Despite his gray hair and crow feet, the Divine King was still energetic and vigorous. He sat up above with the aura of a king.
The Treasure Tower Lord was seated by his side.
âYour disciple greets you, Master and Tower Lord!â Feiyun respectfully bowed his head.
The king revealed a dark smile and asked: âWhat is your harvest after the trip to Trinity?â
Feiyun answered: âIâve killed 5,864 first-transformation Corpse Evils and twelve second-transformation ones, a total of 17,864 points.â
âThough the contest for the pagodaâs list can prove oneâs strength, this is only against the corpse evils. The real contest is how you will fare against other people.â The kingâs majestic voice had an opposing might.
Feiyun understood and replied: âThe ten hallsâ appearance did catch us by surprise. They have been recuperating for many years, so each hall has become quite formidable.â
The king nodded in agreement: âThe Senluo Temple was even more frightening before being divided. You probably saw some hints of its past glory after this youth competition.â
âThe pagoda has prodigies from all over the world, virtually one-third of the talent pool. However, it could only contend at the same level against those from the ten halls. In terms of overall strength, they might be one step higher.â Feiyun carefully analyzed what transpired.
Although the seven lords all lost at the sacred lake, their two strongest lords didnât appear once so it couldnât count as a total victory.
The king asked: âWhat do you think is the fundamental reason behind this?â
Feiyun answered: âAs far as talents are concerned, the pagodaâs disciples arenât inferior to the heretical ones. However, in terms of cunning and schemes, battle experience and battle momentum, we are much lesser. Thatâs why we were completely overwhelmed in the beginning.â
âThatâs right. The heretical disciples grew up in a brutal and competitive environment; they are always at the edge of death. This is why they know how to survive and understand how to kill even more. Because of this, the pampered talents from the pagoda canât exactly contend with them at the same level.â The king agreed.
He then proceeded to state: âThe most important reason behind this competition in revising the pagodaâs list is for everyone to grow in battle and break through during peril.â
âI understand.â
The upper echelons of the pagoda naturally knew that the heretical schools were showing up again. However, they didnât expect that the pagodaâs disciples would be so unprepared at the start.
The Treasure Tower Lordâs real identity is the first princess of the Jin Dynasty, the current emperorâs older sister. She enjoyed a high status in the royal family.
The pagoda is the number one sacred ground so the royal family must maintain some control over it. The Divine King and the princess were in charge of the Martial Tower and Treasure Tower, two of the most important towers in this place. This demonstrates just how important the royal family viewed the pagoda.
Of course, there were certainly other royal experts in this place.
The tower lord seriously inquired: âFeng Feiyun, are you still at grand achievement God Base?â
Feiyun respectfully answered: âThere is still a way to go before the Earth Tribulation.â
She asked again: âYou defeated Nalan Hongtaoâs avatar at this level?â
This was a rhetorical question and would have a second part. Feiyun nodded and waited to listen.
The Divine King smiled without saying anything while staring at Feiyunâs upright posture. To be able to act neither obsequiously nor superciliously before two experts, he definitely found a good disciple.
âDo you still have grudges against Luofu?â The tower lordâs voice became more dignified and gained an unquestionable air of royalty.
Feiyun shook his head: âThe name carving doesnât matter to me. I care more about my own strength. The so-called providence only shows a lack of confidence for the weak.â
The kingâs smile became even wider.
The tower lord snorted, causing a layer of ice to form on the ground before continuing: âThatâs for the best then. Someone of your talents will have greater accomplishments than us in the future even without the providence.â
How could Feiyun not know what these two were up to? They were acting as mediators for the princess as they didnât wish to see the two have a conflict. After all, that wouldnât be good for the royal family.
Since two great characters have implicitly expressed their opinions, Feiyun couldnât say anything at this moment even if he were unhappy with the princess.
âHowever, that brat went too far this time. Hmm, I donât have much to make it up to you. Well, Iâll just give you a spirit treasure then!â The king spread out his palm and a golden wisp flew out. A black jewel the size of a fingertip slowly emerged.
The black jewel fell into Feiyunâs palm. In the beginning, it was quite hot as if he was holding a fire plume.
âThis is a Thunderfire Jewel, born from the magma of the earth with a powerful fire affinity inside. It used to be a pebble, but a senior from the royal clan used thunder to refine it for more than one hundred years before placing it in a lightning pond for another eight hundred years. Thatâs how it received its spirituality to turn into a jewel with both thunder and fire co-existing within.â
âThere were a total of 172 pebbles in that batch, but more than half exploded during the refinement process. In the end, only five turned into spirit treasures like this one. Its power is comparable to a second-rank spirit treasure. If you have all five, then the power would be similar to a third-rank spirit treasure.â
Feiyun didnât act shyly. He was very annoyed with the princess, so being given a spirit treasure from the royal family was how it should be.
His Infinite Spirit Ring could only be considered a first-ranked spirit treasure, the lowest of them all. This second-ranked jewel should be much more powerful than the ring. It was the same level as Dongfang Jingyueâs Haotian Spirit Mirror.
As for a murderous artifact like the Blood-being Exalted Pot, Feiyunâs cultivation was too low to actually see through its ranking. However, it was the best artifact from the Yang King, so its power must be extraordinary. It had to be one of the top treasures in the Jin Dynasty like the emperorâs Divine Seal, meaning that it was above the fourth-rank at the very least.
âNow we can get to business.â The tower lord spoke without any emotion.
Feiyun asked: âWhat is it?â
The Divine King responded: âOf course it is about bringing you back to the royal ancestral ground to take the test of the ancestors. As long as you can pass the test, you will be next in line for the Divine Kingâs position.â
After cultivating the Dragon Kingâs Saber Art, Feiyun expected that the Divine King had high hopes for him and wanted him to become his successor. However, Feiyun only wanted to follow the immortal path and didnât have any interest in this position.
Once his cultivation reached a certain level, he could leave the Jin Dynasty at any moment. Alas, he was only a fledgling at his moment, threatened by many powers. Without the Divine Kingâs protection, it would be difficult for him to survive in this place.
If he could become the kingâs successor and gain the protection of the entire royal clan, who would actually dare to kill him publicly?
This might be a good thing after all.
Feiyun brought up a key point: âHowever, the competition for the pagodaâs list has yet to end.â
The king replied: âWith your current cultivation right now, you wonât be able to pass the coronation examination at the capital, so this competition has to end before you go to the royal ancestral ground. In the next three years, on top of trying your best to break through, you must also earn a satisfactory ranking on the list.â
There are countless prodigies in the royal family, and all of them want be the next Divine King. Thus, it is arduous for someone outside of the family to win this position. The higher your ranking on the pagodaâs list, the more you will shut them up.â
Feiyun confidently replied: âI will not let you down, Master.â
The tower lord added with an arrogant air: âYou donât need to worry too much about this position. The ancestors already know of your talents and are quite optimistic about you. However, there is one thing that you need to be mentally prepared for.â
The Divine King let out a strange smile at this time.
Feiyun asked: âWhat is it?â
The tower lord elaborated: âIn order to become the successor of this title, you must marry a princess. I see that you and Luofu are a perfect match for each other, a pair made in heaven. I have reported to the Jin Emperor about your marriage, itâll be evaluated and accepted soon.â
âOh lord, a pair made in heaven⊠How do you see that at all?!â Feiyun wanted to curse at this moment. Even if he had to marry a princess, it shouldnât be Luofu.
He coughed and said: âWell, about this, I feel thatâŠâ
âThis has been decided. The ancestors view this marriage with utmost importance and think that you two are well-matched. Iâm sure the imperial decree should be issued soon.â The Divine King happily laughed at Feiyun: âLuofu is eighteen this year, the fourth beauty of the Jin Dynasty. Iâm sure you wonât refuse this marriage, right?!â
Could Feiyun even refuse? It would be disobeying an imperial decree of the Jin Dynasty. At that point, he would have to face the wrath of the entire dynasty.
[1]
The tower lord was a bit unhappy and sternly said: âFeng Feiyun, stop playing around from now on. The matter between you and the demonesses from the Senluo Temple is known by the whole cultivation world. It looks like you are quite capable, huh?â
âNo big deal, no big deal! Indulging in love is the way of youths. It is better than regret when you grow old.â The Divine King was an easygoing old man as well. When he was younger, he was also a pampered genius on top of being a noble. Countless beauties came to his door on their own.
He had one-night stands with at least several dozen women, most of which were heretical demonesses, female successors from the dao faction, fairies from the immortal faction, and courtesans of brothels. He was much more of a player than Feiyun.
Perhaps his biggest regret during his youth was not being able to have a love affair with a princess.
1. An emperorâs order is absolute in China, especially with itâs a royal decree. He has to mind his words even in a casual setting; a king does not take back his words.
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