Chapter 68: Emperor Xia is Anxious
The palace.
Inside the Yangju Palace.
Emperor Xia held the white pieces while Shadow Guard held the black.
The chess game was a back-and-forth, evenly matched.
“The Beast Taming Sect has become increasingly arrogant lately.”
Emperor Xia casually placed a piece and spoke.
“With Your Majesty around, no matter how much the Beast Taming Sect schemes, it will ultimately be futile.”
Shadow Guard stroked his long beard as he replied.
“It’s been too long~”
Emperor Xia suddenly said this, leaving even Shadow Guard momentarily at a loss for what it meant.
“The Beast Taming Sect has stayed in our Great Xia for far too long; it’s time to eliminate them.”
Emperor Xia placed another piece.
“You lose.”
Shadow Guard blinked, realizing he had been checkmated.
“Is Your Majesty planning to take action?”
He asked, surprised.
Emperor Xia had known about the Beast Taming Sect for over a thousand years.
Over the millennium, he had proposed their elimination multiple times.
But in the end, Emperor Xia had always rejected him, providing ample reasons.
Whether it was the army of demons offered as tribute or external interference, all were reasons the Beast Taming Sect still persisted to this day.
“Now that we have completed the marriage alliance with the Wu Nation, we don’t need to worry about external threats for the time being. If we don’t address internal strife now, when will we?”
“I understand, then I’ll prepare right away.”
“Tsk~ What’s the rush?”
Seeing Shadow Guard about to leave, Emperor Xia asked, a bit annoyed.
“Isn’t this just executing Your Majesty’s style of doing things?”
Emperor Xia chuckled and then said, “A mere Beast Taming Sect isn’t worth my personal involvement.”
“What does Your Majesty mean?”
Shadow Guard asked, bewildered.
“Once the royal mausoleum opens, I’ll leave this matter to my sons. The only condition is that the supply of demon beasts as tribute must not be interrupted each year.”
Emperor Xia rearranged the chess pieces, placed another piece, and gestured for Shadow Guard to sit down and continue the game.
Shadow Guard glanced at the board and then at Emperor Xia.
“I understand.”
At this moment, Shadow Guard finally grasped the situation.
Emperor Xia truly intended to find the best candidate for the crown prince in a short time.
Rather than simply wanting to eradicate the malignant tumor that was the Beast Taming Sect, it was more of a test for the princes competing for the crown.
“With the Beast Taming Sect gone, maintaining the annual tribute of demon beasts… isn’t that a bit challenging for them?”
Shadow Guard asked, puzzled.
“The ‘them’ you’re referring to are naturally the princes.”
“If they can’t handle this little issue, then being a prince guarding the kingdom’s gates isn’t too shabby either.”
“I see.”
Emperors never ponder how to solve problems but think about how to maximize benefits in a given situation.
Weighing pros and cons.
“These are all early days; we’ll know which princes are truly suitable once the royal mausoleum opens.”
The two exchanged smiles.
One looked middle-aged, the other appeared elderly.
Both looked rather cunning…
A new chess game between the two quickly reached a critical moment, and Emperor Xia was just one step away from losing.
At that moment, hurried footsteps approached from outside.
Eunuch Mei hurried into the Yangju Palace, looking anxious.
“Your Majesty, Elder Jiuchong from the Worship Hall sends word that there’s been some trouble at the Martial Arts Pavilion and seeks Your Majesty’s opinion.”
“What’s happened?”
Emperor Xia frowned and asked.
He was already troubled, his mind on the chess game, hoping to make a counterattack.
“It’s said that Prince Bei has entered the tower.”
“Oh? Does everyone think my son completed the Heavenly Dao Foundation Building and could pass the first three levels, only to fail the second level? So they came to report?”
Emperor Xia said with amusement.
Mention of Qin Bei still irked him.
After all, he let go of the Heavenly Dao Foundation Building for his concubine, so failing the first two levels was totally expected.
“No, it’s that Prince Bei reached the sixth level on his first attempt to enter the tower…”
Eunuch Mei was shocked inside, yet tried to keep his composure.
Snap!
The chess piece Emperor Xia had pinched out of sweat fell with a thud on the chessboard.
“What did you just say? The sixth level?”
Emperor Xia questioned, a bit incredulous.
“Yes, not only that, Prince Bei also broke through Your Majesty’s record from when you entered the tower. Now only the record of the fourth level remains from the first five, and the rest have all been surpassed by Prince Bei.”
“And the challenge for Prince Bei’s breakthrough is the first Saint level in history…”
Emperor Xia: ??
“Prince Bei also received the Celestial Grade Divine Ability and Celestial Grade Teleportation Jade Slip awarded by Master Qiling, and he’s now selling a large number of techniques at the Martial Arts Pavilion to many princes and princesses.”
“Jiuchong wants to know if we should stop this.”
Eunuch Mei reported, finding it all quite surreal.
“Isn’t there a seal? How on earth did Prince Bei manage to sell so many?”
Old Shadow finally couldn’t help but ask.
“To reply to Master Ying, Prince Bei comprehended each technique individually, and it only took him a few breaths to unlock the seals on each skill… so…”
Old Shadow: ???
Not just Old Shadow, even Emperor Xia was left scratching his head.
This information was a bit overwhelming.
Didn’t Qin Bei fail to complete the Heavenly Dao Foundation Building? How could he be this strong?
Moreover, even if he had finished it, passing the third level on the first go would already be pushing it.
Let alone climbing to a level Emperor Xia himself had never experienced…
“Let’s go see.”
Emperor Xia and Shadow Guard exchanged glances.
Their figures vanished from the Yangju Palace simultaneously, reappearing outside the Martial Arts Pavilion in the next moment.
Once they arrived, they quickly spotted their target.
At that moment, Qin Bei had no idea Emperor Xia had arrived.
He was still caught up in his own joy.
“Brother, I’m not criticizing you as your younger brother, but you’re at the Golden Core Realm. Do you really think buying a high-level Heavenly Grade martial arts technique suits your status? If I were you, I’d definitely add another 50,000 and go for the top-level Heavenly Grade martial arts. With 50,000 spirit stones, you can upgrade a level! Isn’t that great? Maybe you should consider it?”
Qin Bei offered a jade slip, grinning ear to ear.
Prince: ….
“I don’t have any spirit stones left. Not every prince is as good at making money as you…”
“Next, next…”
Qin Bei waved helplessly.
“Hurry if you want to buy! Once I clear the sixth level, I won’t sell heavenly-level techniques anymore; I’ll be selling divine-level skills!”
“If the skills are useful, help spread the word. I’ll give you a discount next time!”
Qin Bei shouted while peddling martial arts.
Old Jiu, Princess Ling’er, and Qin Chen stood behind, completely shocked.
“Master, aren’t you going to step in?”
“I’d like to, but Prince Bei hasn’t violated any regulations. Although it’s not explicitly stated that he can sell to those within the royal family, it’s also never clearly forbidden—it’s always been an unspoken rule.”
Old Jiu said helplessly.
“He wants to clear the sixth level and sell divine items later… Brother, why don’t you give it a shot too?”
“I don’t want to waste that much time.”
“But the time wasted could turn into spirit stones. Acquiring spirit stones for resources isn’t wasting time, right?”
“Fine, I admit it; I can’t unlock the seals on so many skills and abilities.”
“Tsk~ Why didn’t you say that earlier…”
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