Chapter 145: Chapter 143: A Killing Plot Against Mo Qi
Wang Chen smiled faintly. "The fact that I dare stand here means I’m not afraid of you. Besides, even if you did kill me and escape, as long as that Slave Seal isn’t removed, the Empire’s experts would just capture you and drag you back sooner or later."
The middle-aged man’s body trembled violently with rage. He may be a prisoner now, but he had lived a life of valor. When had he ever been subjected to such a threat?
If it weren’t for the people and responsibilities he had on the outside, he would never compromise, even if it meant dying Within the Pass.
"RAAAGH!"
The middle-aged man roared and slammed his fist into the ground.
In an instant, the ground within a radius of several hundred yards billowed outward in rings, as if it had been tilled by a massive plow.
A clear display of his immense strength.
After venting, the middle-aged man sighed. "Fine. Tell me what you want me to do."
Wang Chen pointed, and with a surge of True Essence, an image of Mo Qi’s face and aura materialized before the middle-aged man.
"Tomorrow is the Empire’s annual selection. I want you to kill this man and bring me his head!"
...
Within a bamboo building at the Imperial Academy, a young man of about thirty was lecturing a group of junior disciples.
Suddenly, his expression flickered. He stopped the lecture and said, "Alright, that’s all for today. You are all dismissed."
After the disciples had filed out, the young man flicked a finger. A wisp of white light materialized in mid-air, and within it, Zhang Shao’s image appeared.
"What do you want?" the young man asked coolly.
Zhang Shao chuckled. "My dear disciple, you see your master and don’t even offer a greeting?"
The young man’s tone remained detached. "The bond between us as master and disciple ended long ago. I promised to do one thing for you, so just get to the point."
Faced with such a blunt dismissal, Zhang Shao could do nothing. After all, his former disciple’s status was a world away from what it once was.
He gave a hollow laugh and transmitted the image and aura of Mo Qi through the white light.
"His name is Mo Qi. His combat prowess is comparable to the Vajra Realm. He will be participating in the Empire’s annual selection tomorrow. I want him to die Within the Pass!"
The young man didn’t ask for a reason. He simply pondered for a moment before agreeing.
"Alright. After this is done, do not contact me again."
Before Zhang Shao could respond, the young man waved his hand, shattering the white light.
He then took out a Sound Transmission Talisman. "Su Yu, your master has a task for you."
...
The Qian Family Estate in the Imperial City.
"Old man, I’m going to participate in the annual selection tomorrow!" Qian Duoduo plopped down in front of a middle-aged man, crossed his legs, snatched the cup of tea before him, and drained it in one gulp.
CLATTER!
The account book in the middle-aged man’s hands fell to the floor. The term "old man," which would normally send him into a rage, sounded unusually sweet to his ears today.
"What did you say? Say that again!"
Qian Juduo couldn’t believe his ears. He had tried everything to get his son to participate in the annual selection, using both carrots and sticks, but nothing had ever worked.
He never expected his son to bring it up himself!
"I said, I want to participate in the annual selection tomorrow. Can you get me a spot?"
"Yes! Forget one, I could get you ten spots, no problem!"
Qian Juduo was overjoyed. As Qian Duoduo watched speechlessly, his father walked over to the incense table, lit three sticks of incense, and bowed repeatedly before the ancestral tablets.
"Thank you, honored ancestors, for your blessings! Duoduo is finally willing to settle down and begin his martial Cultivation. Please, I ask our ancestors to bless him once more, so that he may achieve his heart’s desire at the Imperial Academy and be free of his hardships!"
’So dramatic,’ Qian Duoduo thought, rolling his eyes.
"Old man, I’m out of money. Give me some," Qian Duoduo said, holding out his hand.
Qian Juduo started, only then noticing that the many rings that usually adorned Qian Duoduo’s hands were all gone.
"Where are your Storage Rings?"
"Lost them."
"Lost them?"
’Do you take me for a fool? How could you lose a handful of rings and not have a single one left?’
"Enough nonsense. Are you going to give me any or not?"
"Yes, of course! We’re the Qian Family! We can’t have you looking weak when you’re out and about. Go to the Money Vault and help yourself."
Qian Duoduo nodded, got up, and walked away.
After Qian Duoduo had gone, Qian Juduo snapped his fingers.
A shadowy figure slowly materialized.
"Tell me everywhere Duoduo went today and everything that happened."
Half a minute later, Qian Juduo sneered. "So, it was a Mo Qi. He dares to rob someone from the Qian Family? I’d like to see just what kind of big shot you think you are!"
...
「The next day」
Completely unaware of these plots, Mo Qi, Liu Hui, and the others from the Void Sect left their residence in the Imperial City. Led by Yun Xuzi and Ji Lin, they headed for the site of the annual selection.
The Imperial City truly lived up to its name as the heart of the Mountain and Sea Empire.
The grandeur of its architecture and the sheer number of Cultivators on its streets were far beyond anything seen elsewhere.
This was a great city without a single mortal. Even the street vendors possessed some level of Cultivation.
Even the children occasionally seen playing by the roadside had Cultivation at the first or second level of the Refining Essence realm.
"Sister Kexin, we’ll have to get our talent and aptitude tested first. But don’t you worry. With the Imperial Academy Order, you can skip the whole selection process and become an Imperial Academy student directly, no matter what your results are. You can just wait for us outside then."
Niu Kexin nodded.
"We’ll have to trouble you, Sect Leader, and you, Elder Ji, to look after her," Mo Qi said, cupping his fist in salute to Yun Xuzi and Ji Lin.
The two quickly returned the gesture. "It is our duty. All of you, just focus on the task ahead. You can leave Miss Niu’s safety to us."
In the eastern part of the Imperial City stood the Imperial Academy.
A massive plaza lay beside the Imperial Academy, and it was here that the annual selection was held.
At this moment, every part of the plaza was packed with spectators, save for the central palace and the grand avenue leading up to it.
After presenting the required identification, an official led Mo Qi and his group into the palace.
The crowd inside the palace was much smaller and far more orderly.
Mo Qi scanned his surroundings and counted ninety-six other young people.
Including himself, Liu Hui, Jin Sanpang, and Niu Kexin, there were exactly one hundred participants.
When so many powerful auras and exceptionally talented youths gathered in one place, brilliant sparks were bound to fly.
The participants eyed one another, none willing to concede to anyone else.
The selection had not even begun, yet the air was already thick with tension.
After a long moment, three elders emerged from the rear of the grand hall.
"All accompanying seniors must exit the hall at once!"
After giving Mo Qi and the others an encouraging glance, Yun Xuzi and Ji Lin filed out of the hall along with the other senior experts.
One of the elders stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "Each of you represents the finest youth of your respective regions. However, if you wish to join the Imperial Academy, you must first pass the annual selection trials."
"Now, will those who possess an Imperial Academy Order please step forward."
The great hall instantly fell silent.
The Imperial Academy Order! It was an incredibly rare treasure that allowed one to bypass the selection and enter the Imperial Academy directly.
Typically, only the most supreme geniuses or those who had rendered great service to the Empire were qualified to receive one.
Everyone wanted to know who it was that possessed an Imperial Academy Order.
"Little Brother Mo..." Niu Kexin whispered, nervously clutching Mo Qi’s hand.
Mo Qi smiled. "Go on. You’ll be fine."
Niu Kexin nodded, giving herself a silent pep talk. ’Kexin, you can do this! Didn’t you say you didn’t want to be a burden to Little Brother Mo? This is only the beginning!’
