I Can Do Anything?-Chapter 10: If Ignorance Is Bliss, Why Do The Ignorant Always Suffer?

Chapter 10 - If Ignorance Is Bliss, Why Do The Ignorant Always Suffer?

...

Xuan Wu, Fatty Wang, Zi Rougang, Zuo Lingxing, and Kong Jian sit around on large rocks, waiting for the Dunespire kingdom to appear.

Fatty Wang giggles, reading a comedy novel.

Zi Rougang, with his ever haughty expression, turns to Fatty Wang—"What are you reading?"

Fatty Wang drops the book, clapping his hands. "AHAHAHA! It's one of those new 'novels' that an outer disciple wrote, it's just too funny!"

The desert at night can only be described with one word—beautiful. The cold winds contrasts against the searing hot air at day, meanwhile the sands stretch out for kilometres.

Kong Jian yawns, his arms stretching above his head.

"When will the damn mirage appear—"

SSSPHINNKKK!

Suddenly, the earth begins shaking.

The group of six all stand up, raising their weapons.

"Wait, put your weapons down, the mirage is appearing!"

Nearby, the air starts shimmering, and a dramatically large quantity of spiritual energy starts being drawn there. The energy is so condensed that they move in little droplets. Usually, spiritual energy is in a plasma/gaseous form.

The sound of wheels moving on sand comes closer, and a commotion is heard.

"The mirage, the mirage is appearing!" A middle aged man drunk on wine spurs.

"Haha, finally, quick, get to the front." A man dressed in brown, clean robes with a piece of golden battle armour on shouts.

Zi Rougang eyes the approaching carriages, people, and chaos.

He turns to Kong Jian.

"What's the meaning of this?" His eyes narrow.

Kong Jian nervously laughs.

"You see—whoever is first to enter the mirage, the price of entering the Dunespire kingdom will be reduced... so rogue cultivators, merchant bands, and mercenaries always fight to be at the front."

Fatty Wang grits his teeth.

"But we were here first."

"It doesn't matter. Let's just fight these scumbags!"

Zi Rougang barks, drawing his weapon—a dark blue saber.

The colours of chaos draw closer, with voices being more distinct.

"Hey, look, there's a group of kids!" The same middle aged man, now riding a horse speaks.

"Haha, I say we rob them." A disfigured rogue cultivator shamelessly remarks.

After only a couple of minutes, the chaos arrives, merchant bands park their carriages, and rogue cultivators get off of their horses.

The most powerful person, according to this band of chaos, steps out of a golden carriage.

He's dressed in sparkly golden robes, wearing a jade crown, and gives off a noble feeling.

"Prince Zeki!"

"There he goes!" The middle aged man talks yet again.

Prince Qin Zeki arrives right in front of the mirage, his golden robes billowing behind him.

He reaches out his hand, then the mirage splits open.

Hot air and sand is immediately blasted out, giving quite a shock to the group of six.

"CHARGEEE!!!"

The chaos of merchants, rogue cultivators, mercenaries, and others all rush to be the first to enter Dunespire kingdom.

Due to the sandy fog from the entrance to Dunespire kingdom being opened, many people trying to get in stagger back.

Zi Rougang grabs Zuo Lingxing, pushing against the sandy currents and enemies.

Within seconds, fights already start breaking out.

"Pathetic!"

A mortal merchant gets knocked back, falling onto a horse.

"You mortals are nothing compared to us cultivators! As a first layer qi gathering cultivator, not even an ounce of my qi would be needed to take you down!"

"Humph!"

A huge amount of the sandy fog gets cleared, and a bulky cultivator dressed in red armour clasps his palms together.

"Only at the first layer of qi gathering? I thought there were more terrifying opponents here, scram!"

The first layer qi gathering cultivator's face turns serious.

"Are you trying to scare me? That won't work on me."

Both the cultivators lunge at each other, colliding.

"Hurk—GHHHRRK!"

The first layer qi gathering cultivator vomits blood, getting knocked back into struggling mortals trying to fight, which causes the mortals to explode into blood mist.

Each mortal around pauses, utterly shocked by the mortals who had just exploded.

"I-Is this the true power of cultivators? RUN!"

A young merchant screams, running away from Dunespire kingdom, which causes a lot of mortals to run away as well.

The bulky cultivator grins, then turns towards Prince Qin Zeki.

He bows down.

"Your highness, you're free to go."

The middle aged merchant gasps.

"A cultivator submitting to a mortal? What's the reasoning behind this."

"...Yeah, it seems too surreal."

"Perhaps the cultivator wants to link with the royal family...?"

Whispers of confusion spread, cultivators are normally many times stronger than a mortal, so a cultivator bowing to a mortal is akin to a human bowing to an ant.

Prince Qin Zeki smiles, then heads inside Dunespire kingdom.

The rest of the cultivators look at each other, then get into a line, with the most powerful cultivators at the front.

Xuan Wu's finger hovers over the 'Configure Cultivation' button, he lets a breath out.

"Though I was going to get killed! That was intense."

Zi Rougang walks out, blood on his chest as he falls, kneeling on one leg.

Zuo Lingxin has her arm around him, holding him up.

Her eyes are tearful, conveying thousands of emotions without any words.

"Grkk, hurk!"

He throws up blood, the sand underneath turning crimson.

"Well, we can enter now, right?"

Fatty Wang mentions.

...

After waiting for quite some time, they finally reach the border of Dunespire kingdom. Two guards block the entrance.

"Pay fee."

Kong Jian hands the guard 5 gold coins appropriately, then the group of 6 enter the Dunespire kingdom.

Sprawling towers litter the kingdom, made with polished sand stone.

The scent of various spices, roasted meat, and a deep, earthy smell permeate the kingdom.

Commotion is heard all around, with the clothing of the citizens of the kingdom being a little different.

They wear more loose robes, with majority of the men wearing turbans.

"Exactly like I'd imagined it."

Zi Rougang groans, still bloodied.

"Come on brother Rougang, let's get you to a doctor."

Zuo Lingxin pleads.

Zi Rougang spits on the ground.

"N-no, I'm fine."

She sighs, closing her eyes.

Kong Jian wows at the surrounding buildings, taking it all in like this was his first time here.

A hand clasps his shoulder.

He turns around to see Xuan Wu looking at him sternly.

"Now that we're here, can you explain who exactly you are? Loyal Jian."

Kong Jian gulps, straightening his robes.

"I am a merchant, you can call me merchant Kong from now onwards."

He beings walking through the Dunespire kingdom, beckoning to the group.

"Come, I'll tour you around."

...

"...Here, you have the marketplace, one of the most well-known locations of the Dunespire kingdom, you know, we are known for our spices."

He explains, finally ending up at a large building with a dome shaped roof.

"And finally, this is the merchant guild, where I call home."

He steps inside, prompting the group to step inside along with him.

"Get them!"

Suddenly, seven burly guards tackle the group of five disciples.

"W-what is the meaning of this!"

Fatty Wang sputters, obviously angry at this act of betrayal.

Kong Jian turns around, arms behind his back, grinning ear to ear.

"Why, we've captured a group of five delectable spiritual roots, master will be happy to hear of this!"

Xuan Wu rolls his eyes.

"You weren't given the title—Deceiver Jian for nothing, I'll tell you that."

His eyes flicker to each guards face.

Most of them have battle-worn faces, riddled with scars.

Zi Rougang growls, his eyes widening in pure rage.

Humiliated.

He feels humiliated.

Pinned down on the ground by 2 guards, listening to the cackling of the man he once trusted, all he feels is humiliation.

And that sparks a rage in him.

He feels something break inside of him.

"Gr! How dare yo—"

SLAM!

His head gets slammed into the marble floor, and his nose breaks.

Zuo Lingxin gasps, tears spilling out of her eyes.

"Grandpa, do something!"

Bai Yu's fists clench, a darkness shrouding his face.

"...I-I can't do anything. Something, something horrible here is interfering with my spirituality, and-and I can't do anything!"

The shadow flickers, almost like it's going to disappear.

"Grandpa"

Zuo Lingxin starts sobbing uncontrollably.

BANG!

Fatty Wang bangs his head on the marble floor.

"I'll kill myself before you perverts can touch me!"

A guard grabs his head before he can bang it once again.

The guards face is filled with utter disgust.

"Who would want to touch a fatty like you?"

"Huh?"

...

Clang! Thud!

A metallic door shuts close, locking the group of five up.

Zi Rougang awakens, his mind foggy.

"W-where am I?"

Zuo Lingxin, who was holding him speaks.

"We...We were detained."

Fatty Wang clutches his heart.

"And, and they insulted me, I feel so insulted!"

Tears almost fall from his eyes, they hang right on the edge.

"Took me for a fool!"

He slams his fist against the cold stone ground.

Xuan Wu lazily blinks, lying down.

He stares at the system panel above him.

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[Configure Cultivation]

[Qi Gathering, Foundation establishment...]

"To configure or not, to cheat or not."

He takes a deep breath in.

"I'll make a promise to myself. I need to earn my cultivation using my own skills! No need for cheats!"

...