons so that they can promote the majesty of the upper country upon their return. I ask His Majesty to grant such permission!"
As he spoke, he prostrated himself on the ground, and the entire embassy beside him followed suit.
The Emperor was a bit dumbfounded. It was already generous to allow these island barbarians to attend the ceremony, and they wanted to get involved? Have you lost your mind?
The Prime Minister pondered for a moment and then said, "There is no such precedent; it does not conform to our ancestral system."
This was a clear rejection, but Kawashima Yosuke spoke again, "I beg the Emperor of the Upper Country for special grace." He crawled on the ground and secretly signaled Aries beside him.
Aries stood up and said loudly, "I heard in our country that the Upper Country of Wood People is full of talents and far superior to my Sang Island. Why are you refusing now? Are you afraid that we will take first place and lose face?"
"Presumptuous!" Kawashima Yosuke scolded. "Everything is subject to the judgment of the emperor of the upper country. How could you, a vulgar youngster, have a say?"
He pretended to kowtow to the Emperor again, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. Our islanders are unsophisticated. Surely Your Majesty would not give others a chance to criticize, making them think that the Wood People are afraid of our Sangdao cultivators entering?"
Infuriated, the Emperor was about to respond when Owen Bertram stepped in, "Your Majesty, please do not be angry. People from these small places are narrow-minded and arrogant. Since they want to see for themselves, let them come along. However, let me make it clear to them in advance that the Hundredfold Path is full of dangers. If they go in and can’t come out... they can only blame themselves for overestimating their abilities, and they can’t say that our upper country didn’t warn them beforehand."
The Emperor nodded in satisfaction. See, Owen, my loyal subject, knows how to get things done. Speaking up is so satisfying! Moreover, the Emperor and Owen exchanged glances, understanding his intention: Owen would not let this arrogant Sangdao cultivator easily come out of the Hundredfold Path!
Owen indeed had this intention. As Aries spoke just now, Owen gently urged the Ancient Village Sword in his Storage Brocade Pouch, and sure enough, it sensed the presence of the fellow! The mastermind behind the massacre of Wood People cultivators in the Eden Cave was them! Since that’s the case, don’t blame Minister Owen for being ruthless.
Before Kawashima Yosuke could speak, Aries jumped up and said, "If you have the courage to go in, life and death are predestined!"
The Emperor sneered, "Fine, I permit it; you go in with them."
"Thank you, Emperor of the Upper Country!"
Aries strode up to Owen Bertram, and the two stood side by side, their eyes colliding as if thunder lights were flashing in the air. They both sneered in their hearts, gritting their teeth, and said, "Please!"
Derek had not accompanied his embassy to the palace, nor had he stayed in the post house. After the embassy departure, he left himself and wandered through the Capital, losing the examiner’s tail from Central Prison. Upon entering a hidden courtyard, when he emerged again, he had already disguised himself as a Wood People, blending into the crowd of the Capital, leaving no trace.
Still cautious, he knew the fate of Sangdao Country hung on his shoulders. He made several rounds in the Capital to make sure no one was following before heading straight to the Riverside Avenue outside the city.
There was a famous restaurant that had been open for decades, and unbeknownst to anyone, everyone from the owner to the chefs and workers was a spy from Sangdao.
He went straight to the backyard, where the owner greeted him on his knees, trembling with excitement, "After thirty-four years, I have finally waited for Your Excellency! Everything is ready, please come in."
There was a quiet room beside him. Derek entered and lifted a cover on the floor revealing a deep tunnel. He descended and arrived beneath the Defensive River. Carefully, he pulled out the stone tripod and activated it. The stone tripod trembled gently, releasing a highly penetrating wave that traveled far away.
Lord Ruibin was sleeping in his cave. That Little Loach was too frightening recently, and it clung to him, making him play gatekeeper for several days!
After Little Loach left, Lord Ruibin became lazy, sleeping all day. Mainly because he was both scared and worried around that fellow, not daring to relax. He even felt exhausted from dealing with the Double-headed Eel.
However, once a living being adapts to a certain state, it may feel uncomfortable for a short time after suddenly leaving it. For example, Lord Ruibin these past few days, although free, felt that something was wrong with him and even missed the days when Little Loach was by his side.