Chapter 236: Chapter 233: Five-Element Tree Sapling

"What’s there to panic about?" Zhang Shao sneered. "So many years have passed, and you’re still as rash as ever. No wonder you’ll never amount to anything great!"

Yan Hong retorted resentfully, "Zhang Shao, I’m not your disciple anymore. Stop putting on the airs of a master in front of me. If it weren’t for you, I’d still be a Renowned Master at the Imperial Academy, admired by thousands!"

"Heh, ’a teacher for a day is a father for a lifetime.’ You don’t even understand this simple principle. No wonder that group of disciples you took in betrayed you," Zhang Shao jeered.

His sore spot having been poked, Yan Hong flew into a rage out of shame and anger. "Zhang Shao, you’re courting death!"

As he spoke, Yan Hong was about to manifest his Grotto Heaven and fight Zhang Shao.

"Enough!" Wang Chen, who had been silent the whole time, slammed his hand on the table. "Look at the time we’re in! Does it even matter who’s right or wrong? The Qian Family just spared us. Pleading for forgiveness from the Empire is one thing, but isn’t the real reason because they think they have us cornered?!"

"We don’t have much time. We must find a solution before the Qian Family is free to deal with us, or we will surely die!"

Wang Chen glanced at the two of them and added, "Of course, you can pretend I said nothing and continue with your feud. At worst, I’ll swallow my pride and go hide with the Zhao Family. No matter how arrogant the Qian Family gets, they won’t be able to touch me there!"

Yan Hong fell silent. He had already lost everything, and now he had offended the Qian Family. One could say his life was shrouded in darkness.

Zhang Shao, on the other hand, was filled with doubt. He couldn’t understand why someone as distinguished as Qian Duoduo would be so determined to stand up for Jin Sanpang and Liu Hui.

And how on earth had Jin Sanpang and Liu Hui managed to earn Qian Duoduo’s friendship?

’The Annual Selection, the three days Within the Pass... what exactly happened?’

"Zhang Shao, you’re definitely hiding something from us. It’s time you told us everything, isn’t it?" Wang Chen’s face was cold as he stared fixedly at Zhang Shao.

He and Yan Hong had been in a state of utter confusion from the very beginning.

They didn’t know Jin Quan, Jin Sanpang, or Liu Hui at all. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Even now, they had no idea what the inside story was.

From Jin Quan’s earlier reaction, it was clear that Zhang Shao was the one pulling all the strings.

Zhang Shao took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Do you remember the name ’Mo Qi’?"

"Of course. The enmity for my son’s murder is one I cannot share the heavens with. But didn’t he die Within the Pass?" Wang Chen frowned slightly.

"Hmph. Just to kill him, I lost a disciple at the Vajra Realm!" The more Yan Hong thought about it, the angrier he became. ’Why am I always the unluckiest one?’

"This is what happened..."

Then, Zhang Shao explained his feud with Mo Qi, including how he had used Jin Quan to bait Mo Qi into having no choice but to participate in the Annual Selection.

After listening to Zhang Shao’s explanation, Yan Hong was so depressed he wanted to kill himself.

’Both of you had your sons killed by Mo Qi, so you have a huge grudge against him. But who did I provoke?’

’If I had known this would be the outcome, I never would have agreed to Zhang Shao’s request back then.’

But he had forgotten how, at that time, as a Renowned Master, he had been so high and mighty, looking down on the participants of the Annual Selection.

Zhang Shao had asked him to hunt down and kill Mo Qi.

In order to repay the debt he owed his former master and completely sever ties with Zhang Shao, he had agreed without a second thought.

Because in his eyes, it was just a trivial matter.

But it was this trivial matter that had led to his current tragic circumstances.

"What’s your plan?"

Wang Chen asked bluntly. He didn’t believe Zhang Shao had said so much just to tell a story.

"Jin Quan committed a capital crime, yet he was personally received and released by the two patriarchs, Nangong Yi and Zhao Ruifeng. The only one I can think of who could make that happen is His Holiness himself."

"And the only person His Holiness would value so highly, even to the point of disregarding the Empire’s laws, would be the Blessed One who rang the Dragon Vein Imperial Bell!"

Wang Chen and Yan Hong were both startled, but neither of them refuted it.

They had all sensed it on the day the Dragon Vein Imperial Bell was rung.

But the matter was quickly suppressed by an imperial decree. No one was allowed to investigate privately, so the identity of the Blessed One remained unknown.

"Right now, only the Empire’s Blessed One can save us. Only he has a chance of backing us up."

"Explain."

Zhang Shao then laid out his theory about the Blessed One.

"The Blessed One has only just arrived at the Imperial Academy. His position is not yet secure. If we sincerely pledge our allegiance to him, we will certainly gain his favor. We can then use his displeasure with Jin Quan and the others to create a shield for ourselves!"

Wang Chen pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly.

"This plan could work, but now for the biggest problem: Who is the Blessed One?"

Zhang Shao circulated his True Essence, simulating the appearance of the External Incarnation.

"I was afraid that it was Mo Qi who had rung the Dragon Vein Imperial Bell, so on the day everyone came out from Within the Pass, I watched from a distance. I happened to see his face. With your abilities, I imagine finding him in the Imperial Academy shouldn’t be a problem, right?"

Wang Chen and Yan Hong glanced at each other and nodded.

"Alright. We’ll split up. Brother Yan Hong and I will be responsible for secretly searching for the Blessed One. As for how to persuade the Blessed One to take us in, we’ll leave that to you, Brother Zhang Shao."

"Deal!"

...

Mo Qi, Liu Ruyan, and Niu Kexin didn’t stay in the Fighting Cultivation Room for long.

Because after he finished telling them everything that had happened Within the Pass, Niu Kexin took out her gift for him.

It was a small sapling, about as tall as a person, which she had found in Mu Kongfu’s treasury.

"I don’t know what it is either. I just had a feeling it would suit you, little brother, so I brought it over," Niu Kexin said with a smile.

Liu Ruyan studied the small sapling. Even with all her knowledge, she couldn’t identify what kind of tree it was.

Mo Qi was currently just an External Incarnation, so of course, he was even more clueless.

He synchronized the image of the sapling and sent it to his main body, wondering if this would activate the Chaos Scripture’s ability to identify all things.

The next second, a message came from the Chaos Scripture: *Dying Five Elements Tree sapling, a Demigod Level Spiritual Object. Can be placed within a Grotto Heaven to be nurtured. Can be revived after ten thousand years. Has a fifty percent chance of growing into a World Tree, Crossing the Yin and Yang Realms, and forging a Supreme Dao Body.*

Mo Qi was stunned by this message.

’A Demigod Level Spiritual Object?!’

’What kind of level is that?’

’And what the heck is a World Tree?’

’Supreme Dao Body... that sounds incredibly impressive.’

’But why does it need to be nurtured for ten thousand years to be revived? Where am I going to find ten thousand years to wait?’

’Just a quick question... this Five Elements Tree sapling, can I eat it? What would happen if I made it into Medicinal Cuisine and ate it? Would it cure my weakened state?’

The Chaos Scripture: "..."

’Bro! This is a Five Elements Tree sapling!’

’It has a fifty percent chance of becoming a World Tree!’

’A World Tree!’

’A super Innate Spiritual Object that even Divine Beings would go crazy for!’

’Do you know what "Crossing the Yin and Yang Realms" means? Do you have any idea what a Supreme Dao Body is?’

’I already hinted so obviously that you should nurture it in your Grotto Heaven.’

’But you!’

’The first damn thing you thought of was to eat it!’

’What else can I say?’

’Can I just say "for fuck’s sake"?’

"Huh? Why aren’t you answering me?" Mo Qi wondered. He activated the Nether Soul Flame in his Sea of Consciousness, continuously prodding the Chaos Scripture.

After a long time, the Chaos Scripture slowly spat out a sentence: "Edible. Can cure the weakened state. Other consequences are unknown."