Chapter 106: What Qualification Does He Have?
Ever since Fang Chen had learnt about the existence of the Spirit Blood Sect, he had been suspicious of multiple people—Xia Yu being one of them. Li Huafeng's sudden recovery and promotion to the Qi Manipulation Stage were due to the pills given by Xia Yu. But where did Xia Yu obtain such divine, miraculous pills? If the pills had been able to heal Li Huafeng's injuries, they had to have been no ordinary pills; it was clear that these pills were made by a cultivator.
Qin Shilang was affiliated with Xia Yu, and Liu Zhen, the ex-chief pacifier of the Valiant Saber Guards, was under Xia Yu's command. Xia Yu might not necessarily know what the Spirit Blood Sect was exactly doing in the Grand Xia Empire, but he likely had some understanding and should be aware that the sect’s disciples were absorbing the essence of the Grand Xia’s populace for their own use. But even the Ji Family from the Frost Water Empire revered cultivators. How could Xia Yu resist the temptation of the dark side?
It wasn’t long before the festive atmosphere began to die down, and the people left one after the other. The only ones left with Xia Yu were Tao Yu, Ye Qinghe, and Li Huafeng.
Xia Yu eyed the trio, then said calmly, "Do you three know why I was a bit troubled these past few days?"
Puzzled, they shook their heads.
"I presume you’ve heard before about the existence of people whose power surpasses even martial artists—existences who wield heaven-shaking power," said Xia Yu.
"Are you referring to cultivators, Crown Prince?” pondered Tao Yu aloud. "It’s rumored that such existences dwell in ethereal realms or might occasionally be seen in the more powerful empires, never deigning to reveal their true forms. It's difficult for ordinary people to catch even a glimpse of them."
"Cultivators? Hehe. The concept of ‘cultivators’ is too fantastical, too far-fetched,” chimed Li Huafeng with a chuckle. “Probably just be a bunch of lies cooked up by powerful empires to intimidate their vassals."
Ye Qinghe remained silent, patiently waiting for Xia Yu to continue speaking.
"Cultivators are not as elusive as you think. As far as I know, the Ji Family in the Frost Water Empire supports a cultivator," Xia Yu said. "Besides, in the six-tier empires across the world, there are cultivators presiding over them. It's precisely because of their existence that these empires can surpass the seventh-tier. A few days ago in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Ji Lengyue wanted to apprehend Fang Chen, but who would’ve thought that a cultivator from the sixth-tier Flame Empire would be with the Fang Family.
"Ji Lengyue didn't dare to act recklessly because of the appearance of that cultivator. Later, it was Fang Chen who had mentioned the military exercise. He said that it would be his manor guards who would go against the Nightmare Knights.”
The trio were shocked, and they glanced at each other.
Li Huafeng had been furrowed for a while now, and he said, "Crown Prince, this whole cultivation thing...."
Xia Yu sneered. "What kind of medicine do you think can heal your hidden injuries?"
Li Huafeng's sturdy frame trembled slightly, and his eyes gradually shone with amazement.
"I won't hide it from you all. In my early years, I encountered a few cultivators. We even had a pretty pleasant conversation.” Xia Yu smiled. “I tried to support some of them by giving them offerings from time to time, and that is how I learned about the cultivator the Ji Family supported,” he said. "’Choosing a good tree to nest in’ is basically what they’re doing. But it’s no easy task to be valued by a cultivator; they won’t accept offerings from just anyone. The Ji Family is valued by cultivators, and I, too, am valued by them."
"So, what you find troubling is... the fact that the Fang Family apparently has what it takes to be valued by cultivators?" wondered Tao Yu aloud.
"That's right." Xia Yu nodded. "But I’ve been acting as quietly as possible in recent years and haven’t revealed much of what I can do. That’s why people think I am not as good as Fang Chen. With the methods at my disposal—the help of cultivators—killing Fang Chen would be a piece of cake; a Qi Core Stage martial artist is nothing more than an ant in their eyes,” he asserted. “However...” His tone suddenly changed, and his face turned serious, "The Fang Family also has a cultivator now. This really came as a surprise to me. I am the crown prince, it’s understandable for me to be valued by cultivators! But who the hell is Fang Chen and what qualifications does he have to be accepted by one?”
Fang Chen couldn’t help but smirk at that.
Ye Qinghe gasped. "Do you think that that cultivator might be helping Fang Chen rebel?"
"Where are the cultivators by your side, Crown Prince?" asked Li Huafeng suddenly.
"They are not in the capital city at the moment, for some reason. I don't know their whereabouts. These existences come and go like elusive dragons and only show themselves occasionally. I can only give them some offerings, and I cannot control them at all.” The crown prince shook his head slightly.
Li Huafeng's eyes flashed. "Since the strength of a six-tier empire stems from them having cultivators, if you can obtain cultivation techniques from them, Crown Prince, then our Grand Xia can also..."
Xia Yu smiled, but his smile seemed rather regretful, and he couldn’t help but titter a little. "I’ve once mentioned this to them, and I even said that I was willing to pay a hefty sum in exchange for their cultivation techniques,” he murmured. “But they told me that even if I were to offer them the entire Grand Xia, it still wouldn’t be enough to reach the value of a precious cultivation technique."
Li Huafeng frowned at that, and growled, "Such arrogance!"
"Not really; you’ve never witnessed what they can do. What they say is indeed true. Even I, the crown prince of an empire, daren’t expect to get my hands on a cultivation technique. Everything will be left up to fate. I only hope to borrow the hands of those cultivators to strengthen Grand Xia, so that we cannot be humiliated no more by empires like Qingsong, and perhaps, allow us to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Frost Water Empire in the future!" declared Xia Yu proudly.
Xia Yu’s wild ambitions shocked the trio; To stand on equal footing with the Frost Water Empire? If that day truly ever came, Xia Yu would undoubtedly be the supreme emperor of Grand Xia!
"According to my plan, that day may truly come. Now... the appearance of a cultivator in the Fang Manor has disrupted my plans! He might become an obstacle in my way. What do you think I should do?" asked Xia Yu.
If a cultivator were to favor someone else in Grand Xia, anyone else other than Fang Chen, Xia Yu would’ve not lost his composure. However, he absolutely would not allow a cultivator to appear beside Fang Chen! Fang Chen was his inner demon. Only by removing Fang Chen and his third brother from the picture could he focus on being the future heir of Grand Xia and plan for its bright future!
"There's no need to worry, Crown Prince," reassured Li Huafeng. "Since the Ji Family has a cultivator, then, naturally, a cultivator from the lower Fang Family won't be able to suppress the Ji family’s cultivator. In this military exercise, Fang Chen and Ji Lengyue will undoubtedly take the field personally, and Ji Lengyue won't let him out alive.”
"What if the cultivator from the Fang Manor becomes enraged due to Fang Chen's demise?" Xia Yu frowned. "No one knows what kind of background he has. This might affect us eventually.”
"As long as the cultivators by your side take action, they can ensure he never leaves. Then, we can shift all the blame onto the Frost Water Empire...” suggested Li Huafeng, a sinister smile on his face. "Not only will disaster be diverted, but the Frost Water Empire might also suffer huge losses. In the short term, they won't have the time to focus on Grand Xia, allowing Your Highness to fully realize your ambitions."
Xia Yu fell into silence for some time. Gradually, his face eased up.
He had never considered plotting against cultivators, but after Li Huafeng's words, it seemed as though cultivators could also be manipulated into bringing him many benefits!
"The cultivators I am dealing with haven’t returned to the capital city yet, and I don’t know when they will be back. However, they left something with me, and according to them, even a cultivator will die if he were to consume that thing,” said Xia Yu, a slight smile forming on his face. "During the military exercise, you can make a move and poison the cultivator from the Fang Manor then frame the Frost Water Empire!”
At that point, Fang Chen couldn't help but shake his head. There was no point in listening any further; Xia Yu was still unaware that Zhou Yiseng and the others had already perished, and his plan to harm Li Daoye had been heard by Fang Chen loud and clear and could never come to fruition anymore
With a thought, Fang Chen traversed the inky night sky and returned to the manor.
As soon as his soul re-entered his body, Fang Cangyou’s voice emanated from outside his room. "Chen’er, the old patriarch has summoned you. You should head over.”
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